Covid UK news LIVE – 1/3 UK deaths now due to coronavirus after deadliest EVER day, plus Boris' Easter lockdown lift
GERMAN officials have discovered another mutant variant of coronavirus that is different to strains in the UK and South Africa.
It is not yet clear whether the new strain is more transmissible than other variants already in circulation.
The worrying discovery comes as here in the UK, it's been revealed that Boris Johnson has begun top secret planning for millions to meet loved ones this Easter.
The Sun has learnt that Cabinet Office civil servants have begun building a detailed “unlocking framework” to gradually ease Covid restrictions area by area.
But the PM has cracked the whip amid lagging vaccine numbers, particularly after the UK suffered its worst day for coronavirus deaths ever, new data has revealed.
Tuesday's figures showed that 1,610 people died in the UK within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test according to data gathered in the previous 24 hours.
Follow the very latest news, updates and analysis of the coronavirus crisis in our live blog below.
- Catriona Graffius
VACCINE PASSPORTS MAY BE NEEDED TO TRAVEL FREELY IN EUROPE
Next time you head on holiday abroad, you may need two passports with you as a number of European countries are considering vaccine passports to allow free travel.
Spain, Greece and Brussels are just some of the destinations which support vaccine passports from travellers to allow them to visit the country without restrictions.
The passports would show that the holder had been vaccinated, and could allow them to skip quarantines or avoid restricted movement in the country.
- Catriona Graffius
MUTANT COVID STRAINS ARRIVE IN BRITAIN
- Catriona Graffius
PFIZER COVID VACCINE DOES WORK AGAINST UK MUTANT STRAIN, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS
Pfizer's Covid vaccine is likely to protect against the mutant variant of coronavirus first discovered in the UK, new findings suggest.
The encouraging results from further tests on the jab will provide further hope after Britain recorded its deadliest day in the pandemic on Tuesday.
The results are based on more extensive blood analysis of participants in trials of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.
Last week, the US drugmaker said a similar laboratory study showed the vaccine was effective against one key mutation, called N501Y.
This had been found in both of the highly transmissible new variants spreading in the UK and South Africa.
- Catriona Graffius
'EVERY LITTLE COUNTS'
Looking at individual transmission and how people can protect themselves Sir Patrick Vallance said face masks are more effective at preventing spread from the person wearing them.
He said they are useful at stopping asymptomatic people spreading the virus to others.
He added: "It's important and we need to do it and every little counts in terms of making sure that we get on top of this."
Prof Vallance however said that he couldn't put a number on how effective they have been.
He said vaccines wont get the numbers under control now but things like mask wearing and hand hygiene would.
- Catriona Graffius
FACE MASKS COULD STILL BE NEEDED NEXT WINTER TO FIGHT THE VIRUS
Face masks and indoor restrictions could still be needed next winter to keep the coronavirus at bay, an expert has warned.
The use of face masks and coverings is currently mandatory in all shops and on public transport and Sir Patrick Vallance this morning warned that they could still be in place next winter if we are to keep infections down.
Speaking to Sky News this morning he said: "It's more likely to be that we wear masks in certain places, that we are continuing with hand washing, making sure that we are sensible about the way in which we interact with people indoors.
"That's the sort of thing we might anticipate. This virus has taken us by surprises time and time again, we just don't know."
- Catriona Graffius
PEERS STUNG TAXPAYER FOR NEARLY £100,000 OF LAPTOPS WHILE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN STILL WAIT FOR THEIRS
Peers stung the taxpayer for nearly £100,000 of laptops and iPads to work from home during the pandemic.
But thousands of children are still waiting on theirs to do their lessons.
Parliament dished out 111 pricey devices to House of Lords members.
Peers also claimed for five webcams, three monitors, five laptop chargers, three ethernet cables and a docking station too.
It came as it emerged that 500,000 of 1.3million cheaper laptops promised to needy pupils had not arrived.
- Catriona Graffius
TORIES WILL BE SEEN AS THE ‘NASTY PARTY AGAIN’ IF THEY DON’T EXTEND £20 WEEKLY BOOST FOR UNIVERSAL CREDIT
The Tories will be seen as the “nasty party again” if they don’t extend the extra £20 a week for people on Universal Credit.
