Covid news - live: Sturgeon imposes total travel quarantine and Oxford vaccine still protects after 12 weeks
Follow the latest updates and statistics
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nicola Sturgeon has accused the prime minister of “not going far enough” with travel restrictions as she announced a “managed quarantine” system for anyone arriving in Scotland.
Boris Johnson last week resisted calls for blanket border measures, unveiling a mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine policy for those arriving in the UK from 33 countries designated “high-risk” by the government.
But the Scottish first minister said the measures needed to be “much more comprehensive” in order to combat the possibility of new variants being imported into the country.
Meanwhile, a new analysis suggests that the Oxford Covid vaccine offers 76 per cent protection for up to 12 weeks after the first dose is administered.
Researchers at the University of Oxford also said their vaccine may reduce transmission of the virus by 67 per cent. The jab’s effectiveness in preventing Covid-19 rises to 82.4 per cent after a second dose is administered following the three-month interval.
Orthodox Jews in London have one of world’s highest rates of Covid infection - study
The Orthodox Jewish community had had one of the highest rates of coronavirus infection recorded anywhere in the world, a study has found.
According to research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and its partners, the study found the overall infection rate among Orthodox Jews was 64 per cent.
Find out more about the study:
Orthodox Jews in London have one of world’s highest rates of Covid infection, says study
Infection rate highest among secondary school children and adults, study finds
Warning UK could become Covid ‘melting pot’ as new mutations detected
Controls are being stepped up in parts of the UK hit by new strains of Covid-19, as scientists warned Britain risks becoming a “melting pot” for mutations believed to strengthen the virus’ resistance to vaccines.
The cases in Liverpool and the Bristol area were made public as door-to-door testing began in eight other postcode areas to stem the spread of the South African coronavirus variant, report Andrew Woodcock and Samuel Lovett.
Warning UK could become Covid ‘melting pot’ as new mutations detected
Cases in Liverpool and Bristol show variant linked to reduced vaccine efficacy
France: AstraZeneca Covid vaccine only for those under 65
France’s top health advisory body has recommended that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine only be used on people under 65 - following in the footsteps of health authorities in Germany last week.
It cited a lack of sufficient data about its effectiveness in older people. The decision could throw wrench into the French vaccination programme as the country has prioritised vaccinating care home residents and people over 75.
France’s High Authority for Health said on Tuesday it “recommends that the vaccine… be given preferentially to people under 65”, adding that it will review the guidance when the drugmaker has more data on the vaccine’s efficacy in older people.
The French government is due to announce on Wednesday how the new guidance will affect its vaccination plan.
President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday night met with international vaccine producers and major pharmaceutical companies that have an industrial site in France to discuss ways to “quickly” and “significantly” boost short-term production, reported the PA news agency.
Guidance given by the European Medicines Agency authorises the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in all adults throughout the EU.
Teenager emerging from 10-month coma may know nothing about pandemic - but has had Covid twice
A teenager who fell into a coma weeks before the UK went into a national lockdown has begun to emerge from his unconscious state, but with no knowledge that the world is in the midst of a pandemic.
But 19-year-old Joseph Flavill, from Staffordshire, has caught and recovered from coronavirus twice.
My colleague Eleanor Sly reports on the unusual story:
Teenager emerging from 10-month coma may know nothing about pandemic
The 19-year-old’s family are only able to communicate with him via video call
UK has lost a ‘true hero’ in Captain Tom, says David Beckham
Football star David Beckham has paid tribute to the late Captain Tom Moore, who died earlier today.
He met Captain Tom when he presented with a framed football shirt after the record-breaking fundraiser became the first member of the Lionhearts squad of inspirational heroes.
Mr Beckham wrote in a post on Instagram: “Today we have lost a true hero, Captain Sir Tom Moore. What he achieved for our NHS will never be forgotten.
“Tom, you were truly the very best of British. When our country and our world was struggling you gave us hope, put a smile on our faces and made us believe that tomorrow would be a good day.
“Rest in Peace Sir Tom.”
Growing success of UK vaccine rollout offers cause for new hope
With more than 10 million first doses administered to date, the UK has moved rapidly and efficiently in delivering one of the largest vaccine programmes seen on the planet.
The success is a testament to the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce in compiling a diverse portfolio of vaccines, as well as the collaborative and streamlined efforts of the NHS.
Samuel Lovett reports on the rare win for the UK government:
Growing success of UK vaccine rollout offers cause for new hope
The scale and speed of Britain’s rollout marks a rare win for the government
Experts call for care home residents to get second vaccine dose faster after outbreaks
A former NHS England director has said that elderly care home residents should be given their second dose of coronavirus vaccine sooner than scheduled, following reports of rising outbreaks.
Martin Vernon, former national clinical director for older people at NHS England, told The Independent he had seen an alarming number of infections among residents who had received one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Our Health Correspondent Shaun Lintern reports:
Experts call for care home residents to get second vaccine dose faster after outbreaks
'We are knowingly not giving these care home residents the best opportunity to protect themselves’
People with learning disabilities dying at a greater rate from coronavirus
People with learning disabilities must be urgently prioritised for the Covid vaccine, charities have warned.
The latest data for learning disability deaths shows 80 per cent of deaths in the week to 22 January were linked to Covid-19. This compares to just 45 per cent in the general population.
Get the full story below:
People with learning disabilities dying at a greater rate from coronavirus
Younger adults with a learning disability are 30 times more likely to die of Covid than those in the general population
Johnson praises scientists after ‘really encouraging’ vaccine study
Boris Johnson said the data from the study which found the Oxford vaccine offers protection of 76 per cent up to 12 weeks after a single dose and may reduce transmission by 67 per cent was "really encouraging".
"I'm incredibly grateful to all our scientists, NHS staff and volunteers working on our vaccination programme," he added.
Warning UK could become Covid ‘melting pot’ as new mutations detected
Controls are being stepped up in parts of the UK hit by new strains of Covid-19, as scientists warned Britain risks becoming a “melting pot” for mutations believed to strengthen the virus’s resistance to vaccines.
More below:
Warning UK could become Covid ‘melting pot’ as new mutations detected
Cases in Liverpool and Bristol show variant linked to reduced vaccine efficacy
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments