Thread by @fact_covid

So as expected @BorisJohnson confirms Step Two of the roadmap will go ahead as planned on Monday 12 April. This is “fully justified by the data” and we are meeting the four government tests.

But “we cannot be complacent” and do not know “how strong the vaccine shield will be”.

“We see nothing in the present data that makes us think that we will have to deviate from the roadmap”, he says.

Chris Whitty says data from across the UK shows that there has been around a 60% reduction in symptomatic disease, and an 80% reduction in hospitalisation, from the first COVID-19 vaccine dose. He urges everyone to get their second dose.

He goes on to say that deaths are falling at a faster rate than after the first lockdown.

Current infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

On Variants of Concern, @CMO_England says we have very good test capacity, and there is currently no evidence to suggest their proportion of total cases is increasing.

They will remain an issue, but there is nothing in the data to fundamentally change our position on Step Two.

The PM, in response to a question, says there are “complicated ethical issues” around COVID status certificates, and they are still working on what the proposal will be.

Nothing will be introduced during step 2 or 3 of the roadmap, he confirmed.

During the press conference Chris Whitty mentioned that the risk to children from COVID-19 is very low, and talked about the benefit-risk ratio, which could have big implications as @DevanSinha suggests 👇

https://twitter.com/devansinha/status/1379106103406030850