Tier 4 widened as vaccine approved

THE UK has approved a new Covid-19 vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca as millions more people were plunged into the toughest Tier Four lockdown restrictions.

The jab, described as a “gamechanger”, was given the green light by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the vaccine is a “great British success story” and 530,000 of doses will be available for roll-out from Monday. But he announced in the House of Commons that more parts of the country are entering Tier Four, with most other areas moving to Tier Three.

It comes as a further 981 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday, bringing the UK total to 72,548 – the highest daily figure since April 24, when 1,010 deaths were reported, but there is likely to be a lag in reporting deaths over the Christmas period.

Among areas moving to Tier Four are the Midlands, parts of the North East and North West and parts of the South West. A further 20 million people will moved to the highest tier. This means a total of 44 million people will be in Tier Four, or 78% of the population of England. Some 12 million people will be in Tier Three, or 22% of the population, while no area will be in Tier Two.