Coronavirus UK news LIVE – Easter lockdown lift with families reunited, shops open and holidays IF covid infections fall

FOURTH MEMBER OF WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE DIES WITH COVID

A fourth member of the Welsh Ambulance Service has died after battling coronavirus.

Kevin Hughes, 41, from Valley, Anglesey, worked on the ICT service desk based at St Asaph.

He died at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, on Sunday morning after fighting coronavirus for several weeks.

Mr Hughes, a keen Liverpool FC fan, had worked as an ICT service desk analyst since May 2017.

BORIS URGES VULNERABLE BRITS TO COME FORWARD FOR JAB

Boris Johnson urged people who should have had a coronavirus jab to come forward and make sure they receive a vaccine.

The Prime Minister said: "The numbers are very good for the over 80s, for the over 70s, and I think the 75-79 group you're looking at 99% that have been done.

"But there are some people who are still to come forward and I really do urge people to come forward.

"These jabs, these vaccines are safe, they are efficacious, they will help protect you against disease and against death and they're a wonderful thing to have - they help protect you, your family, your neighbours."

NO PLANS FOR 'VACCINE PASSPORTS' AT THE PUB

Boris Johnson said he has no plans to introduce so-called vaccine passports for activities like going to the pub.

Speaking to the media from south London, the PM said: "I think inevitably there will be great interest in ideas like can you show that you had a vaccination against Covid in the way that you sometimes have to show you have had a vaccination against Yellow Fever or other diseases in order to travel somewhere.

"I think that is going to be very much in the mix down the road, I think that is going to happen.

"What I don't think we will have in this country is - as it were - vaccination passports to allow you to go to, say, the pub or something like that."

BORIS: LIFTING LOCKDOWN WILL BE 'CAUTIOUS'

Boris Johnson has said that his plan to lift lockdown would be cautious but irreversible.

The PM told reporters today: "We've got to be very prudent and what we want to see is progress that is cautious, but irreversible.

"If we possibly can, we'll be setting out dates.

"If because of the rate of infection, we have to push something off a little bit to the right - delay it for a little bit - we won't hesitate to do that."

UNION URGES TEACHERS TO STRIKE

Unions have urged teachers to strike if they don't get pay rises before pupils go back to class on March 8.

National Education Union (NEU) chiefs have told members to prepare for industrial action if their demands aren't met.

And bosses say now is the time to "leverage" support for key workers to target MPs with a "Twitter storm" - and "name and shame" those who won't support their demands,  reports.

After months of school closures, it's feared the plot could cause more misery for youngsters and their parents.

EU LIKELY TO APPROVE JOHNSON & JOHNSON JAB

The EU is likely to approve the highly effective Johnson & Johnson jab for use across the bloc soon, French vaccination chief Alan Fischer has said.

Mr Fischer told French BFM television that the vaccine could be rolled out in France's vaccination campaign by April.

The bloc has already approved vaccines produced by Oxford/Astrazeneca, Pfizer and Moderna.

COVID CASES DROP IN NEARLY 95% OF THE UK

Coronavirus case rates have fallen across nearly 95% of local authorities in the UK, new figures show.

Of the 380 local authorities areas across the country, only 6% have seen a week-on-week increase in case rates compared with 93% where the rates have fallen.

The highest case rate in the UK was in Corby, Northamptonshire, with 277 new cases recorded in the seven days to February 10 - the equivalent of 383.6 cases per 100,000 people.

FIRST GUESTS ARRIVE AT QUARANTINE HOTELS

The first guests have checked into quarantine hotels as tougher rules for international arrivals come into force today.

UK and Irish nationals and UK residents returning to England from 33 "red list" countries, hotspots with Covid-19 variants in circulation, are required to quarantine in hotels for 11 nights.

A handful of people pulled up to the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, near Heathrow airport, shortly before 9am.

One woman, who had flown in from Zambia, said: "I'm not happy, but you have to do it."

ISRAELI STUDY CONFIRMS VACCINE EFFICACY

A large-scale Israeli has underlined the efficacy of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in preventing symptomatic Covid infections.

Clalit, the largest of Israels four health care providers, released a study that compared infections in 600,000 Israelis who had received the vaccine compared to 600,000 who were not inoculated.

