the issue is how much more infectious, as chris whitty said, but if— infectious, as chris whitty saidfectious, it could be a real problem for us. if it's only— could be a real problem for us. if it's only moderately infectious, it may well— it's only moderately infectious, it may well be something that we can still manage within the existing road _ still manage within the existing road map out of lockdown. professor griffiths, david — road map out of lockdown. professor griffiths, david says _ road map out of lockdown. professor griffiths, david says what _ road map out of lockdown. professor griffiths, david says what happened, j griffiths, david says what happened, or what's happened to the brazilian variant and the south african one? well, they're still around. they just haven't taken off in the numbers in the way that the indian variant has, and this may be partly due to vaccination. 0bviously, variant has, and this may be partly due to vaccination. obviously, the reason we know about the different variants is that numbers of tests will get sent off to have their genomic sequencin

but according to chris whitty who is also speaking earlier today, to chris whitty who is also speakingtty who is also speaking earlier today, it could be up to 50% in which case that does have potentially quite serious consequences. it is worth noting that he also said that the variant is now seated across large parts of the country. and it does raise that question again of the delays of this government that are taking a month between india and announcing concern about this variant to the government finally closing uk borders. again just seems too slow, too late, too risky and too dangerous. what just seems too slow, too late, too risky and too dangerous. what about the mitigating _ risky and too dangerous. what about the mitigating steps _ risky and too dangerous. what about the mitigating steps the _ risky and too dangerous. what about the mitigating steps the governmentj the mitigating steps the government is taking? for example narrowing the gap between the first and the second job from 12 weeks down to eight weeks, surge testing particularly hard hit. although not going as far as

. — ants, you know, professor chris whitty. the _ ants, you know, professor chris whitty, the chief medicalfactor, so that's why the jcb i is sticking with— that's why the jcb i is sticking with their— that's why the jcb i is sticking with their rules, even though there are these _ with their rules, even though there are these hotspot areas. we with their rules, even though there are these hotspot areas.— with their rules, even though there are these hotspot areas. we will see how this develops _ are these hotspot areas. we will see how this develops over _ are these hotspot areas. we will see how this develops over this - are these hotspot areas. we will see how this develops over this coming l how this develops over this coming week, but many people say, welcome as you have said, just get the jabs out there. let's turn to the front page of the mirror, and it's your paper, lizzie, so let's stay with you for now. happy hours for now. yes, we have sort of tried to capture _ yes, we have sort of tried to capture a _ yes, we have sort of tried to capture a bit of the optimism of the fact that.

and to professor chris whitty, given the indian variant is spreading — whitty, given the indian varianty among young and unvaccinated people, should those people _ unvaccinated people, should those people in_ unvaccinated people, should those people in those groups avoid taking advantage of the new freedoms being introduced on monday such as going to the _ introduced on monday such as going to the pub? introduced on monday such as going to the ub? �* ., ., ., , to the pub? sam, i'm afraid i really cannot speculate _ to the pub? sam, i'm afraid i really cannot speculate about _ to the pub? sam, i'm afraid i really cannot speculate about that - to the pub? sam, i'm afraid i really cannot speculate about that and . to the pub? sam, i'm afraid i really| cannot speculate about that and too much detail at this stage because as you have heard earlier on, there are just some things we still don't know about this new variant. we just need about this new variant. we just need a bit more time for so in a couple of weeks, we will know much, much more than we do now. but i want to say that i know th

the government's chief medical adviser chris whitty said on monday it would be less_ chris whitty said less likely to escape vaccines and the south african variant —— looked — and the south african variant —— looked less_ and the south african variant —— looked less likely. and that one has never_ looked less likely. and that one has never really taken off here in the uk. never really taken off here in the uk it— never really taken off here in the uk it is— never really taken off here in the uk. it is vital to stay on top of these — uk. it is vital to stay on top of these concerning variants. there is surge _ these concerning variants. there is surge testing for covid in the bolton — surge testing for covid in the bolton area and many of the cases are in_ bolton area and many of the cases are in people under 25 and that has prompted _ are in people under 25 and that has prompted the mayor of manchester to ask for— prompted the mayor of manchester to ask for vaccination now to be opened up ask for vaccination now to be opened up immediately to all of those over 16. up immediately to all

