Indian variant may drive third coronavirus wave in UK, says Prof Andrew Hayward
The Indian variant of coronavirus has unfold throughout England resulting from failures within the test-and-trace (T&T) system, a report has discovered.
Eight native authorities didn’t have entry to the total information on optimistic checks of their areas for 3 weeks in April and May, it says, with the variety of lacking circumstances highest in Blackburn with Darwen, in Lancashire –the place a current surge in infections was linked to the B1617.2 mutation.
The different areas affected by the obvious technical glitch have been Blackpool, York, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, the BBC revealed.
It comes as Professor Andrew Hayward, an infectious illness knowledgeable at University College London, warned earlier that Britain might be on the brink of a third wave of infections.
Almost 3,000 circumstances of the mutation have now been recognized throughout the UK – up from the two,323 declared on Monday – and surge testing has been introduced in quite a lot of locations to manage its unfold, together with Bolton and Blackburn.
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UK’s Indian variant surge aided by test-and-trace errors – report
The surge within the Indian Covid-19 variant was fuelled by failures in England’s test-and-trace system, a report has discovered.
Eight native authorities didn’t have entry to the total information on optimistic checks of their areas for 3 weeks in April and May, it says. The variety of lacking circumstances was highest in Blackburn with Darwen, in Lancashire – the place a current surge in infections was linked to the Indian variant.
The different areas affected by the obvious technical glitch have been Blackpool, York, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, the BBC revealed.
Follow our deputy political editor Rob Merrick’s breaking report:
Sam Hancock20 May 2021 12:43
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Reigning Eurovision champ check optimistic for Covid days earlier than remaining
The reigning Eurovision champion has examined optimistic for coronavirus and is not going to carry out throughout Saturday’s grand remaining.
Duncan Laurence, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter who represented the Netherlands in 2019 with the tune “Arcade”, was resulting from attend the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam however will now participate within the remaining “in a distinct kind”, organisers mentioned.
Mr Laurence delivered a optimistic lead to a fast antigen check after creating delicate signs on Wednesday. He had examined destructive on Monday.
His administration mentioned in a press release: “Duncan may be very disenchanted, he has been trying ahead to this for 2 years. We are very glad that he’ll nonetheless be seen within the remaining on Saturday.”
It comes after Iceland’s entry, Daoi og Gagnamagnio, pulled out of performing within the reside reveals after a optimistic Covid-19 check. According to the European Broadcasting Union, which produces the competition, greater than 24,400 checks have been carried out since 6 April, when the load-in began on the Ahoy Arena.
Laurence successful the sixty fourth version of Eurovision in 2019
(AFP through Getty Images)
Sam Hancock20 May 2021 12:32
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How did the Indian variant attain the UK?
Boris Johnson’s intention to finish social distancing on 21 June have been thrown into doubt because of the unfold of the Indian coronavirus variant, regarded as extra extremely transmissible than the unique pressure of Covid-19.
B1617.2, certainly one of three mutations of the B1617 lineage, has been designated as “underneath investigation” by well being officers after rising to account for 20 per cent of latest circumstances from two per cent a month in the past.
So, exactly how did this new variant discover its methods to the UK? Joe Sommerlad experiences.
Sam Hancock20 May 2021 12:06
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Health employees want psychological well being help post-Covid, ministers informed
Healthcare workers who’ve labored via the pandemic ought to have an analogous psychological well being service as that provided to warfare veterans, a gaggle of main medical organisations has mentioned in a letter to No 10.
The pandemic has had a “enormous impression” on a workforce that has already been stretched skinny, in keeping with the 13 healthcare organisations which have come collectively to name on the federal government to verify there’s a devoted psychological well being help service just like that established for former troops.
Staff have been coping with “extraordinarily excessive” numbers of critically unwell or dying sufferers, whereas some have suffered “ethical damage” of not with the ability to ship the care they want to their sufferers.
“The length and severity of the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge effect on an already stretched workforce,” the letter mentioned. “Many have been coping with extraordinarily excessive numbers of critically unwell and dying sufferers, made more difficult by restrictions on household visits.”
A DHSC spokesperson mentioned the division “recognises the strain this pandemic has put on NHS workers” and recommitted the federal government’s intention to take a position £67m in extra wellbeing and occupational help for employees, together with psychological well being hubs, a helpline and a 24/7 textual content help service.
Firefighters assist vital care nurses with a Covid affected person within the ICU at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, after the NHS requested extra help from all emergency providers
(AFP through Getty Images)
Sam Hancock20 May 2021 11:45
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Mapped: Where is the Indian Covid variant within the UK?
The fast unfold of the Indian coronavirus variant may result in the return of native lockdowns in England, authorities ministers have acknowledged, as the subsequent stage of England’s roadmap out of lockdown is put in jeopardy.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has mentioned there have been 2,323 confirmed circumstances of the extremely transmissible B1617.2 variant of concern within the UK – with circumstances doubling in some elements of the nation during the last week.
