Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

10 Jun

10 June 2021

A series of daily updates for CHO members regarding relevant updates pertaining to Coronavirus from home and abroad.

Key Announcements:

  • Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is giving evidence to the Commons health and science committees this morning on the government’s handling of Covid. He is expected to take questions for up to four hours in what has been billed as the most in-depth interrogation of a cabinet minister on the topic so far.
  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said it is clear Covid cases are rising and hospitalisations increasing in the UK. Asked about a possible delay to the 21 June easing of restrictions in England, the PM said there were arguments being made both ways.
  • The UK recorded 7,540 positive Covid infections on Wednesday, the highest daily total since late February.

Devolved

  • Recorded Covid infections among children are now the highest they have been during the outbreak in Scotland. Weekly infections in 0-14 year olds totalled 1,064 on 7 June – higher than the peak in early January, according to Public Health Scotland.

International

  • Singapore will ease social distancing restrictions next week after bringing a recent rise in Covid-19 cases under control.
  • South Korea is considering early Covid-19 inoculation for workers at key exporters to prevent disruptions to production, according to the labour ministry and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
  • BioNTech is planning a push into Africa to establish mRNA vaccine production facilities on the continent as part of a long-term effort to tackle diseases beyond Covid-19. The German firm’s plans come as the EU moves to bolster vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa, which imports more than 99 per cent of the jabs it uses.

Stakeholders

  • UK airlines have called for a further round of government support, including an extension to the furlough scheme, as travel restrictions have left them “unable to trade” during the busy summer period.
  • The Telegraph reports that patients with mental illness and learning disabilities were given “do not resuscitate” order during the pandemic.