China: 'No evidence of coronavirus lab leak' says Wenbin

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“All waves start with low numbers of cases that grumble in the background and then become explosive,” Professor Gupta said on BBC 4’s Today programme. “What we are seeing here is the signs of an early wave.” The number of people testing positive for Covid has skyrocketed by 31.9 percent in the past week. There’s no doubt that this figure is influenced by the highly transmissible Indian variant.

In addition, there is a 16 percent decline in the amount of people testing for coronavirus.

Worryingly, there has been a 23.2 percent increase in the number of patients admitted to hospital.

The zero death landmark has one major caveat – statisticians might have been off during the bank holiday, meaning less data is counted.

Any deaths that happen today will be reported in a few days to come, which may push up the Covid death rate.

Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director of Public Health England (PHE), said: “It is encouraging to see death rates staying low.

“However, cases have been rising recently and many people still need to receive either one or two doses of the vaccine.

“You can help to keep the virus under control, practise ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’ and get the vaccine as soon as you are offered.”

The vaccination roll-out is still going strong – nearly 40 million people have had their first dose of a Covid jab.

Moreover, more than 25 million people have now had their second Covid jab.

However, Professor Gupta said the vaccination programme may give people “a false sense of security”.

No vaccine is 100 percent effective; there’s still a risk of hospitalisation for people who have been vaccinated (albeit the risk has been lowered).

The British Medical Journal asked: “Is it safe to lift all restrictions in England from June 21?”

The full reopening of society depends on four factors:

1. The progress of vaccine deployment
2. Sufficient effectiveness of vaccines in reducing hospital admissions and deaths
3. Infection rates not putting unsustainable pressure on the NHS
4. Risks not being fundamentally changed by new variants of concern.

The Indian variant might have put a spanner in the works, as the latest data from PHE show that cases are rising.

Places with highest prevalence of Indian Covid variant:

• Bolton
• Bedford
• Blackburn with Darwen

PHE said: “In some affected areas, hospitalisations are rising.

“Hospital attendances and admissions are predominantly in unvaccinated individuals, highlighting how crucial it is that people in these areas come forward to receive vaccination.”

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, commented on the situation to Times Radio.

“The proportion of those requiring critical care is lower than in previous waves, which trust leaders are putting down to the lower age range of patients than in previous Covid waves,” Hopson said.

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