Matt Hancock to make coronavirus announcement this evening
The announcement comes amid growing concern over the spread of the South Africa Covid variant
Health Secretary Matt Hancock will host a Downing Street press conference later today, No 10 has announced.
It is believed Mr Hancock will deliver the coronavirus briefing at 5pm. The announcement comes as ministers have sought to reassure Britons about the effectiveness of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
A new study of around 2,000 people suggests the jab only offers minimal protection against mild disease caused by the South Africa variant.
Due to the young age of participants, the research could not ascertain how effective the vaccine is in fighting severe cases or its efficacy in older people.
Numerous ministers have already suggested that Britons could receive a third vaccine, specifically designed to combat mutations, later this year.
Health Minister Edward Argar told Sky News: “What we would all expect is every year we have our flu booster jabs, or our flu jabs, it would not be unreasonable to suggest something similar here.”
Stating that the virus “will always try to outwit us”, the minister added: “We’ve just got to make sure we get ahead of the game and we outwit it.”
Over 140 cases of the SA variant have been identified in the UK so far.
Experts have warned these are likely to be the “tip of the iceberg” as they are the result of random checks on 5% to 10% of all positive tests.
Last week, mass testing was carried out in regions of England where the SA variant has been found. In these areas, all positive tests will be subject to sequencing to determine if people have contracted the mutated virus.
