Covid UK news LIVE – London 'passes coronavirus peak' as lockdown turns tide plus 'all over 50s to get vaccine by March'

A TERRIFYING new Brazilian covid strain is causing such alarm that planes from Portugal and South America are now banned from the UK.

Government scientists say the Brazilian variant – known as mutation 194 – is similar to the highly contagious South African strain.

There are serious concerns not only over how infectious the strain is, but also that it may be such a significant mutation from the original coronavirus strain that vaccines may be less effective or not work at all.

The flight ban will come into effect from today, meaning anyone will be unable to fly direct from the dozen nations to the UK – but the USA will be spared.

Follow the very latest news, updates and analysis of the coronavirus crisis in our live blog below.

  • Chris Bradford

    'DON'T TAKE TRAVEL ADVICE FROM ME,' SAYS SHAPPS

    Pressed on whether it was wise for pensioners who have had the vaccine to book summer holidays, Grant Shapps told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I am the last person you should take travel advice on this from.

    "I remember about this time last year, or a little bit later, being asked whether I would book a summer holiday. We then had the travel corridors and I did book, I went to Spain with my family.

    "And, within an hour of getting there, I, myself, put Spain… took them out of the travel corridor, meaning that I needed to come home and start my quarantine, leaving my family there.

    "So, don't take any travel advice from me."

  • Chris Bradford

    'GIVE PARENTS STRUGGLING TO FEED THEIR KIDS EXTRA CASH RATHER THAN FOOD PARCELS OR VOUCHERS', SAYS LABOUR

    Shadow education secretary Kate Green has called on the Government to give parents struggling to feed their children extra cash rather than food boxes or vouchers.

    Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Ms Green said: "There is so much research going back many decades that if you give parents money to spend on their children – buying them food, buying them clothes, buying essentials, that's what they do.

    "And in fact more than that, we know that when families haven't got enough money to feed their children properly, it's parents, particularly mums who go without."

    She added: "Of course we need children to be properly fed with nourishing foods, but we need mums and dads to be properly fed with nourishing food so they can look after their families properly.

    "Everything we know is that if you give parents money to spend on their children, that's what they do, that's what they prioritise – as any parent would."

  • Chris Bradford

    PANDEMIC PINCH

    The UK economy shrank by 2.6% in November after England was placed in lockdown for a second time, according to official figures.

    But the figures from the Office for National Statistics were better than the 5.6% slump that had been expected.

    November's decline came after six consecutive months of growth, with a 0.6% improvement in October.

    The UK gross domestic product is now 8.5% below its pre-pandemic peak in February 2020.

    Experts are warning the UK faces a possible double-dip recession once the true impact of a third national lockdown on the economy is revealed.

    A double-dip is recession when the economy shrinks, briefly recovers, and then enters recession again.

  • Chris Bradford

    SOUTH AMERICA TRAVEL BAN IS 'A BIT LATE', DOCTOR CLAIMS

    The South America travel ban which came into force at 4am this morning is "slightly late" but will still "minimise the risk" of the new coronavirus variant found in Brazil from entering the UK, a scientist has claimed.

    Speaking on BBC Breakfast, epidemiologist Dr Mike Tildesley said: "We always have this issue with travel bans of course, that we're always a little bit behind the curve.

    "With Covid we need to remember that when you develop symptoms you could have been infected up to a couple of weeks ago.

    "So it's really important that these travel bans come in quickly so that we can prevent any risk.

    "My understanding is that there haven't really been any flights coming from Brazil for about the past week, so hopefully the immediate travel ban should really minimise the risk."

    He added that scientists will know "in the next few days" whether the ban has had "a significant effect".

  • Chris Bradford

    'WILLIAMSON SHOULD RESIGN', SAYS LABOUR

    Shadow education secretary Kate Green has called on Gavin Williamson to resign following the latest row over food parcels provided to families in need of support during the pandemic.

    The Government was forced to U-turn on a policy of providing goods instead of cash or vouchers when images of boxes containing just £4 or £5 worth of food instead of the promised £30 were shared online, sparking a public outcry.

    When asked if she thought it was time for the Education Secretary to quit, Ms Green told Good Morning Britain: "Yes I am going to say that, because I think patience has completely run out with Gavin Williamson and I do think it is time for him to go.

