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Matt Hancock delivered a speech to the nation this evening as Prime Minister Boris Johnson isolates himself.
The health secretary filled the void left by the premier after coming into contact with a parliamentarian who later tested positive for the coronavirus.
Mr. Hancock had previously appeared on Good Morning Britain, ending a surprising 201-day government boycott of TV day favorite ITV1.
Mr. Hancock was at 10 Downing Street for the first of two government press briefings this week.
He discussed the government’s coronavirus strategy and the state of the country as the UK continues to fight the pandemic.
More than 200 hospital deaths have been confirmed today, including over 30 in Birmingham and Midlands hospitals.
These are the main conclusions of Mr Hancock’s speech tonight:
Number 10 is thought to want to hold press conferences every Monday and Thursday evening until the England blockade ends on December 2.
Mr. Hancock was joined by Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Medical Director for England, and Susan Hopkins, Deputy Director of Public Health England and Medical Advisor to NHS Test and Trace.
The virus remains a threat
The health secretary warned this evening: “This virus remains a threat to anyone of any age.
“Long covid affects thousands of people.
Mr Hancock began his speech with the number of Covid-19 cases in the UK.
The PM was expected to lead the event before he was required to self-isolate after coming into contact with a conservative MP who tested positive for the disease.
Long Covid Clinics
Mr. Hancock said 40 “long Covid” clinics will be set up by the end of the month to help those struggling with the long-term effects of Covid.
The health secretary says the average number of new cases is 25,329, up from 22,443 last week.
He said 168 deaths were reported yesterday – an average of 414 deaths this week.
He said the government “must focus on long-term solutions”.
Mega labs
The Secretary of Health also revealed that two new mega-laboratories will open in the new year.
Hancock said the mega-labs “will be a permanent part of the UK diagnostic industry.”
The government has announced that one will be in England and the other in Scotland.
A laboratory will be based in Leamington Spa, but the Scottish location has not yet been confirmed.
They will be able to process up to 600,000 samples per day when operating at full capacity, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
The latest data on the government’s coronavirus dashboard shows Sunday’s capacity was estimated at 519,951, with 379,955 tests actually processed.
The deaths are increasing
Mr. Hancock confirmed tonight that cases are occurring at a rate of 25,329 per day, up from 22,443 cases per day a week ago.
14,915 patients are in hospital with coronavirus in the UK today, up from 13,025, with 168 new deaths reported yesterday. This equates to 413 deaths per day, which actually increased from 332 the previous week.
Mass test
Mr. Hancock confirmed that he is delighted that a pilot project has just begun that will allow relatives to visit nursing homes.
83 local authorities have signed up to receive regular batches of lateral flow testing, he also confirmed, after it emerged last week Birmingham, Dudley and Wolverhampton were set up for rapid bulk testing.
Modern vaccine
Hancock says the UK has secured 5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine.
The vaccine won’t be available until next spring, he says.
He said: “Another encouraging step forward, although safety data are limited. If this latter vaccine were to be approved, vaccine doses would be available in the spring.
“We have already agreed in advance to order 5 million doses.”
He told the press conference: “This is another encouraging step forward, although I must emphasize that this is a preliminary and that safety data is limited.
“If the latter vaccine were to be approved, the doses would be available from spring next year.
“We can see the candle of hope and we must do everything we can to feed its flame.”
Priority to vaccines
Mr. Hancock and prof. Van Tam both talked about the Covid-19 vaccine priority list.
Mr. Hancock confirmed that the Joint Vaccination and Immunization Committee will decide the priority based on clinical reasons.
Their judgment takes into account the needs of the people they are protecting.
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