Covid UK news LIVE – Chris Whitty ‘assault’ video investigated by police after ‘yobbos’ grab him in the street

UK DELTA VARIANT CASES RISE 46% IN A WEEK

Cases of the Delta variant which was first identified in India have risen 46% in a week across the UK, new figures show.

Public Health England said there had been 35,204 more cases since last week.

This week, 514 people were admitted to hospital in England with Covid-19, where reports show 304 were unvaccinated.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: "Through the success of our vaccination programme, data suggest we have begun to break the link between cases and hospitalisations. This is hugely encouraging news, but we cannot become complacent.

"Two doses of vaccine are far more effective against Covid-19 than a single dose, so please make sure that you come forward to get your second dose as soon as you are invited.

"Whilst vaccines provide excellent protection, they do not provide total protection, so it is still as important as ever that we continue to exercise caution."

BORIS JOHNSON VOWS ONE METRE RULE WILL BE SCRAPPED ON JULY 19

Boris Johnson is reportedly determined to scrap the one-metre social distancing rule on July 19 even if other Covid measures have to remain in place.

Cabinet sources suggest the prime minister is set to prioritise the removal of the restriction to give a much-needed boost to the hospitality industry and the arts, reports the .

However, a recent surge in Covid cases has raised fresh doubts that all restrictions will be eased on July 19.

It also means that the suggestion Freedom Day could be brought forward two weeks is not likely to happen.

Ministers will review the latest data this weekend before announcing a formal decision at the “mid-point review”.

However, a source told the Mail that the early easing of restrictions is “not happening”.

EXPERT REVEALS ALLOWING QUARANTINE-FREE TRAVEL FOR DOUBLE-JABBED BRITS IS 'SENSIBLE'

Easing restrictions for fully-vaccinated travellers is a "sensible approach", leading expert professor Neil Ferguson says.

Professor Ferguson, from Imperial College London, who was appointed during the first lockdown in March 2020, said people who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine are less likely to become seriously ill or transmit the virus.

Prof Ferguson said: "The effectiveness of two doses of vaccine preventing infection is, depending on the vaccine, somewhere between, we think, 80-90%.

"Even if you do get infected, first of all you're much less likely to be severely ill.

"But you're also, and this is important for travel, much less likely to transmit - probably half as infectious as somebody who wasn't vaccinated.

"So overall that leads to double vaccinated people really only posing somewhere between five and 10% of the risk of importing a case than somebody who wasn't vaccinated."

ASHLEY CAIN’S GRIEVING PARTNER SAFIYYA SLAMS MATT HANCOCK AFFAIR AFTER HER FAMILY ‘FOLLOWED RULES’

Ashley Cain’s grieving partner Safiyya Vorajee has taken to social media to slam Matt Hancock for ‘breaking rules.’

It comes after the devastating loss of the couple’s eight-month old baby Azaylia, with strict lockdown measures in place during their time spent in hospital meant that she couldn’t visit friends and family for extra support.

Safiyya, 34, said: “I was just in mid conversation and thought I’d share it with you guys about the whole Matt Hancock situation.

“And I feel really disheartened that this has all come to light about what he’s done really, because being in a hospital for such a long time and following all these restrictions and not being able to do so much and having time with your family together…

“And then seeing him doing what he did is so disappointing.”

Read the full story here

MALTA TO ONLY ALLOW FULLY VACCINATED BRITS TO ENTER WITHOUT QUARANTINE AFTER UK GREEN LIST

Malta will only allow fully vaccinated Brits to enter without quarantine after UK green list addition.

Malta will only allow fully jabbed Brits to enter without quarantine after holidays to the island were given the green light.

Earlier this week, Malta was added to the UK's green list - thanks to its low daily Covid case rate and high number of vaccinations.

But the country announced tighter restrictions for UK holidaymakers less than 24 hours after it was added to our green list.

They said that Brits who have not received both jabs will have to quarantine upon arrival.

This means that those who arrive in Malta on June 30 or after will have to quarantine for up to 14 days if they cannot prove they have had two doses.

GREEK PM WANTS DOUBLE JABBED BRITS TO HOLIDAY AND SLAMS EU THREATS

Greece's Prime Minister has slammed EU threats to slap a holiday ban on Brits — and he vowed to get double-jabbed tourists on to his beaches.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis lashed out at France and Germany for plotting to try to bar UK families from all 27 countries across the bloc.

He told Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel they should focus on getting jabs in arms and butt out of people’s holiday plans.

Siding with Spain and Portugal in the holiday wars, Mr Mitsotakis came out swinging.

He said: “We should not adopt a logic of new restrictions but, on the contrary, accelerate the vaccinations. Those who have been vaccinated are protected, those who have not are in danger.”