they have and we heard chris whitty say yesterday that it is more infectious than the kent variant.it's more infectious, and we've already said it probably isn't that much more resistant to immunity than the kent variant. so, it has to be more infectious. the issue is how much more infectious, as chris whitty said on monday, but if it's very infectious, it could be a real problem for us. if it's only moderately more infectious, it may well be something that we can still manage within the existing road map out of lockdown. professor griffiths, david says what happened, or what's happened to the brazilian variant and the south african one? well, they're still around. theyjust haven't taken off in the numbers in the way that the indian variant has, and this may be partly due to vaccination. obviously, the reason we know about the different variants is that a certain number of tests will get sent off to have their genomic sequencing done, but it's only some of the positive tests that get sent off. but to date, we haven't seen those particular variants spreading. it could also be to do w

patrick vallance was very, very clear, chris whitty was very, very clear, chris whitty was very, verymore effective response now may reduce the _ said a more effective response now may reduce the length _ said a more effective response now may reduce the length of— said a more effective response now may reduce the length of time - said a more effective response now| may reduce the length of time from which _ may reduce the length of time from which some — may reduce the length of time from which some measures _ may reduce the length of time from which some measures are - may reduce the length of time fromi which some measures are required. may ish't _ which some measures are required. may isn't wetcome _ which some measures are required. may isn't welcome is _ which some measures are required. may isn't welcome is it? _ which some measures are required. may isn't welcome is it? ”i'he- which some measures are required. may isn't welcome is it?— may isn't welcome is it? the word ma does may isn't welcome is it? the word may does not _ may isn't welcome is it? the word may does not mean

chris whitty at the downing street press _ chris?ng to make sure that those who are at most risk— wanting to make sure that those who are at most risk have _ wanting to make sure that those who are at most risk have the _ wanting to make sure that those who are at most risk have the greatest. are at most risk have the greatest protection — are at most risk have the greatest protection that _ are at most risk have the greatest protection that we _ are at most risk have the greatest protection that we can _ are at most risk have the greatest protection that we can confer - are at most risk have the greatestl protection that we can confer upon them _ protection that we can confer upon them at _ protection that we can confer upon them at the — protection that we can confer upon them. at the moment, _ protection that we can confer upon them. at the moment, the- protection that we can confer upon. them. at the moment, the decision protection that we can confer upon i them. at the moment, the decision is falling _ them. at the moment, the d

to chris whitty, there is some data suggesting that the indian variant isn't really rising in the oversooner. sam i am going to try and _ border from there sooner. sam i am going to try and pick— border from there sooner. sam i am going to try and pick up _ border from there sooner. sam i am going to try and pick up the - going to try and pick up the question you directed to patrick since he is not here, you probably can't see that for some reason. but i willjust can't see that for some reason. but i will just say can't see that for some reason. but i willjust say on the borders issue, the, the relevant committee was looking at was the threat of variance of concern, coming from abroad, and that stage, india was not identified as having a voc, a variant of concern, so that is why the decision was taken. pakistan for instance i think had three times as much of variants of concession, they had the south african variant, so that was the reason for that decision, but don't forget everybody coming, forgive me from india or anywhere else, had to face very very tough quarantine rule, they had

this is certainly something people like chris whitty have said we will have to live with for some timeome time. ,~' ., ,., we will have to live with for some time. n' ., ,., ~' time. in the risk of sounding like the four yorkshireman's - time. in the risk of sounding like the four yorkshireman's sketch l time. in the risk of sounding like - the four yorkshireman's sketch from monty python, i have to sayjo i am quite

cobra meetings and he just tells everyone, "it's swine flu, don't worry about it, i'm going to get chris whittye live on tv with coronavirus so everyone realises it's nothing to be frightened of," that would not help actually serious planning. only halfway through... i will first call the prime ministerto answer... ..the prime minister had to defend the claims next door. the handling of this pandemic has been one of the most- difficult things this country's had to do for a very- long time, and none of- the decisions have been easy. to go into a lockdown is a - traumatic thing for a country. mr cummings�* real vitriol was saved, though, for the health secretary, who may notjust be able to run away from a long list of accusations. i think that the secretary of state for health should've been fired for at least 15, 20 things, including lying to everybody on multiple occasions in meeting after meeting in the cabinet room and publicly. whether, he claimed, misleading on testing, on ppe and putting people in care homes in danger. the government rhetoric was, "we put a shield around care homes and bla

this is certainly something people like chris whitty have said we will have to live with for some time. in we will have to live with for some time. , ~ ., we will have to live with for some time. ,~' ., ,., we will have to live with for some time. n' ., ,., ~' time. in the risk of sounding like the four yorkshireman's - time. in the risk of sounding like the four yorkshireman's sketch l time. in the risk of sounding like - the four yorkshireman's sketch from monty python, i have to sayjo i am quite envious that your son could open the windows, the school i went to he couldn't open the windows because it is on the top of hill, you would blow off. and in the summer that wasn't very pleasant, can tell you! smiles return, great british mask. we have all learned to smile with our eyes, haven't we? this is it. i never thought i would live to _ this is it. i never thought i would live to see — this is it. i never thought i would live to see the day when the government would be telling me what is a hug. _ government would be telling me what is a hug, when is a hug a real hug and not _ is a hug

