uk nationals and residents returning from 22 red—list countries will be placed in quarantine in hotels for ten days. anyone leaving the country will need to declare why they are travelling. and the row between the eu and drugs firm astrazeneca deepens. the eu says the pharmaceutical giant must guarantee delivery of its covid vaccines, including those manfactured in the uk. welcome to bbc news, building up the latest coronavirus briefing from the government, today led by the prime minister, alongside the government's chief scientific advisor, sir patrick vallance, and the deputy chief medical officer for england, jonathan van—tam. borisjohnson says it will not be possible to reopen schools in england after the half—term holiday in february. the prime minister told mps that if the government meets vaccination targets, it may be safe to start a return to face—to—face teaching from the 8th of march. it comes as borisjohnson promises a plan next month for phased easing of lockdown. also today, the home secretary has announced new plans that will see british residents arriving in england from covid hotspots will have to quarantine in hotels. and on vaccines, the european union is demanding that the vaccine manufacturer astrazeneca gives it access to the company's two british production sites to ensure the firm meets its contract to deliver the vaccines across europe. and in the last few minutes, we've had the government's daily coronavirus figures, which show that 1,725 new deaths have been recorded. that's people who have died with 28 days of a positive test. a further 25,308 cases have been recorded. we'll have more on all those stories as we build up to that latest government briefing, but first let's start with schools. the prime minister said it was too early to contemplate relaxing restrictions as the situation remained perilous. i know how parents and teachers need as much certainty as possible, including two weeks�* notice of the return of face—to—face teaching. so i must inform the house that, for the reasons i have outlined, it will not be possible to reopen schools immediately after the february half term. and i know how frustrating that will be for pupils and teachers who want nothing more than to get back to the classroom, and for parents and carers who've spent so many months juggling their day jobs not only with home—schooling but with meeting the myriad of other demands of their children from breakfast until bedtime. and i know too the worries we all share about the mental health of our young people during this prolonged period of being stuck at home. so our plan for leaving the lockdown will set out our approach towards reopening schools. if we achieve our target of vaccinating everyone in the four most vulnerable groups with their first dose by the 15th of february, and every passing day sees more progress towards that goal, then those groups that have developed immunity from the virus about three weeks later — that is by the 8th of march. we hope it will therefore be safe to begin the reopening of schools from monday the 8th of march. the prime minister in the house of commons earlier today. british residents arriving in england from covid hotspots will have to quarantine in hotels. the measures will apply to people coming from most of south america, southern africa and portugal, amid concern over new variants of the virus. amid concern over new most overseas visitors from those countries are already barred from entering the uk. but labour said hotel quarantine should be mandatory for all arrivals. the home secretary, priti patel, made the announcement in the house of commons earlier this afternoon. we are still seeing people not complying with these rules. the rules are clear. people should be staying at home unless they have a valid reason to leave. going on holiday is not a valid reason. so we will introduce a new requirement, so that people wishing to travel must first make a declaration as to why they need to travel. this reason for travel will be checked by carriers prior to departure. and this approach, madam deputy speaker, effectively mirrors the checks on arrivals that are already in place with the passenger locator form. secondly, working with police and partners, we will increase police presence at ports and at airports, fining those in breach of the stay at home regulations. our political correspondent is jessica parker, the prime minister has been ticked off by the speaker of the house of commons for making announcements at these coronavirus briefings, ratherthan announcements at these coronavirus briefings, rather than making them in the commons first. he has actually said quite a lot today, are we going to get any more from this briefing in about 25 minutes�* time? i don't think there is an expectation of further major announcements, because, as you say, we've already had quite a lot of news today, so the prime minister setting out this kind of broad timeline for what is potentially going to happen, although it is contingent on progress fighting the virus over the coming weeks. so that review that we already knew about to take place in mid—february, when they will look at the data, boris johnson seeing the picture is not clear enough to give further details on a timeline out of lockdown for england at the moment, then the week commencing the 22nd, he plans to set out more of a timeline for how restrictions might be lifted, and as you are saying just before, from the 8th of march, there is a hope, not a certainty, that schools can start to reopen in england. and then following that, the potential easing of restrictions on the economy and on social activities as well. so it is a pretty broad road map over the weeks ahead, but of course the prime minister had been under pressure, including from his own backbenchers, to be a little bit clear about what may happen. but as i say, it is all contingent on a number of factors, including the roll—out of the vaccine, including as well, and this relates to the border issue, that there will be no more mutant strains of the virus causing concern or changing the factors around combating coronavirus. so that is the broader picture over the coming weeks, and i expect we will hear more about that from the prime minister in the coming hour. uk. minister in the coming hour. 0k, jessica, minister in the coming hour. 0k, jessica. thank — minister in the coming hour. 0k, jessica, thank you _ minister in the coming hour. 0k, jessica, thank you for that, jessica parker there at westminster. we can speak to professor sir mark walport, who was previously the government's chief scientific adviser and who is currently a member of the uk government's scientific advisory group for emergencies. good to see you, thanks for being with us. ijust wonder, 100,000 plus who have died as a result of this pandemic. could you have conceived of that figure a year ago? well. pandemic. could you have conceived of that figure a year ago?— of that figure a year ago? well, i mean the figure _ of that figure a year ago? well, i mean the figure was _ of that figure a year ago? well, i mean the figure was conceived i of that figure a year ago? well, i | mean the figure was conceived of of that figure a year ago? well, i i mean the figure was conceived of in the sense that professor neil ferguson did a projection which suggested that if mitigating measures weren't taken, the death toll macro could be 500,000 people, so it was anticipated. but obviously mitigating measures were taken, and i will be a lot of debate over the next months and years as to how much more could have been done or should have been done. but, you know, the critical news today, i think, is that another 1725 people have died in the last 2a hours, there are more than 37,000 people in hospital, and roughly 10% of those are in ventilated beds. so we are at a really, really critical time in the pandemic, where we have really got to make the measures that are in place at the moment work effectively. and the good news is that the number of new cases does seem to be genuinely coming down, a figure ofjust over 25,000 today, so thatis figure ofjust over 25,000 today, so that is heading in the right direction. but it is still a very, very large number.— direction. but it is still a very, very large number. sorry to cut in there, very large number. sorry to cut in there. you _ very large number. sorry to cut in there. you say — very large number. sorry to cut in there, you say that _ very large number. sorry to cut in there, you say that the _ very large number. sorry to cut in there, you say that the modellingj there, you say that the modelling did suggest that there would be mass casualties, frankly, mass fatalities as a result of this pandemic. but we do know what the chief scientific adviser suggested, do know what the chief scientific advisersuggested, sir do know what the chief scientific adviser suggested, sir patrick vallance, suggesting 25,000 would be a relatively good outcome. to be clear, a relatively good outcome. to be clear. the _ a relatively good outcome. to be clear, the model _ a relatively good outcome. to be clear, the model said _ a relatively good outcome. to be clear, the model said it - a relatively good outcome. to be clear, the model said it could - a relatively good outcome. to be clear, the model said it could be| clear, the model said it could be without mitigation, so if this had happened in 1918, when there were not the treatments, the modern medicine, the death toll would have been far higher. we wouldn't have had tests, we wouldn't have had the drugs. but i mean, it is a bad outcome, no question, when you compare the uk with other countries, we are definitely in the very worst group, and so there are all sorts of questions to be asked about that. sorry, go on. when do you see, potentially, given the current lockdown restrictions that are in place, when do you see a steepening fall, or rather a precipitous fall in the number of hospital admissions and deaths? ~ in the number of hospital admissions and deaths?— and deaths? well, the hospital admissions _ and deaths? well, the hospital admissions and _ and deaths? well, the hospital admissions and the _ and deaths? well, the hospital admissions and the deaths - and deaths? well, the hospital admissions and the deaths lag| and deaths? well, the hospital. admissions and the deaths lag the admissions, and the admissions like the infections, so people become infected, a week or so later, if they are going to end up in hospital, that is when they will end “p hospital, that is when they will end up in hospital, it may be another 2-3 up in hospital, it may be another 2—3 weeks before, sadly, some of those die, and so what we're seeing in the deaths today were infections that were typically three or weeks ago. and so it will take a long time. but the bottom line, the figure that we really need to look at is the number of new cases, and getting those down, and then the admissions to hospital will start to slow. and the other critical thing, which is on the good news aside, if there is any in this at all, is that there is any in this at all, is that the vaccines are being rolled out at scale. we know from the clinical trials that all the evidence is that they are going to be very effective, but we need to see that happening now in the real world, and hopefully we will start seeing these serious infections coming down, and the thing we don't know about is the extent to which the vaccine will stop asymptomatic infection, and therefore the transmission of the virus. because it is possible that a vaccine could protect you against the serious effects of the others but you might still be able to transmit an asymptomatic infection from yourself to someone else, who might then get severe disease. i mean, would you say that we have reached the peak of this?- reached the peak of this? well, i sincerely hope — reached the peak of this? well, i sincerely hope so. _ reached the peak of this? well, i sincerely hope so. we _ reached the peak of this? well, i sincerely hope so. we are - reached the peak of this? well, i i sincerely hope so. we are dealing, of course, with a more transmissible variant, and it looks like the number of cases are coming down, but they are not coming down evenly in all parts of the country, and so it is really, really important that people abide by the rules for social distancing. we know there are some nasty variance in other countries, and they are, to be honest, only the ones we know about. so the uk, one area where it has done well, is in sequencing the virus, we have sequenced more than half of the viruses that have been sequenced during the pandemic, so we tend to find a variant of this in places where you sequence them. but it is where you sequence them. but it is where the quarantine restrictions have been put in place to do everything we can to delay some of the variance coming into the country that could be associated with a quicker response, immune response induced by the vaccine. so you expect, when we see an easing of the lockdown, hopefully sooner rather than later, it will be the tiers system, because some areas are worse than others? yes, but it will not be an all or nothing reduction, it will not be going from tight restrictions too out there partying, as it were, and i think things are going to be have to be removed and a graded fashion. that is what the prime minister and other politicians have been saying, and for very obvious reasons, a priority is to get schools open, particularly in the first instance primary schools where the transmission risk seems to be slightly lower. but if you take the brakes off immediately, you can use the analogy of a car travelling down the analogy of a car travelling down the hill. it will accelerate very quickly. the hill. it will accelerate very cuickl . ., ., ., ., quickly. you mentioned that we do have, er quickly. you mentioned that we do have. per capita. _ quickly. you mentioned that we do have, per capita, one _ quickly. you mentioned that we do have, per capita, one of _ quickly. you mentioned that we do have, per capita, one of the - quickly. you mentioned that we do have, per capita, one of the worst| have, per capita, one of the worst rates of death in relation to the pandemic, should we be asking why or waiting until we have