BORIS Johnson's vaccine passport plan is in chaos with up to 50 Tories planning to rebel against the measures.
The Prime Minister has announced that certificates offering proof of double vaccination will be required to enter nightclubs and other crowded venues from the end of September.
But many Tory MPs have blasted the covid-busting plan as "completely unnecessary, bureaucratic and unworkable".
Now as many as 50 Conservative MPs are plotting to vote against the measures going through should they be put to a vote, despite fears of new mutations and a risk to pregnant women who refuse the jab.
Although 50 Tory rebels are unlikely to be enough to stop the measures being approved, it would be a significant internal rebellion against the Prime Minister after another difficult few months.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the very latest updates..
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SANTANDER, BARCLAYS AND METRO BANK CLOSE BRANCHES DUE TO PINGDEMIC STAFF SHORTAGES
BANK branches from high street lenders such as Santander and Barclays have closed due to the on-going pingdemic causing staff shortages.
It comes as swathes of workers across the UK are isolating after being pinged by the NHS COVID app.
This has brought some businesses to their knees due to the staffing crisis. Last week, supermarket shelves were empty, postal services were delayed and fuel stations had to close as the worst of the chaos took hold.
Now banks have revealed that their high street branches have also been affected.
Santander said around 20 to 25 branches have been closing on a temporary basis.
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NUMBER OF COVID PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL FALLS IN FRESH SIGN PANDEMIC IS IN RETREAT
Admissions had been growing steadily since mid-May but patients on wards reduced by 126 to 5,056 in England and by one to 6,034 in the UK.
It means the third wave may have peaked a month before experts predicted.
Infections also continued to tumble, with 204,669 in the past seven days — 37 per cent down on the week before.
The figure of 31,117 new daily cases is lower than the 39,906 a week earlier.
A further 85 people in the UK have died
New data from Public Health England also revealed jabs have prevented an estimated 60,000 deaths and more than 22million infections.
Deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam hailed it a “truly massive” success.
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BRIT HOLIDAYMAKERS 'SET TO DODGE QUARANTINE WHEN VISITING SPAIN AS BETA VARIANT DISAPPEARS IN THE BALEARICS'
Ministers are said to have been shown data which reveals the Balearics – as well as a huge portion of the south coast from Seville to Malaga – are all now free from cases of the variant.
The beta variant, which originated in South Africa, is instead concentrated in one north west region of the country, The Telegraph reports.
And even there it has fallen to below 10 per cent of cases as the delta strain takes over.
Overall, beta cases have now dropped to 2.9 per cent of all Covid cases in Spain – down from nine per cent.
Meanwhile Spain's infection rate has dropped from 27,000 cases a day to 25,000 in the past week after the government introduced "soft" restrictions including vaccine and test passports to nightclubs and curfews at night.
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EXTRA HELP
Vital financial support for Brits struggling because of coronavirus will come to an end TOMORROW.
Millions of people have paused repayments on mortgages, credit cards and loans thanks to emergency rules introduced during the pandemic.
The payment holiday support was extended several times and now anyone who applied before the final deadline will find their break ending this weekend.
Banks and lenders will still be offering help to anyone who continues to be in financial difficulty because of Covid after this date.
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ISRAEL TO OFFER A BOOSTER SHOT FOR OVER 60s
Israel will begin offering a third shot of the Pfizer/Biontech COVID-19 vaccine to people aged over 60, a world first in efforts to slow the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, Israeli TV and radio said on Thursday.
Those eligible will be able to get the booster shot as long as they received their second dose more than five months ago, Channel 13 TV and Kan public radio reported.
Israel was a world leader in the vaccination rollout, with many seniors getting their jabs in December, January and February as they were regarded as the most vulnerable sector of the population.
But since the emergence of the Delta variant, the health ministry has twice reported a drop in the vaccine’s effectiveness against infection and a slight decrease in its protection against severe disease.
The booster campaign, expected to be announced formally soon, will effectively turn Israel into a testing ground for a third dose before approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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HOLIDAY HELL
Holiday goers must check their insurance if they’ve been pinged as they might not be covered for cancelling their trip, experts warn.
One million people were told to self isolate by the NHS Covid app in just one week recently, grinding Britain to a standstill.
Supermarket shelves have been left bare, pubs and restaurants have had to close and transport services have been delayed as workers across the country have been told to stay at home.
But if you’re due to go on holiday but have been pinged, experts have warned to check the small print of your policy.
Analysts Defaqto estimate that while nine in 10 travel insurance policies cover holiday cancellation costs if you get Covid, only six in 10 policies will cover you if in cases where you’ve been told to self-isolate.
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BRITAIN CLOSE TO HERD IMMUNITY, SCIENTISTS CLAIM
Britain is close to herd immunity, with the Covid pandemic “pretty much over for the UK”, a scientist has claimed.
It comes after a week where case numbers steadily dropped for seven days straight, puzzling experts and providing a glimmer of hope.
