Covid vaccine news UK – Coronavirus cases RISING again even before schools return sparking lockdown extension fears

LATEST COVID CONFERENCE: 1% PAY RISE

Matt Hancock announcement: What did the health secretary say in his speech today, Friday, March 5?

The health secretary addressed the nation amid backlash over a proposed 1% pay rise for NHS workers.

He said: « I pay tribute to the incredible work of all those who work in the NHS, especially over the last few months during the second peak.

« As I said in my opening remarks, these have been challenging times and one of the challenges we face as a country, is the financial consequences of the pandemic.

« Elsewhere in the public sector, there’s a pay freeze in place and we have put forward what we think is affordable. »

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FORM

From Monday, Brits travelling abroad will have to carry a form showing why their trip is allowed under lockdown rules.

If they fail to produce a vaild form could be stopped from travelling and face a £200 fine.

Under new measures to crack down on illegal trips, the Department for Transport said carriers will be checking for completed forms before passengers board – either at check-in or at the departure gate.

‘WE NEED TO CONTINUE PULLING TOGETHER’

Matt Hancock ends his briefing with a message to frustrated NHS workers, saying « we have over this pandemic pulled together in an incredible way and I really hope we can continue doing that, to deliver for patients » and welcome more nurses to the NHS over the years ahead.

NHS STAFF TO STRIKE 1% PAY RISE

Megan Ford from the Nursing Times says nurses are considering industrial action or leaving in light of the 1% pay rise after a year of the pandemic.

She asks Matt Hancock: « how do you expect to stabilise the NHS and complete the vaccination programme without nurses on the ground? »

The Heath Secretary again notes his « admiration » for NHS staff – noting his grandmother was a nurse.

He adds though the « challenge is that the nation’s finances are tight and whilst everybody else in the public sector is having a pay freeze, we are able to propose a pay rise for nurses at 1%. »

He adds: « I entirely appreciate that that reflects the difficult financial circumstances that the country is in. »

SHOULD STUDENTS WEAR MASKS IN CLASS?

John Johnson from Politics Home also asks about the guidance for pupils wearing face masks in schools.

Dr Hopkins says the advice is for « secondary school children to wear masks in classrooms and in corridors while moving around school, » in order to reduce the risk of transmission in secondary schools on their return on Monday.

She adds this is to ensure « the least amount of rises we can possibly hope for with increased mixing around the return of schools ».

DID TEST AND TRACE WORK AS WELL AS IT SHOULD HAVE?

John Johnson from Politics Home quotes Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, who claimed Test and Trace did not work as well as it should have done during in the start of the pandemic.

Matt Hancock says Test and Trace « didn’t exist » at the start of the pandemic, with the first test being developed « about a month » after discovering the coronavirus.

He adds there has been a « programme of constant improvement », noting contact tracing now reaches more than 90% of cases and more than 90% of their contacts at « rapid speeds » – which he says is an « incredible achievement of the team ».

WHEN WILL SOCIAL CARE REFORM PLANS BE PRODUCED?

Nigel Morris from the i asks Matt Hancock to provide a firm date on when social care reform plans will be produced.

He also asks if consideration will be given to a one-off bonus for NHS staff as is happening Scotland.

Matt Hancock says the government has a « clear manifesto » to deliver the plan, which will be published this year – but adds it is « more challenging to deliver in more difficult economic times. »

The Health Secretary says the one-off NHS bonus as seen in Scotland « isn’t the approach we have chosen to take », and that « we have set out what is affordable ».

SHOULD BORDERS STAY SHUT?

Sky News’ Ashish Joshi asks whether the UK’s borders should be shut.

Dr Hopkins says currently, the only people should only be travelling internationally for essential reasons.

She adds the the day two and day eight post-arrival tests give « extra reassurance » for tracking cases and find new variants coming into the country.

WHY DID IT TAKE A WEEK TO TRACE CASE OF BRAZIL VARIANT?

Sky News’ Ashish Joshi asks Matt Hancock why it took a week to find the missing Brazil variant case, and what that says about the Test and Trace system.

Matt Hancock says it is an « absolute tribute » to the Test and Trace and Public Health England teams that, « despite the fact this case was one of the very few where the correct details weren’t attached to the test, » they managed to track down the individual.

He says « it is reassuring that all the evidence shows that all six cases of the Brazil variant followed the [self-isolation] rules. »

IS ASTRAZENECA EFFECTIVE AGAINST BRAZILIAN VARIANT?

ITV’s Libby Wiener asks Dr Hopkins how effective the AstraZeneca vaccine is against the Brazillian variant? 

Dr Hopkins says there still isn’t enough clinical data to say.

She adds though, based on data from how it works against the South African variant, there is some it will have « some reduction » on Covid-19 hospitalisations and deaths. 

HOW HARD DID HANCOCK FIGHT FOR NHS PAY RISE?

ITV’s Libby Wiener notes there are still 12,000 people being treated for Covid-19 in hospital, asking Matt Hancock « how hard did you fight » for a more generous pay offer for NHS staff?

