WE'LL never be able to live a coronavirus-free life even with vaccines as the bug is becoming endemic, a top health expert has warned.
Professor David Heymann, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Brits will have to "learn to live with" covid being in constant circulation.
He compared covid to HIV/AIDS in the way much of the world has simply accepted the virus will never be eradicated completely and had to adapt the way we live in order to stop it becoming a huge outbreak.
"Most experts believe that this disease is now becoming endemic, but the good thing is that we have many tools including vaccines with which we can deal with this virus," Prof Heymann added.
The news comes after all over-70s who've not yet had a Covid jab were urged to contact the NHS in order to make sure they don't miss their first dose of the lifesaving jab.
Follow the live blog below for the very latest news, updates and analysis of the coronavirus crisis…
- Niamh Cavanagh
HEINEKEN TO AXE 8,000 JOBS AFTER PUB AND BAR CLOSURES HAMMER SALES
Beer giant Heineken is to slash 8,000 jobs globally after sales plunged sharply following the closure of pubs and bars.
The Dutch brewer said it will cut almost 10% of its 85,000 staff as part of its efforts to save two billion euro (£1.75 billion) over the next two years.
It said the restructuring of its head office, regional offices and local operations will lead to a one-off cost of around 420 million euro (£368 million).
Chief executive Dolf van den Brink, who joined the brewer in April, announced the major shake-up as the Amstel and Birra Moretti brewer swung to a loss for 2020 due to the pandemic.
It reported a net loss of 204 million euros (£178.7 million), compared with a 2.2 billion euro (£1.9 billion) profit in the previous year.
- Niamh Cavanagh
QUARANTINE POLICY COULD SEE DEMAND FOR FLIGHTS DROP DRAMATICALLY, WARNS MINISTER
As many as 1,200 passengers arriving in Scotland could have to check into quarantine hotels every week, though the Transport Secretary has admitted the policy could see flights into the country axed.
Michael Matheson said airlines believe the demand for direct flights from overseas into Scotland will "drop off dramatically" as a result of the tougher stance being imposed north of the border than elsewhere in the UK.
The UK Government will require travellers from 33 "red list" countries to isolate for 10 days in a quarantine hotel, but Holyrood ministers will insist all passengers arriving in Scotland from abroad must do so.
Mr Matheson said the policy, which comes into effect from Monday, will see travellers having to pay £1,750 for the compulsory stay in a hotel.
- Niamh Cavanagh
QUARANTINE POLICY COULD SEE DEMAND FOR FLIGHTS DROP DRAMATICALLY, WARNS MINISTER
As many as 1,200 passengers arriving in Scotland could have to check into quarantine hotels every week, though the Transport Secretary has admitted the policy could see flights into the country axed.
Michael Matheson said airlines believe the demand for direct flights from overseas into Scotland will "drop off dramatically" as a result of the tougher stance being imposed north of the border than elsewhere in the UK.
The UK Government will require travellers from 33 "red list" countries to isolate for 10 days in a quarantine hotel, but Holyrood ministers will insist all passengers arriving in Scotland from abroad must do so.
Mr Matheson said the policy, which comes into effect from Monday, will see travellers having to pay £1,750 for the compulsory stay in a hotel.
- Niamh Cavanagh
LESS THAN 1,000 PEOPLE TRAVELLING TO UK FROM RED LIST COUNTRIES SAYS TRANSPORT SECRETARY
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the number of people currently travelling to the UK from red list countries "probably comes to less than 1,000 a day".
On whether 1,500 passengers could be arriving from red list countries each day, he said: "I've seen some of those numbers thrown around and I don't think they're correct.
"Because if you think about the very small number of people who are travelling at the moment, travel is 95% down on where it was this time last year.
"And of the remaining people who travel, once you strip out the lorry drivers who are bringing our medicines and foods here, frontier workers, actually, the number of people travelling overall is very low and then beyond that, we're only talking about another subsection of people who are travelling here from those red list countries where there are no direct flights, in any case."
