Coronavirus news – live: Vaccine before Christmas ‘unlikely’ says Whitty, as Hancock makes preparing for winter ‘a priority’

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Sage advice meant ministers had to make incredibly difficult decisions, says Chris Whitty

Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, has warned that the chances of a “highly effective” vaccine being ready for distribution by Christmas are “very low”.

Giving evidence to the Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee on Tuesday, Prof Whitty said although he was “cautiously optimistic” there would be a vaccine this side of Christmas, the chances of it being “actually highly effective is in my view very low.”

It comes as a Nobel Prize winning geneticist has warned the UK government risks sleepwalking into a “winter of discontent” unless clear governance structures are implemented for the remainder of the pandemic. Professor Sir Paul Nurse, a distinguished scientist and director of the Francis Crick Institute, criticised what he described as the government’s “pass the parcel” approach. Matt Hancock has since told MPs preparing for winter was a 'priority' for his department.

Key Points

• Covid-19 pathogen will likely be around 'forever', scientist warns
• Hancock makes winter preparations a 'priority'
• Oxford vaccine is ‘safe’ and produces immune reaction, first study results show
• Effective vaccine before Christmas 'unlikely', says Whitty
• Nearly 900,000 frontline public sector workers to receive pay rise
• EU leaders strike 'historic' deal on €750bn coronavirus recovery package

[21 July 2020 23:50 · Vincent Wood]

Biden slams Trump administration's coronavirus response while unveiling plan to get Americans back to work

Joe Biden slammed president Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic during a speech in which he unveiled plans to mobilise workers specialising in home care and childcare.

"Each day, too many American workers are still out of work and losing hope," he said speaking about the economic impact of the pandemic at an event near Wilmington, Delaware.

He accused the president of having "quit on this country" and said that Mr Trump is no longer working on the pandemic and doesn't realise that the economic crisis cannot be solved without solving the public health crisis.

More below:

[21 July 2020 23:54 · Vincent Wood]

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