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Covid vaccine UK news – Your boss CAN enforce 'no jab, job' rules, minister reveals as US firms ban unvaccinated staff
BRITS should get double-jabbed before returning to the office but No 10 won't make vaccination compulsory for workers, Grant Shapps has said.
The transport secretary insisted it's a "good idea" for everyone who wants to end working from home to become fully vaccinated.
And he predicted many companies will start to enforce Covid papers as a policy for their staff who want to head back to their desks.
But the senior cabinet minister insisted there are no plans for the Government to pass laws requiring workers to be jabbed.
He made the remarks after Google and Facebook said they'll only let vaccinated employees return to the office in the US.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the very latest updates..
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UK DAILY COVID CASES RISE FOR SECOND DAY IN A ROW
The UK’s daily Covid cases have risen for the second day in a row with 31,117 reported in the last 24 hours.
However, infections are still on a downward curve – with infections down 24 per cent compared to last week.
This day last week 39,906 cases were reported along with 84 deaths.
Meanwhile Covid deaths have fallen slightly with a further 85 losing their lives to the killer bug.
It brings the total number of UK Covid deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test result to 129,515.
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WATCH: COVID CASES ARE STABLE NOT PLUMMETING – AS EXPERT WARNS WE’RE TESTING THE WRONG PEOPLE
Prof Tim Spector say people with cold and flu like symptoms are being told they don’t have Covid and this may explain why daily infections are down
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RISK OF DEADLY BLOOD CLOTS INCREASES IF YOU REJECT VACCINE AND CATCH COVID, STUDY WARNS
Vaccines have been linked with cases of blood clotting in a tiny number of people since March, but are still deemed safe and effective.
Health chiefs have urged people to keep coming forward for their shots regardless of the tiny risk.
And a new study further confirms people are better off accepting their jab invite than not.
It looked at six million people in Catalonia, Spain, of which some 1.3 million had been vaccinated with either one or two doses of AstraZeneca of Pfizer.
A further 222,710 people who had previously had Covid were included in the study.
Researchers in Spain, funded by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), were looking for cases of blood clotting disorders.
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COVID SYMPTOMS ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON YOUR AGE AND SEX – FULL LIST REVEALED
The NHS states that the most common Covid symptoms include a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste or smell – but new research says this could differ based on various factors.
Researchers tested a variety of symptoms and found that the most notable differences in symptoms was present between those aged 16-59 years compared to older age groups 60-80+.
They found that a loss of smell lost significance in people over 60 years of age and was not relevant for people over the age of 80.
Other early symptoms such as diarrhoea were key in those who were aged 60-79 and 80.
For those aged 40–59 years the experts said most people who suffered a persistent cough had a "higher relevance" to detect Covid and those with chills or shivers were less likely to have their infection detected.
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THREE OUT OF 10 UNDER 30s STILL HAVEN’T HAD THEIR FIRST JAB
Nearly a third of young adults in England have STILL not had a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, figures show.
Some 68.1% of people aged 18 to 29 had received a first dose by July 25, according to estimates from NHS England, meaning 31.9% are likely to be unjabbed.
This is the equivalent of around 2.7 million adults under 30.
The figures are a small improvement on the previous week, when 33.6% of 18 to 29-year-olds had yet to have a first dose.
But a breakdown of the age group by gender shows vaccine take-up remains lower among men than women.
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VACCINE ROLLOUT PREVENTED AN ESTIMATED 22m AND 60,000 DEATHS, NEW FIGURES SUGGEST
The Covid-19 vaccine rollout in England has prevented an estimated 22 million infections and 60,000 deaths, according to new figures from Public Health England.
Vaccines are also estimated to have directly averted more than 52,600 hospital admissions.
The figures cover the period up to July 23 and are based on modelling by Public Health England and Cambridge University.
Previous estimates, for the period up to July 9, had suggested around 37,000 deaths and 11,000,000 infections had been prevented.
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GERMANY TO REQUIRE PROOF OF COVID IMMUNITY OR NEGATIVE TEST ON ARRIVAL
All travellers arriving in Germany will be required from this weekend to demonstrate immunity from COVID-19 either from a vaccine or previous infection, or present a negative test result, government sources reported.
The plan reflects growing concern among Germany’s regional and national leaders that rising caseloads in tourist destinations could help fuel a fourth wave when Germans come home from holiday.
Germany now requires a negative test or proof of immunity only from those arriving from so-called “risk areas”, “high-incidence areas” and “virus-variant areas”, which in Europe now include Britain, Spain and the Netherlands.
Rules are now also applied differently at airports and road crossings, and regional leaders are keen to make them more consistent.
Germany saw 3,142 new infections on Thursday, according to its main disease fighting agency, the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases. Average daily new cases in Britain stand at almost 30,000.
