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Britain today recorded just 8,489 Covid cases in the lowest daily increase since October 2, while deaths continue to fall with another 548 victims.
Data from the Department of Health shows that infections were down 20 percent last Tuesday, when 10,625 positive tests were recorded. It follows a problem from yesterday, which saw the first weekly increase in cases in six weeks.
Government statistics also reveal that deaths have been reduced by 30%. Nearly 800 laboratory-confirmed deaths were added to the official number this time last week.
The promising numbers will be seized by conservative anti-lockdown MPs, who have called on Boris Johnson to facilitate the lockdown faster.
Boris Johnson yesterday revealed No10’s ultra-cautious plan to get back to normal, which could see all virus control restrictions eased by June 21, if things go well. Schools will return on March 8, but there will be almost no more loosening of the draconian curbs before Easter.
But the launch of the Covid vaccine in Britain, crucial to Britain’s hopes that the lockdown will ease in the coming months, has slowed over the past month. Only 210,000 doses were distributed yesterday, and the rate dropped by a quarter of the week.
It means that around 335,000 Britons get vaccinated for the first time each week, increasing pressure on the number 10 to urgently pick up momentum so that ministers are not forced to slow the easing of restrictions.
Matt Hancock (right) slapped Professor Neil Ferguson (left) today after he suggested that the government’s ‘roadmap’ to get out of lockdown could be sped up if things go well
- A total of 5,691 deaths recorded in England and Wales in the week ending February 12 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the lowest figure since the week ending February. January 1;
- Unemployment has risen to 5.1 percent and the youngest are hit the hardest as Rishi Sunak prepares to expand the leave plan in his budget next week;
- Matt Hancock has defended rushing into the PPE acquisition after a wave of criticism over lack of transparency and cronyism;
- Scientists have suggested that the masks will continue to be worn in 2026 after Sir Patrick Vallance said they could reappear next winter;
- Millions of high school students will have to wear masks in the classroom when they return to school on March 8;
- Scientists revealed “spectacular” data suggesting that one dose of the Covid vaccine is reducing the risk of hospitalization among those over 80 by three-quarters;
- 178 virus deaths were announced yesterday, the fewest since mid-November. The seven-day average for the cases was 11,186, compared to a high of 68,053 on January 8;
- Downing Street confirmed that ministers will examine the case of so-called ‘vaccine passports’, having rejected the idea two months ago.
It comes after the prime minister responded to conservatives today and scientists suggested the lockdown could be eased faster, as Wales and Scotland warned that their roadmap could be too fast.
The prime minister said he was being “sensible and prudent” with his four-stage plan after the attacks on the approach from both sides.
“Some people will say we are going too fast, some people will say we are going too slow,” he said on a visit to a school in South London.
Johnson refused to guarantee that all restrictions will be lifted permanently by June 21 as scheduled, but insisted he was “hopeful” that it could happen.
The intervention came after Matt Hancock criticized Professor Neil Ferguson for suggesting that the government’s plan for England could be accelerated if things go well.
However, Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg risked running more hares by suggesting there could be “flexibility” if the government keeps “breaking” vaccine targets.
Conservatives and businesses have raised concerns about the extremely cautious approach ministers are taking, despite the fact that the vaccination campaign has progressed.
Schools will return on March 8, but there will be almost no more loosening of the draconian curbs before Easter. There will be a five-week gap between each of the four main stages of the plan, and scientists will have won the argument in government that it takes time to assess the impact.
The prime minister has been boosted by instant polls showing the public largely backing his stance, with 46 percent telling YouGov it’s okay, and around a fifth suggesting it’s too fast.
Nicola Sturgeon unveiled her own much more cautious exit strategy this afternoon, and nonessential retail won’t start opening until the last week of April. Welsh government experts also warned that Johnson’s schedule is ‘risky’ and that the outbreak could spiral out of control again.
Professor Neil Ferguson, whose shadowy model triggered the initial lockdown last year, made a brilliant note on Times Radio last night.
Hopefully what we will see when each step occurs is a very limited resurgence of infections. In which case, there is a possibility that we can speed up the schedule, ‘he said.
However, Hancock scrapped the idea of speeding up the schedule in a round of interviews this morning. ‘Do not. We need to see the effects of each step, and that takes five weeks, ”he said.
A dispute also erupted today over the vaccine supply when Pfizer rejected the Health Secretary’s claim that underdosing was to blame for its slower day on Sunday.
Matt Hancock claimed that a delay in the supply schedule will result in fewer hits. But he also said there would be some “extraordinary weeks in March” to make up for the delay.
Both Pfizer and AstraZeneca, makers of the jabs currently deployed in the UK, say there are no problems with deliveries.
Pfizer sources told MailOnline today that “there were no supply problems” and that deliveries were arriving on schedule. AstraZeneca admitted yesterday that there were ‘fluctuations’ in supply at the plants, but that it was still ‘on track’ with orders.
Official figures showed Britain only administered 150,000 vaccinations on Sunday, the worst daily performance since the NHS launch began to accelerate last month. The number of first doses distributed has been reduced by 40 percent week over week.
With a swift inoculation campaign crucial to Britain’s hopes that the shutdown will be lowered in the coming months, critics say there is “no excuse” for the rollout to slow.
Think tank heads believe that supply is unlikely solely behind the recession because there would be reports of hubs across the country running out of stock, which has not been the case.
Johnson put the successful implementation of a vaccine at the center of his plan to ease the lockdown, which he unveiled yesterday. As long as the operation continues successfully, all restrictions could be lifted in England by June 21. Any mishap could threaten that goal.
Britain is rushing to give as many first doses to those over 50 as possible before the end of March, when millions of second jabs are due, inevitably slowing down the operation. The prime minister has pledged to hit all 32 million of the top nine groups by April 15 and all adults by the end of July.
But statistics from the Health Department show that only 360,000 doses were distributed every day last week, on average. This is 17 percent less than the moving average of nearly 435,000 last Sunday. It is the lowest rate since January 22
