Reality Check

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US President Joe Biden spoke at a televised event in Ohio last night and discussed the Delta variant of coronavirus and the need for Americans to get a vaccine.

He said that "you're not going to get Covid if you have these vaccinations." But that’s not right.

The highly transmissible Delta variant now accounts for about 83% of new cases in the United States, external and almost all new infections in the UK.

Covid vaccines offer a high level of protection against severe illness with Covid-19.

The currently available jabs were designed before the spread of new variants and so might not be quite as effective against them.

But experts say they still protect lives and reduce the risk of severe illness, including infections caused by emerging variants such as Delta.

However while the jabs reduce the risk of infection, they do not completely eliminate your chances of getting Covid completely.

Read more on the variants here

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Head of the UK Health Security Agency Dr Jenny Harries has praised the public and businesses for sticking to social distancing rules, but defended the NHS Covid app and stressed the importance of self-isolation.

"We are seeing a very steep rise in cases - the pingdemic is because we have a pandemic," she said.

She said it was "inevitable" that many people were being asked to self-isolate and that people were five times more likely to contract the virus if they had been a close contact of someone else who had tested positive.

"This is the way we can stop transmission. It is not an inconvenience it is an essential intervention for all of us," she said.

She added that more men were testing positive than women, which might be linked to the recent Euro football championships and social activity associated with it.

She said there was "a little bit of a spike in cases which would fit with the time frame linked to events".

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The Scottish government has confirmed that some essential staff working in critical areas, who are close contacts of Covid cases, will no longer be required to self-isolate.

From today sectors including health and social care, transport and the provision of food supplies, can apply for an exemption, allowing people to return to work.

Exemptions will only be granted to staff who are double vaccinated and have had their second dose at least two weeks previously.

A negative PCR test and daily lateral flow tests will also be required.

Exemptions will be temporary while there is an immediate risk to business or a service continuing.

First Minister Nicola Surgeon said it was a very limited change at this stage, which will applied on a case by case basis and only when absolutely necessary.

Find out more here.

Dharshini David
Economics Correspondent

Marks and Spencer says some of its food supply chain staff will use daily testing rather than self-isolating when contact traced.

A spokesperson said the introduction of the policy was a "positive step forward" and that the company was identifying key sites.

"However, more needs to be done to mitigate the impact on wider store operations for all food retailers," they said.

The company would like the date when close contacts who are double-jabbed will not have to isolate brought forward from 16 August, they added.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has responded to Beijing pushing back against plans for a second phase of an investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Zeng Yixin, deputy health minister, said on Thursday that the WHO's terms were "impossible" for China to accept and showed "disrespect for common sense and arrogance toward science".

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A spokesman for the UN's health agency was asked about the response at a Friday briefing.

"This is not about politics, it's not about a blame game," Tarik Jasarevic told reporters. "It is about basically a requirement we all have to try to understand how the pathogen came into the human population.

"In this sense, countries really have the responsibility to work together and to work with WHO in a spirit of partnership."

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Indonesia announced a record daily rise of 1,566 coronavirus deaths on Friday.

The country has become a new epicentre of Asia's virus crisis - with almost 50,000 new cases reported every day in recent days.

Hospitals have been overwhelmed by an influx of patients and a lack of resources including oxygen. Misleading claims about products claiming to be cures or preventions are on the rise.

A slow vaccination rollout and the highly infectious Delta variant have been blamed for the surge in cases.

Image source, Reuters

• The opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games is taking place - in a nearly empty stadium and after a year-long postponement because of the pandemic.
• Only a handful of members from each country's team are attending the event.
• Covid infections have continued to rise around much of the UK, experts from the Office for National Statistics say.
• The government has unveiled plans to exempt food industry staff and key workers in England from having to self-isolate after close contact with a Covid case.
• But there has been criticism of the move - with some industry groups warning vital sectors will still struggle.
• Critical staff and services in Scotland are to be exempt from quarantine under separate plans.
• A study finds a longer gap between first and second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine helps the body's immune system to produce more infection-fighting antibodies.
• Research finds daily rapid testing of school pupils who are close contacts of a Covid case is a safe alternative to home isolation.
• Italy is introducing a mandatory Covid vaccination certificate from 6 August, the latest country in Europe to announce such a scheme.
• China rejects the next stage of a World Health Organization plan to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sticking with the ONS infection survey, the data for the week to 17 July also suggests:

• In Scotland, about one in 80 people were estimated to have Covid - up from one in 90 in the previous week
• In Wales, the estimate is one in 210, up from one in 360 in the previous week
• In Northern Ireland, it is one in 170 people, up from one in 290 the previous week

ONS senior statistician Kara Steel says: "Infections continue to increase across the UK, with rates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland similar to those seen in February.

