MATT Hancock today said “freedom is on horizon” and said the UK was on track for all adults to be jabbed by July as vaccines will be ramped up this month.
The Health Secretary also provided an update to MPs on the latest information on the new strain – which has been found in six people in the UK so far.
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The Health Secretary told the Commons: “this country is on the road to recovery, we have freedom on the horizon.
“Let’s not waver and do whatever it takes to keep it under control.”
Last night he made a plea for the missing traveller to come forward.
And this afternoon he revealed officials had narrowed it down to just 379 people in the South of England – in one batch of tests.
Staff are going door to door now to find them.
A nationwide hunt was launched after the person didn’t put down the right information on their forms after flying into the UK, sparking a frantic search for them.
They may not have even known they were infected with Covid.
Ministers have branded the new variant a “concern” because it may be more resistant to vaccines – though it’s not yet known for sure.
Mr Hancock told last night’s press conference: “We are trying to track down this individual, but we also have not seen any further community spread.”
Meanwhile, one in four people now have antibodies – up from one in five at the last survey, he revealed today.
MISSING TRAVELLER
A massive effort is underway to locate the missing Covid patient and that they need to be found as soon as possible so measures can be taken to squash any outbreak.
There are nine areas where residents are being urged to get tests as a result of various variants.
Six strains of the Brazil variant have been found in the UK so far – and people living in five areas need to get a test.
Anyone who had a test on February 12 or 13 and didn’t get a result should come forward now, ministers urged.
Mr Hancock added: “We’re therefore asking anyone who took a test on the 12th, or 13th of February, but hasn’t received the result back to please get in touch by calling 119 in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, or in Scotland, 0300 303 2713.
“We are doing additional search testing in parts of South Gloucestershire as a highly precautionary measure, and we urge people in that country to come forward for testing.”
It came as more than 20 million people have now been vaccinated across the nation – and new research showed the vaccine was nearly 80 per cent effective after just one shot.
The results apply to the Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, with the British jab proving slightly more effective against the bug.
