tonight at 6:00pm, there's evidence that the uk's new variant of coronavirus could be more deadly than the original virus. the prime minister says preliminary research suggests a rise in the number of people dying from the new strain. there is some evidence that the new variant, the variant that was first identified in london and the south—east, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality. the lockdown continues to lower the infection rate — the r number across the uk is now between 0.8 and 1. but borisjohnson says the infection rate remains "forbiddingly high" and he will not lift restrictions until the vaccination programme starts to work. also tonight...

a record number of people are vaccinated in the past 2a hours — almost 5.5 million have now had theirfirstjab, including more than 70% of people over 80. removing dangerous cladding — more than three and a half years after grenfell, less than half the residential tower blocks identified as dangerous by the government have had work completed. a 14—year—old boy is arrested on suspicion of murder after a 15—year—old is killed in broad daylight in birmingham. and the last of the giant killing hopes — non—league chorley prepare for tonight's fa cup showdown with top flight wolves. and coming up in sport on bbc news... the world athletics president, lord coe, says the rescheduled tokyo games may have to be held behind closed doors, if they're to go ahead injapan this summer.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the prime minister says there is some evidence that the new variant of coronavirus spreading across the uk could cause more deaths than the original strain. government scientists gave the example of a man in his 60s — with the old virus, out of every 1000 people infected around 10 would be expected to die. with this new variant that number has now risen to 13 or 1a. they warned that hospital admissions and the death rate would remain high for a while. there was good news on the vaccination programme with a record number — more than 400,000 first doses administered in the past 2a hours. but borisjohnson warned that the infection rate is still forbiddingly high and he said can't consider lifting restrictions in england until the vaccination programmes are working. with more here's our

health editor hugh pym. it has been another frantic week for hospitals like this at clacton in essex. more covid beds have been set “p essex. more covid beds have been set up to try to meet the surge in patient numbers. while most pull through, some don't, and now there is news a new variant of the virus, which first spread in the south—east of england, could be more deadly than the first strain. we of england, could be more deadly than the first strain.— of england, could be more deadly than the first strain. we have been informed today _ than the first strain. we have been informed today that _ than the first strain. we have been informed today that in _ than the first strain. we have been informed today that in addition - than the first strain. we have been informed today that in addition to l informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant, the variant first identified in london and the south—east, may be more associated with a higher degree of mortality. in light of the new information, do you expect the daily reported death toll to continue rising for longer than you had first thought, and then fall more slowly? the than you had first thought, and then fall more slowly?— fall more slowly? the death rate is awful. fall more slowly? the death rate is awful- and — fall more slowly? the death rate is awful. and it's _ fall more slowly? the death rate is awful. and it's going _ fall more slowly? the death rate is awful. and it's going to _ fall more slowly? the death rate is awful. and it's going to stay, - fall more slowly? the death rate is awful. and it's going to stay, i'm i awful. and it's going to stay, i'm afraid, _ awful. and it's going to stay, i'm afraid, high— awful. and it's going to stay, i'm afraid, high for a little while before — afraid, high for a little while before it _ afraid, high for a little while before it comes down. that was

