Coronavirus UK news update – Vaccine passport trials to start 'next month' as Boris Johnson faces rebellion
TRIALS for coronavirus vaccine passports could start as soon as next month, it has been revealed.
Theatres and stadiums could be the first to pilot the scheme before being expanded to restaurants and pubs, according to the Daily Mail.
The PM could update the country on the progress of vaccine passport plans as soon as Monday, when he is expected to report the results of a study led by Michael Gove.
But Mr Johnson is facing a rebellion to his plans, which have been criticised by backbenchers, and 72 cross-party MPs are preparing to join forces and try to block it.
Included in the rebels are 40 Tories and six ex-Cabinet ministers – who have vowed to block the “divisive and discriminatory” jab passports.
Organised by the pressure group Big Brother Watch, the 72 MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Iain Duncan Smith, are mounting pressure on the Government to halt plans for Covid status certification.
It has also been backed by a string of Tory former ministers including Esther McVey, Nus Ghani, Mark Harper and Harriett Baldwin.
Read our coronavirus live blog below for the very latest news and updates on the pandemic…
- Dan Keane
CARE HOME RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN 'IGNORED' DURING PANDEMIC, CAMPAIGNERS CLAIM
Julia Jones, co-founder of John's Campaign, which is challenging Government guidance that bans visits out of care homes for residents aged 65 and over, said residents had been "comprehensively ignored" during the pandemic.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The first point they did this was July last year, they said they are looking into guidance for visits out of care homes. And they have been looking into it ever since.
"People living in care homes are people very often living towards the end of their lives, or they are people living with a learning disability, for whom their wellbeing is dependent on their routines.
"These people have been comprehensively ignored."
- Dan Keane
UK WON'T SEE EUROPE'S THIRD WAVE
The UK is unlikely to experience a third wave of Covidon the scale of that which is currently sweeping through Europe, a leading expert in public health has said.
Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, told Times Radio: "I think we are in a very different position for two main reasons – the first one is that they are dealing with the B117 (variant) which unfortunately we exported to them and caused us huge challenges – still does – but much more in the winter."
She continued: "More importantly, 11.6% of citizens in the EU on average have been given their first dose of the vaccine – that's all people, not just all adults – compared to over 40% of people in the UK, so you can see they are in a different place than we are."
- Dan Keane
JAB PASSPORTS 'COULD SCUPPER' HOSPITALITY REOPENING
Introducing vaccine passports could potentially "scupper things" for hospitality venues who are trying to reopen, Ms McClarkin added.
On whether life could be made easier for businesses by vaccine passports as it could mean there is no need for them to track and trace, she told BBC Breakfast: "This would be an additional burden put on to the pubs.
"We are desperate to get back open again. We are desperate to do that.
"We will play our part in test and trace but the additional burden of the vaccine passport could really, really scupper things."
- Dan Keane
PUB BOSSES URGE GOVT TO MAKE REOPENING SIMPLE
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, has urged the Government to "just make it practical for venues to try and recover their businesses" as some restrictions are set to ease in April.
She explained that under the guidance people will be able to go inside to use the toilets but they are not allowed to go inside the venue to pay for alcoholic beverages.
She told BBC Breakfast: "This is a problem for many of our pubs, particularly those in rural areas, that perhaps do not have a wifi that extends to an outdoor area and where payment for them at the table would be impossible for them.
"It is just an impracticality for many businesses."
She asked the Government to show some "common sense" and suggested that if people can go in to use the bathroom, then they should be allowed to socially-distance to pay at the bar.
- Dan Keane
BORIS FACES VACCINE PASSPORT REBELLION
Boris Johnson is facing a rebellion over his Covid passport plan as 72 cross-party MPs join forces and prepare to block it.
Included in the rebels are 40 Tories and six ex-Cabinet ministers – who have vowed to block the "divisive and discriminatory" jab passports.
Organised by the pressure group Big Brother Watch, the 72 MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Iain Duncan Smith, are mounting pressure on the Government to halt plans for Covid status certification.
It has also been backed by a string of Tory former ministers including Esther McVey, Nus Ghani, Mark Harper and Harriett Baldwin.