got through this? ~ , ., this? well, there will be an infinity of— this? well, there will be an infinity of time _ this? well, there will be an infinity of time to _ this? well, there will be an infinity of time to ask- this? well, there will be an infinity of time to ask why. | this? well, there will be an - infinity of time to ask why. the priority at the moment has got to be devoting all our efforts to bring in the pandemic under control, getting the pandemic under control, getting the vaccines out there. there will be time to hold people to account later, and i think at the moment the real priority has got to be getting the pandemic under control. and that is something that we have all got to contribute to, by being responsible, ijy contribute to, by being responsible, by abiding by the rules, and it is the spirit of the rules as well as the spirit of the rules as well as the details. i mean, the object of the details. i mean, the object of the exercise is to stop the virus from transmitting, and we do that in the best possible way if we maintain the best possible way if we maintain the maximum possible social distance. some breaking news for you, this time out of northern ireland. northern irish health workers will receive £500 recognition payment for all health workers in northern ireland. and it's described as a special recognition payment for their work during the pandemic. the health minister has said the intention is that all health service staff will receive a payment of £500, it will be subject to approval ijy £500, it will be subject to approval by the department of finance. there have been calls from some political parties and held unions for staff to be recognised for their efforts. we know that scotland has already announced a similar one off payment. and the health minister said it would reflect the principle of parity. so northern ireland following scotland in recognising the incredibly hard work and efforts of health service workers in this pandemic with a one—off payment of £500. the eu commission has confirmed that a meeting with the astrazeneca pharmaceutical company will go ahead later today as a row escalates over delays in the supply of its vaccine. furious officials had earlier accused the british—swedish company of pulling out without explanation. astrazeneca has denied that eu supplies have been diverted elsewhere. the eu's health commissioner made clear the european union does not recognise the idea of "first come, first served" and will be holding astrazeneca to its contract. the 27 european union member states are united that astrazeneca needs to deliver on its commitments in our agreements. we are in a pandemic. we lose people every day. these are not numbers, they are not statistics. these are persons. with families, with friends, and colleagues. they are all affected as well. pharmaceutical companies, vaccine developers have moral, societal responsibilities which they need to uphold. the view that the company is not obliged to deliver because we signed a best effort agreement is neither correct nor is acceptable. let's speak to our europe correspondent gavin lee, who's in brussls. just break this down for me. basically explain this story. why is there a barney between the european commission and astrazeneca? fist there a barney between the european commission and astrazeneca? test the commission and astrazeneca? at the root of this is — commission and astrazeneca? at the root of this is astrazeneca _ commission and astrazeneca? at the root of this is astrazeneca having - root of this is astrazeneca having problems with its manufacturing of the doses of the vaccine in europe, and they have different sites. they have two sites in the uk, two in europe and two in the us. so for each country or continent, they are using those particular sites in their area. the problem is there is a low yield in belgium and the netherlands, it's about three times as good in the uk. so they have said we cannot deliver up to 80 million doses the eu once by march. the eu has said we pre—paid £300 million for this and you are telling me it is first come, first serve. so what happened today is this was an impromptu press conference amidst this row between astrazeneca and the eu, and stella kyriakedes said it is notjust eu, and stella kyriakedes said it is not just about we can use eu, and stella kyriakedes said it is notjust about we can use this system, we have paid the money. it is not the butchers shop where you sit at the back of the queue, it is much bigger than that, people's lives are at stake. go back to december, the astrazeneca boss has said in an interview, this is today, but back in december they had problems at the uk site and fixed those up because the uk had signed a contract earlier so they had more time to sort the teething troubles. they fixed it up by using the eu side to get the vaccine to the uk, so the eu are saying, do the same. there will be a potentially explosive meeting tonight between eu and the astrazeneca bosses, and they say they still haven't provided good enough explanations about why there is a delay. enough explanations about why there is a dela . ~ ., , enough explanations about why there isadela. ., , is a delay. what is the way out? the eu want their _ is a delay. what is the way out? the eu want their vaccine, _ is a delay. what is the way out? the eu want their vaccine, they - is a delay. what is the way out? the eu want their vaccine, they will - eu want their vaccine, they will potentially plunder the sites from the uk making this stuff. is there no way the vaccine can be made in time to fulfil the requirements of the eu? it time to fulfil the requirements of the eu? , ., , ., the eu? it is a good question because we _ the eu? it is a good question because we have _ the eu? it is a good question because we have heard - the eu? it is a good question because we have heard the i the eu? it is a good question - because we have heard the french company helping with pfizer in europe saying we will help with pfizer's vaccine, and there has been pressure to improve the bye this summer, but we are talking about the immediacy of the doses between now and march which won't change. we know worldwide it is quite stretched so there is pressure from germany, france and spain, some of which were going to use emergency measures and announced they were going to go ahead. that is part of the issue as well. i mention the low yield issue and i think it's coming to a head now. two things could get messy. the eu said today they want astrazeneca tonight to publish its contract and show it wasn't about best efforts to produce the goods but they signed up to deliver the exact amount, and also to show full transparency, and on friday the regulatorfor the eu is due to announce whether or not they will approve the astrazeneca vaccine because it's being rolled out from next week, so two things to look out for. i’m out from next week, so two things to look out for-— look out for. i'm glad you're on top of it, gavin. _ look out for. i'm glad you're on top of it, gavin. thank _ look out for. i'm glad you're on top of it, gavin. thank you. _ look out for. i'm glad you're on top of it, gavin. thank you. gavin - look out for. i'm glad you're on top of it, gavin. thank you. gavin leel of it, gavin. thank you. gavin lee from brussels. not everyone who needs it is getting the financial help they need during the pandemic. millions of taxpayers are unable to access assistance schemes, and the institute for fiscal studies, working with the bbc, has concluded there is "clear unfairness" in some of the exclusions. andy verity reports. we have had emotional days. my mental health has gone really low. to amanda richardson, who runs a business bringing animals to birthday parties, care homes and schools, the chancellor word ten months ago have not proved true. you have not months ago have not proved true. ym. have not been forgotten. months ago have not proved true. you have not been forgotten. her- months ago have not proved true. youj have not been forgotten. her company were set to make _ have not been forgotten. her company were set to make £100,000 _ have not been forgotten. her company were set to make £100,000 in - have not been forgotten. her company were set to make £100,000 in 2020, | were set to make £100,000 in 2020, enough to pay a dividend to support herfamily. government rules enough to pay a dividend to support her family. government rules stopped her family. government rules stopped her earning, and won't be able to replace the dividends, and she cannot afford the rent. if replace the dividends, and she cannot afford the rent.- replace the dividends, and she cannot afford the rent. if we had to close, cannot afford the rent. if we had to close. most — cannot afford the rent. if we had to close. most of— cannot afford the rent. if we had to close, most of these _ cannot afford the rent. if we had to close, most of these animals - cannot afford the rent. if we had to | close, most of these animals would be on a death sentence, we would have to euthanise them. it would break me seeing the animals go. that would be my breaking point. there break me seeing the animals go. that would be my breaking point.— would be my breaking point. there is clear unfairness _ would be my breaking point. there is clear unfairness here. _ would be my breaking point. there is clear unfairness here. if _ would be my breaking point. there is clear unfairness here. if your- clear unfairness here. if your income — clear unfairness here. if your income goes down through no fault of your own. _ income goes down through no fault of your own, you are in big trouble. in your own, you are in big trouble. sheffield, your own, you are in big trouble. in sheffield, dave moran says his wedding music business has lost bookings where the quarter of million pounds. but because he still working to save the business, he cannot access the furlough scheme. stress levels have been through the roof, and seeing the disparity between ourselves and peered in similar businesses that have received some support, furlough or self—employed support scheme, it is difficult to be the one on the sidelines desperately waiting. research by the institute from fiscal studies says... you could include those who earn more than £50,000 at a cost of £1.3 billion or less if you reduce apart for high earners. that is £2.1 billion at the most, compared to the amount the government is already planning to spend of £90 billion. the prime minister was challenged in parliament today on why so many were excluded from support.— excluded from support. there are some people _ excluded from support. there are some people in — excluded from support. there are some people in the _ excluded from support. there arel some people in the self-employed some people in the self—employed groups that it has been hard to reach and to support in the way we want. they are fewer in number than is sometimes suggested in this house, and i can tell you that 2.7 million people self—employed have received support. but million people self-employed have received support.— million people self-employed have received support. but davies among many taking — received support. but davies among many taking low— received support. but davies among many taking low paid _ received support. but davies among many taking low paid work - received support. but davies among many taking low paid work to - received support. but davies among many taking low paid work to make | many taking low paid work to make ends meet... if they can find it. more on this in a couple of seconds but the breaking news about a suspicious package that has been made safe, we understand. it's not clear exactly where that was. but yes, the suspicious package we were telling you about earlier, an investigation has looked into it and it has been made safe. this was at a vaccine distribution centre in wales. but that package has been looked into, and it has been apparently made safe, so some good news there. let's go back to what we were talking about earlier, and some of those people falling through financial loopholes when it comes to access to various government schemes. we can speak now to martin lewis, founder and chair of moneysavingexpert.com. thanks forjoining us. how much would it cost to prevent roughly all these people who seem to be falling through these loopholes that are there for them?