Green list travel UPDATE: Covid cases rise but UK ‘on top of situation’ health chief says despite ‘Delta Plus’ variant

LOCKDOWN LIFT WILL DEPEND ON FOUR KEY FACTORS

There are four key numbers behind the wait to unlock Britain - with experts and ministers convinced it could be scheduled for July 5.

Vaccine reach, hospitalisations, new variant and rising cases are what everyone is keeping their eyes on.

Professor Neil Ferguson, nicknamed Professor Lockdown, thinks the data looks "encouraging".

Asked whether restrictions should end on July 5, he said: "I’m busy analysing the data to provide a more conclusive picture to government to make that decision, but the overall picture is encouraging."

He added: "As we expected, we are seeing rises in case numbers across the country, but they have slowed slightly compared with a couple of weeks ago.

"We’re also seeing rises in hospitalisations and deaths but again they’re at a much lower level than previously, demonstrating the high effectiveness of vaccines."

ALL THE RULES THAT COULD CHANGE ON FREEDOM DAY, JULY 19 - FROM FACE MASKS TO NIGHTCLUBS

From face masks and social distancing to nightclubs and the Rule of Six, the Covid rules are set to change on July 19.

The UK is said to be on track to lift all current restrictions for Freedom Day as ministers are encouraged by "very, very" low death numbers and a slowdown in infections.

A senior Government source told the newspaper that ministers want to "get as close to normal as possible" on July 19.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously hoped to lift all the Covid restrictions on June 21.

The wearing of face masks is no longer expected to be compulsory in certain spaces, and laws will be replaced with advice for wearing them.

GREEN AND AMBER TRAVEL LISTS UPDATED ON THURSDAY AS BRITS GET READY TO JET OFF - AND QUARANTINE-FREE HOLIDAYS TO SPAIN, GREECE AND ITALY COULD BE BACK ON

Pressure is mounting on the government to ease strict Covid travel curbs as soon as possible and give a huge boostto hopes for much-needed summer breaks in the sun.

Tory MP James Cartlidge, the Chancellor’s right hand man and aide in Parliament, wrote to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to demand double jabbed Brits be given freedom next month.

He said: “The proposal to restart international travel by allowing fully vaccinated people to go on holiday would be an absolute lifeline for this industry.”

He added: “I believe that allowing fully vaccinated people to travel is reasonable, and an important step we can take to support our fantastic travel business.”

DOUBLE-JABBED BRITS LOOKING AT WEEKS UNTIL THEY CAN TAKE CHILDREN ABROAD

Double-jabbed parents could take unvaccinated kids abroad in a matter of weeks in a huge boost for summer holidays.

Plans to allow adults with two doses to travel in August to amber list countries are due to be announced by the Prime Minister within days.

However, ministers are under growing pressure to bring forward the plans to next month to save school holidays on the continent.

Some MPs are even said to be pressing Boris Johnson to sanction a "big bang" reopening with travel curbs eased at the same time as restrictions are lifted at home - on July 19.

NEW ‘DELTA PLUS’ VARIANT THREATENS BRITS

A new "Delta Plus" Covid-19 variant that is "more transmissible" than the original has been reported in India.

Sixteen cases of the variant that is a mutation of the Delta variant, have been recorded in the state of Maharashtra, health officials said.

The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday described Delta Plus as "currently a variant of concern," in a statement.

The new mutation was detected earlier this month but was not considered concerning reports .

BORIS JOHNSON TO ANNOUNCE TODAY IF LOCKDOWN CAN LIFT EARLY

Boris Johnson's decision about whether to unlock early on July 5 will be announced on today, Downing Street have confirmed.

The PM is today poring over crucial data ahead of giving his crunch verdict next week.

He is likely to crush hopes of bringing forward Freedom Day and stick with his "terminus date" of July 19.

When Mr Johnson announced his four-week delay to the roadmap last week he wrote in a two-week break point to allow wriggle room from an early release.

No10 said today a decision on whether to pull this trigger will be made on Monday.

BRITAIN ‘ON TRACK’ FOR FREEDOM DAY

Six in 10 adults have now had both doses of Covid vaccine - as Britain races towards Freedom Day.

NHS heroes have delivered more than 31.5million second doses of Covid vaccine, just five million short of the goal before re-opening on July 19.

