Coronavirus UK news – UK has 77 cases of terrifying DOUBLE MUTANT Indian strain that could dodge vaccines and kill more
PFIZER'S boss has said he thinks people may need a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Albert Bourla, 59, said a potential booster shot would be administered six to 12 months after someone had been fully vaccinated.
“There are vaccines that are like polio that one dose is enough…and there are vaccines like flu than you need every year,” he said.
“The Covid virus looks more like the influenza virus than the polio virus.”
His comments come as fears rise for new variants after 77 cases of the Indian strain were detected in the UK.
Seventy-three cases are in England and four are in Wales.
And a new study showed the risk of a brain blood clot after the AstraZeneca vaccine was five in a million, and four in a million after vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna.
For people who had Covid, the risk was almost 40 in a million.
Researchers at Oxford – the same university that created the AstraZeneca vaccine – said either after the coronavirus or a jab, the risk of a brain blood clot in the following two weeks was very rare.
But comparing the two, they said the risk was "substantially and significantly higher" after Covid – which is largely avoidable with a vaccine.
Read our coronavirus live blog below for the very latest news and updates on the pandemic…
- Claudia Aoraha
UNI GRADUATION CUT TO 30 MINS LEAVING STUDENTS 'FUMING'
University students are fuming as the traditional graduation ceremonies where they are clapped and photographed by family and friends have been cut to 30 minutes because of Covid.
To make things worse, only three guests can watch.
Hundreds have signed a protest petition after the University of Suffolk in Ipswich announced that each graduate must book a half-hour slot, between May 18 and 28, where they can have their photos taken in their gowns, accompanied by up to three people.
Many students have been voicing their upset, with 290 so far signing an 'appeal the 30 minutes graduation' petition on the Change.org website.
- Claudia Aoraha
SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT HAS SPREAD FURTHER
The South African variant has spread further amid reports that several infected people have had a Covid vaccine dose.
It fuels fears the strain can indeed avoid immunity built from vaccination, as shown in early studies.
Health officials yesterday said a further 56 cases had been identified, taking the total confirmed cases to 600.
An outbreak in south London is feared to be the epicentre, where a huge operation to stem the spread of the variant is underway.
Surge testing sites have been set up in Wandsworth, Lambeth and Southwark, screening thousands of people a day.
- Claudia Aoraha
CARE HOME RESIDENTS FEEL 'TRAPPED' WITH COVID RULES
Care home residents say they feel "trapped" as Covid rules mean they must isolate every time they go outside.
Guidance from the Department of Health states that people living in care homes must self-isolate for two weeks if they leave.
This means they have to spend 14 days on their own just to go for a walk or visit a cafe with their families.
The rules still apply even though most elderly people have now received both doses of a Covid vaccine.
Care home residents are also regularly tested for the bug.
- Claudia Aoraha
LOCKDOWN ENTIRE STREETS TO STOP SPREAD
Locking down entire streets could be a crucial way to keep outbreaks of more transmissible Covid variants under control, an expert has urged.
Dr Jeffrey Barrett, director of the Covid-19 Genomics Initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said such extreme measures could be the best way forward.
He said it was important to deploy “the most effective measures possible” to contain these outbreaks, reports The Telegraph.
Asked if shutting roads would have a medical impact, he replied: “It certainly could, because one of the trickiest parts of this virus overall is, of course, some individuals who are infected don’t have symptoms and so they can transmit.
“Trying to use interventions that might stop asymptomatic transmission may well be an important part of keeping outbreaks of these new variants as absolutely small as possible.”
- Dan Keane
FRANCE PLANS SLOW REOPENING
The French government is working on gradually re-opening some cultural and leisure venues – such as outdoors restaurants and cafe terraces – from mid-May onwards, government spokesman Gabriel Attal has said.
Many venues have been closed down in the country as a result of lockdowns imposed to tackle coronavirus.
- Dan Keane
POLAND SEES FALL IN CASES
Poland's new daily coronavirus cases will likely fall in coming days and the country seems to have passed the worst in hospitals too, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski has said.
The country of 38 million, the largest in the European Union's eastern wing, reported a high of around 35,000 cases a day at the start of April.
It has also reported new record highs in coronavirus-related deaths with the health service being stretched to its limits by a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Today we should have a more optimistic day. We will see significant falls, even by 10,000 compared to last week," Niedzielski told public radio.
- Dan Keane
TRAVEL BOSS 'OPTIMISTIC' ON SUMMER HOLS
The boss of Europe's largest tour company has said he is "optimistic" the summer holiday season can be saved with successful vaccine programmes.
In an interview with the BBC, Tui Group chief executive Friedrich Joussen said bookings in March had hit 2.8 million, with the company expecting to operate up to 75% of its normal schedule for the summer season.
Pointing to the success of vaccination programmes in the UK, US and Europe, Mr Joussen told the broadcaster: "We are still confident that we will have a decent summer.
"All medical advice we are getting as a company says that existing vaccines are working with existing variants."