— through these loopholes that are there for them? well, i will leave there for them? well, i will leave the afs to _ there for them? well, i will leave the afs to do _ there for them? well, i will leave the afs to do the _ there for them? well, i will leave the afs to do the numbers - there for them? well, i will leave the afs to do the numbers on - there for them? well, i will leave | the afs to do the numbers on that basis but probably less than it will cost us in the long run if we don't. i think we have to go back to the early days. the chancellor came up in days with things that would normally take decades to come up. new state support schemes, and was rightly lauded and applauded for that. at the time we knew there were gaps, and they quickly became apparent, and people like me were pushing and saying way back then, way back in the end of march early april last year, you need to close these gaps. we got a few successes, i had a couple myself i was pleased about, but only on the periphery. problem is there are 2.9 or 3.8 million, it doesn't really matter, a shed load of people who are not supported. those gaps have turned into crevices, the crevices have turned into chasms and their finances are in a catastrophe. ultimately, my big problem here is we have people who before the pandemic were able to support themselves, they were not a burden on the state to use a horrible phrase, and post the pandemic, because they are often in industries that have been hard hit but will come back, they would be able to support themselves again, but this lack of support they have had in the meantime means they may well end up becoming a burden on the welfare state because they had such a lack of support in the meantime that their finances of support in the meantime that theirfinances are a of support in the meantime that their finances are a catastrophe. for me that is short—sighted, regardless of the cost. andy in his report was talking about fixing the glaring errors. some of the errors are from practice, the fact you can put in 2018 tax returns, that was a practical problem. some were principled, like excluding limited company directors. we have to have a real emphasis by those excluded by politicians and regulators to push the government into saying it is short—sighted not to support these people. they have been paying their taxes, they will do again, and we need to help them get over this horrendous pandemic. you need to help them get over this horrendous pandemic. you have been talkin: to horrendous pandemic. you have been talking to mps. _ horrendous pandemic. you have been talking to mps, are _ horrendous pandemic. you have been talking to mps, are they _ horrendous pandemic. you have been talking to mps, are they listening? i talking to mps, are they listening? mps are certainly listening. the big change is going to come on the 3rd of march when we have the budget. i broke at the weekend that the fourth self—employment grant, which covers the period february, march and april, we won't hear what that is and its eligibility criteria until the 3rd of march budget. which seems unnecessarily cruel, doesn't it? you have the whole of february which it is covering, but you won't be able to plan what is coming in because you won't know until we are already onto the 3rd of march, a month and a few days after the grant period has started. the hope is that the reason they are doing a delay is because in this fourth grant we are going to see seismic structural changes being brought into place. i think it is very likely 2019 tax returns will be allowed to be included on that. slightly worse than 50/50 odds on company directors getting something. they could have tapered that. if you are on furlough and you are earning £200,000, you still get the support. if you are self—employed and on £200,000, you get nothing. there is no parity there. are they listening? mps are listening, but whether the chancellor is willing to open up his pockets or our pockets is another matter. the real issue is they got a bit of a kicking by the national audit office for the fraud risk on furlough and the self—employment scheme, so they have to see if they can cover up that potential fraud risk if they are going to expand the schemes so they don't get another kicking. personally i would prefer them to rescue some of the people in such a devastating state at the moment. ,., ., ., , i. such a devastating state at the moment. ., , i. moment. good to see you. martin lewis. let's speak to our health correspondent nick triggle. let's have an overview of the latest coronavirus figures.— coronavirus figures. well, certainly for numbers _ coronavirus figures. well, certainly for numbers of— coronavirus figures. well, certainly for numbers of new _ coronavirus figures. well, certainly for numbers of new cases, - coronavirus figures. well, certainly for numbers of new cases, pretty l for numbers of new cases, pretty good news, 25,000 new cases, 20,000 yesterday, 22,000 the day before, and this compares to an average of around 60,000 cases per day at the start of the year. so we are seeing quite a sharp drop in infection levels. although what is concerning the government, and it is part of the government, and it is part of the reason why we have seen the prime minister today say that we can't yet make a decision on lifting lockdown, setting out a firm road map, how it may lift, is because when the government looks at its surveillance programme, which looks at random testing of the population, that suggest infection levels are dropping not quite as sharply as the daily figures suggest. so there is a bit of a discrepancy there between our testing, bit of a discrepancy there between ourtesting, it bit of a discrepancy there between our testing, it could be to do with asymptomatic cases, it could be related to the fact that people may not be coming forward for testing. at the government wants to monitor what is happening with that, as well as what is happening with vaccinations. the number of vaccinations. the number of vaccinations being done is going up. today there have now been 7.16 million people who have had their first dose, up by over 300,000 in the last 2a hours. what are the government wants to see if there was vaccinations translating into a drop in infection levels, and then a drop in infection levels, and then a drop in hospital admissions, because the pressure is in hospital are still very high. over 37,000 patients in hospital, more than a third of birds taken up by covid patients. so the government trying to give itself that room, that's time to properly set out a road map that it has more certainty that it can keep to. on vaccinations, though, encouraging results from israel, who have vaccinated more people per head of population than anywhere else in the world, and they are beginning to see vaccination levels and infection levels in older age groups started to drop. that is encouraging, we hope it will be repeated here. so some good news from abroad, and we are hopefully expecting proper data after research looking into the efficacy of vaccines on the new variant of covid—19 in the uk. efficacy of vaccines on the new variant of covid-19 in the uk. yes, we are, variant of covid-19 in the uk. yes, we are. clive- _ variant of covid-19 in the uk. yes, we are, clive. andrew _ variant of covid-19 in the uk. yes, we are, clive. andrew pollard, - variant of covid—19 in the uk. yes we are, clive. andrew pollard, who leads the oxford vaccine group, working with astrazeneca, has said that by next week they should know whether their vaccine, one of the key vaccines for the uk, does work against the uk variant. we have already heard pfizer say that there vaccine works against the uk variant, and also moderna, which has been approved for use in the uk, but we're not going to get any stocks until april. that will also work against the new variant. it should not come as a surprise, because these vaccines have been developed to train the immune system to attack infection in a of ways, so what, if anything... infection in a of ways, so what, if anything- - -_ infection in a of ways, so what, if an hint... , ., anything... sorry to cut in, we have not anything... sorry to cut in, we have got patrick — anything... sorry to cut in, we have got patrick vallance, _ anything... sorry to cut in, we have got patrick vallance, boris - anything... sorry to cut in, we have| got patrick vallance, boris johnson, jonathan got patrick vallance, borisjohnson, jonathan van—tam, got patrick vallance, boris johnson, jonathan van—tam, the deputy chief medical officer... thanks forjoining us. when we look at the toll of this pandemic, it must be measured not only in the tragic loss of life that we have endured with over 100,000 deaths and, once again, i offer my condolences to the families and friends of everybody who has loved loved ones. but i'm afraid we must also remember remember notjust the damage to the economy but the last weeks and months of education and a real risk of damage to the prospects of our young people. and so i share very much the frustration of pupils and teachers who today wants nothing more than to get back to the classroom, and i understand the stress and the anxieties of parents coping heroically with the pressures of home—schooling. and i know that everybody across the country wants us to get schools open as fast as possible, and i can assure you that is the ambition of this government. but i also know, we all know that with 37,000 people in hospital suffering from covid and the infection rate still forbidding lehi, you, we all must be cautious, and we all want only to open schools when we can be sure that this will not cause another huge surge in the disease. because the problem is not that schools are unsafe, teachers and head teachers have worked heroically to make sure that they are safe and covid secure. the problem is that by definition schools bring many households together, and that contributes to the spread of the virus within the community and drives up the r. and so it follows that if we are to get schools open and keep them open, which is what we all want, we need to be clear about certain things. we need to be sure that the vaccine roll—out is continuing to be successful, and we need to see the impact of our vaccines on those graphs of mortality. we need to see that they are really saving lives and preventing people from becoming seriously ill. now, we are confident that that will happen and the vaccines will have that effect. but to be responsible, we must see the proof. and our current estimates say that the proof will only become visible in the middle of february. and since we need to give schools two weeks notice to reopen, it is sensible now to serve notice that we will not be able to reopen schools immediately after half term on february the 22nd. but if we continue to make the progress that we want to say, and that we believe we want to say, and that we believe we can see, then we hope to begin opening schools on monday march the 8th. and to help parents and teachers with this extended period of remote learning, we will extend the arrangements for providing free school meals for those eligible children not in school, including food parcels and the national voucher scheme, food parcels and the national voucherscheme, until food parcels and the national voucher scheme, until those pupils have returned to the classroom. and as we did this financial year, we will provide a catch—up programme over the next financial year with a further £300 million of new money to schools for tutoring, and we will work with the education secretary to develop, wherever appropriate, specific initiatives for summer schools, as well as a covid premium for catch up and support, for pupils to catch up. we will work with parents, teachers and schools to develop a long—term plan to make sure that pupils, all pupils, have a chance to make up their learning over the course of this parliament, so we tackle that issue of differential learning, and kids who may have fallen behind through no fault of their own. and so, with everyjab fault of their own. and so, with every jab that goes fault of their own. and so, with everyjab that goes in, we are becoming more confident that we will reach our target of offering a first dose to everyone in the top four priority groups by the middle of february, and at that moment we will be able to review our progress, judge the state of the pandemic, and the effectiveness of the vaccine, and then, in the week beginning the 22nd of february, we will set out our plan, notjust for reopening our schools, but gradually to reopen our economy and our society, and to get our lives back to as close to normal as possible. now, this will be a timetable that is inevitably going to be subject to adjustment, but i believe it will provide clarity and certainty about the way ahead, a road map that we can take together and use as a country to defeat the virus and begin steadily to reclaim our lives. thank you very much. i am now going to hand over to patrick, to sir patrick vallance, the chief scientific adviser, who is going to say about. scientific adviser, who is going to sa about. , , ., i. scientific adviser, who is going to say about-— say about. just to give you an u date say about. just to give you an update on — say about. just to give you an update on why _ say about. just to give you an update on why things - say about. just to give you an update on why things are - say about. just to give you an| update on why things are with say about. just to give you an - update on why things are with the epidemic, chris whitty did a detailed one last night, but there were 25,308 cases picked up through testing, and 1725 new deaths reported in the last 2a hours. of course, the case numbers will be higher than that, because the testing system only picks up a proportion, so we are still in a position of very high numbers. the estimates from the ons survey are still over 1 estimates from the ons survey are still over1 million people with the disease, with the infection, in this country. that is roughly one in 55 people still have the infection. and although things have slowed down and actually we are at a plateau, or possibly decreasing, across the country, that is not true everywhere. in some cases, there are still some increases, so we are at a position where the lockdowns have worked, they have slowed this down, they have reached a position where it has reached a plateau and is beginning to decline, and we see that in cases, we are beginning to see it in hospital admissions, and we are beginning to see it in deaths, but it is early days, this isn't coming down quickly, we remain at very high levels, and it will take weeks for this to come down to really low levels. so it is important that with that and the roll—out of the vaccine programme, we start to see this changing, as the prime minister has said, and the vaccine programme should start to kick in so we can see effects in the middle of february. but i want to remind us all that we remain in a difficult position at the moment with still very high levels. thank ou, with still very high levels. thank you. patrick. — with still very high levels. thank you, patrick, very— with still very high levels. thank you, patrick, very clear. - with still very high levels. thank you, patrick, very clear. let's i with still very high levels. thank| you, patrick, very clear. let's go to gary from chester. 1ng you, patrick, very clear. let's go to gary from chester.— you, patrick, very clear. let's go to gary from chester. as great as the vaccine _ to gary from chester. as great as the vaccine roll-out _ to gary from chester. as great as the vaccine roll-out has - to gary from chester. as great as the vaccine roll-out has been - to gary from chester. as great as the vaccine roll-out has been in l to gary from chester. as great as i the vaccine roll-out has been in the the vaccine roll—out has been in the uk, how— the vaccine roll—out has been in the uk, how will— the vaccine roll—out has been in the uk, how will we know that the vaccines— uk, how will we know that the vaccines created by other countries are just _ vaccines created by other countries are just as— vaccines created by other countries are just as effective to be able to resume _ are just as effective to be able to resume travel again? china, are just as effective to be able to resume travelagain? china, for instance. — resume travelagain? china, for instance, has their own vaccine, and if it hasht— instance, has their own vaccine, and if it hasn't been tested or approved, what measures will be put in place _ approved, what measures will be put in place to— approved, what measures will be put in place to approve a free and open travel_ in place to approve a free and open travel even — in place to approve a free and open travel even after the uk is vaccinated?