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Lockdown UK news: Boris Johnson insists Covid self-isolation 'essential' as expert warns of 1,000 hospitalisations a day
BORIS Johnson has been ordered to fix the 'pingdemic' that is forcing over a million people to self-isolate on so-called Freedom Day.
There are demands that Test and Trace isolation is immediately ditched for the double-jabbed as businesses face crippling staff shortages caused by the pinging of close contacts of those with Covid.
Tens of thousands are deleting the NHS app that pings close contacts of any positive case after a cases spike meant huge numbers, particularly in cities, were being forced to self-isolate at home despite no symptoms.
The pingdemic chaos threatens to dominate so-called Freedom Day, which got underway early as huge queues of Brits entered clubs at midnight for dancing, boozing and partying without any face masks or social distancing.
Meanwhile it was revealed today that millions of Brits are terrified of the inevitable case surge after Freedom Day, with 60% of those polled by YouGov saying they were "uncomfortable" with it, the Mirror reports.
73% of nightclubbers said they weren't ready to go back, 30% were too worried to use busses and trains, 59% won't go to large indoors events like concerts, 41% won't go to large outdoor sporting events, 35% are uncomfortable going to weddings and 43% won't go to the cinema.
Read our Freedom Day live blog for the very latest updates…
- Joseph Gamp
MUSIC INDUSTRY BODY SAYS SMALL VENUES SHOULD NOT BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN SIMILAR SIZED HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES
UK music industry body LIVE said small music venues should not be treated differently to similar-sized hospitality businesses over proof of vaccination requirements.
Greg Parmley, CEO of LIVE, said many festivals and larger venues were already implementing some form of certification.
In a statement, he said: "The Government has had several different positions on Covid certification in the last six months and we will need to see more detail before we can understand the full impact for the live music industry.
"Many festivals and large venues are already adopting some level of Covid certification, and as responsible event organisers, will continue to do so.
"What we are absolutely clear about, however, is that venues such as small music clubs should not be treated any differently to other similar-sized hospitality businesses such as bars and restaurants when it comes to the need for Covid vaccine certification."
- Joseph Gamp
PM EXPRESS CONCERN OVER 3 MILLION UNVACCINATED 18-30 YEAR OLDS
The PM expressed concern that more than a third of 18-30 year olds – some three million people – still haven't taken up the jab yet.
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance added: "Right the way across the world we've seen nightclubs and venues where you've got lots of people indoors crowded together are a focus for potential super spreading events.
"There's no question that is an environment in which spreading is easier, you've got lots of people quite close together, you've got the environment in which spreading becomes easier.
"I would expect that with opening of nightclubs we'll continue to see an increase in cases and we will see outbreaks related to specific nightclubs as well.
"And that's again why it's so important that everybody comes and gets a vaccine so we can reduce the chance of spread and we can reduce the chance of consequences of that spread."
- Joseph Gamp
YOU WILL NEED VACCINE PASSPORT TO PARTY AT NIGHTCLUB FROM SEPTEMBER, REVEALS BORIS JOHNSON
You WILL need vaccine passport to party at nightclub from September, reveals Boris Johnson
- Joseph Gamp
YOU WILL NEED VACCINE PASSPORT TO PARTY AT NIGHTCLUB FROM END OF SEPTEMBER, ANNOUNCES BORIS JOHNSON
Party-goers will have to be doubled jabbed to enter nightclubs from the end of September, Boris Johnson declared tonight.
In a major U-turn the PM said vaccine passports will be needed to hit the dance floor in a bid to boost take up among 18-30 year olds.
The PM made the announcement at a Downing St press conference amid fears not enough youngsters are getting the shot. Ministers are desperate to get as many jabs into arms as possible before self-isolation rules are eased on August 16.
Boris said: "We're concerned, as they are in other countries, by the continuing risk posed by nightclubs. I should serve notice now that by the end of September, when all over 18s will have had their chance to be double jabbed, we're planning to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather.
"Proof of a negative test will no longer be enough."
- Joseph Gamp
WATCH: DOUBLE-JABBED BRITS NOW MAKE UP 60 PER CENT OF THOSE HOSPITALISED WITH COVID
Double-jabbed Brits now make up 60 per cent of those hospitalised with Covid
- Joseph Gamp
PATRICK VALLANCE: 'THERE ARE HIGH LEVELS OF COVID AND THEY ARE INCREASING'
The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said there were "high levels of Covid and they are increasing".
He said the UK was quite close to the previous "winter wave" of infections.
He told the Downing Street briefing: "In the winter wave, we were up to around 60,000 people testing positive per day. We are now somewhere on towards 50,000. So we're quite close to the size of the winter wave of infections and this is going to increase."