- Britta Zeltmann
GOOD FRIDAY
Five million pints are expected to be downed tonight in a £1.6billion Fab Friday for pubs and shops.
It is the first weekend night with bars open in all parts of England since October last year — when Tier 3 pub shutdowns hit some areas.
And drinkers will be making up for missing Christmas, New Year and Easter parties, with all-day sessions and booze sales set to be double a usual Friday night, industry data shows.
The biggest night out for six months will see 1.5million people sup five million pints and 500,000 bottles of wine at 20,000 pubs and 20,000 restaurants serving outdoors.
- Chiara Fiorillo
COVID CONCERNS
Covid testing may be scaled back after officials reportedly raised "urgent" concerns about the accuracy of rapid tests.
Senior government officials have estimated that as few as 2 per cent to 10 per cent of positive results may be accurate in areas with low Covid rates like London, the Guardian reported.
Leaked emails reportedly show that government officials are considering scaling back widespread testing of those without symptoms.
There are concerns about the growing number of false positives from rapid tests.
- Chiara Fiorillo
MANY MORTGAGE CUSTOMERS COULD BE PAYING LOYALTY PENALTY
Two fifths (42%) of people whose fixed-term mortgages have ended since the start of the first lockdown in March 2020 have taken no action to switch, according to Citizens Advice.
The charity fears these home owners could be paying a loyalty penalty for sticking with their existing provider.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has estimated that not switching could leave loyal mortgage customers charged an average extra £1,000 a year in bills.
Citizens Advice is warning that the burden is falling on the consumer to get the best deal and those who do not switch are at risk of paying over the odds for their mortgage.
- Chiara Fiorillo
COVID MORTALITY RATES TWICE AS HIGH IN INSECURE JOBS
Coronavirus mortality rates are twice as high in insecure jobs as in other professions, new research suggests.
The TUC said workers on a contract that does not guarantee regular hours or income, such as zero-hours contracts or casual work, and those in low-paid self-employment, have been more at risk of infection.
The Covid-19 male mortality rate in insecure occupations was 51 per 100,000 people aged 20-64, compared with 24 per 100,000 in less insecure occupations, said the union organisation.
The Covid-19 female mortality rate in insecure occupations was 25 per 100,000 people, compared with 13 per 100,000 in less insecure occupations.
The TUC called the figures "stark" and said more research is needed to understand the links between precarious work and risk of infection and death.
- Chiara Fiorillo
PAST COVID INFECTION 'DOES NOT FULLY PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST REINFECTION'
Previous coronavirus infection does not fully protect young people against reinfection, research suggests.
Researchers said that despite previous infection and the presence of antibodies, vaccination is still necessary to boost immune responses, prevent reinfection and reduce transmission.
They added that young people should take up the vaccine whenever possible.
- Chiara Fiorillo
WHICH CORONAVIRUS VARIANTS DO WE KNOW ABOUT?
- Chiara Fiorillo
MUTANT FEAR
A new Covid variant from India has been detected in the UK, health officials have announced.
A total of 77 confirmed cases of the strain have been identified as of April 14.
Seventy-three cases are in England and four are in Wales.
The variant has been labelled as “under investigation” along with six others in the UK.
More on the story here
- Chiara Fiorillo
SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH ENJOYED 'COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SOUNDTRACK' OF LOCKDOWN
Sir David Attenborough and his friends enjoyed the "completely different soundtrack" left after planes stopped flying over their homes during lockdown, the executive producer on his new show has said.
The veteran broadcaster, 94, narrates a forthcoming documentary called The Year Earth Changed, detailing how the natural world adapted as much of the world's human population took shelter amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Filmed across five continents from March 2020, the Apple TV+ programme features footage of turtles hatching on once busy beaches and deer exploring city centres.
Produced by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the special is launching on Friday April 16, ahead of Earth Day on April 22.
Executive producer Mike Gunton said Sir David had told him he enjoyed being able to hear birdsong and other sounds of natural life during the early months of the pandemic.
- Chiara Fiorillo
CARE HOMES 'FAILED' BY LATERAL FLOW TEST ROLLOUT
Care homes in England are being "failed" by a flawed rollout of rapid-result tests, an expert has warned as analysis of a pilot found "poor" adherence and no impact on outbreaks.
The majority of staff in 11 Liverpool care homes carried out less than a third of the rapid-result lateral flow device tests required over six weeks between December and January, according to a pre-print paper.
Researchers from the universities of Liverpool, Nottingham and Imperial College London found no significant difference in the proportion of care homes with outbreaks or the size of outbreaks when comparing the results with homes that were not participating in the pilot.
- Chiara Fiorillo
LONDON SURGE TESTING NEEDED TO ‘GET AHEAD OF MUTANT BUG’
Surge coronavirus testing is needed when variants are identified so officials are able to “get ahead of the infection”, according to London’s regional director of Public Health England.
Professor Kevin Fenton told BBC Radio 4: “As we begin the process of unlocking and re-entering society and mixing, even small numbers of variants, when they occur, can have the potential to spread relatively quickly.
