Covid news - live: Boris Johnson reveals end of lockdown roadmap as Whitty backs five-week gap between stages
Follow live reaction to Boris Johnson’s ‘cautious’ plan to easing coronavirus restrictions
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson received the backing of his chief medical and scientific advisers Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance as he unveiled his “cautious but also irreversible” plan for lifting lockdown restrictions in England.
The prime minister said life could be back to normal by as early as 21 June as he defended his plan as a “one way road to freedom” and insisted he would not be “buccaneering” with people’s lives.
“The crocus of hope is poking through the frost and spring is on its way both literally and metaphorically,” he said during a live public briefing at Downing Street.
Under the road map, all schools in England will be expected to reopen on 8 March, while up to six people or two households will be allowed to meet outdoors from 29 March.
Other restrictions will be eased at five week intervals from 12 April, which chief medical officer Chris Whitty said would give time to assess whether infections were still under control.
The details were outlined as new research found that Covid-19 vaccines distributed across the UK substantially reduced the risk of hospital admissions.
Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs were found to cut hospitalisations with the disease by up to 85 per cent and 94 per respectively. The research, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, is the first of its kind confirming the impact of the UK’s vaccine rollout.
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Pfizer vaccine is cutting infections, hospitalisations and deaths, PHE studies reveal
The rollout of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine across the UK is proving successful in stopping infections and driving down rates of hospitalisation and deaths among elderly people, data from Public Health England reveals.
Our Health correspondent Shaun Lintern breaks down the data and what it means for the UK:
Pfizer vaccine is cutting infections, hospitalisations and deaths, PHE studies reveal
New studies show the real-world effect of the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid vaccine
UK still at risk from new Covid wave despite vaccines, says Sir Patrick Vallance
The UK is still at risk of a new coronavirus wave, despite the country’s ambitious vaccination programme, Sir Patrick Vallance has said.
As Downing Street unveiled its roadmap out of lockdown, Sir Patrick said a slow and gradual reopening is the best approach for avoiding a dangerous resurgence of Covid cases.
Samuel Lovett has more on his warning:
Covid hospital admissions down 74% from peak of second wave, NHS figures show
The number of people being admitted to hospitals in England with Covid-19 has fallen dramatically since the peak of the second wave of infections in January, new NHS data shows.
A total of 1,068 admissions were recorded on 19 February, marking a drop of 74 per cent from the 4,134 reported on 12 January, NHS England said.
Sam Hancock reports:
Covid hospital admissions down 74% from peak of second wave, NHS figures show
Figures stood at 14,142 on 21 February, down from a record 34,336 on 18 January
Boris Johnson says ‘all of the details’ of Covid contracts are on record
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that “all of the details are on the record” about coronavirus contracts as he faced criticism over how deals were awarded.
Mr Johnson defended his government, asserting: “Of course it was right to work as fast as we could to get the PPE this country so desperately needed,” he added.
Premier League could welcome back fans into stadiums for final weekend
The final weekend of the Premier League season could see as many as 10,000 spectators welcomed into stadiums under the government’s new lockdown measures.
Ben Burrow reports on what it would take for that to happen:
Latest lockdown rules: Everything we know about how Covid restrictions will be eased
With Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan to lead England out of its current lockdown revealed, our Joe Sommerlad and Kate Ng have broken down what to expect from the “roadmap to recovery”.
Here’s everything you need to know about how Covid restrictions will be lifted and when:
Johnson says possible Covid status certification to be considered to help venues open
Boris Johnson ha said that a third review of his road map to bring England out of its coronavirus lockdown will “consider the potential role of Covid status certification in helping venues to open safely”.
Meanwhile, he aid” the fourth review will look at the safe return of major events.”
“In view of these cautious but, I hope, irreversible changes, people may be concerned about what these changes mean for the various support packages for livelihoods, for people and the economy,” Mr Johnson said.
He vowed that the government would not “pull the rug” on Covid support.
Boris Johnson welcomes ‘cautious support’ from Keir Starmer
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed “cautious support” from Labour Leader Keir Starmer for his road map to lifting lockdown measures in England.
After Sir Keir criticised aspects of Mr Johnson’s plan, including the lack of prioritisation for teachers in vaccinations, Mr Johnson said he welcomed the support, but said “bitter experience has taught me his support is very far from irreversible”.
PM says government ‘won’t pull the rug’ on Covid support
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised that the government will not “pull the rug” on coronavirus support,
Mr Johnson offered the words of reassurance while unveiling his road map to lift coronavirus restrictions.
Read more here:
Lockdown timetable: What’s reopening and when?
Boris Johnson has unveiled his long-awaited plan to ease lockdown measures in England.
Revealing the road map in the House of Commons on Monday, Mr Johnson laid out the plan for the coming months.
Our Chiara Giordano breaks down the timetable for lifting restrictions:
Lockdown timetable - what is reopening and when?
Boris Johnson unveils key dates for easing of England’s coronavirus restrictions
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