"With infection rates rising, keeping a close eye on the data is crucial to see how the vaccination programmes are protecting many from infection and developing severe symptoms.

"Continuing to monitor the infection rates is crucial going forward, particularly as we have not yet seen the impact of the easing of restrictions in our data."

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The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has just released the latest data from its weekly UK Covid infection survey.

In England, almost three-quarters of a million people in private households are likely to have had coronavirus in the week to 17 July, experts estimate.

The latest data from community swab tests in England suggest 741,700 people were testing positive for Covid - equating to one in 75 people - and up from one in 95 people the week before.

The more infectious Delta variant accounts for almost every case.

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We've been hearing a lot this morning about the change to quarantine rules for supermarket depot workers and food manufacturers in England - alongside a separate scheme for other critical industries.

But unions have criticised the government for the "mess" facing staff and industry over self-isolation.

Frances O'Grady of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) says: "The government has got into this mess by failing to consult unions and employers in advance of reopening the economy."

She urges ministers to replace the current "inadequate" back-to-work guidance with legally binding rules on the wearing of face coverings; to bring back free workplace coronavirus testing and to "enforce the law on workplace safety properly".

A spokesman for the GMB union says: "The problem isn't workers getting pinged, the problem is workers getting coronavirus."

The union says ministers and employers should implement full sick pay, proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe workplaces.

Meanwhile, Matt Draper, national officer for drivers and warehouse staff at the Unite union, says members are "sick and tired" of the government's "piecemeal" approach to resolving issues in the sector.

"Workers don't blame the NHS app for requiring them to self-isolate, they blame the government for the rise in infections, which has been made far worse by its totally misguided decision to end all legal restrictions."

He adds that members are reporting issues such as firms reducing workplace safeguards such as enhanced cleaning - which he says is a "result" of the government's "mixed messages".

The opening ceremony for the delayed 2020 Olympic Games is about to start in Tokyo and you can get live updates on our special BBC Sport live page.

But even with proceedings about to begin, the games remain controversial within Japan amid a rise in coronavirus infections.

Protests against the games have been held around Tokyo on Friday.

Michelle Ye Hee Lee, a journalist for the Washington Post, posted videos on Twitter of crowds chanting against the organisers with just minutes to go.

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The Italian government has announced that people will need to show a Digital Green Certificate to access a range of indoor venues - including restaurants and cinemas - from 6 August.

Anyone over 12 will be expected to demonstrate they have had at least one jab, tested negative or have recently recovered from the virus.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi said the expansion of the use of the EU certificate scheme was "essential if we want to keep businesses open".

However, after disagreements within the governing coalition, the pass will not be needed for domestic public transport.

Almost half of Italians are now fully vaccinated, but infections have been rising with more than 5,000 cases reported on Thursday.

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Thousands of people are heading to Suffolk for Latitude Festival, which will be at full capacity as a government test event.

The four-day music and arts festival at Henham Park, near Southwold, began yesterday, and is the first major event to be held following the lifting of most Covid restrictions in England.

Headliners include Wolf Alice, The Chemical Brothers, Bastille and Bombay Bicycle Club.

Its organiser has said it is "close to being the safest place in England today".

Melvin Benn, managing director of the Festival Republic group, told Sky News: "We had a great night last night. It was a huge party. None of the main stage acts were playing but there is a lot going on in the woods, on the lake and in the theatre area.

"I'm very relaxed, not anxious at all."

Ticket holders are being asked for either proof of a negative lateral flow test taken prior to travel on the day of arrival at the festival, or proof of full vaccination, the second dose having been received at least 14 days before the first day of attending the event.

The festival has a capacity of 40,000. Organisers have said that once they're inside, the event is running as normal, with no social distancing, face masks or restrictions.

Read more about Latitude Festival and how it's working here.

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A longer gap between first and second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine makes the body's immune system produce more infection-fighting antibodies, UK researchers have found.

Experts say the findings support the UK's decision on extending dosing intervals from the initial recommendation of three weeks.

They say an eight-week gap seems to be the sweet spot for tackling the Delta variant.

The UK initially extended the dosing gap to 12 weeks at the end of 2020.

But as the vaccination programme has been rolled out through the age groups - everyone over 18 has now been offered at least their first jab - people have been encouraged to bring their second jab forward and get it after eight weeks.

