Yahoo News Covid news - live: UK records highest daily deaths since March, as Javid warns NHS under ‘huge pressure’
The UK has recorded the highest daily total of deaths from Covid-19 since March 9. Government figures released today showed a further 223 people died from the virus, bringing the UK total to 138,629.
It comes as Sajid Javid has warned the NHS is under “huge pressure” and that there are “shortages” across the service. The health secretary told MPs it would be a “particularly tough winter” and that more work was needed to avoid a “crisis of misery” for patients.
Mr Javid also announced a “ramping up” of the coronavirus vaccination programme, saying children aged between 12 and 15 would be able to use the national booking service to get their jabs during half-term.
Meanwhile, scientists behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine are developing a new jab they hope will counter the highly transmissible Delta variant. The team is working to have “something on the shelf ready to scale up – if it’s needed”.
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Patients waiting almost 50 hours for a bed in crowded A&E departments
Millions waiting to receive booster jab amid fears of rising Covid hospitalisations
Covid: UK daily cases soar to nearly 50,000 – highest in three months
Key points
UK sees highest Covid daily death rate since March 9
Sajid Javid admits the NHS is under ‘huge pressure’, amid shortages
Government is ‘ramping up’ the Covid vaccination programme, Javid announces
Exclusive: Oxford scientists working on new jab to target Delta variant
5 million yet to take up coronavirus booster vaccine
UK slipping behind European neighbours on immunity, warns Ferguson
UK notches nearly 50,000 new Covid-19 infections
Expert warns of potentially ‘very messy’ winter
UK notches 50,000 new Covid-19 infections
07:23 , Jon Sharman
The UK recorded nearly 50,000 new coronavirus infections on Monday, marking the largest daily rise since lockdown rules ended in England three months ago.
For the sixth consecutive day, more than 40,000 new cases of Covid-19 were reported, with some 49,156 new infections tallied.
Hours earlier, Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson had said Downing Street was keeping a “very close watch” on the figures, but suggested levels of cases, hospitalisations and deaths were “still broadly in line with” government modelling, adding: “We always knew the coming months would be challenging”.
UK daily Covid cases soar to nearly 50,000 – highest in three months
Expert warns of potentially ‘very messy’ winter
07:29 , Jon Sharman
A virologist has warned this winter has the potential to become “very messy” for the NHS if the pressure of rising Covid-19 infections combines with a serious wave of other viruses.
Influenza is a regular concern for the health service during winter.
Covid-19 cases are currently significantly higher in Britain than in other western European countries. Infections have leapt since the return of children to school, and it is estimated that some 8 per cent of secondary pupils have been infected.
“The worry at the moment is it is clear that the vaccination programme in 12- to 15-year-olds is not going very well,” Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, told Reuters, adding that the spread of other viruses could lead to a “perfect storm” in the winter for the NHS if cases spread to older, more vulnerable adults.
“With all of what that means not only again for schools, but also for overwhelming the NHS ... then the worry is that autumn and winter are going to get very, very messy.”
His warning followed the comments of a government adviser who said yesterday that the NHS was facing acute pressure this winter as people’s vaccine-derived immunity began to wane.
Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of Sage, warned against complacency and said he was concerned that the UK had higher rates of hospital admission and deaths linked to Covid-19 than other European nations.
“Whenever we approach a winter period we expect respiratory virus infections to increase, so I think it’s very important that we go into that with as high a level of population immunity, especially in elderly and clinically vulnerable groups, as possible,” he said.
Read more below:
NHS faces ‘acute pressure’ as vaccine immunity wanes, expert warns
5 million yet to take up coronavirus booster vaccine
07:49 , Jon Sharman
Almost 5 million people are at a greater risk of catching Covid as they have yet to receive their booster jabs, health officials and experts have warned.
Under government guidance, those aged over 50 and vulnerable groups who were double vaccinated at least six months ago are eligible for a third dose, but there are fears that poor communications around the programme and logistical complications could be hindering uptake, writes Samuel Lovett.
Although vaccine coverage is high across the UK, infection rates are returning to those seen during the winter wave. Some 49,156 tested positive for Covid on Monday, a weekly rise of 22 per cent and the highest figure since the end of lockdown.