always — before it comes down. that was always what was predicted from the shape _ always what was predicted from the shape of— always what was predicted from the shape of this, as chris has said, and i_ shape of this, as chris has said, and i think— shape of this, as chris has said, and i think the information about the new— and i think the information about the new variant doesn't change that. he said _ the new variant doesn't change that. he said there was still uncertainty about the death rate with the new variant and more research was needed. . . , . variant and more research was needed. ,, ., , ., ., ~y variant and more research was needed. ,, . , . . ~ , . needed. she was all i had. my dad already passed — needed. she was all i had. my dad already passed away _ needed. she was all i had. my dad already passed away and - needed. she was all i had. my dad already passed away and me - needed. she was all i had. my dad already passed away and me and l needed. she was all i had. my dad l already passed away and me and my mum were the closest.— mum were the closest. eleanor's mother sandra _ mum were the closest. eleanor's mother sandra died _ mum were the closest. eleanor's mother sandra died with - mum were the closest. eleanor's mother sandra died with covid i mum were the closest. eleanor's mother sandra died with covid ini mother sandra died with covid in hospital last week. she was 61 and had an existing health condition. eleanor says her mum took every precaution. eleanor says her mum took every precaution-— eleanor says her mum took every recaution. ~ ., , ., , precaution. mum was doing everything she needed to — precaution. mum was doing everything she needed to do. _ precaution. mum was doing everything she needed to do. she _ precaution. mum was doing everything she needed to do. she wasn't - precaution. mum was doing everything she needed to do. she wasn't going i she needed to do. she wasn't going out unnecessarily. she was always hand sanitising and wearing a mask. she was one of those people who thought it wouldn't touch my family, but here i am, absolutely devastated and without my mum. what but here i am, absolutely devastated and without my mum.— and without my mum. what is the outlook for _ and without my mum. what is the outlook for new _ and without my mum. what is the outlook for new cases? _ and without my mum. what is the outlook for new cases? a - and without my mum. what is the outlook for new cases? a study i and without my mum. what is the i outlook for new cases? a study by the office for national statistics does random testing and includes people who don't know they have the virus as well as those with symptoms. the latest survey for community infection by the 0ns suggests in england last week won in

55 had the virus, with case rates having decreased. in wales it was one in 70 with rates levelling off. in scotland, one in 100, again with case rates having levelled off. in northern ireland, one in 60 had the virus, with rates increasing. the r number range, anything above one suggesting the virus is accelerating, was between 0.8 and one, lowerthan accelerating, was between 0.8 and one, lower than the previous estimate. police in north london have reminded people that covid is a deadly and dangerous disease. after being called to a wedding with more than 100 guests, organisers are now facing a £10,000 fine. the school where the event took place says it was leased to an outside group and they didn't know a wedding was taking place. a new government ad campaign starting this evening aims to hammer home to the public the extreme pressure on the nhs and the impact of the virus. and health editor hugh pym is here.

so how worried should we be about the new variant being more deadly? now we have new research? health officials this — now we have new research? health officials this evening _ now we have new research? health officials this evening making - now we have new research? health officials this evening making it - officials this evening making it clear this is very early days, it is preliminary research and more work is needed, more data is needed. that was the tone adopted by sir patrick vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser. he said it would have to be monitored. it could be a cause for concern, and it's worth saying the slightly higher death rate shown by these preliminary figures applies to all infections. if you look at hospital data, there doesn't seem to be a difference. the good news that we heard today was that work around the vaccines and how effective they might be suggests with the new variant they are just as effective as with the original strain of the virus was not a little bit more concerning, sir patrick's comments that other variants that have been recently uncovered in south africa and brazil, there may

be a possible issue with vaccines, although experts have always said vaccines can be adapted. 0ne although experts have always said vaccines can be adapted. one other piece of vaccine going to make news this evening, the pfizer vaccine, reports from israel that the first dose wasn't quite as effective as people had been led to believe, sir patrick made it clear that was not a view that was widely shared at the moment and there was no issue particularly there.— moment and there was no issue particularly there. hugh pym, thank ou. let's go to westminster now and our deputy political editor, vicki young. it all sounded very bleak from the prime minister and the advisers this afternoon? and how does that translate into what the government will do next, that's what people want to know the stop on that the prime minister said broadly the package of measures and restrictions in place, he thought they were enough, but he hinted heavily there will be more restrictions around the border with speculation about extended quarantine. and what will he look at when it comes to unlocking and

lifting restrictions? he said he will have to be confident the vaccine programme is working. there is incredible progress being made there but it's not that alone, and that's what he was clear about. it's the infection rate that is clearly worrying him so much. it is still incredibly high and, yes, cases might start to come down in most places, but what he is very concerned about is starting to unlock, and then the whole thing rebounding again. what we do know is that there is still that review on february 15, and injust over three weeks' time, but there will be no expectation of any restrictions being lifted before then, and he has been very clear, as he has all along, schools will be first to reopen and he says everything will be done incredibly safely and cautiously. be done incredibly safely and cautiously-— be done incredibly safely and cautiousl . ., ., ,, let's look at the latest government figures. there were 40,261 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period.

