Babak Belurs

Sabtu, 06 Februari 2021

Coronavirus: Vaccine chief 'optimistic' about over-50s May target - BBC News

Woman receives a Covid-19 vaccine from a member of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service

The UK can meet the target of vaccinating all over-50s by May, the chairman of the vaccines taskforce has said, adding he is "very optimistic".

Dr Clive Dix told the BBC the taskforce has met every target set.

The UK would be "ahead of the game" in terms of anticipating variants of coronavirus and was making "libraries of future vaccines", he said.

He added that the UK would not hoard supplies but would distribute them globally, once the UK target is met.

Downing Street has said everyone in the UK aged 50 and over should have been offered a coronavirus vaccine by May.

Previously, ministers had said it was their "ambition" to vaccinate the first nine priority groups by the spring.

As of Friday, the UK had given a first jab to nearly 11.5 million people and is aiming to reach 15 million vaccinations by 15 February.

The latest figures also showed another 828 people in the UK have died within 28 days of a positive Covid test, and there were a further 18,262 cases.

Dr Dix, who heads the government unit charged with developing and producing vaccines, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We will work day and night to ensure we meet whatever the target that's feasible can be met.

"So I'm very optimistic that we will meet the May target."

Questions have been raised around the efficacy of vaccines against variants of the virus - including the one first identified in Kent.

On Friday, Oxford-AstraZeneca said its vaccine gave people good protection against the UK variant.

Variants in South Africa and Brazil have also been identified.

Dr Dix, who is also chief executive of drug discovery company C4X Discovery, said the UK was "at the forefront of surveying" the variants, allowing scientists to "second-guess" mutations that have not yet occurred.

They can then make vaccines for those variants, he told the programme.

"We'll make libraries of future vaccines, just small amounts, enough to then, if it does occur, do a quick clinical study to see that it works and then start manufacturing it," he said.

Chart showing the number of first vaccine doses received in the UK

Hitting this target is all about vaccine supply

Analysis box by Nick Triggle, health correspondent

The NHS has the staff, the volunteers and the clinics needed to vaccinate the 15 million in these next priority groups as well as give second doses to those who have already had their first jab.

But vaccine production is a biological process so there are no guarantees about how much can be grown.

However, there is growing confidence in the UK supply chain.

The bulk of the supplies are now coming from UK-based plants producing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the yields from these are now consistently in line with expectation unlike those in Europe which started producing the vaccine later and have had less time to iron out the teething problems.

On top of this, supplies from Pfizer-BioNTech are expected to increase from mid-February after a slowdown in recent weeks.

There will also be a third vaccine made by US firm Moderna to help. The first batches of the 17 million ordered will start arriving before Easter.

It will all be needed as there can be no let up if the over-50s are to get vaccinated in the timeframe set out.

Asked whether there could be a vaccine-busting variant at some stage, Dr Dix said: "There's a possibility, but we'll be ahead of the game, we're not going to be waiting for it to happen.

"We now have the capabilities in the UK to be responsive and that capability won't just be for the use of the UK of course.

"Once we've done it, it will actually help the whole world because it will be part of that whole surveillance and reaction."

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned that mutations of the virus could lead to a "cycle" of lockdowns in the future if measures were not put in place, such as effective contact tracing.

"The worry that we have to really plan for is the possibility that we will have a new mutation that is actually immune to the vaccines that we're giving out at the moment," Mr Hunt said.

"So, in order to make sure that we don't get caught out by that again, we need to get transmission levels down to the kind of levels where we can do incredibly thorough contact tracing, like they do in Korea and Taiwan."

He also repeated his call for the government to consider more financial support for people told to self-isolate by NHS contact tracers, for example by offering to "make up any salary losses".

Despite the promising news over vaccines, doctors have warned against relaxing rules too quickly.

Dr Daniele Bryden, a consultant in intensive care medicine at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, told Today: "I think the vaccination is really encouraging, but we really can't let our guard down and relax the rules.

"For example, the average age of a patient on intensive care at the moment is only 60 and 40% of people on intensive care are less than that age. So it's going to take some time before we see the impact of vaccination."

Chart showing daily deaths in the UK remain high

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Every adult in the UK will be offered a vaccine by the autumn, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last month.

Meanwhile, Worcestershire County Council is rolling out surge testing after the South African variant of coronavirus was identified in the area.

And testing for the South African variant is due to be increased in Southport after a second case was detected.