Millions waiting to receive booster jab amid fears of rising Covid hospitalisations
Third Scottish health board asks for military assistance for winter
08:08 , Jon Sharman
A third Scottish health board has requested help from the armed forces as it faces staffing shortages ahead of the winter months, writes Emily Atkinson.
Scotland’s health secretary has also warned that the combined circulation of flu and Covid-19 is likely to cause difficulties.
A formal request for military support was made by NHS Grampian as the health service faces growing pressure as a result of coronavirus and the backlog of care built up during the pandemic.
Last week, the British Army was called in to help NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Borders, with a total of 86 personnel deployed for a three-week period.
Third Scottish health board asks for military assistance for winter
Poland’s daily infections leap by 85 per cent in a week
08:27 , Jon Sharman
Poland reported 3,931 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, an increase of almost 85 per cent compared to the previous week, according to deputy health minister Waldemar Kraska.
Sixty-four new deaths were logged.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Czech Republic, the highest number of new infections since April was detected. Officials reported some 2,521 infections on Tuesday, almost double the reported number for the same day last week.
Of the country’s 10.7 million people, 6.03 million had been fully vaccinated as of yesterday.
And in Bulgaria, the health ministry reported the highest one-day infection tally since mid-March, with 4,979 new cases. Some 214 people died in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from the pandemic to 22,488.
UK slipping behind European neighbours on immunity, warns Ferguson
08:46 , Jon Sharman
Britain is slipping behind its European neighbours when it comes to Covid-19 vaccination and immunity, Neil Ferguson has warned.
The Imperial College London scientist said the UK was “no longer in the top rank of European countries in terms of overall vaccination coverage, particularly vaccinating teenagers”.
Rates of new infections in the UK were higher because the country had “lower functional immunity” than other European states following its early vaccine rollout – and subsequent waning of protection – he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Echoing the concerns of Warwick’s Lawrence Young, Prof Ferguson told the BBC Britain’s neighbours were also doing better in vaccinating teenagers – and with two doses instead of just one. “We know two doses really are needed to block infection and prevent transmission,” he said.
Prof Ferguson added it was “critical” the government accelerate the booster programme. Some 5 million eligible people are yet to take up the offer of a third vaccine dose.
Read more below:
Give young teenagers second Covid jab to curb infections surge, Neil Ferguson says
New Zealand sees one-day case record
09:05 , Jon Sharman
New Zealand saw a record number of new coronavirus cases on Tuesday amid a growing outbreak in its largest city.
Health officials found 94 new local infections, eclipsing the 89 that were reported twice during the early days of the pandemic 18 months ago. Most of the new cases were in Auckland, but seven were found in the nearby Waikato district.
Jacinda Ardern said lockdown rule-breakers were contributing to the spread of infections, adding that many of the new cases had been detected among younger people.
“I just wanted to reinforce again that we're not powerless,” the prime minister said. “We do have the ability to keep cases as low as we can.”
New Zealand had successfully eliminated earlier outbreaks through strict border controls and lockdowns, deploying aggressive contact-tracing and isolating the infected. However, the approach failed when confronted with the more transmissible Delta variant.
Ms Ardern has now embarked on an all-out effort to get people inoculated, promising to outline a path out of lockdown for Auckland based on vaccination numbers.
Ministers aim to vaccinate 90 per cent of people aged 12 and over, including a high proportion of Maori who have been hit particularly hard. The goal remains some distance away, with only 85 per cent of eligible people having had at least one dose and 67 per cent fully jabbed.
Health officials said on Tuesday they had authorised people with weakened immune systems to get a third shot of the Pfizer vaccine and were recommending they do so.
Meanwhile, one expert warned a circuit-breaker lockdown might be needed in Auckland due to “burning embers all over the city”. Michael Baker, of the University of Otago, conceded, however, that “people are getting lockdown fatigue”.
The answer might be border controls around the city to prevent infectious people spreading Covid-19 to other areas of the country, Prof Baker said.
Additional reporting by AP
Deaths and hospital admissions expected to ‘creep up’ as winter approaches
09:15 , Jon Sharman
A government adviser has warned he expects deaths and hospital admissions related to coronavirus to “creep up” in the coming months.
