Covid news: UK cases and deaths drop as isolation cut to five days and departing Van-Tam praised
Daily figures slump after Christmas and new year highs: follow updates below
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The UK reported 109,133 new coronavirus cases and 335 deaths this afternoon, both of which are down on the last few days with infections in particular dropping by around 20,000.
It comes after Covid-related fatalities reached their highest number since last February, with 379 and 398, on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
Earlier, Sajid Javid announced the isolation period after testing positive for Covid in England will be cut to five full days from next Monday, to get staff back to work faster. People will still have to test negative on the final two days of isolation.
During the same Commons session, while paying tribute to England’s outgoing deputy chief medical officer, Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, the shadow health secretary commended him not only for “providing outstanding public service” through Covid – but for “working with the PM” for as long as he had.
“JVT already has a knighthood, but working with the prime minister, he must have the patience of a saint,” Labour’s Wes Streeting said.
Do cannabis plants prevent Covid infection? New research suggests they could
A chemical found in live cannabis plants could help protect human cells against coronavirus infections, research suggests.
A study by scientists at Oregon State University (OSU) and Oregon Health and Science University found that two acids present in hemp, a type of cannabis plant used widely in cloth, paper and as a drug, were able to jam the gears of the virus that causes Covid-19.
Our reporter, Io Dodds, has the full story below:
Do cannabis plants prevent Covid infection? New research suggests they could
A non-psychoactive compound found in live cannabis plants could help sabotage the spike protein on coronaviruses, scientists have found
Tesco keeps on 13,000 temporary workers due to surging Omicron absences
Tesco has revealed that around 13,000 temporary Christmas staff have been kept on to help it cope with staff absences due to Covid-19 as the group increased its earnings outlook thanks to a strong festive performance.
The UK's biggest supermarket said nearly half of the 30,000 temporary staff taken on over Christmas have been hired until at least the end of January as it battles with surging staff sickness levels due to the Omicron variant.
Chief executive Ken Murphy said absence levels had been higher than normal over the past six to eight weeks, but were "manageable" and well below those seen in the early days of the pandemic.
Downing Street Covid parties ‘re-traumatizing’ for bereaved families, Lisa Nandy says
Bereaved relatives who did not get to say goodbye to loved ones who died during the first lockdown have felt "appalled, horrified and re-traumatised" by the Prime Minister attending a party in May 2020, shadow housing secretary Lisa Nandy has said.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said: "We've got a Prime Minister who has lied to the country.
"My inbox is full of stories of people who lost loved ones, who weren't able to say goodbye, absolutely heart-breaking stories about what was happening to them on the day that this party took place.
"They are appalled, horrified and re-traumatised about the fact that we've got a Prime Minister who is still refusing to come clean about what other parties he attended, what parties the members of his cabinet attended, and how it could have been that we could have had senior ministers and the Prime Minister telling us about the impact that this (the pandemic) was having on the country, that we all must continue to do what they were telling us to do, and yet they weren't doing it themselves
BREAKING: France finally lifts ban on UK travellers
France has finally lifted its ban on travellers from the UK.
British tourists who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter the country once more from Friday, 14 January, the French tourism minister has confirmed.
Jean-Baptiste Lemonye tweeted: “We are relaxing the entry conditions in France from the UK for vaccinated travellers.
More below on this developing story:
France finally lifts ban on UK travellers
Vaccinated British tourists can enter the country from 14 January
BREAKING: Boris Johnson cancels vaccination centre visit after family member tests positive for Covid
More breaking news this morning: Boris Johnson has cancelled a visit to a vaccination centre in Lancashire due to a family member testing positive for Covid.
No 10 said the prime minister, who is under fire after admitting he attended a No 10 drinks party during lockdown restrictions, will be following the “guidance for vaccinated close contacts, including daily testing and limiting contact with others”.
More below on this developing story:
Boris Johnson cancels visit after family member tests positive for Covid
PM will be following ‘guidance for vaccinated close contacts, including daily testing and limiting contact with others’, No 10 says
ICYMI: Covid loses almost all its ability to infect beyond short distances, new study finds
Some positive news on coronavirus: a new study has revealed that the novel coronavirus loses 90 per cent of its ability to infect people within 20 minutes of it becoming airborne.
University of Bristol’s Aerosol Research Centre says it has conducted a first-of-its-kind study that throws light on how the coronavirus behaves once it is airborne during the exhalation process, though the study is yet to be peer reviewed.
“People have been focused on poorly ventilated spaces and thinking about airborne transmission over metres or across a room. I’m not saying that doesn’t happen, but I think still the greatest risk of exposure is when you’re close to someone,” Jonathan Reid, the director of the research centre, told The Guardian, which first reported the study on Tuesday.
Covid loses almost all its ability to infect beyond short distances, new study finds
The study sheds light on how the novel coronavirus behaves once it is airborne
Jonathan Van-Tam stepping down as deputy chief medical officer
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, is stepping down from his position, reports say.
One of England’s most recognisable and trusted medics of the pandemic, Prof Van-Tam has been in the role since 2017.
According to The Times, the decision to quit is not related to recent political events.
However, the loss of “JVT” comes as a further blow for prime minister Boris Johnson after a week in which he has faced calls to resign for attending an illegal garden party in Downing Street in May 2020.
Our science correspondent, Samuel Lovett, has the full story below.
Jonathan Van-Tam stepping down as deputy chief medical officer
‘One of the best public health communicators in history,’ says former health secretary
Professor Van-Tam to continue to March
Prof Jonathan Van-Tam will continue in his role advising the government until the end of March before returning to his role at the University of Nottingham.
He has been on an extended secondment from the university since 2017
However, it is not clear why the scientist is leaving his job with the government.
More updates to follow on his resignation.
How can vaccination status change Covid symptoms? Emergency doctor explains what to look for
A New York emergency room doctor has explained which symptoms his Covid patients typically get, depending on which – and how many – vaccine shots they’ve received. Unsurprisingly, the unvaccinated patients fare the worst.
“I’ve seen a lot of Covid in the ER recently,” tweeted Dr Craig Spencer, director of global health in emergency medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “With so many people getting infected recently, some folks may wonder what’s the point of getting vaccinated at all? And is there really any value to a booster dose if I’ve had two Pfizer/Moderna or a shot of J&J?”
Our reporter, Nathan Place, has the full story below:
Doctor explains how vaccination status can change Covid symptoms
Dr Craig Spencer says his patients who have received a third, ‘booster’ shot have the mildest symptoms – while the unvaccinated fare the worst
NEW: Covid response ‘most challenging time of my career,’ Professor Van-Tam says
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said his time as deputy chief medical officer was his most difficult of his career - particularly the Covid-19 response.
“We all wish COVID had never happened. Notwithstanding, it has been the greatest privilege of my professional career to have served the people of the UK during this time,” he said.
“I want to pay tribute to Professor Chris Whitty, the CMO team, my fellow scientists, public health professionals and clinicians whose support, wisdom and energy has been inspiring. There are countless numbers who work behind the scenes - all of whom have an unrelenting commitment to help and support the British public. It has been an honour to work with them all.
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