Update on coronavirus response

Matt Hancock: "trials show that the Oxford vaccine produces a strong immunity response in patients"

Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health told the House that "this virus is on the backfoot".

He went on to say that there has been success in the slowing of the virus: "for over three weeks now the number of new cases each day has been below 1,000 and daily hospital admissions are down to 142."

On Friday, the Prime Minister set out a conditional timetable for the further easing of restrictions following the slowing of the virus.

He told the House the government have been "able to deliver" on their plan of protecting the NHS and replacing national lockdown with local lockdowns.

The NHS test and trace system is working "well", with 180,000 people being asked to self-isolate, which breaks the potential chain of transmission, Mr Hancock says.

Next stages of the government's plan for local lockdowns

The Health Secretary set out the next stages of the government's plan, he says "we will not hesitate to put the breaks on if we need to".

The government's goal is to do this with as much targeted local action as possible, as was done with Leicester where restrictions are now easing.

Mr Hancock told the House that from Saturday local authorities will have new powers in their area to act with more "vigour" in response to outbreaks. This includes closing specific premises, closing outdoor public spaces and cancelling events.

Draft regulations will be published this week which "set out the suite of legislative powers that ministers may need to use to intervene at a local level." 

Data

Mr Hancock told MPs that the government will publish and share more data with local bodies.

"Properly used data is one of the best epedemia logical weapons that we have", says Mr Hancock.

Local directors of Public Health have had access to postcode level data about outbreaks in their area for a month. However the government is now providing them enhanced levels of data.

Testing

Mr Hancock announced the government's plans for "half a million antigen tests a day by the end of October, ahead of winter" for the nation.

NHS

The Health Secretary said:

"We know that the NHS will face the usual annual winter pressures and on top of that, we do not yet know how the virus will interact with cold weather.

"So we'll make sure the NHS has the support it needs"

So far the government have "massively increased the number of ventilators available", "an agreed supply of  30 billion pieces of PPE" and the government will roll out the biggest flu vaccination programme ever in this country.

£30 billion for health and social care has previously been announced by the government. They will also provide a further £3 billion on top of the £1.5 billion capital funding announced a fortnight ago, to protect the NHS this winter.

Vaccine

Two of the leading vaccine developments are taking place in this country, at Oxford and at Imperial.

Oxford published a report today showing that its phase 1 and 2 trials are "proceeding well".

"I can report to the House that the trials show that the Oxford vaccine produces a strong immunity response in patients, in terms of both antibody reduction and T-cell responses and that no safety concerns have been identified.

"This is promising news."

He said that "we are putting in more money into the global work for a vaccine than any other country".

The government have "already secured 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine" and "secured early access to 90 million further vaccines doses, 30 million from an agreement between BioNTech and Pfizer and 60 million from Valneva.

Jonathan Ashworth

Jonathan Ashworth, Shadow Secretary of State for Health welcomed the government's news on vaccines.

He asked whether the Secretary of State would ensure "that there is equitable access to a vaccine when it is developed" and what scenario planning is being done should we be confronted with no vaccine.

The Prime Minister recently announced that people must start retutning to work from 1 August but the Chief Scientific Advisor said there was "absolutely no reason for people to stop working from home". Mr Ashworth called on the Prime Minister to publish an explanation of the scientific basis for this change of guidance.

He questioned the Health Secretary on criteria for a potential second lockdown and how quick and willing the government are to announce a second lockdown.

On care homes visitors Jonathan Ashworth asked about guidance for those visiting relatives in care homes.

Find out more

• Watch Parliament TV: Statement on Coronavirus response
• Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available in Hansard online three hours after they happen.

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