UK Covid-19 vaccinations: Latest figures
Booster jabs for the coronavirus vaccine may very well be rolled out in ‘August or September’, in line with a authorities adviser.
Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), mentioned that boosters might assist to stop rising circumstances in winter if the UK is struck by Covid variants or a drop in immunity.
He informed The BMJ that it’s as but unclear whether or not such a jab could be provided to weak teams earlier than the final inhabitants.
It got here as an additional 121 deaths and 5,534 circumstances had been recorded in the UK, in line with the federal government’s newest each day statistics. More than 23.6m folks in whole have been given a primary dose of a Covid vaccine.
In London a protest vigil for Sarah Everard on Clapham Common was cancelled amid considerations demonstrators could be arrested for breaching coronavirus rules. Instead a doorstep vigil will happen at 9.30pm.
Meanwhile in France, prime minister Jean Castex has warned that the Covid scenario in Paris is extraordinarily tense and that new restrictions are potential.
Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Bulgaria have known as for talks on the European Union’s vaccination rollout after officers in Austria complained that some bloc members are receiving extra doses than others.
Behind the headline evaluate on the week in well being
Jordan’s well being minister has resigned after an investigation into six deaths brought on by a scarcity of oxygen in a authorities hospital.
Key Points
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Welcome to The Independent’s Covid-19 liveblog, the place we’ll be bringing you up-to-the-minute updates about lockdowns, vaccines and the virus’s transmission across the globe.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 09:28
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‘National Day of Reflection’ deliberate for 23 March
Marie Curie, together with greater than 110 different teams, has organised a “National Day of Reflection” on the anniversary of the primary Covid-19 lockdown in the UK.
A minute’s silence shall be held at noon to “keep in mind those that have died”, adopted by different commemorative actions together with lighting candles and wrapping yellow ribbons round timber.
There may even be on-line assemblies and choirs, and iconic landmarks shall be lit up throughout the UK at 8pm.
The occasion is backed by Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford.
Mr Johnson mentioned: “My ideas are with all those that have misplaced family members, and who haven’t been in a position to pay tribute to them in the best way they might have needed.
“I wish to thank folks for the sacrifices they proceed to make and hope they’ll look ahead to being reunited with family members as restrictions are cautiously eased.”
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 09:46
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Vaccines might halve Covid transmission in UK, new examine finds
Both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines seem like able to minimising the unfold of coronavirus in individuals who have obtained two full doses, a serious new examine has discovered.
Around 300,000 NHS works and their households had been assessed between 8 December and three March for the examine, which was carried out by Public Health Scotland and the University of Glasgow.
For folks residing with each vaccinated and unvaccinated healthcare staff, the chance of catching Covid-19 was lowered by at the least 30 per cent after the well being staff had obtained a single dose.
For these residing with staff who had each doses, their danger of an infection was discovered to be at the least 54 per cent decrease.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 09:54
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Italy faces whole shutdown over Easter weekend
From Monday, colleges, outlets and eating places will shut in Italy’s “crimson zones”, designated high-risk areas which embody greater than half of the nation, together with Rome and Milan.
The restrictions will final till Easter, at which level the entire of Italy will face a complete shutdown on 3-5 April.
Parades and huge household gatherings are conventional in the nation, the place greater than 80 per cent of persons are Roman Catholic – however such actions shall be placed on pause this yr.
PM Mario Draghi mentioned that the measures are “needed” to “keep away from a worsening of the scenario that might require even stricter measures”.
Covid circumstances have been rising in Italy in latest weeks, exceeding 25,000 a day.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 10:11
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Portugal set to be taken off UK’s ‘crimson record’ for journey
Transport secretary Grant Shapps is expected to announce Portugal’s elimination from the UK’s “crimson record” of nations from which journey is severely restricted on Monday.
Portugal is at the moment the one European nation on the record; it was added on the record’s launch on 15 January due to its sturdy hyperlinks with Brazil, a supply of “variant concern”.
But circumstances have been falling in the nation and the brand new price of an infection is at the moment round one-seventh decrease than in the UK.
The transfer has raised hopes that British holidaymakers will be capable of go to Portugal from 17 May, the earliest date on which worldwide journey for leisure shall be allowed in line with the prime minister’s roadmap.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 10:27
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‘Bumper increase’ to vaccine provides might imply 1m jabs a day
1,000,000 Covid vaccinations may very well be administered every day in the UK ‘inside weeks’, in line with studies.