— travel even after the uk is vaccinated? ., , , ., vaccinated? really good question there, i vaccinated? really good question there. i think _ vaccinated? really good question there, ithink i _ vaccinated? really good question there, ithink i will— vaccinated? really good question there, i think i will put _ vaccinated? really good question there, i think i will put that - there, i think i will put that straight tojb to patrick, do you want to have a go at that, then patrick? —— jvt. want to have a go at that, then patrick? -- jvt.— want to have a go at that, then patrick? -- jvt. yes, i think all countries _ patrick? -- jvt. yes, i think all countries who _ patrick? -- jvt. yes, i think all countries who have _ patrick? -- jvt. yes, i think all countries who have suffered - patrick? -- jvt. yes, | think all. countries who have suffered during this pandemic and who have access now to vaccines will be as keen as we are to understand the impact of vaccines in a truly programmatic sense in their populations. so i think we will get data from around the world that explains vaccine effectiveness. here in the uk, the colleagues at public health england have already linked the national immunisation dataset to the testing data, and i am hopeful that within a few weeks' time, there will be the beginnings of some signals about how our vaccine programme is being effective. that signal will begin with infections, but over time we will get more data on hospitalisations and on deaths, and i want to make a really important point here that although clinical trials data report headline results, in terms of the prevention of infections with symptoms, in public health terms, what is going to change this for us is reductions in hospitalisations, in severe disease, in other words. and we have very real hope that the vaccines, in time, are going to lead the way on this. a, , ., , ., time, are going to lead the way on this. , ., , ., ., this. maybe the only thing to add is, it is important _ this. maybe the only thing to add is, it is important that _ this. maybe the only thing to add is, it is important that it - this. maybe the only thing to add is, it is important that it is - this. maybe the only thing to add is, it is important that it is not i is, it is important that it is not the vaccines, it is the vaccinations that need — the vaccines, it is the vaccinations that need to — the vaccines, it is the vaccinations that need to happen, and that needs to happen _ that need to happen, and that needs to happen right the way across the world _ to happen right the way across the world this— to happen right the way across the world. this is a global pandemic, and it— world. this is a global pandemic, and it is— world. this is a global pandemic, and it is important that we see vaccination across the world, especially in countries in areas that— especially in countries in areas that do— especially in countries in areas that do not have measures for vaccinations in place.- that do not have measures for vaccinations in place. thank you very much. _ vaccinations in place. thank you very much. henry _ vaccinations in place. thank you very much, henry from - vaccinations in place. thank you | very much, henry from cornwall. vaccinations in place. thank you - very much, henry from cornwall. many clinically vulnerable _ very much, henry from cornwall. rotary; clinically vulnerable children have been shielding since the start of the pandemic. they haven't had that glimmer of hope of a vaccine. when will children be able to receive the vaccine, without which children like my daughter are unable to return to school? , . ., my daughter are unable to return to school? , ., ,, , ., , . school? henry, thank you very much, i will ask school? henry, thank you very much, i will ask jvt- — school? henry, thank you very much, i will ask jvt. yes, _ school? henry, thank you very much, i will ask jvt. yes, so _ school? henry, thank you very much, i will ask jvt. yes, so the _ school? henry, thank you very much, i will ask jvt. yes, so the jcvi - i will ask jvt. yes, so the jcvi advice is _ i will ask jvt. yes, so the jcvi advice is that, _ i will ask jvt. yes, so the jcvi advice is that, for _ i will ask jvt. yes, so the jcvi advice is that, for children i i will ask jvt. yes, so the jcvi | advice is that, for children who i will ask jvt. yes, so the jcvi i advice is that, for children who are extremely— advice is that, for children who are extremely at risk, there can be a discussion— extremely at risk, there can be a discussion between the physician and the parents about the benefits of vaccination in children under the a-e vaccination in children under the age of— vaccination in children under the age of i6— vaccination in children under the age of 16 years of age. that would nevertheless be use of the vaccines as they— nevertheless be use of the vaccines as they currently stand in an off licence — as they currently stand in an off licence way, and therefore it needs to be _ licence way, and therefore it needs to be a _ licence way, and therefore it needs to be a carefully discussed, individual decision with the physician and the parents. nevertheless, it is possible, in exceptional circumstances, to go down _ exceptional circumstances, to go down that— exceptional circumstances, to go down that route. however, we are some _ down that route. however, we are some way— down that route. however, we are some way off from there being clinical— some way off from there being clinical trials data for multiple vaccines— clinical trials data for multiple vaccines showing that the vaccines are authorised for use in children. i are authorised for use in children. i believe — are authorised for use in children. i believe that will come in time from _ i believe that will come in time from a — i believe that will come in time from a number of manufacturers, but at the _ from a number of manufacturers, but at the moment we wait for some of those _ at the moment we wait for some of those trials — at the moment we wait for some of those trials either to finish or to be conducted.— those trials either to finish or to be conducted. thanks very much, jonathan, be conducted. thanks very much, jonathan. and _ be conducted. thanks very much, jonathan, and thank _ be conducted. thanks very much, jonathan, and thank you, - be conducted. thanks very much, jonathan, and thank you, henry. | jonathan, and thank you, henry. laura kuenssberg, bbc. thank you, prime minister. you have named a hoped—for data now, extending the lockdown by another few weeks. how do you rate the chances of being able to stick to the 8th of march for the beginning of the end of this lockdown? and can i ask you to respond to the eu's seeming demand for some of the uk's vaccine? the date of the eighth of march is the earliest we think it is sensible to set for schools to go back, and obviously we hope all schools will go back. the reason we say it is the earliest is for the reasons i've given, that we have to give a certain amount of time for all of the cohorts thejcvi groups of elderly people to get the level of immunity they need. that has got to bed in from february the 15th, and then we need to evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccine in driving those numbers of deaths down and reducing serious disease. and again, we won't know that until the middle of february. so i'm hopeful but that is the earliest that we can do it, and it depends on lots of things going right. i'm sure patrick and jonathan would agree with me in this. it also depends on all of us now continuing above all to work together to drive down the incidence of the disease through the basic methods we have used throughout this pandemic of trying to avoid transmission by physical contact. washing our hands and all the rest of it, staying at home, protecting the nhs. all of that is crucial if we are to make that date as well. on your question about the eu and our friends and partners there, all i can say is that we are very confident in our supplies, we are confident in our supplies, we are confident in our contracts and we are going ahead on that basis. thank you very much, laura. itv. you are going ahead on that basis. thank you very much, laura. itv.— you very much, laura. itv. you have alwa s you very much, laura. itv. you have always been — you very much, laura. itv. you have always been clear _ you very much, laura. itv. you have always been clear reopening - you very much, laura. itv. you have always been clear reopening schools| always been clear reopening schools is your priority. are you just looking at reopening schools hopefully on the eighth of march or do you think other restrictions could be eased then as well? or how much longer after that do you think it might take to start easing restrictions? i would also like to ask sir patrick if i may, what would you expect the effect of the vaccine to be on the transmission of the virus, and one also for professor jonathan van—tam if i may. can you talk us through how schools can both be vectors of transmission and also safe places to be.— be vectors of transmission and also safe places to be. obviously schools are the priority. _ safe places to be. obviously schools are the priority, they _ safe places to be. obviously schools are the priority, they remain - safe places to be. obviously schools are the priority, they remain the i are the priority, they remain the priority, but as we make progress in rolling out the vaccine, if those conditions i was talking about earlier continue to be satisfied, then clearly we will be looking simultaneously at the other restrictions that we have, what we can do in those sectors as well. as i said earlier on, we will be setting out, i will be setting out by february the 22nd more of a route map. if you remember what we did last year, we were able after the first phase to set out some tentative dates by which we hoped to do certain things, and actually we were pretty much able to keep to those dates. i'm not saying we will be able to keep to all of them, there may be an adjustment —— adjustable element, but we will be setting out more of a road map for people to think about. in setting out more of a road map for people to think about.— people to think about. in terms of the vaccine _ people to think about. in terms of the vaccine effects, _ people to think about. in terms of the vaccine effects, it's _ people to think about. in terms of the vaccine effects, it's worth i the vaccine effects, it's worth remembering the vaccines will do a number of things. at the moment the idea is to protect individuals, and there we expect the vaccine is to be effective at reducing severe disease and deaths, and the data from clinical trials are very encouraging on the percentage of protection of people ending up in hospital with the disease, so we have high level of protection. in terms of transmission it is much more difficult to get a handle on that, in other words how likely is it you have had the vaccine you will never catch the infection or you couldn't pass it on. we think they will be partially effective there, so what will happen is people will catch infections, they will be milder, they won't cause the same degree of damage in general. but on transmission we expect the efficacy to be less than it is on hospitalisation, severe disease and deaths. if you look at the data coming out of israel, it is preliminary but they are talking about 60% plus in terms of preventing infection. we have to wait and see and it will vary between vaccines as well, i suspect. tom newton dunn. sorry, jonathan. so i will go back to your question, you want _ i will go back to your question, you want to— i will go back to your question, you want to know— i will go back to your question, you want to know about _ i will go back to your question, you want to know about children's i want to know about children's schools — want to know about children's schools i_ want to know about children's schools. i will— want to know about children's schools. i will try— want to know about children's schools. i will try to _ want to know about children's schools. i will try to break i want to know about children's| schools. i will try to break this into— schools. i will try to break this into pieces _ schools. i will try to break this into pieces and _ schools. i will try to break this into pieces and through - schools. i will try to break this into pieces and through that i schools. i will try to break this i into pieces and through that you will build — into pieces and through that you will build a — into pieces and through that you will build a picture _ into pieces and through that you will build a picture of— into pieces and through that you will build a picture of what i into pieces and through that you will build a picture of what we i into pieces and through that you. will build a picture of what we are talking _ will build a picture of what we are talking about _ will build a picture of what we are talking about. do _ will build a picture of what we are talking about. do children - will build a picture of what we are talking about. do children get i talking about. do children get covid-19? _ talking about. do children get covid—19? yes. _ talking about. do children get covid—19? yes. do— talking about. do children get covid—19? yes. do children i talking about. do children getl covid—19? yes. do children get talking about. do children get i covid—19? yes. do children get ill with covid—19? _ covid—19? yes. do children get ill with covid—19? very _ covid—19? yes. do children get ill with covid—19? very rarely - covid—19? yes. do children get illi with covid—19? very