Covid UK news LIVE – Chris Whitty ‘assault’ video investigated by police after ‘yobbos’ grab him in the street
- Which holiday destinations can I travel to from the UK?
SAJID Javid confirmed England WON'T unlock early on July 5 - as he urged Brits to hang on three more weeks for Freedom Day.
Making his first appearance in the Commons on Monday, the new Health Secretary said the Government will look to scrap the majority of restrictions on July 19.
The new Health Secretary ripped up the doomster handbook left by disgraced predecessor Matt Hancock, saying it was his “immediate priority” to end the restrictions.
The former Chancellor ripped up cushy consultancy jobs worth over £300,000 a year to become the people’s freedom fighter.
The business champion turned healthcare chief is well aware of the crippling effect of the pandemic restrictions on the nation’s economy.
Read our Coronavirus blog below for the latest news and updates...
GRANT SHAPPS DEFENDS MATT HANCOCK'S SHOCKING AFFAIR AND PRAISES HIM FOR DOING 'GREAT JOB'
Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps has tried to defend Matt Hancock over his sleazy affair, calling it a "red herring" and praising him for doing a "great job."
The Sun revealed last night that the Health Secretary cheated on his wife with Gina Coladangelo, 43, who he hired last year with taxpayers’ money, as Covid gripped Britain.
Following the shocking affair, Grant Shapps said on Sky News today: "I think it's a bit of a red herring.
"And in this case, I think it's really a personal story.
"The Health Secretary has been working very hard rolling out this vaccine programme. And so I'll leave it there."
MATT HANCOCK'S WIFE MARTHA STEPS OUT IN PUBLIC STILL WEARING HER WEDDING RING HOURS AFTER HUSBAND'S BOMBSHELL AFFAIR EXPOSED
Matt Hancock's wife has been seen leaving her home still wearing her wedding ring after her husband's shocking affair was exposed.
Martha Hancock, who has been married to the Health Secretary for 15 years, was seen walking with her dog this morning - hours after the bombshell news.
Mr Hancock cheated on his wife with Gina Coladangelo, 43, who he hired last year with taxpayers’ money, as Covid gripped Britain.
Mr Hancock, 42, and millionaire lobbyist Gina were caught on camera in a raunchy clinch at his Whitehall office.
A Whitehall whistleblower told The Sun it was “shocking that Mr Hancock was having an affair in the middle of a pandemic with an adviser and friend he used public money to hire”.
Last night, a friend of the Health Secretary said: “He has no comment on personal matters. No rules have been broken.”
WHO IS MATT HANCOCK'S NEW MISTRESS, GINA COLADANGELO?
Health Secretary Matt Hancock's secret lover, Gina Coladangelo is married millionaire mum and Oliver Bonas PR chief who Matt Hancock hired at taxpayers’ expense.
She is also a director and major shareholder at lobbying firm Luther Pendragon, which offers clients a “deep understanding of the mechanics of government”.
Matt Hancock secretly appointed Coladangelo to the Department of Health and Social Care as an unpaid adviser on a six-month contract in March last year.
There was no public record of the appointment, which was set to see her earn at least £15,000 of taxpayers’ money, potentially rising by a further £5,000.
The pair first met at Oxford University in the early 2000s but Mr Hancock went on to wed Martha Hoyer Millar in 2006.
Read the full story here
MATT HANCOCK LANDS IN MORE DEEP WATER AFTER PM CALLS HIM 'F***ING USELESS' AND NOW CHEATING SCANDAL
Matt Hancock’s career at the top of the Conservative Party was hanging by a thread last night as he was engulfed in a sleaze scandal.
The shock development follows a torrid 18 months for the Health Secretary in which he has been battling the Covid pandemic — even catching it himself last year.
Mr Hancock has spent the past few weeks dodging claims he bungled his handling of the bug — and was left embarrassed over leaked texts in which the PM branded him “f***ing useless”.
But the Health Secretary has been caught kissing glamorous pal he hired as his aide - in the very office from which he is meant to be leading Britain's response to the virus.