    "Our children's future, our children's education, our children's well being, is too important to be left in the hands of someone who plainly isn't up to the job and I think it's time for him to go."

    Ms Green was heavily critical over Mr Williamson's handling of exams over the summer – which saw thousands of students results' downgraded based on predictions by an algorithm.

  • Chris Bradford

    CLUBS TO MISS OUT ON MILLIONS AS PRE-SEASON TOURS AXED FOR SECOND SEASON RUNNING

    Premier League sides have reportedly accepted that pre-season tours around the world won't happen this summer due to coronavirus.

    It will be the second summer in a row that the money-spinners are shelved as the pandemic rages on.

    MailOnline reports that 'tours are already off the agenda', with there even being concerns around trips within the UK.

    The government is rolling out a huge vaccination programme with it hoped that by mid-July 'huge numbers of the UK population will be vaccinated'.

    But there are still worries that travel restrictions will remain in place.

    Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool all had to cancel plans to travel last summer.

  • Chris Bradford

    ‘STAY VIGILANT’

    A son revealed his agony after his 85-year-old dad died of Covid days after receiving his first dose of the vaccine.

    Colin Horseman, 85, got the jab on December 16 after spending the year in his bungalow largely isolated from friends and family.

    But he was struck down with a kidney infection and tested positive for the deadly virus in hospital on January 2 – before his first vaccine dose could fully kick in. 

    Advice issued on the UK government website says the Pfizer vaccine offers 52.4 per cent protection from the virus after the first dose – but this can take up to 10 days to develop and does not mean the person has full Covid immunity. 

    Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has also warned being vaccinated doesn’t reduce the risk "to zero".

  • Chris Bradford

    TRAVEL BAN 'NEEDED' TO HELP WITH VACCINE MEASURES, SAYS TRANSPORT SEC

    Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has insisted the ban on travellers from South America and Portugal is needed to help with coronavirus vaccine measures in the UK.

    He said the move was to combat a new strain of coronavirus found in Brazil, telling Sky News: "Scientists aren't saying that the vaccine won't work against it.

    "But we are at this late stage now, we have got so far – we have got jabs into the arms of three million Brits now – that's more than France, Spain, Germany, Italy put together, and we do not want to be tripping up at this last moment.

    "Which is why I took the decision, as an extra precaution, to ban those flights entirely."

    Mr Shapps added: "Everybody coming from anywhere not on a travel corridor must, by law, quarantine.

    "And there are not exceptions to that and you can end up with a criminal record if you don't."

  • Alex Winter

    TENS OF MILLIONS 'VACCINATED BY MARCH'

    More than 32million over-50's could be vaccinated by the end of March under new Government plants to ramp up the jab roll-out.

    The Government is said to be preparing to more than double the pace of the current programme next week to up to half a million jabs a day.

    A source told The Times: “We have the supply coming in.

    "Once we get to the over-60s things will speed up dramatically and distribute at scale through pharmacies.”

    Image: Getty
  • Alex Winter

    R-RATE IS FINALLY DROPPING, EXPERTS SAY

    The UK's Covid R-rate may finally have dropped below one in some areas, experts say.

    Academics at Cambridge University believe the rate could be as low as 0.6 in London, which has been the epicentre of the disease in recent weeks.

    But they've warned deaths are yet to peak – and yesterday, Professor Neil Ferguson warned we could face some form of lockdown until the autumn.

    Here's the story.

  • Alex Winter

    DEATHS SURGE DURING DEADLY SECOND WAVE

    More than 1,000 more Covid deaths were recorded yesterday for the third day in a row.

    The total number of people who have lost their lives to the disease in UK now stands at 86,015 after 1,248 deaths were reported on Thursday.

    Wednesday saw the deadliest day of the pandemic after 1,564 more people died in the highest daily death toll so far.

    The daily death toll is now higher than it was at the peak of the first wave
  • Niamh Cavanagh

    BOOSTER SHOT

    More than 32million over-50's could be vaccinated by the end of March under new Government plants to ramp up the jab roll-out, it has been reported.

    The Government is said to be preparing to more than double the pace of the current programme next week to up to half a million jabs a day.

