MORE than 20 million people have had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine in the UK.
Boris Johnson hailed the "huge national achievement" while praising the NHS, volunteers and armed forces for their work in the vaccine roll-out.
The Prime Minister tweeted: "20 million people across the UK have now got the jab – a huge national achievement and a testament to the tireless work of NHS staff, volunteers, the Armed Forces & many more.
"I urge everyone to get the jab when called. Every jab makes a difference in our battle against COVID."
"So my key message tonight is look, this is all going very well but there are some worrying signs that people are relaxing, taking their foot off the brake at exactly the wrong time."
It comes as another 144 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus and 6,035 new cases have been reported – the lowest number of daily deaths since 136 were announced on 2 November – and the lowest figure for new cases since 28 September, when there were 4,044.
Follow our coronavirus live blog below for the very latest news and updates on the pandemic…
- Elizabeth Little
UK'S LOWEST COVID FIGURES
Today’s UK coronavirus figures are the lowest respective daily figures for months.
They compare to the 290 coronavirus deaths and 7,434 new infections recorded on Saturday.
It is the fewest daily reported deaths since 136 were announced on 2 November – and fewest new cases since 28 September, when there were 4,044.
- Elizabeth Little
144 COVID DEATHS IN UK
A further 144 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK.
An additional 6,035 new cases have also been reported.
The total number of people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavrus in the UK now stands at 122,849.
- Elizabeth Little
SINGLE DOSE OF VACCINE OFFERS 90% PROTECTION
Figures show a single dose of a coronavirus vaccine can reportedly give 90 per cent protection from the disease.
As a result, the jabs are slashing hospitalisations.
The results apply to the Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, with the British jab proving slightly more effective against the virus.
The figures, taken from a study based in England, were calculated by comparing people who had received a first dose of the jab with others of a similar age who had not got their vaccine yet.
And researchers say the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is more effective than Pfizer's vaccine at stopping people from becoming severely ill and needing to be hospitalised, the Mail on Sunday reports.
- Elizabeth Little
WHAT IS A VACCINE PASSPORT PETITION?
An online petition has been set up on parliament’s website calling for the government not to introduce a vaccine passport.
Boris Johnson though has announced a review of the scheme, indicating it could allow people to travel and attend large events.
An online petition was started urging the government not to introduce vaccine passports.
The petition says the passports could be "used to restrict the rights of people who have refused a Covid-19 vaccine".
- Elizabeth Little
60’s INVITED TO BOOK JAB
Nearly 2million people aged 60 to 63 in England are now being invited to book a jab.
NHS England said that the letters will start landing on doormats from Monday, explaining how people can make an appointment to get jabbed through the national booking service.
The impressive progress has put the UK as one of the global frontrunners when it comes to the vaccine.
The government has now set the Herculean task of giving ALL adults a first dose by the end of July.
- Elizabeth Little
U.S. SCHOOL KIDS TO BE VACCINATED BY END OF YAER
Anthony Fauci has said children under 12 will be vaccinated "earliest the end of the year and very likely the first quarter of 2022", and high school students "sometime this fall".
The US’ most senior infectious disease official also told NBC that he would take the newly approved Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, as he encouraged Americans to accept whatever version was available.
"All three of them are really quite good, and people should take the one that's most available to them," he said.
"If you go to a place and you have J&J, and that's the one that's available now, I would take it."
- Elizabeth Little
149 COVID-19 DEATHS IN ENGLAND
A further 149 people have died from Covid-19 in England.
It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 83,123.
- Elizabeth Little
DEPRESSION RISES IN PANDEMIC
Post-natal depression in men and women has risen during the pandemic.
The PANDAS Foundation recorded a 240% rise in calls to its helpline since January 2019, as well as a 150% spike in demand for its email service, it told Sky News.
As a result, the charity is trying to recruit fathers as volunteers – and is sending out an "urgent" appeal for more funding.
- Elizabeth Little
VACCINE MINISTER CELEBRATES MILESTONE
Nadhim Zahawi has applauded the UK milestone of 20-million Covid-19 vaccines.
The vaccines minister tweeted: "BINGO! One Score over 20,000,000 people have had the vaccination (1s dose)."
"What an achievement for February 2021. What a team! Proud to be with you on this journey."
- Elizabeth Little
20 MILLION VACCINATED IN UK
More than 20 million people have now been given a coronavirus vaccine jab in the UK, Matt Hancock has said.
Posting on Twitter, the health secretary said he was “delighted” more than 20 million people across the UK have now been vaccinated.
He went on: “A magnificent achievement for the country. “
“The vaccine is our route out. When you get the call, get the jab!”
- Elizabeth Little
NORTHERN IRELAND COVID DEATHS
Northern Ireland has reported three further coronavirus deaths.
The country also confirmed another 136 new cases of Covid-19.
- Elizabeth Little
TRAGIC COVID DEATH
The family of a 28-year-old teaching assistant and mum who died of Covid are paying tribute after she was found lifeless in bed.
Noleen Thompson, from West Belfast, died days after testing positive for coronavirus, leaving her two children behind.
Her family is reportedly devastated, with Noleen’s death leaving a "huge hole" in their lives.
Noleen’s uncle Sean said her partner Martin had called the paramedics on Wednesday after finding his partner in bed, not breathing.