on average the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 38,270. there were 38,562 people in hospital with coronavirus over the seven days to tuesday. 1,401 deaths were reported — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on average in the past week, 1,241 deaths were announced every day. the total number of deaths so far across the uk is 95,981. the uk's programme of mass vaccinations continues to ramp up with a new daily record for the roll—out. more than 400,000 people have had their first dose of one of the three approved covid—19 vaccines in the latest 24 hour period. it takes the overall number of people who've had their firstjab past the half million mark to over 5.3 million. with more than 5 million people now vaccinated against coronavirus — there's one vital question that

scientists can't yet answer. will the vaccine stop people who've had the jabs from passing on the virus? 0ur science editor david shukman looks at the current evidence surrounding transmission. rolling out the vaccines at a gathering pace marks the first big turning point in the pandemic. each one creating more protection against the disease. but there's something crucial we don't yet understand. if you've been vaccinated, can you still get infected? you would be safe if that happened, but could you spread the virus to others? we don't know for sure at this moment in time whether if an individual is infected after receiving the vaccine, they can transmit that to others. so the best thing to do is to presume that it's possible. so if someone is pinged because they've been in contact with somebody who has the infection, then they should self—isolate in the same way that they would have to if they had not had the vaccine. we do know from the trials that the injections

work remarkably well. they boost the production of antibodies that flow through the bloodstream to provide a key form of defence. so if the coronavirus does get in, the antibodies should block it from entering any of our cells. in addition to that, what are called t cells should provide another layer of protection. but there is no guarantee that any of this will stop an infection in the upper airway, with the virus taking hold and you releasing it. there is nothing confirmed about these risks after vaccination, but it is plausible you could still get an infection without symptoms. that's when you don't feel ill but could still be a carrier. in that case you'll probably have lower levels of the virus inside you than if you hadn't had the vaccine, and a shorter infectious period when you are a risk to others. even so, it is still conceivable you could spread the virus in your household, for example, to people you are close to and spend most time with.

the vaccines coming off the production lines were tested for how they keep people from getting ill, not whether they will still be infectious, so the advice is to remain careful, even though there is a good chance of a positive effect. the most likely scenario is going to be that the vaccines will reduce how much virus is in a person, even if they get infected, and make it less likely the person will pass the virus on to anybody else. and this may be relevant to the lockdown and when we get out of it. scientists who are trying to predict the spread of the virus say it is vital to know if vaccination slows that down. if it has a significant impact on transmission then we would be able to relax measures faster than if it doesn't. i am hopeful that we will be able to see some relaxation, at least getting out of lockdown in the march timeframe, but it will be very much a gradual process from then through to the end of the year.

so how the vaccine programme goes is crucial in so many ways. first, for saving lives, but also for helping to shape the future course of the pandemic. david shukman, bbc news. the first minister of wales has warned it will take five years for the nhs in wales to recover from the impact of the pandemic. twice as many patients have been admitted in this second wave and doctors said they've seen more deaths than ever in intensive care. but hospital admissions are now starting to stabilise. 0ur wales correspondent, hywel griffith, has been speaking to staff at swansea's morriston hospital. don't be deceived by the calm, the composure. this is a covid front line suffering staggering loss. normally the intensive care unit here would witness around a death a day. now it's up to five a shift. nhs staff filmed these pictures for us as no visitors are allowed, not even for a patient�*s final moments. the biggest thing that's bowled us

