Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, has warned that the chances of a “highly effective” vaccine being ready for distribution by Christmas are “very low”.
Giving evidence to the Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee on Tuesday, Prof Whitty said although he was “cautiously optimistic” there would be a vaccine this side of Christmas, the chances of it being “actually highly effective is in my view very low.”
It comes as a Nobel Prize winning geneticist has warned the UK government risks sleepwalking into a “winter of discontent” unless clear governance structures are implemented for the remainder of the pandemic. Professor Sir Paul Nurse, a distinguished scientist and director of the Francis Crick Institute, criticised what he described as the government’s “pass the parcel” approach.
US accuses Chinese hackers of targeting firms working on coronavirus vaccine
The US Justice Department has accused two Chinese hackers of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars of trade secrets from companies across the world and targeting firms developing a vaccine for coronavirus.
The indictment says the hackers in recent months had researched vulnerabilities in the computer networks of companies publicly known for their work in developing vaccines and treatments.
The indictment includes charges of trade secret theft and wire fraud conspiracy against the hackers, who federal prosecutors say stole information they knew would be of interest to the Chinese government.
There was no immediate indication from the indictment that the hackers had obtained any Covid-19 research, despite efforts to snoop on the companies.
The case was filed earlier this month in federal court in Washington state and was unsealed on Tuesday.
The US Justice Department has accused two Chinese hackers of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars of trade secrets from companies across the world and targeting firms developing a vaccine for coronavirus.
The indictment says the hackers in recent months had researched vulnerabilities in the computer networks of companies publicly known for their work in developing vaccines and treatments.
The indictment includes charges of trade secret theft and wire fraud conspiracy against the hackers, who federal prosecutors say stole information they knew would be of interest to the Chinese government.
There was no immediate indication from the indictment that the hackers had obtained any Covid-19 research, despite efforts to snoop on the companies.
The case was filed earlier this month in federal court in Washington state and was unsealed on Tuesday.
Sage advice meant ministers had to make incredibly difficult decisions, says Chris Whitty
UK's hospital death toll rises by 110 over 24 hours
The Government said 45,422 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Monday, up by 110 from the day before.
Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 56,100 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The Government said 45,422 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Monday, up by 110 from the day before.
Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 56,100 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The Government also said in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Tuesday, there had been a further 445 lab-confirmed cases. Overall, a total of 295,817 cases have been confirmed.
'Rate-limiting factor' on delivery of vaccine is its manufacture, says Hancock
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the "rate-limiting factor" on delivery of a vaccine is its manufacture.
He told the Commons Science and Technology Committee: "There are a series of really important and difficult steps. From the moment a regulator signs off a vaccine as being both efficacious and safe, there are two critical parts to the next steps, but there are many other parts too that have got to go right.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the "rate-limiting factor" on delivery of a vaccine is its manufacture.
He told the Commons Science and Technology Committee: "There are a series of really important and difficult steps. From the moment a regulator signs off a vaccine as being both efficacious and safe, there are two critical parts to the next steps, but there are many other parts too that have got to go right.
"The first is the manufacture of the vaccine, which is starting before the vaccine is approved, and then the next is the distribution and administration of the vaccine, administration as in injecting it into people's arms.
"Now, the distribution is not simple because you need a cold chain because the vaccine needs to be kept below room temperature, and then the administration of it needs to be done by people who are qualified.
"And in fact we're changing the law, we propose to change the law, to broaden the range of qualifications that are allowed to do the vaccination.
"Getting both the manufacture and the distribution and administration right is critical."
Uber has launched a free service to help public health officials trace riders and drivers who may have been exposed to Covid-19.
It comes as various US states struggle to stop the spread of the virus, with slow testing turnarounds and dwindling supplies making their efforts even harder.
Uber, which has long been sharing data with US authorities in criminal cases and emergencies, is promoting the new free service to health officials in all countries where it operates.
It comes as various US states struggle to stop the spread of the virus, with slow testing turnarounds and dwindling supplies making their efforts even harder.