- Niamh Cavanagh
EXPLAINER – SHOULD I HAVE THE VACCINE IF I WANT TO GET PREGNANT?
Coronavirus vaccines are being given out across the UK and experts are working their way through the most vulnerable in society.
The safety of vaccines for pregnant women has already be questioned, but others are concerned that the jab will leave them infertile.
Social media is awash with vaccine misinformation and many women who have become eligible for the vaccine are now questioning whether or not they should have the jab.
Speaking to The Sun, Dr Sarah Jarvis GP and Clinical Director of Patientaccess.com said there are no scientific mechanisms which would mean Covid vaccines aren't safe for women who want to have a baby.
This counts both for women who are trying to get pregnant – or those who may be planning to have children later on in life.
- Niamh Cavanagh
HOW MNAY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IN THE UK SO FAR?
- Niamh Cavanagh
JAB JOY
A single dose of a coronavirus vaccine can reportedly give 90 per cent protection from the disease – as new figures show jabs are slashing hospitalisations.
The results apply to the Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, with the British jab proving slightly more effective against the bug.
The figures, taken from a study based in England, were calculated by comparing people who had received a first dose of the jab with others of a similar age who had not got their vaccine yet.
And researchers say the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is more effective than Pfizer's vaccine at stopping people from becoming severely ill and needing to be hospitalised, the Mail on Sunday reports.
- Elizabeth Little
POLICE REPORT CROWDED BEACHES
South Wales Police report increase in crowds at beaches and beauty spots
Welsh coronavirus restrictions state people must start and finish their exercise at home – not drive somewhere to walk, run or cycle.
- Elizabeth Little
RUSSIA VACCINE WORKS AGAINST VARIANTS
Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has produced strong results against new coronavirus mutations in recent trials, researchers claim.
Deputy director of the Gamaleya centre in Russia, Denis Logunov, said the trial showed revaccination with the Russian vaccine "is working very well" against new Covid-19 mutations, including the UK and South African variants.
Results of the trial are expected to be published soon, but this was the first indication of how the tests were going.
- Elizabeth Little
WALES REPORTS 24 COVID DEATHS
Wales has reported 24 further Covid-19 deaths and 247 new confirmed cases.
The latest figures are down on a week ago – when there were 16 deaths and 336 new infections recorded.
- Elizabeth Little
LOCKDOWN ROADMAP 'COULD BE SPED UP'
The lockdown roadmap should be sped up if Covid infections continue to plunge, a top expert says.
Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, believes the roadmap should be accelerated if things are going well.
He told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "I think it’s very clear that if things move more quickly, more positively than expected, if we have a very high fraction of people vaccinated and very low levels of infection, then yes it should be sped up.
"There’s no need to stick to a date if things go better than expected."
- Elizabeth Little
NO EARLY END TO LOCKDOWN
Rishi Sunak has ruled out any chance of an early end to lockdown.
The Chancellor told Sky News the last thing businesses needed was a "stop, start" return to normal life.
Mr Sunak told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the road map set out by Boris Johnson was the right "cautious but irreversible approach".
He added: “Those will be the earliest dates that we think we can do the various things we've laid out.
- Elizabeth Little
MILLIONS MORE INVITED TO BOOK JAB
Matt Hancock has revealed nearly two million people aged 60 – 63 in England will be invited to book a COVID vaccine.
The Health Secretary wrote on Twitter: “We're making great strides in protecting our population from this virus – let's not blow it now.”
- Elizabeth Little
'COVID MANSLAUGHTER'
A carer has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter over a Covid-19 death in what is believed to be the first case of its kind.
Police are said to be investigating allegations related to infection, prevention and control after a patient died of coronavirus.
An insurance company handling the case made the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) aware of the arrest, The Mirror reports.
It is not clear where or when the carer was arrested – or which care home they worked at.
- Elizabeth Little
ALMOST 25% OF LONDON NHS WORKERS REFUSE JAB
Almost a quarter of frontline NHS staff in London – including some doctors and nurses – have failed to accept the coronavirus vaccine, shock Government figures reveal.
The drive to inoculate health workers has stalled amid an alarming vaccine hesitancy, particularly among some ethnic minority employees, according to an investigation by The Mail on Sunday.
More than 41,000 frontline healthcare workers, which includes medics, hospital porters, cleaners and laboratory staff, have not had the jab in the capital, equivalent to 24 per cent of the workforce.
- Elizabeth Little
CZECH REPUBLIC DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY
The Czech government has called a new state of emergency for 30 days starting today, amid soaring case numbers.
It comes after the country saw new infections rise to almost one in 100 people this week, among the highest rates in the world.
The declaration gives the government powers to curb people's movement as it looks to sharply tighten restrictions.
The move was expected after parliament rejected extending a current state of emergency earlier today.
- Elizabeth Little
PLOT TO STOP SCHOOLS REOPENING
Militant teachers are hatching a last-minute strike plot to disrupt the full re-opening of schools, The Sun can reveal.
Hard-line union activist Martin Powell-Davies is backing industrial action ballots on the eve of all kids returning to class.
In a rallying call, he says school chiefs will be “failing in their responsibilities” on health and safety grounds by opening their doors if Covid cases don’t drop dramatically.
The executive body of the 450,000-strong National Education Union has been called on to back his plans. Read more here.
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