Lockdown and social distancing measures are ‘unlikely’ to be needed in future
(PA Archive)
Government scientific adviser Neil Ferguson has warned that Covid cases could rise again but that lockdowns are “unlikely” to be needed in the UK in future.
He said that it would also be “unlikely” that we would need social distancing measures that have been in place so far.
There would still likely be higher numbers of deaths each year than before, mainly during the colder months, as the world learns to live with the new disease – Prof Ferguson told The Times in an interview.
Vaccines have “changed the relationship between cases and hospitalisation”, he added.
If PM Boris Johnson had ordered the first lockdown in March 2020 a week earlier, then as many as 25,000 people’s lives could have been saved, Prof Ferguson said.
The scientific adviser has stepped down from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), but remains on other government advisory committees.
In May last year, he broke social distancing rules after being paid a visit from his girlfriend. In the Times interview, he expressed sympathy for Matt Hancock over the affair that ended his tenure as health secretary during lockdown, rather than calling him a hypocrite for his criticism when Prof Ferguson’s own private life was subjected to scrutiny.
Meanwhile, in Wales, restrictions are being relaxed from today as the nation’s coronavirus alert level shifts to zero.
Social distancing rules will end, but face masks will still need to be worn in most public places, including buses, shops and hospitals.
First child dies of Covid in Northern Ireland
The first death in Northern Ireland of a child aged under 15 linked to Covid-19 has been recorded.
Patricia Donnelly, head of Northern Ireland’s vaccination programme, has said she was “really sorry” to hear the news.
She also said: “I do send my sincere condolences to that family. I think it is a very stark reminder that it is not just older people who are affected by this virus.”
The weekly bulletin of Covid-19 figures revealed 19 deaths between 24-30 July.
People aged 75 and over accounted for more than three-quarters of the deaths, but it also included the first death in the region in the under-15 age group.
The recent figure takes the Covid death toll recorded by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency to 3,026.
Lamiat Sabin7 August 2021 08:39
University to offer cash prizes to double-jabbed students
A university is to pay out cash prizes to students who can prove they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
As part of efforts to increase the rate of vaccinations, Sussex University is entering all its students into a draw.
Ten random winners will receive £5,000 if they can prove they are double-jabbed or exempt.
Professor Adam Tickell, the university’s vice-chancellor, denied the move amounted to “bribing” students to get vaccinated, and stressed that they will have the opportunity to opt out of the competition.
He added: “What we’re doing is we’re just giving an incentive.”
The prize draw will take place at the end of November to allow students time to get vaccinated.
Lamiat Sabin7 August 2021 08:20
JCVI ‘largely opposed’ to Covid vaccines for children under 16
Members of the government’s expert committee on vaccination remain largely opposed to extending Covid jabs to 12 to 15-year-old children, it has been reported.
It comes after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended on Wednesday that all over-16s be offered jabs, just two weeks after saying children should not routinely be offered Covid vaccines.
The U-turn has had doctors saying they were being “left in the dark” about the details of the vaccine rollout to children.
Jonathan Van-Tam, a deputy chief medical officer, has said it was “more likely than less likely” that the list of eligible children would be broadened.
However, one expert who remains a member of the JCVI said the overriding opinion of the body was still against expanding vaccinations to 12- to 15-year-olds – the Guardian reported.
Ministers have said that they would like the issue to remain under review.
Lamiat Sabin7 August 2021 08:03
Good morning and welcome toThe Independent’s live blog on the coronavirus pandemic for Saturday 7 August 2021.
Lamiat Sabin7 August 2021 07:52