Read the full story here
DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, JONATHAN VAN-TAM IS ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE BY ANTIVAXXER
This is the appalling moment an antivaxxer abuses Jonathan Van-Tam and accuses him of genocide.
Geza Tarjanyi, 60, filmed himself hurling abuse at Van-Tam in Westminster yesterday, before sharing the shocking footage on Facebook.
Tarjanyi asked: “What was really in that needle you put into Matt Hancock?”, referring to the Health Secretary’s vaccination in April.
Tarjanyi films Professor Van-Tam as he approaches him before saying: “Are you Van-Tam, aren’t ya?
“This country’s supposed to be in the worst pandemic of all time.”
Professor Van-Tam then calmly replied: “It is.”
Read the full story here
COVID APPEARED IN CHINA IN MID-NOVEMBER 2019, UK SCIENTISTS SAY
Coronavirus arose in China between early October and mid-November in 2019, with the most likely date of origin being November 17, according to UK scientists.
Research led by the University of Kent suggests that the first Covid-19 case outside China occurred in Japan on January 3, 2020, while the first case in Europe occurred in Spain on January 12, 2020, and the first case in North America occurred in the US on January 16, 2020.
According to official data, Japan confirmed its first case on January 16, Spain on January 31 and the US on January 21.
The findings, published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, are based on a new modelling method, which was originally developed to date extinctions rather than the origins of a new pandemic.
Dr David Roberts, from Kent’s school of anthropology and conservation, who helped develop the technique, said: “This novel application within the field of epidemiology offers a new opportunity to understand the emergence and spread of diseases, as it only requires a small amount of data.”
ENHANCED TESTING IN NORTHERN IRELAND AFTER INCREASE IN DELTA VARIANT CASES
Enhanced Covid testing is to be carried out in Castlewellan in Co Down and Londonderry after a number of suspected cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus were identified.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) said early results from the two areas are suggestive of the variant, first identified in India, but this has not been confirmed.
As a precautionary measure, the PHA is asking asymptomatic people aged 18-40 from selected, targeted neighbourhoods within these areas to get tested.
They will be contacted by post from Friday.
Earlier this week it was disclosed there were 612 confirmed or probable cases of the Delta variant detected in all 11 council areas in Northern Ireland.
WATCH: DAILY COVID CASES UP TO OVER 16,000 AS DELTA VARIANT SURGES
UK Covid cases surge to 16,135 in highest rise in almost 5 MONTHS and deaths at 19 amid ‘Delta Plus’ variant fearsVERY 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.
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.
EXPERTS TOLD PM ‘DON’T BE FEARFUL’ AS BRITAIN COULD UNLOCK 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.”
EXPERTS TOLD PM ‘DON’T BE FEARFUL’ AS BRITAIN COULD UNLOCK 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.”
DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, JONATHAN VAN-TAM IS ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE BY ANTIVAXXER
This is the appalling moment an antivaxxer abuses Jonathan Van-Tam and accuses him of genocide.
Geza Tarjanyi, 60, filmed himself hurling abuse at Van-Tam in Westminster yesterday, before sharing the shocking footage on Facebook.
Tarjanyi asked: “What was really in that needle you put into Matt Hancock?”, referring to the Health Secretary’s vaccination in April.
Tarjanyi films Professor Van-Tam as he approaches him before saying: “Are you Van-Tam, aren’t ya?
“This country’s supposed to be in the worst pandemic of all time.”
Professor Van-Tam then calmly replied: “It is.”
Read the full story here
WATCH: THREE IN FIVE ARE DOUBLE-JABBED, SAYS VACCINES MINISTER
Three in five adults have had second Covid vaccine dose and six appointments are booked every second by over-18sSCHOOL SPORTS DAYS CAN GO AHEAD, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS
Schools do not need to cancel this year’s sports days as a result of Covid restrictions, the Department for Education has said.
Some schools are cancelling sports days and citing Covid guidance, but the Government has said this does not need to happen in “most circumstances”.
A Department for Education (DfE) spokesman said: “Outdoor events like sports days can go ahead as long as they’re thoroughly risk assessed and conducted in line with guidance around cleaning shared equipment and not mixing bubbles. This applies for parents attending too.”
