Covid-19: Latest developments and lockdown measures

Gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from the 14 September, after the number of daily Covid-19 cases rose to almost 3,000 in the UK. Speaking to the radio station LBC, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he wouldn’t rule out a second lockdown. He added: “I wouldn’t make a vow like that. You wouldn’t expect me to – I am the health secretary in the middle of a pandemic where we are trying to keep the country safe. Our goal is to avoid having to do anything more drastic by people following the rules.”

Czech Republic and Netherlands record high number of Covid cases

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has recorded more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases within one day for the first time. However, the death toll in the Czech Republic has remained lower than in many other European countries, with 441 fatalities reported as of 9 September, out of a total of 29,877 cases since the start of the pandemic.

The number of new Covid-19 cases in the Netherlands has risen by 1,140 within 24 hours, the highest daily total since April. Hugo de Jonge, National Institute for Health, said: “It’s not going the right way.” He added that the reopening of primary schools in the Netherlands was not tied to the increase in numbers.

Oxford vaccine trial halted

The Covid-19 vaccine trial at the Oxford University has been put on hold after a possible adverse reaction in a trial patient. Prof. Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told The Guardian: “We do not know what event has occurred, but given that in the UK those aged over 70 have been included in the trials, coincidental events are to be expected. It is premature to speculate on whether the vaccine caused the adverse event, and even if it eventually is concluded that it is possible the vaccine was the cause, there may be other factors involved and it would not necessarily mean the vaccine could not be used at all.”

With numbers of Covid-19 cases rising again in a lot of countries, new measures are being put in place in different parts of the world, including the removal of countries from travel corridors, such as England removing some Greek islands from its list of safe countries.