Reality Check

Dr Vin Diwakar, London’s NHS medical director, said: “I would like to encourage anyone offered this vaccine to get it.”

He highlighted the need to fight against “fake vaccine news” being targeted at some minority groups.

Unfortunately, the government doesn’t release much data on vaccine uptake at the moment, including around ethnicity, so we can’t say for sure if some groups are accepting the vaccine more than others.

What we do know is that minority groups have shown more “vaccine hesitancy” in polling.

For example, whilst 79% of white people said they were likely to take the vaccine, just 58% of black people and 55% of Asian people said they were, according to a survey by the Royal Society for Public Health.

This broadly follows a lower uptake trend seen in other vaccination programmes, according to Public Health England.

Some of the main reasons for this were concerns about its effectiveness and side effects.

Yesterday, the UK Statistics Authority called for the government to release more data on take-up in ethnic minority communities and Public Health England has previously said that the data on ethnicity is important for providing “openness and transparency”.

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

Alongside the news conference, the Home Office has just sent reporters other examples of house parties or illegal gatherings the police have come across in England.

So, for instance, in Greater Manchester, police responded to three separate parties over the weekend, the largest involving more than 40 people at a flat in Cheetham Hill.

And the Metropolitan Police in London issued more than 140 Fixed Penalty Notices totalling £39,000 last weekend.

"These included a house party of more than 40 people in Tower Hamlets and a large party at a place of worship in Hackney," the Home Office says.

And note the language that once again compares today to the Second World War: Dr Vin Diwakar of NHS England suggesting a house party was the equivalent of "a light in the middle of a blackout in the Blitz".

Image source, PA Media

Another question on summer holidays now. Ms Patel is asked whether people who want something to look forward to, and are booking summer holidays, should think again?

"It is simply far too early to even contemplate where we go with restrictions," the home secretary says.

She adds that the latest case and death numbers "really illustrate" the "pressures on the NHS" and it's too early "even to speculate" about what the rules might be in the summer.

Ms Patel finishes by saying the government's priority is to make sure the most vulnerable people are vaccinated.

Now the home secretary is asked whether the rules are the problem - rather than people breaking them - and whether they should be stricter.

Priti Patel says she has always been clear that “the majority of the British public are following the rules” but there are some “shocking” examples of people breaking them.

She says the measures are always under review and that has always been the case throughout the pandemic.

Asked about measures at the borders, she says the government is doing “everything we can possibly do” to protect the British public and the rollout of the vaccine.

Martin Hewitt adds that the police “have never blamed the public” and the vast majority of people are following the rules.

However, he says “we have to focus on the people deliberately breaching those rules” and putting others at risk.

Should people be booking a foreign summer holiday, asks Sam Coates from Sky News.

He also asks if shutting borders is the best way to stop new variants getting to the UK.

Priti Patel says it is "far too early to speculate" about restrictions in the summer.

At the moment she says people should not be travelling.

Dr Diwakar says the NHS is under pressure with medical students and surgeons being brought in to look after intensive care patients.

"The key message is 'help us to help you' - stay at home, follow the guidance," he says.

The next question is from the BBC's Vicki Young, who asks whether an extension to England's national lockdown is being considered, following Northern Ireland's extension earlier today.

Ms Patel says "we are in the midst of a global pandemic" and that it's "right we have stringent measures in place".

She adds it is "too early" to say when lockdown measures will end but those measures are under "constant review".

Dr Diwakar adds that, while "early", there are some signs the lockdown is working, "but that has not fed through to intensive care" numbers, as there is a delay between cases and hospital admissions.

In London, he says, the number of people in hospital went up yesterday.

Robert, a primary school teacher in Norwich, asks why, if the virus is more transmissible, aren’t the regulations tougher around who can attend schools.

Priti Patel says all the measures in place in schools are subject to the coronavirus restrictions.

Dr Vin Diwakar says there is “clearly a difficult balance to be struck” in deciding how to broaden out the definition a key worker, whose children are allowed to go to school during the lockdown.

He adds that schools have clear guidance in how to reduce the spread of the virus and make sure everyone is safe.

The first question comes from David in Bristol who says new variants of the virus will be a permanent threat and closing borders is only a temporary measure.

He asks if the pandemic can be managed in a more sustainable way through the periodic updating of vaccines?

Dr Diwakar says the top priority is delivering the vaccines we have got but that new variants are being constantly monitored.

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

I think I've written this headline on here before during a Downing Street news conference.

But it's still just as relevant.

The government doesn't want to leave the impression, even if they don't actually say this, that everyone is breaking the rules.

Because that might tempt the vast majority who are law-abiding to push things themselves.

So the message emphasised is that most people are slogging on with the rules and it's only the minority who are breaking them.

But the language and tone from Martin Hewitt of the National Police Chiefs' Council was striking for its anger: there is a "persistent minority" of rule breakers, there has been a "significant increase" in house parties and the police will no longer "waste time trying to reason with them".

