MILLIONS of double-jabbed Brits will be able take summer holidays abroad without having to self-isolate from July 19, it has been reported.
A final decision on exactly when to drop the requirement for double-jabbed travellers to quarantine after returning from amber list destinations such as Spain and Greece is yet to be made.
But according to the Mail Online, Boris Johnson is said to favour easing the controls from July 19, when other Covid lockdown restrictions in England are due to be lifted.
Previous reports have suggested that quarantine-free travel from amber list countries could be introduced by 26 July, in time for the school holidays.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will tonight set out details of the Government’s plans to end the requirement for travellers in a Downing Street press conference.
Read our coronavirus live blog below for the latest lockdown updates…
- Joseph Gamp
WHO SPOKESWOMAN SAYS REOPENING SPORTS AND MASS EVENTS COULD BE 'RISKY'
Margaret Harris, spokeswoman for the World Health Organisation, said that mass events, including football matches, could be "risky" in terms of coronavirus spread.
She told Sky News: "It is risky. We're not out of the woods by any stage.
"We know there are large rises in the numbers of cases, that means you are (more) likely to be exposed to somebody who unknowingly is carrying the virus. Whether you're vaccinated or not you still can get infected, you still can get a breakthrough infection.
"It's hard when you're having such a great time, but be serious about your own risk because it's not just a risk to you – you may bring it back to somebody in your family who is yet to be vaccinated, who may develop the severe disease.
"So we still have to behave knowing that there is a large amount of virus out there, we haven't beaten this by any means."
- Joseph Gamp
COVID CASES FELL BY A FIFTH DURING MASS TESTING PILOT IN LIVERPOOL
Detection of coronavirus cases rose by almost a fifth and potentially thousands of new infections were prevented, results of a community testing pilot in Liverpool have suggested.
More than 3,200 staff days among key workers, such as those in the emergency services, were saved from being lost to quarantine through a test-to-release scheme, researchers said.
New cases of the virus dropped by 21% compared with other areas up to mid-December, the study showed, at which point the spread of the Kent variant made it more difficult to compare areas.
- Joseph Gamp
MAPPED: THE FIVE AREAS WHERE COVID CASES ARE RISING FASTEST
- Joseph Gamp
TIMETABLE FOR RELAXING SELF-ISOLATION 'NOT A PERFECT SOLUTION', ADMITS KWARTENG
Delaying the easing of self-isolation rules for coronavirus contacts until a month after England's other restrictions are lifted is "not a perfect solution", a Cabinet minister has admitted.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng insisted the Government has to strike a balance between reopening the economy and curbing the spread of Covid-19, as ministers faced a backlash over the plans.
From August 16, people in England who have received both doses of a vaccine – as well as the under-18s – will no longer have to self-isolate if they have been in contact with someone who tests positive for Covid-19.
But restrictions on businesses and social gatherings will be removed at Step 4 of the road map, expected on July 19, raising fears that increased cases could lead to millions being forced to spend 10 days at home.
Hospitality chiefs said the delay could lead to staff shortages, warning that the current system is already causing "carnage" and unless the Government moves quicker it risks "the summer being cancelled and vast swathes of the population unnecessarily confined to their homes".
- Joseph Gamp
LONG COVID MAY STRIKE DOWN 5,000 BRITS A DAY BY END OF THE SUMMER, MINISTER ADMITS BUT INSISTS UK 'HAS TO REOPEN'
Long Covid may strike down 5,000 Brits a DAY by end of the summer, minister admits but he insists ‘we have to reopen’
- Joseph Gamp
INDIA REPORTS 43,733 NEW COVID-19 CASES IN LAST 24 HOURS
India on Wednesday reported 43,733 new cases in the last 24 hours, data from health ministry showed, with active cases at 459,920.
- Joseph Gamp
KWSASI KWARTENG WILL 'PROBABLY' WEAR A MASK ON THE TUBE
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said he will "probably" wear a mask on the Tube after the legal requirement ends.
He told Sky News: "Personally, I use the Tube a lot in London, and I would probably wear a mask in that context, on the Tube, on public transport.
"That's a personal view, it's not something I would mandate, or necessarily dictate to other people."
- Joseph Gamp
JCVI STILL ASSESSING IF CHILDREN SHOULD GET COVID VACCINES – CHRIS WHITTY
“For any vaccine, you want to be confident that the benefits outweigh any risks,” says Professor Whitty in response to question from the public.
“Because children have had much lower rates of severe outcomes from Covid… we would need to have even greater confidence about the safety.”
- Joseph Gamp
HEATHROW TO FAST TRACK ARRIVALS FOR DOUBLE-JABBED PASSENGERS
Heathrow is to provide fast-track lanes for fully-vaccinated arrivals as the airline industry steps up pressure on ministers to open up quarantine-free travel to amber destinations.