chairing cobra meetings and he just tells everyone, "it's swine flu, don't worry about it, i'll get chris whittyve tv to inject me with coronavirus so everyone realises it's nothing to be frightened of" — that would not help actually serious planning. with the virus spreading, on march the 12th, number ten faced competing distractions, including a us request for military support. that day, the times had run a huge story about the prime minister and his girlfriend, and their dog. and the prime minister's girlfriend was going completely crackers about this story, demanding that the press 0ffice deal with that. so we had this, sort of, completely insane situation in which part of the building was saying, "are we going to bomb iraq"? part of the building was arguing about whether or not we were going to do quarantine, or not do quarantine. the prime minister has his girlfriend going crackers about something completely trivial. carrie symonds, the prime minister's fiancee, got off lightly compared to the health secretary, matt hancock who might want to look away now. all we're really hearing here is

also looks at this line, whilst noting that the chief scientific advisers — patrick vallance and chris whitty begin with the daily mail. i think it was, a lot of speculation before today about how much impact this will make with the public. at the proof is, it was a really significant day of testimony from the prime minister's former senior adviser. i think the reason for that, it wasn't even so much the fine—grained details of dominic cummings account that we got, and he said some pretty explosive things about matt hancock, accused him of lying on several occasions, some pretty explosive things about what the prime minister has said stop at the prime minister has said stop at the end of the day, this is just one man's testimony, and when we get to a proper inquiry, we will have a lot more testimony to put into the mix. when you think what to date they provided us with, it was much more evidence that fills in the gaps of some of what of what we already knew about the government's really significant failings over the last 14 months. so what we saw dominic cummings talk about, he talked about t

cobra meetings and he just tells everyone, "it's swine flu, don't worry about it, i'm going to get chris whittylive on tv with coronavirus so everyone realises it's nothing to be frightened of," that would not help actually serious planning. only halfway through... i will first call the prime ministerto answer... ..the prime minister had to defend the claims next door. the handling of this pandemic has been one of the most- difficult things this country's had to do for a very- long time, and none of- the decisions have been easy. to go into a lockdown is a - traumatic thing for a country. mr cummings' real vitriol was saved, though, for the health secretary, who may notjust be able to run away from a long list of accusations. i think that the secretary of state for health should've been fired for at least 15, 20 things, including lying to everybody on multiple occasions in meeting after meeting in the cabinet room and publicly. whether, he claimed, misleading on testing, on ppe and putting people in care homes in danger. the government rhetoric was, "we put a shield around care homes and blah,

cobra meetings and he just tells everyone, its swine flu, don't worry about it, i'm going to get chris whitty me live on tv with coronavirus so everyone realises it's nothing to be frightened of. that would not help actually serious planning. only half through... i first called the prime ministerto answer... the prime minister had to defend the claims next door. this morning, the prime minister's former closest adviser said, - "when the public needed us most, the government failed." _ does the prime minister agree with that? - the handling of this pandemic has been one of the most difficult things this country has had to do for a very long time and none of the decisions have been easy. to go into a lockdown is a traumatic thing for a country. mr cummings real vitriol was saved for the health secretary, who may notjust be able to run away from a long list of accusations. i think that the secretary of state for health should have been fired for at least 15, 20 things, including lying to everybody on multiple occasions in meeting, after meeting in the cabinet room and publicly. whether he claime

chairing cobra meetings and he just tells everyone, "it's swine flu, don't worry about it, i'll get chris whittyve tv to inject me with coronavirus so everyone realised it's nothing to be frightened of" — that would not help actually serious planning. by 12 march, household quarantine for those with symptoms was being discussed, along with a us request tojoin a bombing attack in iraq. that day, the times had run a huge story about the prime minister and his girlfriend, and their dog. and the prime minister's girlfriend was going completely crackers about this story, demanding that the press office deal with that. so we had this, sort of, completely insane situation in which part of the building was saying, "are we going to bomb iraq"? part of the building was arguing about whether or not we were going to do quarantine, or not to quarantine. the prime minister has his girlfriend going crackers about something completely trivial. the questioning moved on to the work of the department of health, and the health secretary, matt hancock, focusing on issues like the supply of protective equipment and t

