UK coronavirus LIVE: Oxford vaccine 'stimulates strong immune response', first results suggest as new protein treatment 'reduces Covid symptoms by up to 80%'

The first set of results from the UK's major coronavirus vaccine trial has been published in the Lancet journal, just hours after the Government confirmed it had secured 90 million early access doses of promising candidates from across Europe.

Early-stage data on the vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University suggests it is safe to use and induces a "strong immune response". The positive development comes as ministers confirmed new deals had been signed with German and French pharmaceutical firms.

They suggested that by backing a number of horses in the vaccine race, Downing Street was ensuring the "best chance possible" of protecting "those most at risk." Meanwhile, a new protein treatment developed by researchers in Southampton was found to "significantly reduce" Covid-19 symptoms – offering another beacon of hope.

In other developments, the Department of Health has admitted that England's NHS Test and Trace scheme breached a key data protection law, and a court case begins today to decide whether thousands of businesses should receive insurance payouts for damage caused to them by the pandemic.

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