    Ministers believe they will be abel to hit Boris Johnson's target of vaccinting the 15million most vulnerable by February 15.

    A senior Whitehall Source told The Times they were confident that are all 32million over-50s could receive their first dose by mid to late March.

    The source said: “We have the supply coming in.

    "Once we get to the over-60s things will speed up dramatically and distribute at scale through pharmacies.”

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    STILL CLIMBING

    Covid deaths today pushed 1,000 for the third day in a row as cases rose by a further 48,682.

    The total number of people who have lost their lives to the disease in UK now stands at 86,015 after 1,248 deaths were reported today.

    A further 48,682 people have tested positive – bringing the total to 3,260,258 – as a mutant strain continues to rampage across the country.

    Yesterday saw the deadliest day of the pandemic after 1,564 more people died in the highest daily death toll so far.

    Today is the third highest daily rise of deaths and the fourth time more than 1,000 fatatlies have been recorded in a 24-hour period.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    CONTINUED

    Compared with an average month in 2019, during the peak of the first Covid wave in April 2020, the monthly number of referrals by GPs to hospital clinics for investigation of possible bowel cancer fell by 63 per cent from 36,274 to 13,440.

    It also found that the number of colonoscopies performed fell by 92 per cent from 46,441 to 3,484.

    The monthly number of people with confirmed bowel cancer referred for treatment fell by 22 per cent from 2,781 to 2,158, the study showed.

    The research published in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology further found that the number of operations performed fell by 31 per cent from 2,003 to 1,378.

    Lead author, Professor Eva Morris, from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford, said: "These results reflect serious disruption in the normal identification and treatment of patients with bowel cancer.

    "Early diagnosis is key to obtaining the best survival for bowel cancer so these delays in diagnosis are likely to have severe consequences on survival rates from the disease."

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    NO TIME 2 LOSE

    Thousands are at risk of dying from bowel cancer as the number of people being diagnosed has fallen since the first Covid lockdown.

    More than 3,500 fewer patients than expected were diagnosed with the disease between April and October 2020, new research shows.

    The study, by the University of Oxford, suggests that many people whose cancer diagnosis has yet to be made may die unnecessarily.

    Fewer than one in ten people survive bowel cancer if it's picked up at stage 4, but detected quickly, more than nine in ten patients will live five years or longer.

    Early diagnosis is key, which is why The Sun launched the No Time 2 Lose campaign – to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease, to empower everyone to check themselves.

    But the new research shows that the number of GP referrals for bowel cancer has fallen sharply – leaving thousands in the dark.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    CONTINUED

    Colin, a former weight-lifting champ, was due to have his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 4, but was on a ventilator fighting for his life. 

    He died 24 hours later on January 5 – without any family at his bedside.

    Last night, his heartbroken son, Simon, 52, urged Brits not to let their guard down despite the arrival of the vaccine.

    He echoed Boris Johnson's call for "maximum vigilance" and insisted the vaccine would not make people "invincible".

    Dad-of-three Simon, of Doncaster, South Yorks., told The Sun: "People need to remain vigilant and stick to the rules.

    "We're not out of the woods yet. The vaccine has given us a tremendous boost but it doesn't mean Covid is beaten.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    'STAY VIGILANT'

    A son revealed his agony after his 85-year-old dad died of Covid days after receiving his first dose of the vaccine.

    Tragic Colin Horseman, 85, got the jab on December 16 after spending the year in his bungalow largely isolated from friends and family.

    But he was struck down with a kidney infection and tested positive for the deadly virus in hospital on January 2 – before his first vaccine dose could fully kick in. 

    Advice issued on the UK government website says the Pfizer vaccine offers 52.4 per cent protection from the virus after the first dose – but this can take up to 10 days to develop and does not mean the person has full Covid immunity. 

    Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has also warned being vaccinated doesn't reduce the risk "to zero".

  • Dan Keane

    POSTCODE LOTTERY

    New figures reveal a postcode lottery for Covid vaccinations with the West Midlands jabbing 50 per cent of over-80s – while London lags behind on 30 per cent.

    According to the Telegraph, the Midlands has administered 387,647 doses of the jab, with around 50 per cent – 140, 147 – given to over-80s.