Uber, which has long been sharing data with US authorities in criminal cases and emergencies, is promoting the new free service to health officials in all countries where it operates.
Government set 'big, hairy, audacious' Covid-19 testing goal, says Hancock
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Chancellor Rishi Sunak had told him he had set a "big, hairy, audacious goal" in terms of Covid-19 testing.
"I've been accused of over-promising and sometimes delivering," Mr Hancock told the Commons Science and Technology Committee.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Chancellor Rishi Sunak had told him he had set a "big, hairy, audacious goal" in terms of Covid-19 testing.
"I've been accused of over-promising and sometimes delivering," Mr Hancock told the Commons Science and Technology Committee.
"And the point is that when you're handling a pandemic response and the response you need is to scale-up at a speed that is almost unprecedented within Government at a national scale, the tools that I found worked were to set demanding goals.
"In fact the Chancellor told me afterwards that I set a 'big, hairy, audacious goal', apparently this is a classic business school doctrine that I didn't know that I was following.
"The point of the big, hairy, audacious goal is to say to the whole system, 'this is where we're going, you do your bit, let's get there'.
"And we did that on a series of areas, because we then did it when we were building up contact tracing as well."
Scientists have called for caution over a new study that suggests the severity of Covid-19 may be reduced during the warmer months of the year, and that dry indoor air may encourage its spread.
Asymptomatic testing in 'sheltered accommodation' set to begin
Health secretary Matt Hancock has said asymptomatic coronavirus testing in settings similar to care homes but not registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will begin this week.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has said asymptomatic coronavirus testing in settings similar to care homes but not registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will begin this week.
He told the Commons Science and Technology Committee: "The systematic roll out of asymptomatic testing to environments that are essentially sheltered accommodation, that aren't care homes, will start this week."
During the evidence session, chair Greg Clark said the health secretary had told him in the chamber three weeks ago that it was about to begin and would be completed "within three to four weeks".
Mr Hancock replied: "No, I said that it would be rolled out, and we couldn't test all these settings in that period.
"It's a challenge because there is a spectrum of what these settings are, because they're not registered, if they were registered by the CQC, then they'd be care homes.
"And so we're starting the roll-out of that this week."
The amount of money being written into wills that will eventually go to charities when people die has surged during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an online service.
Will-writing service Farewill said that in April, over £35m worth of charity donations were written into wills, up from £3.5m in February and an average of £4m per month in 2019.
It said this will be welcome news for charities which have struggled as fundraising streams have dwindled due to events having to be cancelled.
Will-writing service Farewill said that in April, over £35m worth of charity donations were written into wills, up from £3.5m in February and an average of £4m per month in 2019.
It said this will be welcome news for charities which have struggled as fundraising streams have dwindled due to events having to be cancelled.
Austria reintroduces mandatory face masks
Austria is reintroducing a requirement that face masks be worn in supermarkets, banks and post offices because of an increase in coronavirus infections in recent weeks.
Austria is reintroducing a requirement that face masks be worn in supermarkets, banks and post offices because of an increase in coronavirus infections in recent weeks.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a news conference: "There are areas of daily life where one cannot choose whether one goes or not - the supermarket, the bank, the post office.
"We have therefore decided that we will make face masks compulsory again in supermarkets, in banks, in post offices."
"We have therefore decided that we will make face masks compulsory again in supermarkets, in banks, in post offices."
A temporary hospital built at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in Queens, New York, to relieve the city’s overwhelmed hospitals, had hundreds of beds and scores of medical professionals trained to treat coronavirus patients.
But in the entire month the site remained open, it treated just three patients from the Queens Hospital Centre emergency department, records show. Overall, the field hospital cost more than $52m (£40.9m) and served only 79 patients.
But in the entire month the site remained open, it treated just three patients from the Queens Hospital Centre emergency department, records show. Overall, the field hospital cost more than $52m (£40.9m) and served only 79 patients.
Professor Chris Whitty has suggested care homes are not to blame for the severe problems they faced with coronavirus in an apparent swipe at Boris Johnson remarks on the issue.
