Coronavirus UK news update – Vitamin D covid theory 'DEBUNKED' plus latest on cases, deaths, holidays and vaccines
TWO studies claim to have ‘debunked’ suggestions vitamin D supplements offer protection against Covid-19.
The University of Barcelona had previously suggested that giving high-dose vitamin D to COVID patients in hospital could cut deaths by 60% – a theory later quoted by MP David Davis.
The Lancet medical review has since removed the study citing concerns about how the research was carried out.
Now two studies, neither of them peer reviewed, have also found that there is no real evidence to support the vitamin D claims.
One study by Mendelian mined a database of hundreds of thousands of people with genetic markers that make them predisposed to vitamin D deficiencies and found no “genetic evidence” they were at more risk.
A second study by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece compared the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in 24 countries to coronavirus cases and deaths and found “limited data” to support the claims.
It comes as Brits were told to hold off on booking summer holidays abroad until it’s clearer whether the PM’s roadmap out of lockdown is still on track.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned “we can’t guarantee” international travel will definitely restart on May 17 because the decision will depend on the state of the pandemic.
And he advised people desperate for a break in the sun it would “make sense” to wait until after April 12 – when a panel of experts will report back on how to restart tourism – before making bookings.
His remarks will come as a blow to millions who are already eyeing up a jaunt in warmer climes, with Britain’s vaccination successful vaccination programme causing cases and deaths to plummet.
Follow our coronavirus live blog below for the very latest news and updates on the pandemic…
- Niamh Cavanagh
SCOTLAND'S LATEST COVID FIGURES
Scotland has recorded the deaths of 20 coronavirus patients and 691 new cases in the past 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon said.
The First Minister told MSPs on Holyrood's Covid-19 Committee that the number of people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for the disease had now risen to 7,461.
The daily test positivity rate is 3.1%, Ms Sturgeon said.
She also told the committee that by 8.30am on Wednesday a total of 1,809,158 Scots had received their first dose of the vaccine, an increase of 19,781 on the previous day's total.
- Niamh Cavanagh
'THREAT TO HUMANITY'
Brazil's unchecked Covid explosion is a "threat to humanity" and could scupper hopes of bringing the pandemic under control, experts warn.
The country is being ravaged by the deadly P1 variant from Manaus – which is at least twice as contagious and has been shown to reinfect patients who have already had older variants.
Brazil already has the second highest death toll in the world at over 266,000.
And hospitals are on the brink of collapse in much of the country as the mutant P1 strain causes a second wave much deadlier than the first.
Experts say the situation is a "disaster" – not just for Brazil but for the whole world.
- Niamh Cavanagh
KENT CORONAVIRUS VARIANT MAY BE TWICE AS DEADLY AS PREVIOUS STRAINS SAYS STUDY
The Kent variant may be up to twice as deadly as previous strains of coronavirus, new research suggests.
The more infectious variant, B117, which swept across the UK at the end of last year before spreading across the world, is between 30% and 100% more deadly, according to a new study.
Epidemiologists from the Universities of Exeter and Bristol said the data suggests the variant is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate among adults diagnosed in the community compared with previously circulating strains.
- Niamh Cavanagh
PARDON YOU!
Coronavirus has been around for a year now, so most people are familiar with the common symptoms to look out for.
But as scientists are still learning about Covid, they are continuing to uncover more and more of its bizarre side effects.
Experts now say that as many as two in five people could be left suffering from stomach problems for months after contracting the disease.
New research from China found that 43 per cent of people admitted to hospital with Covid reported gastrointestinal issues 90 days after being discharged.
For the nine symptoms click here.
- Niamh Cavanagh
WHO IS ON THE UK'S RED LIST?
- Niamh Cavanagh
HOLS YOUR HORSES
Brits should hold off on booking their summer holidays abroad until it's clearer whether the PM's roadmap out of lockdown is still on track, a senior minister said today.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned "we can't guarantee" international travel will definitely restart on May 17 because the decision will depend on the state of the pandemic.