rarely indeed. do children— with covid—19? very rarely indeed. do children transmit _ with covid—19? very rarely indeed. do children transmit covid—19? i with covid—19? very rarely indeed. i do children transmit covid—19? yes, but it— do children transmit covid—19? yes, but it is— do children transmit covid—19? yes, but it is predominantly— do children transmit covid—19? yes, but it is predominantly a _ do children transmit covid—19? yes, but it is predominantly a signal- but it is predominantly a signal towards — but it is predominantly a signal towards the _ but it is predominantly a signal towards the upper— but it is predominantly a signal towards the upper teenage i but it is predominantly a signal. towards the upper teenage years. but it is predominantly a signal- towards the upper teenage years. in other— towards the upper teenage years. in other words. — towards the upper teenage years. in other words, the _ towards the upper teenage years. in other words, the more _ towards the upper teenage years. in other words, the more adult- towards the upper teenage years. in other words, the more adult life i other words, the more adult life they become _ other words, the more adult life they become the _ other words, the more adult life they become the greater - other words, the more adult life i they become the greater propensity to transmit — they become the greater propensity to transmit to — they become the greater propensity to transmit to others. _ they become the greater propensity to transmit to others. do _ they become the greater propensity to transmit to others. do teachers i to transmit to others. do teachers -et to transmit to others. do teachers get covid-19? _ to transmit to others. do teachers get covid—19? yes. _ to transmit to others. do teachers get covid—19? yes. is _ to transmit to others. do teachers get covid—19? yes. is it— to transmit to others. do teachers get covid—19? yes. is it clear- to transmit to others. do teachers get covid—19? yes. is it clear that| get covid—19? yes. is it clear that teachers — get covid—19? yes. is it clear that teachers get _ get covid—19? yes. is it clear that teachers get covid—19 _ get covid—19? yes. is it clear that teachers get covid—19 from - get covid—19? yes. is it clear that. teachers get covid—19 from children or from _ teachers get covid—19 from children or from each— teachers get covid—19 from children or from each other? _ teachers get covid—19 from children or from each other? no, _ teachers get covid—19 from children or from each other? no, it- teachers get covid—19 from children or from each other? no, it is- teachers get covid—19 from children or from each other? no, it is not. or from each other? no, it is not clear~ _ or from each other? no, it is not clear~ they— or from each other? no, it is not clear. they could _ or from each other? no, it is not clear. they could also _ or from each other? no, it is not clear. they could also pick - or from each other? no, it is not clear. they could also pick it i or from each other? no, it is not clear. they could also pick it up. or from each other? no, it is notl clear. they could also pick it up in their— clear. they could also pick it up in their own — clear. they could also pick it up in their own lives _ clear. they could also pick it up in their own lives outside _ clear. they could also pick it up in their own lives outside of - clear. they could also pick it up in their own lives outside of school. i their own lives outside of school. is their own lives outside of school. is there — their own lives outside of school. is there a — their own lives outside of school. is there a clear— their own lives outside of school. is there a clear signal— their own lives outside of school. is there a clear signal in- their own lives outside of school. is there a clear signal in the i their own lives outside of school. is there a clear signal in the data j is there a clear signal in the data of a markedly— is there a clear signal in the data of a markedly increased - is there a clear signal in the data of a markedly increased rate i is there a clear signal in the data of a markedly increased rate of i of a markedly increased rate of infection— of a markedly increased rate of infection or _ of a markedly increased rate of infection or mortality— of a markedly increased rate of infection or mortality in - of a markedly increased rate of i infection or mortality in teachers? no. infection or mortality in teachers? no but— infection or mortality in teachers? no but could _ infection or mortality in teachers? no. but could infected _ infection or mortality in teachers? no. but could infected children. no. but could infected children introduce — no. but could infected children introduce the _ no. but could infected children introduce the infection - no. but could infected children introduce the infection back. no. but could infected children introduce the infection back inl introduce the infection back in their— introduce the infection back in their own _ introduce the infection back in their own households- introduce the infection back in their own households and i introduce the infection back in i their own households and therefore contribute — their own households and therefore contribute to — their own households and therefore contribute to r? _ their own households and therefore contribute to r? absolutely- their own households and therefore contribute to r? absolutely yes. i contribute to r? absolutely yes. thank _ contribute to r? absolutely yes. thank you. — contribute to r? absolutely yes. thank you, jonathan. _ contribute to r? absolutely yes. thank you, jonathan. tom - contribute to r? absolutely yes. i thank you, jonathan. tom newton dunn. ,, , ., , thank you, jonathan. tom newton dunn. ,, , ., ., dunn. question first to professor jonathan van-tam _ dunn. question first to professor jonathan van-tam and _ dunn. question first to professor jonathan van-tam and sir- dunn. question first to professor. jonathan van-tam and sir patrick. jonathan van—tam and sir patrick. you mentioned the transmissibility of people who have had the vaccine. can you tell us what you know so far about whether people are still able to transmit the virus once they have had that dose, from studies abroad and perhaps your own studies. the israeli health ministry say as much as 60% less likely to transmit the virus, and if that is true what effect would that have on the pace of the unlock? and prime minister, how did you come to the date of eighth of march? you do have a reputation for optimism, that is no insult, but parents will be hanging on that. they will be incredibly disappointed if they don't see schools reopen from the eighth of march. so why notjust wait until you are sure? d0 march. so why not 'ust wait until you sue._ you are sure? do you want to go first on the — you are sure? do you want to go first on the transmissibility? i i first on the transmissibility? i don't think there are clear data on the extent— don't think there are clear data on the extent to which vaccines will reduce _ the extent to which vaccines will reduce transmission at this point in time _ reduce transmission at this point in time there — reduce transmission at this point in time. there are multiple studies under— time. there are multiple studies underway. _ time. there are multiple studies underway, predominantly time. there are multiple studies under way, predominantly conducted by underway, predominantly conducted by public_ under way, predominantly conducted by public health england in the uk to look— by public health england in the uk to look at— by public health england in the uk to look at this, and i think we will -et to look at this, and i think we will get those — to look at this, and i think we will get those data over time. i think as scientists— get those data over time. i think as scientists we believe on first principles that vaccines with the very high— principles that vaccines with the very high levels of effectiveness that we — very high levels of effectiveness that we are seeing from the clinical trials _ that we are seeing from the clinical trials really couldn't fail to have some _ trials really couldn't fail to have some effect on transmission, and the question— some effect on transmission, and the question is— some effect on transmission, and the question is really less will lay, but to— question is really less will lay, but to what extent. when we have clarity _ but to what extent. when we have clarity on — but to what extent. when we have clarity on the extent, that will open — clarity on the extent, that will open up — clarity on the extent, that will open up a _ clarity on the extent, that will open up a whole range of further questions — open up a whole range of further questions about the future deployment of vaccines after the w deployment of vaccines after the jcvi priority groups one to nine are completed — jcvi priority groups one to nine are completed about how vaccines might play a _ completed about how vaccines might play a role _ completed about how vaccines might play a role in keeping transmission low in _ play a role in keeping transmission low in the — play a role in keeping transmission low in the uk. but these are questions for the future. ijust can't _ questions for the future. ijust can't give _ questions for the future. ijust can't give you any clear data on that _ can't give you any clear data on that at — can't give you any clear data on that at the _ can't give you any clear data on that at the moment.— can't give you any clear data on that at the moment. that is exactly ri . ht. that at the moment. that is exactly right- there's _ that at the moment. that is exactly right. there's going _ that at the moment. that is exactly right. there's going to _ that at the moment. that is exactly right. there's going to be _ that at the moment. that is exactly right. there's going to be some i right. there's going to be some effect on transmissibility. we cannot put the number on it at the moment. i think it is really important that as these are rolled out across the world, we monitor and understand that, and israel has started doing that and they are beginning to get data. they said they won't have any firm data for a few weeks yet and we will be in the same position, but these are important questions. because as jonathan says, it will also determine to what extent the vaccines can be used across wider society to reduce transmission overall. , ., ,., society to reduce transmission overall. , ., ., overall. on your point about schools. _ overall. on your point about schools. of— overall. on your point about schools, of course _ overall. on your point about schools, of course you i overall. on your point about schools, of course you are i schools, of course you are absolutely right. on the other hand opening schools is a huge priority for the country, for parents up and down the land. what we are saying is that the eighth of march is the earliest date by which we might responsibly be able to do that, given what we know now, but it does depend on all those things going right in the way i described. so the vaccine roll—out has to continue to be successful, as it currently is. we have to see evidence of the graphs are coming down and we are making progress, the vaccines are working, as patrick has said, in reducing mortality and serious disease. we need to see the vaccines are working for people. and we need to make sure the infection rate is in the right place and we are continuing as a country to work together to drive it down by the means that we are currently using. we will keep it all under constant review, particularly obviously on february the 15th when we will know if we have hit our target of getting those most vulnerable groups vaccinated. thanks, tom. prime minister, vaccinated. thanks, tom. prime minister. a _ vaccinated. thanks, tom. prime minister, a question _ vaccinated. thanks, tom. prime minister, a question about i vaccinated. thanks, tom. prime minister, a question about the l vaccinated. thanks, tom. prime i minister, a question about the row between astrazeneca and the eu. brussels has been threatening to impose vaccine export controls on doses leaving the eu. have you been considering export restrictions on uk manufacturing vaccines should that occur? and more generally, you said you have done everything in your power to tackle the covid pandemic but you have been criticised for a number of things including introducing the lock down quite late, taking three months to introduce quarantine, not sacking dominic cummings, ignoring advice about bringing a lockdown in the autumn, and also allowing bubbles to form over christmas against the advice of your own scientists. you said you would take responsibility for your handling of the crisis but do you think any of those specific things were a mistake? jim. do you think any of those specific things were a mistake?— do you think any of those specific things were a mistake? jim, first of all on your— things were a mistake? jim, first of all on your question _ things were a mistake? jim, first of all on your question about - things were a mistake? jim, first of all on your question about the i all on your question about the overall government handling of the crisis, of course i take full responsibility for everything. all i would say humbly and respectfully to those who make criticisms of what the government has been trying to do is that in situations like this, where you have such very brutal and difficult dilemmas, there are no easy answers, and very often there are no good answers at all. the government has done its best to protect life and to minimise suffering, and we will continue to do that. there will come a time, obviously, for the learning of lessons and there will be a full inquiry into everything to reflect and understand and prepare. as i said earlier on in the house and i think yesterday as well, i don't believe that time is right now when we have infection very high, the nhs battling heroically against this disease, and the whole of british officialdom fighting to control and defeat coronavirus. i don't think it is the right use of official time at the moment, but that moment surely will come. on your point about our friends in the eu, i want to repeat that we are very confident of our contracts, very confident of our supply. and the issues you raise are a matterfor our eu supply. and the issues you raise are a matter for our eu friends and the companies concerned. but what i would say, and i think it is important to stress this, we in the uk firmly believe that the creation of vaccines is the result of international exchange, international exchange, international partnerships, and the distribution of vaccines around the world is also going to be a great multinational international effort. the uk leads in supporting covax to make sure people across the planet in the poorest countries in the world get the vaccines they need. i think we are the second biggest funder in the world of that initiative.