UK Coronavirus Briefing 23 /11 /20
We had a UK briefing today with remote Bozza-in-an-understairs cupboard, in-person Chris 'Tintin' Whitty, and in-person Andrew Pollard, the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group.
I spent ages typing up the excellent vaccine trial results ready for tomorrow, but stuff that, I've put them at the bottom. Depending on how much you know, you might want to read that bit first, or last (or just skim it, no-one will know).
Boris started by saying how great the AstraZeneca / Oxford vaccine news is. We have 100m doses on order. He reminds us that even if all 3 leading vaccines are given authorisation, it'll still be months before everyone gets a jab, and it'll be Winter - virus love Winter. We can't stop restrictive measures now. We have to keep going.
The new tiers will be tough, because we can't let this beat us after Christmas. He warns a lot of people will find ourselves under harsher restrictions than before lockdown.
Community mass testing will expand (over 40 local authorities have signed up). We are urged to make use of it.
"This is not the time to let the virus rip for the sake of Christmas parties. Tis the season to be jolly, but it's also the season to be jolly careful, especially with elderly relatives."
"Christmas this year will be different, and we want to remain prudent through Christmas and into the new year."
Over the next few months we'll employ tiering, testing and the rollout of vaccines to drive down the infection rate. Things should look different by Easter.
The challenge this Winter is "to fight down any over-optimism", keep washing your hands, don't get complacent.
