AS the vaccine rollout gains pace and more people get the Covid jab, talk of lockdown being lifted has returned. Here are the key talking points from the last 24-hours.

  • There have been nearly 1,400 new coronavirus cases confirmed across the North-East and North Yorkshire, according to the latest statistics.Public Health England (PHE) said a further 599 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Monday, bringing the UK total to 89,860. Separate figures for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 105,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.
  • A total of 3,947,442 Covid-19 vaccinations had taken place in England between December 8 and January 17, according to provisional NHS England data, including first and second doses, which is a rise of 155,848 on Sunday’s figures. Of this number, 3,520,056 were the first dose of the vaccine, a rise of 154,564 on Sunday’s figures, while 427,386 were the second dose, an increase of 1,284.
  • A further 532 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 61,453, NHS England said on Monday. There were 11 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
  • Number 10 said it would be guided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on whether shop workers should be among those prioritised in phase two of the vaccine programme. It comes after vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi suggested he would be in favour of including retail workers in a priority grouping with teachers and police.
  • Home Secretary Priti Patel suggested tougher action would be taken against lockdown sceptic protesters. Speaking outside St Thomas’s Hospital in central London, the scene of an anti-lockdown protest on New Year’s Eve, she called for people to take responsibility for their actions.
  • Lockdown restrictions could be lifted from early March, with a return to the tier system for controlling Covid, the vaccines minister has said. Nadhim Zahawi said that once millions of the most vulnerable are vaccinated with a first dose by the middle of February, it takes just a few weeks for their immune response to kick in and offer protection. The Government is currently on track to vaccinate 15 million people across the UK by mid-February, including health and social care staff, the elderly and people in care homes.
  • A Pensioner who had to be taken to hospital with Covid-19 is encouraging other patients to take part in a national trial if given the opportunity. Colin Marlborough, from Hartlepool, was not keen on taking part in a research study when he was first admitted to the University Hospital of North Tees in December. But he decided to give it ago after speaking to another patient on the ward. Read the full story here.
  • Vulnerable North Yorkshire residents who need support during Covid-19 restrictions are being reassured that help will be available through to next autumn if required. It has been confirmed that the support put in place by North Yorkshire County Council at the start of the first lockdown last March will continue for months ahead even once lockdown is lifted. Since March, the council has invested in 23 community support organisations (CSOs) across North Yorkshire.