BORIS Johnson's lockdown roadmap could be delayed – because the UK faces a fresh Covid surge as restrictions ease, an expert has warned.
Dr Peter Drobac, a former assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, warned there will be a spike in cases as Brits enjoy their new-found freedoms – including pubs reopening yesterday.
And he said that unless we take it slow and steady, Britain could face a similar future to Chile – which has just gone back into a strict lockdown, despite one of the world's best vaccination programmes.
Speaking on Sky News, Dr Drobac called the South American country a "real Covid vaccination success story. Some 40 per cent of people have received one dose, and 25 per cent have received two doses – and at the same time, they've got a surge that is the worst they've experienced throughout the pandemic," he said.
Chile has, however, largely been using a Chinese made vaccine that is understood to be less effective than the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines currently being rolled out in the UK.
Last night it was revealed that surge testing is to begin in parts of south London after 44 cases of the South African Covid-19 variant were found.
People living and working in Wandsworth and Lambeth are being urged to get tested after "significant" reports of the mutated virus, in the largest surge testing operation to date.
Additional testing and genomic sequencing will take place predominantly in these boroughs, where 44 confirmed cases and 30 probable cases of the variant first identified in South Africa were found.
The variant is deemed to be more transmissible – potentially up to 50 per cent more infectious.
All identified cases are isolating or have completed their isolation, and their contacts have been traced and asked to isolate.
Read our coronavirus live blog below for the very latest news and updates on the pandemic…
- Debbie White
JAB HAPPY
NHS patients are set to receive the Moderna vaccine today as the Government begins its next phase of the jab rollout.
The vaccine will be the third Covid jab to be dished out in Britain and will be available at 21 sites in England, officials confirmed.
Along with the Pfizer jab, Moderna offers an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for under-30s, after concerns about a possible link to very rare blood clots.
More than 20 sites, including Reading’s Madejski Stadium and the Sheffield Arena, will initially use the newest jab – which Wales and Scotland began administering last week. Read more here.
- Debbie White
SWEDEN REPORTS 19,105 NEW CASES, 39 DEATHS SINCE FRIDAY
Sweden, which has shunned lockdowns throughout the pandemic, has registered 19,105 new coronavirus cases since Friday, health agency statistics showed on Tuesday.
The country of 10 million inhabitants registered 39 new deaths, taking the total to 13,660. The deaths registered have occurred over several days and sometimes weeks.
Sweden's death rate per capita is many times higher than that of its Nordic neighbours' but lower than in most European countries that opted for lockdowns.
- Niamh Cavanagh
PRESSING PAUSE
Pharma giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has delayed the rollout of a single-dose coronavirus vaccine in the EU amid rare blood clot fears.
The company today said it would be pausing the rollout of the jab in the US while it investigated blood clots in six women.
Regulators in the EU have however stated that it is not yet clear as to whether or not there is a link to blood clots and the J&J vaccine.
Experts in the US have also said that halting the jab is through an "abundance of caution".
- Niamh Cavanagh
IS IT POSSIBLE TO GO ON A HOLIDAY DURING THE PANDEMIC?
Holidays abroad are not allowed under the current coronavirus lockdown restrictions, even as they were eased this week.
In the latest stage of the roadmap out of lockdown, high street shops are now allowed to open and pubs and restaurants can serve guests outside.
For Brits wanting a break, there's good new as self-catering stays in holiday lets and caravans are now allowed, though limited to one household, and some campsites have opened where there are no shared facilities.
Hotels and B&Bs remain closed and these are expected to open from May 17 under the current roadmap for leaving lockdown.
- Niamh Cavanagh
GRAN-DEMIC
A gran was slapped with a £60 fine after being caught by cops at a pal's 70th birthday celebrations at her home.
Maureen Hogg, 82, and six others were handed fixed penalty notices for antisocial behaviour after officers busted the illegal house gathering in Eaglesham, Scotland on Sunday night.