Discussing hospital admissions, Sir Patrick said it was "a somewhat different picture" as the numbers are expected to increase, although not to the same extent as before.
"We do expect there to be over 1,000 people per day. Being hospitalised with Covid because of the increase in infections, but the rates should be lower than they have been previously because of the protective effects of vaccination," he said.
- Joseph Gamp
PATRICK VALLANCE: 'THERE ARE HIGH LEVELS OF COVID AND THEY ARE INCREASING'
The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said there were "high levels of Covid and they are increasing".
He said the UK was quite close to the previous "winter wave" of infections.
He told the Downing Street briefing: "In the winter wave, we were up to around 60,000 people testing positive per day. We are now somewhere on towards 50,000. So we're quite close to the size of the winter wave of infections and this is going to increase."
Discussing hospital admissions, Sir Patrick said it was "a somewhat different picture" as the numbers are expected to increase, although not to the same extent as before.
"We do expect there to be over 1,000 people per day. Being hospitalised with Covid because of the increase in infections, but the rates should be lower than they have been previously because of the protective effects of vaccination," he said.
- Joseph Gamp
PM: OFFICIALS ARE WORKING WITH GLOBAL PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE VACCINES CAN BE MUTUALLY RECOGNISED
Boris Johnson said officials were "working with partners around the world" to make sure vaccines can be mutually recognised.
Responding to a question over why vaccines administered abroad were not being recognised in the UK, Mr Johnson said: "Obviously we're working with partners around the world to make sure that we understand the efficacy of their vaccines and have mutual recognition for all efficacious vaccines as fast as possible."
England's deputy medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said: "The point you're making is a perfectly reasonable one, that if you've had a good vaccine in another country, then that vaccine is going to be just as good for you and give you just as much protection as the vaccines we are giving people here in the UK.
"And there is a great deal of awareness amongst my policy colleagues in Government about this, and there's a lot of work going on to sort this out. But it has to be done in a rational, careful way, and it has to be fair for all and we're working as hard as we can to get there."
- Joseph Gamp
JVT URGES PUBLIC TO GO 'CAUTIOUSLY AND GRAUDALLY'
Jonathan Van-Tam is asked whether he thinks the country is "tearing the pants off it" already.
He says some crowded scenes are outdoors, with lots of ventilation and ultra-violet light, but others are more associated with crowds and alcohol.
He says he wants everybody to go "cautiously and gradually" and a lot of people see rising case rates and "are worried – and I think they get it".
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- Joseph Gamp
PM ADMITS ROADMAP IS 'NOT IRREVERSIBLE'
Boris Johnson says the roadmap is "we hope irreversible but we can't guarantee that".
- Joseph Gamp
THERE COMES A POINT WHEN RESTRICTIONS NO LONGER PREVENT HOSPITALISATIONS AND DEATHS, SAYS PM
Boris Johnson defended the timing of lifting England's coronavirus restrictions despite the rising cases.
"There comes a point after so many have been vaccinated when further restrictions no longer prevent hospitalisations and deaths but simply delay the inevitable.
"So we have to ask ourselves the question: if not now, when?"
- Joseph Gamp
UK TO DEMAND VACCINATION PROOF FOR CLUBS & BIG CROWD EVENTS
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that he would make proof of double vaccination a condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gathered from the end of September.
"I can serve notice now that by the end of September when all over 18s will have had their chance to be double jabbed, we're planning to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather," Johnson said.
"Proof of a negative test will no longer be enough."
- Joseph Gamp
PM: PEOPLE MUST ACCEPT INCREASING NUMBERS OF SELF ISOLATING PEOPLE 'A CONSEQUENCE OF LIVING WITH COVID'
Boris Johnson said people had to accept that increasing numbers would be required to self-isolate "as a consequence of living with Covid".
The Prime Minister, speaking from his own self-isolation in Chequers, said: "I know how frustrating it is for all those who have been affected or pinged."
But people identified as contacts were "at least five times more likely to be infected than others".
"Even if they have been vaccinated there is a significant risk that they can still pass the disease on. And so as we go forward I'm afraid that the continuing sacrifice of this large minority, those of us who have been asked to isolate, remains important to allow the rest of society to get back to something like normality.
"I'm afraid that at this stage it's simply a consequence of living with Covid and opening up when cases are high in the way that we are."
- Joseph Gamp
EXPECT TO SEE MORE VACCINATED PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL WITH COVID – PATRICK VALLANCE
Boris Johnson says the number is "rising" but the vaccine is protecting people against serious illness.
Sir Patrick Vallance says around 60 per cent of people admitted to hospital have been double vaccinated, but "that's not surprising" because it is inevitable given the number of people who have now been vaccinated.
He stresses that they reduce the chances of catching and passing it on, but "slightly less effective" at preventing serious disease.
