The Health Secretary Matt Hancock believes that we have the virus back under control and it shows that the national restrictions have been successful.
Leading the Downing Street Press Conference, Hamcock said that in England, in the week before the peak, the number of cases grew by 11 per cent but in the last week cases have dropped by 30 per cent.
“It shows that the national restrictions have been successful, and what this means in practice is that through everyone’s actions in respecting the national lockdown and through everything that people have sacrificed we have reduced pressures on the NHS, brought down the number of cases and got this virus back under control.”
Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes across Wales will not be able to serve alcohol and must close by 6pm from Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.
Mr Drakeford said indoor visitor attractions would also have to close from Friday, while outdoor attractions could remain open.
Other national measures, such as household bubbles, will remain the same, as well as how many people can meet in public indoor or outdoors.
The restrictions will be formally reviewed by December 17 and then every three weeks.
Meanwhile the the minister responsible for the rollout of coronavirus vaccines has said the jabs will not be compulsory but then implied that people who didn’t get vaccinated could be banned from restaurants, cinemas and sports venues.
Health minister Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Radio 4’s the World At One that people have to be allowed to decide for themselves whether they want to be vaccinated or otherwise.
“But, I think the very strong message that you will see, this is the way we return the whole country, and so it’s good for your family, it’s good for your community, it’s good for your country to be vaccinated.”
However when he was then asked whether people who get the Covid-19 jab will receive some kind of “immunity passport” to show they have been vaccinated, Mr Zahawi said: “We are looking at the technology.
“And, of course, a way of people being able to inform their GP that they have been vaccinated.But, also, I think you’ll probably find that restaurants and bars and cinemas and other venues, sports venues, will probably also use that system – as they have done with the app.”
The UK has recorded 12,330 further cases. That is up from 12,155 yesterday, but down from 15,450 a week ago today. Week on week, new cases are down 24%.
There were 205 further coronavirus deaths recorded.
Boris Johnson said he hoped the leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates would be approved by regulators before Christmas.
“No vaccine has yet got MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) approval, but we’re obviously hoping that both the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will get approved in the course of the next few days and weeks,” Johnson told reporters during a visit to a medical facility.
Asked if they could be approved before Christmas, he said: “That’s the hope.”
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