PLANS FOR A CABINET RESHUFFLE ARE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD AS HANCOCK TO BE GIVEN A ‘DIGNIFIED’ DEPARTURE FROM HIS JOB.

We exclusively revealed the Health Secretary’s affair with aide Gina Coladangelo, including how they were caught on camera snogging on May 6.

Conservative sources have claimed that the Health Secretary could be given a lower-profile role after a number of high profile scandals.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been considering a reshuffle for months, and had decided recently to postpone it until the autumn.

But it could be brought forward to early next month, allowing the Prime Minister to move Hancock as soon as possible.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, a Tory MP said: “I think you will see the Prime Minister bring forward his reshuffle quite quickly now.

“Hancock doesn’t want to quit and the PM doesn’t want to sack him, but it is quite clear that a dignified way has to be found to move him on.”

Read the full story here

MATT HANCOCK ADMITS ‘I’VE BREACHED SOCIAL DISTANCING’ BUT DOESN’T APOLOGISE TO WIFE AS HE BREAKS SILENCE OVER AFFAIR

Matt Hancock has today broken his silence to admit he “breached social distancing rules” – but failed to apologise to his wife of 15 years after his explosive affair was revealed by The Sun.

The Health Secretary, 42, refused to resign and instead said he “has let people down and is very sorry” as he faces calls to be sacked by Boris Johnson for his brazen steamy clinch in Whitehall.

CCTV images published this morning showed him passionately kissing his aide – with the dad-of-three shamelessly asking for “privacy on this personal matter” just hours later.

And he admitted he had “broken social distancing rules” after lecturing the country on coronavirus regulations throughout the pandemic.

In his very short statement, in which he failed to apologise to his wife or acknowledge his behaviour, he said: “I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances.

“I have let people down and am very sorry. I remain focused on working to get the country out of this pandemic, and would be grateful for privacy for my family on this personal matter.”

PRIME MINISTER BACKS MATT HANCOCK BUT AS QUESTIONS KEEP COMING, WILL HE SURVIVE?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has attempted to rule Matt Hancock’s affair “a closed matter” last night as questions mounted for the cheating Health Secretary.

The unfaithful Cabinet minister is engulfed in allegations he broke the lockdown law and the ministerial code after The Sun revealed his office canoodling with an aide.

And he has still been unable to explain how glamorous pal Gina Coladangelo — exposed as his lover by this newspaper — got a £15,000 advisory role last September.

Tory colleagues blasted Hancock’s “phenomenal sense of self-entitlement” after his attempt to tough out the scandal by saying he was getting on with the day job of fighting the pandemic.

And opposition parties branded the PM spineless for not giving him his marching orders.

Read the full story here

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.

SCOTLAND'S COVID INFECTIONS RISE RAPIDLY - NEARLY DOUBLE UK

Scotland's Covid infection rates have increased dramatically in the last week.

In the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) based on swabs collected from randomly selected households, an estimated one in 220 people are believed to have Covid.

That figure has increased in comparison to the one in 600 people initially recorded two weeks ago.

In England an estimated one in 440 people are thought to have Covid.

PRIME MINISTER BACKS MATT HANCOCK BUT AS QUESTIONS KEEP COMING, WILL HE SURVIVE?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has attempted to rule Matt Hancock’s affair “a closed matter” last night as questions mounted for the cheating Health Secretary.

The unfaithful Cabinet minister is engulfed in allegations he broke the lockdown law and the ministerial code after The Sun revealed his office canoodling with an aide.

And he has still been unable to explain how glamorous pal Gina Coladangelo — exposed as his lover by this newspaper — got a £15,000 advisory role last September.

Tory colleagues blasted Hancock’s “phenomenal sense of self-entitlement” after his attempt to tough out the scandal by saying he was getting on with the day job of fighting the pandemic.

And opposition parties branded the PM spineless for not giving him his marching orders.

Read the full story here

CONTINUED: UK WEDDING RESTRICTIONS GOT LOOSENED FOR THOSE ABOUT TO TIE THE KNOT

Anselm Guise is the owner and manager of wedding and events venue Elmore Court, in Gloucestershire. He has been busy preparing for a number of weddings in the coming weeks.

He says: “We host around 130 weddings a year and we’ve got a few weddings booked over the next month, so there was a lot of relief that we could increase guest numbers up from 30. It means couples can invite everyone they were hoping to, which is fantastic.

“Thankfully, we’ve got a lot of space here. In the main hall we can safely host 94 people for the ceremony. We are also thinking of extending our ceremony room into the adjacent dining area, so that couples with more guests can still have their loved ones there for the actual wedding.

