THERE are fears Britain could be back in lockdown within a matter of weeks as cases continue to surge around the country.
With millions of Brits desperate for a return to normality, one minister admitted the government is ready to reintroduce tough lockdown rules should covid hospitalisations and deaths begin to creep out of control.
Saying Monday's so-called 'Freedom Day' was the right thing to do, Solicitor General Lucy Frazer admitted that the government was "of course" ready to reimpose lockdown if the Covid third wave becomes "unacceptable".
Cases are slightly higher than yesterday's figure of 51,870 – meaning today's tally is the highest since January 15.
And the toll is 71 per cent higher than the 31,921 infections reported last Saturday, and significantly up on the 24,517 recorded a fortnight ago.
Reintroducing such measures would be a humiliation for Boris Johnson, who repeatedly described Freedom Day as "irreversible" – messaging that has been dropped in favour of more cautious language in recent weeks.
Read our coronavirus live blog below for the latest updates…
- Joseph Gamp
SHADOW HEALTH SECRETARY CRITICISES BORIS JOHNSON FOR NOT SELF ISOLATING
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said Boris Johnson still retained the ability to "join a Zoom call" and could work from home, following news that the prime minister has avoided a period of self-isolation.
"I'm not sure how the Prime Minister joining Zoom calls in the flat above Downing Street inhibits him doing his job to be frank," he told Sky News's Trevor Phillips on Sunday programme.
"He'll still be able to use the telephone, he'll still be able to use a computer and he's still able to join a Zoom call, as lots of us have had to do in these past 16 months throughout the crisis."
- Joseph Gamp
SURGE IN DELTA VARIANT CASES STARTS TO SLOW WITH 36,000 NEW CASES IN THE LAST WEEK
The surge in Delta Covid cases has shown signs of slowing down.
Some 36,000 extra cases have been detected in the past week – up by 17 per cent.
Last week, a 34 per cent increase was recorded by Public Health England.
It suggests the rate of growth is slowing down.
But it comes ahead of “Freedom Day” on Monday, when the remaining restrictions in England are lifted.
Experts say even if case rates are flattening, they will probably spike again – with the “peak” modelled around late August.
Delta, which was first detected in India, can spread faster than original variants, and poses a risk to both unvaccinated and vaccinated.
It currently accounts for approximately 99 per cent of cases across the UK.
- Joseph Gamp
HEALTH SECRETARY SAJID JAVID REVEALS HE HAS COVID AND 'MILD SYMPTOMS' AFTER TESTING POSITIVE
Health Secretary Sajid Javid reveals he has Covid and ‘mild symptoms’ after testing positive
- Joseph Gamp
BORIS JOHNSON ESCAPES NEED TO QUARANTINE AFTER MEETING WITH SAJID JAVID
Boris Johnson has been contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 but will not be self-isolating, Downing Street has said.
Instead, the Prime Minister will be taking part in a daily contact testing pilot which allows him to continue to work from Downing Street.
The announcement follows the disclosure on Saturday that Health Secretary Sajid Javid had been confirmed as testing positive for the virus.
The Prime Minister is reported to have had a lengthy meeting with Mr Javid at No 10 on Friday. Chancelllor Rishi Sunak has also been contacted by Test and Trace and will also be taking part in the contact testing pilot.
A No 10 spokesman said: "They will be conducting only essential government business during this period."
- Joseph Gamp
LABOUR CRITICISES GOVERNMENT AFTER BORIS & RISHI DO NOT NEED TO SELF-ISOLATE
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has criticised the Government as it was announced that Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak do not have to self-isolate despite being contacted by NHS Test and Trace after Sajid Javid tested positive for Covid-19.
She wrote on Twitter: "Sorry for the unparliamentary language but this just takes the p***.
"Not following the rules that they created and which they expect my constituents to follow.
"This Government treats the public with contempt and think they are above the law and that the rules don't apply to them."
- Joseph Gamp
COMPUTERS AND PHONES SEIZED IN SHOCK SWOOP OVER MATT HANCOCK CCTV
Britain’s data watchdog was hit by a furious backlash last night after they raided homes in their hunt for the Matt Hancock scandal whistle-blowers.
The former Health Secretary quit after The Sun last month revealed CCTV of his office clinch with aide Gina Coladangelo, which broke lockdown rules.
The Information Commissioner’s Office seized computers and other devices after searching two properties in the south of England.