"Expect to see a higher proportion of people in hospital and catching Covid that have been vaccinated," he says.
- Joseph Gamp
NO PLANS TO TWEAK COVID APP AS THOUSANDS ISOLATE ON ENGLAND'S 'FREEDOM DAY'
The NHS Covid-19 app will not have its sensitivity tweaked, Downing Street has confirmed, despite industries warning of staff shortages as England lifts almost all coronavirus restrictions.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are among the hundreds of thousands of people currently self-isolating due to being alerted by NHS Test and Trace that they have come into close contact with a positive case.
Hospitality, leisure, food production and retail sectors have complained of having to close premises or cut opening hours because of the number of people being told to stay home for 10 days after being in contact with a person who has tested positive.
Andrew Lloyd Webber was among those to warn that "freedom day has turned into closure day" after the cancellation of performances of his West End show Cinderella.
But the Government said it does not plan to reduce the sensitivity of the app to avoid people being "pinged".
- Joseph Gamp
BORIS JOHNSON DEFENDS FREEDOM DAY TIMING
Boris Johnson defended the timing of lifting England's coronavirus restrictions despite the rising cases.
He argued that not opening up now, with the "firebreak" offered by the school holidays, meant the risk of even tougher conditions in the colder winter months.
Speaking at a press conference from his Chequers self-isolation, the Prime Minister said: "There comes a point after so many have been vaccinated when further restrictions no longer prevent hospitalisations and deaths but simply delay the inevitable.
"So we have to ask ourselves the question: if not now, when?"
- Joseph Gamp
'WE ARE CLOSE TO WINTER WAVE OF INFECTIONS' SAYS PATRICK VALLANCE
Sir Patrick Vallance says "we are quite close" to the size of winter wave of infections, and that step four is "a big inside mixing step" so it will go higher.
But hospitalisations are "a somewhat different picture", he adds, thanks to the vaccines.
"We do expect this number to increase – over 1,000 people a day hospitalised – but the rate should be slower than it has been previously,"
- Joseph Gamp
CRUCIAL SERVICES WILL BE PROTECTED BY ALLOWING "SMALL NUMBER" OF WORKERS TO LEAVE ISOLATION FOR WORK
"Crucial services" will be protected – including food, trains, medicines, borders, defence – by "making sure a small number" of critical workers are able to leave their isolation "solely for the work I have described".
But for everyone else "myself included, we do need to stick to the system as is", said the PM.
- Joseph Gamp
ISOLATION IS NECESSARY TO GIVE FREEDOM TO EVERYONE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY, SAYS BORIS JOHNSON
Boris Johnson says isolation for those who come into contact with positive cases is necessary to give freedom to everyone else in the country.
But come Aug 16, we will move to a system of testing rather than isolating for those who have been double vaccinated.
In the meantime, he says "crucial services" will be protected – including food, trains, medicines, borders, defence – by "making sure a small number" of critical workers are able to leave their isolation "solely for the work I have described".
But for everyone else "myself included, we do need to stick to the system as is">
- Joseph Gamp
PROOF OF A NEGATIVE TEST WILL NO LONGER BE ENOUGH IN SEPTEMBER TO GAIN ENTRY TO VENUES
We reserve the right to mandate certification at any point, the PM warns.
We are planning to make vaccination the number one requirement for entry into nightclubs and other venue.
"Proof of a negative test will no longer enough," the PM says.
"We must remain cautious and we must continue to get vaccinated," he adds.
- Joseph Gamp
MANY OF LIFE'S FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE DEPENDANT ON VACCINATION
Not everyone over 18 has had a first dose, says the PM.
There are still 35% 18-35 year olds who are completely unvaccinated, the PM warns.
We need more young adults to step up and get the jabs.
Opportunities in the future will require jabs, the PM says.
- Joseph Gamp
SMALL MINORITY OF CRITICAL WORKERS ARE EXEMPT FROM ISOLATION
This includes train workers, health workers and other critical services, says the Prime Minister.
- Joseph Gamp
TEST AND TRACE IS VITAL TO GETTING BACK TO NORMAL LIFE, SAYS BORIS
It is vital to carry on test and trace and for people to self-isolate, says the PM.
As we go forward, the sacrifice of isolating is vital for everyone to get back to normal.
It is a consequence of living with Covid, says the PM.
- Joseph Gamp
WE HAVE TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY – PM
We have to ask ourselves the question – if not now, then when?
It is right to proceed cautiously – and the pandemic is far from over.
- Joseph Gamp
WE HAVE REACHED FOURTH STEP ON ROADMAP – PM
With more nd more people being asked to isolate, there are lots of people out there who are worrying.
The PM says it is right to take the step now – and if we dont open up now, we face even tougher conditions whenthe virus has better conditions.
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