Coronavirus UK update live: Latest Covid news as Brazil variant more infectious

Single dose of Covid vaccine cuts threat of hospital admission in aged by 80%, new figures present

Early analysis into folks contaminated with the coronavirus variant first detected in Brazil, recognized as P1, estimates that it’s roughly twice as infectious as different mutated types of the virus and might partially evade immunity elicited by earlier an infection.

However, specialists cautioned that the analysis can’t be used to foretell what might occur within the UK, and say it doesn’t counsel that vaccines won’t work towards the variant.

It comes after six circumstances of P1 have been detected within the UK, with officers racing to seek out one particular person whose id and whereabouts is unknown as they didn’t full their registration kind correctly.

Meanwhile, scientists have stated that joggers ought to put on face coverings as a result of operating previous others whereas “puffing and panting” might publish a “hazard” – however they need to have the ability to “run freely” in huge open areas.

Trish Greenhalgh, professor in main care well being sciences on the University of Oxford, advised Good Morning Britain: “There is little question the virus is within the air, there is no such thing as a doubt which you can catch it if you happen to inhale, and that another person has exhaled.

“The exercising jogger – the puffing and panting jogger – you possibly can really feel their breath come and you’ll generally truly really feel your self inhale it, so there’s little question that there’s a hazard there.

“Forty per cent of Covid circumstances occur by catching it from individuals who don’t have any signs. So you’re jogging alongside, you suppose you’re nice, after which the following day you develop signs of Covid, however you’ve truly breathed that Covid onto somebody maybe you recognize, an previous woman strolling a canine or one thing like that.”

Behind the headline overview on the week in well being

Key Points

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Third vaccine dose towards new variants could also be wanted in autumn, says Hancock

There could also be a necessity for a 3rd Covid-19 vaccination dose over autumn towards new variants, Matt Hancock has stated.

The well being secretary advised the Commons: “I used to be more than happy to see that Covax has began vaccinating in Ghana final week and whereas we do at the moment look as although we might have extra vaccines sooner or later, we have now clearly dedicated that we are going to make them accessible around the globe.

“Now, we all know for positive that we search to vaccinate with two doses each grownup within the UK, there could be a necessity for a 3rd vaccination over the autumn towards variants and there’s at the moment a scientific trial contemplating the vaccination of under-18s.

“So the precise variety of vaccines that we are going to want for the UK inhabitants shouldn’t be but recognized, however we’re completely eager to make sure that we then go on to assist with vaccines as nicely as with cash that we have now already pledged to assist the vaccination of probably the most underdeveloped elements of the world.”

Chiara Giordano2 March 2021 14:36

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Google publicizes new options so dwelling staff don’t lose out if colleagues return to the workplace

Google is including a variety of recent options to its Google Workspace capabilities, with a view to guarantee its customers can proceed to entry its merchandise in a post-pandemic world the place many proceed to work remotely.

Google says the instruments and options are to assist folks handle their time higher and “collaborate equally”.

Adam Smith has more particulars:

Chiara Giordano2 March 2021 14:30

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Not having contact particulars occurs in ‘about 0.1% of assessments’, says Hancock

Matt Hancock advised the Commons: “Not having the contact particulars occurs in about 0.1 per cent of assessments. In this case, we expect that the take a look at was accomplished as a part of a house take a look at equipment the place clearly it’s incumbent on the person to set out these particulars.

“Because dwelling take a look at kits might be each despatched to your house, by which case, after all, we have now the main points of the place it was despatched, or in response to surges, they are often taken spherical by the native authority groups and dropped off and, due to this fact, we have to discover out precisely the place this one was dropped off.

“The group have accomplished a really, superb job of narrowing right down to 379 households the place this can be. The call-out on the weekend has been answered with quite a few leads and we’re working exhausting to guarantee that we will discover the person involved.”

Chiara Giordano2 March 2021 14:11

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Search for lacking affected person narrowed to 379 households, Matt Hancock says

Health officers are closing in on the thriller lacking affected person with the more virulent Brazilian variant of Covid-19, Matt Hancock says.

The search has “narrowed right down to 379 households within the south-east”, the well being secretary advised MPs, including: “We are contacting each.”

Follow our breaking news story for more particulars:

Chiara Giordano2 March 2021 13:56

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Surge testing to focus on two London areas after South African variant detected

Surge testing might be deployed within the areas of Wimbledon Park in Merton, southwest London, and East Finchley in Barnet, north London, the place the South African Covid variant has been discovered, the Department for Health has stated.

The elevated testing is being launched along with present in depth testing.

Positive circumstances might be sequenced for genomic knowledge to assist enhance scientists’ understanding of Covid-19 variants and their unfold inside these areas.

Enhanced contact tracing may also be used for people testing constructive with a “variant of concern”. This will contain contact tracers trying again throughout an prolonged interval to find out the route of transmission.

Chiara Giordano2 March 2021 13:43

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One in 4 folks in England estimated to have Covid antibodies, says Hancock

Health secretary Matt Hancock has stated one in 4 folks in England at the moment are estimated to have antibodies towards Covid-19.

He advised the Commons: “This morning, the Office for National Statistics revealed new knowledge on the degrees of safety folks have.

“They present that as much as February 11, one in 4 individuals are estimated to have antibodies towards coronavirus in England, up from one in 5.

“The ranges are highest within the over-80s, the primary group to be vaccinated, exhibiting once more the safety from the vaccine throughout the nation.”

Chiara Giordano2 March 2021 13:32

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Primary faculty pupils shouldn’t be requested to put on face coverings, Downing Street says

Downing Street has stated main faculty pupils shouldn’t be requested to put on face coverings when colleges in England reopen on 8 March.

The prime minister’s official spokesman stated officers have been in touch with Redbridge Council in east London which has reportedly advised main colleges beneath its management that pupils ought to be suggested to put on masks.

He stated the Department for Education was “in touch with the native council on the matter”.

Chiara Giordano2 March 2021 13:17

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Funding for Covid catch-up educating not adequate, says authorities’s tsar

Funding for programmes to assist kids make amends for educating missed as a consequence of coronavirus shouldn’t be adequate, notably for the youngest kids, the federal government’s schooling restoration tsar has stated.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson dedicated £1.7bn to serving to colleges and schools present catch-up assist – however Sir Kevan Collins, the professional appointed to supervise the programme, advised MPs that the funding was a “good begin” however not sufficient to do the job.

Our Political Editor Andrew Woodcock has more:

Kate Ng2 March 2021 13:01

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David Cameron receives vaccine jab

Former prime minister David Cameron has acquired a Covid vaccine jab at present, he confirmed on Twitter.

Mr Cameron thanked the NHS and “all of the superb workers and volunteers” engaged on the vaccine rollout.

Kate Ng2 March 2021 12:44

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Brazil variant more infectious and able to evading pure immunity, Manaus research suggests

The coronavirus variant first detected in Brazil is estimated to be roughly twice as infectious as different mutated types of the virus and might partially evade immunity elicited by earlier an infection, early analysis suggests.

Experts cautioned that the analysis can’t be used to foretell what might occur within the UK, and say it doesn’t counsel that vaccines won’t work towards the variant.

Kate Ng2 March 2021 12:32

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