They have suggested the fall is a fluke due to the football being over, the warm weather and a lack of testing with kids being off school.
But others disagree, saying it shows vaccines are working combined with natural immunity from past infections to beat back the virus.
Dr David Matthews, a virologist and expert in coronaviruses from the University of Bristol, told the Telegraph: “In terms of herd immunity – by which we mean the virus has managed to reach everybody and therefore most people will have a level of immune memory – I suspect we’re very close to it.”
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UK DAILY COVID CASES RISE FOR SECOND DAY IN A ROW
The UK’s daily Covid cases have risen for the second day in a row with 31,117 reported in the last 24 hours.
However, infections are still on a downward curve – with infections down 24 per cent compared to last week.
This day last week 39,906 cases were reported along with 84 deaths.
Meanwhile Covid deaths have fallen slightly with a further 85 losing their lives to the killer bug.
It brings the total number of UK Covid deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test result to 129,515.
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WATCH: TOKYO 2020 ORGANISING COMMITTEE SAYS 24 PEOPLE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE IN THE PAST 24 HOURS
Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee says 24 people have tested positive in the past 24 hours
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NORTHERN IRELAND ‘FACES MORE SEVERE COVID WAVE DUE TO FLAGGING VACCINATION RATE’
Northern Ireland could be facing a more severe wave of Covid-19 than other parts of the UK due to its flagging vaccination rate, Stormont’s chief scientific adviser has warned.
Professor Ian Young said there is concern that people in the region appear less willing to get a jab than those in the UK.
His comments to the Assembly’s Health Committee came as the head of the vaccination programme, Patricia Donnelly, said uptake rates have “gone off a cliff” since the rollout opened to under-30s.
Also appearing before the committee, which was recalled from recess to discuss the increasing Covid pressures within hospitals, Ms Donnelly confirmed that vaccine booster jabs will start to be rolled out in Northern Ireland in September.
In Northern Ireland, 83% of the adult population have received first doses of a Covid-19 vaccine while 71% are fully vaccinated.
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VACCINE ROLLOUT PREVENTED AN ESTIMATED 22m AND 60,000 DEATHS, NEW FIGURES SUGGEST
The Covid-19 vaccine rollout in England has prevented an estimated 22 million infections and 60,000 deaths, according to new figures from Public Health England.
Vaccines are also estimated to have directly averted more than 52,600 hospital admissions.
The figures cover the period up to July 23 and are based on modelling by Public Health England and Cambridge University.
Previous estimates, for the period up to July 9, had suggested around 37,000 deaths and 11,000,000 infections had been prevented.
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THREE OUT OF 10 UNDER 30s STILL HAVEN'T HAD THEIR FIRST JAB
Nearly a third of young adults in England have STILL not had a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, figures show.
Some 68.1% of people aged 18 to 29 had received a first dose by July 25, according to estimates from NHS England, meaning 31.9% are likely to be unjabbed.
This is the equivalent of around 2.7 million adults under 30.
The figures are a small improvement on the previous week, when 33.6% of 18 to 29-year-olds had yet to have a first dose.
But a breakdown of the age group by gender shows vaccine take-up remains lower among men than women.
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HOW LONG AFTER HAVING COVID DO I HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE GETTING THE VACCINE?
Millions of Brits have now had a Covid vaccine and its hoped that everyone will be double jabbed by September.
But if you've recently had Covid-19 then there is a certain amount of time you have to wait before having a dose.
The NHS says in order to keep everyone safe, there is a 28 day wait after contracting the virus.
You can have your jab 28 days after testing positive for the virus, or 28 days after your symptoms first started.
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GERMANY TO REQUIRE PROOF OF COVID IMMUNITY OR NEGATIVE TEST ON ARRIVAL
All travellers arriving in Germany will be required from this weekend to demonstrate immunity from COVID-19 either from a vaccine or previous infection, or present a negative test result, government sources reported.
The plan reflects growing concern among Germany’s regional and national leaders that rising caseloads in tourist destinations could help fuel a fourth wave when Germans come home from holiday.
Germany now requires a negative test or proof of immunity only from those arriving from so-called “risk areas”, “high-incidence areas” and “virus-variant areas”, which in Europe now include Britain, Spain and the Netherlands.
Rules are now also applied differently at airports and road crossings, and regional leaders are keen to make them more consistent.
Germany saw 3,142 new infections on Thursday, according to its main disease fighting agency, the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases. Average daily new cases in Britain stand at almost 30,000.
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HOLIDAY BLUES
Holidaymakers have been told to stay outside and keep testing while away.
Public Health England warned Brits "the pandemic is certainly not over", despite a fall in cases over the last week.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said: “If you are heading off on holiday in the UK this summer, remember it is safer to socialise outside and you should test yourself twice a week with free rapid tests.
"If you are travelling abroad make sure to check the rules for the country you are going to and remember just because you’re away, please continue to be cautious.
"Find out what you need to do when you return to England and book any tests or quarantine hotel packages you need.
