NEW STRAIN & MORE PAIN
» Fast-spreading coronavirus mutation found » 34m now in Tier 3 after London crackdown » But good news as GPs vaccinate thousands
A RAPIDLY spreading variant of Covid-19 may be behind a surge in cases across the South East.
London tomorrow goes into Tier 3, meaning 34 million people will be living under the toughest curbs.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned: “This isn’t over yet.” But GPs are today carrying out vaccinations.
THE emergence of a fast spreading Covid variant comes as a grim reminder that the fight against the pandemic is far from over, experts warned last night.
Despite encouraging news of the vaccine against the virus, Health Secretary Matt Hancock plunged London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire into Tier 3 restrictions amid a surge of infections across the capital and South East.
Chief medical officer Chris Whitty urged the public not to panic over the mutation, but he insisted getting on top of it now would hopefully prevent tougher lockdowns in the New Year.
But there was growing unease about the decision to relax household mixing rules for five days over Christmas, amid fears it could lead to another deadly spike.
Prof Whitty said: “The reason Tier 3 has been brought in is because the rate has gone up very fast in many areas. The reason for that may or may not be because of the variant, but we don’t know.”
The move will mean 10.8 million more people are going into Tier 3. And unless any areas in the higher risk categories are moved down to Tier 2, there will be 34.2m in England living under the top level of curbs.
Parts of the Midlands and North have been in Tier 3 for months.
Government scientists at the Porton Down lab in Wiltshire are testing the coronavirus variant to establish more hard data.
Prof Whitty said it was unlikely the new strain would be resistant to vaccines, but warned that future ones might be. He added: “There’s no evidence that if you catch this variant you’re more likely to have severe disease.” The medic also insisted Covid tests will work “normally” y on the new strain.
Government scientific adviser Dr Jeremy Farrar said the variant was “potentially serious” but there had been many y mutations in the virus since it emerged in 2019. He added: “Above all, this is a reminder that there is still so much to learn about Covid-19. There is no room for complacency. This pandemic is not over and there will still be surprises in the virus, how it evolves and the trajectory of the p pandemic in the coming year.” Mr Hancock urged families to be “cautious and careful” when the rules are relaxed over Christmas.
But he insisted the measures were aimed at striking a balance so people could see their families. Mr Hancock added: “Everyone should minimise their social contact because that is how we can control the spread of this
This is a reminder there is still much to learn about Covid-19. This pandemic is not over
DR JEREMY FARRAR GOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC ADVISER
disease.” Prof Whitty called for people not to travel too far over the festivities. He said: “Of course it’s a period of risk.
“And, that’s the reason we want people to take it very seriously and go no further than they have to.”
Amid suggestions Tier 3 curbs could be toughened next month if cases do not fall, Mr Hancock warned: “We do not rule out further action.”
After he announced at a No 10 briefing that London would join neighbouring Kent in Tier 3, he added: “This is a salutary warning for the whole country. This isn’t over yet.”
The Government admitted Covid cases across the South East were “off the chart”. An estimated 4,710 people in London tested on December 11 were positive for Covid-19 – almost double the 2,402 on December 6.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the Tier 3 decision was “disappointing” for businesses but urged the capital’s residents to follow the rules.
He added: “The worst thing for London’s businesses and our economy would be yet another full lockdown in the New Year.”
Mr Khan called for secondary schools in the capital to shut for Christmas from today to help protect vulnerable relatives over Christmas.
Two boroughs have already acted unilaterally and closed schools.
Health chiefs claim children were more at risk of spreading the disease if they weren’t in class all day.
The Government could use emergency powers to force schools to stay open if they move to online learning before the break on Thursday.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has ordered the London Borough of Greenwich to withdraw a letter to heads which requested they switch to remote learning yesterday.
He said: “It is not in children’s best interests for schools to close. Using legal powers is a last resort but continuity of education is a priority.”
The UK Covid death toll yesterday rose by 232 to 64,402. And there were a further 20,263 lab-confirmed cases, bringing the total to 1,869,666.
GP surgeries in England yesterday began vaccinating people and care home residents can expect teams to start giving the jab later this week.
Ministers have hinted parts of West Yorkshire, including Leeds, could drop back to Tier 2 after a review tomorrow.