Skip to main content

The 'more elaborate' your summer holiday plans, the more likely that you will have to CANCEL them, Prof Van Tam warns Britons

England's deputy chief medical officer has warned against organising elaborate holidays this year as it is still too soon to say when restrictions will be relaxed.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam was asked about holidays and said he could not give a proper answer as the data is not yet available.

Speaking at the No 10 news briefing, he explained: 'The more elaborate your plans are for summer holidays, in terms of crossing borders, in terms of household mixing, given where we are now, I think we just have to say the more you are stepping into making guesses about the unknown. I can't give people a proper answer at this point because we don't yet have the data. It's just too early.'

He said any easing of lockdown restrictions in England would have to take place 'gradually' and that contemplating what will happen in summer is stepping into the realm of a guessing game. 

Prof Van-Tam also added: 'Public health counter measures, non-pharmaceutical interventions, social distancing restrictions, they will have to be released gradually. 

'How quickly they can be released will depend upon three things - the virus, the vaccine and the extent to which the public obey the rules that are in place, which thankfully the vast majority always do.'

Prof Van-Tam added: 'The key with this coronavirus is again through vaccination, to take the whole curve and shift it to the left, so the vast majority of the illness is an illness that is manageable in the community - as opposed to causing enormous pressure on our hospitals.

'And we can do that through vaccination, and if we do that we open up a whole way of living normally - much more normally - again in the future.' 

It comes as Department of Health figures show another 333 Covid victims were recorded today, the lowest 24-hour toll since December 27 and a drop of 18 per cent on the 406 last Monday.

Another 14,104 infections were also added to the official tally. The daily figure has dropped by a quarter week-on-week, with today's number lower than at any time since December 8.

In more coronavirus related news:

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, has warned Britons against making elaborate holiday plans as it is too soon to tell what will be allowed this year

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, has warned Britons against making elaborate holiday plans as it is too soon to tell what will be allowed this year

Professor Van Tam said restrictions on crossing borders and mixing households could still be in place this summer as he said it is too soon to advise Britain on summer holiday possibilities

Professor Van Tam said restrictions on crossing borders and mixing households could still be in place this summer as he said it is too soon to advise Britain on summer holiday possibilities

Meanwhile, Matt Hancock said that all over-70s in England who haven't yet had a Covid vaccine should book their own online.

The Health Secretary tonight trumpeted the success of the roll-out so far, confirming the NHS is on track to hit its target of immunising the 15million most vulnerable Brits by next Monday.

Almost 12.5million people have already received their first dose of vaccine and the health service is administering 450,000 every day, on average, putting the country well on track to hit the milestone next Monday.

Previously, over-70s were told to wait until they were contacted — through a letter, email, text or phone call — to ensure all over-80s, care home residents and patients with serious underlying health conditions had first access.

People in that age group can now schedule an appointment using the NHS booking service or those unable to get online can phone 119.

Mr Hancock said take-up of the vaccines has so far been 'significantly better than we hoped for', claiming it has hit a staggering 95 per cent in people in their late 70s, 91 per cent of over-80s and almost three quarters of people in their early 70s. He said the Government had been expecting approximately 75 per cent. 

Analysis shows infection rates are lower than at any time since before Christmas in all four nations of the UK.

While the big picture shows infections are falling in most parts of the country, the decline is slow and positive tests were still rising in 17 areas in the week ending February 3.

One of those areas was Rutland in the Midlands, where new infections more than doubled from 180 per 100,000 people to 386.

And in another glimmer of hope that Britain could be freed from lockdown restrictions within weeks, another 278,988 people got their first dose of a vaccine yesterday.

Despite being one of the slowest days of the rollout so far, it means 12.3million Britons have now been immunised.

Meanwhile, Britain's hotel quarantine scheme came under fresh criticism on Sunday when it emerged 35 countries where mutant coronavirus strains have been found are not on the list. 

Last week, the Government confirmed that all passengers from 33 'red list' countries would have to quarantine for ten days in a hotel from February 15.

But an analysis carried out by the World Health Organisation has found dozens of countries where the highly-infectious South African and Brazilian variants have been found are not on the list. 

They include Austria, Denmark, France, Greece, Japan, Kenya, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada and the United States.

Labour Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds reacted with fury at the news, branding the Government's quarantine measures 'dangerously inadequate'.   

Scientists also said the oversight was 'not good enough', adding that the virus 'spreads like wildfire'.

