Covid: UK variant appears to linger in body longer, as Boris Johnson urged to lift lockdown slowly
Follow the latest updates as they happened
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.Research has found the UK variant of the coronavirus appears to linger far longer in the body than other versions of the virus, potentially calling into question the government’s current self-isolating protocol.
Scientists from American universities, including Harvard and Yale, have discovered it takes the immune system almost 30 per cent longer to clear infection caused by the variant first detected in Kent, which is now dominant in the British population.
Separate research from Public Health England and the University of Birmingham has also shown the UK variant generates higher viral loads in people.
These two factors may explain the variant’s higher infectivity and widespread prevalence across the UK.
Boris Johnson has stressed he will be taking a “cautious and prudent approach” to easing lockdown restrictions, suggesting pubs and restaurants will be among the last parts of society to reopen this time.
The prime minister is being urged to focus on “data, not just dates” and to not relax restrictions “prematurely”.
Almost 365,000 more first vaccine doses given
Government data up to 16 February shows that of the 16,499,549 jabs given in the UK so far, 15,940,972 were first doses - a rise of 364,865 on the previous day.
Some 558,577 were second doses, an increase of 12,412 on figures released the previous day.
Bristol Covid variant discovered for first time in US
The Bristol variant of the coronavirus has reportedly been detected for the first time in the United States.
Research into the variant shows it has the same makeup of the Kent strain in the United Kingdom, but with an additional mutation on the E484K spike protein.
Danielle Zoellner explains more:
‘Bristol Covid variant’ that may diminish vaccine efficacy discovered for first time in US
One study found Pfizer’s vaccine works against the E484K variant, but it offers slightly less efficacy
Scotland declares ‘mental health crisis’
Holyrood has voted to declare that Scotland is facing a “mental health crisis”, with opposition MSPs uniting to defeat the government.
The vote in the Scottish parliament came as the Health Committee warned that after the coronavirus pandemic “a mental health tsunami is coming, if indeed the first wave has not already reached us”.
Committee convener Lewis Macdonald raised concerns in a letter to public health minister Mairi Gougeon, urging her to set out how the Scottish Government would deal with the situation.
That came as the Liberal Democrats raised the issue in a debate at Holyrood, where the motion, which “recognises that there is a mental health crisis in Scotland”, was passed by 65 to 58.
NHS is fighting epidemic of vaccine misinformation, says England’s top GP
England’s top GP has said the NHS is fighting an epidemic of misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines.
Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and medical director of primary care for NHS England and NHS Improvement, has set out the health service's "blueprint" to tackle vaccine hesitancy.
In an opinion piece published by the i newspaper, Dr Kanani said the health service is "fighting dual epidemics: Covid and misinformation, particularly around the vaccine".
She said misinformation shouldn't be permitted to spread "faster than the virus itself”, warning that scare stories and myths "cost lives".
Man caught on video spitting at parking warden and saying ‘I have corona’
A council in Kent has released “disgusting” footage of a man swearing and spitting at a parking warden and telling him “I have corona”.
Gravesham Borough Council condemned the incident and the man, who was later identified as Graham Swinbourne, was prosecuted for assault.
Kate Ng has more details and video footage of the incident in this report:
Man caught on video spitting at parking warden and saying ‘I have corona’
‘“The only person at fault here was Swinbourne, who was parked illegally,’ says council leader
Sturgeon accused of misleading public on key vaccination target
Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of misleading the public on coronavirus vaccinations, as the Tories insisted a key target had been missed.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the first minister had been "caught spinning the stats and misleading the public" after she said the target of vaccinating all over-70s and all those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable had been achieved.
On Monday Ms Sturgeon said she was "satisfied that we have met that target", adding that "everyone in these groups has been offered the vaccine".
But the latest figures showed that 143,752 - 80 per cent - of people on the shielding list have had their first jab.
Mr Ross is demanding Ms Sturgeon "apologise for this completely unacceptable attempt to hide the truth".
PM ‘reluctant’ to link high Covid death rates with areas hit by austerity
Boris Johnson has said he is "reluctant" to link high coronavirus death rates in the south Wales valleys to austerity measures imposed by previous UK governments.
The PM said there was "no doubt" that some areas of the UK had been hit worse than others during the pandemic but added that he believed the reasons behind them were "multifactorial".
This week the Rhondda Cynon Taf local authority area in the region's valleys had the third highest rate of death from Covid-19 in the UK.
Mr Johnson travelled to south Wales today to carry out a series of Covid-19-related visits, which included Cwmbran's mass vaccination centre, South Wales Police's headquarters in Bridgend, and the new UK government hub in Cardiff.
Poorer areas falling behind on vaccination against coronavirus
The NHS is increasing efforts to reach out to ethnic minority communities in more deprived areas of England as analysis by The Independent shows poorer areas are vaccinating fewer at-risk people.
The worst performing NHS region was East London, with just 73 per cent of over-80s vaccinated by 7 February.
Poorer areas falling behind on vaccination against coronavirus
The Independent finds deprivation an independent factor for lower take-up
Care home group considering if staff who refuse vaccine can continue work with residents
One of the UK's largest care home providers has said it is considering whether staff who have refused a vaccine for non-medical reasons can continue in roles where they are in contact with residents.
Barchester Healthcare, which runs more than 200 care homes, said it is considering an option where staff make themselves "unavailable for work" in resident/patient-facing roles "by reason of their own decision" on not getting vaccinated.
The group had previously announced that it would not hire new staff if they had not had the vaccine for non-medical reasons, citing the vulnerability of its residents and patients.
The government has encouraged everyone who is called on to get the vaccine but said it is not mandatory.
Barchester said the recent option has been communicated to staff and no decision has been made.
Dad says Covid lockdown was behind 12-year-old son’s suicide
A father whose son killed himself in April 2020 just four days before his 13th birthday has said he took his own life following a battle with depression brought on by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Gustaf Kilander explains:
Dad says Covid lockdown was behind 12-year-old son’s suicide
Mr Hunstable said he could see his son’s behaviour changing almost two months after schools were closed due to Covid
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments