More than 20 million folks in UK vaccinated towards Covid-19
Health secretary Matt Hancock has celebrated a “magnificent achievement for the nation” after it was confirmed that greater than 20 million folks have now been given their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
“I need to thank each single one that’s come ahead to get the jab as a result of we all know with growing confidence that the jab protects you, it protects your neighborhood and it is also the route out of this for all of us,” Mr Hancock mentioned in a video posted on Twitter.
The milestone was reached because the first circumstances of a ‘regarding’ Covid variant from the Brazilian metropolis of Manaus had been detected within the UK. Surge testing was launched in South Gloucestershire after three folks examined constructive with the brand new pressure. Three different circumstances had been recognized in Scotland.
Meanwhile chancellor Rishi Sunak dominated out accelerating England’s roadmap out of lockdown, even when information confirmed Covid-19 circumstances, hospitalisations and deaths had been dropping quicker than anticipated.
Mr Sunak additionally hinted on Sunday morning at tax rises in subsequent week’s Budget, telling Sky News that he can be “accountable” with the general public’s funds as the federal government seems to be to pay down the huge nationwide debt constructed up throughout the Covid disaster.
The authorities has introduced that pubs, eating places, outlets and different companies which have been hit hardest by the pandemic will likely be supported by a £5bn grant scheme to assist them to reopen as lockdown restrictions are eased.
Behind the headline evaluation on the week in well being
Key Points
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Surge testing after Manaus variant detected in South Gloucestershire
Surge testing will happen in South Gloucestershire after circumstances of the Manaus variant of coronavirus had been found.
Residents who reside in 5 postcode areas inside Bradley Stoke, Patchway and Little Stoke, who’re aged over 16 and shouldn’t have signs of Covid-19, are invited to come back ahead for testing.
People who journey into the areas for work or to go to somebody they’re in a assist bubble with are additionally in a position to have a check.
Drive-in surge testing websites will likely be open at Stoke Gifford Parkway Park & Ride, in addition to The Mall Coach Park at The Mall Cribbs Causeway from 9am on Monday.
The programme is predicted to run for one week, ending on 7 March.
Sara Blackmore, director of Public Health at South Gloucestershire Council, mentioned: “We are eager that each one South Gloucestershire residents within the postcode areas recognized participate on this testing, which is able to assist us to determine constructive circumstances and immediate self-isolation, which helps to interrupt the chain of transmission,” she mentioned.
“We do recognise the problem for residents of enterprise one other further testing programme and need to thanks prematurely to your endurance and assist as we proceed to work collectively to guard our communities from Covid-19.
“We are working along with native and regional well being companions, Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace, to ship this swift, secure and co-ordinated response, with an enhanced neighborhood testing provide obtainable to folks in and round areas the place this variant has been found.”
Peter Stubley28 February 2021 18:03
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Professor Stephen Powis, the NHS’s nationwide medical director, mentioned coronavirus vaccines may be rapidly tailored to sort out new strains such because the Manaus variant.
Prof Powis instructed BBC News: “The new vaccines that are getting used for Covid may be tailored very quickly so it’s possible that if we do want to vary the vaccine that may be finished in months, moderately than years, which was the case with the extra conventional vaccines.”
Peter Stubley28 February 2021 17:47
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Officials hint Manaus variant on Aberdeen flight
The Scottish Government mentioned three residents who returned to north-east Scotland from Brazil, by way of Paris and London, subsequently examined constructive for Covid-19.
The assessments, accomplished in early February, had been handed to the UK’s sequencing programme and had been recognized as being the Manaus variant.
Officials are contacting the opposite passengers on their flight from London to Aberdeen.
The circumstances will not be considered linked to the three confirmed circumstances in England.
Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman mentioned: “The identification of this new variant is a priority however we’re taking each attainable precaution.
“This new variant demonstrates how critical Covid is and reinforces the necessity to minimise the unfold of the virus.”
Peter Stubley28 February 2021 17:41
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Manaus variant arrived earlier than lodge quarantine started
One of the individuals who examined constructive for the Manaus variant in England had travelled again from Brazil earlier than the Government launched the lodge quarantine coverage.
They remoted at dwelling in south Gloucestershire with the remainder of their family and one member of that family developed signs.
PHE and NHS Test and Trace are contacting the passengers on Swiss Air flight, LX318 travelling from Sao Paulo, by means of Zurich, and touchdown in London Heathrow on February 10.
Peter Stubley28 February 2021 17:31
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First circumstances of Manaus pressure recognized in UK
The first UK circumstances of the Manaus variant of coronavirus have been recognized within the UK.
Up to 6 circumstances of the pressure first detected within the Brazilian metropolis have been detected, with three in England and three in Scotland.
The first two circumstances of the P.1 pressure are from one family in South Gloucestershire with a historical past of journey to Brazil.
The third is just not linked however the whereabouts of that particular person is unknown, as they didn’t full their check registration card.
Officials are asking anybody who took a check on February 12 or 13 and who has not acquired a end result or has an uncompleted check registration card to come back ahead instantly.
Dr Susan Hopkins, PHE’s strategic response director for Covid-19, mentioned: “We have recognized these circumstances because of the UK’s superior sequencing capabilities which implies we’re discovering extra variants and mutations than many different international locations and are due to this fact in a position to take motion rapidly.
“The vital factor to recollect is that Covid-19, it doesn’t matter what variant it’s, spreads in the identical manner. That means the measures to cease it spreading don’t change.”
While additional investigation is required, there are issues that the present vaccines could also be much less efficient towards the Manaus pressure.
Peter Stubley28 February 2021 17:13
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ICYMI: Sunak guidelines out accelerating England’s lockdown roadmap
Earlier as we speak, chancellor Rishi Sunak dominated out accelerating the timetable for England’s roadmap out of lockdown, even when coronavirus information improves at a quicker charge than anticipated.
Mr Sunak mentioned there have been early indicators that folks may have “confidence and optimism” in regards to the future however warned the dates set out by Boris Johnson this month had been the earliest attainable moments for relaxations to happen.
Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has the total story under:
Conrad Duncan28 February 2021 16:57
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NHS official: ‘Now is just not time to let guard down’ after jabs milestone
NHS Providers chief govt Chris Hopkins has praised the rollout of 20 million Covid jabs within the UK as a “nice credit score to everybody concerned” however warned that it was “not the time to let down our guard” or ease restrictions.
“We owe a lot of this success to trusts, working with colleagues in main care with the implausible assist of so many volunteers,” Mr Hopkins mentioned.
“But it is vital to recollect there is a lengthy option to go – we’re not even near half manner by means of this programme.
“And there is a additional problem, to design a workforce mannequin to allow us to do that yr in yr out.”
He added: “As we set out in our latest briefing, we have to see extra progress on vaccines, decrease Covid-19 case numbers, a lot much less strain on the NHS and plans in place to comprise future outbreaks earlier than easing restrictions.
“Now is just not the time to let down our guard.”
Conrad Duncan28 February 2021 16:49
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UK experiences 144 Covid deaths, 6,035 new circumstances
An extra 144 folks have died inside 28 days of testing constructive for coronavirus, as of Saturday, bringing the UK’s complete demise toll to 122,849.
However, separate figures revealed by the Office for National Statistics for deaths the place Covid-19 has been talked about on the demise certificates, along with further information on deaths which have occurred in latest days, present there have now been 143,000 deaths to this point within the UK.
The authorities additionally reported that there had been 6,035 new lab-confirmed circumstances of Covid-19 within the UK, as of 9am on Saturday – the bottom day by day determine since (*20*) 2020.
Conrad Duncan28 February 2021 16:24
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Covid security measures in Northern Irish colleges ‘haven’t been satisfactory’
Coronavirus security measures in Northern Ireland’s colleges haven’t been satisfactory, the nation’s training committee chairman has mentioned.
Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle mentioned the “key” to the staggered return of main and secondary colleges subsequent month was efficient security measures to regulate the unfold of Covid-19.
“The extent of the minister’s security measures to this point has not been satisfactory,” Mr Lyttle instructed the BBC’s The View programme.
“We have been instructed for days we’re getting further face-covering compliance and communications – we’d like efficient college testing and supply of the particular college employees vaccination programme that’s lengthy overdue.
“As a dad or mum of school-age kids I appreciated the problem lockdown has been for households and colleges throughout Northern Ireland.”
He added: “It’s completely very important that we get a return to high school and youth exercise as quickly as attainable however we’d like to verify it’s delivered safely and we heed the scientific recommendation and put security measures in place.”
Conrad Duncan28 February 2021 16:01
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Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has extra particulars under on Rishi Sunak’s indication that furlough assist will likely be prolonged in subsequent week’s Budget:
Conrad Duncan28 February 2021 15:44