- Dan Keane
STAY AT HOME ORDER LIFTED IN SCOTLAND
The stay-at-home order across Scotland has been lifted.
From today, the order changed from stay at home to stay local, allowing for travel within a local authority area for non-essential purposes.
From Monday, hairdressers and barbers can reopen for pre-booked appointments, click and collect shopping will be permitted, and homeware shops and garden centres can welcome back customers.
University and college students can also return for in-person teaching and outdoor contact sports for 12-17-year olds may resume.
- Dan Keane
CRICKET LEGEND ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL WITH COVID
Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar has been admitted to hospital as a precaution as he battles coronavirus.
The 47-year-old, who tested positive for Covid-19 last weekend, revealed the development on social media.
A post on his official Twitter account said: "Thank you for your wishes and prayers.
"As a matter of abundant precaution under medical advice, I have been hospitalised. I hope to be back home in a few days. Take care and stay safe everyone."
Credit: PA:Press Association - Dan Keane
LABOUR PEER HITS OUT AT VACCINE PASSPORTS
Labour peer Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, a member of a cross-party group of politicians warning against introducing vaccine passports, has called their possible use a "tool of discrimination, oppression and bullying".
The former shadow attorney general told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's dangerous, it's discriminatory, it's counter-productive.
"It seems to me, and many others, that on the one hand, if this level of intrusion into our lives were to be proportionate, then probably it's not safe to open up the economy.
"On the other hand, if it is safe to open up the economy, to come out of this lockdown and this crisis that we have been living under, if it is safe to do that, why create this tool of discrimination, oppression and bullying?"
- Joseph Gamp
INFECTIONS COULD REBOUND IF WORKPLACES ARE NOT COVID-SECURE – TUC
Coronavirus cases could rebound if workplaces are not Covid-secure, union leaders are warning.
The TUC said the vaccine rollout and testing in workplaces should not be used as an excuse for relaxing safety rules affecting workers.
The union organisation urged employers to update their risk assessments to take account of the importance of ventilation, and said any activity which can be conducted outside should be allowed.
A TUC survey of more than 2,000 union safety representatives published this week showed that one in four were unaware of a risk assessment taking place in their workplace in the last two years.
Officials added that companies should try to persuade staff to get the vaccine, but not make it a condition of employment.
- Joseph Gamp
MINISTERS WARNED AGAINST INTRODUCING DOMESTIC VACCINE PASSPORTS
Ministers have been warned against introducing vaccine passports in England by a cross-party group of politicians including senior Conservative MPs and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
More than 70 MPs, including 40 Conservatives, as well as peers from the House of Lords, have launched a campaign to oppose the move which they say would be "divisive and discriminatory".
It comes as a report in The Daily Telegraph suggested a series of pilot tests for Covid passports were being planned which could include the FA Cup final and other sporting events in May, although Number 10 maintained any proposals were still under review.
But a pledge, signed by Mr Corbyn as well as other prominent figures such as Conservative former leader Sir Iain Duncan-Smith, Labour former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and ex-Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, warned the Government against bringing in the scheme.
It has also been backed by a string of Tory former ministers including Esther McVey, Nus Ghani, Mark Harper and Harriett Baldwin.
- Joseph Gamp
FOREIGN HOLIDAY HOTSPOTS 'WILL BE GRADED USING TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM'
Foreign getaway destinations will be ranked under a traffic light system, with fewer restrictions tied to the places boasting the lowest coronavirus rates and high vaccination take-up, it has been reported.
Countries will be graded either green, amber or red, according to how well they are coping with the pandemic, it was claimed.
Hesitancy towards the vaccine across parts of mainland Europe may mean that favoured continental destinations among British holidaymakers are deemed more high-risk than the likes of the US and Israel, where vaccination rates are good.
Overseas holidays are currently banned due to the UK's coronavirus lockdown measures, but Boris Johnson plans to make an announcement on Easter Monday about lifting restrictions in England.
The Times reported that travel to and from so-called red-list countries will be banned, although the Sun newspaper said those arriving back in the UK from such destinations will have to pay to stay at quarantine hotels, as is the current set-up for the worst affected countries.
