strong new properties. whilst there is no strong pressure new properties. whilst there is no strong pressure from very widespread immunity, although that is probably some, it is fairly unlikely they will be massively advantaged by having an ability to evolve around those variants. you are right that if overall, the tendency is for things to become less virulent than more redolent, if anything, but that is ofa more redolent, if anything, but that is of a long period of time, so it is of a long period of time, so it is possible. the more common thing is possible. the more common thing is that there is a fitness advantage, a gcse biology point. a fitness advantage, if a particular mutation makes it easier to spread through the human population, that is likely to advantage the virus, that particular strain or a variant of the virus, therefore there is a probability then that it will spread more widely. so the idea that new mutations might become more likely to spread is not particularly surprising. because biologically, thatis surprising. because biologically, that is an advantage to the virus, one is there is no particular advantage to making you more sick than other things. so there is no evolutionary advantage, so there won't be a strong pressure on that. and in the long run, there may be an issue about new variants evolving that are less affected by natural immunity, less affected by vaccines, and therefore we may have to have vaccines which are done on a regular basis where we take the latest variants and we actually vaccinate over time, just as we do it for a flu. so that is in the long run, but this is just flu. so that is in the long run, but this isjust one, will be flu. so that is in the long run, but this is just one, will be of significant, variant, but there are many others in the future. this is the natural process of evolution for any infectious disease. thank you very much. does that answer the question? yes, butjust in terms of the spike protein, is there anything to be concerned about on this particular variant? this is loosely what it uses to attach to cells, the spike protein, to get into them. and several of the vaccines of got activity against the spike protein. we don't know whether these variants will actually affect that, but there is no evolutionary reason why that would be advantaged, and that has been tested, as i say, in portadown at the moment. and we should have a nswe rs at the moment. and we should have answers relatively soon as to whether there was any evidence that what is called neutralising antibodies, the antibodies that stop ifi antibodies, the antibodies that stop if i was getting into the cells, are affected by this mutation. if there is, then people would need to go back and think about faxing formulation, but i don't think there's any reason at this point to think that is particularly likely, but let's wait and see what the i was to reflect on the vaccine programme, and how that is progressing in london. it is miraculous thatjust progressing in london. it is miraculous that just over a year after first discovering and describing this disease, covid—19, we are at a point of having a highly effective vaccine that can prevent health harms and severe disease. and perhaps bring an end to this pandemic. so now more than ever it is important for all of us who are eligible for the vaccine and who are prioritised for the vaccine that we ta ke prioritised for the vaccine that we take this opportunity out. the nhs in london is doing phenomenal work working to develop the hospital helps to begin the delivery of the vaccine to those in greatest need, and those who are prioritised. —— hospital hubs. we are now poised to deliver the vaccine to primary care sites that will encourage and engage more people who are at risk to take up more people who are at risk to take up the vaccine. i know that for many londoners, there are still questions about the vaccine, but it is highly effective, and we are working with our partners in the nhs, with faith and community organisations across the city, to ensure you all have the information that you need to make the choice to take the vaccine, and to encourage family members who may be at risk to take up the vaccine as well. this is going to be one of the keys to unlock the door to the end of this pandemic, and i would like to encourage all londoners, and in fa ct to encourage all londoners, and in fact everyone around the country, to ta ke fact everyone around the country, to take up your opportunity for the vaccine when you are able to. thank you very much. that concludes today's coronavirus briefing. thank you. that is the latest coronavirus briefing from downing street, led by health secretary matt hancock. i just want to tell you that at 8.30 this evening on the bbc news channel, we will be answering your questions about what is known about that new variant of coronavirus that was being discussed at the downing street briefing. you can e—mail your questions or tweet them. how do we know how many people in england are facing the most stringent coronavirus restrictions? from wednesday, almost 11 million people will be living under tier 3 restrictions in london, essex and hertfordshire. a total of more than 34 hertfordshire. a total of more than 3a million people in england will be living under the highest level of measures. that amounts to more than 60% of the entire population of england. let's talk to our health correspondent who was watching that briefing. a lot of talk about this new variant of the virus. but we had from professor chris whitty saying there was no evidence that the symptoms are worse or even different with that new variant that has now emerged. yes, viruses mutate all the time. we see this with the flu virus, that is why a new vaccine has to be made every year. coronaviruses do tend to be more stable, but other parts of the world have seen mutations. there was a fairly significant one over the summer discovered in spain. but as chris whitty says, there is nothing to suggest that this would make this variant more serious in terms of disease or even hamper the ability of the vaccine to work. but it is being studied carefully at the government because ‘s labs at portadown just to see exactly what this means. when a population builds immunity, the virus is under pressure to change. we are more likely to see more significant changes then. but interestingly, when it does change, it tends to mutate to become milder, so it can spread more easily, so it would be surprising at this stage if we have seen a significant mutation. but as the minister and officials were saying, they are looking, they've got their experts looking at exactly what is happening. and these new set restrictions being put into place in london, essex and hertfordshire, because we have seen a very steep rise in the number of cases in those areas. yes, we have. it was only a matter of weeks ago we were talking about a surge in cases in most of the north of england, part of the midlands, and now it has been a com plete midlands, and now it has been a complete reverse. those areas are seeing rates largely fall, when is the south—east, and in particular london, the east of london, parts of essex and kent, are seen cases continually growing up. but it is not just the fact that cases