BORIS Johnson has said the Government currently sees no need to introduce fresh Covid-19 restrictions, despite cases rising across much of Europe.

Speaking at the CBI Conference in South Shields, the prime minister said: “Of course we are concerned about the potential from that disease.

“You have got to be humble in the face of nature but at the moment we see nothing in the data to say that we need to move from plan A to plan B, or any other plan.

“The best single thing you can all do is get your booster. When you are called forward to get it, please do so.”

The World Health Organisation has said it is “very worried” about the spread of the virus in Europe.

On Friday, Austria became the first European country to make it a legal requirement to receive a coronavirus vaccine – a law that is due to come into force in February.

A full national Covid-19 lockdown also began in Austria today, which chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said will last a maximum of 20 days to try and avoid a fifth wave.

Austria is experiencing record case numbers and has one of the lowest vaccination levels in western Europe.

A partial lockdown was introduced in the Netherlands last week, while Germany saw several days of record infections.

In Slovakia, a “lockdown for the unvaccinated” has been announced.

In the Czech Republic, unvaccinated people will not be able to visit pubs and restaurants, attend public events, or access some other services.

Education secretary Nadwim Zahawi believes the UK could be the first major economy to show how to transition from pandemic to endemic using Covid-19 vaccines.

He told LBC: “Our four-step plan meant that we were able to open up the economy in the summer.

“Some said it was a mistake – I think it was absolutely the right thing to do.

“We will probably, I hope, without being complacent, be the first major economy in the world to demonstrate how you transition (from) pandemic to endemic using vaccines.”

Somerset County Gazette: TRANSITION: Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi, pictured leaving Downing Street ahead of chancellor Rishi Sunak's Budget announcement, says the UK could be the first major economy to show how to use vaccines to transition from pandemic to endemic (Image:Jacob King, PA Wire)TRANSITION: Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi, pictured leaving Downing Street ahead of chancellor Rishi Sunak's Budget announcement, says the UK could be the first major economy to show how to use vaccines to transition from pandemic to endemic (Image:Jacob King, PA Wire)

Across the UK, 287,205 people had confirmed positive coronavirus tests last week (Monday, November 15, to Sunday, November 21).

That shows an increase of 9.4% (24,786 confirmed positive tests) from the previous week.

The number of deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in the UK fell by 5.9% (64) to 1,029 last week.

In the south west, there were 560 patients in hospital with coronavirus on Friday, November 19.

Of these, 65 were in hospital beds with a mechanical ventilator.

The week-on-week number of coronavirus cases reported in five of Somerset's six local authority areas have decreased, with only a 0.9% rise recorded in North Somerset. 

The county's case rate is slightly higher than the UK average for the seven days to November 16 - the latest data available on the Government's dashboard. 

Of the county's districts, only Somerset West and Taunton's case rate was lower than the figure for the UK.

Here is the latest data for coronavirus cases, deaths and case rates in Somerset's districts. 

Somerset West and Taunton 

Between November 15 and November 21, 477 people in the district had a confirmed positive test result – a decrease of 8.6% compared to the previous week.

Four people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test last week in Somerset West and Taunton.

The previous week, two people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in the district. 

In the seven days to Tuesday, November 16, the district had a seven-day case rate of 329.4 per 100,000 people. 

At the same time, the case rate for Somerset was 449.6, and the case rate for the UK was 418.3. 

Sedgemoor

Last week, 555 people had a confirmed positive coronavirus test in the district. 

This shows a decrease of 2.3% compared to the previous seven days. 

One person died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in Sedgemoor last week. 

Four people had died in the previous week within seven days of a positive test. 

Sedgemoor's case rate for the seven days to November 16 was 478.8 per 100,000 people. 

North Somerset

Between November 15 and November 21, 865 people had a confirmed positive coronavirus test result in North Somerset - an increase of 0.9% compared to the previous week. 

Two people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in the district last week. 

In the previous week, four people had died within 28 days of a positive test. 

North Somerset's case rate for the seven days to November 16 was 438.4 per 100,000 people. 

South Somerset

774 people were confirmed as testing positive for coronavirus in South Somerset last week. 

This shows an decrease of 11% compared to the previous seven-day period. 

Seven people died in the district within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test last week - showing an increase of two the previous week. 

The case rate for the seven days to November 16 in South Somerset was 508.6 per 100,000 people. 

Mendip

566 people had a confirmed positive coronavirus test result last week in Mendip.

This shows a decrease of 0.9% compared to the previous seven days. 

Three people died in the district within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. 

A week earlier, two people had died within 28 days of a postive test result.

Mendip's case rate for the seven days to November 16 was 493.6 per 100,000 people. 

Bath and North East Somerset

Last week, 895 people tested positive for coronavirus in Bath and North East Somerset, showing a decrease of 10.3% compared to the previous seven-day period. 

Two people died in the district last week within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test - one fewer than in the previous week. 

The case rate for the seven days to November 16 in Bath and North East Somerset was 510.3 per 100,000 people.