— funder in the world of that initiative. ., ., , ., ., initiative. how do you feel about ressure initiative. how do you feel about pressure being _ initiative. how do you feel about pressure being placed _ initiative. how do you feel about pressure being placed on - pressure being placed on astrazeneca, are you angry about it? i like the way you got in a supplementary, but i will stick firmly to my lines, which is that we are confident in our supply, confident in the contracts we have. i think the oxford astrazeneca vaccine is obviously very important for our country and for the world, and the matter in question is for the eu, ourfriends in the eu and astrazeneca. let's go to dominic of the metro. ., ., ~ , ., the metro. the head of astrazeneca has said he has _ the metro. the head of astrazeneca has said he has no _ the metro. the head of astrazeneca has said he has no doubt _ the metro. the head of astrazeneca has said he has no doubt that - the metro. the head of astrazeneca has said he has no doubt that the i has said he has no doubt that the number of people vaccinated in the uk will reach 28 to 30 million by the end of february, which would be enough for everyone over 50. do you agree with his assessment? and you say you are confident of our supply, but it is not in your hands, is it, if astrazeneca bowed to the eu demand to divert supplies to europe. and one for the scientists, if i may. should public health advice be changed now that it has emerged that those infected with the new variant are less likely to lose their sense of smell and taste? and one quick one for sir patrick, you said last week the evidence suggests the new uk variant is 30 to 40% more lethal for those who catch it. has that figure been revised at all? dominic, i have said what i have said about the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine, it continues to be made in ever—growing quantities in the uk, and in wrexham as you know, and that will accelerate, the production schedules will continue to improve. but as to the numbers that pascal quoted, i could not confirm them, but we are confident of our supply and we will keep rolling out vaccines as fast as we possibly can, you know, and i am very pleased at the moment that we have the fastest roll—out of vaccines in europe by some way. fin roll-out of vaccines in europe by some way-— roll-out of vaccines in europe by somewa. , _ ,., , some way. on these symptoms, look, these are kept — some way. on these symptoms, look, these are kept under— some way. on these symptoms, look, these are kept under regular - some way. on these symptoms, look, these are kept under regular review. | these are kept under regular review. i believe that cough and fever are extremely important steel in terms of the recognition of covid—i9. in addition, the public now have access, in very many places, to lateral flow tests, where they can go for a test even if they are asymptomatic, so we will keep it under review. just asymptomatic, so we will keep it under review.— asymptomatic, so we will keep it under review. just to be absolutely clear, the 30-70% _ under review. just to be absolutely clear, the 30-70% figure _ under review. just to be absolutely clear, the 30-70% figure is - under review. just to be absolutely clear, the 30-70% figure is around i clear, the 30—70% figure is around transmissibility, it is not on mortality, so the new variant is between — mortality, so the new variant is between 30—70% more transposable, it spreads— between 30—70% more transposable, it spreads more easily. in terms of the mortality. _ spreads more easily. in terms of the mortality, what we said is that there — mortality, what we said is that there is— mortality, what we said is that there is a _ mortality, what we said is that there is a signal of an increased mortality— there is a signal of an increased mortality from certain datasets with quite a _ mortality from certain datasets with quite a lot _ mortality from certain datasets with quite a lot of uncertainty around it, quite a lot of uncertainty around it. and _ quite a lot of uncertainty around it, and what i described was that if you took— it, and what i described was that if you took 1000 people in their 60s and ask— you took 1000 people in their 60s and ask the question, what with the impact _ and ask the question, what with the impact he _ and ask the question, what with the impact be it— and ask the question, what with the impact be if the data turned out to be robust. — impact be if the data turned out to be robust, you would see something like ten _ be robust, you would see something like ten out — be robust, you would see something like ten out of the 1000 who got infected — like ten out of the 1000 who got infected dying with the old variant and 13-14 — infected dying with the old variant and 13—14 out of the 1000 with the new _ and 13—14 out of the 1000 with the new. obviously, those numbers would be much _ new. obviously, those numbers would be much lower with younger people, who have _ be much lower with younger people, who have a — be much lower with younger people, who have a much lower risk from it, and a _ who have a much lower risk from it, and a hit _ who have a much lower risk from it, and a bit higher with older people, who have — and a bit higher with older people, who have a — and a bit higher with older people, who have a higher risk. so that is the situation as we saw it, and we have _ the situation as we saw it, and we have no— the situation as we saw it, and we have no reat— the situation as we saw it, and we have no real new data to update that, _ have no real new data to update that, but — have no real new data to update that, but there are more studies going _ that, but there are more studies going on— that, but there are more studies going on to look at it. the 30—70% figure _ going onto look at it. the 30—70% figure is_ going on to look at it. the 30—70% figure is on— going on to look at it. the 30—70% figure is on transmissibility and spread — figure is on transmissibility and sread. ., figure is on transmissibility and spread-- new _ figure is on transmissibility and spread.- new scientist. | figure is on transmissibility and | spread.- new scientist. i spread. thanks. new scientist. i wanted to _ spread. thanks. new scientist. i wanted to pick _ spread. thanks. new scientist. i wanted to pick up _ spread. thanks. new scientist. i wanted to pick up on _ spread. thanks. new scientist. i wanted to pick up on the - spread. thanks. new scientist. i wanted to pick up on the point l spread. thanks. new scientist. i - wanted to pick up on the point about vaccines— wanted to pick up on the point about vaccines and transmission in the early— vaccines and transmission in the early research in israel, ijust wanted — early research in israel, ijust wanted to— early research in israel, ijust wanted to push you again on what preliminary data in the uk is telling — preliminary data in the uk is telling you about vaccines. if you can't _ telling you about vaccines. if you can't say — telling you about vaccines. if you can't say anything on transmission, can't say anything on transmission, can we _ can't say anything on transmission, can we say— can't say anything on transmission, can we say anything about the impact on severity— can we say anything about the impact on severity of disease? do we know if any _ on severity of disease? do we know if any vaccinated people have been admitted _ if any vaccinated people have been admitted to hospital in the uk? and, prime _ admitted to hospital in the uk? and, prime minister, if the vaccines do not reduce — prime minister, if the vaccines do not reduce the spread enough, what is your— not reduce the spread enough, what is your plan — not reduce the spread enough, what is your plan b? restrictions for longer? — is your plan b? restrictions for longer? and finally a little postscript, on a practical level, you had — postscript, on a practical level, you had a — postscript, on a practical level, you had a really good week last week for the _ you had a really good week last week for the first _ you had a really good week last week for the first doses on the vaccination, last week they have dropped. — vaccination, last week they have dropped. i— vaccination, last week they have dropped, ijust wondered why that is, is _ dropped, ijust wondered why that is, is it— dropped, ijust wondered why that is, is it supply, the weather, something else?— is, is it supply, the weather, something else? is, is it supply, the weather, somethina else? . ., . something else? patrick, do you want to take the...? _ something else? patrick, do you want to take the...? on _ something else? patrick, do you want to take the. . . ? on the _ something else? patrick, do you want to take the. . . ? on the vaccine - something else? patrick, do you want to take the. . . ? on the vaccine data, | to take the. . . ? on the vaccine data, i mean, to take the. . . ? on the vaccine data, i mean. we — to take the. . . ? on the vaccine data, i mean. we have _ to take the. . . ? on the vaccine data, i mean, we have got _ to take the. . . ? on the vaccine data, i mean, we have got the _ to take the. . . ? on the vaccine data, i mean, we have got the data - to take the. . . ? on the vaccine data, i mean, we have got the data from i i mean, we have got the data from israel coming through, and they are quite rightly saying it is preliminary. they are seeing it from, i think the data come from one of their health care organisations, they have four that work in the country, it is preliminary, and we saw, you know, peoplejumping on the initial preliminary figure of 33%, getting very excited about it, now a 60% plus figure that is out. i think we have to be extremely cautious and wait for proper data. it is too early to say what is happening in the uk, it is being looked at very carefully. i will say, the uk, it is being looked at very carefully. iwill say, though, and this is important, that you shouldn't expect to see nobody getting ill who has been vaccinated. vaccines are not 100% effective. we vaccines are not 100% effective. will still see people who get disease, but it will be much reduced with the vaccine, and we need proper data, ratherthan with the vaccine, and we need proper data, rather than trying to make early guesses as to what it is showing. i early guesses as to what it is showina. ~ ., ., ., showing. i thinki have nothing to add on vaccine _ showing. i thinki have nothing to add on vaccine effectiveness, - showing. i think i have nothing to i add on vaccine effectiveness, except that i_ add on vaccine effectiveness, except that i know _ add on vaccine effectiveness, except that i know that everyone is straining _ that i know that everyone is straining to get some information, and we _ straining to get some information, and we just— straining to get some information, and we just can't get it any faster than _ and we just can't get it any faster than we — and we just can't get it any faster than we can get it. we have actually -ot than we can get it. we have actually got to— than we can get it. we have actually got to give _ than we can get it. we have actually got to give people time to be vaccinated, and then exposed to covid-19 — vaccinated, and then exposed to covid—19 to get the signal that they are not— covid—19 to get the signal that they are not becoming infected, and the first data _ are not becoming infected, and the first data will be on infections, fottowed — first data will be on infections, followed by hospitalisations, and followed by hospitalisations, and followed by hospitalisations, and followed by deaths, and because they take longer to record in the system, and they— take longer to record in the system, and they take longer to occur as well after— and they take longer to occur as well after the point of infection. and on— well after the point of infection. and on the vaccine roll—out, really, all i'd _ and on the vaccine roll—out, really, all i'd say— and on the vaccine roll—out, really, all i'd say is — and on the vaccine roll—out, really, all i'd say is that having been privileged enough to be able to help with the _ privileged enough to be able to help with the vaccine roll—out in three clinics _ with the vaccine roll—out in three clinics in — with the vaccine roll—out in three clinics in the midlands, where i live, _ clinics in the midlands, where i live, i— clinics in the midlands, where i live, ijust _ clinics in the midlands, where i live, ijust want to, you know, pay a tribute _ live, ijust want to, you know, pay a tribute to— live, ijust want to, you know, pay a tribute to the staff, the professional staff and the volunteers who work there. their spirit _ volunteers who work there. their spirit and — volunteers who work there. their spirit and dedication is really beyond — spirit and dedication is really beyond compare. it is an enormous privilege _ beyond compare. it is an enormous privilege to — beyond compare. it is an enormous privilege to see just how hard they are straining every sinew to get this vaccine out to people as quickly— this vaccine out to people as quickly and as efficiently as they can _ quickly and as efficiently as they can i— quickly and as efficiently as they can. ., �* ~ . ,, ., can. i don't think anyone would disauree can. i don't think anyone would disagree with _ can. i don't think anyone would disagree with that, _ can. i don't think anyone would disagree with that, just - can. i don't think anyone would i disagree with that, just wondered can. i don't think anyone would - disagree with that, just wondered if you had any idea why it has dropped a bit you had any idea why it has dropped a hit this week. you had any idea why it has dropped a bit this week.