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Post by Admin on May 16, 2021 4:08:43 GMT
The government is acting “coolly” and “calmly” to tackle the coronavirus variant first found in India as social distancing measures are further eased on Monday, the health minister Edward Argar has said. At a press conference on Friday, Boris Johnson said he would press ahead with allowing indoor gatherings of six people or two households in England from next week, though the final stage of lifting restrictions in June could face “serious disruption”. His comments came amid warnings from scientists that the new variant of concern first detected in India, B.1.617.2, could lead to a “significant” surge in infections, and could be up to 50% more transmissible than the variant first detected in Kent. “As Chris Whitty said yesterday, it’s possible [it could be more transmissible], but equally it could be much less more transmissible, if that makes sense,” Argar told BBC Breakfast on Saturday. “We don’t know how much more transmissible it is yet. All the evidence so far suggests there is no evidence of increased severity of illness or that it evades the vaccine. “So, at the moment, on the basis of the evidence we are doing the right thing, coolly, calmly continuing with Monday, but keeping everything under review.”
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Post by Admin on May 17, 2021 19:57:21 GMT
There are now 86 local authorities with five or more confirmed cases of the Indian Covid variant, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. "This isn't just about Bolton and Blackburn," he said, referring to the areas seeing a spike in cases. It comes as millions of people can now enjoy new freedoms as lockdown is eased in England, Wales and most of Scotland. But the government has warned its next review of social distancing rules may be delayed. No 10 said the Indian variant "could pose a threat" to the process of deciding whether all remaining lockdown restrictions could be eased on 21 June. Mr Hancock told the House of Commons there were now 2,323 confirmed cases of the Indian variant in the UK. This means there has been a 77% increase in confirmed cases of the variant over the last five days. "There are now 86 local authorities where there are five or more confirmed cases," he said. There are 343 local authorities in England. Mr Hancock said the Indian variant was now the dominant strain of the virus in Bolton as well as Blackburn and Darwen and was rising in all age groups. He said most people in hospital in those areas had been eligible for a vaccine but had chosen not to have it - and urged anyone not sure whether to get jabbed to "look at what's happening in Bolton". Bedford was also fast becoming a hotspot for the variant, Mr Hancock said, and surge testing would be rolled out there. Scientists believe the Indian variant does spread more easily, but early data suggests vaccines still work. The exact impact on vaccine efficacy - if any - is yet to be confirmed. People aged 37 and over in England will be able to get the vaccine from Tuesday, he said - and the rollout would continue to be expanded later in the week.
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2021 19:57:32 GMT
Up to three quarters of new UK Covid cases could be of the Indian variant, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.
Public Health England data shows cases of the variant have risen by 3,535 to 6,959 since last week.
Mr Hancock told a Downing Street briefing that the government had always expected cases to rise as restrictions were eased.
But he said it was "critical" to monitor the link between cases and hospitalisations.
On Thursday, a further 3,542 coronavirus cases and 10 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported in the UK.
It is the second day in a row the number of new Covid cases has topped 3,000 - the first time infections have reached this level since mid-April.
Over the last seven days, cases are up 20.5% compared with the week before.
'Remain vigilant' Mr Hancock told the briefing on Thursday: "The latest estimates are that more than half and potentially as many as three-quarters of all new cases are now of this variant.
"As we set out our roadmap we always expected cases to rise - we must remain vigilant."
Mr Hancock said the increase in cases was still focused in hotspots.
The PHE data found the worst-affected areas continue to be Bolton, Bedford, and Blackburn with Darwen, which have seen 1,354, 366 and 361 confirmed cases, respectively.
PHE added, however, that there are small numbers of cases of the variant in most parts of the country.
The health secretary urged people to get both vaccine doses, saying all of the evidence showed it was the best way to protect yourself, loved ones and the wider community.
Of the 49 people in hospital with Covid in Bolton only five had received both doses, he said.
Mr Hancock added that vaccines were "severing the link between cases and hospitalisations and deaths from coronavirus".
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Post by Admin on Jun 5, 2021 17:01:31 GMT
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Post by Admin on Jun 23, 2021 18:41:34 GMT
'The Queen Hosts PM Boris Johnson For First In-Person Meeting Since Lockdown Began'
The Queen has held her first in-person meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson since the UK went into lockdown.
Throughout her reign, the Queen has received weekly briefings from the prime minister of the day, and dozens of government documents pass across her desk every week for formal approval.
Mr Johnson and The Queen, who were together at the G7 summit earlier this month, last held a face to face weekly audience 15 months ago on March 11 2020.
#TheQueen #BorisJohnson #RoyalFamily
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