But their “overkill” probe was branded a menace to the free Press by MPs, campaigners and the public — who said the tipsters should be “given a medal”.
The Information Commissioner’s Office was accused of behaving like the East German Stasi after they set upon two properties in the south of England and seized computers and other devices.
- Joseph Gamp
GRAPH: COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS PER DAY
- Harvey Lindsay
LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS WILL RETURN AS NEW DAILY PEAK SET TO BE WORSE THAN 1ST WAVE, JEREMY HUNT WARNS
Lockdown restrictions will make a comeback if Covid hospitalisations exceed the daily peak of the first wave, Jeremy Hunt has warned.
The former Health Secretary said the situation was “very serious” and the Government would face “difficult decisions” in the months ahead as hospitalisations rise.
Mr Hunt, who is now chairman of the Commons Health and Social Care Committee, told BBC Radio 4: “The warning light on the NHS dashboard is not flashing amber, it is flashing red.
"Covid hospital patients are doubling every two weeks. That means we are heading for 10,000 Covid hospital patients by the end of August, which is about 20 times higher than this time last year. It is a very serious situation.
“I think coming into September we are almost certainly going to see infections reach a new daily peak going above the 68,000 daily level, which was the previous daily record in January."
- Harvey Lindsay
FEARS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING FORWARD TO GET VACCINATED AS PROGRAMME SLOWS DOWN
The UK’s vaccination programme has slowed in the past week, raising concern that younger people are not coming forward to get their jab.
A total of 61,681 Brits received their first dose of the jab on Thursday – but this is way below the 152,525 shots doled out a fortnight before on July 1.
However, second doses are continuing at a rapid pace with 201,893 given out on Thursday. Over 35 million Brits are now double-jabbed.
Officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of vaccination even in younger patients who are not as high-risk.
But fatalities have remained low relative to infection rates with the vaccine acting as a buffer against hospitalisation and severe illness.
Jabs will be available from September for children aged two and three on August 31, all primary school children, people aged 50 and over, pregnant women, unpaid carers, and frontline health and adult social care staff.
- Harvey Lindsay
BRITAIN ON TRACK FOR 100K CASES A DAY AS THIRD WAVE WILL 'LAST WHOLE SUMMER AND AUTUMN', SAGE WARNS
UK's third Covid wave will last through the summer and into the autumn with daily infections rising to 100,000 in weeks, a SAGE adviser has warned.
Professor John Edmunds, a member of the SAGE board which advises the government, said the summer wave was likely to be “long and drawn out” after restrictions are eased on Monday.
He told BBC Radio 4: “My hunch is that we are looking at a high level of incidence for a protracted period right through the summer and probably through much of the autumn.
"We started easing restrictions before everybody was vaccinated.
“That is going to lead to infections in the unvaccinated people – primarily in this instance the younger individuals. It is inevitable that that was going to happen.”
- Harvey Lindsay
CAN MY BOSS MAKE ME GO BACK TO WORK FROM JULY 19?
The government is no longer instructing people to work from home from Monday July 19.
Employers have been told to plan for a gradual return to the workplace.
Its guidance said: "During this period of high prevalence, the government expects and recommends a gradual return over the summer.
"You should discuss a return to the workplace with workers, and trade unions to make working arrangements that meet both business and individual needs."
Bosses have been told to listen to workers' needs, particularly those who haven't had both jabs.
Yeing-Lang Chong, partner at Springhouse Employment Solicitors, said: "Employees will have to go to work if asked to do so by their boss.
"If you refuse to go in without a justifiable reason, especially if the workplace has adequate anti-Covid measures in place, then an employer could take action in relation to your employment."
- Harvey Lindsay
SURGE IN DELTA VARIANT CASES STARTS TO SLOW WITH 36,000 NEW CASES IN THE LAST WEEK
The surge in Delta Covid cases has shown signs of slowing down.
Some 36,000 extra cases have been detected in the past week – up by 17 per cent.
Last week, a 34 per cent increase was recorded by Public Health England.
It suggests the rate of growth is slowing down.
But it comes ahead of “Freedom Day” on Monday, when the remaining restrictions in England are lifted.
Experts say even if case rates are flattening, they will probably spike again – with the “peak” modelled around late August.
Delta, which was first detected in India, can spread faster than original variants, and poses a risk to both unvaccinated and vaccinated.
It currently accounts for approximately 99 per cent of cases across the UK.