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TRUE FREEDOM
Brits who come into contact with a positive Covid cases WON’T have to take a test after August 16.
People will be urged to get a PCR test if they have close contact with someone with the virus, but that won’t be legally required.
The rules around isolation are set to be relaxed in just a few weeks, meaning people who come into contact with a positive case won’t have to isolate anymore.
That means people who get pinged by the app won’t need to stay inside, too.
People will still be contacted by Test and Trace, but they will be urged to get a test, not legally obliged to.
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EYE HELL
Covid causes eye problems by attacking the retina, researchers say.
The virus can lead to hazy vision and black spots, known as floaters.
Researchers in Brazil found traces of Covid in the retinas of those who died.
It was previously believed that Covid could impair vision, but experts have now found traces of the virus in the retinas of patients who died.
Read more here
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ASTRAZENECA SEES SURGE IN COVID VACCINE SALES AS JABS ARE ROLLED OUT GLOBALLY
Drugs giant AstraZeneca has revealed sales of its Covid-19 vaccine soared to 1.2 billion US dollars (£860 million) in the first half as the global jab programme rolled out at pace.
The group, which developed the jab with Oxford University, said vaccine sales more than tripled between the first and second quarters, rocketing from 275 million US dollars (£197 million) to 894 million US dollars (£640 million) in the three months to June 30.
It delivered about 319 million doses worldwide in the first half as the fight against Covid-19 picked up pace, but Astra pledged not to make a profit from the jab during the pandemic.
AstraZeneca supplied more than 80 million doses of the vaccination in the six months to more than 125 countries through the Covax global access initiative, making up more than 90% of Covax supply.
It also said that it had delayed application for approval of the jab in the US until the final six months of 2021, having originally hoped to put this through in the first half.
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WATCH: ‘HOT TIKTOK DOC’ BUSTS COMMON COVID VACCINE MYTHS TO URGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET JABBED
‘Hot TikTok doc’ busts common Covid vaccine myths to urge young people to get jabbed
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EXTRA HELP
Vital financial support for Brits struggling because of coronavirus will come to an end TOMORROW.
Millions of people have paused repayments on mortgages, credit cards and loans thanks to emergency rules introduced during the pandemic.
The payment holiday support was extended several times and now anyone who applied before the final deadline will find their break ending this weekend.
Banks and lenders will still be offering help to anyone who continues to be in financial difficulty because of Covid after this date.
- [email protected]
ISRAEL TO OFFER A BOOSTER SHOT FOR OVER 60s
Israel will begin offering a third shot of the Pfizer/Biontech COVID-19 vaccine to people aged over 60, a world first in efforts to slow the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, Israeli TV and radio said on Thursday.
Those eligible will be able to get the booster shot as long as they received their second dose more than five months ago, Channel 13 TV and Kan public radio reported.
Israel was a world leader in the vaccination rollout, with many seniors getting their jabs in December, January and February as they were regarded as the most vulnerable sector of the population.
But since the emergence of the Delta variant, the health ministry has twice reported a drop in the vaccine’s effectiveness against infection and a slight decrease in its protection against severe disease.
The booster campaign, expected to be announced formally soon, will effectively turn Israel into a testing ground for a third dose before approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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WATCH: VACCINE PASSPORTS FOR FOOTY AND CLUBS ARE BEING USED TO 'COAX AND CAJOLE' YOUNGSTERS INTO GETTING JAB, ADMITS MINISTER
Vaccine passports for footy and clubs are being used to ‘coax and cajole’ youngsters into getting jab, admits minister
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HOLIDAY HELL
Holiday goers must check their insurance if they’ve been pinged as they might not be covered for cancelling their trip, experts warn.
One million people were told to self isolate by the NHS Covid app in just one week recently, grinding Britain to a standstill.
Supermarket shelves have been left bare, pubs and restaurants have had to close and transport services have been delayed as workers across the country have been told to stay at home.
But if you’re due to go on holiday but have been pinged, experts have warned to check the small print of your policy.
Analysts Defaqto estimate that while nine in 10 travel insurance policies cover holiday cancellation costs if you get Covid, only six in 10 policies will cover you if in cases where you’ve been told to self-isolate.
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BRITAIN CLOSE TO HERD IMMUNITY, SCIENTISTS CLAIM
Britain is close to herd immunity, with the Covid pandemic “pretty much over for the UK”, a scientist has claimed.
It comes after a week where case numbers steadily dropped for seven days straight, puzzling experts and providing a glimmer of hope.
They have suggested the fall is a fluke due to the football being over, the warm weather and a lack of testing with kids being off school.
But others disagree, saying it shows vaccines are working combined with natural immunity from past infections to beat back the virus.
Dr David Matthews, a virologist and expert in coronaviruses from the University of Bristol, told the Telegraph: “In terms of herd immunity – by which we mean the virus has managed to reach everybody and therefore most people will have a level of immune memory – I suspect we’re very close to it.”
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