UK Covid: 'we want this lockdown to be the last,' says Boris Johnson, as he calls for 'optimism and patience' – as it happened

Boris Johnson has said he wants irreversible' lockdown but cannot guarantee this will be the last. This live blog is now closed - for coronavirus updates, please follow the global live blog

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6.17pm GMT

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5.52pm GMT

Q. How do you work out if it's vaccines bringing transmission down or if it's because we're in lockdown?

Whitty says case control studies are being done.