overall are going up, cases are rising, albeit more slowly in the over 60s, who are more susceptible to serious disease, and we are also seen hospital admissions creep up. now more than 2000 patients in hospital with covid in london. just over a month ago, it was just over 1000. and last countjust shy of 1500 beds free in london. the concern is if those covid cases kept going up, hospitals would soon start to fill up. and that is why the government has taken this action earlier than it planned to, because a review is happening on wednesday, and why it london and some of the surrounding areas are all affected by the move to first on wednesday. thank you very much. so more than 3a million people in england will be living in areas under the highest covid restrictions. let's recap what state of the government says it considers when it is deciding which to which pa rt when it is deciding which to which part of the country should move into. —— which tier. first the total number of cases, then case rates in people aged over 60, the rate at which they are either rising or falling, the number of positive cases relative to the number of total cases, and finally the amount of pressure on the local nhs. 0ur political correspondent is at westminster. so that is what is considered. an interesting, we had about the timing of this, the government has been criticised from the start of this pandemic about being too slow in its response, but this week, with this decision, it seems to have been pretty quick, because actually, we were expecting the review of tiers on wednesday, they have gone quickly ahead of that. yes, the assumption was that of places like london were going to be moved up to the top tier, that would probably happen at the weekend. but we had a pretty stark message from the health secretary there and from the chief medical officer, we need to act quickly because these figures are really worrying, showing the number of infections growing up, the number of people in hospital going up, and warning that if that isn't brought under control too soon, then the number of deaths is going to go up significantly in the capital and in surrounding areas. i suspect a lot of people, though, will also be asking the question that, if london is going into that top tier, if a 9 million people are being put into extra restrictions, how do you square that with the relaxation of thatis square that with the relaxation of that is coming in in nine days to allow potentially millions of people in the south of england to travel the length of the country for christmas? and it was interesting hearing the health secretary in the scientific experts talking about that there are, because there clearly is some nervousness in the political community about how that decision is going to pan out. we have heard some mps saying they think there should be a rethink of that policy of relaxation, because of the number of cases that is being seenin of the number of cases that is being seen in many parts of england. i think the message from the government there was, if you need to do this, be cautious. don't do more than you need to. yes, people might wa nt to than you need to. yes, people might want to travel because it's christmas and they had a hardier, but if you don't feel that you need to do, don't do it. —— they have had a hard year. they are urging people to use individual judgment a hard year. they are urging people to use individualjudgment when it comes to caution. and also interesting that matt hancock was saying if you are going to travel for christmas, you need to think now about the number of contacts you are having, suggesting that some people are going to really need to limit them over the next few days, if they are going to travel for christmas. you wonder whether the government is starting to think maybe they were too generous with the christmas relaxation. but of course, they can't go back and it now, everybody has made their christmas plans. yes, i think it would be very hard to unpick that policy, i don't think anybody is really going to do that. but i think you will hear of the next few days a repeat of that message we had in the press conference, that idea that yes, these restrictions are being lifted, but it doesn't mean you push things as far as you can. for people who can maybe stay in the place where they live in that they have the option of doing christmas at home, thatis option of doing christmas at home, that is the best option. if you do have to travel, we had that message again and again about caution, but it was also completely clear from professor chris whitty that the nhs is expecting more cases injanuary after people do travel at christmas. —— we herald that message. i suspect many people of the next few days will question whether that policy is still the correct thing. we have had in wales they talk about a firebreak injanuary in wales they talk about a firebreak in january to try and in wales they talk about a firebreak injanuary to try and limit in wales they talk about a firebreak in january to try and limit the impact of the christmas relaxations. scottish first minister nicola sturgeon has been extremely vocal in saying to people, think carefully about this, don't do it if you don't have to, and i suspect a lot of us make those messages will be ramped up make those messages will be ramped up ahead of the start of that relaxation on the 23rd. nick, good to talk to you, thank you for that update. now the latest weather forecast from ben rich. good evening. some sunshine to be had today if you managed to dodge the downpours. we had plenty of hefty showers, even some longer spells of rain, and more rain in the forecast for the rest of this week, it will often be windy, but as so often at this time of year, with wet and windy weather comes mild weather. temperatures above the norm for this time of staying quite pleasing through the night. into tomorrow, a day quite similarto night. into tomorrow, a day quite similar to today with some spells of sunshine, but sums showers as well, some of the heavy side, especially in the west, not as many showers further east with some spells of sunshine. temperatures again just slightly above the norm for this time of year, eight to 11 celsius. wednesday looks like being a very wet and windy day, something a little drier, at least for a time on thursday. that's all from me for now. hello, i'm ros atkins. welcome to outside source. the biggest inoculation programme in american history has begun. the first covid—19 jab is given to a frontline health worker. america is the worst affected country in the world. nearly 300,000 people have died from the virus. this is a real challenge. it is not make—believe, it's not a hoax, it's not fake news, it's real and we have to deal with it. the us presidential election was five weeks ago, but the votes that officially anoint the next president are being cast. the next step in the process ofjoe biden becoming president is underway. the electoral college is meeting to formally cast their vote. progress is being made in brexit trade negotiations, according to the eu and britain, but both warn

Related Keywords

Hertfordshire , United Kingdom , United States , Spain , London , City Of , Essex , Britain , America , American , Matt Hancock , Ros Atkins , Chris Whitty ,