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He leads a press conference, flanked by Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser.
Meanwhile, AstraZeneca has defended its coronavirus vaccine data after US authorities claimed that some US-led trial results may have used “outdated information.”
AstraZeneca said: “Figures released yesterday were based on a pre-specified interim analysis with a data cutoff of February 17. We have reviewed the preliminary assessment of the primary analysis and the results were consistent with the interim analysis.”
Live updates
Boris Johnson says “we must be very cautious with the potential of a third wave”
The prime minister said that the countries of Europe were seeing signs of a third wave. He said the UK was taking steps to prevent a third wave by testing those arriving in the UK.
“We keep all of these measures under review, to the extent that additional measures need to be taken to protect this country against worrisome variants, of course we will,” Johnson said.
The steady increase in the number of people who have been vaccinated is helping to keep coronavirus deaths low, says Professor Whitty
“A vast majority of people over the age of 65 have already received their first vaccine, and some people in the older age groups are now receiving their second dose,” said Professor Whitty.
Prof Whitty: Covid deaths are “declining rapidly”
He added that coronavirus deaths in the UK are declining much faster than the rate of decline in the number of cases.
The number of hospitals with Covid has “dropped immediately,” says Professor Whitty.
Professor Chris Whitty said the number of people hospitalized with the virus “continues to decline quite rapidly.”
The pandemic is “unlike any other fight in my life,” says Boris Johnson.
Johnson said the UK will meet its goal of vaccinating all people over 50 next month and its goal of offering a first dose of the vaccine to all UK adults by the end of July.
He said that “the country is on the way to reclaim our freedoms.”
Prime Minister says “at the right time”, the country will build a monument
He said at the briefing: “At the right time, we will come together as a country to build a permanent and appropriate monument to commemorate lost loved ones.”
Mr. Johnson thanked everyone for their “patience.”
Boris Johnson kicks off today’s Downing Street conference
“When I asked him to go into a confinement a year ago, it seemed incredible in the 21st century that this was the only way to fight a disease,” he said.
The prime minister said that for the British people it has been a case of “epic resistance” during the pandemic.
Care groups and unions express concern about possible compulsory vaccination plans for workers in nursing homes
Nursing home workers in England could be legally required to get vaccinated against Covid-19 under plans the government is considering, according to the Health Secretary.
Matt Hancock said “no final decision has been made” amid a review of vaccination passports, which is considering a variety of issues.
Independent Care Group Chairman Mike Padgham said that it is vital that care workers get vaccinated, but that it should be voluntary, adding: “I think that instead of forcing it through legislation, the government has more work to do. What to do in terms of persuading everyone, not just caregivers, about how important it is for the entire country to have the vaccine so that we are all protected.
“There are already 120,000 job openings in the care industry, we don’t need to put anything else in the way that could prevent people from joining our rewarding profession.”
The GMB union said care workers should not be “armed with force or intimidated with threats of the law.”
The UK records 112 more deaths from Covid, as more than 5,300 test positive for coronavirus
According to government data, infections rose by 5,379 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of positive cases in the UK to 4,307,304.
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UK coronavirus death toll rises by 112 on Tuesday
Coronavirus deaths rose by 112 on the day the UK turned one year since the first nationwide lockdown.
It brings the total death toll from Covid-19 to 126,284.
Infections rose by 5,379 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of positive cases in the UK to 4,307,304.