Former homelessness adviser for the Government, Dame Louise Casey has slammed suggestions the cash boost would be scrapped saying it will “take the knees out from under people”.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to make a decision on whether to ditch the £20 a week uplift in his March budget, following reports he could replace it with a one-off “gift” of £500 to families on benefits.
The boost is worth £1,040 over the year.
But Dame Louise said the country has been “torn to shreds” by the pandemic and called on Mr Sunak to come up with a “big plan to deal with the wounds” inflicted on “ordinary folk” over Universal Credit.
- Catriona Graffius
SOUTH AFRICAN AND BRAZILIAN COVID VARIANTS ARE 'REAL ISSUE OF CONCERN', SAYS VALLANCE
The South African and Brazilian Covid variants are a "real issue of concern", Sir Patrick Vallance has warned.
The Chief Scientific Adviser said there are unanswered questions as to whether the immune system will be able to attack the "more worrying" strains.
It means scientists are still unsure whether those who have immunity from either infection or a vaccine are protected against new strains.
Both the variants from South African and Brazil have a mutation which is known to "evade" some antibodies. The UK variant, found in Kent, does not have this mutation.
- Catriona Graffius
SCOTLAND'S LOCKDOWN EXTENDED INTO FEBRUARY
Nicola Sturgeon has today EXTENDED Scotland's lockdown into February.
The First Minister confirmed the tough Covid curbs will remain in place until "at least the middle of February".
Scots were initially plunged back into lockdown two weeks ago, and the latest announcement only extends the restrictions period, and does not change the rules set out previously.
Ms Sturgeon said today: "We cannot afford to see the rate of infections start to rise again – which from such a high baseline, it could all too easily do if we start to interact more than we are doing just now."
- Catriona Graffius
BRITS HAVE 'LONG WAY TO GO' BEFORE LOCKDOWN EASED, SAYS PRITI PATEL
Priti Patel has warned Brits the national Covid lockdown has 'a long way to go' before being lifted as fears are raised about a drop-off in vaccine supply.
The Home Secretary said with the UK's Covid vaccine rollout at a 'pivotal stage' now is 'not the time' to discuss lifting measures.
The Government is currently aiming to vaccinate around 13.5 million of the most vulnerable Brits by mid-February.
But hopes of a quick route out of lockdown have been dealt a blow by recent vaccination figures showing the number of jabs being given out fell to around 170,000 on Monday, from a high of 325,000 last Friday.
- Catriona Graffius
CHINA BUILDS QUARANTINE CAMP FOR 4,000 PEOPLE AMID FEARS OF HUGE COVID OUTBREAK
China has built a quarantine camp for 4,000 people amid fears of another huge Covid outbreak.
An army of 600 workers built the massive centre with thousands of isolation units in just five days.
A time-lapse video, released by state broadcaster CCTV, shows construction crews labouring day and night to build the emergency facility.
It comes amid fears of a Covid outbreak in the northern Hebei Province, which is the latest virus hotspot in the country.
- Catriona Graffius
NINE COPS FINED £200 FOR BREAKING COVID RULES AFTER TUCKING INTO CAFE BREAKFAST
Nine cops have today been fined £200 each for breaking Covid rules after being spotted eating breakfast in a London cafe.
Pictures taken by a passerby appeared to show several police cars parked outside The Chef House Kitchen in Greenwich – with a group of bobbies tucking into food inside.
And Met Police today confirmed nine officers had been fined – saying cops had "fallen short".
Under Covid rules, all hospitality venues are banned from table service under current lockdown rules – and can only offer takeaway and delivery.
- Catriona Graffius
BORIS STARTS TOP SECRET PLANNING TO EASE LOCKDOWN BY EASTER
Boris Johnson has begun top secret planning for millions to meet loved ones this Easter – but cracked the whip amid lagging vaccine numbers.
The Sun has learnt Cabinet Office civil servants have begun building a detailed “unlocking framework” to gradually ease Covid restrictions area by area.
Although publicly ministers say it's too soon to say when freedoms can be restored, the PM has tasked No10 officials with building the plans with his eye on early April – even if for many it's only mingling outside.