Mike Tildesley, from the University of Warwick and a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling group (Spi-M), which feeds into Sage, said UK “case numbers are still very, very high” and added the government needs “to keep an eye” on rising hospital admissions.
However, new Covid-19 inpatients were “certainly are not at the scale that they were back at the start of this year”, he told BBC Breakfast.
Asked when lockdowns may need to return, Dr Tildesley said hospital admissions should be compared not just with last year but also 2019 “to really assess at what points the government may need to think about potentially reintroducing more restrictions, if we are at risk of being in a situation similar to where we were last year”.
A return to lockdown should be a last resort, he added.
NHL star suspended for submitting fake Covid vaccine card
09:34 , Jon Sharman
Canadian ice hockey player Evander Kane has been suspended from the National Hockey League (NHL) for submitting a fake Covid-19 vaccination certificate, writes Stuti Mishra.
The San Jose Sharks player was suspended for 21 games of NHL, a North American ice hockey league where teams from the US and Canada participate, for an “established violation” of the league’s Covid-19 protocol.
NHL star suspended for submitting fake Covid vaccine card
Weekly Covid deaths at lowest since early September in England and Wales
09:50 , Jon Sharman
The number of deaths linked to Covid-19 in England and Wales in the week to 8 October was 666 – down 15 per cent on the week before and the lowest weekly toll since 3 September.
Some 91 care home resident deaths involving coronavirus were registered in the same week, unchanged from the previous seven days.
In total, 43,564 care home residents in England and Wales have had Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate since the pandemic began.
The ONS figures cover deaths of care home residents in all settings, not just in care homes.
Additional reporting by PA Media
Boris and Carrie Johnson needed friend for Christmas bubble because they faced ‘tough time’, says minister
10:00 , Jon Sharman
Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie needed a friend to form a “childcare bubble” with them over Christmas because of the challenges of parenting while prime minister, a cabinet minister has insisted.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan said it was “absolutely the right thing” for them to have son Wilfred’s godmother, Nimco Ali, at No 10 while lockdown restrictions in London largely prevented household mixing, writes Adam Forrest.
Swathes of people had their festive plans cancelled last year when Johnson placed the capital and much of the south east under Tier 4 restrictions amid soaring coronavirus cases.
Boris Johnson needed Christmas bubble because of ‘tough time’, says minister
Scotland’s secondary school pupils to keep wearing masks in class
10:10 , Jon Sharman
Secondary school pupils in Scotland will have to keep wearing face masks in class, according to new guidance from Holyrood.
Chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith has advised the Scottish government to be cautious and allow time for 12- to 15-year-olds to receive their first vaccine dose.
A sharp drop in cases across the country has slowed, with figures rarely dropping below 2,000 per day in the past three weeks.
Face coverings in communal areas for secondary pupils and staff, as well as primary staff, will also continue.
WHO defends delay in approving India’s Covaxin jab: ‘We are aware that many are waiting’
10:29 , Jon Sharman
The World Health Organisation has defended its decision to delay the approval of India’s homemade coronavirus vaccine Covaxin and said that it cannot cut corners in its process.
The international health body said that it was looking for “one additional piece of information” from Bharat Biotech, the Hyderabad-based company which created the vaccine, writes Stuti Mishra.
The vaccine, which was India’s first indigenously made Covid jab, is one of three currently being used in the country’s Covid-19 inoculation drive. India’s drugs control body had approved the restricted emergency use of Covaxin in January. It accounts for 11 per cent of the 980 million doses administered in the country so far.
WHO defends delay in approving India’s homegrown vaccine
Recovery of aviation industry in 2022 from coronavirus nightmare is a government ‘imperative’, says Shapps
10:48 , Jon Sharman
Grant Shapps says getting planes back in the air and boosting travel is an “imperative” for ministers in 2022.
While Boris Johnson was busy talking up the importance of net-zero targets and proclaiming that “green is good” on Monday – with Cop26 just days away – the transport secretary addressed the Airport Operators Association’s annual conference.
“Global travel next year is predicted to grow significantly, coming after the worst two years on record. That will provide some welcome relief,” Mr Shapps said.