CHINA AND THE PANDEMIC: The gulf between what Chinese officials knew and what they told the world...
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2021-02-06 16:22:00Z
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One dead and nine injured in spate of London stabbings | ITV News - ITV News

One man has died and nine others have been injured - two of who are said to have life-threatening wounds - in a spate of stabbings in Croydon, south London.

Two men have been arrested after police were called to four reports of stabbings between 6.56pm and 9.12pm on Friday.

Police say they are not currently treating the stabbings as linked.

An eyewitness said they believed the man who died was 21 and had been cut badly in the leg.

The resident, who has lived at the block where the stabbing happened for more than 20 years, said the man's mother later showed up "crying and in pieces".

The witness, who declined to be named, told reporters the man was bleeding from a deep cut to his leg and there was "blood everywhere".

An eyewitness said the dead man's mother arrived at the scene and was 'in pieces'. Credit: PA

She said: "I heard someone shouting but it's normal because people drink outside, I came down and saw two police and two ambulance guys on the ground with him."

She said she saw medical staff make an incision in his torso, adding: "They tried really hard to save him but there was a lot of blood.

"There was blood everywhere, it looked like he was cut in the leg and they tried to stop the bleeding.

"My husband was outside for 45 minutes and said his stepdad showed up and said he was 21.

"His mum was here crying and she was in pieces.

"It is terrifying, my son is 19 and I'm worried for him."

What happened on Friday night?

Police were called at 6.56 to Chapman Road to reports of a stabbing. Police found a man, whose condition was assessed as not life-threatening, in hospital.
Police were called at 7.15pm after four men, all aged in their 20s, arrived at a south London hospital suffering from stab and slash injuries. One of the men is said to have life-threatening injuries.
Police were called at 8.08pm to Wisbeach Road to reports of two men with stab injuries. One man had already been taken to hospital while the other was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police were called at 8.51pm to a south London hospital, after two men arrived with stab injuries. One of the pair's injuries were said to be life-threatening.
Police were called at 9.12pm to Dingwall Road to reports of a stabbing. Two men were arrested, a 38-year-old on suspicion of GBH, while a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of affray and taken to hospital after suffering injuries.

Police say they do not believe the stabbings are linked. Credit: ITV News

A section 60 order granting police additional stop and search powers was in place across Croydon until 8am on Saturday.

Speaking on Friday night, Detective Superintendent Nicky Arrowsmith said the force had "seen a number of needless and completely abhorrent violent altercations, including one that has tragically resulted in a loss of life".

Police asked anyone with information that could help officers investigating these incidents to make contact.

Police were called just after 8pm to reports of a stabbing in Wisbeach Road, Croydon. Credit: PA

Det Sup Arrowsmith said: “Our officers continue to work around the clock to identify and pursue offenders, bring perpetrators to justice, support victims, take weapons off the street, engage and reassure the public, and keep our communities safe in London.

“But we are not complacent and cannot do this alone. We work closely with our communities as they are key to understanding and knowing what is occurring locally.

“We need to hear from anyone who has information about crime, those who carry a weapon, or those who exploit others for gain or revenge, while putting young people’s lives at risk – we need this information to help keep London safe.”

The Met's Gold Commander for London this weekend, Ade Adelekan, said extra resources would be deployed in Croydon to reassure residents.

He said: "While work continues to investigate the motivation and circumstances of these four incidents, I can say that they are being treated as isolated.

"However, that does not make this series of violent incidents any less shocking and I understand that residents in and around the areas where these incidents occurred will be rightly concerned.

"Extra resources were deployed last night and will continue to be deployed over the weekend. I would ask people to speak to those officers if you have any concerns or please call 101.

"Violence has no place on our streets and I want to reassure Londoners that our officers will work tirelessly to locate and apprehend those responsible."

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2021-02-06 12:00:00Z
52781356737131

Gavin Williamson wants students to start returning to universities from next month - Daily Mail

Gavin Williamson wants students to start returning to universities from next month - but vice chancellors warn many won't be back on campus until the summer

Plans being drawn up for students to return as part of roadmap out of lockdown
Williamson set to announce on February 22 return for universities and schools
But universities say most of their students have already been told to stay home
Unions remain intransigent as they raise fears over staff Covid safety in classes

By Ross Ibbetson For Mailonline

Published: 10:16 GMT, 6 February 2021 | Updated: 11:36 GMT, 6 February 2021

Gavin Williamson is making plans for students to return to universities in England from next month.

The Education Secretary will announce on February 22 that final year students in practical degrees will go back to campus, with their peers expected to follow shortly after.