- Harvey Lindsay
TOKYO 2020 EMPLOYEE PUTS GAMES IN A STATE OF FEAR AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS ONE WEEK BEFORE THEY BEGIN
A Tokyo 2020 worker has tested positive in the Olympic village just a week before the Games begin, it has been confirmed.
Tokyo 2020 chief Toshiro Muto confirmed the Covid-19 case had come from someone who had travelled to Japan from abroad.
British tennis champs Jo Konta and Dan Evans are both out of the tournament after testing positive.
The Games have already been delayed by a year but organisers are desperate for them to go ahead without any major issues.
There were 1,271 new cases recorded on Friday with one death, leaving Tokyo in a state of emergency due to the infection rate.
- Harvey Lindsay
TWO THIRDS OF BRITS SELF-ISOLATING DESPITE HAVING NO COVID SYMPTOMS, DATA REVEALS
Two thirds of people self-isolating have no symptoms, new data showed yesterday.
The vast majority of Brits stuck at home – estimated at 2million – feel completely fine and may be isolating needlessly while businesses close.
The NHS Test & Trace app has come under fire for being too sensitive, forcing healthy and fully vaccinated people to cut themselves off.
It ordered a record 520,194 to stay home last week – a 46 per cent rise on the previous seven days – while factories, pubs, hospitals and airports are crippled by staff shortages.
An estimated 577,700 people in England – roughly one per cent of the population – have Covid.
While infections are rising, deaths remain “low”, the ONS said.
- Harvey Lindsay
COMPUTERS AND PHONES SEIZED IN SHOCK SWOOP OVER MATT HANCOCK CCTV DESPITE YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT HIS RULE-BREACHING
Britain’s data watchdog was hit by a furious backlash last night after they raided homes in their hunt for the Matt Hancock scandal whistle-blowers.
The former Health Secretary quit after The Sun last month revealed CCTV of his office clinch with aide Gina Coladangelo, which broke lockdown rules.
The Information Commissioner’s Office seized computers and other devices after searching two properties in the south of England.
But their “overkill” probe was branded a menace to the free Press by MPs, campaigners and the public — who said the tipsters should be “given a medal”.
The Information Commissioner’s Office was accused of behaving like the East German Stasi after they set upon two properties in the south of England and seized computers and other devices.
- Harvey Lindsay
MASK FORCE
Brits will be “expected” to wear masks in indoors and enclosed spaces, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi revealed yesterday.
Face coverings will no longer be mandatory from July 19 once all Covid curbs are lifted.
Boris Johnson is expected to confirm tomorrow that all remaining restrictions will be lifted on Freedom Day.
Last week, the PM said masks would become a “personal choice” as he tore up laws making them a legal requirement on buses, trains, and in shops and other indoor venues.
But new guidance to be published on Monday will advise people to wear masks in crowded, indoor settings, Mr Zahawi told Sky News this morning.
Mr Zahawi said: “I think it is important that we remain cautious and careful and the guidelines that we will set out tomorrow will demonstrate that.
- Harvey Lindsay
DELTA SURGE
The surge in Delta Covid cases has shown signs of slowing down.
Some 36,000 extra cases have been detected in the past week – up by 17 per cent.
Last week, a 34 per cent increase was recorded by Public Health England.
It suggests the rate of growth is slowing down.
But it comes ahead of “Freedom Day” on Monday, when the remaining restrictions in England are lifted.
Experts say even if case rates are flattening, they will probably spike again – with the “peak” modelled around late August.
Delta, which was first detected in India, can spread faster than original variants, and poses a risk to both unvaccinated and vaccinated.
It currently accounts for approximately 99 per cent of cases across the UK.
- Harvey Lindsay
COVID CASES PASS 50,000 MARK
Daily Covid cases yesterday passed the 50,000 mark for the first time since mid-January – with a further 49 deaths recorded.
Infections rose by 51,870, bringing the total to 5,332,371.
The rise in deaths brings the total since the start of the pandemic to 128,642.
It is lower than the 63 reported on Thursday – but much higher than the 29 recorded last week.
A further 717 hospitalisations were reported – the highest figure since March 2.
The figures come just two days before 'Freedom Day' when all legal Covid restrictions are lifted.
- Harvey Lindsay
SUPERMARKET’S INCLUDING TESCO, ALDI AND LIDL WANT YOU TO KEEP WEARING MASKS FROM MONDAY
From July 19 there will no longer be a law on wearing masks but many retail bosses are asking shoppers to still do so.