But which areas are the worst affected? Adam Forrest takes a more in-depth look.
Sam Hancock20 May 2021 11:30
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UK’s house quarantine system not working, knowledgeable warns
The authorities’s house quarantine system, meant to forestall the unfold of coronavirus, has been “a lot much less efficient” than anticipated, a number one scientist has mentioned.
As a outcome, the house quarantine system might not cease Covid-19 variants from getting into Britain, epidemiologist Professor Neil Ferguson warned.
Under the present visitors gentle journey system, solely folks coming back from pink checklist international locations are required to remain at a quarantine lodge, in any other case travellers are free to isolate at house and take two checks earlier than being launched.
Chantal da Silva has extra:
Sam Hancock20 May 2021 11:15
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Covid drops to ninth main reason behind demise in England
Coronavirus was the ninth main reason behind demise in England final month, the bottom rating since September 2020, new figures present.
A complete of 941 deaths have been resulting from coronavirus in April, the equal of two.4 per cent of all deaths registered in England, in keeping with the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The main reason behind demise was ischaemic coronary heart illnesses (4,144 deaths), adopted by dementia and Alzheimer’s illness (4,018 deaths).
Covid was the main reason behind demise in England each month from November 2020 to February 2021. In March it dropped from prime spot to third place, earlier than falling to ninth place in final month.
April was additionally the primary month the place deaths in England have been under the five-year common (6.1 per cent decrease) since August 2020, the ONS mentioned.
In Wales, Covid-19 was the 18th main reason behind demise in April, accounting for 35 deaths, or 1.4 per cent of the entire.
Sam Hancock20 May 2021 11:01
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Northern Ireland to make name on easing journey restrictions
MLAs are anticipated to debate how Northern Ireland will ease journey restrictions at Stormont later, with many hoping to have the ability to jet away for overseas holidays following a prolonged lockdown.
Ministers will take into account what steerage to subject over journey to numerous international locations in addition to talk about the subsequent deliberate relaxations to coronavirus laws.
England’s “inexperienced checklist” of locations contains Portugal, Gibraltar, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, Iceland and the Faroe Islands – plus a number of small distant islands that are British Overseas Territories.
But no choices have but been made round worldwide journey in NI, the place indoor hospitality and with the ability to meet inside personal properties for the primary time in 5 months are among the many measures scheduled to be applied from 24 May.
The Stormont Executive will overview these beforehand introduced choices on Thursday, the place the specter of the so-called Indian variant of coronavirus will little question be thought of. A variety of circumstances of the B1.617.2 mutation have been confirmed within the area inside the previous few weeks.
Edwin Poots, the brand new DUP chief, will participate within the conversations
(Getty)
Sam Hancock20 May 2021 10:48
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One in seven lengthy Covid victims are youthful – analysis
Younger persons are among the many one in seven adults with coronavirus who go on to undergo lengthy Covid, new analysis suggests.
Experts within the US discovered that individuals with Covid-19 have been extra prone to undergo well being issues stretching into the long run than those that had by no means had coronavirus.
They additionally discovered that one in seven (14 per cent) adults aged underneath 65 had not less than one new situation that required medical care within the three-week to six-month interval after catching Covid. This was 5 per cent increased than a comparability group of individuals with out coronavirus in 2020.
The figures match these for lengthy Covid produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which mentioned in April that just about one in seven folks within the UK who check optimistic for Covid-19 are nonetheless struggling signs three months later.
The US analysis, revealed by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), seemed on the interval from three weeks to 6 months after preliminary an infection and discovered that individuals suffered a spread of circumstances.
These included power respiratory failure, irregular coronary heart rhythm, peripheral neuropathy, reminiscence issues, diabetes, liver check abnormalities, anxiousness and fatigue.
The researchers, together with from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, mentioned: “Although people who have been older, had pre-existing circumstances, and have been admitted to hospital due to Covid-19 have been at best extra threat (of struggling new circumstances), youthful adults (aged 50 and underneath), these with no pre-existing circumstances, or these not admitted to hospital for Covid-19 additionally had an elevated threat.”
Sam Hancock20 May 2021 10:32
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Duke of Cambridge will get first dose of Covid vaccine
Prince William has been given his first dose of a Covid jab because the UK’s vaccine rollout continues.
The Duke of Cambridge, 38, was photographed being inoculated on Tuesday by NHS workers at London’s Science Museum, the place well being secretary Matt Hancock obtained his.
William is the most recent member of the royal household to make public their determination to have the vaccine, following within the footsteps of his grandmother, the Queen, and father, the Prince of Wales.
He contracted the virus final spring and was in a position to carry on with phone and on-line engagements whereas he was handled by royal medical doctors however was reportedly hit “fairly onerous” by it and at one stage struggled to breathe.
William, who’s left-handed, posted a picture to official social media accounts of him receiving the jab in his proper arm. It will not be identified which vaccine he was given or if his spouse Kate, 39, has obtained hers.
Sam Hancock20 May 2021 09:59