But vice-chancellors say that most of their students have already been told to stay at home, while the unions - which have plagued Mr Williamson's tenure - are unwavering in their complaints about Covid safety.

It comes amid wrangling over when the national lockdown will end with schools expected to reopen on March 8, the keystone in Boris Johnson's plan to liberate Britain.

Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education, arrives at the Department of Education, on January 27. He's hoping to send children back to school and reopen universities from March

Graduates of Oxford University walk by Hertford College, wearing traditional academic gowns in the summer of 2014

Mr Williamson's announcement for the universities coincides with the Prime Minister's February 22 date to produce a roadmap 'to unlock.'

The Department of Education is planning for the first students to go back to campuses in lockstep with the reopening of schools on March 8.

Mr Johnson is under mounting pressure from Tory backbenchers to announce a major easing of curbs - while scientists are urging caution.

Striking fear into the teaching unions is the R-rate – which fell only marginally from 0.7-1.1 in the previous week to 0.7-1.0 in the most recent seven days.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, told The Guardian: 'The priority right now must be to keep as much teaching as possible online for the rest of the academic year, and putting staff and student safety first.

'Instead, ministers and universities seem intent on reopening campuses due to financial pressures. We need to learn the lessons of last term and prevent further outbreaks.'

Sticking in ministers' minds are the chaotic scenes of the autumn when students were barricaded inside their halls of residence as the virus reappeared from the summer.

But if they don't manage to get the students back before Easter, many won't see any reason to go back at all as tutoring ceases ahead of the exam schedule in May and June.

Professor Peter Mathieson, vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, told the Guardian: 'We have indicated to undergraduate students that we don't think there will be any substantial face-to-face teaching for the rest of this semester, which means until Easter.

'We still hope it will be possible for postgraduate students. Sadly undergraduate students are not going to get a lot of teaching in this academic year.'

As it stands, only students carrying out laboratory-based work such as medics and vets, and courses deemed important like teaching and social work, are on campus for face-to-face learning.

Some universities, like the London School of Economics, have already cancelled any in-person learning for the academic year.

But universities minister Michelle Donelan told the Guardian these institutions would be provided the option to row back these plans.

In contempt of the Government orders, many students returned to their campuses at the end of the Christmas holidays.

Most estimate that around 30 to 40 percent of their normal cohort are back as the youngsters find a new home away from home.

Prof Mathieson told the Guardian: 'Some students have voted with their feet, it's been reported by just about all the universities I've heard from, Russell Group and elsewhere.

'It's interesting, it reflects the fact students start to identify university as their new home.'

Plans for the universities come as the PM has marked continued education as a 'national priority' and has vowed to help children account for lost learning.

Department for Education officials are even weighing up whether it would be viable to extend the school day to squeeze in more teaching time.

Sources told the Telegraph one option being mulled is for schools to tack an extra lesson on to both the start and end of the current day.

An extension had been pushed by some Tory MPs - but have been met with a backlash from teaching unions.

Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: 'Research evidence shows that there are better methods to help pupils than lengthening the school day.

'The Government must filter out loud calls for superficially attractive schemes and listen to the experts instead.'

The Government is still drawing up its plan to get Britain out of lockdown to be unveiled later this month, with possible measures including testing for office workers and a reopening of pubs - but without the booze.

Almost 11 million people have now had their first dose of the vaccine and ministers are facing mounting calls to flesh out exactly how they intend to lift restrictions.

The Government said it hopes to have offered jabs to all over-50s by May, meaning the 33million most vulnerable citizens would have been inoculated.

Some inside Downing Street are even more bullish and believe it is possible that almost all adults could have received a jab by then.

Ministers are expected to adopt a 'tentative' approach - with some sources claiming a 'booze ban' on pubs between April and May was being considered to stop social distancing slipping.

But a senior Government source told MailOnline that an alcohol ban in pubs was not on the cards.

They said: 'We are not going to open pubs that can't sell booze. What would be the point of that?'

Other measures being floated include axing the 10pm curfew for pubs - which has been given the go-ahead according to some reports, along with an end to the requirement for drinkers to order a 'substantial meal' with alcohol.

England could also emulate Scotland's indoor alcohol ban that was in effect during its November lockdown, and allow unlicensed cafes to reopen while keeping pubs closed.

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2021-02-06 10:16:00Z
52781356582062

Croydon stabbings: One dead after ten knifed in London borough - Metro.co.uk

Police dealt with five separate stabbing incidents last night but do not believe they were linked (Picture: UkNewsinPictures)

One man has been killed and nine others were injured during a ‘completely abhorrent’ night of violence in south London.