The WHO analysis, which was reported by the Sunday Times, also found that the Brazilian Covid strain has been found in ten nations, six of which have not been added to the UK red list.

As well as South Africa and Brazil, nations which are also on the list include Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Rwanda and Botswana.

But of the 41 countries which the WHO's report said the South African strain had spread to, 29 of them do not feature on Britain's red list. 

Overall, it means arrivals from 35 counties were more infectious strains which could beat or limit the effect of the available coronavirus vaccines will be free to avoid the hotel scheme when they land in Britain.

Instead, they will be trusted to quarantine at home for ten days.

In other news, thousands more people in Manchester will be tested for coronavirus after four new cases of the Kent variant were detected there.

'Surge testing' has been ordered in several areas to tackle the South African and Kent variant of coronavirus

A local resident hands over their completed coronavirus test kit as part of surge testing for the South African variant of Covid-19, in West Ealing, west London

A local resident hands over their completed coronavirus test kit as part of surge testing for the South African variant of Covid-19, in West Ealing, west London

Some 10,000 extra tests will be rolled out in the region from Tuesday, after four people from two unconnected households were found to be infected with the mutation, Manchester City Council has said.

This follows similar surges in testing in Worcestershire WR3, an area in Sefton PR9, and areas in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, after variants were found in these locations.

WHERE IS DOOR-TO-DOOR TESTING BEING OFFERED?

London

W7: Hanwell (South African variant)

N17: Tottenham (South African variant)

CR4: Mitcham (South African variant)

West Midlands

WS2: Walsall (South African variant)

WR3: Worcestershire (South African variant) 

WR9: Worcestershire (South African variant) 

East of England

EN10: Broxbourne (South African variant)

South East 

ME15: Maidstone (South African variant)

GU21: Woking (South African variant)

North West

PR9: Southport (South African variant)

Liverpool (Original variant with E484K mutation)

M14 4, M14 7, M15 5, M15 6, M16 7, M16 8: Manchester (Kent variant) 

South West

Bristol (Kent variant with E484K mutation)

Extra testing sites will be set up, and volunteers will be offering doorstep swabs to anyone aged over 16 who is living, working or studying in the affected areas - which includes postcodes in Hulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range and Fallowfield.

Those who have been vaccinated should also take a test, the council has said.

The rollout will use PCR swabs, which take a few days to return results, and anyone who tests positive will be asked to self-isolate and pass on details of their contacts to NHS Test and Trace.

Manchester City Council said it is working with Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace to investigate the spread further and take action to limit the number of people exposed.

David Regan, public health director at Manchester City Council, said: 'We all know that the virus will change over time and it's important that we investigate new strains to understand how they might spread.

'This is exactly what we're doing with the intensive testing in parts of Manchester, with local testing units and people going door to door to offer people tests.'

Those living or working in postcodes M14 4, M14 7, M15 5, M15 6, M16 7, M16 8 should check the council's website for more information.

Last Tuesday, extra coronavirus testing was deployed into certain neighbourhoods in Woking in Surrey, Walsall in the West Midlands, as well as parts of London, Kent, Hertfordshire and Lancashire. 

A few days later, 'surge testing' was also announced in Worcestershire. 

Over the weekend, a million people in the North West of England were told to take a Covid test if they have a runny nose, as part of a clampdown on a mutated virus detected in the region.   

Residents in the Liverpool city region, Preston and Lancashire were urged by health bosses to get swabbed if they have even the slightest suspicion they are ill. 

It comes after more than 40 cases of an altered strain of the original virus, which carries a mutation experts fear makes vaccines less potent, was spotted in the three areas. 

Despite the frantic bid to try and stop the mutated variants spreading in Britain, scientists have warned the cases identified so far are likely just the 'tip of the iceberg'. 

Door-to-door and mobile testing began in Britain at the start of the month as part of urgent efforts to swab 80,000 people. 

This came after 11 cases of the variant were identified in people who had no links to travel - suggesting it may be spreading in communities.  

Which countries are not currently on the red list but have reported cases of the South African variant

Austria

Austria, has, according to latest data, recorded 75 cases of the South African variant and 25 of the British variant.

It has recently warned against non-essential travel to its Alpine province of Tyrol because of an outbreak of the so-called South African variant of the coronavirus there, the government said in a statement on Monday. 

Denmark

The numbers for Denmark are less clear. The first case of the South African variant in Denmark was on January 16, but there have been no reports since.

Denmark has recently announced that everyone entering the country through land or ports would be subject to a coronavirus test on arrival.

After the test, the person has to undergo a 10-day quarantine at home. 

France

According to reports in France, 40 South-African variant cases and 299 UK variant cases. 

France is said to be tightening rules in a bid to stop the South African and Brazilian variants of Covid-19 taking hold.

Canada

Canada first reported the identification of a South African variant six days ago and has today recorded its first case of the Brazilian variant.

Last week, the area of British Columbia reported 10 cases of the U.K. and South African coronavirus variants, bringing the total number to 28 infections. 

Yesterday, the first two cases of Brazil and South Africa variants were reported in Toronto.

Greece

The South African variant was first detected in Greece at the end of last month.

It was discovered in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city and capital of the region of Macedonia.

Japan

Japan detected its first case of the South African variant at the end of December.

The variant was discovered in a woman in her 30s who arrived in Japan on December 16.

Japan has also had cases of the UK variant and subsequently banned travel from Britain.

Kenya

Kenya identified two cases of the new coronavirus variant at the end of last month.

It was discovered in two men who later left the country, health officials said.

Norway

The South African variant of the coronavirus was first detected in Norway on January 4, but there have been no new reports since.

The virus variant from South Africa was detected in one traveler who came to Norway from South Africa.

Sweden

Sweden recorded its first case of the South African variant on January 3.

A day later it recorded four new cases of strains found in UK and South Africa.

Switzerland

The first case of the South African variant was reported in Switzerland on December 30.

Health officials in the country said two cases had been discovered, along with five cases of the UK variant.

Soon after, officials quarantined two hotels and closed ski schools in St. Moritz.

Australia 

Australia first reported the presence of the new South African coronavirus variant on December 29.

The woman tested positive when in a quarantine hotel and was later taken to hospital.  

Belgium

The first case of the South African variant was detected Belgium in the West-Flanders region.

According to local reports, the patient died from Covid.

Belgium declared its first major outbreak of the South African variant a week later after 15 people tested positive in Ostend. 

China 

The South African variant was first reported in China on January 6 from a throat swab on a patient in Guangdong Provice.

China has also reported a case of the UK variant.  

Cuba

The Caribbean Island is one of the latest places to identify the South African variant.

The variant case was reported on January 27.

Germany

Germany recorded its first case of the coronavirus variant on January 12, in a member of a family that returned from a lengthy stay in the country in December.

It has since has since discovered its own mutated form of the virus and has threatened to close its border with Austria due to its outbreak.

Spain

Spain detected its first strain of the South African variant on January 28.

A second case was discovered n the northeastern region of Catalonia last week.

Finland

Finland confirmed the presence of two new coronavirus variants - one which was first detected in the UK and the other originally found in South Africa - on December 29.

Ghana

The first South African Covid variant was confirmed in Ghana on January 19.

Gambia

There is no reported date when the country first discovered the South African variant, though the World Health Organization say it has been discovered there.

Last month, the country reported it had detected two cases of the UK variant.

Ireland

Ireland first report detection of the South African variant at the start of January.

The cases were in people who had travelled to Ireland from South Africa over the Christmas holidays. 

Health bosses said they were able to contain the spread. 

Israel 

There have been 80 cases of the South African COVID-19 variant discovered in Israel, the Health Ministry last week.

One man is said to have been reinfected with the strain, according to local reports.

South Korea

There is no reported date when the country first discovered the South African variant, though the World Health Organization say it has been discovered there.

The country also reported the presence of the variant first reported in the UK at the end of December.

Lebanon

There is no reported date when the country first discovered the South African variant, though the World Health Organization say it has been discovered there.

The country reported the presence of the UK variant on December 25, on a flight from London.

Luxembourg

Three cases of the South African variant were discovered on January 27.

The discovery was made at a school in Arlon.

Mayotte

The French island in the Indian ocean began a three-week full lockdown on Friday.

It has recorded at least 78 cases of the South African variant.

Netherlands  

The South African variant was discovered for the first time on January 8.

It was found in one person in the Mid and West Brabant region.

New Zealand 

New Zealand first discovered a South African variant when one case emerged on the island.

The patient, a woman, 56, was thought to have contracted illness from a fellow traveller while quarantining at an Auckland hotel. 

Vietnam

The country recorded its first case of the South African variant this month.

It was discovered in Hanoi in a South African woman who had travelled to the country in December.

United States 

The South Africa variant was discovered in the United States for the first time at the end of last month.

South Carolina officials say two such cases were diagnosed in the state. Both had a history of recent travel, according to reports.

 

 

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o