The Health Secretary says he is a « huge admiror of all those who have worked in the NHS in this pandemic » and is pleased NHS staff have been « carved out » of the pay freeze – but adds the are « issues of affordability » because of the pandemic’s impact which « have to be taken into account ».

SHOULD VACCINE BE MANDATORY FOR NHS?

Matt Hancock says he « urges everybody in the NHS to get the vaccine ».

He adds the uptake has increased and he would like to « pursue that » because its the best way to ensure high coverage.

The Health Secretary says the government will not bring in mandatory vaccination, but there is a review into the moral, ethical and practical aspects of these issues to come.

IS A 1% RISE FOR NHS FAIR?

BBC’s Vicky Young asks Matt Hancock whether he thinks the government’s recommendation of a 1% rise for NHS staff is « fair »,

The Health Secretary says he « pays tribute to the incredible work » of NHS workers.

He repeats that these have been « challenging times » and that one of those challenges has been the financial consequences of the pandemic.

He says a 1% rise for NHS staff is what the government considers to be « affordable » when you taking « all the considerations » which ensure NHS workers are not part of the public sector pay freeze.

WILL GOV EXTEND JABS TO UNDER-16’S SHIELDING?

Hannah from Cornwall asks if the government considered widening the criteria for under-16s to get a jab, in order to allow shielding teenagers to return to school.

Matt Hancock says if a child’s clinician judges that it is appropriate to give them a jab because of their condition « that is allowed within the rules », but it has to be down to their judgement.

Dr Hopkins says current guidance means 16 to 18-year-olds who are clinically vulnerable can have a jab.

HOW WILL GOVERNMENT APPROACH MENTAL HEALTH FOR SCHOOL KIDS?

Andrew from Durham asks how the government will support the mental health of young children and students impacted by the lockdown.

Matt Hancock says it is « an incredibly important challenge » and there is three parts to the government’s mental health response.

Firstly, is to support those currently working to deliver mental health services and making sure they « have the support to respond to cases in a timely fashion. »

Secondly to expand the number of people who can get access to mental health services, including the use of talking therapies and online services, which he says has been expanded « massively ».

Thirdly, the Health Secretary highights how the government is putting extra money into mental health services in schools, and making sure « everyone gets the support to strengthen their mental health. »

‘TESTAMENT TO NHS’

Dr Susan Hopkins has described the lengthy process of tracing the sixth case of the Brazilian variant in the UK, revealing an incident team of 40 were mobilised to trace the missing person.

She says they had little information to go on originally, but were able to « work backwards » through the postal system and information from the testing hub that processed the mail-order kit.

Eventually the pool of people in question was narrowed down, and call-handlers were mobilised.

She says the success of finding the person is a « testament to the NHS test and trace team, the call handlers and the health protection team working together » to prevent further transmission.

HANCOCK: WHEN THE CALL COMES, GET YOUR JAB

Mr Hancock has ended his speech by reminding the public to take up their Covid vaccine when offered.

WE HAVE FOUND SIXTH BRAZILIAN VARIANT CASE, SAYS HANCOCK

The dogged determination of Test and Trace has he,lped to locate the sixth person with the P1 variant.

The person from Croydon is thought to have stayed at home and not passed the variant on.

There is extra testing in place in the south London area now.

The team have worked flat out to find the sixth positive case.

HANCOCK: GROIWNG UP IS TOUGH ENOUGH WITHOUT COVID

Monday is a day of unease and anxiety and we need to get help and support to young poeople, says Hancock.

£79m pounds will be used to boost support and mental health well being for children through mental health teams on site.

HANCOCK: MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT OF VIRUS IS SOME SHOW NO SYMPTOMS

A third of people who get virus dont display symptoms, and is the most dangerous aspect of the virus.

The health secretary says this is « why it is so important to follow the rules ».

HANCOCK: ‘VACCINES ARE THE QUICKEST WAY TO SECURING OUR FREEDOM’

« Vaccines are the best way to secure our freedom », said the health secretary.

two-fifths of all adults in the UK have now received a vaccine.

We are on track to reach April 15 target.

LINK FROM ‘CASES TO HOSPITAL TO DEATHS’ IS BREAKING DUE TO VACCINE, SAYS HANCOCK

The vaccine is protecting NHS and saving lives, MR Hancock has said.

He said the chain between cases, hospital and deaths was « unbreakable » before vaccines were rolled out.

HANCOCK: WE ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Mr Hancock said the vaccine programme is helping to save lives.

The number of cases are falling by a quarter by every week.

Hospital admissions are falling steadily by under 30% every week, with signs the decline is speeding up.

Where we can see vaccine progress in number of deaths, with have fallen by 43% in the last week.

HANCOCK GOES THROUGH LATEST COVID DATA

New figures show a further significant decline.

He says new data is encouraging news and that Britain can « safely take the steps we are taking on Monday ».

He says that cases of hospital admissions with Covid are « still too many »

HANCOCK CONFERENCE BEGINS

Hancock says parents will be delighted that all children are going to school.

He said he is « so pleased » that care homes will open to visiting again.

One regular visitor will be able to attend subject to testing and wearing PPE.