It's understood a neighbour raised the 999 alarm about the bash of "around a dozen" pensioners – who have had both doses of the Covid vaccine – at 9pm. Gran-of six-Maureen, who also has two great-grandchildren, was taken home by police after the lockdown-breaching gathering.
Her antics have now gone viral after granddaughter Daisy, 17, shared a snap of the fine on social media.
More on the story here.
- Niamh Cavanagh
HOW CNA I BOOK AN NHS COVID APPOINTMENT?
The NHS is working through a list determined by the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation), which means those who need the jab most will be getting it first.
Most people in the priority list have now had their first jab.
Letters sent to those who qualify to have the vaccine give details on how to book your jab in each area.
To start the booking process you can follow the link sent to you on your letter.
For more on how to book the appointment, click here.
- Alice Peacock
SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT COULD DERAIL LIFTING OF LOCKDOWN
The roadmap out of lockdown could be delayed if the South African variant spreads, an expert has warned.
A “significant” cluster of cases have been detected in south London, leading to the largest surge testing drive so far.
James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute and professor at the University of Oxford, said we will know in “two to three weeks” how much it has spread, once people in Wandsworth and Lambeth have been swabbed.
And it could spell bad news for the reopening of society, the next step of which is on May 17 when indoor mixing is relaxed followed by a lifting of all rules in on June 21.
Prof Naismith told BBC Radio 4: "If the South African variant has really taken off, and we’ll probably know in 2-3 weeks, then we may need to pause reopening".
- Alice Peacock
UK COVID DEATHS PASS TRAGIC 150,000 MILESTONE, OFFICIAL DATA REVEALS
The coronavirus death toll in the UK has now passed 150,000, official data states.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that as of April 2, 150,418 deaths had been recorded with Covid-19 on the death certificate.
As it stands there are only four other countries that have recorded a higher fatality rate than the UK.
The US, India, Brazil and Mexico have all recorded high death tolls.
Data from the ONS states that the updated figure released today includes 450 deaths recorded in the seven days to April 2.
- Alice Peacock
PUBS COULD BE FINED UP TO 10K FOR FAILING TO ENFORCE COVID REGULATIONS
British pubs face being shut or fined up to £10,000 if they fail to enforce coronavirus regulations.
Officials have warned that venues must obey the rules after huge queues were spotted outside boozers yesterday.
Huge queues were seen outside pubs such as Manchester's Friendship Inn, as thirsty punters aimed for a spot to enjoy a pint.
- Alice Peacock
JAB HAPPY
NHS patients are set to receive the Moderna vaccine today as the Government begins its next phase of the jab rollout.
The vaccine will be the third Covid jab to be dished out in Britain and will be available at 21 sites in England, officials confirmed.
Along with the Pfizer jab, Moderna offers an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for under-30s, after concerns about a possible link to very rare blood clots.
More than 20 sites, including Reading’s Madejski Stadium and the Sheffield Arena, will initially use the newest jab – which Wales and Scotland began administering last week. Read more here.
- Niamh Cavanagh
FANDEMONIUM
A 'fan park' with space for 12,500 England fans to watch the postponed Euro 2020 tournament is planned for central London in June.
Giant TV screens will be set up in Trafalgar Square to allow the huge crowd to watch the football outdoors.
And licensing papers seen by MailOnline reveal all seven games played at Wembley Stadium would be shown.
There would even be a bar onsite to allow supporters to raise a glass to a win – or else drown their sorrows.
It means that on both of those days, maximum capacity will be 10,000 with social distancing essential.
- Niamh Cavanagh
RANDOX TO REDUCE PRICES OF PCR TESTS
Major coronavirus testing firm Randox has announced it will reduce the price of PCR tests to £60 for travellers returning to the UK from overseas.
This is around half the typical cost.
The discounted tests will be available for people flying with partner airlines, who have not been announced.
- Niamh Cavanagh
SWEDEN REPORTS 19,105 NEW CASES, 39 DEATHS SINCE FRIDAY
Sweden, which has shunned lockdowns throughout the pandemic, has registered 19,105 new coronavirus cases since Friday, health agency statistics showed on Tuesday.