Five separate stabbing attacks took place across a two hour period in the Croydon area with police saying there’s nothing to suggest the bloodshed was linked.

Additional stop and search powers were enacted across the London borough overnight as officers attempted to get a handle on the situation.

The man who was killed – said to be in his twenties – was found dead inside a house in Wisbeach Road, Croydon, near the Selhurst Park home of Premier League football club Crystal Palace.

A second man who was found in the house was taken to hospital before police arrived. His condition is not believed to be life threatening.

All the incidents took place between 6.56pm and 9.12pm on Friday night. The first stabbing was just before 7pm in Chapman Road, Croydon. A man was taken to hospital.

Then, four men in their twenties with ‘stab and slash’ injuries turned up at a south London hospital at around 7.15pm. One of them was in a ‘life-threatening’ condition.

Later, police were called to a south London hospital just before 9pm when two more arrived with stab injuries. The condition of one of them were assessed as ‘life-threatening’.

?? Licensed to London News Pictures. 06/02/2021. London, UK. A forensic investigator kneels on the floor inside a doorway to a block of flats on Wisbeach Road. Metropolitan Police are investigating multiple incidents of serious violence, including a fatal stabbing, in south London. One case was reported at 20:08GMT on Wisbeach Road, Croydon, where two males had suffered stab injuries. One male was taken to hospital prior to police arrival; condition not life-threatening. Another male was found at the scene. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Photo credit: Peter Manning/LNP — A forensic investigator kneels on the floor inside a doorway to a block of flats on Wisbeach Road (Picture: LNP)

Officers were given extra stop and search powers overnight (Picture: UkNewsinPictures)

Officers were then called to Dingwall Road in Croydon town centre just after 9.10pm to reports of another stabbing.

A man was arrested on suspicion of GBH. The victim was also arrested, although his injuries were not believed to life threatening.

A section 60 order – which grants police additional stop and search powers – was in place across Croydon until 8am on Saturday, Detective Superintendent Nicky Arrowsmith said.

‘Sadly, tonight we have seen a number of needless and completely abhorrent violent altercations, including one that has tragically resulted in a loss of life,’ she said.

‘Officers will be on patrol throughout the night across the South Area Command Unit, with additional resources from the Violent Crime Taskforce and Territorial Support Group deployed to deter and prevent any further violence.’

Police have appealed for anyone who saw what happened to come forward (Picture: UkNewsinPictures)

Police asked anyone with information that could help officers investigating these incidents to make contact.

Det Sup Arrowsmith said: ‘Our officers continue to work around the clock to identify and pursue offenders, bring perpetrators to justice, support victims, take weapons off the street, engage and reassure the public, and keep our communities safe in London.

‘But we are not complacent and cannot do this alone. We work closely with our communities as they are key to understanding and knowing what is occurring locally.

‘We need to hear from anyone who has information about crime, those who carry a weapon, or those who exploit others for gain or revenge, while putting young people’s lives at risk – we need this information to help keep London safe.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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2021-02-06 09:20:00Z
52781356737131

Croydon stabbings: One killed and nine injured in spate of attacks - BBC News

One man has died and at least nine others have been injured in a spate of stabbings in south London.

Police were called to five reports of stabbings in Croydon on Friday evening.

There is no information at this stage to suggest the incidents are all linked, the Metropolitan Police said.

A Section 60 Order granting additional stop and search powers was in place across Croydon on Saturday morning, the force said in a statement.

Police were called to five incidents of serious violence between 18:56 and 21:12 GMT on Friday.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene at Wisbeach Road, Croydon, while another man was also taken to hospital.

Two other men suffered life-threatening injuries and two people were arrested in separate incidents.

Speaking on Friday night, Det Supt Nicky Arrowsmith said the city had seen "a number of needless and completely abhorrent violent altercations, including one that has tragically resulted in a loss of life".

She said teams from the Violent Crime Taskforce and Territorial Support Group had been deployed to help "deter and prevent any further violence".

The force has urged anyone with information to contact officers or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

Labour MP for Croydon North Steve Reed said in a tweet that the "absolutely horrific news" would "devastate our community".

He added his thoughts were with those who had been injured and the police and medical staff dealing with the situation.

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2021-02-06 08:03:00Z
52781356737131

Jumat, 05 Februari 2021

Croydon stabbings: One killed and 10 injured in spate of attacks - BBC News

One man has died and 10 others have been injured in a spate of stabbings in south London.