Under a pilot programme to be launched this week, passengers from selected destinations will be able to upload their coronavirus vaccination certificate before boarding.
On arrival at the airport, they will then be directed to dedicated lanes at the border to speed their passage through immigration.
The move comes ahead of an expected announcement on Thursday when Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will set out details of the Government's plans to end the requirement for travellers from amber list countries to self-isolate on arrival.
Boris Johnson is said to favour easing the controls from July 19 – when other Covid lockdown restrictions in England are due to be lifted – according to The Times.
- Joseph Gamp
MINISTER CONFIDENT OF MANAGING RISK OF EURO 2020
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said he cannot guarantee there will not be an outbreak of coronavirus cases linked to football fans watching England's Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark at Wembley.
He told LBC radio: "I think we can manage this risk but to say there is no risk, if you have thousands of people in one place… there's always risk in life.
"I think we're managing the risk. I'm confident there won't be a big outbreak but we can't guarantee that now."
- Joseph Gamp
GRAPHIC: UK COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS PER DAY
- Joseph Gamp
COVID CASES COULD REACH 100,000 PER DAY AFTER FREEDOM DAY, SAYS SAJID JAVID
Coronavirus case numbers could reach 100,000 per day in the summer as restrictions are eased, according to Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
“By the time we get to the 19th, we would expect case numbers by then to be at least double what they are now, so around 50,000 new cases a day,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“As we ease and go into the summer, we expect them to rise significantly and they could go as high as 100,000 case numbers.
“We want to be very straightforward about this, about what we can expect in terms of case numbers.
“But what matters more than anything is hospitalisation and death numbers, and that is where the link has been severely weakened.”
- Joseph Gamp
HOW DO I REARRANGE MY COVID JAB?
Covid vaccines are still being rolled out across the UK with millions of Brits able to now get their second jab eight weeks after the first.
It is very straightforward to cancel or rebook your slot, should you need to make it earlier or rejig due to illness or other commitments.
If something has come up and you need to reschedule your jab slot you need to let the NHS know – or you want to bring your second jab forward, you can do.
But you MUST make sure that it is not moved to earlier than eight weeks after your first dose.
If you already have a slot you need to go to the NHS vaccine portal, by clicking here.
- [email protected]
COVID CASES COULD REACH 100,000 PER DAY AFTER FREEDOM DAY
Coronavirus case numbers could reach 100,000 per day in the summer as restrictions are eased, according to Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
“By the time we get to the 19th, we would expect case numbers by then to be at least double what they are now, so around 50,000 new cases a day,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“As we ease and go into the summer, we expect them to rise significantly and they could go as high as 100,000 case numbers.
“We want to be very straightforward about this, about what we can expect in terms of case numbers.
“But what matters more than anything is hospitalisation and death numbers, and that is where the link has been severely weakened.”
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MORE THAN HALF OF BRITS ARE FULLY PROTECTED FROM COVID AFTER HAVING BOTH VACCINATIONS
The continued success of the UK’s world-leading jabs rollout comes as remaining lockdown restrictions are set to lift on ‘Freedom Day’ later this month.
There were 137,389 first dose Covid vaccinations given out yesterday, with 196,209 second doses administered.
Those figures mean more than half of all Brits have now had two vaccinations.
There have been 33,614,952 second doses of the vaccine given out in total across the UK – more than half of the population.
Meanwhile 45,274,497 Brits have received their first dose.
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CAN YOU GET THE VIRUS IF YOU’VE HAD THE COVID-19 VACCINE?
No vaccine is 100 per cent effective and the Covid jabs are no different.
It takes up to two weeks for the vaccines to kick in, so during that period of time you are still vulnerable to infection.
If you test positive for Covid after your vaccine it’s likely that you had contracted it before you were given your jab.
You cannot catch the virus from the vaccine, so it’s likely you were already carrying the bug on inoculation
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PUBS TO STAY OPEN LATE FOR ENGLAND SEMI-FINAL
Downing Street has said pubs in England will be permitted to open until 11.15pm on Sunday July 11 in case the Euros football final ends up going into extra time and penalties.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We are taking forward plans to allow pubs to open until 11.15pm on Sunday.
“The entire nation has been gripped by the Euros and this will ensure people can come together to enjoy the final in pubs, should they wish to do so.”
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JOHNSON EYES ‘SUMMER FIREBREAK’ AS OPPORTUNITY TO RIP UP LOCKDOWN RULES
Boris Johnson has promised to tear up England’s coronavirus regulations despite warning it is “very far from the end” of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister has gambled on trusting the public’s judgment and the “wall of immunity” offered by vaccines as he announced an intention to scrap mandatory mask-wearing and lift social distancing requirements.
The so-called “freedom day” is expected on July 19, at a time when the Prime Minister acknowledged there could be 50,000 new cases detected daily.
