ngland could be set for a new national lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus amid accusations that the Government has let Covid-19 “get out of control”.
The “Covid O” committee that oversees coronavirus restrictions is expected to meet on Monday to decide changes. Matt Hancock said ministers will not “rule anything out” when asked whether a third lockdown could be imposed.
Meanwhile, a teaching union has said parents and staff are facing a “confusing picture” of primary school closures, as local authorities call on the Government to delay children returning to classrooms due to the spread of the virus.
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Dialysis patient, 82, becomes first person to receive Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine
Mr Pinker, who describes himself as Oxford born and bred, said in a statement issued by NHS England that he was “really proud” that the vaccine had been invented in Oxford.
82-year-old Brian Pinker is ‘the first person in the world to receive the new Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine’
He said: “I’m so pleased to be getting the Covid vaccine today and really proud it is one that was invented in Oxford.”
Mr Hancock suggests teachers are no more at risk of catching coronavirus than the rest of the population
The Health Secretary told Sky News: “It is also clear that the proportion of teachers who catch coronavirus is no higher than the rest of the population.
“So there is clear public health advice behind the position that we have taken and that is what people should follow because, of course, education is very important as well, especially for people’s long-term health.”
Matt Hancock says increasing the country’s vaccine manufacture capacity was “a big medium-term project”
He told Times Radio: “But that doesn’t take away what’s being delivered today – British science, with the British industrial might of AstraZeneca, backed by the British Government, is delivering the first doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, into arms, in the NHS, this morning.”
London coronavirus cases rose in two-thirds of boroughs over Christmas
The number of Covid patients in London hospitals hit a seven-day average of 21,779 on Christmas Day, beating the first wave peak of 21,195 on April 12.
Matt Hancock says the Government does not “rule anything out” when asked whether ministers were considering imposing another national lockdown
He told Sky News: “We don’t rule anything out, and we’ve shown repeatedly that we will look at the public health advice and we will take the public health advice in terms of what is needed to control the spread of the disease.
“This new variant is much easier to catch, it is much more transmissible, and we’re now seeing the effect of that in lots of different parts of the country, unfortunately.
“And it means that whereas the old Tier 3 was able to contain the old variant, that is proving increasingly difficult in all parts of the country.”
Asked whether Tier 4 restrictions work, Mr Hancock said: “It is down to people’s behaviour, frankly. What matters is, yes of course, the rules that we put in place, but it is also about how people act.
“And frankly what I would say is this: it is critical that everybody in the country does all that they can to reduce the spread of the virus.”
Shadow education secretary Kate Green calls for a “stronger set” of coronavirus restrictions
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It is very clear that the Government has lost control of the virus, we’re seeing a really alarming rise in cases and in the spread of the infection.
“And I do think that we will need a stronger set of measures… but also a very clear understanding among the whole of the public everywhere that staying at home, not going out except when it is essential, not mixing socially or unnecessarily is key to getting this virus under control.”
Matt Hancock says rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine us a “vital step” in the fight against coronavirus
He tweeted: “Delighted that today we roll out the @UniofOxford / @AstraZeneca vaccine across the whole UK.
“It’s a vital step in our fight against this pandemic. This is a national mission. Thank you to everyone involved.”
— to www.standard.co.uk