- Niamh Cavanagh
INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE BODY 'IN TALKS WITH GOVERNMENT ON VACCINATION APP'
The International Air Transport Association is in talks with the Government about a coronavirus vaccination app for travellers, according to its chief executive.
The trade body is working with carriers on the TravelPass app, which will give people flying abroad the ability to share their coronavirus test and vaccination results.
Alexandre de Juniac told the BBC's Newscast podcast that the app could be rolled out from April and that discussions with the UK Government have been "very fruitful".
"We should not anticipate, but the UK authorities are among those with whom we have the closest link on this element," he said.
- Niamh Cavanagh
INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE BODY 'IN TALKS WITH GOVERNMENT ON VACCINATION APP'
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) is in talks with the Government about a coronavirus vaccination app for travellers, according to its chief executive.
The trade body is working with carriers on the TravelPass app, which will give people flying abroad the ability to share their coronavirus test and vaccination results.
Alexandre de Juniac told the BBC's Newscast podcast that the app could be rolled out from April and that discussions with the UK Government have been "very fruitful".
"We should not anticipate, but the UK authorities are among those with whom we have the closest link on this element," he said.
- Niamh Cavanagh
CONTINUED
The specific web page was titled "CASE STUDIES COVID-19" and contained a list of various news articles, a Facebook post, a letter and a guidance document.
The ASA said some of those documents were inaccessible, including a link that appeared to be a study.
The watchdog said it was not provided with access to the full document and therefore could not review it.
The linked web page also provided a further link to an online database, which displayed thousands of results in relation to ozone therapy in general. There were only limited results specifically regarding Covid-19 and none of those results appeared to be randomised controlled trials.
- Niamh Cavanagh
CLINIC WARNED BY ADVERTISING WATCHDOG ABOUT COVID-19 OZONE THERAPY CLAIM
A clinic that said ozone therapy could successfully treat Covid-19 has been told the claim was misleading and in breach of advertising rules.
The Detox Clinic Ltd displayed a banner at the top of the-detox-clinic.com which said "Ozone proven to beat COVID-19!", the Advertising Standards Authority said.
The watchdog said a complainant challenged whether the claim was misleading and could be substantiated.
The ASA said it considered that consumers were likely to interpret the claim to mean that ozone therapy was a successful treatment for Covid-19 in people who tested positive for the virus.
- Niamh Cavanagh
CRITICISM LEVELLED AT THREAT OF PRISON FOR ARRIVALS HIDING HIGH-RISK TRAVEL
Ten-year jail sentences for travellers who try to conceal journeys to high-risk countries have been branded "extraordinarily high" in a backlash against the Government's plan to tackle coronavirus variants.
Matt Hancock announced a requirement for UK residents returning to England from 33 "red list" countries to pay £1,750 to quarantine for 10 days in Government-designated hotels.
The Health Secretary said those caught lying about their movements could be fined £10,000 or be jailed for 10 years.
Former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption hit out at the punishment and said it should not compare to those for violent or sexual crimes.
- Niamh Cavanagh
HANDFUL OF £10,000 LOCKDOWN FINES PAID WITH DOZENS CONTESTED OR IGNORED
A fraction of the £10,000 lockdown fines issued last year have actually been paid with dozens more being challenged or ignored, figures suggest.
Police in England issued 196 of the fines, with two handed out in Wales, to organisers of gatherings of more than 30 people including raves, parties and protests between August and December 20.
According to snapshot figures from early January, of those 196 issued in England five had been paid, 53 were being formally contested, 42 had been ignored, and 96 still had time left to pay in the 28-day payment period.
The data from criminal records office Acro, that administers the fines, were given to the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC).
