LOCKDOWN will be "gradually lifted" in March once all over 70s have received the coronavirus vaccine, the government hopes.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi struck an optimistic tone about the prospects of easing lockdown from early March this morning, revealing that vaccine rollout remains on course for a mid-March lockdown easing.
It follows the hopeful news that people over 70 will begin getting a vaccine this week.
Mr Zahawi said today the Government was on track to meet the mid-February target to vaccinate 13 million of the most vulnerable Brits and lockdown could start to be eased a few weeks after that.
Follow the very latest news, updates and analysis of the coronavirus crisis in our live blog below.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
SUN SMASHES JABS ARMY TARGET
The Sun is delighted to have smashed our Jabs Army target.
More than 50,000 of our incredible readers signed up to the scheme, hitting 51,019 last night.
On a momentous day for the campaign, we achieved the goal of helping the Royal Voluntary Service supply 50,000 volunteer stewards to the NHS vaccination programme.
- Alahna Kindred
JAB LOTTERY
A Kent district is yet to vaccinate anyone over 80 – despite having the nation’s worst Covid death rate.
Folkestone and Hythe residents are up in arms about the slow roll out of the life saving jab.
The pretty seaside area had a death rate of 265.5 per 100,000 people last week, Government figures show.
But yesterday the NHS admitted they were yet to inoculate any of the district’s 112,000 inhabitants.
More than four million Brits elsewhere have had one dose.
- Alahna Kindred
CLASS OUT
Fears are growing that schools will be kept shut until Easter – piling massive pressure on Boris Johnson to open them sooner.
Schools in Covid hotspots could also stay closed for longer than those in less afflicted parts of the country, The Sun understands.
The PM dramatically ordered all schools to shut until the February half term in a bid to get rocketing infection rates under control.
But he has refused to rule out extending the shutdown, and ministers yesterday indicated restrictions will only be gradually eased from around March.
School bosses said they reckon classes will stay shut to most kids until after the Easter holidays, which are at the beginning of April.
But Tory MP Robert Halfon urged the PM to put kids first and get them all back to class in February.
The chairman of the education select committee, said: “The government said that schools would reopen after the February half term.
“Everything possible should be done to keep to that date – for the sake of the children’s education, mental health and safety.
“That is why ministers should prioritise school staff for the vaccine, and send in mobile units to jab them across the country.”
- Alahna Kindred
GRIM TALLY
The UK now has the highest death rate from coronavirus in the world, a new study has revealed.
Britain has overtaken the Czech Republic, which had seen the most Covid deaths per capita since January 11, according to the latest data.
The University of Oxford-based research platform Our World in Data found the UK is now in the top spot.
And with an average of 935 daily deaths over the past week, this equates to more than 16 people in every million dying each day.
The three other countries with the highest death rates are Portugal (14.82 per million), Slovakia (14.55) and Lithuania (13.01).
The US, Italy, Germany, France and Canada all had lower average death rates than the UK in the week leading up to January 17.
- Debbie White
599 MORE DEATHS
The latest figures showed a record 37,475 people were in hospital with coronavirus, while there had been a further 599 reported deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 and 37,535 new cases.
The Prime Minister said decisions on loosening England's stay-home order will be based in part on progress in the vaccination programme.
The Government is on track to vaccinate around 15 million high-priority people across the UK by February 15, including health and social care staff, the elderly and people in care homes.
Once those vaccines have taken effect, around two to three weeks later ministers will consider whether lockdown measures can be eased.
Mr Johnson, on a visit to the manufacturing facility for the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine, said: "I understand completely that people want to get back to normal as fast as we possibly can. It does depend on things going well."
- Debbie White
COVIDIOTS COULD FLOUT RULES
Scientists fear that millions of Brits will flout Covid lockdown rules once they receive a vaccine.
Sage scientists are worried that people who get jabs will stop social distancing and will ignore strict restrictions.
Minutes from a Sage meeting refer to a survey which found 29 per cent of people plan to relax their following of Covid rules once they receive a vaccine, the Telegraph reported.
The same survey found that 11 per cent of respondents will "probably no longer follow the rules" after a jab.
- Debbie White
DONALD TRUMP LIFTS TRAVEL BANS ON EUROPE, UK & BRAZIL
US President Donald Trump has lifted entry bans imposed because of the coronavirus on most non-US citizens arriving from Brazil and much of Europe effective January 26.
The restrictions are set to end under a new proclamation from Trump the same day that new Covid test requirements take effect for all international visitors.
The restrictions being rescinded have barred nearly all non-American citizens who within the last 14 days have been in Brazil, the UK, Ireland and the 26 countries of the Schengen area in Europe that allow travel across open borders.