“So, now it's time to look forward to rebooting tourism and trade, to getting the fleet back up in the air where they belong, welcoming passengers back to busy airports, and securing an aviation recovery that is safe and sustainable.
“That's more than a hope for 2022. It's an imperative and one that this Government is committed to achieving, together with you.”
Additional reporting by PA Media
Exclusive: Oxford scientists working on new Covid vaccine to target Delta variant
11:07 , Jon Sharman
A new and modified version of the Oxford vaccine is being developed to target the Delta coronavirus variant, The Independent understands.
Early work has been started by members of Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert’s team at the University of Oxford – the same scientists behind the AstraZeneca jab first rolled out in January, writes Samuel Lovett.
A source told The Independent the new vaccine was being designed with the aim of “having something on the shelf ready to scale up – if it’s needed”.
Oxford scientists working on new Covid vaccine to target Delta variant
One-month lockdown in Latvia
11:26 , Jon Sharman
Latvia is to impose a one-month lockdown, including a curfew, from Thursday due to the worsening coronavirus situation.
Only slightly over half of Latvians are now fully vaccinated and Krisjanis Karins, the prime minister, admitted that his government had failed in persuading citizens to get jabbed.
The Baltic country’s lockdown will run from 21 October until 15 November.
So far Latvia, a nation of 1.9 million, has recorded some 190,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 2,900 deaths.
Additional reporting by AP
Record new cases and deaths in Romania
11:45 , Jon Sharman
Romania logged a one-day record of new Covid-19 infections on Tuesday with 18,863 cases.
Some 574 deaths were also registered, the government said.
It said it processed a number of 81,054 tests over the past 24 hours. More than 1,800 people are being treated in intensive care units across Romania, it added.
Novak Djokovic: Australian Open champion could miss next year’s tournament over vaccine stance
12:04 , Jon Sharman
Novak Djokovic has expressed doubts over playing in the Australian Open in January after officials said unvaccinated players are unlikely to be allowed to enter the country for the event.
The 34-year-old, a record nine-time champion in Melbourne, refused to reveal his vaccination status but implied the announcement made it less likely he would compete.
“Things beings as they are, I still don’t know if I will go to Melbourne,” he told Serbia’s Blic. “I will not reveal my status whether I have been vaccinated or not, it is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry.
Novak Djokovic could miss Australian Open over vaccine stance
Exclusive: Patients waiting almost 50 hours for a bed in crowded A&E departments
12:23 , Jon Sharman
#icymi
Patients are waiting almost 50 hours for a bed in accident and emergency departments – including children with serious mental health problems – amid warnings a winter crisis in the NHS is already underway.
The Independent has seen information showing multiple patients at Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire have faced lengthy waits for a bed in recent days with some spending in excess of 40 hours before getting a bed.
One patient last week spent at least 47 hours in the A&E with staff warning the long waits are a regular occurrence, writes Shaun Lintern.
Patients waiting almost 50 hours for a bed in crowded A&E departments
Russia Covid-19 cases hit record daily high
12:40 , Joe Middleton
Russia’s Covid-19 task force reported 1,015 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day toll since the start of the pandemic.
It also reported 33,740 new infections, just shy of a record daily rise, with authorities blaming the surge on a slow vaccination campaign.
“There is a tradition of blaming the state for everything. Of course, the state feels and knows its share of responsibility,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday, admitting that more could have been done to explain the importance of vaccination to the public.
“But a more responsible position is needed from all citizens of our country,” he said. “Now each of us must show responsibility...and get vaccinated.”
Russia’s health ministry last week asked retired vaccinated medics to return to hospitals to help tackle the latest wave of the virus.
The spike in infections comes as a region near Moscow has run out of hospital beds for coronavirus patients, its governor said on Tuesday.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Around 209,000 children in England not in school because of Covid-19
12:50 , Joe Middleton
The proportion of children out of school for Covid-19 related reasons in England has risen over the past fortnight, the latest Government figures show.
The Department for Education estimates 2.6% of all pupils - around 209,000 children - did not attend class for Covid-19 related reasons on Thursday last week.
This is up from 2.5% (approximately 204,000 children) on September 30.