Police were called to five reports of stabbings in Croydon on Friday evening.

There is no information at this stage to suggest the incidents are all linked, the Metropolitan Police said.

A Section 60 Order granting additional stop and search powers is in place across Croydon until 08:00 GMT on Saturday, the force said in a statement.

Police were called to five incidents of serious violence between 18:56 and 21:12 GMT on Friday.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene at Wisbeach Road, Croydon, while another man was also taken to hospital.

Two other men suffered life-threatening injuries and two people were arrested in separate incidents.

Detective Superintendent Nicky Arrowsmith said: "Sadly, tonight we have seen a number of needless and completely abhorrent violent altercations, including one that has tragically resulted in a loss of life.

"Officers will be on patrol throughout the night across the South Area Command Unit, with additional resources from the Violent Crime Taskforce and Territorial Support Group deployed to deter and prevent any further violence."

She urged anyone with information which could help officers' investigations to contact the police.

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UK weather: Storm Darcy heads to England bringing 'up to 20cm' of snow - Sky News

People are being urged to check on the elderly and vulnerable as more heavy snow and icy conditions are forecast to hit the UK.

The Met Office issued amber weather warnings for snow in the east and southeast of England for Sunday, stretching from Norwich down to Canterbury, and warned that hazardous conditions could last well into next week.

It also extended its yellow warnings for snow and ice, covering the entire length of the UK, from midday on Saturday to midday on Wednesday.

The Met Office's chief meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said: "The UK is in for a notably cold and snowy period over the next week, with very cold air in place over the whole of the UK by Sunday.

"Showers will see snow accumulating across eastern areas. Within the amber warning area, more widespread snow is expected and we could see 5-10cm of snow quite widely, with a chance that a few places could see 20cm or more."

Temperatures will likely go below freezing for many on Sunday, and by Monday the average daytime temperature will only be between 1C and 4C across the country.

It's a stark drop from the comparatively mild temperatures of Friday, with the mercury having climbed to 11C in some places earlier, and a possible return to the Christmassy conditions experienced by many last month.

The RAC has warned it is bracing itself for a sharp increase in breakdowns in the coming days, and said that people should think "extremely carefully" before setting out on journeys.

People are only meant to leave their home for a very limited number of reasons anyway, due to lockdown rules.

With widespread overnight frosts and wind chill making daytime temperatures feel freezing, Public Health England is advising people to check in with elderly and vulnerable relatives and neighbours.

Dr Owen Landeg, group leader of extreme events and health protection, said that for older people and for those with heart and lung problems, the cold can "increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections".

He added: "It's really crucial at this time, especially ahead of a very cold snap, to remember to check on frail or older neighbours or relatives, especially those living alone or who have serious illnesses."

People are being advised to call those who may be in need of help and support, or to make a "socially-distanced doorstep visit" to check they have enough food, drinks and any medicines they need.

The government and the NHS will also be hoping that the potentially disruptive weather doesn't impact the UK's increasingly impressive coronavirus vaccine rollout.

Nearly 11 million first jabs have now been administered, but some elderly people were made to rebook their appointments when heavy snow arrived in January.

Simon Partridge, a Met Office meteorologist, has said that continuous snow showers and strong wind in the East on Sunday would result in "really bad" visibility and up to 20cm of snow in some areas.

Mr Partridge warned: "As the snow is blowing around, obviously there may be places where it will accumulate more because it will drift.

"That means significant disruption - and obviously at the moment with vaccination centres open seven days a week, that can have a knock-on effect there as well."

Kent was left relatively unscathed by last month's snowfall, but people there have been warned to expect some more this time round.

Kent County Council's deputy director for public health, Allison Duggal, said: "It is vital that during this prolonged period of severe weather, people act to keep themselves and their home warm - even if this is just by heating the bedroom and living room."

It comes after drivers were left stranded in two-metre snow drifts in northern Scotland on Friday, and amber warnings remain in place there until midday on Saturday.

Ben Aldous, from the RAC, said: "As patrols, we are well equipped to deal with the severe cold, but we urge drivers to think extremely carefully before setting out and question whether their journey is absolutely necessary.

"For anyone who has to drive, we'd strongly advise making sure their vehicle is ready for the cold."

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2021-02-05 23:33:55Z
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Sabtu, 06 Februari 2021

Hitting this target is all about vaccine supply

Gavin Williamson wants students to start returning to universities from next month - but vice chancellors warn many won't be back on campus until the summer

Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more

Jumat, 05 Februari 2021

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