Covid news - Hancock predicts ‘happy and free’ summer as UK sees record day for vaccinations

Hello and welcome to our live coronavirus coverage. Follow along as we bring you the latest news on the pandemic from around the world as it happens.

South Africa has secured an additional 20 million coronavirus vaccines manufactured by Pfizer, according to a report.

Africa’s most advanced economy has been one of the slowest among major emerging market nations to secure enough vaccines for the majority of its population and is due to begin administering first shots next month.

The extra doses would potentially push total supply secured by the continent’s worst-hit country above 40 million. South Africa has recorded more than 1.4 million cases of Covid-19 with close to 44,000 deaths.

Zweli Mkhize, the country’s health minister, told The Sunday Times: “These vaccines are secured and awaiting manufacturers to submit final agreements with details of delivery dates and exact amounts.”

The article did not give further details, and the ministry did not immediately respond to questions from the press.

Authorities in Hanoi, Vietnam announced on Sunday that all schools in the city would close since the first cases of community transmission in almost two months were detected there last week.

Several residential areas and a factory in the northern province of Hai Duong, the outbreak’s epicentre, were also locked down.

The Ministry of Health reported 14 new Covid-19 infections early on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 1,781, with 35 deaths.

Not only are coronavirus vaccines a great British success story, but they are a great EU failure story, John Rentoul, our chief political commentator, says.

The EU vaccines disaster has also tilted the balance of British politics in Boris Johnson’s favour.

Read the full story:

Russia has supplied its Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine to the rebel-controlled Donetsk self-proclaimed republic in eastern Ukraine, local news outlet DAN reported on Sunday morning.

The report does not specify how many doses were shipped.

On Saturday, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which markets the vaccine abroad, said it does not supply Sputnik V to the Donetsk and Luhansk breakaway regions.

The international trade secretary has condemned vaccine nationalism, saying it must be resisted.

“What we know about the vaccination programme is this is a global problem and we need a global solution,” Liz Truss told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme:

"We’re only going to be able to deal with this disease if we get everybody vaccinated across the world.

"It’s vital we work together, it’s vital we keep borders open and we resist vaccine nationalism, and we resist protectionism.

"I’ve been working with my fellow trade ministers to make that happen. We’re pleased that the EU admitted that the Article 16 ... for the border in Ireland was a mistake and they are now not proceeding with that.

“But, fundamentally, the way we’re going to get through this crisis is working together and I’m very pleased that the UK is leading the way.”

Liz Truss has insisted the government has been “very tough” on borders during the coronavirus crisis but says “you cannot hermetically seal” the UK.

The cabinet minister cited travel corridors, travel bans and the pre-travel testing regime recently introduced as measures that have been taken.

“In every case, we are facing a choice of how do we deal with a virus that is changing and we need to protect lives and protect livelihoods, and recognise the UK is an open economy,” she told Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

"We need to make sure we are protecting our borders but at the same time, we do need to make sure that the economy can continue to run and fresh supplies can be delivered to the UK.

“There’s always a balance to be struck and you cannot hermetically seal the UK borders, that is not practical.”

Liz Truss has declined to rule out that some social distancing measures will have to be in place for the rest of the year.

“I don’t want to make predictions about the situation in the autumn, I think it’s far too far away,” she told Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

“Long-term predictions in what is a very, very unpredictable situation are not wise.”

Liz Truss has suggested more in the most vulnerable group of citizens could die if teachers are moved up the vaccination priority list.

There have been calls for teachers to be vaccinated before schools return, but after those in the four most vulnerable groups have received jabs, which is anticipated by mid-February.

Asked if teachers should be moved up the priority list, the international trade secretary told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “The issue is that for every person you vaccinate who isn’t in the most vulnerable group, that’s somebody in the most vulnerable group who isn’t getting their vaccine and who is more likely to die in the next few weeks and months.

“I just don't think that’s right. That’s the decision made by the independent committee that we are going to vaccinate first the over-70s and those in the most vulnerable group, and then the over 50s.”

Tony Blair has criticised the European Union’s short-lived move to override the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland under its vaccine export controls as a “very foolish” move that jeopardised the peace process.

The former prime minister, a vocal supporter of the UK remaining in the bloc, said Brussels’ action in triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol to control the movement of coronavirus jabs had been “unacceptable”.

The EU backtracked on the move, imposed unilaterally as it faces shortfalls on vaccine supplies, after facing universal criticism from London, Dublin and Belfast.

Asked if the move was irresponsible, the Labour grandee told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "Yes, it was a very foolish thing to do and fortunately they withdrew it very quickly.

“I was somebody who negotiated the Good Friday Agreement, it’s brought peace to the island of Ireland and it is absolutely vital that we protect it and that's why what the European Commission did was unacceptable but, as you say, fortunately they withdrew it very quickly.”