Covid news - live: Hunt for missing patient narrowed to 379 households and third vaccine dose may be needed
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Your support makes all the difference.The search for a mystery missing patient with the more virulent Brazilian variant of Covid-19 has been narrowed down to 379 households in the South East, Matt Hancock has said.
The health secretary said just 0.1 per cent of people who take tests fail to fill in a registration card, after Downing Street was unable to confirm the extent of the problem.
Officials have been hunting for the individual, who is one of six people in the UK infected with the “variant of concern” from Brazil, but the only one who provided no information about themselves.
Mr Hancock told the House of Commons a third vaccine dose may be needed over the autumn to protect against new variants of the disease.
He said: “We know for sure that we seek to vaccinate with two doses every adult in the UK – there may well be a need for a third vaccination over the autumn against variants and there is currently a clinical trial considering the vaccination of under-18s.”
Third vaccine dose against new variants may be needed in autumn, says Hancock
There may be a need for a third Covid-19 vaccination dose over autumn against new variants, Matt Hancock has said.
The health secretary told the Commons: “I was very pleased to see that Covax has started vaccinating in Ghana last week and while we do currently look as though we may have excess vaccines in the future, we have clearly committed that we will make them available around the world.
“Now, we know for sure that we seek to vaccinate with two doses every adult in the UK, there may well be a need for a third vaccination over the autumn against variants and there is currently a clinical trial considering the vaccination of under-18s.
“So the exact number of vaccines that we will need for the UK population is not yet known, but we are absolutely keen to ensure that we then go on to support with vaccines as well as with money that we have already pledged to support the vaccination of the most underdeveloped parts of the world.”
Scotland to consider whether easing restrictions can be accelerated
The Scottish government will next week consider if easing of restrictions can be accelerated, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Updating MSPs in Holyrood, the first minister said figures in the past week were encouraging and that she and ministers would be considering if the exit from lockdown can be moved forward.
She said: “I have always said if we can go further and faster, then we will not hesitate to do so.
“All of us want to move on as quickly as possible - and, as a priority, to see friends and family again. I hope that day is now not too far away.”
Overweight people might need bigger Pfizer dose, Italian study says
Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine may offer less protection for overweight people, a new study suggests.
If the results were replicated by larger studies, it would be worth exploring the option of giving obese people bigger doses of the vaccine, researchers in Italy said.
Jon Sharman explains:
Overweight people might need bigger dose of Pfizer vaccine, Italian study suggests
Antibody presence correlated with BMI, age and sex, pre-review research suggests
Universities told to compensate students after Covid disruption
Universities have been made to compensate students for the effects of coronavirus on their courses, with one individual receiving £5,000.
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) has released a series of complaints by students about the impact of Covid-19 on their studies.
Jon Sharman has more details:
Universities told to compensate students after Covid disruption
One person gets £5,000 after hands-on clinical placements cancelled
England on course to end social distancing in mid-June, Matt Hancock says
England is on course to end all social distancing in mid-June, Matt Hancock says – even though a review is not due to conclude until then.
Asked if the pace of vaccinations and falling hospitalisation and death rates offered “real hope” of hitting that target, a beaming health secretary replied simply: “Yes.”
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more details:
England on course to end social distancing in mid-June, Matt Hancock says
Comment goes further than ‘roadmap’ - which said review will decide, based on progress over next three months
People will need way to prove they have had Covid vaccination, says Hancock
People will need to be provided with the ability to prove they have had a coronavirus vaccination, Matt Hancock has said.
The health secretary told MPs "it is clear" individuals will need a way of showing they have had a jab, but that those who cannot be inoculated for medical reasons will "absolutely" be taken "into consideration".
He said: “The point about certification is an important one and whilst the decisions on certification are being currently reviewed in a review led by (Michael Gove), it is clear that we will need to provide people with the ability to certify whether they have had the jab.”
His comments came as the government faced mounting pressure from Conservative MPs to avoid introducing Covid passports for people to travel domestically around the UK.
Primary pupils shouldn’t be made to wear masks in school, says No 10
Downing Street has said children at primary schools in England should not be made to wear face coverings, after learning a council was encouraging their use when pupils begin returning to classes next week.
Adam Forrest explains:
Primary pupils shouldn’t be made to wear masks in school, says No 10
Top Tory MP warns of ‘mask anarchy’ unless government produces clearer rules
Further 343 Covid-19 deaths in UK, 6,391 new cases
The UK has recorded 6,391 new coronavirus infections, and a further 343 deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.
This brings the UK’s death toll to 123,296. Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 144,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.
Government data up to March 1 shows that of the 21,322,717 jabs given in the UK so far, 20,478,619 were first doses - a rise of 203,168 on the previous day.
Some 844,098 were second doses, an increase of 28,282 on figures released the previous day.
17-year-old among latest reported Covid deaths
A 17-year-old with no known underlying health conditions is among the latest reported deaths from Covid-19 in England.
NHS England said 279 people who tested positive for the virus has died in hospital in England on Tuesday, with patients aged between 17 and 102. All who died, except 11 patients aged 17-89, had known underlying health conditions.
The deaths were dated between 3 December 2020 and 1 March, with the majority being on or after 21 February.
When does the furlough scheme end?
The furlough scheme, which has supported millions of jobs and been extended multiple times, is now set to end on 30 April.
But there have been not-so-subtle hints that another extension may be confirmed in tomorrow’s Budget.
Ben Chapman outlines what we know about when the scheme might end:
When does the furlough scheme end?
Ministers have indicated that the central pillar of the government’s economic support measures will be extended beyond its planned end date on 30 April
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