But Mr Johnson indicated that if restrictions were not lifted this month, taking advantage of a “summer firebreak” offered by improved weather and school holidays, then controls may have to remain in place until next year.
At a Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson acknowledged the pandemic was “far from over” with cases rising “fairly rapidly”.
“There could be 50,000 cases detected per day by the 19th,” he said.
“We are seeing rising hospital admissions and we must reconcile ourselves, sadly, to more deaths from Covid.”
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OUTBREAK OF LAMBDA VARIANT RAVAGING PERU
The world’s deadliest Covid outbreak is ravaging Peru, with 10 per cent of all patients dying as the Lambda variant runs riot.
Local authorities are reporting that 81% of Covid-19 cases sequenced since April were associated with the variant, which has been labelled a variant “of interest” by the WHO.
Peru has been hit hard by the pandemic, with the nation experiencing more deaths per capita than any other country since the coronavirus broke out.
CTV News reported the country had 586 deaths per 100,000 people, as of July 5.
Hospitals have been overrun and demand for oxygen has skyrocketed, sending supplies plummeting.
Some 187,000 people have died from the virus since Covid-19 first broke out at the beginning of 2020.
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AMBER LIST UPDATE: VACCINATED BRITS TO FIND OUT THIS WEEK WHEN THEY CAN SKIP QUARANTINE FOR SPAIN & GREECE HOLIDAYS
NEW rules which will allow fully vaccinated Brits to return from amber list destinations without having to quarantine are to be announced this week, the prime minister has confirmed.
Holiday destinations including Spain, Greece and Portugal are currently on the UK’s amber list, meaning Brits have to quarantine for 10 days when returning to the country.
While it was hoped that the new rules could be introduced by July 19, the UK’s “Freedom Day,” government sources have warned this is too early for the amber list restriction changes, calling it “ambitious,” the Mail Online reported.
Instead, the new rules could be introduced from July 26, but won’t be enforced until next month – half-way through the school summer holidays.
According to The Times, it will more likely be introduced from August 2, with the government expected to sign off the rule change this week.
Read more here.
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JOB WOES
Up to 350,000 young people could be at risk of losing their jobs as the furlough scheme is wound down, according to the latest research.
The 18 to 24-year-old age group were more likely to be furloughed during the pandemic than older adults, but that could leave them more vulnerable as support is withdrawn.
The Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned that young people today could “bear the scars of the recession for years to come” without sufficient support.
Research showed that in the first three months of this year, around 400,000 extra young adults weren’t working any hours.
This figure reflects people becoming furloughed, unemployed or otherwise inactive.
But just 50,000 more young Brits were unemployed at the beginning of this year compared to the end of 2019.
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LABOUR MP CALLS FOR GCSEs TO MADE EASIER IN 2022
Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft has called for GSCEs to made EASIER for pupils taking them next summer to make up for the disruption over the pandemic.
Since the first lockdown was imposed in March 2020, school pupils across the country have repeatedly been forced out of the classroom and onto Zoom – causing major disruption to their learning.
Speaking during Education questions in the House of Commons today, she said “I ask for 2022 GCSE exams to be simpler, easier and adapted to our lack of necessary education out of compassion. When will schools get certainty about changes to next year’s exams and assessments?”
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson responded that the government would be putting “mitigations” in place to help pupils.
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HOW DO I REARRANGE MY COVID JAB (CONTINUED)?
You will be asked to provide your NHS number and if you don’t know it you will have to add your first and second name.
You will then be asked for your gender in order to match your jab record with what your GP has on file.
After that you will be asked for your date of birth.
Once the site has all your relevant information then you will be able to chose another vaccine slot.
If you want to cancel your slot, for example if your GP has advised you to not take the vaccine for a medical reason, then you will also be able to do this through this portal.
- [email protected]
HOW DO I REARRANGE MY COVID JAB?
Covid vaccines are still being rolled out across the UK with millions of Brits able to now get their second jab eight weeks after the first.
It is very straightforward to cancel or rebook your slot, should you need to make it earlier or rejig due to illness or other commitments.
If something has come up and you need to reschedule your jab slot you need to let the NHS know – or you want to bring your second jab forward, you can do.
But you MUST make sure that it is not moved to earlier than eight weeks after your first dose.
If you already have a slot you need to go to the NHS vaccine portal, by clicking here.
- [email protected]
WHERE DOES THE LAMBA VARIANT COME FROM?
The Malaysian Health Authority claims the variant comes from Peru, a country with one of the highest Covid mortality rates in the world.
Also known as C.37, the Lambda strain was first detected in Peru last year before quickly spreading to 30 countries, including Britain.
Of particular concern to virologists is the L452Q spike protein because of its potential to infect human cells like the L452R mutation in the highly infectious Delta variant.
Peruvian scientists noticed the variant in December when it accounted for “just one in every 200 samples”.
By March, that jumped to 50 per cent of cases. Now that figure is a whopping 82 per cent, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
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