Matt Hancock will lead Monday’s Downing Street Covid press conference, as fears around the efficacy of Covid vaccines on new variants grow.
Although it is unknown what content will be covered in the forthcoming briefing, it is likely that the Health Secretary will reassure people about the efficacy of the Covid vaccines.
A study on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine revealed that it was “less effective” against the South African strain, even though it is still thought to significantly reduce severe illness.
The exact time of today’s briefing has not been announced, although they normally take place at 5 pm.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to provide an update on the roadmap to get out of lockdown on February 22. However, earlier today a SAGE expert warned that harsher restrictions may be required. In order to prevent the spread of the more infectious South African variant. Ministers have been swift in reassuring the public over the efficacy of the vaccines in avoiding serious illness and deaths.
On Sunday, Professor Sarah Gilbert, the lead researcher in the Oxford team, said: “Maybe we won’t be reducing the number of cases as much, but we still won’t be seeing the deaths, hospitalizations, and severe disease. That’s really important for healthcare systems. Even if we are having mild and asymptomatic infections, to prevent people going into hospital with Covid would have a major effect.”
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been found to be effective against the South African variant, according to a small study by the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Princess or queen? Queen Elizabeth II has decided: Camilla Parker Bowles will be called Queen Consort once Prince Charles is crowned King.
According to OGUK, Boris Johnson said on his arrival at JFK airport.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's failure to confirm the fate of the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the HS2 high-speed train line has sparked mounting anticipation and speculation.
Black Sea, Russia allegedly fired warning shots at a British ship because it was in territorial waters.
Buckingham Palace documents allegedly show that minorities were prevented from working in royal offices.
Facebook has already pulled out its news content in Australia after politicians forced tech businesses to pay for using news.
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, demanded MPs to vote on pay rise for NHS workers. He accused Boris Johnson of “breaking promises”: the Government has proposed giving NHS staff a 1 per cent pay rise, despite an expectation of 2.1 per cent.
Separated families will be able to travel long distances in England to reunite from March 29 - but only outside, a Tory minister indicated today.