Summary for Sunday, 30th May
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of coronavirus developments this Sunday.
We’ll bring you all the latest as it happens throughout the day.
That’s the message from the health service’s chief executive in England Sir Simon Stevens, who has championed the vaccine rollout.
Sir Simon confirms more than half of people in their 30s in England have received a coronavirus vaccination in a period of little over two weeks.
Meanwhile:
- Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi tells the BBC's Andrew Marr it would be irresponsible not to consider compulsory jabs for NHS staff
- But Labour's Thangam Debbonaire says we should work with health and care staff - not threaten them with mandatory vaccinations
- Zahawi also says the governments hopes to give all over-50s a second vaccination by 21 June
- NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens says people over 50 should bring forward their second jab if contacted
- More than half of 30-39-year-olds have had their first dose in the past two weeks
- Maros Sefcovic, European Commission vice president, tells Andrew Marr the EU is working with the UK over foreign holiday plans
- The head of NHS Providers says very few Covid patients in hospital in England have received two jabs
- Chris Hopson says this shows vaccines provide "very high" levels of protection
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of coronavirus developments this Sunday.
We’ll bring you all the latest as it happens throughout the day.
Main headlines
People aged over 50 who have had a first coronavirus jab should take up the offer of their second dose sooner if they are contacted by the NHS.That’s the message from the health service’s chief executive in England Sir Simon Stevens, who has championed the vaccine rollout.
Sir Simon confirms more than half of people in their 30s in England have received a coronavirus vaccination in a period of little over two weeks.
Meanwhile:
- "Very, very few" Covid patients in hospital in England have received two coronavirus jabs, the head of an NHS agency has said
- Patients now tend to be younger than earlier in the pandemic - meaning there was a lower need for critical care, NHS Providers’ Chris Hopson says
- But he warned it was "incredibly striking" how busy hospitals are, as they deal with non-Covid backlogs
- Vietnam has detected a Covid variant that appears to be a combination of the Indian and UK variants and can spread quickly by air, officials say
- The number of people sticking rigidly to Covid rules in Wales has dropped by up to a third, research suggests
- Thousands of people angry at the slow rollout of vaccines in Brazil have taken to the streets in cities across the country - with many blaming President Jair Bolsonaro