The country of 10 million inhabitants registered 39 new deaths, taking the total to 13,660. The deaths registered have occurred over several days and sometimes weeks.
Sweden's death rate per capita is many times higher than that of its Nordic neighbours' but lower than in most European countries that opted for lockdowns.
- Niamh Cavanagh
NICOLA STURGEON CONFIRMS SCOTTISH PUBS WILL OPEN INDOORS 3 WEEKS AHEAD OF ENGLAND
Nicola Sturgeon today announced Scottish pubs will open up indoors three weeks ahead of those in England as she accelerated her plans to ease the country's lockdown.
The First Minister said bars and restaurants will be able to welcome customers back inside from April 16 "on a restricted basis" – while English boozers have to wait until at least May 17.
She said: "It’s worth noting the restricted indoor opening of hospitality on the 26th will be actually three weeks ahead of any indoor opening of hospitality in England."
Ms Sturgeon announced she's bringing forward several dates for the easing of lockdown rules, with a heavy focus on allowing families and friends to meet up again.
- Niamh Cavanagh
BE CAREFUL
Boris Johnson warned today that Britain's lockdown has led to lower Covid deaths NOT the vaccine – as he admitted numbers would rise again as England unlocks.
The PM claimed today that "the bulk of the work" was done by people staying inside and not Britain's world leading jab rollout.
Speaking to reporters this morning, Boris warned that cases would go up and urged the nation to continue to be cautious as the head back to the pub.
The PM said today: "Clearly everybody was able yesterday to go to the pub, to go shopping, get a haircut and so on, that's great.
"The numbers are down, infections, hospitalisations and deaths."
- Niamh Cavanagh
FDA TO 'PAUSE USE OF JOHNSON AND JOHNSON' VACCINE WHILE RARE CASES OF BLOOD CLOTS ARE INVESTIGATED
The US could be about to halt the use of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose Covid vaccine over blood clot concerns.
Federal health agencies have called for use of the vaccine to be paused immediately today so that rare cases of blood clots can be investigated.
The FDA this morning tweeted: "Today FDA and @CDCgov issued a statement regarding the Johnson & Johnson #COVID19 vaccine. We are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution.
"As of 4/12, 6.8m+ doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S. CDC & FDA are reviewing data involving 6 reported U.S. cases of a rare & severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine. Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare.
"Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered."
- Niamh Cavanagh
COVID PANDEMIC IS AT A 'CRITICAL POINT' AS WHO WARNS CASES ARE SPIRALLING AGAIN
The COVID pandemic is at a “critical point” and people need a “reality check” as lockdown restrictions are relaxed, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.
Restrictions were eased yesterday in England in line with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown – as infections have plummeted in the UK.
It was yesterday reported that cases in the UK have dropped by 23 per cent in a fortnight to 3,568 infections compared to 4,645 on March 29.
Deaths have also halved in the last week as the spread continues to slow.
Many experts have hailed the vaccine rollout for the fall in fatalities and infections and so far in the UK, over 32 million people have received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine with 7.6 million now having had both doses.
- Niamh Cavanagh
PM REMAINS 'CONFIDENT' ABOUT VACCINE SUPPLIES
Boris Johnson insisted he remains "very confident" about vaccine supplies.
The Prime Minister told reporters in Downing Street: "This always was going to be the 'second dose' month and people should come forward for their second doses and people who are called from the 45-49 (age) group should come forward and get theirs."
- Niamh Cavanagh
DUTCH FACE PROSPECT OF EXTENDED LOCKDOWN AMIDST RISING INFECTIONS
The Dutch government is expected to delay the long-awaited easing of lockdown restrictions including a nighttime curfew in an announcement later on Tuesday, due to stubbornly high COVID-19 infection rates that are putting pressure on hospitals.
The office of Prime Minister Mark Rutte office said on Sunday "it is still too early" to allow more people to gather in public places.
Authorities had hoped to reopen outdoor cafes and restaurants next week, but roughly six months after they shut, infection rates remain high and intensive care admissions are on the rise.
