Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

23 Jun

23 June 2021

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

Key Announcements:

  • The number of people who tested positive for the virus yesterday in the UK was 11,625 and 27 people died within 28 days of a positive test.
  • As of the 21st June, 43,148,843 people had received the first dose of a vaccine in the UK and 31,489,240 people had received a second dose of vaccine.
  • More than 60,000 fans will be allowed into Wembley for the semi-finals and the final of Euro 2020. Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: “We are thrilled that more fans will now be able to walk through the Wembley turnstiles and enjoy the finals of Euro 2020. As we continue to make progress on our roadmap out of lockdown, keeping the public safe remains our top priority. We have worked extremely closely with UEFA and the FA to ensure rigorous and tight public health measures are in place whilst allowing more fans to see the action live.”
  • The Times are reporting that England is on track to lift all remaining lockdown restrictions on 19th The article states that ministers are encouraged by the low number of deaths and the slowdown of infections.
  • Researchers have been working to establish whether the covid and flu vaccines could be given at the same time.
  • Politico has obtained slides and graphs drawn up by officials on the Events Research Programme. These documents detail some of the consequences for business if things like mask wearing continue into step 4 of the roadmap. More information can be accessed here.

Devolved

  • Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday that a move to the 0 level on covid restrictions would be delayed until the 19th July, the same date as England. The Scottish Government have said that level 0 is not the end of restrictions as limits on indoor household gatherings would remain. Sturgeon set out plans to move beyond level 0 on 9th

International

  • India has reported a new “delta plus” variant of concern. Some scientists are saying that this variant is more transmissible than the original delta variant.
  • In Ireland, people who have recently recovered from covid or those who have been vaccinated will automatically be sent an EU travel pass.

Stakeholders

  • A number of campaigners have called for the benefit cap to end saying that it has hit households who have lost work during the pandemic. Alison Garnham, the chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: “Especially in areas with high rents, capped families are losing large amounts of social security support and that is disastrous for the children concerned. The government must abolish the benefit cap to prevent more children from being damaged by impoverishment.