over is the absence of family, particularly at end of life. when a nurse steps in and becomes that next of kin, almost, the person that sits there and holds their hand. new treatments have kept more patients out of intensive care, but the consultant here says it means people on his unit are now far sicker than those he treated in the first wave. most patients at the moment who come to intensive care, who go on an invasive ventilator, sadly will not survive. these patients are mostly of working age, they don't have any significant medical conditions, and this is alien to us, as an intensive care unit. we would expect far more patients to survive. after a month of lockdown across wales, new admissions are starting to slow, but the wards are already full. there are now so many covid patients here that the health board has had to delay some planned treatment,

building up problems for the future. but they've also had hundreds of patients cancelling their own appointments for things like heart scans, believing they would be better off staying away until they have had a vaccine. doctors here are also worried that people may start to lower their guard as the vaccines are rolled out. robert, who made it through intensive care, has this warning. for goodness' sake, follow the rules. i've seen it first hand, and it isn't... it's an insidious disease, it creeps up on people. the pressures of this pandemic have left an indelible mark. it may take years for the system and the staff to recover. hywel griffith, bbc news, swansea. some of the hardest hit by this pandemic are those living in overcrowded housing with high levels of poverty. areas with a large proportion of black and other ethnic minority

households have also suffered. parts of east london have had the highest covid rates in the whole of the uk. 0ur social affairs correspondent michael buchanan has been to a mosque in newham in east london which has been forced to stop everything except its funeral services and foodbank. we've had so many bodies coming in. the ubiquity of death should not diminish the dignity of the dead. just now we've just washed somebody. it seems like she passed away in the ambulance. she didn't even make it to the hospital. these women wash covid—positive bodies prior to burial, a sacred islamic ritual. we actually believe that when we are shrouding here, that god is shrouding the soul at the same time. the volunteers, a teaching assistant and a full—time mother. but theirjob has become increasingly difficult. if somebody comes in, and this happens quite often,

with a catheter still attached, tubes still attached, resuscitation equipment still attached, we learn how to deal with that. normally the family would tend to their relatives, but covid has denied them that honour, deepening their grief. we keep social distancing now. we can't shake hands. this funeral, for a 49—year—old woman, was one of seven organised by the mosque last weekend. all services are free. as one family departs, another arrived, to view the body of their father and grandfather. two days ago, 72—year—old bashir alam died. another victim of covid. if corona wasn't here, my dad could have been alive another ten or 15 years, easily. easily, but corona is killing people. i'm on my way to get my covid vaccine. in an effort to tackle disinformation, the mosque's imam, who has been furloughed, has received a vaccine

to prove its not un—islamic. please come and get your vaccine done to protect yourself, your loved ones and those around you. at the mosque, the pandemic has forced them to notjust care for the dead, but also tend to the living. we are not only providing this funeral service, - we also have a food bank. just feet from the small mortuary, they store food to feed hundreds each week, a service demanded by the pandemic. mohammed rahman lost hisjob at an indian restaurant three months ago. it's left the father of two penniless. friday prayers here would usually attract 1100 people, but for the moment, physical solace matters more than spiritual comfort. the mosque is a community hub. prayers, yes, it's important. the need of the community is, they want to be fed,

they want a place where they can bury their loved ones. for this mosque, debating whether covid is a health or an economic crisis is futile. it is both and it is real. michael buchanan, bbc news, newham in east london. our top story this evening... there is no evidence that the new variant of coronavirus could be more deadly than the original. and non—league chorley prepare for tonight was my fa cup showdown with top—flight walls. —— wolves. coming up on sportsday on bbc news... five times a finalist in melbourne, andy murray says he's gutted as he pulls out of the australian open following his positive coronavirus test. more than three and a half years after

