COVID cases have almost doubled in a week – casting further doubt on the June 21 Freedom Day amid a surge of Indian variant infections.
The latest figures released on Tuesday by the Government showed 6,048 new cases and 13 new deaths were recorded in the 24 hours from Monday.
The news comes as Boris Johnson reportedly weighs up whether to delay the lifting of all Covid restrictions in England on June 21.
Rishi Sunak is understood to have said he would accept a delay of up to four weeks to the end of the Covid road map according to the Guardian.
Government ministers will continue to scrutinise data on cases and hospitalisations over the course of this week, with a final decision set to be announced by the prime minister on Monday.
Read our coronavirus live blog below for the latest news and updates…
- The Sun
JUNE 21 MUST REMAIN 'FREEDOM DAY'- THE ALTERNATIVE IS POTENTIAL ECONOMICAL MELTDOWN SAYS JANE MOORE
She says: " The Cabinet is reportedly locked in fevered discussions over whether “Freedom Day”, aka June 21, will be delayed because of whatever same-iant they’re fretting about now.
Laughable really, because if any of them bothered to leave the Westminster bubble and tour the country they purport to lead, they’d notice that the majority of people took back what little “freedom” they could weeks ago."
- The Sun
NEWEST DATA ON US VACCINATION EFFORT
The United States had administered 303,923,667 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and distributed 372,100,285 doses in the country as of this morning, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Those figures are up from the 302,851,917 vaccine doses the CDC said had gone into arms by June 7 out of 371,520,735 doses delivered.
The agency said 171,731,584 people had received at least one dose while 140,441,957 people are fully vaccinated as of Tuesday.
- The Sun
ARMY SCRAMBLED TO BATTLE AGAINST INDIAN VARIANT (CONTINUED…)
"I want to encourage everyone in Manchester and Lancashire to get the tests on offer.
"We know that this approach can work, we've seen it work in south London and in Bolton in stopping a rise in the number of cases.
"This is the next stage of tackling the pandemic in Manchester and Lancashire and of course it's vital that people in these areas, as everywhere else, come forward and get the jab as soon as they are eligible because that is our way out of this pandemic together."
- The Sun
ARMY SCRAMBLED TO BATTLE AGAINST INDIAN VARIANT
Greater Manchester and Lancashire have been hit with new travel rules as a huge vaccination surge is launched to combat spiralling Covid cases.
People are being told to "minimise" travel in and out of the two areas, which are experiencing the sharpest rise in infections in the country.
The Army will be sent in to help with a huge new jabbing drive in a mirror of measures introduced in neighbouring Bolton last month.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the "strengthened package of support" for both council areas in the Commons today.
He said: "This includes rapid response teams, putting in extra testing, military support and supervised in-school testing."
- The Sun
NEARLY A THIRD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL KIDS IN BOLTON ABSENT DUE TO COVID
Nearly a third of secondary school pupils in Bolton were absent for Covid-related reasons on the week before half-term, Government figures suggest.
In the North West of England, Covid-19 related pupil absence was 4% on May 27, compared to the national average of 1.8%, according to the statistics,
This is predominantly due to an increase in cases of coronavirus in Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen, the Department for Education (DfE) analysis said.
In Bolton, 21% of primary and 31% of secondary pupils were reported as absent for Covid-19 related reasons on May 27.
The South West of England had the lowest levels of Covid-19 related pupil absence of any region, with levels well below 1% throughout the half term.
- Niamh Cavanagh
GRISLY FIND
Doctors who are treating patients with Covid-19 in India have identified new symptoms including gangrene and hearing loss.
The mutant coronavirus variant that is driving India's second wave is believed to be the most infectious variant to emerge so far.
Medics believe severe gastric upsets, hearing impairment and blood clots that lead to gangrene have been linked to the deadly delta variant.
Abdul Ghafer, an infectious disease physician at Chennai's Apollo Hospital, said the virus has become more "unpredictable" as new variants emerge.
“Last year, we thought we had learned about our new enemy, but it changed,” Dr Ghafur told Bloomberg.
“This virus has become so, so unpredictable.”
- The Sun
80% OF THE WORLD NEED TO BE VACCINATED FOR PANDEMIC TO BE OVER
WHO chief says high vaccination coverage of over 80% will ultimately end pandemic
- The Sun
ASPIRIN DOES NOT IMPROVE HOSPITAL SURVIVAL RATES, SAYS STUDY
Aspirin does not improve survival for patients admitted to hospital with coronavirus, a study has found.
Patients with Covid-19 are at increased risk of blood clots forming in their blood vessels, particularly in the lungs.
