COVID UPDATE

Chris witty (chief medical officer) and Sir Patrick vallance (chief scientific adviser) were talking on the news conference about the updates on the global pandemic and how changes are yet again to be put in place if people don’t cooperate with the 6 people group maximum.

Chris witty explained that the virus isn’t any milder than earlier in the year when the first lockdown happened and the virus has been rising since 1st September 2020.

"Vaccines are progressing, some will read out this year in terms of efficacy and safety..."

Seasonal flu is being considered and it kills 7,000 people on average a year and this is down to the autumn and winter which makes it considerably worse because many people will think they have coronavirus symptoms but it will most likely just be a cold. Whitty also said that if we do too little this virus will get out of control but if we go too far we will do damage to the economy. Also he’s announced possible ways to combat the spread of coronavirus

• Reducing your individual risk by washing your hands

• Self-isolating if you have symptoms

• Breaking unnecessary links between households

• The science - including diagnostics and vaccines

Sir Patrick vallence did explain that good progress being made on vaccines, and that the UK was in a "good position". He also said that it was possible that a vaccine could be available in small amounts for certain groups by the end of the year.

'Vaccines are progressing, some will read out this year in terms of efficacy and safety,' he said. 'I think there's a reasonable chance that therefore we can think about the possibility of vaccination next year some time at larger levels.'