the deadly grenfell tower blaze, new figures show work to remove similar—style cladding on residential tower blocks has been completed on less than half of the buildings that have it. the government identified almost 400 tower blocks in england alone that needed cladding removed. it says good progress is now being made — with work started — if not completed — on almost all of them. ministers say that's a significant milestone. but residents say it's taking far too long. sarah corker reports. we have the same cladding that was on grenfell. another day trapped in an unsafe home. flat owners like amy were told in 2017 that this block in sheffield had dangerous cladding, but repair work restarted last month, and progress has been slow. the government seem to think that it's ok for three and a half years, and they've literallyjust started to take a few panels off. it's not good enough. while the government's building safety fund is paying for

this cladding to be removed, the building has other fire safety faults that are not covered by the fund. and they could cost more than £6 million to fix. so, flat owners are now facing repair bills of up to £50,000 each. where do the shortfalls in the fund leave you? financially unstable. in a position where we could go bankrupt, notjust me, but all the leaseholders, and i'm stuck in a building that is effectively unsafe, and it's absolutely terrifying. the £1.6 billion building safety programme was set up to remove grenfell—style cladding. ministers say 95% of blocks have had it taken off, or repairs are under way. but analysis of new data shows that work has been completed on just 58% of social housing and in the private sector, cladding repairs have been finished on only 30% of blocks. and those applying to the fund,

usually building managers or owners, are concerned about parts of the contract. the problem is, there a clause in here that says they will have to pay for any repair works not covered by the fund, so an unknown and potentially huge cost, is likely to be passed onto flat owners. it's a growing national scandal. this solicitor specialises in housing law, and warns that the fund doesn't go far enough. this scheme is significantly oversubscribed and underfunded. the result of that is somebody still needs to pick up the bill, and who is that going to be? the contract makes clear that it's going to be the leaseholders. and that could potentially be tens of thousands of pounds, which could be ruinous. and these huge costs and delays are paralysing parts of britain's property market. more than 50% of the valuation requests we get through, we are unable to deal with. because of? because they are unsellable. a lender will not lend money on those properties. the government refused our request

for an interview, but told us significant progress has been made removing dangerous cladding, and ministers continue to press building owners to make homes safer. but those living in flammable flats say it's taking far too long. sarah corker, bbc news, sheffield. more rain and flooding could be on the way for areas in england and wales that were already hit hard by storm christoph. flood warnings remain in place, after thousands of homes had to be evacuated in england and wales — with around 400 properties being flooded so far. accoridng to the environemnt agency over 27,000 properties in greater manchester, merseyside and cheshire have already been protected from flooding. figures out today show britain's debt reached an all—time high last month, as the economy continues to reel from coronavirus. government borrowing reached just over £34 billion in december, after public sector bodies borrowed 2.5 billion more in december

than the month before. it means that the public sector has now borrowed £270.8 billion since the beginning of the financial year in april. public sector debt keeps rising. by the end of december it had reached £2.13 trillion — an all—time record. a 14—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 15—year—old in birmingham. keon lincoln was attacked in broad daylight in the handsworth area of the city yesterday afternoon. witnesses reported seeing a group of youths armed with knives and hearing gunshots. sian lloyd reports. keon lincoln, described as a beloved son, who was full of life. police said he was subjected to inconceivable violence. the 15—year—old was attacked yesterday in the middle of the afternoon. this mobile phone footage was recorded soon after. forensic officers today continue to examine the street in the handsworth area of birmingham, where it happened.

witnesses saw a group of young people carrying knives, and shots were heard. police officers tried to give first aid before the ambulance arrived, but keon died shortly after being taken to hospital. this is a 15—year—old boy who has been murdered on the streets of birmingham. and our belief is that the other people responsible for it were also round about that age. we know we have got a 14—year—old lad who been arrested. his attackers fled in a white car, which crashed into a house a short distance away. why they targeted keon isn't yet known. people living here are shocked. the cycle of violence on our streets is of major concern. we have been seeking ways to make our streets safer for a number of years. our thoughts and condolences go out to the family of the young man. the 14—year—old boy remains in custody. police believe others were involved. keon�*s family are grieving a teenager who they remember as as fun—loving, with an infectious laugh that lit up a room. they are asking anyone