Among pupils absent for Covid-19 reasons, the main reason for absence was a confirmed case of coronavirus, with around 111,000 pupils off for this reason, compared to approximately 102,000 a fortnight before.
Overall, some 90% of students were in class on October 14, which is up slightly on 89.5% on September 30.
Additional reporting by PA
Sajid Javid admits the NHS is under ‘huge pressure’, amid shortages
13:07 , Joe Middleton
Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs today the NHS is facing a “particularly tough” winter and that more needs to be done to avert a “crisis of misery” for patients.
Mr Javid said there is “huge pressure” on the health service in England and confirmed “there are shortages across the NHS” in services such as emergency care.
He said in the Commons: “We can all see this wherever we live, our constituents are seeing this. It is picking up over the winter and usually winters are tough for the NHS but this winter, I think, is going to be particularly tough and the Government has set out the reasons why - the pandemic is still ongoing, this flu season will be particularly tough, I think, and that’s why we’re having, for example, the largest flu vaccination programme alongside the Covid programme this year.”
Mr Javid said extra money is being put into the NHS before noting: “We are going to set out very shortly with the NHS a detailed programme for the winter and how we can better deal with the pressures.”
Additional reporting by PA
Government is ‘ramping up’ the Covid vaccination programme, Javid announces
13:15 , Joe Middleton
Sajid Javid told MPs the Government is “ramping up” the vaccination programme and that children aged between 12-15 years old will be able to use the national booking service to get their Covid-19 jabs.
He told MPs in the Commons today: “To make the most of half-term next week, we will now be opening up the national booking service to all 12 to 15-year-olds to have their Covid vaccinations in existing national vaccination centres, which will offer families more flexibility.
“I think it is important that anyone who is invited as eligible for a vaccine, including young people, that they do come forward and take up that offer.”
Indian man calls Narendra Modi photo on vaccine certificate ‘an invasion of privacy’
13:36 , Joe Middleton
An information activist from the southern Indian state of Kerala has moved the state’s high court challenging the presence of prime minister Narendra Modi’s photograph on Covid-19 vaccination certificates.
A plea filed on 8 October by Peter Myaliparampil, a Right To Information activist, dubbed the presence of Mr Modi on the certificates to be a violation of his fundamental rights, reported Indian legal news portal Live Law.
Mr Myaliparampil now wants a new vaccination certificate without Mr Modi’s photograph on it, writes Sravasti Dasgupta.
Indian man calls Narendra Modi photo on vaccine certificate ‘an invasion of privacy’
Duchess of Cambridge highlights ‘devastating impact’ pandemic has had on addiction rates
13:53 , Joe Middleton
The Duchess of Cambridge has warned that “none of us are immune” from addiction, as she highlighted the “devastating impact” the pandemic has had on addiction rates.
Kate, who is patron of the Forward Trust charity, delivered a keynote speech at the Bafta headquarters in London to launch the Taking Action on Addiction campaign.
The duchess said: “Addiction is not a choice. No-one chooses to become an addict. But it can happen to any one of us. None of us are immune.
“Yet it’s all too rarely discussed as a serious mental health condition. And seldom do we take the time to uncover and fully understand its fundamental root causes.”
Taking Action on Addiction is a long-term campaign which will work to improve awareness and understanding of addiction, and its causes and scale in society, to enable more people to ask for and receive help.
The duchess described how the Covid-19 crisis has affected addiction rates, with some 1.5 million more people facing problems with alcohol, and almost one million young people experiencing an increase in addictive behaviour.
“The pandemic has had a devastating impact on addiction rates. And families and children are having to cope with addiction in greater numbers than ever before,” she said.
Additional reporting by PA
Jacinda Ardern blames rule-breakers as New Zealand sees record rise in Covid
14:20 , Joe Middleton
New Zealand witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases on Tuesday as it recorded the highest number of daily infections since the pandemic began.
The country reported 94 cases, of which 87 were from its largest city, Auckland, while seven were recorded in the nearby Waikato district, taking the total number of infections in the current outbreak to 2,099. The new grim milestone eclipsed the previously high of 89 Covid-19 cases in a day, reported about 18 months ago in April 2020.