Between November 2020 and March 2021, the Recovery trial included nearly 15,000 patients admitted to hospital with the virus an assessment of the effects of aspirin, which is widely used to reduce blood clotting in other diseases.
A total of 7,351 patients were randomised to receive 150 mg of aspirin once daily and compared with 7,541 patients randomised to usual care alone.
The study found no evidence that the drug treatment reduced mortality.
- The Sun
UK IS ONLY COUNTRY IN EUROPE WHERE CASES ARE SURGING
Infections are being driven by the new Delta variant that first emerged in India.
At least 3,500 cases of Delta have been detected in the UK.
But the true figure is likely to be twice as high, given that only half of Covid tests are screened to see which variant they were caused by.
Daily new cases per million people have doubled in the UK between May 25 and June 7, according to official Covid figures collected by Our World in Data.
During the same period, other EU nations have continued on a downward trend.
- The Sun
RISHI SUNAK WILLING TO ACCEPT FOUR WEEK DELAY TO COVID LIFTING
Rishi Sunak is understood to have said he would accept a delay of up to four weeks to the end of the Covid road map according to the Guardian.
Government ministers will continue to scrutinise data on cases and hospitalisations over the course of this week, with a final decision set to be announced by the prime minister on Monday.
The UK is currently expected to move to the final stage of the road map on June 21.
- The Sun
PICK N MIX
Brits are expected to get a different Covid vaccine as a booster than the one they’ve already received, a leaked memo reveals.
The mix-and-match method could improve protection against the coronavirus, early studies suggest.
Ministers hope it will also give immunity against new dangerous variants of Covid, some of which have the ability to escape immunity.
The Delta (Indian) variant now dominant in the UK weakens the effects of the current vaccines in use, data shows.
But a booster jab could make sure the most vulnerable are protected from severe disease over the winter.
- The Sun
NEW DAILY COVID CASES SHOT UP BY 90% IN A WEEK
The latest figures released on Tuesday by the Government showed 6,048 new cases and 13 Coronavirus deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, compared to 3,165 cases last Tuesday.
The news comes whilst Boris is weighing up the option on whether to extend lockdown. The current road map gives Brits freedom come June 21 with nightclubs set to open and restrictions set to ease.
Meanwhile the NHS has reported a web meltdown as over-25s jam up the vaccine booking system.
- The Sun
DELTA VARIANT CASES IN WALES ALMOST DOUBLE IN A WEEK
The number of cases of the Delta variant in Wales has almost doubled within a week to 178, the country’s health agency has said.
Public Health Wales warned community transmission of the variant may have started and urged people to get vaccinated and keep to social distancing measures.
On Tuesday, they said the number of confirmed cases of the mutated strain of the virus had increased by 81 since June 3.
- The Sun
WHEN IS THE NEXT CORONAVIRUS ANNOUNCEMENT?
Matt Hancock has announced Brits will find out on Monday, June 14, 2021, whether Freedom Day will be moved to July 5.
The PM or senior members of the cabinet hold the press conference from No10 and are usually accompanied by two senior health or science experts.
- The Sun
WATCH: RICHARD MADELEY CLASH WITH DR HILARY JONES OVER LOCKDOWN LIFTING
Richard Madeley in clash with Dr Hilary Jones as he angrily argues against delay to lockdown easing
- The Sun
VACCINE CONFIDENCE IN UNDER 30s INCREASED
Dr Nikki Kanani, director of primary care at NHS England, said that vaccine confidence in younger people had increased.
Speaking as over-25s were invited to book their Covid-19 jabs, Dr Kanani told BBC Breakfast: “We’re still seeing great uptake and we are definitely seeing younger people coming in and asking more questions, which is absolutely fine.
“More than four in five 40 to 49-year-olds have had their first dose and two-thirds of 30 to 39-year-olds have already had theirs, and that is still going to increase, of course, as people come forward, so uptake remains high.
“We had additional polling over the weekend that shows that the confidence in the vaccine has increased by a fifth – by 20% – in those under-40s.
“What’s really important as we go into the younger categories is really appealing to people in their own communities and what our teams have done so well is reflect what a community needs locally – whether that’s setting up pop-up (vaccination centres) in Gurudwaras or temples, or in shopping malls or at workplaces, that has been critical to making sure that people feel confident to take up the vaccine when they’re asked to do so.”
- The Sun
FANS AT ENGLAND'S OPENING EUROS GAME TO BE FIRST TO USE COVID PASSPORTS
Fans attending England's opening Euro 2020 match against Croatia on Sunday will be the first at a sporting event in Britain to have the option of using coronavirus vaccine passports.