- Joseph Gamp
MATT HANCOCK SAYS HE'S 'VERY WORRIED' ABOUT NEW ONS DATA REVEALING THE IMPACT OF LONG COVID
Matt Hancock says he’s ‘very worried’ about new ONS data revealing the impact of Long Covid
- Joseph Gamp
EMERGENT SAYS IT HAS DISPOSED OF SPOILT COVID-19 VACCINE BATCH
Johnson & Johnson's manufacturing partner Emergent Biosolutions said on Thursday that it had discarded the single batch of COVID-19 drug substance that did not meet specifications.
J&J on Wednesday said it had found a problem with a batch of the drug substance for its COVID-19 vaccine being produced at Emergent's site in Baltimore, Maryland.
The New York Times reported on Wednesday that about 15 million doses were ruined, without citing a source.
"Discarding a batch of bulk drug substance, while disappointing, does occasionally happen during vaccine manufacturing, which is a complex and multi-step biological process," Emergent said.
- Joseph Gamp
BRAZIL REPORTS 91,097 NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES, 3,769 DEATHS IN 24 HOURS
Brazil recorded 91,097 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, along with 3,769 deaths from COVID-19, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.
Brazil has registered nearly 13 million cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 325,284, according to ministry data
- Joseph Gamp
COVID PASSPORT TRIALS ‘TO START IN WEEKS’ AT EVENTS INCLUDING WEMBLEY FA CUP
Covid passsports will be trialled in the UK this month – and Brits heading to the FA Cup Final and the World Snooker Championship will have to test negative first.
A trial for the scheme – which eventually could allow bars and big events to abandon social distancing – will be unrolled within weeks.
It comes as the Government forges ahead with the idea, despite a growing rebellion from MPs.
The Telegraph reports that new details of around a dozen pilot schemes will be announced in the coming days.
The FA Cup final, an FA Cup semi-final, the League Cup final and the World Snooker Championship are taking part, with the Brit Awards also in discussions.
- Joseph Gamp
POLICE WARN AGAINST LARGE EASTER WEEKEND GATHERINGS
Britain's biggest police force is warning people not to gather in large groups over the Easter weekend following an easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
Forecasters said a "big swing" in weather conditions could bring gale-force winds and even snow to parts of the UK over the bank holiday, while parts of the South would hang on to warmer conditions for the longest.
The cooler temperatures could limit scenes of revelry seen in packed parks and beauty spots around the country during almost record-breaking March conditions earlier this week.
But the change in weather could tempt people to meet up inside, which is still banned under coronavirus regulations, except for those in the same household or support bubble.
While groups of six, or two households, are allowed to meet outside, the Metropolitan Police said larger gatherings, including house parties and illegal raves, will be shut down.
- Joseph Gamp
PFIZER SAYS ITS VACCINE CONTINUES TO BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST COVID-19 UP TO SIX MONTHS LATER.
Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, announced updated results Thursday from their ongoing late-stage study of more than 44,000 volunteers.
The companies said the vaccine was 91% effective against symptomatic disease and was even more protective in preventing severe disease. Of 927 confirmed COVID-19 cases detected through March 13, 77 were among people who received the vaccine and 850 were among people who got dummy shots.
There were no serious safety concerns and the vaccine also appeared to work against a variant first detected in South Africa, the companies said.
The U.K. and U.S. gave the emergency green light to roll out Pfizers vaccine late last year followed by many other countries. The vaccine is authorized for ages 16 and up.
This week, the companies said the vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12, based on a study of 2,260 U.S. volunteers.
- Joseph Gamp
POLAND HITS DAILY RECORD OF 35,251 CASES IN 24 HOURS
Poland reached a record 35,251 coronavirus cases on Thursday.
The Health Ministry says 621 more deaths were registered. The previous case record was 35,143 on Friday.
Hospitals in the southern Silesia region have run out of COVID-19 beds and patients are being directed to other regions. The situation is also difficult in the central region, including Warsaw.
The government has sped up the inoculation in the nation of 38 million and opened the registration of persons between age 40 to 60 on Thursday.
So far, almost 6.3 million vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have been administered. More than 2 million are fully vaccinated. In Poland, theres been 2.4 million cases and nearly 54,000 confirmed deaths.
