THE surge in Indian variant cases in the UK has triggered demands for the June 21 unlocking to be delayed.
Britain's long-awaited 'Freedom Day' is now in serious doubt, with scientists and Boris Johnson's former adviser Dominic Cummings among those calling for it to be postponed.
Epidemiologist Professor Paul Hunter said Brits now face a nail-biting wait for data on exactly how serious the current outbreaks are and how many people end up dead or in hospital.
"The big question is how many people who are getting the Indian variant will end up requiring hospitalisation," he told Radio 4's Today programme.
"At the moment the hospitalisation rate doesn't seem to be increasing yet although if this becomes much more common we will almost certainly see some increase," he added.
"So it's certainly a concern. I think Step 4 is in doubt in June now, but we really need to see what impact it has on severe disease before we can really be certain," he went on to say.
It comes as 10 million over 50s and vulnerable people living in areas seeing a surge in Indian variant cases will be given urgent second vaccines.
Although the Indian variant may be up to 60 times more transmissible than even the Kent strain, as yet there's no indication that vaccines do not work against it.
Read our coronavirus live blog below for the latest updates…
- Joseph Gamp
SURGE VACCINATION ‘MAY POSSIBLY WORK’ AGAINST INDIAN VARIANT, SAYS PROFESSSOR
Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said surge vaccination will “possibly” work, but it is “not an easy question either way”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The downside of that is who do you take the vaccines from?
“And one of the difficulties with vaccination is that it does take a couple of weeks to work, so if you’re moving vaccines away from areas where they currently don’t have much Indian variant and that is increasing, by the time you start getting round to vaccinating that group again when maybe the epidemic, the Indian variant, is increasing rapidly again, probably you might well have been able to stop that if you hadn’t diverted vaccine to surge areas.
“So it’s not an easy question either way, to be honest.”
- Joseph Gamp
TRAVEL PLANS IN DOUBT AS PORTUGAL EXTENDS LOCKDOWN
British holidaymakers hoping to jet off to Portugal as soon as UK travel restrictions lift are facing uncertainty after the nation's government decided to extend its "state of calamity" until at least May 30.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that as of May 17 the "stay in the UK" restriction will lift, meaning people will be able to travel to green list countries such as Portugal without self-isolating on their return.
But guidance published on the Portuguese government's website on Thursday stated that ministers had approved a move to continue the current level of lockdown until May 30 at the earliest. UK holidaymakers are currently prohibited from entering the European Union.
Holiday firms have reported huge demand for trips to Portugal following the publication of the green list. EasyJet has added 105,000 extra seat to its flights serving green tier destinations, while Tui plans to use aircraft which normally operate long-haul routes to accommodate the surge of people booked to fly to Portugal.
A spokeswoman for Tui said: "We're monitoring the situation closely and will provide a further update as soon as we have clarification from the Portuguese government. We would like to reassure customers that we will contact them directly if their flight or holiday is impacted to discuss their options, this includes offering a full refund or the chance to change the holiday for free."
- Joseph Gamp
PHE SAYS FOUR PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM INDIAN VARIANT OF CONCERN SINCE MAY 12
Four people have now died from the Indian variant of concern as of May 12, according to data published by Public Health England (PHE).
- Joseph Gamp
1 IN 1340 PEOPLE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 IN THE UK OVER LATEST WEEK – ONS FIGURES
The Office for National Statistics has released data showing how, across te UK, Covid-19 positive cases are declining.
In England, 40,800 people tested positive for the virus over the last week, with 700 people testing positive in in Wales – around 1 in 1040.
And in Northern Ireland, the amount of people with Covid-19 amount to 1 in 1430, while in Scotland that figure stands at 1 in 1250.
- Joseph Gamp
MANCHESTER MAYOR ANDY BURNHAM DOES NOT SUPPORT LOCAL LOCKDOWN
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he would not welcome local lockdowns to combat the spread of the Indian coronavirus variant.
He told Sky News: “My heart sank yesterday when I heard the Prime Minister reintroduce the possibility of local lockdowns; they really didn’t work.
“We were under different forms of local lockdown pretty much for the whole of the second half of last year and it took a huge toll on people, obviously on our businesses and our economy.
“We are in a different situation this year because, even though we are seeing spread of the Indian variant in Bolton, we are not seeing the same numbers of people going into hospital because obviously older people are more protected now.
“So we don’t need to have the same response that we had last year. We do believe if we move quickly on vaccination we can take away any risk of a local lockdown.”
- Joseph Gamp
LOCKDOWN EASING COULD BE THREATENED BY A NEW COVID VARIANT FROM INDIA SPREADING RAPIDLY IN THE UK
Lockdown easing could. be threatened by a new Covid variant from India spreading rapidly in the UK
- Joseph Gamp
INDIAN CORONAVIRUS MUTANT CASES DOUBLE IN SPACE OF WEEK
In the past week, the number of Indian variant cases has soared from 520 to 1,313.
A separate plan for easing restrictions, with later dates for unlocking, has been drawn up and is being circulated in the Cabinet Office in case the variant does take hold, The Sun has been told.
But last night, Downing Street sources furiously denied this.
Privately, many Tory MPs are angry that it took so long to add India to the red list despite cases surging there. People returning from red list countries must quarantine for ten days in a hotel.
- John Hall
BRITAIN’S LOCKDOWN ON TRACK TO BE LIFTED DESPITE CASES OF INDIAN COVID VARIANT DOUBLING
THE country is on course to reclaim its long-awaited freedoms on time — despite cases of the Indian variant more than doubling in a week.
Boris Johnson admitted he was anxious at the surge in the number of people struck down by the super-infectious strain.
But the PM said he still expected to tear up lockdown restrictions on Monday and on June 21.
Upbeat health chiefs also cautioned against panic as they said there was no evidence vaccines did not work against the strain.
However, ministers have said they plan to reduce the 12-week gap between jabs for all those in priority groups one to nine to ensure the most vulnerable have the fullest protection possible.
- Joseph Gamp
41% OF ADULTS MORE LIKELY TO ATTEND AN EVENT IF REQUIRED TO SHOW NEGATIVE TEST
Four in 10 adults would be more likely to attend an event if they were required to show proof of a negative coronavirus test, figures suggest.
Some 41% of adults were more positive about attending an event such as the theatre or a concert if they were required to show a negative test, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
A majority – 71% – said they would be less likely to attend if it meant spending an extra two hours in the venue to allow for a socially distanced exit.
An event without any social distancing, being required to wear a face covering for the duration of the event and being unable to eat food and drink also put adults off.
The ONS asked 7,617 people in Britain about their likelihood of attending organised events between April 28 and May 3.
- Joseph Gamp
BRITAIN’S LOCKDOWN ON TRACK TO BE LIFTED DESPITE CASES OF INDIAN COVID VARIANT DOUBLING
THE country is on course to reclaim its long-awaited freedoms on time — despite cases of the Indian variant more than doubling in a week.
Boris Johnson admitted he was anxious at the surge in the number of people struck down by the super-infectious strain.
But the PM said he still expected to tear up lockdown restrictions on Monday and on June 21.
Upbeat health chiefs also cautioned against panic as they said there was no evidence vaccines did not work against the strain.
However, ministers have said they plan to reduce the 12-week gap between jabs for all those in priority groups one to nine to ensure the most vulnerable have the fullest protection possible.
- John Hall
SURGE VACCINATION ‘MAY POSSIBLY WORK’ AGAINST INDIAN VARIANT, SAYS PROFESSSOR
Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said surge vaccination will “possibly” work, but it is “not an easy question either way”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The downside of that is who do you take the vaccines from?
“And one of the difficulties with vaccination is that it does take a couple of weeks to work, so if you’re moving vaccines away from areas where they currently don’t have much Indian variant and that is increasing, by the time you start getting round to vaccinating that group again when maybe the epidemic, the Indian variant, is increasing rapidly again, probably you might well have been able to stop that if you hadn’t diverted vaccine to surge areas.
“So it’s not an easy question either way, to be honest.”
- John Hall
PUBLIC MUST DO THEIR BIT TO SUPPRESS VIRUS AND KEEP ROAD MAP ON TRACK – MINISTER
The public must help suppress the Covid-19 infection rate in the face of the Indian variant if the planned lifting of restrictions in June is to stay on track, the vaccines minister has said.
Nadhim Zahawi urged people in the 15 areas of England with spread of the Indian variant of concern to follow local health advice, get tested and isolate if they test positive.
Asked if the June 21 road map easing – when all legal limits on social contact are due to be lifted – could be put on ice, Mr Zahawi told LBC's Nick Ferrari that this Monday's reopening of indoor meet-ups "is still on".
When pressed on whether the plans for June 21 could be paused, he said: "The way we don't have to do that is by everybody doing their bit, by taking the two tests a week, doing your PCR test in those areas, and to isolate, isolate, isolate.
"We have got to break the cycle of infection, because one of those big tests was infection rates have to be suppressed, and the other big test is variants. If those cause a problem, then the tests will fail. The four tests have to be met for June 21."
- John Hall
MET POLICE CHIEF SAYS FORCE WILL ‘FOCUS’ ON BARS AND RESTAURANTS FROM MONDAY
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said bars and restaurants will be a “big focus” for the force when lockdown restrictions ease on Monday.
She told LBC’s Nick Ferrari on Friday it is “perfectly possible” that some people may “over-indulge” as they are allowed back in to pubs with friends from May 17.
Dame Cressida said: “Our particular focus, as there’s more footfall on the streets, and perhaps more people returning to work, is that we are looking after, being present at, and stopping crimes happening to women and men who are commuting.
“A big focus for us will be the licensed economy, because now people can go indoors, it’s perfectly possible after all this long time of being unable to see our friends, that some people will over-indulge.
“London is not actually – when you compare it with other cities – a city that has massive problems with alcohol-related violence. But of course that is an issue. We will be out there in the areas where we think there could be trouble.”
- John Hall
WALES: FIRST MINISTER ADVISES PEOPLE NOT TO TRAVEL ABROAD ‘UNLESS THEY HAVE TO’
People in Wales will be able to travel abroad – but first minister Mark Drakeford has advised not to unless it is necessary.
“People from Wales will be able to travel abroad to green list countries and not need to quarantine on their return,” Mr Drakeford told BBC Radio Wales.
“But the advice is, unless you need to travel, then it is much safer to stay, enjoy everything that we have to offer in Wales.
“This is the year to think about your own safety and that of other people. Enjoy Wales, it’s a fantastic place with so much to offer.”
- John Hall
MANCHESTER MAYOR ANDY BURNHAM DOES NOT SUPPORT LOCAL LOCKDOWN
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he would not welcome local lockdowns to combat the spread of the Indian coronavirus variant.
He told Sky News: “My heart sank yesterday when I heard the Prime Minister reintroduce the possibility of local lockdowns; they really didn’t work.
“We were under different forms of local lockdown pretty much for the whole of the second half of last year and it took a huge toll on people, obviously on our businesses and our economy.
“We are in a different situation this year because, even though we are seeing spread of the Indian variant in Bolton, we are not seeing the same numbers of people going into hospital because obviously older people are more protected now.
“So we don’t need to have the same response that we had last year. We do believe if we move quickly on vaccination we can take away any risk of a local lockdown.”
- Joseph Gamp
WALES: FOOD FESTIVALS AND SMALL LIVE EVENTS COULD GO AHEAD NEXT WEEK
Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford said food festivals and small live music or arts events could go ahead from next week if evidence about the Indian coronavirus variant showed there was no need to pause the relaxing of more restrictions.
Mr Drakeford told the PA news agency: "If the advice is that we can move ahead safely, then we don't have to wait three weeks and we'll be able to do that as early as next week.
"If the advice is that we need to pause a bit longer while we get a better understanding of the scale of transmission of the Indian variant, particularly across our border, then we'll have to do that."
Mr Drakeford said there were now 26 cases of the variant across different parts of the country, with every case associated with foreign travel as opposed to community transmission.
"The travel is from India in particular, but there are probably some cases from the broader subcontinent," he said.
- John Hall
INDIAN CORONAVIRUS MUTANT CASES DOUBLE IN SPACE OF WEEK
In the past week, the number of Indian variant cases has soared from 520 to 1,313.
A separate plan for easing restrictions, with later dates for unlocking, has been drawn up and is being circulated in the Cabinet Office in case the variant does take hold, The Sun has been told.
But last night, Downing Street sources furiously denied this.
Privately, many Tory MPs are angry that it took so long to add India to the red list despite cases surging there. People returning from red list countries must quarantine for ten days in a hotel.
- John Hall
WALES PAUSES RELAXED SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES DUE TO INDIAN VARIANT
The Welsh Government has “paused” plans to allow smaller events to reopen, as well as relaxing rules on people meeting, due to the Indian variant, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.
“We had thought of moving ahead with the reopening of smaller events, we’ll pause that for a moment,” Mr Drakeford told Sky News.
“We were thinking of liberalising the rules in the way in which people can meet together, not just in their extended household but beyond that, we’ll pause that for the moment.
“If the advice on the Indian variant is that it is safe to move ahead, we won’t need to wait for the end of our next three-week cycle to do those things, but the Indian variant is giving us cause for concern.
“We don’t know enough about whether it is more transmissible than the Kent variant, we don’t know enough about whether the vaccination programme is as effective in dealing with it as it is with other variants we have in Wales, and until we’re a bit clearer on that I think it is sensible to take a precautionary approach.”
- John Hall
BRITAIN’S LOCKDOWN ON TRACK TO BE LIFTED DESPITE CASES OF INDIAN COVID VARIANT DOUBLING
THE country is on course to reclaim its long-awaited freedoms on time — despite cases of the Indian variant more than doubling in a week.
Boris Johnson admitted he was anxious at the surge in the number of people struck down by the super-infectious strain.
But the PM said he still expected to tear up lockdown restrictions on Monday and on June 21.
Upbeat health chiefs also cautioned against panic as they said there was no evidence vaccines did not work against the strain.
However, ministers have said they plan to reduce the 12-week gap between jabs for all those in priority groups one to nine to ensure the most vulnerable have the fullest protection possible.