The study found a 94% drop in symptomatic infections and a 92% drop in serious cases of the disease among those vaccinated. 

It said the efficacy of the vaccine is preserved in every age group, particularly a week after the second dose of the vaccine.

Israel is currently immunising its population faster than any other country, and scientists across the world are closely monitoring the jab's effects on transmission and hospitalisations.

'SOME WAY TO GO' BEFORE LOCKDOWN IS EASED

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said there is "some way to go" before lockdown is eased.

Asked about easing restrictions, he told BBC Breakfast: "We are taking those decisions this week.

"We will be looking at the data, looking at the success of the vaccine rollout and how far that has reached and its impact in terms of protecting people, looking at the number of cases and critically, looking at the number of people who are in hospital and the number of deaths - those two factors are vital."

PROF FERGUSON 'HOPES' THIS WILL BE LAST LOCKDOWN

Asked if this could be the last lockdown, Professor Neil Ferguson said he "very much" hopes so, adding that more information is needed about how effective vaccines are going to be.

The scientist told Good Morning Britain: "We have results from scientific studies, clinical trials, but the real world is a different thing and so, again as the Government has said, we need to see how much protection vaccinated people have.

"We need to see how quickly death rates come down before we can be completely confident about going that next step and really reopening."

PROF NEIL FERGUSON 'ENCOURAGED' BY GOVT STRATEGY

Professor Neil Ferguson said he is "encouraged" by the Government's "cautious strategy" during the current lockdown.

The scientist said he has also felt "very surprised and encouraged by how quickly case numbers have been coming down in recent weeks".

He told Good Morning Britain: "All the Government messaging is that they will take it one step at a time.

"The thing we don't want to repeat is what has happened on previous occasions - namely relaxing too fast."

WHO 'EXPECT' VACCINE PASSPORTS TO BE ISSUED IN FUTURE

The World Health Organisation special envoy for the Covid-19 response has said he expects "some sort" of vaccine passport will be introduced in future.

Dr David Nabarro said: "I am absolutely certain in the next few months we will get a lot of movement and what are the conditions around which people are easily able to move from place to place, so some sort of vaccine certificate no doubt will be important."

The concept of 'vaccine passports' has previously been dismissed by government ministers as "discriminatory", though transport secretary Grant Shapps has suggested that such a document could be useful for those wanting to travel safely.

MPS CALL FOR COVID SAFE WEDDINGS TO REOPEN

Senior Tory backbenchers have urged Boris Johnson to allow Covid-safe weddings to resume from March 8 before permitting unrestricted ceremonies from May 1.

Thirteen MPs, including 1922 committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, have backed a campaign seeking to pressure the PM as he prepares to unveil a roadmap out of lockdown.

Former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey said: "Vaccinating the top nine risk groups will prevent around 99% of deaths from Covid and around 80% of hospital admissions.

"That should be a huge moment for the UK to hold its head up high, for couples to walk down the aisle, and for families up and down the country to reunite, to celebrate and to plan their futures."

QUARANTINE HOTELS 'WORKING SMOOTHLY'

Britain's new hotel quarantine system for arrivals from 33 "red list" countries appears to be working smoothly a few hours after it was introduced, Matt Hancock has said.

"As of 6.30am, when I got my latest update, this is working smoothly, we've been working with the airports and with the border force to make sure everybody knows the process," Hancock told Times Radio.

"It does appear to be going smoothly this morning."

HANCOCK REACHES OUT TO LOCKDOWN SCEPTICS

Matt Hancock said he spoke to Mark Harper, chairman of the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group (CRG), made up of Tory MPs, "all the time" about the progress being made on releasing the lockdown.

Speaking to Sky News, the Cabinet minister said: "Everybody wants to get out of this as quickly as we safely can - both as quickly but also as safely is important.

"That's what everyone agrees with.

"The question is a judgment of how quickly and how safely - that's the judgment we will be making this week, looking at the data ahead of the Prime Minister setting out the road map on February 22, a week from today.

"These are the judgments that will be made this week and we will talk to everybody who has an input into that debate because it is a very important and fine judgment."