- Niamh Cavanagh
NHS CHIEF EXECUTIVE SAYS THERE ARE ENCOURAGING SIGNS CORONAVIRUS CASES ARE COMING DOWN
The chief executive of NHS Wales, Andrew Goodall, said there were encouraging signs that coronavirus cases were coming down in the country.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "Our community prevalence rates are down, they are down very significantly from where we were in December.
"We see the positivity rates and the reproduction values are well down within Wales now.
"Just over the last two or three weeks or so the number of patients in hospitals for coronavirus has actually reduced by about a quarter."
- Alex Winter
EVERY 1'S A WINNER
Just one Covid jab offers two-thirds protection against the virus, first official data from the vaccine blitz reveals.
Findings — due out in days — will show the Pfizer vaccine starts to work in as little as two weeks and is equally effective in OAPs as younger adults.
The Oxford/AstraZeneca jab offers similar protection.The news raises hopes of an earlier exit from lockdown.
Here's what you need to know.
- Alex Winter
TEAM MEMBER SPEAKS AFTER 'WHITEWASHING' CLAIM
More on that last post now.
WHO experts have been accused of 'whitewashing' their report on the origins of coronavirus after claiming it didn't emerge from either a lab or a wet market.
The experts had to walk a diplomatic tightrope, with the United States urging a "robust" probe and China warning against the politicisation of the issue.
Now team member Daszak has tweeted that officials worked "flat out under the most politically charged environment possible."
Huanan Seafood Market was considered the prime suspect in the origin of Covid - Alex Winter
WHO EXPERT: 'DON'Y RELY ON US INTELLIGENCE'
A member of the WHO mission to Wuhan took a swipe Wednesday at US intelligence on the issue.
It comes after the State Department cast doubt on the transparency of their probe.
President Joe Biden "has to look tough on China", expert Peter Daszak said in a tweet as the mission ended, adding: "Please don't rely too much on US intel: increasingly disengaged under Trump & frankly wrong on many aspects."
The WHO mission to China ended without finding the source of coronavirus.
More on this in the next post.
- Joseph Gamp
WORKERS ABLE TO GET RAPID CORONAVIRUS TESTS IN 70% OF COUNCILS, GOVERNMENT SAYS
Rapid coronavirus tests are being offered to workers even if they do not have symptoms in more than 70% of local authorities in England, the Government has said.
Official figures on Wednesday showed that 232 councils have rolled out a community testing programme, with those unable to work from home currently being targeted.
So far, 2.2 million lateral flow tests have been carried out under the scheme to detect 44,000 positive cases, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.
With around one in three people with Covid-19 not exhibiting symptoms, the scheme is a key way to increase the proportion of those with the virus undergoing isolation.
In total, nine out of 10 local authorities in England have developed plans to roll out community testing, with those who have not already rolled it out expected to do so "soon", according to the DHSC.
- Joseph Gamp
YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS MUST NOT FACE TREATMENT ALONE, SAY CHARITIES
Young people facing cancer appointments and treatment alone during the pandemic have described the "scary" and "difficult" experience, as charities urge leaders to ensure patients are supported.
The Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent have written a joint open letter to health ministers in the four nations of the UK asking them to pledge that young cancer patients will not have to hear news of their diagnosis or experience treatment on their own.
The charities, which are launching their "Hand2Hold" campaign as part of their call, said they want to "dispel the disparity" in support in different areas.
The letter states: "We commend the diligent work of the NHS and its staff to ensure that vital care continues, and are extremely grateful that in many cases, staff and trusts have gone above and beyond to help mitigate this difficult situation for young people with cancer and ensure there is some sort of accompaniment – even if virtual.
"We want these examples of good practice to be encouraged throughout the UK. We are asking you as minister for health in each nation, to commit to young people with cancer that they should not have to hear the news they have cancer, or face their treatment alone."