Vaccine shares are expected to greater than double, permitting for as much as 1m each day jabs. The Telegraph reported that every one over-40s ought to be provided their first dose by Easter, citing authorities sources.
They added that the “bumper increase” to provides will enable the speedy growth of the vaccination programme subsequent week.
Around 280,000 first doses are at the moment administered every day, in line with the BBC. Highs of over 400,000 had been hit in mid-February.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 10:42
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First Covid case recorded in Australia in greater than a fortnight
Australia has recorded its first native Covid case in greater than two weeks after a physician examined optimistic for the virus in Queensland.
The state’s premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, mentioned that the physician had assessed two sufferers who had not too long ago returned to the nation and examined optimistic for the UK variant.
She added that the physician had since developed signs and that pressing contact-tracing is being carried out.
All hospitals in Brisbane have been closed to guests.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 11:09
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Americans start to obtain first spherical of latest stimulus funds
Americans will start to obtain stimulus funds into their financial institution accounts this weekend after Joe Biden signed a $1.9 trillion rescue bundle on Thursday.
Officials on the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) say that the primary spherical of latest funds has begun and shall be “delivered routinely to taxpayers”.
Eligible single adults will obtain as much as $1,400 every, whereas a household of 4 might obtain $5,600. An estimated 85 per cent of Americans are eligible and funds shall be disbursed throughout the subsequent few weeks.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 11:53
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Italian PM says ‘there’s a new wave of contagion’
Announcing new lockdown measures, Italy’s prime minister Mario Draghi mentioned that the nation is confronted with a “new wave of contagion” a yr on from “the beginning of the emergency”.
There had been greater than 150,000 infections in Italy final week, up from 131,000 the earlier week. Almost 5,000 extra folks had been admitted to hospital and 600 to intensive care.
“These figures imply we should undertake the utmost warning to restrict the variety of deaths and cease well being amenities being saturated,” Mr Draghi mentioned.
He added: “I’m conscious that right this moment’s restrictions could have penalties on the schooling of your kids, on the financial system and on everybody’s psychological well being.
“But they’re essential to keep away from a worsening of the scenario that might require even stricter measures.”
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 12:07
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All over-40s will obtain first vaccine dose by Easter, studies say
Everyone over the age of 40 ought to obtain their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine by Easter (4 April) in the UK, authorities sources reportedly informedThe Telegraph.
A “bumper increase” in vaccine provides is to permit the speedy growth of the vaccine programme.
Analysis for The Times discovered that Britain is on track to supply each grownup at the least one vaccine dose by round 10 June, greater than a month earlier than the federal government’s goal of the tip of July.
More than 23 million folks had obtained their first vaccine dose in the UK as of Thursday.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 12:23
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Met Police criticised for response to Sarah Everard vigil
Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights Harriet Harman has criticised the Metropolitan Police for his or her response to a deliberate vigil for Sarah Everard.
The vigil, which was attributable to happen on Clapham Common in London right this moment, was cancelled by organisers who mentioned they had been “upset” that the police had not been “prepared to commit” to participating with their ideas on holding a Covid-safe vigil.
Reclaim These Streets added that they had been informed urgent forward with the vigil might end result in a £10,000 high-quality for every of the organisers.
Ms Harman informed the BBC’s Today programme: “The police’s response to do a blanket ban, to say we are able to deal with everyone equally by stopping all freedom of associations, shouldn’t be the best strategy to go about it.”
But Met Police group engagement lead Catherine Roper mentioned that cancelling the vigil was the “proper factor to do”.
She added: “I want to thank the organisers of tonight’s vigil in Clapham Common for cancelling the gathering.
“Since Sarah’s disappearance, we now have shared Londoners’ anguish, shock and disappointment on the really terrible circumstances of her disappearance and demise.”
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 13:17
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Hundreds of Covid circumstances reported at Tesla plant Musk opened in May, information exhibits
Around 450 circumstances of Covid-19 had been reported at a Tesla manufacturing plant in California after Elon Musk reopened it in May, in line with information obtained by PlainSite.
County-level information, obtained via a courtroom order, exhibits that round 10 circumstances had been reported in the month the plant reopened – which rose to 125 new circumstances in December. Around 10,000 folks work on the plant.
