SAJID Javid today confirmed England WON'T unlock early on July 5 – as he urged Brits to hang on three more weeks for Freedom Day.
Making his first appearance in the Commons, the new Health Secretary said the Government will look to scrap the majority of restrictions on July 19.
The new Health Secretary ripped up the doomster handbook left by disgraced predecessor Matt Hancock, saying it was his “immediate priority” to end the restrictions.
The former Chancellor ripped up cushy consultancy jobs worth over £300,000 a year to become the people’s freedom fighter.
The business champion turned healthcare chief is well aware of the crippling effect of the pandemic restrictions on the nation’s economy.
Read our Coronavirus blog below for the latest news and updates...
- Joseph Gamp
GRAPHIC: UK COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS PER DAY
- Joseph Gamp
DAILY REPORTED CASES OF COVID AT HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE LATE JANUARY, FIGURES SHOW
The number of new cases of Covid-19 reported each day in the UK has risen to the highest level since late January, new figures show.
A total of 22,868 cases were reported by the Government on Monday, the highest daily rise since January 30 when there were 23,275 cases reported.
The Government also said that a further three people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Monday.
In comparison on January 30, during the second wave and when the vaccination uptake was a lot lower, there were 1,200 deaths reported.
The seven-day rolling average for reported cases currently stands at 16,612 – up 70% from the 9,778 a week ago and the highest since February 9. Of the 315 local authorities in England, 291 (92%) have seen a rise in rates and 24 (8%) have seen a fall.
- Joseph Gamp
MATT HANCOCK REPORTED TO POLICE OVER AFFAIR BY LABOUR MP BUT COPS REFUSE TO INVESTIGATE
Matt Hancock reported to police over affair by Labour MP but cops refuse to investigate
- Joseph Gamp
SHADOW HEALTH SECRETARY WISHES HANCOCK WELL 'IN RESOLVING HIS PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES'
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said he wished Matt Hancock well in tackling his "personal difficulties" following his resignation as health secretary on Saturday.
"Can I just say at the outset that, despite our fierce political differences, that my dealings with the previous secretary of state were always courteous, respectful and professional," said the senior Labour politician.
"I wish him well in resolving his personal difficulties."
- Joseph Gamp
HEALTH SECRETARY JAVID 'CONFIDENT' OF JULY 19 FREEDOM DAY
Sajid Javid said he is "very confident" about easing restrictions in England on July 19.
The Health Secretary stressed the importance of the vaccination programme, telling MPs: "The more people that are getting vaccinated, we're seeing clear evidence that we're breaking the link – and this is absolutely crucial – between people getting infected by Covid-19, so the number of cases, versus those that are ending up, sadly, in hospital or even in some cases losing their lives.
"The more evidence we see of that, the more confident that can make us that we'll put this pandemic behind us.
"That's what gives me confidence about July 19 and all the data that I've seen – yesterday I sat down and discussed it with the experts, some of my colleagues – it's very clear that we're heading in the right direction and I am very confident about that date, July 19."
- Joseph Gamp
BIG TASK AHEAD SAYS SAJID JAVID DURING COMMONS ADDRESS
Health Secretary Sajid Javid, making his first Commons appearance in his new role, told MPs: "There remains a big task ahead of us to restore our freedoms – freedoms that, save for the greatest of circumstances, no government should ever wish to curtail.
"So my task is to help return the economic and cultural life that makes this country so great while of course protecting life and our NHS."
- Joseph Gamp
JAVID CONFIRMS JULY 19 AS DATE FOR ENGLAND'S LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS TO END
Boris Johnson and his new Health Secretary Sajid Javid have confirmed their intention for July 19 to mark the end of England's lockdown restrictions.
Mr Javid resisted pressure from Tory MPs to bring forward the date of Step 4 of the road map, but he said there was "no reason" why the July 19 deadline would not be met.
The Prime Minister signalled that the "terminus" date would mean going "back to life as it was before Covid as far as possible".
In his first Commons statement since replacing Matt Hancock, Mr Javid told MPs: "There remains a big task ahead of us to restore our freedoms – freedoms that, save for the greatest of circumstances, no government should ever wish to curtail.
"So my task is to help return the economic and cultural life that makes this country so great while of course protecting life and our NHS."
- Joseph Gamp
SAJID JAVID PRAISES MATT HANCOCK DURING FIRST COMMONS SPEECH
Sajid Javid also praised his predecessor Matt Hancock, telling MPs: "He worked hard throughout all these testing times.
"He has achieved a great amount in the work that he did and I know he will have more to offer in public life – and I wish him the very best."
- Joseph Gamp
SAJID JAVID: 'WE OWE IT TO THE BRITISH PEOPLE TO RESTORE FREEDOMS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN'
Striking a bullish tone that life will revert to near normal, the minister told MPs: "The restrictions on our freedoms, they must come to an end.
"We owe it to the British people who have sacrificed so much to restore their freedoms as quickly as we possibly can. And not to wait a moment longer than we need to."
- Joseph Gamp
SAJID JAVID CONFIRMS LOCKDOWN WON’T END ON JULY 5
SAJID Javid today confirmed England WON'T unlock early on July 5 – as he urged Brits to hang on three more weeks for Freedom Day.
Making his first appearance in the Commons, the new Health Secretary said the Government will look to scrap the majority of restrictions on July 19.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
SAJID JAVID: JULY 19 REMAINS OUR TARGET DATE
Number are heading in the directions – and July 19 remains our target date.
