Previously we reported on the announcement of the 3rd national lockdown and that the restrictions are expected to last until the middle of February if the situation in hospitals improve.
The previous article can be accessed here: https://valonline.org.uk/prime-minister-announces-national-lockdown/
In the speech the PM explained that they have vaccinated more than 90 per cent of those aged over 70 but reminded us that 60 per cent of hospital patients with Covid are under 70.
The PM articulated that “although the vaccination programme is going well, we still don’t have enough data about the exact effectiveness of the vaccines in reducing the spread of infection.”
He mentioned that the level of infection remains very high, with more people still in hospital today than at the peak last April and admissions running at 1,600 a day.
Rather than mentioning any updates to restrictions the PM concentrated on the next phase of the vaccination programme.
The government hope to offer a vaccination to everyone in the first nine priority groups – including everyone over 50 – by the end of April.
And at the same time they will be giving second doses to millions of the most vulnerable within twelve weeks of the first.
Next week the PM will be setting out a roadmap saying as much as they possibly can about the route to normality. The governments wants this lockdown to be the last.
Full details of the speech can be found here.
In light of the continued rates of infection, the government has updated the COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection to include a worked example for household self-isolation. Local VCSE organisations may want to share these details with the communities they support in order to help reduce the infection.
The revised guidance can be accessed here.