Coronavirus updates RECAP: UK deaths increase by 828; PM plots path out of lockdown
The latest breaking Covid-19 news, including deaths and cases in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the latest on vaccine roll-out
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The UK s official coronavirus death toll has risen by 828 in a fall of nearly a quarter compared to the same day last week.
It is the lowest Saturday daily rise in two months, since 44 deaths were recorded on January 2.
It comes as Boris Johnson vowed he will set out a road map on February 22 for easing restrictions across the country.
Local leaders in Birmingham have said the city has not been supplied with stock of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine with supplies of its Pfizer/BioNTech counterpart also due to “run out” on Friday.
In an open letter to the Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward called for exact data on constituency vaccination numbers to be shared with local officials.
The Conservative mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street disputed claims made by local leaders, saying there is “no threat” of the city’s supplies of coronavirus vaccine running out on Friday.
Here s the cross-party letter with @BrumLeader & Brum MP s setting out the urgent information we need to get a grip of the vaccination plan in Birmingham
Local leaders in Birmingham have said the city has not been supplied with stock of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine with supplies of its Pfizer/BioNTech counterpart also due to “run out” on Friday.
In an open letter to the Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward called for exact data on constituency vaccination numbers to be shared with local officials.
The Conservative mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street disputed claims made by local leaders, saying there is “no threat” of the city’s supplies of coronavirus vaccine running out on Friday.
Here s the cross-party letter with @BrumLeader & Brum MP s setting out the urgent information we need to get a grip of the vaccination plan in Birmingham
Thursday January 7, 2021, 5:47 PM
Local leaders in Birmingham have said the city has not been supplied with stock of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Credit: PA
Local leaders in Birmingham have said the city has not been supplied with stock of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine with supplies of its Pfizer/BioNTech counterpart also due to “run out” on Friday.
In an open letter to the Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward called for exact data on constituency vaccination numbers to be shared with local officials.
The letter, sent on behalf of Birmingham’s ten MPs, including Sutton Coldfield’s Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell, sought “urgent clarity and reassurance” regarding the vaccination rollout across the city over the coming weeks and months.
A new cycle hire scheme is due to launch across the West Midlands next year.
The operator of London’s Santander Cycles has been appointed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) to offer bikes for hire in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Wolverhampton and Walsall from next spring.
Contractor Serco will initially provide 1,500 bikes for hire, of which 10% will be e-bikes. The pedal cycles will all have three gears to cope with the hilly parts of the region and fitted with laser safety lights that project an image of a bicycle five metres in front of the bike.
The bikes are manufactured in Stratford-upon-Avon by Pashley Cycles who also works with Serco to provide the bikes for London and Edinburgh. Supporting technology will be provided by British micromobility operator Beryl, who also works with Serco in London.