All lockdown restrictions are due to end after the weekend but the new covid policy says the Government “expects and recommends” masks to be worn by workers and customers.
The advice is for situations especially in crowded, enclosed spaces as the work from home order ends in a few days time.
Masks are to remain mandatory in Scotland and Wales though.
Shoppers in England will have to wear masks if the store still requires it and off the back of the latest policy many retailers are recommending such.
- Harvey Lindsay
LEADING COVID TESTING COMPANY BINNING RETURNED TEST KITS 'WHILE ISSUING FIT-TO-FLY CERTIFICATES TO CUSTOMERS'
A leading testing company has been accused of binning thousands of returned Covid tests while issuing fit-to-fly certificates to customers.
RT Diagnostics has advertised the government-approved test kits for up to £79
But a Sun investigation has uncovered claims that many of the tests are simply left lying around in boxes without being processed.
And a shocked worker at the firm, claimed: “The staff are not testing all the samples but people are being told their results are negative. This is very serious.
“Their customers could be spreading the virus around completely unaware.”
Read the full story here
- Harvey Lindsay
TWO-THIRDS OF BRITISH ADULTS NOW DOUBLE JABBED
This means 67 per cent of people are now fully protected against severe illness from the bug.
It comes just days before Freedom Day, with ministers urging everyone to get double jabbed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Barely 8 months since the first vaccine was given, this is another extraordinary achievement.
“Thank you again to everyone coming forward, and to those helping others to get jabbed.
“You are the reason we are able to cautiously ease restrictions next week, and return closer towards normal life.
“Now let’s finish the job. If you’re over 18, book both your jabs today.”
- Harvey Lindsay
R RATE IS ON THE UP
The R rate in England could be as high as 1.6 in some regions, as figures show Covid infections are as high as early February.
One in 95 people in England had the virus in the week to July 10, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
It’s up from one in 160 reported the previous week.
Rates have increased for all groups but are highest in those aged between year 12 and 24 years old – at one in 35.
Overall one million people in the country were estimated to have the virus in those seven days – more than five times the figure a month ago (105,000).
The figure is far higher than what’s recorded by the Government because it includes people without symptoms.
Case rates have been rocketing since some restrictions were eased and the Delta variant took hold in the UK
- Harvey Lindsay
BORIS JOHNSON BACKS FREE PRESS AND SAYS THE SUN WAS RIGHT TO EXPOSE MATT HANCOCK’S AFFAIR
Amid outcry over the data watchdog raiding two homes and seizing computer gear in its hunt for our whistle-blowers, the PM said we were in the right to run the story.
Cops joined the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the swoop to seek evidence of who leaked footage of former Health Secretary Mr Hancock, 42, canoodling with taxpayer-funded aide and lover Gina Coladangelo.
Campaigners and politicians of all stripes likened the busts in the south of England to Stasi-like behaviour and warned it was a threat to Press freedom.
Critics asked what message it sent to the world to see Britain operating like a totalitarian state.
Quizzed over the row, Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister believes in the freedom of the Press to investigate matters in the public interest.”
Asked if that included our revelation of Mr Hancock breaching lockdown guidance to cavort with businesswoman Ms Coladangelo, 43, the spokesman replied: “Yes.”
- Harvey Lindsay
LEADING COVID TESTING FIRM ‘DUMPING RETURNED TEST KITS IN BIN WHILE ISSUING FIT-TO-FLY CERTIFICATES TO CUSTOMERS’
A leading testing company has been accused of dumping thousands of returned Covid tests in the bin while issuing fit-to-fly certificates to customers.
RT Diagnostics has advertised the government-approved test kits for up to £79.
But a Sun investigation has uncovered claims that many of the tests are simply left lying around in boxes without being processed.
The Halifax-based firm is understood to be receiving as many as 10,000 per day as holidaymakers snap up the tests, which legally they need to let them go abroad.
One family said they received negative results for a Day 8 test before the date they were due.
And a shocked worker at the firm, claimed: “The staff are not testing all the samples but people are being told their results are negative. This is very serious.
“Their customers could be spreading the virus around completely unaware.”
- [email protected]
WATCH: HEALTH SECRETARY SAJID JAVID REVEALS HE HAS COVID AND ‘MILD SYMPTOMS’ AFTER TESTING POSITIVE
Health Secretary Sajid Javid reveals he has Covid and ‘mild symptoms’ after testing positive
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