Spectators can gather in separate groups of up to 30 outdoors and they need to observe social distancing, according to a blog by the DfE.
“This means, dependent on the size of the area available, multiple groups of 30 could theoretically attend events as long as there is no mixing between groups at any stage,” the DfE adds.
GERMANY TO FORCE BRITS TO QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS TO STOP DELTA VARIANT
Germany yesterday tried to ban Brits from holiday sunbeds — whilst their footballers lined up a Euros showdown with our Three Lions.
Chancellor Angela Merkel urged all EU nations to make UK visitors quarantine to halt the spreading Delta variant.
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.”
MP Alec Shelbrooke said: “The Germans are willing to bully other nations as they still can’t accept the Brexit result on it’s fifth anniversary of the vote. And, unbelievably, they are willing to destroy their own tourist industry over political ideology.”
DAILY CASES UP TO 3,000 IN SCOTLAND
Almost 3,000 coronavirus cases have been recorded in Scotland in the last 24 hours – the second day in a row the number has hit a record high.
The latest data shows there were 2,999 positive tests for the virus, which is a slight increase on the 2,969 recorded on Wednesday.
The test positivity rate is at 7.7%, up from 7.3% the previous day, according to figures published by the Scottish Government on Thursday.
A total of 40,952 tests were carried out, down from 42,310 the previous day.
Five deaths of coronavirus patients were recorded, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 7,706.
COVID APPEARED IN CHINA IN MID-NOVEMBER 2019, UK SCIENTISTS SAY
Coronavirus arose in China between early October and mid-November in 2019, with the most likely date of origin being November 17, according to UK scientists.
Research led by the University of Kent suggests that the first Covid-19 case outside China occurred in Japan on January 3, 2020, while the first case in Europe occurred in Spain on January 12, 2020, and the first case in North America occurred in the US on January 16, 2020.
According to official data, Japan confirmed its first case on January 16, Spain on January 31 and the US on January 21.
The findings, published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, are based on a new modelling method, which was originally developed to date extinctions rather than the origins of a new pandemic.
Dr David Roberts, from Kent’s school of anthropology and conservation, who helped develop the technique, said: “This novel application within the field of epidemiology offers a new opportunity to understand the emergence and spread of diseases, as it only requires a small amount of data.”
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.
VACCINE SIDE EFFECTS
Covid vaccines are essential to beat the virus, but it is within your best interests to monitor any possible side effects.
These side effects are mostly nothing to worry about but can cause discomfort.
Experts have found that rashes and itching in another spot other than the injection site was the most common side effect.
Read more here
FINAL PUSH
Brits have been urged to get their vaccines to protect themselves against new variants.
It comes as “Delta plus”, a mutated version of the Delta variant, was confirmed to be in the UK.
A huge percentage of the country are now fully protected against Covid, with over three in five adults double-jabbed.
It comes amid a massive rollout targeting all UK adults, as Britain aims to lift lockdown next month.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The vaccination team have been working incredibly hard to provide people with much-needed protection from this life-threatening disease.
“With more and more evidence emerging on just how effective two doses of our vaccines are in protecting against the Delta variant, it’s a great to see three in five adults have been double jabbed, so we’re well on our way to the whole country getting the fullest possible protection.”
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.
FOREIGN HOLIDAYS AT RISK
Fears that foreign holidays could be off the table before they have even begun were given another boost today.
The French president backed Angela Merkel's calls for a "co-ordinated" policy on EU travel restrictions.
Yesterday, the German chancellor urged all EU nations to make UK visitors quarantine to halt the spreading Delta variant.
She said: "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.
"What I regret is we have not yet been able to achieve a uniform behaviour among the Member States in terms of travel restrictions.
"That is backfiring. We now have a situation in Portugal that could perhaps have been avoided, and that's why we have to work even harder on this."
WATCH: BORIS SAYS DOUBLE-JABBED BRITS WILL HAVE 'REAL OPPORTUNITY' TO TRAVEL THIS SUMMER
Boris Johnson talks up travel potential for people with two doses of Covid vaccine ahead of Green List announcement