Musk opened the worksite in Fremont regardless of a stay-at-home order in the county. Tesla then struck an settlement permitting the plant to reopen if optimistic circumstances had been reported to the well being division.
Tesla and Alameda County Public Health Department haven’t but commented on the report.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 13:45
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Poland sees largest spike in Covid circumstances since November
Poland has reported probably the most new Covid circumstances in a day since late November.
21,049 had been reported, up from 18,775 on Friday.
Health officers attribute the spike in half to the UK variant, which has accounted for nearly 40 per cent of infections in latest assessments.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 13:55
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Six extra Covid deaths in Wales and 210 new circumstances
Six folks have died with Covid-19 in Wales, whereas 210 new circumstances have been recorded in the final 24 hours, in line with Public Health Wales.
The figures, introduced by Welsh chief Mark Drakeford, mark a really slight improve on yesterday’s figures, however are nonetheless nicely under authorities benchmarks.
New information additionally exhibits that Wales has administered virtually 27,500 first doses of Covid-19 vaccine and round 12,500 second doses in the final day.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 14:15
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Five EU nations demand vaccine distribution talks
Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Bulgaria are calling for talks on the European Union’s vaccine rollout.
Leaders of the 5 nations have written a joint letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel, Austrian media reported.
The letter states that “if this technique had been to hold on, it could proceed creating and exacerbating big disparities amongst Member States by this summer time”.
Austrian officers have beforehand complained that some international locations are receiving extra vaccine doses than others.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 14:25
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Jordan’s well being minister resigns after oxygen scarcity causes hospital deaths
Jordan’s well being minister has resigned after six folks died at hospital attributable to a scarcity of oxygen provides, state media reported.
Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh reportedly requested Nathir Obeidat to step down after ordering an investigation into the incident.
The deaths occurred at a authorities hospital in Salt, 13 miles north of the capital Amman.
Jordan faces surging Covid infections and is struggling to safe vaccines.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 14:59
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Majority of Brits say authorities didn’t deal with folks equally and pretty in new ballot
Two thirds of Brits say that the federal government has didn’t deal with folks equally and pretty throughout the Covid pandemic, new analysis exhibits.
Polling commissioned by human rights group Liberty means that 83 per cent of persons are involved concerning the impression of the pandemic on weak teams, whereas simply 34 per cent imagine the federal government has handled everybody equally and pretty.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 15:09
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Booster jabs may very well be rolled out as quickly as August, govt vaccine adviser says
A authorities adviser has instructed that booster Covid vaccines may very well be rolled out in August or September.
Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the federal government’s vaccine advisory committee, informed The BMJ that boosters would assist to keep away from a repeat of this winter.
“We actually don’t wish to see a winter like we’ve seen this winter. And if we’ve bought new variants circulating and we’ve bought dropping ranges of immunity as a result of vaccination, then that turns into an crucial to do a booster,” he informed The BMJ’s Talk Evidence podcast
“I believe we’re more likely to make a daring resolution to advocate a booster dose, even when we haven’t bought all of the proof of the need, simply because I believe the implications of not immunising with the booster dose are so huge. If it’s proved that it’s wanted months later it could be too late.”
He added that booster vaccines may very well be rolled out in August or September and that they may both be rolled out to weak teams first or to the complete inhabitants.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 15:24
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French PM warns of tense Covid scenario in Paris
France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex mentioned that the Covid-19 scenario in Paris is extraordinarily tense and that authorities are able to take new measures.
No new nationwide lockdown measures have been introduced, however the authorities has not too long ago tightened native restrictions in Nice and Dunkirk.
Paris is but to see new restrictions.
The variety of folks in intensive care with Covid-19 in France exceeded 4,000 for the primary time since late November on Friday. Nearly 1,100 of the sufferers are in Paris.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 15:31
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Matt Hancock requires ‘improve in statutory sick pay’ a yr into Covid pandemic
Matt Hancock is reportedly pushing for a rise in Statutory Sick Pay — virtually a yr on from the primary Covid-19 lockdown in England.
The well being secretary raised the difficulty at a Covid-operations committee assembly earlier this week, in line with The Times.
Mr Hancock is claimed to be calling for a lift to the present price of £95.85 however is dealing with resistance from the Treasury over value considerations.
Joanna Taylor13 March 2021 16:00