Overall, since the pandemic began, there have been 4,794 cases of the coronavirus in New Zealand, writes Namita Singh.
Jacinda Ardern blames rule-breakers as New Zealand sees record rise in Covid cases
Vaccination centres opened to children as NHS chief warns of ‘difficult winter’
14:39 , Jon Sharman
NHS vaccination centres will be opened up to children during half-term the head of NHS England has announced, as she also warned not enough older people were coming forward for boosters, writes Shaun Lintern.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, told MPs there would be a “big push” to get 12 to 15-year-olds vaccinated “to make the most of half-term” with families able to book jabs via the online national booking service.
Giving evidence to the Commons health select committee Ms Pritchard stressed the NHS was facing “a very difficult winter” adding it was vital people did not delay coming forward for their third doses.
Vaccination centres opened to children as NHS chief warns of ‘difficult winter’
Government ‘keeping an eye’ on newly discovered descendant of Delta variant
14:58 , Jon Sharman
The government is keeping a "close eye" on a descendant of the Delta variant of Covid-19 which is being found in a rising number of cases.
No 10 said it was monitoring the AY4.2 variant, but insisted there was no evidence it spreads more easily.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said: “It's something we're keeping a very close eye on. There's no evidence to suggest that this variant ... the AY4.2 one ... is more easily spread.
“There's no evidence for that, but as you would expect we're monitoring it closely and won't hesitate to take action if necessary.”
Experts say AY4.2 carries two characteristic spike mutations, called Y145H and A222V. Both these alterations have been found in other coronavirus lineages since the beginning of the pandemic.
However, they have remained at low frequency until now.
The first strains carrying both mutations were sequenced in April 2020, and one or the other is found in any variant of concern.
What do we know about this latest mutant? Samuel Lovett takes a look.
Scientists investigate new Delta sub-variant ‘expanding’ throughout England
Moscow orders new Covid curbs as cases climb
15:08 , Jon Sharman
The Moscow city government has ordered elderly people to stay at home for four months, and told businesses must have at least 30 per cent of staff work from home amid a surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths in Russia.
The new rules take effect from 25 October.
Nationally, Russia reported 1,015 coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday, the highest single-day toll since the start of the pandemic, as well as 33,740 new infections in the past 24 hours.
US expected to authorise mix-and-match vaccine campaign
15:27 , Jon Sharman
American authorities are expected to approve the mixing and matching of coronavirus booster vaccines this week.
The upcoming announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is likely to come along with authorisation for boosters of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson jabs, and will follow the approval of a third dose for the Pfizer vaccine for many Americans last month.
The regulator is expected to say that, especially for the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna that have proved most effective against the virus, maintaining consistency in the vaccine course remains preferable. The agency is still finalising guidance for the single-shot J&J vaccine.
Allowing a combination of vaccines could mitigate supply problems, make the task of getting a booster simpler for Americans and allow people who may have had adverse reactions to the initial dose to try a different kind.
The US has already said it will recognise mixing and matching of vaccines administered overseas, as was common in Canada and some European countries in the early months of the vaccination campaign, for the purposes of entering the country.
Additional reporting by AP
Call for ‘buffer zones’ outside schools amid anti-vaccine protests at gates
15:46 , Jon Sharman
A Labour MP has called for “buffer zones” to be established outside schools as anti-vaccine protesters target pupils.
Stella Creasy said people did not have an “open, uncontested right” to impose their views on others, writes Zoe Tidman.
Anti-vaxxers have targeted schools with protests and legal threats since coronavirus vaccines began being rolled out to 12- to 15-year-olds in England.
Call for ‘buffer zones’ outside schools amid anti-vaccine protests at gates
Michael Gove ambushed by anti-vax protesters as they push past police
15:57 , Jon Sharman
A ring of police officers had to protect Michael Gove from a mob of anti-vaxxer protesters on Tuesday after they started screaming abuse at him, writes Holly Bancroft.
The minister for levelling up, housing and communities was walking through Westminster at lunch time when he was collared by a number of angry protesters.
The incident comes as politicians call for greater protection following the stabbing of Sir David Amess MP at his constituency surgery.