And he advised people desperate for a break in the sun it would "make sense" to wait until after April 12 – when a panel of experts will report back on how to restart tourism – before making bookings.
His remarks will come as a blow to millions who are already eyeing up a jaunt in warmer climes, with Britain's vaccination successful vaccination programme causing cases and deaths to plummet.
- Niamh Cavanagh
CLASS ACTION
Next Years' A-Levels and GCSEs will be EASIER to help pupils who have been disrupted by Covid.
Exams in 2022 will be significantly watered down because of students' loss of learning time, Ofqual boss Simon Lebus said yesterday.
Simon Lebus told MPs there would still need to be "adaptations" for those sitting papers in 2022 because of the disruption caused by the pandemic.
He added that the process of recovering lost learning was "going to take several years."
Mr Lebus told the education committee: "As far as 2022 is concerned, the thinking at the moment is about adaptations along the lines that had been originally contemplated for this year when exams were still to go ahead.
"That's based on the reality of the cohort taking exams next year will have suffered considerable disruption to their learning."
- Niamh Cavanagh
THE 15 PLACES WHERE COVID CASES ARE STILL RISING – IS YOUR AREA ON THE LIST?
Coronavirus cases are still rising in 15 places in England and this interactive map reveals if your area is on the list.
Official data from Public Health England (PHE) states that 299 areas have seen a fall in infection rates – with just one area remaining unchanged.
For the map click here.
- Niamh Cavanagh
GERMANY PLAYS DOWN SCALE OF VACCINE BOOST IN APRIL
Far more people in Germany will get a coronavirus vaccination from April when family doctors start giving them but the idea that 25% of the population can get a shot in just a month is unrealistic, Health Minister Jens Spahn warned on Wednesday.
Germans are growing frustrated over a sluggish vaccination rollout. Only around 6.4% of the 83 million population have received at least a first dose against the coronavirus, far behind countries like Britain, Israel and the United States
Spahn said the rate would increase from April, when family doctors will be able to administer doses at their surgeries.
"But the vaccination numbers will not immediately grow to 20 million a month or to 10 million a week," he told ZDF television. "In April there will be significantly more vaccinations, but not on that scale" he added.
- Niamh Cavanagh
MPS SAY 'NO CLEAR EVIDENCE' TEST AND TRACE SCHEME WORKS IN CRITICAL REPORT
There is "no clear evidence" the £22 billion Test and Trace scheme contributed to a reduction in coronavirus infection levels, a cross-party group of MPs have said.
Meg Hillier, the chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) behind a critical report, urged the Government to justify the "staggering investment of taxpayers' money".
The MPs said ministers had justified the vast expenditure on preventing a second national lockdown, but noted England is currently living under its third in questioning the programme's effectiveness.
They also urged the scheme led by Tory peer Dido Harding to "wean itself off" reliance on thousands of "expensive" consultants and temporary staff, with some receiving £6,624 per day.
- Niamh Cavanagh
WAGAMAMA OWNER THE RESTAURANT GROUP TO RAISE £175M AFTER COVID IMPACT
Wagamama and Frankie & Benny's owner The Restaurant Group (TRG) is tapping investors for £175 million to shore up its finances after the business was struck hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
The London-listed hospitality firm revealed that total sales dived by 57% to £459.8 million in 2020 after its sites were forced to close their doors for large periods.
The plunge in sales and pandemic costs caused it to plummet to a £127.6 million pre-tax loss for the year, compared to a £37.3 million loss in 2019.
It added that its short-term outlook remains "uncertain" while lockdown restrictions remain in place.
Its venues will be able to reopen outside-only from April 12, with customers expected to dine in from May 17 at the earliest as part of the Prime Minister road map out of lockdown.
- Katie Davis
TEACHING UNION BOSS SAYS SHE WAS 'WRONG' TO RUBBISH COVID TESTING BLITZ
Hard-left teaching union boss Dr Mary Bousted has sensationally admitted she was “wrong” to rubbish the schools testing blitz.
She also heaped praise on her usual foe, beleaguered Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, for backing the plan.