It is not only the end of the line but the start of an exciting new chapter for the country, he adds.
- Joseph Gamp
JAVID: STEP 4 IS NOT BEING BROUGHT FORWARD
We have decided not to bring forward step four – but there is no reason to go beyond July 19, says Mr Javid.
- Joseph Gamp
SAJID JAVID: MIX OF JABS COULD GIVE BETTER IMMUNE RESPONSES
A mixture of jabs such as AZ and Pfizer could give better immune responses, Mr Javid told MPs.
- Joseph Gamp
JAVID: MORE THAN HALF OF ADULTS OVER 30 GOT JABBED THIS WEEKEND
More than half of adults over 30 took up chance to get vaccinated this weekend.
- Joseph Gamp
JAVID: USING DELAY TO PROTECT AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE
The health secretary says we can all be assured as to how many people are getting the life saving opportunity.
- Joseph Gamp
JAVID: BIG TASK AHEAD OF US
He says his task is to restore the economic and social life that makes the country so great.
The Delta variant will make that task more difficult – and the new strain is a greater risk to people who have not been vaccinated.
- Joseph Gamp
SAJID JAVID: UK IS MAKING 'GREAT PROGRESS'
He pledges to do all he can for this "great country".
Mr Javid says the UK is making "great progress" – and is allowing us to take first steps out of lockdown.
- Joseph Gamp
SAJID JAVID MAKES STATEMENT TO MPs
The new health secretary says he 'understands the responsibility that comes with the job during this critical moment'
- Joseph Gamp
SAJID JAVID DUE TO ADDRESS COMMONS NOW
The new health secretary will address MPs now.
- Joseph Gamp
COVID CASES RISE BY 70% IN A WEEK IN BIGGEST DAILY SURGE SINCE JANUARY WITH 22,868 NEW INFECTIONS
COVID infections have risen by 70 per cent in a WEEK as 22,868 new cases were recorded today – in the highest daily count for five months.
Three more people have also died from the virus in the last 24 hours.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
ANDREW MARR URGES CAUTION AFTER CATCHING COVID DESPITE BEING FULLY VACCINATED
Andrew Marr has urged people to "stay cautious" after he contracted coronavirus despite having been fully vaccinated.
The BBC journalist said he felt "seriously ill" after catching Covid-19 earlier this month.
The political interviewer announced on his Sunday programme, The Andrew Marr Show, that he had contracted the illness.
Writing on the BBC's website on Monday, he warned those who have been given two jabs against complacency.
"I had received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine long before. I wasn't behaving recklessly – but I did feel pretty much invulnerable. I was wrong."
- Joseph Gamp
RESEARCHERS MAKE FACE MASKS THAT DETECT COVID WHILE YOU’RE WEARING THEM
Researchers make face masks that detect Covid while you’re wearing them
- [email protected]
SPECIAL SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING FOR PEOPLE WHO HELPED IN THE PANDEMIC
St Paul’s Cathedral is to play host to a special service of “commemoration and thanksgiving” for the people who have played a role in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
NHS England said staff will be placed “at the heart” of the socially distanced service in central London on July 5, which coincides with the 73rd anniversary of the foundation of the health service.
Doctors, scientists, vaccine champions and health bosses are all due to be present.
Among those attending will be Dr Ashley Price, a member of the team who treated the very first patients with the virus in the country, and May Parsons, who administered the first vaccine outside of a trial.
Rheumatology consultant Dr Perpetual Uke, from Birmingham, who gave birth to twins while in a coma with Covid-19, will have a role in the service, as will Kathrine Dawson, who also gave birth and was in a coma with the virus and whose baby Ruby was born with it.
NHS England said people from “all faiths and none” will attend the service which will “recognise the dedication and commitment of all those who have played their part in combating coronavirus across the NHS, care sector and beyond”.
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WIND DOWN TEST AND TRACE TO TACKLE HOSPITAL WAITING LISTS
Covid-19 test and trace services should be "wound down" so funds can be diverted to deal with the growing NHS waiting list, peers have heard.
Concerns over the Delta variant of the virus, first identified in India, were played down by Conservative Lord Balfe as he suggested a change in approach was required by the Government.
More than five million people are on the waiting list, with former health secretary Matt Hancock last week warning "millions" of people had also yet to come forward with their conditions during the pandemic.
Lord Balfe, speaking during an urgent question on the effectiveness of the NHS Test and Trace system, said: "The latest variant is pretty mild, deaths have gone right down but we're spending billions of pounds on this while there are huge waiting lists building up in the NHS.
"Is it not about time that this programme was wound down and the money was spent on the millions of delayed operations and procedures?"
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GRANT SHAPPS SAYS QUARANTINE FREE TRAVEL FOR BRITS WITH TWO JABS WON’T BE READY FOR FREEDOM DAY
Travel to amber countries won’t be relaxed for double-jabbed Brits in time for Freedom Day on July 19, Grant Shapps admitted today.
With holiday hopes taking a blow, a blow the Transport Secretary said it will be “complicated” to exempt the fully vaccinated from quarantine.
When asked about that prospect today, Mr Shapps replied: “It’s unfortunately more complicated than that.
“One of the very big areas is what do you do if children are not going to be getting vaccinations?
“So we’ll probably focus in phase one on UK people who’ve been double vaccinated, and what that means for their travel into other areas.
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