“We’ll be serving food and drink to guests sitting down, and closing the dance floor after the couple’s first dance. But when it comes to mingling, as long as we provide a Covid-safe venue, the guests are being asked to assess further risks themselves – we won’t be stopping people from hugging!"

Read the full story here

UK WEDDING RESTRICTIONS GOT LOOSENED FOR THOSE ABOUT TO TIE THE KNOT

For many of us, family and friends have played a big part in helping us get through the coronavirus pandemic. They’re also the people we’ve missed the most – which is why, if you’re hosting a wedding or other big occasion in England, there has been some good news to celebrate recently.

Before this week, only 30 people were allowed to attend weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions. But since June 21, that limit has been lifted across England, allowing couples to invite more guests to their celebrations.

If your venue is big enough to hold more than 30 people while remaining Covid-secure, including following the two-metre social distancing rules, there is no legal limit to the number of guests you can invite. Instead, the number of attendees at weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions will be determined by how many people the venue or space can safely accommodate, in line with the rules for pubs and restaurants.

Commemorative events such as wakes or memorials are also subject to this easing of the rules, allowing more people to get together while still staying safe. Before the big day, your venue manager will be able to tell you the maximum number of people who can safely attend your event, based on a risk assessment.

LOVE ISLAND’S IAIN STIRLING WON’T BE TRAVELLING TO MAJORCA THIS YEAR AHEAD OF TRAVEL RESTRICTION FEARS

Due to everchanging rules and regulations regarding travel, the narrator of the hit reality show will stay in the capital while he sets the scene for all the fans at home.

In a recent chat with Loose Women, Kaye Adams asked if he will head to Majorca to narrate the show, Iain replied: “We are in London, I think, now, this is the thing with , I never want to say anything because you never know, who knows what’s going to happen.

“I don’t know what colour Majorca is going to be next week, it will be tartan by the time I’m done with it!”

Expanding on Iain’s absence from Majorca during Love Island, Jane Moore said: “That would be such a shame because when we watch the show we think you do five minutes in the booth and then you’re sunbathing all day, but I know it’s not easy.”

Iain said: “Me and my friend Mark, we write the show together, and we definitely get to the stage where say a couple have been together three of fours weeks, you run out of ways of introducing them.”

HUNDREDS QUEUE FOR JAB AS VACCINE CENTRES AND STADIUMS OPEN THEIR DOORS TO WALK-IN PATIENTS

Adults across England will be able to "grab a jab" this weekend as hundreds of walk-in vaccine centres open up to the public.

Anyone over 18 can now turn up to their local vaccination clinic without a booking and get a jab.

The latest stage of the government's roll out sees football stadiums, theatres, supermarket car parks and shopping centres turned into makeshift centres.

Edgebaston Stadium in Birmingham, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and Vertu Motors Arena, home to Newcastle Eagles basketball team, are just a few major sporting arenas opening their doors.

Buses offering Covid jabs will also operate in Bolton, Dudley, Colchester, and Ipswich.

MALTA TO ONLY ALLOW FULLY VACCINATED BRITS TO ENTER WITHOUT QUARANTINE

Malta will only allow double jabbed Brits to enter without quarantine after holidays to the island were given the green light this week.

FEHT President Jose Maria Manaricua confirmed he had been given the July 15 date by “sources close to the British government” and was expecting an official announcement in the next few days.

Speaking today he said: “The good news for the tourism sector and for the Canary Islands is that from July 15 it appears the British government is not going to force people to quarantine when they come to a destination like the Canary Islands.

“It means we can look forward to receiving British tourists from July 15 who will not have to self-isolate when they return."

MINISTER WARNS UK COVID TRAVEL RULES COULD CHANGE IN AN INSTANT

The UK transport secretary, Grant Shapps failed to comment to say he would book a foreign holiday for himself and his family yet, even as travel restrictions are relaxed for various destinations.

Shapps warned anyone looking to travel abroad that restrictions could change at short notice after Malta and Madeira, among others, were added to the list of countries from which travellers could return without having to quarantine.

But there was concern across the travel sector, with one figure accusing the government of being “overly cautious”.

Shapps said: “People will have to come to their own decisions ... If people are in a situation where, from next week, they wanted to get away then these are the places where you can go for the purposes of holiday, of course, being aware of all the caveats about the risk of things changing because … that happens with quite a lot of regularity.”

COVID BREACH COULD UNDERMINE EFFORTS AGAINST VIRUS AFTER HANCOCK BREACH

Covid victims' families have hit out after Matt Hancock's breach of social distancing guidance when he passionately kissed an aide, fearing it could damage government messaging on fighting the virus.

The health secretary has apologised after pictures and video footage emerged of him with Gina Coladangelo, reportedly taken on 6 May.