on monday chris whitty, the chief medical advisor said it appeared less likely to be able to escape vaccinesround here since december and has never really taken off. it is vital we stay on top of these variants of concern and there is a surge testing in bolton, a lot of tests picked up in people under the age of 25 which has prompted the mayor of manchester ask for vaccination to be open to all those in the region over 16. the mutated variants of the one thing that could derail the return to normality but on the positive side vaccines can be changed if needed and there are plans for a third booster dose in autumn but only if required. booster dose in autumn but only if reuuired. , . ., , booster dose in autumn but only if reuuired. , ~ ., , ., ., required. fergus walsh, thanks for “oininu us. downing street said tonight that borisjohnson has "apologised unreservedly on behalf of the uk government" for the events that took place in ballymurphy in west belfast in 1971 — when ten people were killed in the wake of an operation by the british army. yesterday the families of those who died won a 5

coronavirus briefing, today led by prime minister borisjohnson, england's chief medical officer chris whitty the government's chief scientific adviser sir patrick vallance. and we'll be looking at current restrictions in scotland, wales and northern ireland and what's planned next wales and northern ireland for easing restrictions for people living in those areas. the uk's covid alert level has been lowered from four to three, which means the virus is no longer spreading exponentially. in the next half an hour, the prime minister is due to hold a briefing from downing street and he's expected to announce a major easing of restrictions in england. that will mean, from next monday, six people or two households can meet indoors, while groups of up to 30 can meet outdoors. pubs and restaurants would be able to reopen indoors, and — at last — people could hug friends and family outside their households. our health correspondent catherine burns reports. you have got to do two verses... # happy birthday to you, # happy birthday to you!# since the pandemic began we've had to learn to do everyday thi

chris whitty last night was seeing obviously it is going to make a difference if it is just a littlere contagious. when will we know?— it is a lot more contagious. when will we know? i think we are going to learn a lot _ will we know? i think we are going to learn a lot more _ will we know? i think we are going to learn a lot more about - will we know? i think we are going to learn a lot more about this - will we know? i think we are going to learn a lot more about this overj to learn a lot more about this over the next two to three weeks. it does seem pretty much beyond doubt that it is significantly more infectious but we just do not know how much more yet and if it is a lot more than that really is a serious problem, so i think there will be in a much clearer position in the early part or middle part ofjune than we are now and in the meantime it is a case of managing the uncertainty and trying to get it right, not overreacting or under reacting to a potential threat.— potential threat. thank you very much for talking _ potential threat. thank you very much for talking to _ potenti

minister chairing cobra meetings and he is telling erne it is entire flu, don't worry, i will get chris whittyng to frightened of. that would not help serious planning. finir; frightened of. that would not help serious planning.— frightened of. that would not help serious planning. only happen way throu~h. serious planning. only happen way through- first _ serious planning. only happen way through. first call— serious planning. only happen way through. first call the _ serious planning. only happen way through. first call the prime - through. first call the prime minister to _ through. first call the prime minister to answer. - through. first call the prime minister to answer. the - through. first call the prime l minister to answer. the prime minister to answer. the prime minister had _ minister to answer. the prime minister had to _ minister to answer. the prime minister had to defend - minister to answer. the prime minister had to defend the - minister to answer. the prime i minister had to defend the claims next door. , ., next door. this morning the prime minister's former _ next door. thi

worse johnson delayed acting on this for six weeks, six weeks after dominic cummings, chris whitty, they this second wave that is coming down the tracks very fast. in the prime minister simply refused. he is culpable for that, but part of that for a second at the same time, today was about politics, today was a bit of a ride, which is why you have got to be slightly tongue—in—cheek about everything he says, he is an angry man, he was fired, he was left from number ten and he was the prime ministers confidence, and he himself chronicled the historical collapse in their relationship that went on from the start of the pandemic to november, so march, november of last year, there political marriage simply collapsed into pieces. we have to remember that at the same time, look, ithink have to remember that at the same time, look, i think dominic cummings testimony will add something to this, but you have to refract it through that lens of these people are politicians, they have been throwing, you know, blood, mock, molten lava on each other for 20 years. he spent in westminster for 20 years, he