Michael Gove ambushed by anti-vax protesters as they push past police
Javid defends retention of Covid curbs
16:15 , Jon Sharman
Sajid Javid has defended continuing some Covid-19 provisions in the face of Conservative backbench concerns, arguing they were “still necessary and proportionate to help with the pressure”.
During a Commons debate on the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Review of Temporary Provisions) (No 3), he told MPs: “We do certainly expect more pressure as we head into winter, we've been very open about that and that is why the vaccination programme, both the Covid vaccination programme, the boosters and the flu vaccination programme remain important.
“But there are provisions in this Act which are still, I believe, still necessary and proportionate to help with the pressure ... Again that is for example the registration of healthcare and social care workers, also the power to discontinue healthcare assessments for people being discharged from the NHS.
“I think it is wise especially heading into the winter when we don't at this stage know just how significant the pressures will be to have that flexibility.”
UK sees highest Covid daily death rate since March 9
16:24 , Joe Middleton
A further 223 people have died of Covid-19, the highest daily figure for reported deaths since March 9.
Government figures released today also showed there have been 43,738 new lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 164,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
UK sees highest daily number of Covid deaths since March
London Mayor Khan condemns treatment of Gove by anti-lockdown protesters
16:51 , Joe Middleton
London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the treatment of Michael Gove by protesters and thanked police for stepping in.
“This is just wrong,” Mr Khan said.
“Politicians should be able to go out without being intimidated or fearing for their safety.”
Communities Secretary Mr Gove had to be escorted by police away from an anti-lockdown protest after demonstrators attempted to surround him in the street.
Government ‘not complacent’ about rising Covid cases, says No 10
17:15 , Rory Sullivan
The government has said it is “not complacent” about the spike in Covid-19 cases but that contingency measures were not needed for the time being.
A spokesperson for Boris Johnson said the decision would not be necessary unless the NHS was at risk of being overwhelmed. “We are not at that point,” they said.
“Because of the vaccination programme, the levels we are seeing in both patients admitted to hospital and deaths are far lower than we saw in previous peaks,” No 10 added.
Covid cases jump in 86% of UK local areas
17:41 , Rory Sullivan
Almost 90 per cent of the UK’s 377 local areas saw a jump in coronavirus infections in the week up to 15 October, the latest data shows.
In total, case rates grew in 323 (86 per cent) local areas and fell in the remaining 54 (14 per cent).
Bath & North East Somerset currently has the highest infection rate in the UK, with 877.5 cases per 100,000 people, a steep rise from 260.7 the previous week.
Northern Ireland administers almost 30,000 Covid vaccine boosters
18:02 , Rory Sullivan
Health care workers in Northern Ireland have administered almost 30,000 coronavirus vaccine boosters, the territory’s health minister has said.
During ministerial questions on Tuesday, Robin Swann said 29,836 booster doses had been given out as well as 4,123 third doses.
More than 200 community pharmacies will be involved in the booster roll-out, he confirmed.
Mr Swann also gave assurances that there is no shortage of booster doses. “It is hoped the majority of eligible people will have received their booster by the end of this year,” he said.
Bulgaria introduces mandatory Covid pass for indoor spaces
18:15 , Rory Sullivan
Bulgaria has decided to make coronavirus passes mandatory at indoor venues such as shopping malls and cinemas.
The move, announced by the health minister on Tuesday, comes amid a spike in Covid-19 infections.
Health passes, which will show proof of vaccination or a negative test result, will be required from 21 October.
“The number of new infections and deaths is rising. That forces us to impose additional measures. All activities indoors should be carried out with a green certificate,” Stoicho Katsarov.
The health minister also encouraged more people to get vaccinated, as only one in four Bulgarians have had at least one vaccine dose.
Covid cases surge in southwest England after lab testing fiasco
18:27 , Joe Middleton
Cases are surging in southwest England after tens of thousands of people with Covid were wrongly told they were negative, allowing infections to continue spreading unchecked within the region.
An estimated 43,000 people across the country are thought to have received an incorrect false test result due to “technical issues” at a private laboratory in Wolverhampton, where operations have been suspended amid an ongoing investigation.