    The region became the first in England to rollout the vaccine when Margaret Keenan received the Pfizer vaccine last month. 

    By contrast, London has vaccinated just 30.6 per cent of this age group so far, which is narrowly ahead of the East of England on 29.2 per cent. 

    Read our full story on that here.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    COVID CRISIS

    A record 4.5million Brits are now on NHS waiting lists owing to the Covid crisis.

    And 192,169 have waited more than a year for an op.

    It is a 137-fold rise on the 1,398 patients who had waited more than a year in November 2019 — and the longest waiting lists since records began.

    Leading medics have warned of a “calamitous impact”.

    Prof Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: “For thousands of people in this country, a corrective operation is the best way to relieve debilitating pain and get them back up on their feet.”

    At least 12,000 fewer heart ops took place last year.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    POTENT SHOT

    The first single dose vaccine to fight coronavirus could be approved in weeks after it was found to be "safe and effective".

    Early trial data for the Johnson & Johnson jab shows 100 per cent of participants developed antibodies to fight off the virus just one month after having the vaccine.

    There are two vaccines that are currently being rolled out in the UK, the Pfizer/BioNTech jab and the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab – both of which are given in two doses.

    The UK has so far secured 30 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson jab.

    Data published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) shows that the jab could be up to 80 per cent effective against Covid.

    The study was comprised of 805 volunteers aged between 18 and 55-years-old as well as people aged 65 or over.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    WE'RE HALF WAY THERE

    Israel has unveiled initial data from its remarkable Covid vaccine rollout campaign showing Pfizer’s jab cuts infection rates in half two weeks after the first of the twin doses is given.

    With 1.9 million Israelis given their first vaccine injection in the past four weeks, there are hopes that skyrocketing Covid rates could be reversed, with an end to the pandemic in sight.

    As more than a fifth of Israel’s population has now received the first dose of the vaccine, and more than 104,000 have also had their second jab, the country could be on the brink of a turnaround, reported the Jerusalem Post.

    The 24/7 rollout has included military aid and squeezing extra doses from each vial of vaccine to maximise the campaign.

    Public health officials have offered a glimmer of hope to the rest of the world, with the reassuring results of its speedy vaccine rollout.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    MUZ BE JOKING

    Andy Murray has tested positive for Covid-19, meaning he is a doubt for next month's Australian Open.

    The two-time Wimbledon champion returned the positive test this week but is only experiencing minor symptoms and is in good health according to pals.

    There was a minor outbreak at the National Tennis Centre in London this month, with fellow Brit Paul Jubb also understood to have contracted coronavirus.

    Muzza had hoped to fly to Melbourne for an emotional return at the Aussie Open, two years after that famous press conference when he broke down and revealed he was close to quitting tennis.

    The 33-year-old says he caught the killer virus in the first outbreak last spring and skipped the Delray Beach Open in Florida this month to reduce his chances of contracting it before heading to Australia.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    NEW MUTANT STRAIN MAP

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    HORROR SYMPTOMS

    These are the shocking pictures of an 11-year-old boy whose eyes and hands turned red and his feet blue due to an illness linked to Covid-19.

    Oliver Schultz, from Latrobte in Pennsylvania, suffered from broken blood vessels in his eyes after he developed Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C), which seems to only affect younger coronavirus sufferers.

    Oliver fell ill around new year with a sore back and fever and tested positive for coronavirus shortly after.

    Mom Aimee rushed him to the children’s hospital in Pittsburgh the following week after his body began to change color.

    Doctors warned the youngster he was at death’s door.

    Aimee said: “The doctors said within an hour Ollie might not have been with us.

    “Oliver looked at me in the emergency room and said ‘Mama, I think I’m going to die.’ “It’s the worst feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life.”

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    MUTANT SPREAD

    A Brazilian nurse beat Covid-19 and then got reinfected with the country's new strain, sparking fears the variant may be more contagious.

    Another new variant was found in Brazil, which has led to ministers banning all flights to the UK from the country as well as other parts of South America.

    It carries a mutation that could make the virus get past immunity developed from previous version of the bug.

    The unnamed 45-year-old nusre came down with the new variant in October – five months after she recovered from an older strain of Covid-19.

    However, her symptoms were worse the second time she caught the virus.

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