Covid news — live: UK deaths pass 80,000 as anti-lockdown protesters arrested amid calls for stricter rules
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The UK’s coronavirus death toll has risen past 80,000 as the total number of fatalities attributed to the virus increases by more than a thousand for the fourth day in a row. The government said a further 1,035 people had died within 28 days of a positive test as of Saturday, while 59,973 cases were confirmed.
However despite surging case numbers and widespread support for lockdown measures designed to stem their growth, officers in the capital were forced to break up an anti-lockdown protest as around 30 people marched down Clapham High Street on Saturday afternoon. The Metropolitan Police confirmed 12 people were arrested as the crowd was dispersed.
Meanwhile The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have received their coronavirus vaccinations at Windsor Castle today, joining more than one million people in the UK who have been given their jab so far. It is understood that Buckingham Palace decided to make the Queen’s vaccination public to prevent inaccuracies and speculation around when she would receive the jab.
And Susan Michie, who sits on the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), has warned that the combination of the winter season and the faster-spreading variant meant tougher rules were necessary - telling the BBC that current measures are “too lax” and that the latest restrictions should be stricter than March’s lockdown.
Health officials apologise over long queue at London vaccination spot
Health officials have apologised after a long queue was filmed in south London as residents lined up to receive their coronavirus vaccinations on Friday.
Maria Demetrious filmed a queue winding around several corners after dropping off her father, 85, and mother, 79, for his vaccine at the Jenner Practice earlier this week.
She told the PA news agency that her parents left before her father received his vaccine due to the queue - although his GP was said to be in the process of rearranging the appointment.
“Their own GP has been in contact to make sure they are okay, and is arranging something else,” Ms Demetrious told PA.
“I must say he has been a rock throughout many years of knowing my parents, and this is no reflection on him or that practice.”
Commenting on the video, NHS Lewisham Clinical Commissioning Group said: “We're sorry your parents faced this situation.
“This was the first vaccination day for the service, lessons have been learned. Vaccinators doubled to reduce waiting time; patients asked to arrive five minutes before appointment.
“These will ease queues and hopefully reassure your parents.”
The Care Quality Commission added that the incident had been raised for review.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the announcement of the Queen’s vaccination today:
Crop top made from train seat Covid notice goes up for sale on Depop
A student who posted an advert for a crop top made out of train seat cover has been warned not to sell prohibited items on the second-hand clothing app Depop.
Mhari Thurston-Tyler, 20, made a bandeau from a Chiltern Railways seat cover that carried a message encouraging people to practice social distancing while on board their trains.
Our reporter, Kate Ng, has the full story below:
Crop top made from train seat Covid notice ‘violates terms’
‘I have to resort to little things like this to make ends meet, to pay the bills,’ says fashion student
The Royal Air Force has flown thousands of doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine to Gibraltar this weekend for frontline workers and at-risk groups, the Ministry of Defence has said.
Our reporter, Olivia Petter, has more details below on the Queen’s vaccination:
Queen and Duke of Edinburgh receive Covid-19 vaccine
Both HRH and Prince Philip have been vaccinated at Windsor Castle
Queen and Duke of Edinburgh receive Covid-19 vaccine
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have received their coronavirus vaccinations, joining more than one million people who have been given their jab so far.
Buckingham Palace, which rarely comments on private health matters for the royal family, announced that the 94-year-old head of state and her consort had been given the injection on Saturday.
It is understood that the Queen decided the information should be made public to prevent inaccuracies and further speculation.
“The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have today received Covid-19 vaccinations,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.
A royal source confirmed to the PA news agency that the injections were administered by a royal household doctor at Windsor Castle.
Irish health officials believe they have contained South African variant
Irish health officials have said they believe three cases of the South African variant of coronavirus have been contained.
The country confirmed that the first cases of the more infectious variant had been found in people who had travelled to Ireland from South Africa over the Christmas holidays.
Ireland had already reported an increasing presence of a faster-spreading variant first discovered in England this week which accounted for 25 per cent of positive cases in the week to 3 January.
“The UK variant is of more concern to us purely because of the amount of virus that's on the island, and we know that it's transmitting in the community,” Cillian De Gascun, the head of Ireland's national virus laboratory, told national broadcaster RTE.
“The good thing about the South African variant is we know exactly where those cases came from, they have been contained, controlled and contact traced, and to the best of my knowledge there was no onward transmission.”
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that coronavirus case numbers are still a “big concern” in the country following the announcement of 93 further deaths from Covid-19.
NHS England reports 625 new Covid deaths
A further 625 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, with the reported deaths occurring between 15 November and 8 January, NHS England has said.
Full data for the whole of the UK will be published later today, with the daily death toll likely to be significantly higher.
Police detain anti-lockdown protesters in London
A number of anti-lockdown protesters have been detained by officers in south London this afternoon after about 30 people demonstrated on Clapham High Street without wearing masks.
Two men were detained at a Sainsbury’s supermarket near Clapham Common station, while another man was detained at Clapham Common park.
One of the men was heard shouting “I stand under common law, not maritime law and this is assault”, as he was put into handcuffs by police officers.
A large police presence remained in place around Clapham Common station on Saturday afternoon, although almost all protesters had left the area as of 2pm.
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