CASES OF INDIAN VARIANT UP BY MORE THAN 2,000 IN A WEEK

Cases of the Indian variant of coronavirus in the UK have risen by more than 2,000 in the space of a week, according to official figures.

Public Health England (PHE) said the latest weekly data showed there were 3,424 cases of the B1617.2 mutation – an increase of 2,111 on the previous week.

While most cases were concentrated in the North West – particularly Bolton – and London, PHE said it was seeing “clusters of cases” across the country.

Dr Meera Chand, the Covid-19 incident director at PHE, said it was essential people in the worst-affected areas who had yet to receive their second dose of the vaccine came forward as soon as it was offered.

“This is vitally important in the light of our current assessment that (B1617.2) has grown rapidly in England and may be highly transmissible,” she said. “PHE will continue to monitor all variants closely, paying particular attention to the impact on hospitalisations and deaths which will help us to understand the protective effects of the vaccine.”

BORIS BACKS GLOBAL PANDEMIC RADAR (CONTINUED…)

Speaking ahead of a global health summit hosted by Italy and the EU on Friday, Mr Johnson said ensuring the world was better prepared for future health threats was an “absolute priority” for the UK’s G7 presidency.

“The world must never be caught unawares again by a virus spreading among us unchecked,” he said.

“We need to build a system of disease surveillance fit for the 21st century, with real-time data-sharing and rapid genomic sequencing and response.

“A global pandemic radar will ensure that we are vigilant to new variants and emerging pathogens, and can rapidly develop the vaccines and treatments needed to stop them in their tracks.”

BORIS JOHNSON BACKS GLOBAL PANDEMIC ‘RADAR’ TO TRACK NEW DISEASE OUTBREAKS

Boris Johnson has pledged Britain’s support for a new global surveillance network to spot emerging diseases before they can cause fresh pandemics.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is leading work to develop the “global pandemic radar” to monitor and track new infections and variants.

The UK and the British-based Wellcome Trust are among the nations and other organisations supporting the initiative.

Downing Street said it would build on British health security expertise to create a network of surveillance hubs, expected to be up and running before the end of the year.

CONTINUED…

Seema Malhotra, shadow minister for business and consumers, said: “Businesses and workers have done the right thing during this crisis in the most difficult of circumstances, and these figures suggest those working in the tourism industry have been hit particularly hard.

“While the vaccine rollout and road map to reopening is good news for businesses, it’s clear that ministers should not expect businesses saddled with debt taken on to survive the crisis to simply bounce back.

“The Government must provide businesses with a fair repayment scheme based on the amount they’re making, or risk more people falling out of work and further damage to local economies reliant on trade from tourists.”

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS HAVING STARK ECONOMIC IMPACT ON TOURISM INDUSTRY – LABOUR

Some of the biggest increases in people claiming out of work benefits during the pandemic have been in areas which rely on tourism for jobs, according to a new study.

Labour said its research suggested that the coronavirus crisis was having a “stark” impact on the tourism industry.

Areas including Aviemore, Whitby, Minehead, Porthmadog, Tenby and Penzance are among those hit by a big increase in the number of people claiming out of work benefits, said Labour.

The party added that accommodation and food service businesses are now in more than £6 billion of debt.

Arts, entertainment and businesses including tourist attractions such as zoos and theme parks are facing a bill of almost £1.5 billion, said Labour.

PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE CAN BE STORED IN FRIDGE FOR A MONTH, REGULATOR SAYS

The Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine can be stored in a fridge for up to a month, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has ruled.

Previous advice was that the vaccine needed to be used within five days of being removed from ultra-low temperature freezers.

It is hoped the change will make storage easier and possible for a wider range of health facilities.

MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine said: “Up until now, the Pfizer vaccine had to be administered within five days of being removed from ultra-low temperature freezers.

“Now that the jab can be stored at normal fridge temperatures for up to 31 days, it can be used in a wider range of healthcare settings, giving patients greater access to the Pfizer vaccine.”

SPAIN WANTS BRIT TOURISTS WITHIN WEEKS

A senior Spanish government official says he expects British and other vacationers to return to Spain within weeks as the country races to revive its tourism industry amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deputy Minister for Tourism Fernando Valdes told The Associated Press on Wednesday that falling coronavirus incidence rates and accelerating vaccine rollouts in some countries will enable Spain to drop travel restrictions early next month.

Some people from countries outside the European Union will be able to come for example, from the United Kingdom, which is in a good epidemiological situation without any restrictions, Valdes said in an interview.

And we are going to begin to accept citizens that can present a vaccine certificate, he said.

In 2019, Britain sent 18 million people to Spain, the most of any country. Spain is one of the world’s top tourism destinations.

‘GET BUMS BACK ON SEATS’

A total 21,000 supporters were able to attend the FA Cup final last weekend – albeit with a number of key differences to a normal matchday.

Fans had to take a Covid test two or three days prior to the match, then another lateral flow test on the day of the match.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Our sports stars and great performers need us to find ways to get bums back on seats safely.

“This science-led pilot programme will be the springboard in getting the buzz back of live performance. 

“We’ve supported the sports and arts with unprecedented sums, but it’s now time to make that Great British Summer of live events a reality.”

JUST 15 OUT OF 58,000 PEOPLE TESTED POSITIVE AFTER ATTENDING COVID VACCINE PASSPORT TRIAL EVENTS (CONTINUED…)

But the low rate of infection during the Events Research Programme has boosted hopes that large-scale events can be given the green light.

A final report making recommendations is set to be handed to Boris Johnson within days.

The main finding will be that large events can take place safely if mitigation measures, such as testing and improved ventilation, are used, according to the Telegraph.

A source told the newspaper that the study was “the most authoritative in the world” about how large events can safely be reopened.

ONLY 15 PEOPLE OUT OF 58,000 TESTED COVID POSITIVE AFTER PASSPORT TRIALS SUCH AS FA CUP

ONLY 15 people out of 58,000 tested positive for Covid after trials at large events such as the FA Cup final and the Brit Awards.

The Government-run trials to test whether venues can safely reopen this summer saw nine different events with live crowds – including a post-lockdown rave at a Liverpool warehouse.

Out of the 58,000 people who attended the events, such as the World Snooker Championship, just 15 positive Covid cases have so far been recorded, sources told the Telegraph.

It’s understood some tested positive before the event, meaning they couldn’t attend, while some returned a positive test afterwards.

And further positive tests could emerge from the most recent events – such as the FA Cup final last weekend.

WATCH: UK IN ‘STRAIGHT RACE BETWEEN VACCINES AND INDIAN VARIANT’ – AS JABS OPEN UP TO UNDER 35S

NEARLY 90 PER CENT OF ENGLAND & WALES AREAS SAW NO COVID DEATHS IN APRIL

NEARLY 90 per cent of 7,000 areas in England and Wales saw NO Covid deaths in April, new figures show.

The virus is now the ninth cause of death in England – with more people dying of old age last month, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data revealed.

An interactive map shows how deaths attributed to Covid have fizzled out, with only a handful of places seeing fatalities in April.

It also marked the first month since August 2020 where deaths have been below the five year average, and comes as the Indian variant continues to spread across the country.

The ONS data shows that there were a handful of areas that recorded three deaths each. These included areas such as Hounslow in London – where the Indian variant has also been found.

Read more here.

COVID DROPS TO NINTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN ENGLAND

Covid-19 was the ninth leading cause of death in England last month, the lowest ranking since September 2020, new figures show.

A total of 941 deaths were due to coronavirus in April, the equivalent of 2.4% of all deaths registered in England, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The leading cause of death was ischaemic heart diseases (4,144 deaths), followed by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (4,018 deaths).

Covid-19 was the leading cause of death in England every month from November 2020 to February 2021.

In March it dropped from top spot to third place, before falling to ninth place in last month.

EAST RENFREWSHIRE OVERTAKES GLASGOW AS COVID HOTSPOT

East Renfrewshire has overtaken Glasgow as Scotland’s Covid hotspot, according to the latest figures.

The rate of cases in East Renfrewshire has risen to 118.3 per 100,000 in the seven days to May 17, though the area remains in Level 2 of the Scottish Government’s coronavirus restriction levels.

This has pushed it ahead of Glasgow, which remains in Level 3, and saw case rates rise to 112.1 per 100,000 people in the seven days to May 17.

Scotland has recorded 432 new coronavirus cases but no further deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the latest figures.

It means the death toll under this daily measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – remains at 7,664.

NORTHERN IRELAND TO RELAX LOCKDOWN IN LINE WITH REST OF UK FROM MAY 24

Stormont ministers have agreed to press ahead with a series of further relaxations of Covid-19 rules in Northern Ireland.

The powersharing has also agreed a “green list” for international travel, opening the way for holiday makers to travel to a limited number of foreign destinations without having to quarantine on their return.

Portugal has been included on a list that is in line with those already agreed elsewhere in the UK.

The PA news agency understands ministers agreed the following relaxations during a virtual meeting of the Stormont Executive on Thursday.

From Monday May 24, indoor hospitality can resume in Northern Ireland while people will be able to meet inside private homes for the first time this year. Six people from no more than two households will be able to meet in a private dwelling and stay overnight.

NORTHERN IRELAND TO RELAX LOCKDOWN IN LINE WITH REST OF UK FROM MAY 24

Stormont ministers have agreed to press ahead with a series of further relaxations of Covid-19 rules in Northern Ireland.

The powersharing has also agreed a “green list” for international travel, opening the way for holiday makers to travel to a limited number of foreign destinations without having to quarantine on their return.

Portugal has been included on a list that is in line with those already agreed elsewhere in the UK.

The PA news agency understands ministers agreed the following relaxations during a virtual meeting of the Stormont Executive on Thursday.

From Monday May 24, indoor hospitality can resume in Northern Ireland while people will be able to meet inside private homes for the first time this year.

Six people from no more than two households will be able to meet in a private dwelling and stay overnight.