- Joseph Gamp
INDOOR HOSPITALITY COULD REOPEN IN WALES BY THE END OF MAY
Wales could reopen indoor hospitality and all holiday accommodation by the end of May if Labour retain control of the Welsh Government, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.
Mr Drakeford said the "ambition" was dependent on Wales' public health situation at the time and whether he was still leading the country following May's Senedd elections.
On Thursday he set out further dates for his road map out of lockdown, which included lifting travel rules and reopening all close contact services and shops on April 12 and reopening outdoor hospitality from April 26.
Speaking at Thursday's Welsh Government press conference, Mr Drakeford said he would continue a "careful, step-by-step approach" to lifting the restrictions, but wanted to allow people to "plan even further ahead" by outlining potential easing of measures after the May 6 election.
Mr Drakeford said: "On Monday May 17, we will see the resumption of children's indoor activities, the reopening of community centres and the resumption of organised activities for adults for up to 15 people, and that will be able to include exercise classes.
"Beyond that date, our ambition will be for indoor hospitality and remaining visitor accommodation to be able to reopen ahead of the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May."
- Joseph Gamp
ALMOST ONE IN SEVEN PEOPLE SUFFER LONG COVID, FIGURES SUGGEST
Almost one in seven people who test positive for Covid-19 are still suffering symptoms three months later, according to new UK figures.
The largest study of its kind on long Covid from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), found people with coronavirus are significantly more likely than the general population to report ongoing issues, which can include muscle pain and fatigue.
Among a sample of more than 20,000 people who tested positive for Covid-19 between April last year and March this year, 13.7% continued to experience symptoms for at least 12 weeks.
This was eight times higher than in a control group of people who are unlikely to have had Covid-19, the ONS said.
Of those who tested positive, a fifth (21%) still had coronavirus symptoms five weeks after their test.
- Joseph Gamp
CHRIS WHITTY WARNS UK AT RISK OF COVID SPIKES FOR TWO YEARS
THE UK is at risk of Covid spikes for two years – and travel bans to virus hotspots will be needed into the summer, Chris Whitty has warned.
England’s Chief Medical Officer gave the grave prediction today – but said coronavirus will eventually become as manageable as flu.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
MEXICO REPORTS 5,381 NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES, 454 DEATHS
Mexico on Thursday reported 5,381 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 454 more fatalities, bringing the country's total to 2,244,268 infections and 203,664 deaths, according to data from the health ministry.
The government says the real case numbers are likely significantly higher, and separate data published recently by the health ministry suggested the actual death toll from coronavirus may be at least 60% above the confirmed figure
- Joseph Gamp
NEW MODEL OF COVID-19 SPIKE PROTEIN 'COULD HELP VACCINE DEVELOPMENT'
New vulnerable sites on the surface of the Covid-19 spike protein have been identified by scientists who say their work could help in the development of vaccines.
Coronavirus is studded with spike proteins that it uses to enter human cells.
Covid-19 vaccines work by teaching the immune system to make antibodies to the spike protein.
Researchers in Germany have developed a detailed model of the spike protein to identify potential target sites on its surface for the antibodies.
They said previous models have not shown the flexibility of the spike protein or the movements of the protective glycans – which they describe as chains of sugar molecules – that coat it.
- Joseph Gamp
DECLINE IN COVID RATES
Case rates have dropped slightly in all regions of England, Public Health England said.
Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the highest rate in the week to March 28, with 109.1 cases per 100,000 people, down slightly week-on-week from 112.2.
The East Midlands had the next highest at 70.1, down from 78.4.
South-west England had the lowest rate with 28.4, broadly unchanged week-on-week from 29.0.
- Joseph Gamp
CHRIS WHITTY (CONTINUED…)
Prof Whitty told a Royal Society of Medicine conference today that Brits must "remain cautious for the next year or two".
After that time, it's hoped, more vaccines will have been approved, while formulas can be tweaked to deal with super-infectious mutant variations more quickly.
"Technology will find its way through this in the long run," Prof Whitty said.
"But there is a period of risk between now and then."
He said that if a variant emerges which has "unconstrained growth", the Government must pull the "alarm cord" and bring back tough measures.
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