“And that is why we have such a proactive programme of screening for and testing for the new variants, and, where we have found, we surge.
“We need to get ahead of the infection and not keep following behind it.”
- Chiara Fiorillo
BORDER CHAOS
A woman in a “seven-hour queue” collapsed at Heathrow Airport “after a 90-minute argument over hotel quarantine”.
The passenger was seen laying on the floor at the border control gate with a member of staff at her aid, as Covid checks created massive queues to get into the UK.
Footage posted online on Monday afternoon shows the collapsed woman being tended to by staff – as many more passengers wait to be cleared through the border.
The person who recorded the ordeal claims the passenger had collapsed following a seven-hour wait for entry clearance.
It is understood that the woman was in a 90 minute argument with Border Force officials before she collapsed. The airport said the individual did not have the appropriate paperwork for hotel quarantine.
- Chiara Fiorillo
DAVID HAYE LAUNCHES RAINBOW MASK TO THANK NHS HEROES
David Haye, Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Founder of The Black Mask Company, has launched a rainbow mask to thank NHS heroes as a third of Brits appreciate their work more than ever.
Research by The Black Mask Company has found the nation’s appreciation for the NHS has risen dramatically throughout the pandemic.
The company is releasing a limited edition Rainbow Mask range, with 25% of the retail price being donated to NHS Charities, to thank NHS heroes.
Mr Haye said: "Lockdowns and face masks are something I can’t wait to see the back of – not many of us wanted them to be mandated or for our movements to be so restricted.
"But whilst we take steps out of lockdown life, it’s time to give back to our NHS heroes. The Rainbow Masks are worn to honour those that have worked so hard on the frontline to protect all of us."
The rainbow mask was launched to thank NHS heroes - Chiara Fiorillo
IRELAND COVID-19 NUMBERS 'BETTER THAN WE COULD HAVE HOPED FOR'
Ireland's Covid-19 numbers are "better than could have been hoped for" just a few weeks ago, the acting chief medical officer has said.
Dr Ronan Glynn paid tribute to the population for "listening to the messages and sticking with this".
He said the country had gone from among the worst impacted in the EU in January to "continuing on a very positive path" to "amongst the best positioned in Europe at the moment in relation to this disease".
- Chiara Fiorillo
GYM CHAIN LAUNCHES SERVICE TO CARRY EXHAUSTED MEMBERS HOME
As gyms reopened at the beginning of this week, GYMBOX launched its latest innovation to support members on their return.
It introduced London's first rickshaw service for gym-goers – to carry their exhausted bodies home after their first intense workout in a gym for months.
The service will be available all week.
The science points to increased pain levels following an intense workout after a break from exercise, and Raquel Banuls, BSc Sports and Exercise Science, said: "Gym-goers will be inclined to push themselves harder first-time back in a proper gym environment, and this is likely to result in significant stress on the muscles after such a long break.
"In short, the first workout back might be painful, but repeated sessions will reduce muscle pain."
GYMBOX launched London's first rickshaw service for gym-goersCredit: GYMBOX
- Chiara Fiorillo
URSULA VON DER LEYEN RECEIVES FIRST COVID JAB
Ursula von der Leyen has received her first Covid-19 vaccine.
The President of the European Commission tweeted: "The swifter we vaccinate, the sooner we can control the pandemic."
- Chiara Fiorillo
BREAKING – MORE JABS COULD BE NEEDED
Pfizer's boss has said he thinks it is “likely” people will need a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Albert Bourla, 59, said a potential booster shot would be administered six to 12 months after someone had been fully vaccinated.
“There are vaccines that are like polio that one dose is enough…and there are vaccines like flu than you need every year,” he said.
“The Covid virus looks more like the influenza virus than the polio virus.”
Read our breaking news story here
- Chiara Fiorillo
COVID DENIER DIES AFTER HOSTING ILLEGAL PARTIES
A Covid denier has died from the virus just days after hosting two illegal events at his property.
Hans Kristian Gaarder tested positive for the virus after dying on April 6 while at least a dozen people who attended his events have also tested positive.
Just days before his death, the conspiracy theorist, 60, hosted two illegal gatherings at a barn on his property in Norway on March 26 and 27.
He died just ten days later in Gran, a municipality around 40 miles north of Oslo.
Several attendees have since tested positive for coronavirus and had passed the virus onto their close contacts, NRK reported.
Hans Kristian Gaarder tested positive for the virus after dying on April 6 - Chiara Fiorillo
WHO WARNS COVID 'NOWHERE NEAR DONE'
Covid's grip on the world is "nowhere near finished" as super variants are spawning a surge of new cases, the World Health Organisation has warned.
Its special envoy Dr David Nabarro, said the UK is bucking the trend with falling cases and deaths while in most parts of the globe coronavirus is rampant.
Addressing the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Dr Nabarro said new variants will be a "regular" occurrence while the virus is still prevalent around the world.
You can read more here
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