But those freedoms are dependent on the vaccine rollout working and declining hospitalisation numbers.
- Catriona Graffius
VACCINE FIGURES SLUMP BY NEARLY HALF IN PAST FOUR DAYS
The number of daily vaccines being carried out has slumped by nearly half in the past four days, alarming figures reveal.
Medics in England carried out 170,900 jabs on Tuesday – well below the daily record of 324,711 vaccinations dished out last Friday.
And it is significantly lower than the number of jabs carried out last Wednesday and Thursday, which were around 250,000 and 275,000 respectively.
Dr Duncan Robertson, an analyst at Loughborough University, said: "The number vaccinated has fallen for three successive days.
"It would be useful to know what the vaccine supply schedule is over the next weeks and months, and the reason for this decrease."
- Catriona Graffius
COVID PANDEMIC COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF WUHAN DIDN'T LIE TO WORLD, SAYS TOP DOC
The Covid pandemic could have been avoided if Wuhan didn't lie to the world, a top doctor has claimed.
A bombshell ITV documentary reveals Covid was spreading like wildfire for 12 days from January 5 but the Chinese government reported no new cases.
In the documentary, infectious diseases specialist Dr Yi-Chun Lo, of Taiwan’s Centres for Disease Control, blamed China for hiding facts about the virus outbreak.
He said: “I think the pandemic could have been avoided at the beginning if China was transparent about the outbreak and was quick to provide necessary information to the world.”
- Catriona Graffius
VACCINATION SCHEME COULD BE DERAILED BY STORM CHRISTOPH
Storm Christoph is set to wreak havoc on the UK's record breaking Covid vaccination programme as torrential rain could close jab centres.
It comes as the number of jabs has fallen for the third straight day, slumping to 204,000 today.
Health bosses blamed a weekend lag in reporting, with figures expected to be significantly higher tomorrow.
Officials were hoping to surpass 400,000 daily jabs by the end of this week.
But persistent heavy rain, snow and flooding is now forecast for much of the midlands and north as Storm Christoph sweeps in.
- Catriona Graffius
JABS LOTTERY
Some over-70s could get their Covid vaccine before those over 80 in a "postcode lottery", the UK's Vaccines Minister suggested.
Nadhim Zahawi said that in areas where "the majority" of over-80s have had their first shot, the over-70s group will be invited for their jab.
But with some areas rolling out vaccines at a faster pace, it could result in older and more vulnerable Brits delayed in their first dose.
One Tory MP told Politico that areas such as the North East are supposedly administering vaccines quicker than places such as London and Kent.
In the capital, vaccine numbers are lagging behind the rest of the country, with MPs fearful supplies are being based on the low flu vaccine take-up from last winter.
- Catriona Graffius
ROGUE COUNCILS OFFER JABS TO STAFF BEFORE OVER-70s SPARKING VACCINE FREE FOR ALL FEARS
Rogue councils have offered jabs to staff before vulnerable over-70s – sparking fears of a vaccine free-for-all.
Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council secured vaccinations for their staff this week, the Telegraph reported.
The move goes against the Government's list of who gets the vaccine first, with the most vulnerable given top priority.
The two councils reportedly secured jabs for children's services staff, many of whom are working from home.
They also told about 28,000 nursery workers that the councils had reached an agreement for vaccines with the local NHS, in a letter reportedly seen by the Telegraph.
- Alahna Kindred
FREE FOR ALL
Rogue councils have offered jabs to staff before vulnerable over-70s – sparking fears of a vaccine free-for-all.
Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council secured vaccinations for their staff this week, the Telegraph reported.
The move goes against the Government's list of who gets the vaccine first, with the most vulnerable given top priority.
The two councils reportedly secured jabs for children's services staff, many of whom are working from home.
They also told about 28,000 nursery workers that the councils had reached an agreement for vaccines with the local NHS, in a letter reportedly seen by the Telegraph.
The letter read: "We submitted estimated staff numbers last week and I have just received confirmation that there is capacity beginning this week to support beginning those vaccinations."
It added that there was "a significant amount of vaccine" to be shared.
- Alahna Kindred
VACCINE SLUMP
The number of daily vaccines being carried out has slumped by nearly half in the past four days, alarming figures reveal.