with information to come forward. sian lloyd, bbc news. the future of nissan's car plant in sunderland has been secured with the company saying the brexit trade deal will allow it to continue manufacturing in the north east, and give it a competitive advantage. nissan will begin making the batteries for its electric cars at the plant so that it can take advantage of zero trade tariffs — helping to secure 75,000 here and across the eu. four men have been sentenced to between 13 and 27 years in prison for the manslaughter of 39 vietnamese migrants. the victims�* bodies were found in the back of a lorry in essex in october 2019. the old bailey heard the victims suffered "excruciatingly painful" deaths when they suffocated in the container bringing them to the uk from belgium. andy murray has said he's "devastated" at having to pull out of the australian open after a positive test for covid—19.

the five—time finalist was prevented from travelling to melbourne for next month's tournament. today the former world number one said he'd been unable to agree a "workable quarantine" with tournament orgainsers and won't now be flying out, adding that he was "gutted". they are the last non—league team in the fa cup, and tonight chorley host premier league wolverhampton wanderers in the fourth round. chorley are five divisions below wolves, and a win for them would be one of the biggest upsets in fa cup history. andy swiss reports, at the aptly—named victory park, they are hoping for another giant—killing. chorley are managed by a primary school head teacher, and they've been giving the big boys a lesson. in the last round, beating derby. but it wasn't just their goals that grabbed the headlines. they celebrated by singing adele. millions watched on social media, but they were also criticised for breaching covid protocols. they say they will still sing if they beat wolves,

just more carefully. if we win we will be singing, but we just need to do it in a little bit more of a socially distant manner. there is no pressure on us, let's be honest. we are playing against wolves. they should be turning us over, no problems. we hope that's not going to be the case. we are going to give it absolutely everything. but this week, chorley have had another opponent — the weather. inflating a special tent to protect their pitch. well, here under this giant cover, chorley are hoping for another giant—killing. they have certainly had to battle the elements in this cup run but it's given them an unlikely hero. when frost threatened their last match, groundsman ben kay worked through the night with only a brief snooze on the grass. his reward — he has now been invited to help prepare the wembley pitch for the cup final. it's a dream come true, but i keep having this running joke about, we actually might be there, so i might have to actually pass on the invite. we'lljust see how far we can get. it's the old david and goliath

kind of story, isn't it? wolverhampton have just signed a playerfor 35 million. i don't think our whole squad would be worth £100,000. chorley fans, though, will remember the 1986 cup, when they beat wolves, then in the fourth division. that was some shock, but if they beat them tonight, well, hold the back page. andy swiss, bbc news. time for a look at the weather — here's ben rich. good evening. this was the view of the worst are taken by one of our weather watchers early on. the good news is those places so badly affected by flooding this week have affected by flooding this week have a chance to dry out this weekend. a different type of weather. it will be called the sunny spells but also some snow. the snow coming in the form of showers at the moment. you can see them drifting to the north—west of the uk, with the showers down to the south, a mixture of rain, sleet and snow, some of

them very heavy, drifting towards east anglia and the south—east for the evening. further showers pushing into the north—west with a covering of snow in places, and some icy conditions with temperatures dropping well below freezing, may be down to —9 in some parts of eastern scotland. tomorrow, a day of sunshine and showers, shower is wintry with sleet and snow ever higher ground, but even to lower levels, and by the afternoon, there is line up across south—west scotland, north—west england, merseyside, the midlands, east anglia, may be the odd one in the london area. to the north—east and south—west of the uk, largely dry, but very cold, between 2—7 celsius was not very cold again on saturday night, with frost quite widely, then this weather feature pushing night, with frost quite widely, then this weatherfeature pushing in night, with frost quite widely, then this weather feature pushing in from the west, and this is likely to bring snow for parts of england and wales on sunday. there is still some uncertainty about the detail. it is worth staying tuned to the forecast. some uncertainty about how far north

and how far east this weather system will