Top government health advisor Dr Susan Hopkins has previously said seven in 10 Brits need to be fully protected before restrictions are fully lifted.

New data from the Office for National Statistics yesterday showed nearly nine in 10 (86.6 per cent) of adults in England now have antibodies, either from vaccines or Covid infection.

‘POSITIVE’ TALKS OVER REACHING DEAL TO SAVE EURO 2020 FINAL AT WEMBLEY

A deal to ensure the final stages of Euro 2020 are held at Wembley is on the brink of being struck between the UK Government and Uefa.

A UK Government source said there had been “positive” talks with European football’s ruling body to address the issues around coronavirus restrictions.

Uefa is thought to be pushing for 2,500 VIPs to attend the final on July 11 without being subjected to the quarantine requirements that apply to other international travellers.

A UK source said “final details are being worked through” but ministers have indicated that some restrictions would remain in place.

Reports had suggested the final could be moved to Budapest if a deal cannot be reached and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has also said that Rome could provide an alternative venue.

But in a statement, Uefa said: “Uefa, the English FA and the English authorities are working closely together successfully to stage the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 in Wembley and there are no plans to change the venue for those games.”

EXPERTS TOLD PM 'DON'T BE FEARFUL' AS BRITAIN COULD ONLOCK SOONER

Boris Johnson is being "overcautious" and could end lockdown early, on July 5, top scientists and MPs have said.

Experts insisted the PM could safely ditch the final set of lockdown restrictions and free the country in just two weeks' time.

Brendan Wren, a professor of vaccinology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the Government has been gripped by "coronamania".

He said: "I think the Government has been a bit overcautious, there's a certain amount of coronamania going on.

"We are in a third wave but it's not as bad. It's more like a bump rather than a huge increase.

"We have a different population to what we had in the first or second wave so we shouldn't be so fearful."

EXPERT WARNS YOUNG MEN COULD POTENTIALLY BE SPREADING COVID WHILST WATCHING FOOTBALL WITH THEIR MATES

Young men watching the football at home with their mates could be spreading Covid, an expert has warned.

Professor Stephen Reicher, a member of the Sage subcommittee advising on behavioural science, said "people at home not taking precautions" are the main concern, rather than fans at the matches.

The University of St Andrews professor said new data from Scotland shows the infection rate is now three times higher for young men.

"I saw data yesterday from Scotland showing that whereas two or three weeks ago, the ratio of males and females, men and women, who get infections is roughly the same, now it's about three times higher for younger men, and the obvious explanation for that is people meeting up at home, forgetting restrictions," he said.

Coronavirus is known to spread more easily inside with limited ventilation, with people more likely to be sharing snacks and drinks, adding to the possibility of transmission.

'HOPE AND EXPECTATIONS' THAT JULY 19 WILL FINALLY SEE COVID RESTRICTIONS END IN ENGLAND SAYS RISHI SUNAK

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said it is his "hope and expectation" that July 19 will be the end of coronavirus restrictions in England.

Rishi was responding to a question in the Commons from Conservative Greg Smith (Buckingham) about businesses being "desperate" to return staff from furlough.

Mr Smith said: "Will (Mr Sunak) agree with me that the way to get the economy moving and to get those employees back to work is for restrictions to absolutely be lifted by July 19?"

Responding, Mr Sunak said: "(Mr Smith) is absolutely right, and my hope and expectation is we do lift those restrictions on July 19 because by that point we will have done what we set out to do, which is to get extra jabs in more people's arms to provide us with that extra level of protection we were seeking."

Mr Sunak added: "The only sustainable way to protect those jobs is to get the economy reopened so those people can return to work and provide for their families."

BRITS TO GET GREEN LIGHT: ALL THE COUNTRIES THAT COULD OPEN FOR HOLIDAYS AS THE GOVERNMENT REVEAL GREEN AND AMBER LIST TOMORROW

The government is set to tell Brits tomorrow where they can travel this summer.

Boris Johnson is set to announce the countries moving to green, amber and red on the list - with hopes that the Balearics and Malta could get the green light.

But in an even bigger game-changer, the government will also reportedly announce that quarantine rules for double-jabbed holidaymakers heading to amber nations will be ditched. 