Current measures in the Netherlands, which has seen 1.3 million coronavirus cases and more than 16,700 deaths, include the first nighttime curfew since World War Two and a ban on public gatherings of more than two people.
- Niamh Cavanagh
LOCKDOWN EASING COULD BE DELAYED IF SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT SPREADS, EXPERT WARNS
Lockdown easing could be delayed if the South African variant spreads, an expert has warned.
A “significant” cluster of cases have been detected in south London, leading to the largest testing drive so far. James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute and professor at the University of Oxford, said we will know in “two to three weeks” how much it has spread once people in Wandsworth and Lambeth have been swabbed.
Prof Naismith told BBC Radio 4: “I am supportive of the Government unlocking, I think people need some way out of this. But I think we have to be driven by what happens with the variants, what happens with the vaccination campaign. We might have to slow it, we might have to reverse it. We might be able to continue as we are. But the important thing is we need to watch if the South African variant has really taken off, and we’ll probably know in 2-3 weeks, then we may need to pause reopening.”
- Niamh Cavanagh
GOVERNMENT WILL MISS GOAL OF ADMINISTERING 180,000 JABS THIS WEEK
The Government's goal of administering 180,000 jabs this week will be missed following the change in advice on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Thousands of vaccine appointments this week will be rescheduled by the HSE after the the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) said that the vaccine should not be administered to people under the age of 60 in Ireland.
The decision came after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) warned that rare blood clots have been associated with the jab.
The HSE is examining the effect of the change in advice on the Government's vaccine rollout programme.
Some 813,000 AstraZeneca vaccines are due to be delivered over the next three months, including 224,000 in April.
- Niamh Cavanagh
WHEN WILL OVER 45S GET THE VACCINE?
Brits aged over 45 have been invited to book their Covid vaccine.
The NHS booking website now tells people they can make an appointment if they are aged 45 or over.
Slots were available for as early as tomorrow through the online system.
The rush caused the website has already crashed for many eager to get their shot of either the Pfizer, Oxford/AstraZeneca or Moderna jab.
- Niamh Cavanagh
BREAKING – UK COVID DEATHS PASS TRAGIC 150,000 MILESTONE, OFFICIAL DATA REVEALS
The coronavirus death toll in the UK has now passed 150,000, official data states.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that as of April 2, 150,418 deaths had been recorded with Covid-19 on the death certificate.
As it stands there are only four other countries that have recorded a higher fatality rate than the UK.
The US, India, Brazil and Mexico have all recorded high death tolls.
Data from the ONS states that the updated figure released today includes 450 deaths recorded in the seven days to April 2.
- Niamh Cavanagh
BREAKING – WHO CHIEFS FINALLY CALL FOR A BAN ON WET MARKETS OVER COVID OUTBREAK
The World Health Organization today called for a halt to the sale of live wild mammals in food markets to prevent the spread of disease and any future pandemics.
They have called on countries to abandon the traditional trade of "live caught wild animals of mammalian species" in a bid to curb public health risks.
It is a dramatic U-turn from the WHO's original decision to back the re-opening of the controversial wet markets last May. Health experts around the world condemned the decision to support the trade, which restarted at the original virus epicentre in China.
A dual WHO-Chinese study published last month that investigated the origins of coronavirus suggested the markets selling both live and dead animals were a likely source.
- Niamh Cavanagh
PUBS FACE BEING SHUT OR FINED UP TO £10K AS HUGE QUEUES THREATEN TO BREAK COVID RULES
Pubs face being shut or fined up to £10,000 for failing to enforce coronavirus regulations.
Officials have warned that venues must obey the rules after huge queues were spotted outside boozers yesterday.
The easing of restrictions prompted huge queues outside boozers yesterday, with Soho in Central London packed with punters spilling out onto the street.
Pictures also show hundreds of Brits queueing outside pubs in Manchester, Sunderland, Burnley and Birmingham. Councils have since pledged to set up enforcement squads to patrol queues and look for rule-breakers.
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