Coronavirus news: London now UK’s Covid hotspot and Test and Trace cuts Christmas hours
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London has been confirmed as the UK’s coronavirus hotspot following a dramatic surge in infections in recent weeks, according to the latest infection survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The capital was shown on Thursday to have the highest percentage of people testing positive for Covid-19 in the country as millions more people prepared to be forced into tier 4 restrictions from Boxing Day as part of efforts to control a faster-spreading version of the virus.
Health secretary Matt Hancock warned the UK’s variant was spreading at a “dangerous rate” and urged people to stay at home from Saturday in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, other parts of the country, such as Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset, were escalated to tier 3 amid concerns about rising infection rates over the Christmas period.
It came as The Independent revealed the government had asked England’s Test and Trace service to reduce its working hours during the Christmas holidays despite a surge in confirmed cases.
Nearly 40,000 positive tests for Covid-19 were reported on Wednesday, yet clinical staff working for the system have been told to cancel shifts ahead of a shortened working day.
Official figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care revealed 616,933 people had received their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine by the end of last week.
It came after Boris Johnson said almost 800,000 people had been vaccinated, however the prime minister is likely to have had more up-to-date figures when he made his address on reaching a post-Brexit deal with the European Union on Thursday.
The Department of Health and Social Care has released official figures for the numbers of people in different tiers in England from Boxing Day.
They show the vast majority of people in the two toughest tiers for restrictions, with just over 2,000 people left in tier 1.
Tier 4: 24,056,339 residents - 42.739 per cent of total population of England.
Tier 3: 24,771,428 - 44.009 per cent
Tier 2: 7,456,970 - 13.248 per cent
Tier 1: 2,224 - 0.004 per cent
‘Fewer than 100 vehicles’ left Port of Dover on Wednesday night
Fewer than 100 vehicles left the Port of Dover on Wednesday night, as thousands more remained stranded in Kent on Christmas Eve.
Drivers, including many who have been waiting in queues since Sunday, are only allowed to cross the Channel once they have returned negative coronavirus tests, which are being administered by members of the military and French firefighters.
“Overnight, due to restrictions on testing, the port received under 100 freight vehicles,” a Port of Dover spokesperson said, when asked how many lorries had left via ferry since Sunday.
“However, now testing has fully mobilised at the port we anticipate that figure rising significantly throughout the day.”
‘Sharp increase’ in people testing positive in England and Wales
Positive cases of Covid-19 are increasing sharply in parts of the UK, with around one in 60 people now testing positive in Wales and one in 85 in England, figures suggest.
Around half of the most recent positive cases in England could be the new variant of Covid-19, with the proportion rising to as high as 68 per cent of cases in London.
The findings are from the latest infection survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which is based on regular samples of positive nose and throat swab results.
Latest cases and deaths for Wales
There have been a further 2,161 cases of coronavirus in Wales, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 133,263.
Public Health Wales reported another 63 deaths, taking the total in Wales since the start of the pandemic to 3,263.
People of Northern Ireland urged to follow new restrictions from Boxing Day
Northern Ireland's deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill has urged the public to follow new lockdown regulations from Boxing Day after confirmation a new Covid-19 variant is present.
"We were advised that this variant is likely to have been present here for some time," she said.
"Unfortunately this is the confirmation we have been expecting and that's why it is critical we all get the maximum benefit from the lockdown that starts on St Stephen's Day.
"There is no current evidence to suggest that this current variant of Covid causes more serious illness or a higher mortality rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments. Vaccines have already started rolling out to those healthcare staff working on the front line and to residents in our care homes.
"My appeal is for everyone to strictly follow the Covid regulations and the public health advice and be very careful in all that we do over the Christmas period."
UK roads will be quiet this Christmas, AA predicts
It’ll be lonely this Christmas on the roads of the UK, the president of the AA has predicted, as many opt to stay home to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
Edmund King said the traffic jams that usually build up across Britain before and after 25 December will be notable in their absence.
Travel correspondent Simon Calder has more on this below:
More ‘Lonely this Christmas’ than ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’ on roads this festive season, says AA president
Try to imagine a Christmas all alone: the message from governments this festive season
Schools may be closed to prevent spread of new variant
Schools may have to close to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus variant, scientists have warned.
A study published on Wednesday by experts at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine also warned the new variant, which is thought to be behind a significant spike in infections across London and the southeast, will lead to more deaths in 2021.
Our health correspondent Shaun Lintern explains more:
Schools may have to close to prevent spread of new coronavirus variant, study warns
New research suggests the new variant of Covid-19 could lead to more deaths without mass vaccination
Navy warship forced home after coronavirus outbreak
The crew of a Royal Navy warship have been forced to return to shore and isolate over Christmas after an outbreak of coronavirus on board.
HMS Northumberland, which is designed to hunt for submarines, had been on call to protect UK waters over the festive period.
The Type 23 frigate was forced to return to Devonport Naval Base, near Plymouth, on Wednesday.
A Royal Navy spokeswoman said: "Following a number of suspected Covid cases onboard HMS Northumberland, the crew are now following health guidelines and protocols to isolate.
"The Royal Navy continues to meet all operational tasks over Christmas, as it has done throughout this pandemic."
NHS told to prepare for use of Nightingale hospitals in coming weeks
NHS England has told hospitals to begin planning for the use of Nightingale Hospitals over the coming weeks as the numbers of coronavirus patients is expected to surge.
In a letter sent on Wednesday night, hospitals were told to activate all of their emergency capacity to cope with the expected pressures, which will likely mean the mass redeployment of staff and the creation of makeshift intensive care units for patients.
Our health correspondent, Shaun Lintern, has the full story below:
NHS told to prepare for the use of Nightingale hospitals in coming weeks
NHS Providers chief warns hospitals are about to face their ‘most difficult and demanding period in the history of the health service’
More than 2,000 lorry drivers test negative for Covid, minister says
More than 2,000 lorry drivers waiting to leave the Port of Dover have returned negative coronavirus tests, while three have tested positive, the transport secretary has said.
“Kent haulier testing results to date - 2,367 tests carried out as of midday, of which: 2,364 negative, 3 positive,” Grant Shapps announced in a tweet.
Due to the emergence of the faster-spreading variant of coronavirus in the UK, French authorities have said drivers must return a negative result from a test carried out within the past 72 hours before being allowed to make the crossing.
However, the Department for Transport could not give figures on how many had actually been allowed to leave so far.
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