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD COVID EXPERT DR PETER DROBAC WARNS OF THIRD WAVE AND ANOTHER NATIONAL LOCKDOWN DUE TO INDIAN VARIANT SPREAD

JAPAN APPROVES MODERNA AND ASTRAZENECA VACCINES

Japanese regulators recommended the approval of Covid-19 vaccines developed by Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca PLC on Thursday, paving the way for the country to speed up its slow-moving vaccination campaign.

The recommendations by a health ministry panel precede official approval by the government as early as Friday, health minister Norihisa Tamura said on Thursday.

Tamura likened the approval of the new vaccines to building extra railway tracks, telling reporters: “It means that the vaccination roll-out will be smoother.”

Supplies of the Moderna doses have already been imported and are planned for use at mass vaccination centres in Tokyo and Osaka from next week.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co, Japan’s biggest drugmaker, is handling imports of about 50 million doses of the Moderna shot, or enough for 25 million people. That amount could be doubled, Takeda said this month.

DECISION TO BE MADE ON JUNE 14 OVER FINAL STAGE OF REMOVING LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS

Hancock said a decision about removing the final stage of lockdown restrictions, in light of the India variant, will be made on June 14.

“Every day we’re getting more information,” he said. “We look every day at the data … Until then, it is too early to say.”

Jonathan Van Tam added: “I think scientists are sure that this virus is more transmissible than the strain it is beginning to replace.”

MAPPED: THE SPOTS WHERE INDIAN VARIANT IS MOST DOMINANT

NEARLY 90 PER CENT OF ENGLAND & WALES AREAS SAW NO COVID DEATHS IN APRIL

NEARLY 90 per cent of 7,000 areas in England and Wales saw NO Covid deaths in April, new figures show.

The virus is now the ninth cause of death in England – with more people dying of old age last month, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data revealed.

An interactive map shows how deaths attributed to Covid have fizzled out, with only a handful of places seeing fatalities in April.

It also marked the first month since August 2020 where deaths have been below the five year average, and comes as the Indian variant continues to spread across the country.

The ONS data shows that there were a handful of areas that recorded three deaths each. These included areas such as Hounslow in London – where the Indian variant has also been found.

Read more here.

No 10 DENIES THERE WAS A DELAY IN NOTIFYING LOCAL COUNCILS ABOUT INDIAN VARIANT CASES

Downing Street has denied that a NHS Test and Trace delay in alerting local authorities in hotspot areas to positive cases helped contribute to the spread of the Indian variant.

It follows a report by the BBC that for three weeks in April and May, eight local authorities in England – including Blackburn with Darwen – did not have access to the full data on positive tests in their area, meaning more than 700 cases were not reported and traced locally.

Surge testing and vaccinating has been taking place in Blackburn in Lancashire, along with a number of other impacted areas in the UK, after cases of the B1617.2 mutation increased.

The BBC said a report into the reporting glitch at one of the councils affected concluded that the rapid spread of Indian strain within its boundary was “exacerbated by the sporadic failure of the national Test and Trace system”.

Labour said the suggestion that local public health officials had been “left in the dark” over their case numbers “beggars belief”.

SPAIN WANTS BRIT TOURISTS WITHIN WEEKS

A senior Spanish government official says he expects British and other vacationers to return to Spain within weeks as the country races to revive its tourism industry amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deputy Minister for Tourism Fernando Valdes told The Associated Press on Wednesday that falling coronavirus incidence rates and accelerating vaccine rollouts in some countries will enable Spain to drop travel restrictions early next month.

Some people from countries outside the European Union will be able to come for example, from the United Kingdom, which is in a good epidemiological situation without any restrictions, Valdes said in an interview.

And we are going to begin to accept citizens that can present a vaccine certificate, he said.

In 2019, Britain sent 18 million people to Spain, the most of any country. Spain is one of the world’s top tourism destinations.

EAST RENFREWSHIRE OVERTAKES GLASGOW AS COVID HOTSPOT

East Renfrewshire has overtaken Glasgow as Scotland’s Covid hotspot, according to the latest figures.

The rate of cases in East Renfrewshire has risen to 118.3 per 100,000 in the seven days to May 17, though the area remains in Level 2 of the Scottish Government’s coronavirus restriction levels.

This has pushed it ahead of Glasgow, which remains in Level 3, and saw case rates rise to 112.1 per 100,000 people in the seven days to May 17.

Scotland has recorded 432 new coronavirus cases but no further deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the latest figures.

It means the death toll under this daily measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – remains at 7,664.

NORTHERN IRELAND TO RELAX LOCKDOWN IN LINE WITH REST OF UK FROM MAY 24

Stormont ministers have agreed to press ahead with a series of further relaxations of Covid-19 rules in Northern Ireland.

The powersharing has also agreed a “green list” for international travel, opening the way for holiday makers to travel to a limited number of foreign destinations without having to quarantine on their return.

Portugal has been included on a list that is in line with those already agreed elsewhere in the UK.

The PA news agency understands ministers agreed the following relaxations during a virtual meeting of the Stormont Executive on Thursday.

From Monday May 24, indoor hospitality can resume in Northern Ireland while people will be able to meet inside private homes for the first time this year.

Six people from no more than two households will be able to meet in a private dwelling and stay overnight.