UK Covid: over 50,000 cases reported for first time since July as Johnson rejects calls to move to ‘plan B’ – as it happened

Infections in UK at highest level since July but prime ministersays ‘we are within the parameters of what the predictions were’. This live blog is now closed. Please followthe global Covid live blog for further updatesPM resists calls to activate ‘plan B’ as new Covid cases top 50,000‘Covid is still around’: why Leicester shoppers are still wearing masksEngland: minister denies there is ‘plan C’ to ban Christmas mixingTory MPs appear to heed Javid call to set example by wearing masksWho can get a Covid booster jab in England?Jeremy Hunt made his comments earlier (see11.12am) during a Commons urgent question on Covid. During the exchangesJonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said the government should be aiming to get booster vaccinations up to 500,000 a day. He told MPs:On current trends we won ’t complete boosters until March 2022. Instead of doing just 165,000 booster jabs a day, why not set a commitment to do 500,000 jabs a day and get this programme completed by Christmas, mobilising pop-up clinics and making better use of community pharmacies?The third dose for immuno-compromised has been described as chaotic by charities. Why not allow them to use walk-in centres?Historically, around 5% of school is missed due to absence during the spring term, but in spring this year 57.5% of sessions (half a day) were recorded as missed due to circumstances relating to coronavirus.This represents 219m school days,according to Department for Education (DfE) ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Politics Coronavirus UK news Health Health policy Tony Blair Trade policy Farming Jacob Rees-Mogg Labour Schools Science Keir Starmer Dominic Cummings Lisa Nandy érèse Coffey Pensions industry Infectious diseases Source Type: news