'ON ITS KNEES'

The chairman of pub chain Wetherspoon is calling on the Government to open pubs at the same time as non-essential shops.

Tim Martin warned that the pub industry is “on its knees” and needs to reopen to save jobs.

He said pubs make a massive contribution to the economy, with Wetherspoon alone paying about £10 of tax for every pound of profit it makes.

'ON TRACK'

Ministers are to begin reviewing coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England after more than 15 million people across the UK received their first dose of a vaccine.

Boris Johnson hailed the achievement – just over two months after the vaccination programme delivered its first jab – as a “significant milestone” in the fight against the disease.

Ministers have said they are “on track” to meet the target of getting an offer of a first dose to everyone the UK in the top four priority groups – including all over 70s – by Monday’s deadline.

ISOLATION

Travellers flying directly into Scotland on international flights have to self-isolate for 10 days in a quarantine hotel room, under new regulations taking effect on Monday.

Unless exempt, a passenger will have to pay £1,750 to quarantine in a room at one of six designated hotels in a bid to avoid importation of the virus.

However, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said on Sunday a “loophole” allowing overseas travellers to avoid hotel quarantine still exists which could “potentially undermine the public health approach here in Scotland”.

HOLIDAY HOPES FOR LOCKDOWN-BORED BRITS

Brits could be allowed to take self-catered breaks by Easter if the reproductive rate of the virus stays low.

Under Boris Johnson's road map for lifting Covid restrictions, the hospitality industry could open its doors again from Easter weekend.

According to The Times, government ministers are considering allowing families from the same household to go on holidays from the break.

This means Brits would at least be able to enjoy a holiday in England while international travel is likely to still be on hold.

But the plans would only happen if the crucial R-rate remains low up to April 2.

PM WANTS OTHER COUNTRIES TO SEE COVID JAB SUPPLIES BOOSTED

Boris Johnson, who hosts a virtual meeting of G7 leaders on Friday, says that he wants to work with countries like the United States to ensure coronavirus vaccines are made available around the world.

"There's no point in great countries like the US, the UK, vaccinating our own populations if we don't ensure that everybody gets a vaccine," he said.

LOCKED-DOWN DOGS GETTING STRESSED OUT

Humans aren't the only species getting distressed with the repeated Covid lockdowns, reports The Sunday Times.

Dogs are also suffering from the strain - prompting some owners to seek professional help for their pooches.

The stress is leading them to bark constantly, or become overly anxious when their owner leaves the house, as they're now used to enjoying their company 24/7.

Some dogs have developed a fear of other pets and even people, the Times reports.

Or, young dogs are getting stressed out as they don't have enough 'quiet time' as children are constantly near them, animal behaviour experts said.

FOUR-SPEED PLAN OUT OF LOCKDOWN

Ministers have plotted a four-speed plan to kick-start the Covid-rocked economy, reports The Sunday Times.

All shops, pubs and restaurants could open to Brits any time between early May and August, the paper suggests.

A 'super-fast' plan could see pubs and restaurants reopening in early May - once all of those over 50 have received their first Covid jab.

However, social distancing rules are expected to be eased in March, with golf and tennis restarting.

FIVE-YEAR-OLDS TO TAKE PART IN COVID JAB TRIALS

Coronavirus vaccine trials are being extended to include kids as young as five, says Pfizer.

The firm will test its jab on children aged up to 11, having already inoculated 12-15-year olds following its adult trials, reports The Sunday Times.

Pfizer expects the results in "the early part of 2021".

The Times points out that children haven't been considered a priority in the UK's massive vaccine rollout as they have a much lower chance of succumbing to the disease.

ITALY WON'T OPEN SKI SLOPES AFTER MUTANT VIRUS FEARS

The UK's mutant corona has put paid to Italy's ski season.

The government there has today announced the country's ski season is delayed because the highly contagious variant was detected in many recently infected people.

A ministry statement noted that virus samples showed a variant first found in Britain is sickening 17.8 per cent of recent cases.

Health Minister Roberto Speranza's ordinance forbids amateur skiing at least until March 5.

The ski business is a big source of winter tourism in Italy and the bad news came on the eve of the expected opening - rocking tourist operators.