BORIS Johnson will make a major announcement at 6pm today that June 21's lockdown lifting will be delayed until July 19.
A two-week review will be included meaning coronavirus restrictions could be dropped on July 5 if hospitalisations stay down.
But sources told The Sun the chances of lifting restrictions as planned on June 21 were close to zero due to a 240 per cent surge in the Indian strain, now known as the Delta variant.
The Prime Minister will address the nation at 6pm this evening to announce the news, which will be seen as an enormous blow to thousands of businesses up and down the country.
Read our coronavirus live blog below for the latest news and updates…
- [email protected]
UK CANNOT FOLLOW A "ZERO COVID APPROACH", SAYS HEALTH MINISTER
Health minister Edward Argar said that there cannot be a "zero Covid approach" and that vaccination was the key to living with the virus.
On those admitted to hospital with the virus, he told Sky News: "We are seeing some really positive news on that, although with the Delta variant we are seeing the numbers in hospital creeping up a bit, I think they were just over 1,000 at the weekend.
"But when you look back, it was something like 38,000 at the peak in January. So we are seeing that severing of the link between the disease and hospitalisations and death.
"I think that on that basis, everyone will recognise that there comes a point where we do have to live with this disease and recognise that you cannot go for a zero Covid approach, you have to live with it, and vaccination is the key to that.
"So I think once we have got those second doses in people's arms, once we have got that level of protection up to around that 81%, then I think people will be more comfortable with it."
- [email protected]
UNLOCKING TOO QUICKLY WILL ‘FAN THE FLAMES’ OF THIRD COVID WAVE
Boris Johnson risks “fanning the flames” of a new wave of coronavirus infections if he lifts lockdown restrictions too quickly, a scientist advising the Government has warned.
Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of the Nervtag group which advises ministers on new respiratory diseases, said it was clear the country was facing a “substantial” third wave of the disease.
He said: “I think if we were to open up more that would really fan the flames and lead to this increasing even faster.”
- [email protected]
MINISTERS MONITORING DATA IN ‘REAL TIME’
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said ministers and officials were monitoring the data in “real time” to determine when it would be safe to open up.
He said they were in a “race” to get the second dose of the vaccine – which has been shown to provide significantly greater protection against the Delta variant than a single jab – to as many people as possible.
“We know that we have made great progress in weakening the link between transmission and hospitalisation. The question is whether we have severed and broken it,” he told The Andrew Marr Show.
He said that if the unlocking was to be “irreversible”, they needed to proceed “carefully and cautiously”.
- [email protected]
FIRST DOSE OF VACCINE ONLY 30% EFFECTIVE AGAINST "HORRID" DELTA VARIANT, SCOTLAND'S TOP DOCTOR WARNS
The first dose of coronavirus vaccine only offers about 30% protection from the "horrid" Delta variant, Professor Jason Leitch has warned.
Scotland's national clinical director stressed the need to get both vaccinations to offer "decent" protection and suggested eight to 10 weeks of progress thanks to the vaccine had been "lost" because of the variant, first identified in India.
Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland, Prof Leitch said the new strain of Covid-19 has "changed the game" in terms of the vaccine rollout because of the lack of protection offered by the first dose alone.
He said a four-week delay for first doses could allow nine million second doses across the UK, but said the government was "trying desperately" to not impact the vaccine rollout for younger people.
- [email protected]
COVID NEWS ROUND UP
- Brits must be "really careful" not to "squander hard-fought gains", a minister has warned
- The UK economy grew 2.3 per cent in April as lockdown restrictions eased
- Theresa May blasts ‘chaotic and incomprehensible’ holidays ban despite world-beating vaccine rollout
- Matt Hancock admitted the first lockdown was delayed – despite warnings one million might die
- The Indian – or Delta – strain is up to 60 per cent more infectious, experts say
- Cases passed 8,000 today with cases of the Indian variant tripling in a week
FAILURES OF TEST AND TRACE THE REASON FOR DELAY TO FREEDOM DAY, SAYS HEALTH EXPERT
Anthony Costello, professor of global health and sustainable development at University College London, suggested that if the Test and Trace system had had an "army" of contact tracers then the Government would not be considering a delay to lockdown.
He told Sky News: "The question is, why are we in this position? The NHS has done a fantastic job on vaccines but why has there been such poor investment in public health infection control to supress these outbreaks?
"Patrick Vallance got it right in February when he said that as the numbers come down it is essential that we do do find, test, trace and isolate.
"And our failure to do that three times in the past has led to three national lockdowns and 150,000 deaths.
"I'm quite angry about this. Where is the £38 billion going into Test and Trace for local public health? Why are the test results so slow? Why haven't we got (an) adequate army of contact tracers? We're in a war, we should have an army on the ground."
WATCH: UK COVID CASES UP BY A THIRD IN A WEEK
WHEN WILL A DECISION BE MADE?
Boris Johnson will hold a press conference tonight as the June 21 lockdown lift is set to be delayed by a month.
Fears over rising cases of the Indian Covid variant mean 'Freedom Day' will be pushed back to 19th July.