The US restrictions barring most visitors from Europe have been in place since mid-March, when Trump signed proclamations imposing them, while the Brazilian entry ban was imposed in May.
- Debbie White
SMASHED IT! 50K JOIN THE SUN'S 'JAB ARMY'
The Sun’s Jabs Army campaign smashed its target of recruiting 50,000 volunteers to help Britain’s biggest-ever vaccine programme.
Thanks to our big-hearted readers, our goal was achieved in just an astonishing 18 days — with 51,019 signing up.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock hailed the incredible volunteers for “smashing the target”.
And an impressed PM, Boris Johnson, added: "Vaccinating the country is a huge national effort but with your help we will get there.”
- Debbie White
HELL YEAR IN US WHERE COVID DEATHS 'SAME NUMBER AS AMERICANS KILLED IN WWII'
The US is preparing to mark a year of the Covid pandemic as fatalities near 400,000 – around the same number as died in the Second World War.
The grim milestone is set to be reached on Wednesday, when Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated as President, with about 3,400 Americans dying every day from the virus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease began circulating on January 18 after being imported from China.
The first case was announced on January 21, 2020 – that of a 35-year-old man who had recently returned to Washington state from Wuhan, China.
- Debbie White
UK'S GRIM COVID TALLY
The UK now has the highest death rate per million people from coronavirus in the world.
Britain has knocked Czech Republic off the top spot, according to the latest details from University of Oxford-based research platform Our World in Data.
With an average of 935 daily deaths over the past week, this equates to more than 16 people in every million dying each day.
The UK has seen more than 3.4milion infections – the equivalent of one in every 20 people – with another 37,535 new infections reported today.
There were another 599 more coronavirus deaths confirmed across Britain on Monday.
- Debbie White
HIDDEN TOLL OF COVID
One in eight recovered Covid patients die within 140 days – with a third readmitted to hospital within weeks, a shocking study has found.
New figures found that of 47,780 people discharged from hospital in the first wave, 29.4 per cent returned in less than five months.
Of those readmitted, 12.3 per cent of them died, according to research from Leicester University and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The long-term effects of Covid-19 can cause survivors to develop heart problems, diabetes and chronic liver and kidney conditions.
Experts behind the study say that their findings show that people who have been discharged should be monitored in the months afterwards.
- Debbie White
UK VACCINATING AT MORE THAN DOUBLE EUROPE'S RATE
The UK is vaccinating at double the rate of any other country in Europe, Matt Hancock revealed tonight – as he warned the nation: "Don't blow it now".
It comes after the Health Secretary announced more than 50 per cent of over 80s have been given a jab – and half of those in care homes as jabs hitfour million today.
Someone is now being admitted to hospital every 30 seconds, with more than 37,000 people now in care of doctors and nurses across the country.
- Debbie White
FIFTY COVID VACCINE HUBS ON-TRACK
Nadim Zahawi, who is in charge of England's Covid jab programme, announced 24-hour vaccination centres will be trialled in London in the next two weeks.
This morning saw 10 new mass vaccination sites open their doors up and down the country including ones in Blackburn, Norwich, London, and York.
Ministers aim to have 50 such hubs, capable of delivering thousands of doses a day, up and running by the end of the month.
- Debbie White
AUSTRALIAN OPEN ISOLATION NOT A BIG HIT WITH ISOLATED TENNIS STARS
Bored Novak Djokovic has made a series of demands to Aussie authorities after 72 players were told they cannot leave their hotel rooms following positive cases on their flights Down Under.
His demands reportedly included fitness and training materials, better food, reduced isolation period and permission to see coaches.
He also asked for players to be moved to private houses with tennis courts and gym facilities.
Broadcaster Shane McInnes said: "It's fair to say Djokovic's opinion on Covid-19 protocols count for zilch."
The Australian Open – set to begin on February 8 – descended into further chaos as 72 players were forced into hard quarantine in hotels.
- Debbie White
EASYJET HOLIDAYS SUMMER BOOKINGS SPIKE 250%
A delighted EasyJet says bookings for summer 2021 via its holidays arm have surged 250 per cent on last year.
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren told the BBC: "We know that people want to go on holiday as soon as they can."
He praised the UK's Covid jab rollout as "undoubtedly the key to unlocking travel again".
"We know there is pent up demand – we have seen that every time restrictions have been relaxed, and so we know that people want to go on holiday as soon as they can.
"We have been pleased to see that some customers are making plans for their summer holidays now, with EasyJet holidays bookings for summer 21 up 250 per cent, compared to the same time last year, and with May currently proving to be the most popular month for holiday bookings at the moment."