European governing body UEFA has confirmed that ticket holders based in Britain can gain entry either by providing proof of a negative lateral flow test or by showing proof of full vaccination — both doses received at least 14 days before the match.
Ticket holders based elsewhere must provide proof of a negative lateral flow test.
- The Sun
COVID REQUIREMENTS FOR WEMBLEYHAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE EUROS
UK-based supporters attending European Championship group games at Wembley can be admitted with proof of a second COVID-19 vaccine dose more than two weeks before the match, European soccer's governing body UEFA said on Tuesday.
The announcement offers an alternative to the existing requirement of a negative COVID-19 test.
However, other ticket holders from elsewhere must still show evidence of a negative Lateral Flow Test (LFT) taken within 48 hours before gates open, UEFA said on its website.
- The Sun
WATCH: MATT HANCOCK SAYS VARIANTS BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO UNLOCKING
Brits’ holiday hopes dashed AGAIN as Matt Hancock warns new variants are ‘biggest challenge’
- The Sun
THE SUN SAYS…
Any case for not unlocking fully on June 21 has surely evaporated.
The Health Secretary’s stats prove it. Yes, cases of the Indian variant, now dominant here, are rising. But so what, if hospitalisations remain as flat as they are?
Deaths are still rock-bottom, with just one UK-wide today. And the vaccines provably conquer the Indian strain. As Matt Hancock said, of 12,000-plus cases only three people jabbed twice ended up in hospital. That is a negligible fraction.
More on the story here.
- [email protected]
WEEKLY COVID DEATHS DROP BELOW 100 FOR FIRST TIME IN NEARLY NINE MONTHS
The number of deaths involving coronavirus registered each week in England and Wales has dropped below 100 for the first time in nearly nine months.
A total of 95 deaths registered in the week ending May 28 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
It is the first time the number has been below 100 since the week to September 11.
It is also the lowest total since the week to September 4.
The figures reflect the steady fall in Covid deaths since January, with the combined impact of social restrictions and the vaccine rollout continuing to drive down the spread of the virus.
- [email protected]
ASPIRIN DOES NOT IMPROVE HOSPITAL SURVIVAL RATES, SAYS STUDY
Aspirin does not improve survival for patients admitted to hospital with coronavirus, a study has found.
Patients with Covid-19 are at increased risk of blood clots forming in their blood vessels, particularly in the lungs.
Between November 2020 and March 2021, the Recovery trial included nearly 15,000 patients admitted to hospital with the virus an assessment of the effects of aspirin, which is widely used to reduce blood clotting in other diseases.
A total of 7,351 patients were randomised to receive 150 mg of aspirin once daily and compared with 7,541 patients randomised to usual care alone.
The study found no evidence that the drug treatment reduced mortality.
- [email protected]
THREEDOM
Britain’s path to freedom has entered the “home straight” — as the UK received another triple dose of Covid good news.
Three million adults in their 20s are now set to get their jab in England as the immunisation blitz today reaches a “watershed moment”.
And just two per cent of patients hospitalised with the Indian variant had received both jabs — proof the vaccines are protecting our most vulnerable despite soaring infections.
In a third boost, NHS England recorded no daily Covid deaths in hospitals on Saturday or Sunday for the first time in 15 months. But officials warn that due to reporting delays, these upbeat figures could change over the next few days.
- [email protected]
WEEKLY COVID DEATHS DROP BELOW 100 FOR FIRST TIME IN NEARLY NINE MONTHS
The number of deaths involving coronavirus registered each week in England and Wales has dropped below 100 for the first time in nearly nine months.
A total of 95 deaths registered in the week ending May 28 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
It is the first time the number has been below 100 since the week to September 11.
It is also the lowest total since the week to September 4.
The figures reflect the steady fall in Covid deaths since January, with the combined impact of social restrictions and the vaccine rollout continuing to drive down the spread of the virus.
- [email protected]
NEARLY A THIRD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL KIDS IN BOLTON ABSENT DUE TO COVID
Nearly a third of secondary school pupils in Bolton were absent for Covid-related reasons on the week before half-term, Government figures suggest.
In the North West of England, Covid-19 related pupil absence was 4% on May 27, compared to the national average of 1.8%, according to the statistics,
This is predominantly due to an increase in cases of coronavirus in Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen, the Department for Education (DfE) analysis said.
In Bolton, 21% of primary and 31% of secondary pupils were reported as absent for Covid-19 related reasons on May 27.
The South West of England had the lowest levels of Covid-19 related pupil absence of any region, with levels well below 1% throughout the half term.
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