The prime minister is expected to head back to London this afternoon after the G7 summit in Cornwall ends around 2pm.
He is expected to meet the Covid grouping of his Cabinet before announcing the Government's decision in a press conference.
Downing Street has confirmed the press conference will begin at 6pm.
SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT TELLS BBC THE COUNTRY NEEDS HELP
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said the country needs "more assistance" as it faces a third wave of coronavirus.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Hospital beds are becoming shorter, we don't have enough hospital beds, ICU beds, and deaths are increasing so we are really in a desperate situation."
He said former British prime minister Gordon Brown was "absolutely right" to brand the gap in vaccinations between rich and poor nations a "moral failure" following the G7 summit.
Mr Ramaphosa added: "I think I should say that there has been great assistance but we need more. We need more assistance, but we also need more demonstration of solidarity. Those who are more well-endowed, who are more capable, should help those who are less capable."
- [email protected]
WEDDING RESTRICTIONS TO BE EASED, SAYS MINISTER
Health minister Edward Argar suggested that England's restrictions on weddings are set to be eased, as he said couples waiting to wed are "very much" in the mind of Boris Johnson at the moment.
"There will be a lot of couples who planned, hoped, to do it, put a line through it, done it again and rescheduled again," he told Sky News.
"Not only does that cost money, but emotionally that is incredibly difficult for couples who want to have their special day and want to get married.
"Again, I'm not going to pre-empt what the Prime Minister will say later, but I know that weddings and people in that particular situation will be very much in his mind at the moment, it's one of the things he has been looking at."
- [email protected]
FRAUDSTERS CHARGING UP TO £28 FOR FALSE COVID DOCUMENTS
An investigation by The Telegraph uncovered fraudsters charging between £5 and £28 for false documentation, including details like real batch numbers for Pfizer jabs.
With proof of vaccine expected to give people a ‘passport’ to holiday in many countries, it’s important to keep batch numbers private so people don’t make fraudulent claims.
Sharing your vaccine details could also put you at risk of identity fraud – especially on public platforms like Instagram.
- The Sun
UNLOCKING TOO QUICKLY WILL 'FAN THE FLAMES' OF THIRD COVID WAVE
Boris Johnson risks "fanning the flames" of a new wave of coronavirus infections if he lifts lockdown restrictions too quickly, a scientist advising the Government has warned.
Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of the Nervtag group which advises ministers on new respiratory diseases, said it was clear the country was facing a "substantial" third wave of the disease.
He said: "I think if we were to open up more that would really fan the flames and lead to this increasing even faster."
- The Sun
MINISTERS MONITORING DATA IN 'REAL TIME'
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said ministers and officials were monitoring the data in "real time" to determine when it would be safe to open up.
He said they were in a "race" to get the second dose of the vaccine – which has been shown to provide significantly greater protection against the Delta variant than a single jab – to as many people as possible.
"We know that we have made great progress in weakening the link between transmission and hospitalisation. The question is whether we have severed and broken it," he told The Andrew Marr Show.
He said that if the unlocking was to be "irreversible", they needed to proceed "carefully and cautiously".
- The Sun
MATT HANCOCK DENIES LYING TO PM
Health Secretary Matt Hancock denies lying to the Prime Minister
- The Sun
HOW WILL THE ROADMAP UNFOLD?
June 14 – Boris Johnson will address nation and lay out his plan to delay June 21
June 21 – Original date set for 'Freedom Day' now likely to be delayed
July 5 – Boris Johnson will review and assess the data as part of his 'two-week break clause'. Restrictions could be eased partially or fully if data is positive
July 19 – Proposed new 'Freedom Day' when PM hopes to lift all restrictions across England
- The Sun
FOREIGN HOLIDAYS 'VERY UNLIKELY' THIS SUMMER
Foreign holidays are “very unlikely” to be given the green light this summer, shadow trade secretary Emily Thornberry has warned.
The Labour frontbencher said that ministers needed to give Brits “clear instructions” on international travel amid confusion over the traffic light system.
Asked about the possibility of foreign holidays this summer, Ms Thornberry told Sky News's Trevor Phillips on Sunday programme: “I think it’s very unlikely that people will be able to go abroad this summer.
“We need to hear what the ministers say and they need to give us clear instructions.
“People will do the right thing as long as they know what they’re expected to do. The problem time and time again is that the rules haven’t been clear."
- The Sun
DELAY TO LIFTING ALL RESTRICTIONS ON JUNE 21 'INEVITABLE'
Ms Thornberry also stressed that a delay to the proposed lifting of lockdown restrictions on June 21 was inevitable given the rapid spread of the Delta variant.
She added: "We have always said that we must follow the scientific advice and the scientific advice is pretty clear that we can't have a lifting of lockdown at the moment.
"There needs to be more of a delay because of the variant and because of all the other reasons."
- The Sun
SAGE SCIENTIST ISSUES STARK WARNING
Britain will experience a “substantial third wave” of coronavirus infections through the summer, a SAGE adviser has warned.
