Coronavirus news: UK records over 12,800 new cases in highest-ever rise, amid hopes for vaccine by Easter
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK set a new record for daily new cases of coronavirus as Boris Johnson faced widespread criticism for blaming the surging figures on public "complacency".
A further 12,872 cases and 49 deaths were reported on Saturday night and official figures also revealed a rise in the number of patients in hospital and on ventilators.
However the government claimed a backlog of test results dating back more than a week would lead to higher figures “over the coming days”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the government of “serial incompetence" and urged the prime minister to draw up a new “roadmap” for recovery.
Officials are increasingly hopeful that a Covid vaccine could be rolled out as early as Easter. Scientists working on an inoculation at Oxford University are hoping it will be ready and approved by the end of this year, while government officials believe they will be able to get the vaccine to all 53 million British adults in less than six months and potentially as quick as three.
Meanwhile in the US, Donald Trump said he was “feeling much better now” after being taken to hospital for treatment for Covid-19.
The Spectator Index has provided an update on the latest confirmed number of coronavirus case deaths.
Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former communications chief, is the latest to condemn the interview given by Boris Johnson in which he struggled to adequately answer questions about local lockdowns.
Every British adult could receive vaccine by Easter, government sources say
Every adult in the UK could receive a coronavirus vaccination as early as Easter under plans to roll out the jab at record speeds, new reports suggest.
Scientists working on an inoculation at Oxford University are hoping it will be ready and approved by the end of this year.
Once that is done, government officials believe they will be able to get the vaccine to all 53 million British adults in less than six months and potentially as quick as three.
Read more:
Every adult could receive coronavirus vaccine by Easter, government sources suggest
Army of health professionals would be seconded to give jab under Whitehall plans - but some suggest time frame is simply not possible
Johnson says Trump will come through coronavirus ‘very well’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is sure US president Donald Trump will “come through it very well” as he is treated for Covid-19 in hospital.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday morning, Mr Johnson said he rang the White House on Friday night and added: “I think obviously everybody's wishing him and Melania the very best and hoping that they recover speedily and I've no doubt that he will, he'll make a very strong recovery.”
When asked if he had any advice for Mr Trump, Mr Johnson said: “I think that he will be doing exactly what the doctors tell him to do and I'm sure he will be having the best care he can possibly get.”
He added: “I'm sure he'll come through it very well.”
PA
Boris Johnson is receiving quite a bit of criticism for his answers in an interview broadcast yesterday for ITV News.
In it, the prime minister struggled when questions were posed to him from viewers about their local lockdown measures, and he appeared to contradict his own government’s advice on local restrictions.
Here is a partial transcript of the interview, provided by Sky News’ Rowland Manthorpe.
The most common metaphor applied to the interview on social media appears to be “car crash”.
Here is another interview given by Boris Johnson to regional television. In it, he fails to provide funding figures for a hospital, appears to blame the public for contact tracing failures, and apparently forgets the name of the TV show he’s appearing on.
‘Limited evidence’ rise in new cases levelling off in England, says report
There is “limited evidence” that the Covid-19 incidence rate in England may be levelling off following a steep rise in cases throughout August and September, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.
According to the ONS, there were around 8,400 cases per day between 18 and 24 September - down from around 9,600 per day during the previous week.
“There is some limited evidence that the incidence rate may be levelling off following steep increases during August and September, however the wide credible intervals mean it is too early to say”, the ONS said in its latest infection survey for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Read more:
‘Limited evidence’ rise in new coronavirus cases levelling off in England
Estimated 116,600 people infected with virus in week to 24 September, says ONS
Dr Zobaida Haque, former interim director of The Runnymede Trust, has weighed in on Boris Johnson’s flailing interview with ITV News, praising reporter Hannah Miller’s questions about Covid -19 restrictions.
Young people and students not to blame for rise in cases, says Independent Sage
Casting young people as irresponsible spreaders of coronavirus is “misleading” as research shows they just as compliant as older people, scientists have said.
They said that although figures show the rate of infection is highest among those aged 17 and 24, the government must stop blaming young people and students for rising cases, and instead focus on fixing its test and trace system.
The Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, chaired by former chief scientific adviser Sir David King, called on universities again to switch to virtual teaching immediately and give students “the right to return home to study” at any point in the term with accommodation fees refunded.
Read more:
Young people and students not to blame for rise in coronavirus cases, says Independent Sage
Government should focus on fixing contact tracing system instead of pointing fingers, experts say
NHS facing ‘most difficult’ winter in history, Scotland GPs warn
The NHS is set to experience its most difficult winter since it was founded in 1948, a representative of Scotland's GPs has warned.
The chairman of BMA Scotland's GP committee said the pressure caused by coronavirus could cause the system to “overheat”.
Dr Andrew Buist said expectations about what the NHS could provide would have to change until a vaccine for Covid-19 was found.
In an interview with The Herald newspaper, he said: “We are heading into the most difficult period the NHS has experienced since it started in 1948.
“I'm quite worried about the current situation and what may come next. We are facing a very difficult four of five months, until we have a Covid vaccine.
“The whole system is going to overheat and I've said this to (Health Secretary) Jeane Freeman. We need to have a conversation with the public about their expectations.”
PA
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