The leftie union had issued a string of gloomy warnings predicting that testing millions of secondary school kids for Covid would end in disaster.
But teachers, parents and ministers have all declared the mission a success so far.
Dr Bousted, joint boss of the National Education Union, admitted the testing blitz had gone well.
- Katie Davis
COVID VARIANTS AND WHERE THEY EMERGED
- Katie Davis
NIGHTINGALE HOSPITALS TO CLOSE
England’s Nightingale hospitals are to be closed down next month as services are “no longer at risk of being overwhelmed”, the NHS says.
The seven Nightingale hospitals cost a staggering £500 million to set up and maintain, but treated only a few Covid patients over the pandemic.
They were hurriedly put together last spring as ministers feared the NHS would collapse under the pressure of coronavirus patients.
The temporary sites were described by health bosses as the “ultimate insurance policy”.
An NHS spokesperson said: “Since the very early days of the pandemic the Nightingale hospitals have been on hand as the ultimate insurance policy in case existing hospital capacity was overwhelmed.”
- Katie Davis
‘ZERO COVID’ STRATEGY ‘NOT POSSIBLE’
The Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said a “zero Covid” strategy was not possible.
“Our focus needs to be on reducing the levels we have here. That is the key point, to keep things under control,” he said.
“As levels come down test, trace and isolate becomes increasingly important, cluster identification – making sure we understand where there are outbreaks and how to deal with them – and of course the vaccine is going to make a huge difference to all of this.
“I do not think that zero Covid is possible. I think there’s nothing to suggest that this virus will go away, at least any time soon.
“It’s going to be there, circulating. It may be a winter virus that comes back over winters with increasing infection rates during that period.”
- Katie Davis
NHS STAFF WERE EXPECTING HIGHER PAY RISE
NHS staff in England were expecting to receive a higher pay rise than the 1% proposed by the Government, the head of the health service has confirmed.
Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS in England, confirmed that plans set out previously had budgeted for NHS pay to increase by 2.1% this year.
Sir Simon said that proper recognition for what staff have been through over the course of the pandemic is “entirely right”.
- Katie Davis
HALF OF AMERICANS DON'T FEEL CLEAN AFTER WASHING HANDS DURING COVID
Almost half of Americans feel that no matter how often they wash their hands, it’s never enough during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new research.
As the nation reaches the one-year mark of the pandemic, a survey asked 2,000 Americans to reflect on the past year to analyse their hygiene habits.
Even though 90% of respondents shared they are aware of the CDC’s guidance to wash their hands for 20 seconds, 41% said it’s starting to get old.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of American Water, the survey analyzed how respondents are practicing hygiene as the pandemic reaches its one-year anniversary.
It’s no surprise that three-quarters of respondents are frustrated with the pandemic and 65% are tired of people not taking the crisis seriously enough so it can end. Of those surveyed, 42% describe themselves as a newfound germaphobe because of the pandemic, and of these respondents, 79% agreed that this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
- Katie Davis
PHILIP SCHOFIELD RECEIVES HIS COVID VACCINE
THIS Morning host Phillip Schofield has received his coronavirus jab as he thanked NHS staff for administering it without pain.
The 58-year-old praised the NHS staff who gave him the “painless jab” and shared a snap of the moment he got it online.
Posting on Instagram, he showed the moment a masked up NHS worker administered his Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
Philip Schofield thanked NHS staff after receiving his Covid-19 jabCredit: Instagram Phillip smiled behind his mask and wrote: “All painlessly jabbed up, that couldn’t have been any easier, more efficient or friendlier, thank you to Lisa and the team.”
Phillip followed up the post on his Instagram Stories with a look at a Covid-19 information leaflet and vaccine card.
- Katie Davis
COVID DEATHS AND CASES DOWN
UK Covid deaths today rose by 231 – down by nearly 80 per cent on the rise recorded this time last month.
Another 5,766 infections were also recorded, down 65 per cent on last month’s jump and a sign the spread is slowing.