The chief medical officer for England said major risks in social care settings were not considered early on in the pandemic, including staff working in multiple residences and those not paid sick leave.
He added it was clear the UK and other countries across the world had “not handled this well” in relation to issues in social care settings.
The chief medical officer for England said major risks in social care settings were not considered early on in the pandemic, including staff working in multiple residences and those not paid sick leave.
He added it was clear the UK and other countries across the world had “not handled this well” in relation to issues in social care settings.
Calls for probe into high infection rate of Ireland's healthcare workers
Representatives of healthcare workers have demanded that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) be allowed to examine the high coronavirus infection rate among staff.
Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha called for the Government to change regulations that would include Covid-19 as an occupationally acquired illness.
She also told the the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee that healthcare workers are exhausted, adding that their biggest concern is the prospect of a second wave of coronavirus cases.
As at last Friday, there were 8,347 Covid-19 infections among healthcare workers - 32% of all cases.
The committee was told this is more than European and world averages.
Of the 8,347 cases there were 319 hospital admissions, 49 admissions to intensive care and seven deaths.
Representatives of healthcare workers have demanded that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) be allowed to examine the high coronavirus infection rate among staff.
Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha called for the Government to change regulations that would include Covid-19 as an occupationally acquired illness.
She also told the the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee that healthcare workers are exhausted, adding that their biggest concern is the prospect of a second wave of coronavirus cases.
As at last Friday, there were 8,347 Covid-19 infections among healthcare workers - 32% of all cases.
The committee was told this is more than European and world averages.
Of the 8,347 cases there were 319 hospital admissions, 49 admissions to intensive care and seven deaths.
The UK’s economy has recovered around half of its massive fall in output during the coronavirus lockdown, the chief economist of the Bank of England has said.
Andy Haldane said Britain has seen a V-shaped recovery, telling parliament’s Treasury Committee: “Roughly half of the roughly 25 per cent fall in activity during March and April has been clawed back over the period since.
Andy Haldane said Britain has seen a V-shaped recovery, telling parliament’s Treasury Committee: “Roughly half of the roughly 25 per cent fall in activity during March and April has been clawed back over the period since.
People more likely to contract Covid-19 at home, study finds
South Korean epidemiologists have found that people are more likely to contract Covid-19 from members of their own households than from contacts outside the home.
A study published in the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked in detail at 5,706 "index patients" who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus and more than 59,000 people who came into contact with them.
The findings showed just two out of 100 infected people had caught the virus from non-household contacts, while one in 10 had contracted the disease from their own families.
By age group, the infection rate within the household was higher when the first confirmed cases were teenagers or people in their 60s and 70s.
"This is probably because these age groups are more likely to be in close contact with family members as the group is in more need of protection or support," Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and one of the authors of the study, told a briefing.
Children aged nine and under were least likely to be the index patient, said Dr Choe Young-june, a Hallym University College of Medicine assistant professor who co-led the work, although he noted that the sample size of 29 was small compared to the 1,695 20-to-29-year-olds studied.
Children with Covid-19 were also more likely to be asymptomatic than adults, which made it harder to identify index cases within that group.
Data for the study was collected between 20 January and 27 March, when the new coronavirus was spreading exponentially and as daily infections in South Korea reached their peak.
South Korean epidemiologists have found that people are more likely to contract Covid-19 from members of their own households than from contacts outside the home.
A study published in the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked in detail at 5,706 "index patients" who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus and more than 59,000 people who came into contact with them.
The findings showed just two out of 100 infected people had caught the virus from non-household contacts, while one in 10 had contracted the disease from their own families.
By age group, the infection rate within the household was higher when the first confirmed cases were teenagers or people in their 60s and 70s.
"This is probably because these age groups are more likely to be in close contact with family members as the group is in more need of protection or support," Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and one of the authors of the study, told a briefing.
Children aged nine and under were least likely to be the index patient, said Dr Choe Young-june, a Hallym University College of Medicine assistant professor who co-led the work, although he noted that the sample size of 29 was small compared to the 1,695 20-to-29-year-olds studied.