— a bit this week. yes, let me 'ust sa , a bit this week. yes, let me 'ust say. don-t — a bit this week. yes, let me 'ust say, don't forget, i a bit this week. yes, let me 'ust say, don't forget, these i a bit this week. yes, let me 'ust say, don't forget, these are h say, don't forget, these are vaccines that have onlyjust been invented, and the batches are only just being approved, sol invented, and the batches are only just being approved, so i think one of the things that we said at the beginning is that there would be bumps, there would be ups and downs, particularly in these early phases, as production gets under way. you know, you ask a very good question about imagine a world in which the vaccines were not here, they were not working in the way that we want, and ijust remind you that we have made huge strides in our ability to test rapidly for this disease — that remains a resource, mass testing, community testing, testing by businesses, using lateralflow tests, pcr tests, all sorts of tests remain an option, indeed something that should be actively encouraged and should continue to be done, because you can pick up asymptomatic positives. it is not the whole answer, of course, but a very valuable thing to do that could help drive down the r. but i don't think i would be misrepresenting patrick and scientific colleagues if i said that there is a pretty overwhelming consensus that, of the list of vaccines, six or seven that the uk has already bought, 360 million doses that we have bought already, there is a pretty overwhelming consensus that they, at least some of them, will work very well, and we certainly think that pfizer and astrazeneca, as far as we can see, will work very well. and that is the consensus at the moment, ijust will work very well. and that is the consensus at the moment, i just want to repeat whatjonathan said, my thanks to everybody, it is quite astonishing what they are doing, the nhs, the army, pharmacists, chemists arejoining in growing numbers, and of course, as jvt said, the volunteers. patrick, do you want to...? , , ., , to. . . ? yes, 'ust two things. ten ears to. . . ? yes, 'ust two things. ten years ago. — to. . . ? yes, just two things. ten years ago. we — to. . . ? yes, just two things. ten years ago, we wouldn't - to. . . ? yes, just two things. ten years ago, we wouldn't have - to. . . ? yes, just two things. ten l years ago, we wouldn't have been able to— years ago, we wouldn't have been able to do— years ago, we wouldn't have been able to do this. that is the extraordinary thing, new vaccine technologies have allowed this to happen — technologies have allowed this to happen. ten years ago, we would not be in _ happen. ten years ago, we would not be in this— happen. ten years ago, we would not be in this position, it is remarkable. in the second point about— remarkable. in the second point about the — remarkable. in the second point about the lumpiness of supply, this is not _ about the lumpiness of supply, this is not making widgets — these are complex, — is not making widgets — these are complex, quality controlled biological processes, and it is not surprising — biological processes, and it is not surprising that supply goes up and down _ surprising that supply goes up and down a _ surprising that supply goes up and down a bit, there will be changes week— down a bit, there will be changes week on— down a bit, there will be changes week on week, and that is to be expected — week on week, and that is to be exected. ., week on week, and that is to be expected-_ expected. thanks very much everybody. _ expected. thanks very much everybody. see _ expected. thanks very much everybody, see you - expected. thanks very much everybody, see you next - expected. thanks very much i everybody, see you next time, expected. thanks very much - everybody, see you next time, thank you. studio: 0k you. studio: ok the prime minister ending his regular now, it seems, coronavirus briefings, withjonathan van—tam, the deputy chief medical officer, and the chief scientific adviser, sir patrick vallance, at number ten. we can take a look at some of the main points from that briefing today, and the prime minister said that reopening schools must be a national priority and to do this we need to see the impact of the uk's vaccine roll—out on mortality rates and the r number of infections. providing progress is made, the government hopes to reopen schools in march the 8th and will extend arrangements for free school meals until pupils return. he said from the week beginning the 22nd of february the government will set out its plan for the easing of the lockdown, he emphasised this is subject to change depending on infection rates and the success of the vaccine roll—out. let's talk to our political correspondencejessica parker. as i was saying earlier to you, a lot of these comments were made in the house of commons earlier today, but clearly focusing, it would seem, on march the 8th as a key date where potentially children can go back to school. yes. key date where potentially children can go back to school.— can go back to school. yes, but i think you — can go back to school. yes, but i think you are _ can go back to school. yes, but i think you are right _ can go back to school. yes, but i think you are right to _ can go back to school. yes, but i think you are right to say - can go back to school. yes, but i think you are right to say the - can go back to school. yes, but i i think you are right to say the word potentially, and what was striking in terms of that press conference, which was outlining things that we have largely learnt over the course of the day, was a very cautious language, very tentative language of the prime minister. in the past, borisjohnson has been accused by some critics of being overly optimistic, overpromising even, leading, in the end, to some disappointment, sol leading, in the end, to some disappointment, so i think he was really trying to stress the idea of reopening schools from march the 8th does depend on the success of the vaccine roll—out, one of the factors. and he said as well, interestingly, that is the earliest date it is going to happen. but, look, politicians know that if you name a date, even if you put lots of cautious language around it, people will hear that data, parents, families, carers, and they will look towards that data now in the hope that schools can reopen, and that means there will be pressure on ministers to deliver on it.- means there will be pressure on ministers to deliver on it. yes, a bit of a hostage _ ministers to deliver on it. yes, a bit of a hostage to _ ministers to deliver on it. yes, a bit of a hostage to fortune, - ministers to deliver on it. yes, a | bit of a hostage to fortune, some would suggest, but he has put a lot of caveats in there. nevertheless, jessica, pressure from his backbenchers for some kind of clear road map as to when the country can reopen again. road map as to when the country can reopen again-— reopen again. yes, and what we got it i was a road _ reopen again. yes, and what we got it i was a road map _ reopen again. yes, and what we got it i was a road map to _ reopen again. yes, and what we got it i was a road map to a _ reopen again. yes, and what we got it i was a road map to a road - reopen again. yes, and what we got it i was a road map to a road map, i it i was a road map to a road map, lying at this timeline of a review in mid—february, looking at the data which they think they will have more of by then, a clearer picture in terms of the effectiveness of lockdown, the effectiveness of the vaccine in terms of reducing transmission rights. then in the week commencing february the 22nd, in this place, in westminster, laying out to parliament i plan to hopefully ease restrictions and schools being the number one priority, and that march the 8th of date is very much linked back to the vaccine programme because by mid—february they hope to have offered the top four priority groups the vaccine, giving that three weeks to take effect and provide people with a level of up with that first dose, and then they can hopefully start to reopen schools. but a lot of contingencies in contingencies in there in terms of what could happen, what could change, and as i say, the prime minister very keen to stress that this evening, as he laid out the plan, as it is, to members of the plan, as it is, to members of the public. but his backbenchers will absolutely be listening keenly, and once i have spoken to will want to hear more detail as soon as possible. to hear more detail as soon as ossible., ,, .., to hear more detail as soon as ossible.g ,, ., ~ to hear more detail as soon as possible-— possible. jessica parker at westminster, _ possible. jessica parker at westminster, thank - possible. jessica parker at westminster, thank you. i westminster, thank you. nick triggle, our health correspondent, is here. a lot of discussion there in that coronavirus news conference on the efficacy of the vaccine, on a number of things, particularly on transmission rights. and we heard sir patrick vallance, the chief scientific adviser to the government, make it clear you shouldn't expect everyone to be completely immune from coronavirus once you have had the vaccine. some people will still get the disease and some people will still die. yes. and some people will still die. yes, the will, and some people will still die. yes, they will. and _ and some people will still die. yes, they will. and it _ and some people will still die. yes, they will, and it got _ and some people will still die. fie: they will, and it got quite technical at points there. the thing to think about the vaccine doing three things — firstly, it can stop serious illness, people ending up in hospital. it can, secondly, stop people becoming ill at all, symptomatic infection, even stopping any mild illness. and, thirdly, it can stop transmission, someone who has been vaccinated passing it on to somebody else. now, when we talk about the efficacy figures, 95% efficacy for pfizer, 82% for astrazeneca, that relates to the second point, the symptomatic infection, stopping that. if we look at stopping serious illness, well, the astrazeneca vaccine, no—one in the astrazeneca vaccine, no—one in the trials became seriously ill after getting one dose of the vaccine. and that has a massive impact on the nhs, and hospitals, on the individuals themselves. but for the individuals themselves. but for the wider spread of the virus in society, stopping transmission is more important. now, if vaccination stop someone passing it on, that will have a very large impact on infection levels, what is happening with the virus, and that is the thing they don't know, but patrick vallance, the chief scientific adviser, said you don't get this level of efficacy without having some impact on transmission. we won't know for another month or two what impact that will have on transmission, but that is why they spoke about that and why it is a crucial factor.— crucial factor. also a lot of discussion _ crucial factor. also a lot of discussion on _ crucial factor. also a lot of discussion on the - crucial factor. also a lot of discussion on the risk- crucial factor. also a lot of discussion on the risk in i crucial factor. also a lot of - discussion on the risk in schools with the prime minister making it clear that reopening schools was a priority, and he is looking towards the first week of march.— priority, and he is looking towards the first week of march. indeed. the prime minister _ the first week of march. indeed. the prime minister talks _ the first week of march. indeed. the prime minister talks about _ the first week of march. indeed. the prime minister talks about schools l prime minister talks about schools being safe, but then schools being effective for transmission. one of the journalists asked about this and van—tam took them through this point by point. i think the thing with children to remember is they are incredibly low risk of illness and death if they are infected. teachers who are working in schools with children, the research shows they are at no higher risk of infection than anyone else working outside of the home and at no extra risk of dying if they are infected. but what children do do, they contribute to the wider spread because they can become infected, in fact young children especially are more likely to be asymptomatic, high levels of asymptomatic infections. so when you look at schoolchildren, when schools are open, taking the affection into the households, there is research on that and it shows that when you look at the index case in a family, secondary age children are seven times more likely to be that index case. primary schools twice as likely, that's because primary school children are less susceptible, less likely to transmit the virus, but they do play some role in the wider spread of the virus. that's why schools were closed this time when infection rate were so high. prior to christmas we had schools open, and that allowed some spread, it was the price we paid for keeping children in education. paid for keeping children in education-— paid for keeping children in education. . ~' ., ~ paid for keeping children in education. v ., ~ , ., education. nick triggle, thank you for that. let's _ education. nick triggle, thank you for that. let's get _ education. nick triggle, thank you for that. let's get the _ education. nick triggle, thank you for that. let's get the view - education. nick triggle, thank you for that. let's get the view from . for that. let's get the view from labour now. thanks forjoining us, first of all the suggestion it could be the eighth of march we could get reopening of schools. your thoughts on that? i reopening of schools. your thoughts on that? ., , , reopening of schools. your thoughts on that? .,, , .,, ,., ., on that? i hope it will be as soon as that. on that? i hope it will be as soon as that- we _ on that? i hope it will be as soon as that. we are _ on that? i hope it will be as soon as that. we are keen _ on that? i hope it will be as soon as that. we are keen to - on that? i hope it will be as soon as that. we are keen to see - on that? i hope it will be as soon . as that. we are keen to see children backin as that. we are keen to see children back in class as soon as possible and save for them and the whole community but it is not enough for the government to announce a date. we need a proper plan in place to make sure that date can be achieved. that means obviously ensuring that all the necessary measures are put in place to minimise transmission from school back to the home. it means having a mass testing programme in schools working effectively. it means schools have access to the ppe and resources they need to make school as covid—secure as possible. and it also means, as we have said today, bringing forward the vaccination of school staff, taking advantage of the half turn window in the middle of february. that gives you the two or three weeks needed for the dose of the vaccine to take effect and then start school from the 8th of march. would do not make any sense if teachers are not vaccinated? taste would do not make any sense if teachers are not vaccinated? we are ve keen teachers are not vaccinated? we are very keen on — teachers are not vaccinated? we are very keen on the _ teachers are not vaccinated? we are very keen on the government - teachers are not vaccinated? we are| very keen on the government should not be too slow on this occasion. it has been too slow on many other occasions but half term is a real opportunity for them to get ahead of things and start vaccinating school staff so that 8th of march date is possible and teachers and parents feel really confident about it. again and again we have seen the government miss good opportunities, miss the opportunity to align the circuit breaker last autumn with the half term break then. we are saying the government should not miss this opportunity to take advantage of half term. it's interesting the head of the nhs, sir simon stevens, was also pointing to the opportunity this half term offers to get school staff vaccinated.