And unjabbed family members aged under 18 will be able to fly too as they have not been offered the vaccine.

That would open up unrestricted holidays to countries currently on the medium-risk list - like Spain, France, Italy Greece and the US.

GOVERNMENT 'WORKING ON PLANS' FOR QUARANTINE-FREE TRAVEL, MATT HANCOCK REVEALS

The health secretary has announced the Government is "working on" plans for quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated Britons - but international travel remains a "difficult" area, Matt Hancock has said.

Matt Hancock confirmed that ministers are looking at how to scrap the requirement for people to isolate for 10 days on return from an amber list country.

Mr Hancock said he is "in favour of moving forward in this area" and replacing quarantine with daily testing.

"This hasn't been clinically advised yet - we're working on it," he told Sky News.

He added: "We're working on plans to essentially allow the vaccine to bring back some of the freedoms that have had to be restricted to keep people safe. After all, that's the whole purpose of the vaccination programme, that's why it's so important that every adult goes out and gets the jab."

NEW 'DELTA PLUS' COVID VARIANT THAT'S 'MORE TRANSMISSIBLE' DETECTED IN UK

A new "Delta Plus" Covid variant "more transmissible" than the original has been detected in the UK, sources have confirmed.

Around 41 cases of the mutated variant have been found in the country, after first being reported in India.

Dr Andrew Lee, Covid Incident Director at Public Health England, said: "PHE has put in place additional control measures where cases of Delta variant with K417N (AY.1) are detected including enhanced contact tracing, rapid testing and isolation. 

"41 cases in total have been identified in England. Active investigation of cases and clusters will ensure our public health response remains fast and proportionate. 

"We are continuing investigations to better understand the significance of K417N in addition to Delta. 

"PHE will continue to closely monitor and assess all changes in the virus as they naturally emerge, given the overall large number of COVID cases globally."

FLIGHT OPERATORS TUI, VIRGIN ATLANTIC AND IAG JOIN MOUNTING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GOVERNMENT TRAVEL RULES

Tui has announced it has joined Virgin Atlantic and British Airways' parent company IAG in supporting legal action against the Government's coronavirus travel restrictions.

The UK's largest tour operator said the three firms have become interested parties in a challenge that was first launched by Ryanair and Manchester Airports Group last week.

The legal bid is an attempt to get the Government to be more transparent in relation to how it determines which countries are on the green, amber and red lists under the traffic light system for international travel.

There are currently no major viable tourist destinations on the quarantine-free green list.

PRISON STAFF AROUND BRITAIN GO ON STRIKE TODAY OVER COVID SAFETY CONCERNS RAISE DISPUTE

Prison staff from Lindholme, Hatfield, Moorland and Doncaster have joined around 600 staff at 49 prisons across England in a long running health and safety dispute with employer Novus.

The dispute is over the failure to address health and safety concerns raised by prison educators, a failure to meaningfully engage with UCU on the part of Novus, and repeated attempts by management to intimidate staff who had raised health and safety issues.

A spokesman for Novus said: "Our commitment to the health and safety of our colleagues and learners has always been our top priority and we are disappointed that despite our best efforts to resolve the dispute, industrial action by UCU continues.

"All health and safety concerns raised by colleagues are regularly reviewed and investigated and appropriate action is taken by the Group Health and Safety Managers. These issues are regularly discussed with union members in a recurring health and safety meeting. Unfortunately, despite an open invitation to join these meetings, UCU have not attended since January this year. This has materially impacted our ability to have an open dialogue with UCU on health and safety matters."

NHS SOUNDS ALARM OVER RISE IN UK COVID PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS

The NHS is under ‘huge pressure’ as people in ventilator beds increase 41% during last week, NHS bosses say.

The deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said the number of Covid patients in hospital on ventilation beds had increased by 41% in the last week to , which she said was a strong indication Covid was having an impact on health services. 

Cordery told BBC Breakfast: “Trusts on the frontline are really coming under huge pressure ... they have plans in place to tackle the backlog, but with more Covid cases and demand for emergency care going up, that’s really challenging.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Prof Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, said this and other surveillance data were “encouraging”, despite rising case numbers. Lower hospitalisations and death rates relative to case numbers prove the high effectiveness of vaccines in protecting people from serious illness, he said.