Children with Covid-19 were also more likely to be asymptomatic than adults, which made it harder to identify index cases within that group.
Data for the study was collected between 20 January and 27 March, when the new coronavirus was spreading exponentially and as daily infections in South Korea reached their peak.
The growth in UK grocery sales has begun to slow down from record highs following the easing of lockdown restrictions, figures show.
Supermarket sales over the four weeks to 12 July grew by 14.6 per cent compared to the same period last year, slowing from 18.9 per cent growth in June, data from Kantar revealed.
Kantar’s monthly grocery market share figures show sales growth slowed as the reopening of pubs and restaurants affected the momentum for supermarket chains.
Supermarket sales over the four weeks to 12 July grew by 14.6 per cent compared to the same period last year, slowing from 18.9 per cent growth in June, data from Kantar revealed.
Kantar’s monthly grocery market share figures show sales growth slowed as the reopening of pubs and restaurants affected the momentum for supermarket chains.
Dutch coronavirus infections are increasing, health officials have warned in a weekly statement.
Effective vaccine before Christmas 'unlikely', says Whitty
Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, has warned that the chances of a “highly effective” vaccine being ready for distribution by Christmas are “very low”.
Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, has warned that the chances of a “highly effective” vaccine being ready for distribution by Christmas are “very low”.
This comes after AstraZeneca said it hopes to deliver Oxford University’s Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the year, after preliminary trial results revealed it induces a strong immune response within humans and appears to be safe.
Giving evidence to the Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee, Prof Whitty said although he was “cautiously optimistic” there would be a vaccine this side of Christmas, the chances of it being “actually highly effective is in my view very low.”
He also said he “very much doubts” a coronavirus vaccine will be made compulsory. “Forcing people to have vaccines does not seem like a good answer under any circumstances,” he added.
Professor Sir John Bell, of the University of Oxford, meanwhile told the Committee it is “unlikely” that the vaccine will “have a durable effect that'll last for a very long time”.
He added: “So we're going to have to have a continual cycle of vaccinations, and then more disease, and more vaccinations and more disease.”
Vaccine task force doing 'all it can,' says Sharma
Alok Sharma has said the vaccine task force is doing "all it can" to ensure the UK gets access to a "safe and effective vaccine" as soon as possible.
Mr Sharma told MPs on Tuesday: "The Coronavirus Vaccine Task Force set up in my department under the excellent leadership of its chair Kate Bingham has been making very good progress.
"The Government has supported the vaccines being developed at Oxford University and Imperial College and has now secured access to three different vaccine classes as well as a treatment containing Covid-19 neutralising antibodies."
Mr Sharma told MPs on Tuesday: "The Coronavirus Vaccine Task Force set up in my department under the excellent leadership of its chair Kate Bingham has been making very good progress.
"The Government has supported the vaccines being developed at Oxford University and Imperial College and has now secured access to three different vaccine classes as well as a treatment containing Covid-19 neutralising antibodies."
Professor Whitty defends government over lockdown approach
Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, has said that ministers followed expert advice with a "delay that was no more than you would reasonably expect".
Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, has said that ministers followed expert advice with a "delay that was no more than you would reasonably expect".
Giving evidence to the Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee, Prof Whitty was asked if he was "content" the government followed his advice on staging different elements of the lockdown.
He replied: "Ministers at the time, who were put in an incredibly difficult position, in my view, followed the advice given by Sage, which are clearly signposted through the minutes of Sage, with a delay that was no more than you would reasonably expect for what are really very difficult things to operationalise and decide.
"And I think I'd make a slightly further comment, which is obviously to be able to do this, there was a bit of signposting sometimes we may have to go further. And ministers were aware of that and they said that at the time.
"So, for example on the 16th (of March), my memory is that the Prime Minister did not announce schools closing, but I think he did say at that time, 'and we might need to consider schools closing'."
Prof Whitty added: "But I do not think, I'm not saying now and I'm not going to say at any point, to be clear, that in my view there was huge delay between the advice that ministers received given the enormity of the difficulties that we were asking of people and the practical implications of what was being done."