- John Hall
SURGE VACCINATION 'MAY POSSIBLY WORK' AGAINST INDIAN VARIANT, SAYS PROFESSSOR
Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said surge vaccination will "possibly" work, but it is "not an easy question either way".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The downside of that is who do you take the vaccines from?
"And one of the difficulties with vaccination is that it does take a couple of weeks to work, so if you're moving vaccines away from areas where they currently don't have much Indian variant and that is increasing, by the time you start getting round to vaccinating that group again when maybe the epidemic, the Indian variant, is increasing rapidly again, probably you might well have been able to stop that if you hadn't diverted vaccine to surge areas.
"So it's not an easy question either way, to be honest."
- John Hall
MET POLICE CHIEF SAYS FORCE WILL 'FOCUS' ON BARS AND RESTAURANTS FROM MONDAY
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said bars and restaurants will be a "big focus" for the force when lockdown restrictions ease on Monday.
She told LBC's Nick Ferrari on Friday it is "perfectly possible" that some people may "over-indulge" as they are allowed back in to pubs with friends from May 17.
Dame Cressida said: "Our particular focus, as there's more footfall on the streets, and perhaps more people returning to work, is that we are looking after, being present at, and stopping crimes happening to women and men who are commuting.
"A big focus for us will be the licensed economy, because now people can go indoors, it's perfectly possible after all this long time of being unable to see our friends, that some people will over-indulge.
"London is not actually – when you compare it with other cities – a city that has massive problems with alcohol-related violence. But of course that is an issue. We will be out there in the areas where we think there could be trouble."
- John Hall
MANCHESTER MAYOR ANDY BURNHAM DOES NOT SUPPORT LOCAL LOCKDOWN
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he would not welcome local lockdowns to combat the spread of the Indian coronavirus variant.
He told Sky News: "My heart sank yesterday when I heard the Prime Minister reintroduce the possibility of local lockdowns; they really didn't work.
"We were under different forms of local lockdown pretty much for the whole of the second half of last year and it took a huge toll on people, obviously on our businesses and our economy.
"We are in a different situation this year because, even though we are seeing spread of the Indian variant in Bolton, we are not seeing the same numbers of people going into hospital because obviously older people are more protected now.
"So we don't need to have the same response that we had last year. We do believe if we move quickly on vaccination we can take away any risk of a local lockdown."
- John Hall
WALES: FIRST MINISTER ADVISES PEOPLE NOT TO TRAVEL ABROAD 'UNLESS THEY HAVE TO'
People in Wales will be able to travel abroad – but first minister Mark Drakeford has advised not to unless it is necessary.
"People from Wales will be able to travel abroad to green list countries and not need to quarantine on their return," Mr Drakeford told BBC Radio Wales.
"But the advice is, unless you need to travel, then it is much safer to stay, enjoy everything that we have to offer in Wales.
"This is the year to think about your own safety and that of other people. Enjoy Wales, it's a fantastic place with so much to offer."
- John Hall
SURGE TESTING UNDER WAY IN AREAS OF NORTH WEST WHERE INDIAN VARIANT IDENTIFIED
Surge testing is under way in areas of the North West of England where cases involving the Indian variant of coronavirus are on the increase. The "variant of concern" has been detected in Bolton, Greater Manchester, as well as in Blackburn, Lancashire, and Sefton in Merseyside, which have all seen rates rise rapidly.
Blackburn with Darwen Council initially said on Thursday that it would be offering vaccines to all over-18s from next week following the increase in cases, but later said that, although additional vaccine clinics are being set up, the jab will only be offered to those eligible under current Government guidance.
The area's director of public health, Dominic Harrison, said on Twitter that the authority had asked the NHS to "surge vaccinate" but the request was refused.
He tweeted: "At the moment the Indian variant is surging in a small number of #localgov areas. These areas have a window of opportunity to control the wider spread across the UK by a mixture of community engagement, surge testing and surge vaccination.
"If the Government stops areas with high #IndianVariant cases from 'surge vaccinating' target areas (which will contribute to reduced transmission) – it will reduce our local capacity to control spread."
- Joseph Gamp
THOUSANDS OF PUBS SET TO REOPEN NEXT WEEK (CONTINUED…)
BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: "After some questionable weather during the last week or so, we know Brits are looking forward to being back inside the pub once more.
"Our pubs have been preparing for this Monday over the last couple of months. We expect 45,000 pubs to open across the UK and three million pints to be served on Monday alone.
"However, that is 1.6 million pints less than what they would have sold on a typical Monday before the pandemic. This is because 2,000 pubs will still remain closed and pubs that do open are limited in their sales by table service and no standing drinking.
"This is by no means the end of the crisis for our sector. We need pubs fully reopened without any restrictions at all on June 21 if they are to survive and trade viably."
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