ALL THE RULES THAT COULD CHANGE ON FREEDOM DAY, JULY 19 – FROM FACE MASKS TO NIGHTCLUBS

From face masks and social distancing to nightclubs and the Rule of Six, the Covid rules are set to change on July 19.

The UK is said to be on track to lift all current restrictions for Freedom Day as ministers are encouraged by “very, very” low death numbers and a slowdown in infections.

A senior Government source told the newspaper that ministers want to “get as close to normal as possible” on July 19.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously hoped to lift all the Covid restrictions on June 21.

The wearing of face masks is no longer expected to be compulsory in certain spaces, and laws will be replaced with advice for wearing them.

MAPPED: 'DELTA PLUS' VARIANT

POSITIVE NEWS IN THIS EVENINGS PRESS CONFERENCE

• 63 million vaccinations given out, says Dr Nikki Kanani
• Zahawi confident 66% of all Brits will have two jabs by July 19 and has said vaccines are working in fight against Covid
• UK vaccine roll out ‘the most successful in health history’ says Dr Kanani
• One in three 18-24-year-olds have got first jab since the programme opened to all adults
• Over 250,000 second doses administered in England
• Nine in 10 UK adults have either taken vaccine or want to, says jabs minister

MALTA, MADEIRA AND ‘BALEARIC ISLANDS’ SET FOR TRAVEL GREEN LIST

Holidaymakers can jet off for a week or more in Malta and Madeira and avoid quarantining when they get back as a new travel green list kicks in at 4am next Wednesday.

The Balearic islands of Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca were last night also on the cusp of being added, with a final decision being made at a meeting today.

The Sun can also reveal family holidays abroad could cost £500 less under plans to slash the number of expensive tests faced by double-jabbed Brits on their return.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to bump up the holiday islands in changes separate to the Government looking into allowing those who’ve had two vaccine doses, and their kids, to avoid quarantine.

Pressure is mounting for those measures to be unveiled  when lockdown is due to end on July 19.

GERMANY CALLS ON EU NATIONS TO FORCE BRIT TRAVELLERS TO QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS

Chancellor Angela Merkel urged all EU nations to make UK visitors quarantine to halt the spreading Delta variant.

Greece, Spain and Italy, desperate for Brit tourists, are likely to defy her battle cry.

Merkel raged: “In our country if you come from Great Britain you have to go into quarantine.

“That’s not the case in every European country and that’s what I’d like to see.”

LOCKDOWN LIFT WILL DEPEND ON FOUR KEY FACTORS

There are four key numbers behind the wait to unlock Britain – with experts and ministers convinced it could be scheduled for July 5.

Vaccine reach, hospitalisations, new variant and rising cases are what everyone is keeping their eyes on.

Professor Neil Ferguson, nicknamed Professor Lockdown, thinks the data looks “encouraging”.

Asked whether restrictions should end on July 5, he said: “I’m busy analysing the data to provide a more conclusive picture to government to make that decision, but the overall picture is encouraging.”

He added: “As we expected, we are seeing rises in case numbers across the country, but they have slowed slightly compared with a couple of weeks ago.

“We’re also seeing rises in hospitalisations and deaths but again they’re at a much lower level than previously, demonstrating the high effectiveness of vaccines.”

VERY RARE CASES OF HEART INFLAMMATION IN YOUNG ADULTS 'LIKELY' LINKED TO MRNA VACCINES, SAY US EXPERTS

The Pfizer and Moderna jabs could be linked with a slight increase in the risk of heart inflammation, according to a group advising the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Sky news understands experts have been assessing a link between the heart condition and the mRNA vaccines, mainly in young men. 

Pfizer previously said it had not observed a higher rate of heart inflammation than would normally be expected.

41 CASES OF NEW ‘DELTA PLUS’ VARIANT FOUND IN BRITAIN

The latest coronavirus “delta plus” variant has already infected at least 41 people in the UK, according to Public Health England figures.

Indian authorities today said the new variant, formally known as AY.1, was of concern and sweeping across the country.

It remains unknown if it is more dangerous than the original strain.

The Government said PHE had already put extra measures in place where the variant had been detected including “enhanced contact tracing, testing, and isolation”.