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WATCH: ‘HOT TIKTOK DOC’ BUSTS COMMON COVID VACCINE MYTHS TO URGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET JABBED
‘Hot TikTok doc’ busts common Covid vaccine myths to urge young people to get jabbed
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FAKE COVID TRAVEL DOCUMENTS SOLD ONLINE FOR £100
Criminals are flogging forged EU and US documents claiming they come from an international network of corrupt doctors who enter false records of vaccinations on national databases.
Ads on messaging app Telegram claim to be able to provide a “vaccination card for anyone who does not want to take the vaccination but needs the vaccination card for work and travel.”
As fully vaccinated travellers from the EU and USA can enter the UK from Monday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he “cannot guarantee” that there would not be efforts to use fake documents.
One dodgy vendor boasts: “Our vaccination certificates are registered and authentic, clearly showing that you have been vaccinated and are displayed in the country’s database system with a valid vaccination number.”
After explaining that the documentation could help with entry to several different nations they said: “We are working on gaining access to other countries’ medical systems and will update the list.
One seller said he was able to arrange false documents for €200 (£170) each or €100 (£85) for two or more.
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CREEPY CONTACT TRACER
The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a probe after the worker used Charlotte Roffey’s details to ask if she was single.
She said: “He’s left me worried in my own home over who is going to knock on my door next.”
The 27-year-old was home alone after enjoying a sunshine break in Spain when the NHS Test and Trace employee called round.
Minutes after speaking to her on her doorstep, he creepily texted with a waving hand emoji to say: “Do I have the permission to save your number at all?
“Please ignore this if you don’t want that or have a husband or whatever lol.
“Apologies I asked.”
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DELTA VARIANT POSES ‘SEVERE’ RISK TO MUMS-TO-BE AS ALL PREGNANT WOMEN URGED TO GET JABBED
Almost all pregnant women hospitalised with Covid had not been vaccinated, shocking new figures showed yesterday.
Data from Oxford University suggested the Delta variant is causing more serious illness in pregnant women.
Half of those taken to hospital are now suffering “moderate to severe disease”, up from a quarter during the first wave.
Marian Knight, the study’s chief investigator, said: "It is extremely good news that so few vaccinated pregnant women have been admitted to hospital with Covid-19.
"However, it is very concerning that admissions of pregnant women to hospital with Covid-19 are increasing and that pregnant women appear to be more severely affected by the Delta variant of the disease.
"I cannot emphasise more strongly how important it is for pregnant women to get vaccinated in order to protect both them and their baby."
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EYE HELL
Covid causes eye problems by attacking the retina, researchers say.
The virus can lead to hazy vision and black spots, known as floaters.
Researchers in Brazil found traces of Covid in the retinas of those who died.
It was previously believed that Covid could impair vision, but experts have now found traces of the virus in the retinas of patients who died.
Read more here
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GRAPH: UK COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS PER DAY
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SANTANDER, BARCLAYS AND METRO BANK CLOSE BRANCHES DUE TO PINGDEMIC STAFF SHORTAGES
BANK branches from high street lenders such as Santander and Barclays have closed due to the on-going pingdemic causing staff shortages.
It comes as swathes of workers across the UK are isolating after being pinged by the NHS COVID app.
This has brought some businesses to their knees due to the staffing crisis. Last week, supermarket shelves were empty, postal services were delayed and fuel stations had to close as the worst of the chaos took hold.
Now banks have revealed that their high street branches have also been affected.
Santander said around 20 to 25 branches have been closing on a temporary basis.
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NUMBER OF COVID PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL FALLS IN FRESH SIGN PANDEMIC IS IN RETREAT
Admissions had been growing steadily since mid-May but patients on wards reduced by 126 to 5,056 in England and by one to 6,034 in the UK.
It means the third wave may have peaked a month before experts predicted.
Infections also continued to tumble, with 204,669 in the past seven days — 37 per cent down on the week before.
The figure of 31,117 new daily cases is lower than the 39,906 a week earlier.
A further 85 people in the UK have died
New data from Public Health England also revealed jabs have prevented an estimated 60,000 deaths and more than 22million infections.
Deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam hailed it a “truly massive” success.
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BRIT HOLIDAYMAKERS 'SET TO DODGE QUARANTINE WHEN VISITING SPAIN AS BETA VARIANT DISAPPEARS IN THE BALEARICS'
Ministers are said to have been shown data which reveals the Balearics – as well as a huge portion of the south coast from Seville to Malaga – are all now free from cases of the variant.
The beta variant, which originated in South Africa, is instead concentrated in one north west region of the country, The Telegraph reports.
And even there it has fallen to below 10 per cent of cases as the delta strain takes over.
Overall, beta cases have now dropped to 2.9 per cent of all Covid cases in Spain – down from nine per cent.
