Latest updates: minister defends the UK regulator’s ‘absolutely meticulous’ approach to the Covid vaccine amid criticism of its swift approval
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London is at risk of being placed into Tier 3 restrictions, the Evening Standard reports, as the fall in cases in the capital levels off.
Professor Kevin Fenton, London director for Public Health England, said:
The promising reductions we had begun to see with the recent national restrictions across the capital have shown signs of slowing in recent days – a stark reminder of just how delicate our situation is.
If we want to avoid being placed into Tier 3, it is vital we keep transmission down.
On the front page of the Guardian today: NHS staff will no longer get the coronavirus vaccine first after a drastic rethink about who should be given priority, it emerged last night.
The new immunisation strategy is likely to disappoint and worry thousands of frontline staff – and comes amid urgent warnings from NHS chiefs that hospitals could be “overwhelmed” in January by a third wave of Covid-19 caused by mingling over Christmas.
Related: NHS staff no longer top priority for vaccine despite fear of third wave