Authorities have since contacted the affected individuals, mostly in the South West, to advise them to take another test. The incorrect PCR results were handed out between 8 September and 12 October, the UK Health Security Agency said.
Samuel Lovett reports.
Covid cases surge in southwest England after lab testing fiasco
Unvaccinated workers in US face job losses
18:44 , Joe Middleton
Thousands of unvaccinated workers across the US are facing potential job losses as a growing number of states and cities enforce vaccine mandates.
In the latest high-profile example, Washington State University (WSU) fired its head football coach and four of his assistants on Monday for failing to comply with the state’s vaccine requirement.
The coach, Nick Rolovich, had applied for a religious exemption from the mandate earlier this month.
Thousands of police officers and firefighters in cities like Chicago and Baltimore are also at risk of losing their jobs in the coming days under mandates that require them to report their vaccination status or submit to regular coronavirus testing.
The White House, which announced sweeping vaccine requirements in a bid to reduce hospitalisations and deaths from Covid-19 in the wake of a surge driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, has been a major catalyst behind the inoculation push.
Along with the mandate for federal workers and contractors, Biden’s vaccine requirements will cover roughly 100 million people, about two-thirds of the U.S. workforce.
The White House has been meeting with executives of several major companies to discuss Biden’s private-sector vaccination plan.
A wave of layoffs has already swept through the healthcare industry, which moved more quickly than others to impose vaccine mandates given the heightened Covid-19 exposure risk for patients and staff.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Why does the UK have a higher Covid rate than Europe?
19:26 , Joe Middleton
Cases of Covid-19 in the UK are currently among the highest in Europe and are higher than they were this time last year, when parts of England were under local lockdowns.
The vaccine has meant that although case numbers are elevated, there are fewer cases of people with serious illness having to be treated in hospital.
The Independent’s Eleanor Sly explores the reasons why the UK has a higher rate than Covid.
Why does the UK have a higher Covid rate than Europe?
Russian doctors concerned by low vaccination rate, as cases spike
19:58 , Joe Middleton
Facing a surge of seriously ill Covid-19 patients, the head of an intensive care unit at a Moscow hospital says the situation could easily have been avoided if more Russians were vaccinated.
With only about a third of Russia’s 146 million people vaccinated against Covid-19, the country has hovered near 1,000 reported deaths per day for weeks and surpassed it on Saturday — a situation that Dr. Georgy Arbolishvili says “causes despair.”
“The majority of ICU patients in grave condition are unvaccinated, he told The Associated Press. These illnesses “could have been very easily avoided if a person had been vaccinated.”
With a record 1,015 fatalities reported Tuesday, the country’s death toll is now 225,325 — by far the highest in Europe, even though most experts agree even that figure is an undercount.
Those statistics “are directly linked to vaccinations,” Arbolishvili said. “The countries with a high share of those vaccinated don’t have so bad mortality numbers.”
Even though vaccines are plentiful, Russians have shown hesitancy and skepticism when it comes to getting vaccinated and life in Moscow has continued as usual, with restaurants and movie theatres brimming with people.
“I think about sleepless nights when we get a huge number of patients who didn’t even bother to use banal protective means,” Dr. Natavan Ibragimova said.
Patients who have gotten the vaccine usually don’t have serious symptoms, Ibragimova added, while the unvaccinated come to regret it.
“Patients who survive after a grave course of illness tell us when they are discharged, ‘Doctor, you were right and I will tell everyone that it’s necessary to get the vaccine,’” she said.
Additional reporting by AP
Delta sub-variant: What we know as it ‘expands’ throughout England
20:27 , Joe Middleton
An offshoot of the Delta coronavirus variant which appears to be more transmissible than its predecessor is beginning to spread throughout England, scientists have said.
Little is known about the AY.4.2 sub-variant, but data suggest it was responsible for almost 10 cent of new infections at the beginning of October. A briefing from the UK Health Security Agency said AY.4.2 is “expanding” and “on an increasing trajectory”.
Experts have speculated that it could be 10 to 15 per cent more transmissible than the original Delta variant, which has come to dominate across the world.
The Independent’s science correspondent Samuel Lovett reports.
Scientists investigate new Delta sub-variant ‘expanding’ throughout England
