UK Covid live: second vaccine doses for over-50s and vulnerable accelerated as Indian variant threatens June easing | Politics

The PM is asked how soon he would implement restrictions if cases of “variants of concern” put pressure on hospitals. Johnson responds he would implement measures if it appeared the NHS was becoming overwhelmed.

Prof. Whitty is asked when the under 30s can except to receive the vaccine. He replies he hopes everybody has their first vaccine by end of July, saying “that is the aim”.

The PM said he is “very sorry” for the those living in Bolton and Blackburn where there is a surge of the Indian variant and he will not impose further restrictions on them.

Johnson added advanced surveillance and data gathering means if there is a danger of the NHS coming under unsustainable pressure we would see the signs early on and could react in good time.

To clarify, Johnson said the roadmap out of lockdown remains in place but the Indian variant “could make it more difficult to move to step four in June”.

Johnson also said the NHS will also prioritise first doses for anyone eligible who has not yet come forward.

He urged people “to exercise the greatest caution because the choices we each make in the coming days will have a material effect” on England’s progress.

“We won’t be preventing businesses from reopening on Monday but we will be asking you do to your bit.

This includes getting the vaccine when eligible, getting free lateral flow tests and isolating when asked.

On the number of Covid-19 admissions in Greater Manchester NHS trusts, Prof. Whitty said hospital admissions are low but this is “early days”.

Now onto the seven-day case rates by age in Bolton, Prof Whitty said the Indian variant has been found in the region with cases going up significantly over the past few weeks, especially in the over 60s.

Onto the slide for the weekly number of sequenced cases of the Indian variant in England, Professor Whitty said this is on a steady upward curve. He added there is confidence the Indian variant is more transmissible than the UK strain.

The second slide shows the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 which is also decreasing.

Onto the slideshow with Prof. Chris Whitty, the first shows the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK. The most recent seven-day average is 2,255 cases.

The PM added he “has to level” with the country, adding that the new variant could pose a “serious disruption to our progress”.

Johnson said: “We believe this variant is more transmissible… but we don’t know by how much.

“If the variant is significantly more transmissible, we’re likely to face some hard choices” when it comes to easing restrictions.

The PM said the plan remains for businesses including restaurants to reopen on Monday and he will not delay the roadmap out of lockdown.

Johnson has announced the government will accelerate second doses to the over 50s and people clinically vulnerable, eight weeks after their first dose.

Johnson said the Indian variant is “more transmissible” than the previous one “but we don’t by how much”.

Johnson has been told it is only marginally transmissible at the moment and no evidence suggests that the vaccines will be less effective against it.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to hold a Downing Street press conference in around ten minutes alongside Professor Chris Whitty which we will be liveblogging.

Following the meeting between Boris Johnson and Taoiseach Micheal Martin at Chequers, an Irish government statement said: “The Taoiseach and Prime Minister had constructive engagement across a number of issues, including the Covid-19 response, support for peace and stability in Northern Ireland, and the broader British-Irish relationship.

“Discussions focused on ways the two Governments can continue to work together to support all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and promote peace and prosperity on both a North/South and East/West basis.

“The two leaders, in particular, discussed the long journey of the Ballymurphy families for justice to vindicate the innocence of their loved ones.

“They also discussed British-Irish relations, and both are ambitious for the development of the next phase of the bilateral relationship framed around a number of areas of common interest.

“The Taoiseach and Prime Minister had a good exchange on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the value of working together. They agreed to remain in close touch over the coming weeks.”

Sturgeon has told MSPs that “pressing pause” would ensure that coronavirus measures would not have to be reimposed at a later date.

Announcing that both Moray and Glasgow will remain in Level 3 even as the rest of the country moves to Level 2 on Monday, the first minister said:

I know how disappointing this will be, but pressing pause for a few days will hopefully avoid a situation in which we have to impose even more restrictive measures over the next few weeks.

People are being advised not to travel in or out of the affected council areas, while the first minister added she was optimistic that increased testing and vaccination would help to curb the increased spread of the virus.