The government-funded work is published in a pre-print paper not yet peer reviewed.

Read more here.

Caroline Davies
Transport correspondent

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A senior rail source has told the BBC that the government’s plan to require rail companies to apply for exemptions for pinged workers is completely unmanageable and will lead to cancellations.

"It will take longer to deal with cases than the isolation," the source said. "This is very much a current problem and an ongoing risk. The crux of the government’s thinking appears to be how essential certain roles are. But trains get essential workers to work. This does not mean transport is sorted and is not a comfort to those doing the timetable or arranging train drivers' schedules."

The source said the "vast majority" of train drivers were "already double vaccinated", adding: "The government has set the bar very high for exemptions and for train drivers it will be very difficult."

Some rail companies have already announced cancellations because of pinging.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which runs Thameslink and Southern trains, announced it will introduce a reduced timetable from 26 July.

GTR said: “Unfortunately, like other industries across the country, coronavirus continues to affect our operations. We have fewer colleagues available at the moment due to a significant increase recently in the number of our people affected by Covid-19.

It added: "Our colleagues have continued to work tirelessly throughout the pandemic and we’re really sorry for any inconvenience caused by the latest changes."

Daily coronavirus lateral flow tests are a key part of the government's plan to allow supermarket depot workers and other key staff to avoid self-isolation for 10 days.

Secondary pupils across the UK have also been taking them as part of plans to reduce the risk of Covid-19 spreading.

The tests are quick and provide a result within 30 minutes - but it's important they're done correctly to give accurate results.

Our health reporter Laura Foster explains.

New Zealand is suspending a quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia for at least eight weeks because of a spike in coronavirus infections there.

“We’ve always said that our response would evolve as the virus evolved. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is the right decision to keep New Zealanders safe,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday.

Millions of Australians are back under tight restrictions amid fresh outbreaks of Covid-19.

New South Wales reported a record 136 new infections on Friday, with state premier Gladys Berejiklian describing the escalating situation as a "national emergency".

The New Zealand government says it “remains committed” to the travel bubble and hopes it will eventually reopen.

Image source, Reuters

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Employers providing critical services can request an exemption from self-isolation for named employees, external who are fully vaccinated - but the government says it's "not a blanket exemption for all workers in a sector".

The areas are:

• Energy
• Civil nuclear
• Digital infrastructure
• Food production and supply
• Waste
• Water
• Veterinary medicines
• Essential chemicals
• Essential transport
• Medicines and medical devices
• Clinical consumable supplies
• Emergency services
• Border control
• Essential defence outputs
• Local government

Supermarket depot workers and food manufacturers will be exempt whatever their vaccination status. Up to 10,000 workers could do daily testing instead.

All fully vaccinated close contacts will be exempt from self-isolation from 16 August.

Scotland has launched a similar system, covering workers in sectors like health and social care.

Find out more about who has to self-isolate and who doesn't here.

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More than 60% of people admitted to hospital in Belfast in recent weeks due to Covid-19 have not been vaccinated, the medical director of the Belfast Trust has said.

Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, Chris Hagan said there were also "rising numbers of young patients" in the 20 to 39-year-old age group.

"Learning to live with Covid-19 doesn't mean pretending it doesn't exist - it means getting vaccinated," he added.

He warned that if numbers continued to rise, "next week we will more than likely have to take decisions to reduce some of our normal work and ultimately that will have an impact on waiting times which is the last thing we want to do".

The total number of hospital admissions in the Belfast Trust have doubled over the last week, from 27 to 60.

A trust official said that while young people were less likely to die from the virus, they were "still getting sick, young people are still being admitted to hospital".

Faisal Islam
BBC Economics Editor

The government's intervention to try and prevent food supply problems should alleviate genuine concerns in the food industry. Hundreds of designated sites - supermarket depots and food manufacturers - will be able to administer the tests that will enable workers to skip the need for self-isolation.

This will be the case whatever the vaccination status of the worker. It is not sector-wide and will not, for example, apply to actual supermarket stores.

But it should be enough to stop some of the sporadic shortages becoming a systemic issue. Shoppers should feel reassured.

More generally, the help in other sectors is limited.

The government clarified that the scheme announced earlier this week to allow named double-vaccinated workers approved by letter to avoid isolation will apply to 16 sectors, from energy and waste to medicine and essential transport.

The bar is high. The government is trying to keep the Test and Trace system intact as a second line of defence against the pandemic. It is as tricky a balancing act as it has always been.