Medics in England carried out 170,900 jabs on Tuesday – well below the daily record of 324,711 vaccinations dished out last Friday.
And it is significantly lower than the number of jabs carried out last Wednesday and Thursday, which were around 250,000 and 275,000 respectively.
Worrying data shows the number of Brits getting vaccinated against coronavirus has fallen for the third day in a row.
Dr Duncan Robertson, an analyst at Loughborough University, said: "The number vaccinated has fallen for three successive days.
"It would be useful to know what the vaccine supply schedule is over the next weeks and months, and the reason for this decrease."
- Alahna Kindred
BOUNCING OUT
Boris Johnson has begun top secret planning for millions to meet loved ones this Easter – but cracked the whip amid lagging vaccine numbers.
The Sun has learnt Cabinet Office civil servants have begun building a detailed “unlocking framework” to gradually ease Covid restrictions area by area.
Although publicly Ministers say it's too soon to say when freedoms can be restored, the PM has tasked No10 officials with building the plans with his eye on early April mingling joy for millions – even if for many its only outside.
Amid mounting backbench pressure to set out a route out of lockdown, a senior Government source told The Sun: “It’s way too soon to start talking about when, but the work is being done quietly on the how.”
But those freedoms are dependent on the vaccine rollout working and declining hospitalisation numbers.
- Debbie White
OPERATION COVID LAUNCHED TO HELP BRITS
Army doctors have been busy manning heaving intensive care units in London this week, The Sun can reveal.
As the NHS struggles with wave after wave of Covid cases, medically-trained troops have stepped in at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, while servicewomen in fatigues were pictured at the Royal Free in Hampstead.
The Army medics are part of a wave of more than 200 personnel deployed by the Department of Health and the Ministry of Defence to relieve pressure on struggling hospitals across the south-east.
The servicemen and women will assist ICU staff battling Covid-19 at main NHS trusts.
A further 150 military staff will help in non-clinical roles in order to allow doctors and nurses to care for patients, after the NHS sent a request to the Ministry of Defence for aid.
- Debbie White
BRIT TOURISTS TO BE WELCOMED BACK TO MAJORCA & IBIZA
Brits are to be invited back to Majorca and Ibiza ahead of the 2021 tourist season as part of a coronavirus safety test scheme – along with German visitors.
The Balearic's tourism minister Iago Negueruela has held various meetings with businesspeople in recent weeks and has spoken about the project with some of the major hoteliers in the Balearic Islands.
A spokesman from the tourism department said: "We are working jointly with the private sector, in this case hoteliers, and the tourism pilot plan will only be launched when appropriate."
The plan will not be activated until the spread of coronavirus in the islands is under control and there is a "favourable evolution" in the main market countries, such as Britain which still has travel restrictions in force, as does Spain as a whole.
- Debbie White
TRAVELLERS ALLOWED INTO UK – DESPITE HAVING NO COVID TEST
There have been chaotic scenes at Heathrow Airport, as it grapples with government rules requiring all arrivals into the UK to show proof of a negative Covid test.
More than 30 passengers showed up without proof of a valid negative coronavirus test, who were then fined £500 each and allowed into the country by Border Force, despite the health risk to locked-down Brits.
The Home Office confirmed that people who show up at the UK border without tests are just fined and let on their way, with a requirement to quarantine for 10 days like all other travellers.
This policy means that a number of Covid-positive people carrying new strains of the virus could be arriving into the country each day.
- Debbie White
ANTI-VAX CONSPIRACIES SPREAD TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM CHINA
China is spreading anti-vaccination conspiracies about the Pfizer coronavirus jab – using its state-run media to wrongly suggest it might kill people.
Communist Party-owned newspaper The Global Times and state-controlled television network CGTN have both been found by The Sun Online to be playing up fears over the Covid jab.
Experts said it was a disturbing twist for China as it continues to boast of its own handling of the pandemic and shift blame to other countries.
Professor Anthony Glees, from the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham, said: "To use fake news and fan fears about the Pfizer vaccine… demonstrates a readiness to undermine and subvert all European nations in particular [and] to sow confusion."
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