Credit: PA:Press Association
- Debbie White
CORONER'S CONCERNS OVER COVID CARE FAILINGS
Healthcare failures that could lead to more people dying from Covid were raised by a coroner during "rare inquests" into deaths during the first wave, reports The Guardian.
Greater Manchester South's senior Coroner, Alison Mutch, reported to NHS England, Public Health England and other authorities to identify action needed where there is “a risk that future deaths will occur”.
Many bereaved families have argued that inquests should be held for Covid-related deaths, the paper adds.
She looked at the deaths of Anthony Slack, 85, who died after becoming infected with coronavirus at his care home, and Leslie Harris, who died after appearing to have contracted the virus while in hospital.
Sharon Slack, Mr Slack's daughter, told the Manchester Evening News she was angry with the government for failing to protect vulnerable people in care homes.
- Shayma Bakht
UK VARIENT IN CZECH REPUBLIC
The fast-spreading coronavirus variant first identified in the U.K. has been found in the Czech Republic, a health official said today.
The National Institute of Public Health confirmed its findings after it announced over the weekend it was testing suspected samples.
Health Minister Jan Blatny says the variant accounts for about 10% of all sequenced samples in in the country.
- Debbie White
PM WARNS COVID SITUATION 'PRECARIOUS'
Boris Johnson has warned the UK is still in a "pretty precarious" position as ministers prepare for the easing of lockdown restrictions from early March.
The Prime Minister said the process would be gradual, with no great "open sesame" moment when curbs on freedoms are suddenly lifted.
He said that any loosening of England's stay-home order will be based in part on progress in the vaccination programme.
- Debbie White
THE ANSWER IS 'NO' TO DJOKOVIC & OTHER TENNIS STARS IN OZ
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told fed up quarantining tennis stars in Australia: "The virus doesn't treat you specially, so neither do we".
His stinging rebuke came during claims from some players that they were not made fully aware of quarantine rules ahead of the start of the Australian Open in Melbourne on February 8, reports ABC News.
Novak Djokovic was shut down after submitting a list of demands for tennis players forced to isolate in hotel rooms.
The Serb, 33, made his anti-vaccination stance clear last year before catching Covid at a disastrous tennis event he staged.
- Debbie White
140 BRITS GET COVID JAB EVERY MINUTE
The UK is now vaccinating 140 people every minute and No 10 is hopeful the entire population will have been offered it by September.
We have streaked miles ahead of other European countries, administering almost as many doses as the entire EU combined.
- Debbie White
FOUR MILLION GIVEN FIRST VACCINE DOSE IN ENGLAND
The Government is on track to vaccinate about 15million high-priority people across the UK by February 15.
This includes health and social care staff, the elderly and people in care homes.
NHS data shows that London has administered the lowest number of vaccinations in England's regions, with a total of 417,225 first and second doses between December 8 and January 17.
Meanwhile the Midlands has delivered 746,487 already.
More than four million people have received a first dose of the protective jab.
- Debbie White
LEGAL ACTION AGAINST NHS STAFF OVER PATIENT DEATHS
In regards to worries over future legal action being taken against NHS staff, when patients die, Mr Hancock said: "I hope everyone gets the treatment they deserve.
"The clear advice I have at this point is that it's not necessary to change the law on this matter.
"I also want to add how much I admire and understand the strain on doctors working under incredibly difficult circumstances.
"I am reassured we don't have to change the law on this point."
- Debbie White
START LIFTING RESTRICTIONS IN MARCH?
Asked whether the government intends lifting coronavirus restrictions from March, Mr Hancock declined to confirm that.
He replied, "we have got to watch the data.
"We have to see the number of deaths coming down, the pressure on the NHS reducing – we are not seeing that yet – and the vaccination programme working, and we need to see the efficacy of the vaccine in practice, saving lives."
He said the other consideration is "that there isn't some other new variant, we monitor all the time for new variants, to protect Britain".
- Debbie White
DELIVERY OF JABS AT WEEKENDS
The "vaccine delivery is absolutely delivering a seven-day service, and we are prepared to go 24/7.
"There are movements in supply and getting it into people's arms as fast as possible. Look at the weekly averages… [which] are going up fast," said Mr Hanock.
Steve Powis, medical director of NHS England confirmed that vaccines are being done during weekends as well, and this "absolutely a seven-day operation, and we will continue to increase vaccinations as the supply comes through."
- Debbie White
GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINE
Mr Hancock says that the UK is the "world's biggest financial supporter of the global programme for access to vaccines in all countries in the world.
"Not only have we developed in partnership with our scientists the most cost-effective vaccine, we have also put the most financial support into these international efforts to ensure everyone has access to vaccines."
Mr Hancock said the UK can be "proud" of what we are doing to support it, financially.
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