minister chairing cobra meetings and he is telling everyone it is swine flu, "don't worry, i will get chris whittyinject me live on tv with covid, so people realise it's noting to frightened of", that would not help serious planning. only halfway through. first call the prime| minister to answer. the prime minister had to defend the claims next door. this morning the prime minister's former closest adviser said, "when the public needed us most, the government failed." does the prime minister agree with that? the handling of this pandemic has been one of the most difficult things this country has had to do for a very long time. none of the decision have been easy. to go into a lockdown is a traumatic thing for a country. mr cummings' real vitriol was saved for the health secretary. who may notjust be able to run away from a long list of accusations. i think that the secretary of state for health should have been fired for at least 15, 20 thing, including... 20 things, including... and putting people in care homes in danger. the government rhetoric was we put a shield around care home, a shield arou

my responsibility to make sure to give him and chris whitty as many options in terms of vaccines, andi'm sure i programme in the autumn. just for practical questions, i'm sure many| practical questions, i'm sure many of our viewers might have this morning, is it still all up in the air in terms of whether you have those jabs in the other arm, potentially a pill form available? is that still under discussion? 50 is that still under discussion? so the is that still under discussion? sr the booster is that still under discussion? 5r the booster would is that still under discussion? 5ri the booster would be a jab in the arm. and they are looking at the different, you know, as i explained, whether you go with astrazeneca, astrazeneca, pfizer, or pfizer, pfizer, novavax, and so on. and that is the study, and they will report. and by the way, there is interest notjust in the uk, there is global interest in the study because it will impact how other countries deal with this. we have a separate clinical studies which we have put £7 million into which is the mix study, where we are mixing and m

on monday, the government's chief medical adviser, professor chris whitty, said it seemed less likely covid in the bolton area, and many of the cases are in people under 25, and that's prompted the mayor of manchester to ask for vaccination now to be opened up immediately to all those over 16. now, variants of concern of the big unknown, they are the one thing that can derail the return to normality, but we know that vaccines can be tweaked. there is a plan in place for a booster third dose this autumn, but we don't know yet whether that will be needed. fergus walsh on that variant. surge testing is to be deployed in redditch, worcestershire, following the identification of multiple confirmed cases of the south african variant. everyone who lives or works in the targeted areas is strongly encouraged to take a covid-19 pcr test, whether they are showing symptoms or not. the confirmed cases have self—isolated and their contacts have been identified. let's now look at the latest data on coronavirus. and figures out this afternoon show there were 2,284 new covid infections reported in the

he'll be joined by england's chief medical officer professor chris whitty and the government's chiefbeen swimming between richmond and teddington, where we are looking at it now. you can probably see it is bobbing up and down, close to that wall between those two trees which are in the middle of the picture. it is very close to the flying cloud cafe at teddington lock and its attracted a lot of attraction as you can see from people there who are on the river bank. rnli teams have managed to save it once but last night at around 1am it escape to the inflatable cushion that was being used to guide it down the river. it could have some injuries which is why the very keen to get a proper look at it and see what sort of state it is in. it had been displaying concerning behaviours that experts thought to have been saying that it was unwell. i think we have a little bit more information i can bring to you. from my correspondent who is down there and teddington. apparently, the whale is now stranded in shallow waters close to teddington lock. the rspca and rnli are in attendance, onlookers b

that was _ briefing from professor chris whitty that was mentioned earlier, early february— that waslity rate across — range of likely mortality rate across the whole population. is a fellow _ across the whole population. is a fellow start year of data, you know those _ fellow start year of data, you know those are _ fellow start year of data, you know those are relatively fixed and once they become narrower in ranges of certainties. — they become narrower in ranges of certainties, you can make predictions from those things that i know— predictions from those things that i know were — predictions from those things that i know were available in february. so, to what _ know were available in february. so, to what extent are you taking account — to what extent are you taking account of this expertise with your whiteboard in mid—march when these ratios— whiteboard in mid—march when these ratios and _ whiteboard in mid—march when these ratios and disease proliferation and disease _ ratios and disease proliferation and disease death rates were no in six weeks _ disease death rates were no

we had brilliant scientific advisors like chris whitty and patrick vallance in the vaccine task forceic? ~ , . , pandemic? the prime minister has said that he _ pandemic? the prime minister has said that he expects _ pandemic? the prime minister has said that he expects the _ pandemic? the prime minister has said that he expects the public i said that he expects the public enquiry to start in the spring of next year. i do think that is the right call for a couple of reasons. firstly, because we are still responding to the pandemic and we are still vaccinating people and we are still vaccinating people and we are still vaccinating people and we are still learning and responding to new variants and we are really —— beginning to reopen the economy and restore public services, so there is a hugejob for restore public services, so there is a huge job for the government and the country to do. secondly, because public inquiries do take a long time and they can run two years or even several years and this one might be more focused than that, i don't know exactly what the terms of reference on