Covid UK news: 800,000 vaccine doses likely by year end as infection rates drop across most of England

Coronavirus infection rates in England have dropped across all regions except the North East, according to new data.

In the week up to 28 November, the percentage of people testing positive for the disease is estimated to have decreased throughout much of the country, the Office for National Statistics said in its latest Covid survey.

In the North East, rates appear to have levelled off, the ONS added.

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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expects to move quickly after a 10 December review of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and 20 million Americans could be vaccinated this year, its commissioner said on Friday.

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn declined to give a specific timeline of how long approval of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech would take but said that he hoped there would be a decision by the regulator in December.

As soon as the FDA approves a vaccine, “I will be first in line and I will encourage my family to take this vaccine,” Hahn told Reuters in an interview.

He also said that he had a “robust discussion” at a White House meeting with Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to discuss the timing of a vaccine.

Many federal officials are expecting a vaccine approval within days of the 10 December meeting, though one FDA official recently said an approval decision could take weeks.

Reuters

Alok Sharma has defended the “absolutely meticulous” process undertaken by the UK’s independent medicines to provide the green light to a coronavirus vaccine ahead of any other western country.

Mr Sharma, who as vaccines minister is now responsible for overseeing the rollout of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, added that he was “confident” all 800,000 doses of an initial batch would be in the UK by the start of next week.

Insisting the public should “feel confident” about the vaccine, the cabinet minister said the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency was regarded as the “gold standard of regulators around the world by scientists”.

The Independent’s political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more details: 

There have been a further 1,471 cases of coronavirus in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 85,432.

Public Health Wales reported another 33 deaths, taking the total in Wales since the start of the pandemic to 2,671.

A number of US states set coronavirus case and death records on Thursday, as the pandemic continues to escalate across the Atlantic.

NBC News has provided figures showing at least 12 states setting a grim milestone. 

North Yorkshire Police has been accused of “totalitarian” tactics after deploying border patrols and number plate recognition cameras to deter drivers from travelling into the county from areas with stricter coronavirus rules.

The force warned it could take “enforcement action” against anyone from a tier 3 area caught visiting the region to go to a pub, restaurant or for a day trip.

All of North Yorkshire was placed under tier 2 restrictions, which allow hospitality venues to open, when England emerged from its national lockdown this week. But the county is surrounded by tier 3 areas including the northeast, West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and South Yorkshire, where pubs and restaurants are shut.

Chris Baynes has more: 

While some misinformation about the new Covid-19 vaccines is dangerous, the response of some to anti-vaxxers is equally dangerous, writes Ian Hamilton.

Calling people stupid or conspiracy theorists will do little to persuade them to change their view and risks placing individuals with a diverse range of views into one amorphous group.

The fallacy is to believe that any of us employ logic when making decisions. This breeds frustration as those trying to persuade can’t understand why given the “facts” those who think differently won’t see “sense”. A little personal reflection reveals some illogical decisions we all make. Some commercial enterprises profit from this, think gym membership, when we sign up we are full of good intentions but can barely remember where the gym is six months later.

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Frontline NHS and social care staff in Wales will receive the country's first coronavirus vaccine from Tuesday, the First Minister has said.

Mark Drakeford said he hoped supplies of the Pfizer vaccine marked a “turning point in the pandemic” that would put Wales “on what is going to be a long path back to normality”.

The announcement came on the same day Wales' new restrictions on its hospitality sector came into force, which will see pubs, bars and restaurants forced to offer takeaway only after 6pm and to stop selling alcohol entirely.

Welsh Labour leader Mr Drakeford told Friday's Welsh Government press briefing that the first vaccine supplies would arrive “in the next couple of days” and that trained staff were ready to administer it.

PA