Meanwhile Spain's infection rate has dropped from 27,000 cases a day to 25,000 in the past week after the government introduced "soft" restrictions including vaccine and test passports to nightclubs and curfews at night.
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EXTRA HELP
Vital financial support for Brits struggling because of coronavirus will come to an end TOMORROW.
Millions of people have paused repayments on mortgages, credit cards and loans thanks to emergency rules introduced during the pandemic.
The payment holiday support was extended several times and now anyone who applied before the final deadline will find their break ending this weekend.
Banks and lenders will still be offering help to anyone who continues to be in financial difficulty because of Covid after this date.
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ISRAEL TO OFFER A BOOSTER SHOT FOR OVER 60s
Israel will begin offering a third shot of the Pfizer/Biontech COVID-19 vaccine to people aged over 60, a world first in efforts to slow the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, Israeli TV and radio said on Thursday.
Those eligible will be able to get the booster shot as long as they received their second dose more than five months ago, Channel 13 TV and Kan public radio reported.
Israel was a world leader in the vaccination rollout, with many seniors getting their jabs in December, January and February as they were regarded as the most vulnerable sector of the population.
But since the emergence of the Delta variant, the health ministry has twice reported a drop in the vaccine’s effectiveness against infection and a slight decrease in its protection against severe disease.
The booster campaign, expected to be announced formally soon, will effectively turn Israel into a testing ground for a third dose before approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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HOLIDAY HELL
Holiday goers must check their insurance if they’ve been pinged as they might not be covered for cancelling their trip, experts warn.
One million people were told to self isolate by the NHS Covid app in just one week recently, grinding Britain to a standstill.
Supermarket shelves have been left bare, pubs and restaurants have had to close and transport services have been delayed as workers across the country have been told to stay at home.
But if you’re due to go on holiday but have been pinged, experts have warned to check the small print of your policy.
Analysts Defaqto estimate that while nine in 10 travel insurance policies cover holiday cancellation costs if you get Covid, only six in 10 policies will cover you if in cases where you’ve been told to self-isolate.
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BRITAIN CLOSE TO HERD IMMUNITY, SCIENTISTS CLAIM
Britain is close to herd immunity, with the Covid pandemic “pretty much over for the UK”, a scientist has claimed.
It comes after a week where case numbers steadily dropped for seven days straight, puzzling experts and providing a glimmer of hope.
They have suggested the fall is a fluke due to the football being over, the warm weather and a lack of testing with kids being off school.
But others disagree, saying it shows vaccines are working combined with natural immunity from past infections to beat back the virus.
Dr David Matthews, a virologist and expert in coronaviruses from the University of Bristol, told the Telegraph: “In terms of herd immunity – by which we mean the virus has managed to reach everybody and therefore most people will have a level of immune memory – I suspect we’re very close to it.”
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UK DAILY COVID CASES RISE FOR SECOND DAY IN A ROW
The UK’s daily Covid cases have risen for the second day in a row with 31,117 reported in the last 24 hours.
However, infections are still on a downward curve – with infections down 24 per cent compared to last week.
This day last week 39,906 cases were reported along with 84 deaths.
Meanwhile Covid deaths have fallen slightly with a further 85 losing their lives to the killer bug.
It brings the total number of UK Covid deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test result to 129,515.
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WATCH: TOKYO 2020 ORGANISING COMMITTEE SAYS 24 PEOPLE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE IN THE PAST 24 HOURS
Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee says 24 people have tested positive in the past 24 hours
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NORTHERN IRELAND ‘FACES MORE SEVERE COVID WAVE DUE TO FLAGGING VACCINATION RATE’
Northern Ireland could be facing a more severe wave of Covid-19 than other parts of the UK due to its flagging vaccination rate, Stormont’s chief scientific adviser has warned.
Professor Ian Young said there is concern that people in the region appear less willing to get a jab than those in the UK.
His comments to the Assembly’s Health Committee came as the head of the vaccination programme, Patricia Donnelly, said uptake rates have “gone off a cliff” since the rollout opened to under-30s.
Also appearing before the committee, which was recalled from recess to discuss the increasing Covid pressures within hospitals, Ms Donnelly confirmed that vaccine booster jabs will start to be rolled out in Northern Ireland in September.
In Northern Ireland, 83% of the adult population have received first doses of a Covid-19 vaccine while 71% are fully vaccinated.
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VACCINE ROLLOUT PREVENTED AN ESTIMATED 22m AND 60,000 DEATHS, NEW FIGURES SUGGEST
The Covid-19 vaccine rollout in England has prevented an estimated 22 million infections and 60,000 deaths, according to new figures from Public Health England.
Vaccines are also estimated to have directly averted more than 52,600 hospital admissions.
The figures cover the period up to July 23 and are based on modelling by Public Health England and Cambridge University.
Previous estimates, for the period up to July 9, had suggested around 37,000 deaths and 11,000,000 infections had been prevented.
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