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group said failing to sack Mr Hancock could lead to a "Cummings effect" and people breaking the rules. 

The PM considers the matter closed.

A Downing Street spokesman said Boris Johnson accepted Mr Hancock's apology, adding the prime minister had full confidence in the health secretary.

Rivka Gottlieb, from the campaign group, told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight: "If he were to announce another lockdown or further regulations why would anybody listen to someone who doesn't follow the rules themselves? It's a bit like the Cummings effect."

MATT HANCOCK FACES CALLS TO BE SACKED OVER SHOCKING AFFAIR SCANDAL AS HE SCRAPS PUBLIC VISIT

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has scrapped a public appearance today as he bunkered down following The Sun's bombshell revelations of a shameful affair with his close adviser.

Hancock is fighting for his job after facing calls to be sacked over the shameful affair scandal.

He was supposed to attend a vaccination centre at Newmarket in his Suffolk constituency today but trip would have been undoubtedly overshadowed by mounting questions of him snogging top adviser Gina Coladangelo.

And this afternoon, Mr Hancock apologised for his actions, saying: "I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances.

"I have let people down and am very sorry.

"I remain focused on working to get the country out of this pandemic, and would be grateful for privacy for my family on this personal matter."

MATT HANCOCK FACES CALLS TO BE SACKED OVER SHOCKING AFFAIR SCANDAL AS HE SCRAPS PUBLIC VISIT

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has scrapped a public appearance today as he bunkered down following The Sun's bombshell revelations of a shameful affair with his close adviser.

Hancock is fighting for his job after facing calls to be sacked over the shameful affair scandal.

He was supposed to attend a vaccination centre at Newmarket in his Suffolk constituency today but trip would have been undoubtedly overshadowed by mounting questions of him snogging top adviser Gina Coladangelo.

And this afternoon, Mr Hancock apologised for his actions, saying: "I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances.

"I have let people down and am very sorry.

"I remain focused on working to get the country out of this pandemic, and would be grateful for privacy for my family on this personal matter."

LATITUDE FESTIVAL GETS THE ALL-CLEAR AT FULL 35,000 CAPACITY THIS JULY

Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford said coronavirus cases are likely to peak next month and cautioned against complacency.

During a press conference last Friday, Drakeford said: “The Delta variant has continued to spread quickly and is now spreading freely in communities right across Wales.”

Last week, there were just under 500 cases of the Delta strain of coronavirus, but the number has since more than doubled to 1,100 infections. 

“Coronavirus is once again affecting our schools and our care homes,” said Drakeford.

He added that there would be no change to restrictions on socialising following the new Delta variant and encouraged adults aged between 30 and 39 - a group in which he said there had been some hesitancy - to mitigate the spread by getting vaccinated.

SERIOUS QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER HANCOCK COLADANGELO APPOINTMENT

Serious questions also remain about whether married Mr Hancock should have hired his millionaire lobbyist Ms Coladangelo for the £15,000-a-year job.

But as of this morning Boris Johnson was sticking with his Health Secretary, with the Government line insisting it was a “private matter”.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he “absolutely” had confidence in his Cabinet colleague.

He told Times Radio: “We don’t live in a world where the responsibilities of public work and what somebody has done in their private life are one and the same thing.

“We’re living in the 21st century and how people live their private lives is a private business.”

GRANT SHAPPS SAYS QUARANTINE FREE TRAVEL FOR BRITS WITH TWO JABS WON’T BE READY FOR FREEDOM DAY

Travel to amber countries won’t be relaxed for double-jabbed Brits in time for Freedom Day on July 19, Grant Shapps admitted today.

With holiday hopes taking a blow, a blow the Transport Secretary said it will be “complicated” to exempt the fully vaccinated from quarantine.

When asked about that prospect today, Mr Shapps replied: “It’s unfortunately more complicated than that.

“One of the very big areas is what do you do if children are not going to be getting vaccinations?

“So we’ll probably focus in phase one on UK people who’ve been double vaccinated, and what that means for their travel into other areas.”

UK DELTA VARIANT CASES RISE 46% IN A WEEK

Cases of the Delta variant which was first identified in India have risen 46% in a week across the UK, new figures show.

Public Health England said there had been 35,204 more cases since last week.

This week, 514 people were admitted to hospital in England with Covid-19, where reports show 304 were unvaccinated.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: "Through the success of our vaccination programme, data suggest we have begun to break the link between cases and hospitalisations. This is hugely encouraging news, but we cannot become complacent.

"Two doses of vaccine are far more effective against Covid-19 than a single dose, so please make sure that you come forward to get your second dose as soon as you are invited.

"Whilst vaccines provide excellent protection, they do not provide total protection, so it is still as important as ever that we continue to exercise caution."