— staff vaccinated. that vaccination then of teachers, _ staff vaccinated. that vaccination then of teachers, does _ staff vaccinated. that vaccination then of teachers, does that - staff vaccinated. that vaccination | then of teachers, does that mean moving them up the list if it's going to be around the half term period? going to be around the half term eriod? ~ ., ., going to be around the half term eriod? ~ . ., , going to be around the half term eriod? . . . , ., period? what we have said needs to ha en is period? what we have said needs to happen is that _ period? what we have said needs to happen is that we _ period? what we have said needs to happen is that we think, _ period? what we have said needs to happen is that we think, and - period? what we have said needs to happen is that we think, and the - happen is that we think, and the prime minister i think is pretty confident that the priority groups one to four will be vaccinated by the middle of february and that is really welcome. people in the vaccine programme, the nhs, the volunteers and developers of the vaccine have worked really hard. that means the high risk groups should have received their vaccine by the middle of february. alongside vaccinating the lower priority groups, the so—called groups five to nine, we think there is scope to mmp nine, we think there is scope to ramp up the vaccination programme, yes, to 4 million vaccinations a week, but certainly scope therefore to insert school staff into that half term week alongside the priority groups five to nine and then carry on other key workers also. �* , ., . ., , then carry on other key workers also. �* , also. but you could well be, if you are talking — also. but you could well be, if you are talking about _ also. but you could well be, if you are talking about the _ also. but you could well be, if you are talking about the half- also. but you could well be, if you are talking about the half term - are talking about the half term window for vaccinating teachers, you could be denying the vaccination to someone who is around 50, couldn't you? has someone who is around 50, couldn't ou? �* , someone who is around 50, couldn't ou? ~ , ., someone who is around 50, couldn't ou? a . ~ ., someone who is around 50, couldn't ou? . 4' ., , you? as i say, what we know is the to four you? as i say, what we know is the top four groups. — you? as i say, what we know is the top four groups, the _ you? as i say, what we know is the top four groups, the 70 _ you? as i say, what we know is the top four groups, the 70 and - top four groups, the 70 and i8—year—olds and older are the most at risk of serious illness and sadly death. 88% of the debts that have occurred have taken place among those top four priority groups and it is right they should be the first priority for the vaccine. we are not saying we want to deny the vaccine to the next group, the 50 plus group, as you say. we are saying there is capacity and vaccinations could be ramped up to 4 million a week so the vaccination of school staff, which is a limited number of people and can be accommodated in the programme, could take place alongside the vaccination of the priority groups of over 50s. briefly if ou priority groups of over 50s. briefly if you will. — priority groups of over 50s. briefly if you will, kate, _ priority groups of over 50s. briefly if you will, kate, should _ priority groups of over 50s. briefly if you will, kate, should we - priority groups of over 50s. briefly if you will, kate, should we be - if you will, kate, should we be seeing the treasury and the government and rishi sunak make an effort to plug the loopholes that are seeing something like 3 million people fall through the net when it comes to getting some kind of financial assistance because they are self—employed and so on? i financial assistance because they are self-employed and so on? i can't understand — are self-employed and so on? i can't understand why _ are self-employed and so on? i can't understand why rishi _ are self-employed and so on? i can't understand why rishi sunak - are self-employed and so on? i can't understand why rishi sunak has - are self-employed and so on? i can't understand why rishi sunak has not| understand why rishi sunak has not with this by now. it's been pointed out to him again and again the lack of support for some self—employed people. the fact they are falling down the cracks and the fact we have seen also of course some women who became pregnant and became mothers recently may fall down the cracks too. so there are still holes in the system of protection and i don't understand why the chancellor of the exchequer won't listen to the pleas of the self—employed and the labour party and many others and fill the gaps so that people are not worrying about their financial circumstances, that they know their financial security is guaranteed as we all go through this terrible pandemic together. i’m through this terrible pandemic touether. �* ., ., ., ., . together. i'm going to have to cut in there. kate _ together. i'm going to have to cut in there. kate green _ together. i'm going to have to cut in there. kate green from - together. i'm going to have to cut in there. kate green from the - together. i'm going to have to cut. in there. kate green from the labour party, thanks forjoining us. here is a reminder of what the prime minister outlined at the briefing today. ii minister outlined at the briefing toda . ., ., ,. , today. if we are to get schools open and keep them _ today. if we are to get schools open and keep them open, _ today. if we are to get schools open and keep them open, which - today. if we are to get schools open and keep them open, which is - today. if we are to get schools open and keep them open, which is what| today. if we are to get schools open i and keep them open, which is what we want, then we are to be clear about certain things. we need to be sure the vaccine roll—out is continuing to be successful as it is, and most importantly, we need to see the impact of our vaccines on those graphs of mortality. we need to see they really are saving lives and preventing people from becoming seriously ill. now, we are confident that that will happen, and the vaccines will have that effect. but to be responsible, we must see the proof. and our current estimates say the proof will only become visible in the middle of february. since we need to give schools two weeks' notice to reopen, it is sensible now to serve notice that we will not be able to reopen schools immediately after half term on february the 22nd. but if we continue to make the progress that we want to see and we believe we can see, then we hope to begin opening schools on monday the 8th of march. and to help parents and teachers with this extended period of remote learning, we will extend the arrangements for providing free school meals for those eligible children not in school, including food parcels and the national voucher scheme until those pupils have returned to the classroom. and as we did this financial year, we will provide a catch—up programme over the next financial year with a further £300 million of new money to schools for tutoring, and we will work with the education secretary to develop wherever appropriate specific initiatives for summer schools as well as a covid premium for catch up, to support pupils to catch up. we will work with parents, teachers and schools to develop a long—term plan to make sure that pupils, all pupils, have the chance to make up their learning over the course of this parliament, so we tackle that issue of differential learning. and kids who may have fallen behind through no fault of their own. and so everyjab that goes in, we are becoming more confident we will reach our target of offering a first dose to everyone in the top four priority groups by the middle of february. at that moment, we will be able to review our progress, judge the state of the pandemic and the effectiveness of the vaccine, and then in the week beginning the 22nd of february, we will set out our plan notjust of february, we will set out our plan not just for of february, we will set out our plan notjust for reopening our schools but gradually to reopen our economy and our society, and to get our lives back to as close to normal as possible. this would be a timetable that is inevitably going to be subject to adjustment, but i believe it will provide clarity and certainty about the way ahead. the road map that we can take together and use as a country to defeat the virus and begin steadily to reclaim our lives. 50 virus and begin steadily to reclaim our lives. ~ , our lives. so the prime minister s-ueakin our lives. so the prime minister speaking at _ our lives. so the prime minister speaking at the _ our lives. so the prime minister speaking at the coronavirus - our lives. so the prime minister. speaking at the coronavirus news conference earlier, reiterating the fact that for him the reopening of schools is the top priority. that cannot take place during the half term recess, which is a shame, he says, but match the eight is the date he is hoping that can happen. now tomasz schafernaker has the weather news. it's going to be considerably milder across the uk in the coming days. it is already in the south of the country. on top of that, a lot of cloud, outbreaks of rain. the rain is currently spreading across the uk. but we are not done with the snow yet — snow to come for the northern hills and mountains of the uk. weather systems are spiralling in the atlantic. weather fronts heading our way. the jet stream has also bulged to the north, allowing for that milder air from the south to creep in, but it hasn't quite reached northern parts of the country, so here it is still a chilly afternoon and early evening. you can see temperatures not far off freezing in aberdeen. to the south, in wet cornwall and devon, temperatures of around ten degrees and outbreaks of rain. the weather front spreads across the country through the course of this evening. it will eventually bump into the cold air in the north, so we will see wintry weather across the pennines, the hills and the mountains of scotland. to the south of that it will be raining quite a lot and of course very mild. these are overnight temperatures, no lower than ten in plymouth, nine in london, but in scotland we still have a frost. where it is below freezing it is snow, so this is hill and mountain weather here when you can see the snow. to the south of that, rain and sleet mixing across the pennines. it really will not be very pleasant. some higher elevations will almost certainly get a fresh covering of snow. south of that it's just the rain, which is a real nuisance. we've had a lot of rainfall across this part of the world. more to come. thursday, for the bulk of england and wales, the afternoon is looking mostly dry. it will probably be drizzly and murky in places. but very mild, ill potentially in london. in scotland, still cold, and we have that snow falling. how much snow could we get? for some of the high elevations, may be 15 to 30 centimetres, but it really will be higher up. south of that, another spell of rain heading our way on thursday evening and into friday. so, it's going to be very mild, there will be snow across the hills and mountains, but also a lot of rainfall — and probably rainfall in areas where we don't want it. temperatures at the end of the week will be around 12 degrees in london, only four in aberdeen. the lockdown in england is extended until march as government scientists warn the uk remains in a difficult position with a million people still infected. the prime minister says children will not return to school until march the 8th at the earliest. we all must be cautious and we all want only to open the schools when we can be sure that this will not cause another huge surge in the disease. more than 1,700 deaths have been recorded across the uk in the past 2a hours — the second highest figure yet, but new cases continue to fall. tightening the uk's borders — anyone arriving from southern africa, portugal and much of south america will be taken to a hotel to quarantine for ten days. the row intensifies over vaccine supplies — now the eu says it wants astrazeneca to hand over doses made in the uk.

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