Covid UK news live: Latest lockdown end updates as all adults offered vaccine

The prime minister is reported to have had a “lengthy meeting” with health secretary Sajid Javid at Downing Street on Friday.

While the health secretary has since tested positive for Covid-19, and the prime minister has been alerted by NHS Test and Trace, he will not have to isolate due to his participation in a new “daily contact testing pilot” programme.

The NHS’s new programme gives participants daily rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests, and grants them 24-hour release from self-isolation if the test is negative, and allows participants to avoid the 10-day self-isolation legally required for anyone identified as a contact of a known Covid patient and called by NHS Test and Trace.

Participants also receive two PCR tests.

Chancelllor Rishi Sunak has also been contacted by Test and Trace and will also be taking part in the contact testing pilot.

A No 10 spokesman said: “They will be conducting only essential government business during this period.”

Following yesterday’s announcement that the health secretary had tested positive for Covid-19, many government ministers were left wondering if they would have to self-isolate as close contacts of a positive Covid case.

While prime minister Boris Johnson was contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a contact of someone who tested positive for coronavirus, No 10 said that he would be participating in a “daily contact testing pilot” that would allow him to continue to work from Downing Street, rather than self-isolating.

New research studies backed by nearly £20mn of government funding will look into the phenomenon on long Covid, which has struck thousands of people down with extreme fatigue, breathlessness, headaches and brain fog for 12 months or more following a coronavirus infection.

Fifteen new studies will aim to better understand the condition, improve diagnosis and find new treatments. They include the largest long Covid clinical trial to date, which will involve more than 4,500 people with the condition.

In announcing the funding, health secretary Sajid Javid said: “Long Covid can have serious and debilitating long-term effects for thousands of people across the UK which can make daily life extremely challenging.

“This new research is absolutely essential to improve diagnosis and treatments and will be life-changing for those who are battling long-term symptoms of the virus.

“It will build on our existing support with over 80 long Covid assessment services open across England as part of a £100 million expansion of care for those suffering from the condition and over £50 million invested in research to better understand the lasting effects of this condition.”

Political editor Andrew Woodcock reports.

All adults in the UK have been offered a Covid-19 vaccine ahead of the planned lifting of coronavirus restrictions on Monday, the government has said.

The latest figures show that 46.2 million adults (87.8 per cent of the population) have had a first dose of a vaccine, and 35.7 million (67.8 per cent) are fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement: “Barely eight months since the first vaccine was given, reaching these targets is another extraordinary achievement.

“Thank you again to everyone coming forward, and to those helping others to get jabbed. You are the reason we are able to cautiously ease restrictions next week, and return closer towards normal life.

“Now let’s finish the job. If you’re over 18, book both your jabs today.”