The hope will be that this will keep the vast majority on side with what the police need to do - policing by consent - Mr Hewitt making reference to house parties in London and Hertfordshire attended by 40 and 150 people respectively.

Three police officers were injured when they arrived at the party in Brick Lane in London, with one officer requiring hospital treatment.

Up next is NHS England's regional medical director for London, Dr Vin Diwakar, who says dozens of new vaccination centres have opened around England today.

Dr Diwakar emphasises there are now a "growing network" of vaccination hubs, and says more than half a million people in London have had a dose.

Dr Diwakar also applauds the imam of a Birmingham mosque operating as a vaccination centre, who has been fighting back against vaccine misinformation. He encourages people across the UK from all communities to accept vaccine offers.

"It could save your life," he says.

On reports of people sharing online links to vaccine booking websites, he adds that it is "morally reprehensible" to try and skip the queue.

Martin Hewitt goes on to say official figures will be released next week which will show how many fines have been given since the start of this national lockdown but forces have been telling them that there has been a “significant increase”.

He says this is reflected in the fact that they have had more officers out on designated patrols to police the regulations.

He gives a few example of when his officers have had to deal with people “wilfully breaching” the regulations and endangering people around them.

He calls on people to comply with the regulations, particularly wearing a face mask when necessary, self-isolate when you are required to do so, and unless you have a valid reason “stay home”.

Looking to the numbers on the pandemic - the UK's daily Covid figures tend to fluctuate due to delays in reporting, but the seven-day averages give us a clearer idea of the current situation.

The seven day average for Covid cases in the UK continues to fall, and is now at 40,485.

For deaths, meanwhile, the seven-day average is rising, and currently stands at 1,224.

With regards to vaccines, the government has promised to offer vaccines to 15 million people in the UK by 15 February, but - at the current rate - is due to fall short.

Next up is chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, Martin Hewitt, who starts by welcoming Priti Patel's announcement on fines.

He says house parties are "dangerous and irresponsible" and he hopes an increase in fines will act as a “disincentive” to people thinking of hosting or attending.

Mr Hewitt says the UK is still at the most dangerous stage of the pandemic, as the death figures remain “shocking”.

He says when police see anyone putting others in danger they "will not waste time trying to reason with them".

"The science is clear," says Patel.

"Such irresponsible behaviour poses a threat to public health.

"Not only to those in attendance but also the wonderful police officers who shut them down.

"We will not stand by while a small number of individuals put others at risk."

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

The home secretary announces a new £800 fine for attending house parties in England.

It will double for each repeat offence up to £6,400.

Organisers - as was already the case - will be fined £10,000.

It applies to those who attend illegal gatherings of more than 15 people in homes.

Patel now runs through the latest figures including the sad news that there have been 1,290 deaths since yesterday

"Every death its a tragedy," she says but adds the sacrifices people are making is having an impact on the pandemic.

However she says there are "a small minority who refuse to do the right thing".

"For them my message is clear - if you don't follow these rules then the police will enforce them."

Home Secretary Priti Patel begins by praising the "fantastic" vaccination programme.

She says 200 jabs are being administered per minute and as of today 4,973,248 people have been vaccinated across the UK.

She urges everyone to get the vaccine when their turn comes,

Home Secretary Priti Patel has just arrived at the press conference.

Stick with us for the updates from her, Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council Martin Hewitt and NHS England's Regional Medical Director for London Dr Vin Diwakar.

Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent

This is a debate that is going to start to dominate public discourse.

With the vaccination programme under way, there is huge clamour to know what will happen once the most vulnerable are vaccinated by mid-February.

The problem is there are still so many unknowns.

Firstly, it is hard to predict by how much lockdown will have reduced infection levels considering there is a new faster-spreading variant to deal with.

The level of uptake will also be crucial.

Surveys suggest as many as one in five may not have the vaccine - although the older, more vulnerable groups tend to be the most willing to be vaccinated.

And the fact that no vaccine is 100% effective means, come February, there could still be significant numbers of very vulnerable people who are not protected.

Another factor is whether the vaccine stops transmissions - so-called sterilising vaccination.

Trials have shown the vaccines are good at stopping symptoms developing.

But that does not mean someone who has received a jab will not pass on the virus.

If it does not, that of course has implications on how many control measures have to be kept in place.

It will take us at least until spring to know the answer to this.

At this stage, it seems hard to see much beyond the possible re-opening of schools come March.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster has just given a press conference announcing that lockdown will be extended for a further four weeks until 5 March.

NI's lockdown began on Boxing Day, and the restrictions will still be reviewed on 18 February.

"I appreciate this will be disappointing to many people," said Ms Foster, adding that she thinks "particularly of those who are feeling the pain of separation from loved family members and friends" as well as workers, employers and parents.

The executive will discuss the return date for schools next week, she added.

"I know the sacrifice you are all making to save lives," she said, and added: "We have made progress but our war against Covid-19 has not been won and our hospital case numbers remain at extremely high levels."

Read NI's full story here.