- Alice Fuller
WHITTY WARNS AGAINST LIFTING RESTRICTIONS
England's chief medical officer has said he would "strongly advise" against any move to shorten the timetable for easing lockdown restrictions.
Professor Chris Whitty said there were still risks to reopening society and the UK will experience another surge of cases at some point, potentially in late summer or through the autumn and winter.
Speaking to the Commons Science and Technology Committee alongside the Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, Prof Whitty said the measures pencilled in for May 17, when indoor mixing of up to six people could be allowed, involved "significant risks".
He told MPs he would "strongly advise" against any attempt to "concertina" the five-week interval between steps, saying the April 12 measures are "a very big block", with shops and outdoor hospitality due to open.
May 17 further represents "a very significant block with a lot of stuff that is indoors for the first time, that is the point when we are really going to start to see some very significant risks accumulating, potentially".
- Alice Fuller
DOMESTIC AIR PASSENGER DUTY COULD BE CUT
Air passenger duty on domestic flights could be cut under plans to improve connectivity within the UK set out by the Prime Minister.
Boris Johnson said he wanted to "build back better" after the coronavirus crisis in a way that brings "every corner of the UK closer together".
He will launch a consultation this spring on reforming air passenger duty – a tax on passenger flights from UK airports – in a bid to improve transport connecting all four nations.
The Government will also commit £20 million to develop plans for upgraded rail, road, sea and air links – and explore new requirements to offset emissions and decarbonise aviation.
The money will be spent on exploring the development of projects including improved rail connectivity between the north coast of Wales and England; upgrading the A75 between Gretna, Dumfries and Stranraer; faster rail links from England to Scotland and rail improvements in south-east Wales.
- Alice Fuller
RAAB WRITES TO EU OVER 'FALSE' VACCINE EXPORT BAN CLAIMS
Dominic Raab has written to the European Council president after he claimed the UK imposed an "outright ban" on coronavirus vaccine exports.
Charles Michel accused Britain and the US of imposing bans on the movement of jabs as he used a newsletter to hit back at criticisms of the bloc's vaccine rollout.
The Foreign Secretary sought to "set the record straight" in a letter to the EU chief on Tuesday evening, writing that "any references to a UK export ban or any restrictions on vaccines are completely false".
Mr Raab insisted the Government "has not blocked a single Covid-19 vaccine or vaccine components", adding: "We are all facing this pandemic together."
- Katie Davis
TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS BAN OVERSEAS FANS
British and other overseas fans will be banned from attending the Tokyo Olympics.
The decision by the Japanese government follows increased Covid concerns among the country’s population.
SunSport revealed how Team GB bosses were preparing for the news in recent months with athletes told to expect their friends and families would not be allowed out to watch them compete.
That will now be confirmed in the coming days with a decision having been finally taken by the Government and briefed to the country’s official news agency.
A final meeting with the IOC and International Paralympic Committee next week will then make the decision formal.
- Katie Davis
PARENTS TOLD NOT TO GOSSIP AT SCHOOL GATE
Parents have been ordered to stop gossiping at the school gates or risk ruining the Covid recovery.
Schools minister Nick Gibb issued a stark warning for parents using the school drop off as an excuse to have a natter with other parents.
But he insisted the rules hadn't been relaxed for parents to mix with others outside school, and ordered them to stay apart from other households when collecting their children from class.
Mr Gibb told the Evening Standard yesterday: "“Parents need to be very careful of socially distancing.
“Hands, face, space – that’s still the rule for parents collecting their children from school."
- Katie Davis
CONTINUED
Sturgeon said: "I share, the anger and despair that the vast majority of people – including, I am sure, the majority of football fans – felt at the weekend towards crowds of supporters flagrantly breaching rules that the rest of us are following every day at great personal cost.
"The behaviour witnessed at the weekend was disgraceful and selfish.
"It is natural that some of the anger people feel is directed towards the government and the police – I absolutely understand that.
"But those at fault are those who breached the rules.
"How the police manage situations like this is, of course, an operational matter – government cannot and should not direct policing operations."
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