Professor Andrew Hayward said the rapid spread of the Delta variant was “extremely worrying” as Boris Johnson prepares to announce a month-long delay to the easing of lockdown restrictions tomorrow.
Mr Hayward, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at University College London, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “It’s now very clear that we will have a substantial third wave of infections. The big question is how that will translate into hospitalisations.
“The fact that we’ve got 50 per cent of the population double vaccinated means this won’t be as bad as it could have been… but we don’t know yet how bad it will be.
“The fact it is 60 per cent more infectious is extremely worrying and that will drive the speed of the next wave.”
- The Sun
UNLOCKING TOO QUICKLY WILL 'FAN THE FLAMES' OF THIRD COVID WAVE
Boris Johnson risks "fanning the flames" of a new wave of coronavirus infections if he lifts lockdown restrictions too quickly, a scientist advising the Government has warned.
Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of the Nervtag group which advises ministers on new respiratory diseases, said it was clear the country was facing a "substantial" third wave of the disease.
He said: "I think if we were to open up more that would really fan the flames and lead to this increasing even faster."
- The Sun
MINISTERS MONITORING DATA IN 'REAL TIME'
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said ministers and officials were monitoring the data in "real time" to determine when it would be safe to open up.
He said they were in a "race" to get the second dose of the vaccine – which has been shown to provide significantly greater protection against the Delta variant than a single jab – to as many people as possible.
"We know that we have made great progress in weakening the link between transmission and hospitalisation. The question is whether we have severed and broken it," he told The Andrew Marr Show.
He said that if the unlocking was to be "irreversible", they needed to proceed "carefully and cautiously".
- The Sun
RAAB DEMANDS 'ANSWERS' FROM CHINA
Dominic Raab has demanded that China provide “all the answers” on the origin of coronavirus – but said Britain doesn’t believe it came from a Wuhan lab.
The foreign secretary urged Beijing to cooperate with ongoing investigations into the source of the virus amid claims of a cover-up.
The foreign secretary told Sky News's Trevor Phillips on Sunday programme: "That's why internationally we wanted the review to be able to go into China to get all the answers, so that we have the full picture rather than these possible, potential, plausible options.
"But, on balance, we do not believe that it came from a laboratory.
"We think it is much more likely to have jumped from animal species."
- The Sun
WHY IS THE DELTA VARIANT A CONCERN?
The strain has shown to be around 60 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha (Kent) strain, PHE says.
The Alpha variant put England back into a third national lockdown because it spread so much faster than the original strain from Wuhan, China.
It looks like the doubling time for cases is less than a week, which is as bad as just before Christmas, according to one leading expert.
Therefore, the Delta variant threatens freedoms, even though the UK has a successful vaccination programme.
It could infect those who are unvaccinated – currently a quarter of the population – or vulnerable people who have not been able to get the jab or for whom the jab does not work for.
- The Sun
CONTINUED
Dr Chaand Nagpaul continued: "With only 54.2 per cent of the adult population currently fully vaccinated and many younger people not yet eligible, there is a huge risk that prematurely relaxing all restrictions will undo the excellent work of the vaccine programme and lead to a surge of infections.
"It’s not just about the number of hospitalisations, but also the risk to the health of large numbers of younger people, who can suffer long-term symptoms affecting their lives and ability to work."
He highlighted that the current data and evidence shows that "ending restrictions in just over a week would not meet the government’s own four tests".
"It is vital that the Prime Minister honours his own commitment to the population on how to safeguard the health of the nation," he added.
- The Sun
DOCTORS BEG TO DELAY JUNE 21 EASING OF RESTRICTIONS
The full easing of lockdown restrictions should be delayed due to "rapidly rising Covid cases", top doctors have warned.
The British Medical Association has begged Boris Johnson to push back England's June 21 'Freedom Day' after the number of new variant infections tripled in a week.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA Council, said: "The UK’s vaccination programme has been a tremendous success, and this, together with the hard work and sacrifices of so many, and measures such as social distancing and mask wearing, has helped us come a long way in our fight against this terrible virus.
"However, case numbers are now rising rapidly, and we know that those who are unvaccinated or have had only one dose of the vaccine remain vulnerable to getting the virus.
"The best protection is only achieved at about two weeks after the second dose, particularly with the Delta variant, and we will not have enough of the population properly protected by June 21."
- The Sun
STEEP RISE IN DELTA VARIANT CASES
The co-chair of the BMA’s Public Health Medicine Committee, Dr Penelope Toff, said: "The steep rise in case numbers in parts of England, such as the North West, with hospitalisation rates up by 66 per cent in the past week alone, is mainly due to the Delta variant but it has also been partly fuelled by the easing of restrictions in May.
"This has also meant that it has been impossible for Public Health services in many areas to fully contain the spread.
"A delay in a decision about easing the remaining lock down restrictions could put us in a much stronger position.
"It would mean the chance to vaccinate even more people with first and second doses, particularly younger people where we are seeing the highest proportion of infections.
"This in turn will help to keep down the spread of the virus in the community, which is also important if we want to minimise the opportunity for new variants to emerge."
Source: Read Full Article