- Joseph Gamp
WHERE ARE THE 14 MASS TESTING AREAS IN ENGLAND?
undefined - Joseph Gamp
STURGEON APOLOGISES AFTER OAPS MISS OUT ON VACCINE DUE TO OVERBOOKING 'GLITCH'
Nicola Sturgeon has apologised after pensioners were forced to queue in freezing temperatures only to miss out on coronavirus vaccinations because appointments had been "double booked".
The First Minister said she was "really sorry" that a "glitch" with NHS Fife's booking system overallocated appointments at five vaccination centres across the health board area on Monday.
An elderly woman was reported to have collapsed due to suspected hypothermia while queuing in the cold in Lochgelly, according to Scottish Labour MSP Alex Rowley.
Asked about the issues at the Scottish Government's coronavirus briefing, Ms Sturgeon said: "I'm really sorry about what happened in Fife, (NHS) Fife are really sorry – it shouldn't happen."
- Joseph Gamp
MINISTERS SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON 'POLICY GIMMICKS' TO HELP PUPILS CATCH UP – HEADS
Ministers should focus their attention on providing schools with enough funding so they can provide quality catch-up support for pupils rather than "policy gimmicks", a headteachers' union has said.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said speculation about longer school days and shorter holidays to help children was "misconceived and unhelpful".
It comes as schools standards minister Nick Gibb said he is "open to all ideas" on how to help pupils catch up amid the pandemic.
Asked whether he preferred the proposal of extending the school day or curtailing the summer holidays, Mr Gibb told the Commons' education select committee: "We just have to leave no stone unturned in making sure that we can help those young people catch up from the lost education."
Last week, the Prime Minister appointed Sir Kevan Collins as the education recovery commissioner to oversee the Government's catch-up programme. He has suggested that summer schools have "promise".
- Joseph Gamp
'HOW DARE YOU?'
MEDICS have reacted furiously after a report from a think tank claimed there was “nothing special” about the NHS’ performance during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) said there was “no rational basis” for the “adulation” the health service had received – sparking anger among nurses and doctors who have risked their life on the frontline.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
US SAYS JURY IS 'STILL OUT' ON CHINA'S PANDEMIC TRANSPARENCY
The United States said on Tuesday the "jury's still out" on whether China has been fully transparent on the coronavirus pandemic, after a World Health Organization report said it was unlikely the Covid-19 virus originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China.
State Department spokesman Ned Price told a daily news briefing the United States looked forward to seeing the full report and would make an assessment based on science and data.
- Joseph Gamp
WATCH: UK COVID DEATHS RISE BY 1,052 AND OVER 12,000 NEW CASES
UK Covid deaths rise by another 1,052 with over 12,000 new cases reported
- Joseph Gamp
FRANCE REPORTS 18,870 NEW CASES AND 724 DEATHS FROM COVID
France reported 18,870 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, up from Monday's 4,317 figure.
The seven-day moving average of new infections, which evens out daily reporting irregularities, stands at 19,348, staying in the 19,200-20,700 range it has been in since Jan 20.
The total cumulative number of cases increased to 3.36 million, the sixth-highest in the world.
The number of people in France who have died from COVID-19 infections rose by 724, to 80,147 – the seventh-highest death toll globally
- Joseph Gamp
MAPPED: MUTANT STRAINS ARRIVE IN THE UK
undefined - Joseph Gamp
TWO NEW COVID STRAINS FOUND IN BRISTOL AND LIVERPOOL
The UK now has two new Covid variants after health officials re-classified the recently discovered bugs.
The Bristol and Liverpool strains emerged last week and cases in both cities, as well as a cluster in Manchester, are being closely monitored by Public Health England.
This evening the Government's emergency virus group Nervtag, officially named the Bristol variant – with 14 cases there and four in Manchester – a "variant of concern".
This variant has developed directly from the Kent strain and now includes a mutation called E484K, which allows the virus to evade vaccines more easily.
NERVTAG also branded a variant which caused 55 cases in Liverpool a "variant under investigation".
Read more here.
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