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Coronavirus latest news: UK to stand by India in its 'hour of need', Hancock pledges - watch live

Matt Hancock has pledged to "stand side by side" with India in its hour of need as it experiences a deadly second wave of coronavirus.

The Health Secretary said that scenes being seen in India are "harrowing" and that the "bonds between our countries are so strong, ties of family and friendship".

Downing Street has been in constant contact with the Indian government and the UK's first aid package including ventilators and oxygen had arrived with more were on their way, he added.

However, Mr Hancock said Britain has no excess vaccine doses to give to India, despite the country suffering a devastating lack of supplies.

India has been making its own AstraZeneca jabs as the result of "British technology" and that "is the biggest contribution we can make" as a nation, he said.

"In this battle against coronavirus we are all on the same side - it is a global fight, when other nations face their hour of needs, when we faced our hour of need, we will be there," he added.

​​Follow the latest updates below.


06:03 PM

Latest findings on Britain’s vaccine rollout put Government’s lockdown modelling to shame

The findings, said Matt Hancock, were "terrific". And the Health Secretary had several reasons to be cheerful.

For a start, the real world data to which he alluded showed that a single dose of Covid vaccine can slash transmission by up to half. Until now, scientific modelling on Britain’s route out of lockdown has been missing this crucial part of the jigsaw.

So the study from Public Health England, showing that even if vaccinated people are unlucky enough to get Covid they are still far less likely to pass it on, was a major shot in the arm.

Speaking of which, Mr Hancock may also have been cheered by the news that the rollout of Britain’s vaccine programme was about to include him, along with other 42-year-olds.

Laura Donnelly has the full story here


05:42 PM

Russia and China sow disinformation to undermine trust in Western vaccines, says EU report

Russian and Chinese media are systematically seeking to sow mistrust in Western Covid-19 vaccines in their latest disinformation campaigns aimed at dividing the West, a European Union report said on Wednesday.

From December to April, the two countries' state media outlets pushed fake news online in multiple languages sensationalising vaccine safety concerns, making unfounded links between jabs and deaths in Europe and promoting Russian and Chinese vaccines as superior, the EU study said.The Kremlin and Beijing deny all disinformation allegations by the EU, which produces regular reports and seeks to work with Google, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft to limit the spread of fake news.

Russian and Chinese vaccine diplomacy "follows a zero-sum game logic and is combined with disinformation and manipulation efforts to undermine trust in Western-made vaccines," said the EU study released by the bloc's disinformation unit, part of its EEAS foreign policy arm.


05:38 PM

Prof Van-Tam: Fully vaccinated people will be able to meet 'soon'

England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said he believed it would be "incredibly safe" for fully vaccinated people to meet, but "not quite now".

Speaking at the Downing Street press briefing, he said: "If two people who both had two doses of vaccine and have both served at least 14 days after their second dose, then I would be highly confident scientifically that if they were reputable vaccines then indeed it would be incredibly safe for those two people to meet."

On when that could happen in the UK, he said: "Soon, I really hope soon, but not quite now."

He warned that nobody under 42, apart from the clinically extremely vulnerable "in whom the vaccine may be slightly less effective" and healthcare workers, has had the vaccine.

"I know this feels tantalisingly, extremely close, and it is going to be frustrating at times for people, particularly those who've had their two doses," he said.


05:33 PM

Government asked to fast-track Team GB athletes into Covid vaccinations ahead of Tokyo

Talks have begun over fast-tracking Great Britain’s Olympic team for coronavirus vaccination after the window elapsed for athletes to be guaranteed both doses before travelling to this summer’s Games.

Telegraph Sport can reveal that the Government has been asked to “shorten” the gap of up to 12 weeks between the first and second dose of the vaccine for all members of Team GB’s 375-strong squad.

Many of those athletes will depart for Japan in less than 12 weeks’ time, meaning that without ministerial intervention, they are in danger of doing so having received only one dose.

That would increase the risk of them catching Covid-19 during the Games, something that could see five years of taxpayer-funded preparations go to waste.

Any athletes who test positive before their event, and those who have come into close contact with them, will not be allowed to compete.

Ben Rumsby has the full story here


05:29 PM

Offering 30-somethings alternative to AstraZeneca vaccine could lead to more deaths, warns adviser

Offering people in their 30s an alternative to the AstraZeneca jab could slow down the rollout and lead to a rise in deaths, a senior government vaccine adviser has said.

Prof Anthony Harnden, the deputy chairman of the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, said any decision to restrict the Oxford-designed jab further due to blood clot concerns would have to take supply issues into account.

People aged 18 to 29 are currently advised to avoid the AstraZeneca vaccine because the very small possible risk of blood clots is not outweighed by the risk from Covid.

As of last Thursday, 168 potentially linked cases had been detected in the UK, including 32 deaths.

Prof Harnden and others on the JCVI have previously suggested the advice may be extended to those in their 30s, some of whom could be eligible for jabs within a fortnight.

Henry Bodkin has the full story here


05:20 PM

Watch: Crowds form outside vaccination centre in India as supplies run out


05:15 PM

Matt Hancock: 'We must live with coronavirus like with flu'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said infection control measures and vaccinations for coronavirus will continue after lockdown restrictions are eased.

Asked what measures might be needed beyond the Government's road map out of lockdown, Mr Hancock told a Downing Street press briefing: "We are going to have to live with coronavirus much like we do with flu.

"And wrestling coronavirus to the position it is rather like flu, it is something we do things about, like infection prevention control in hospitals, like vaccination, which we have done for flu for 40 years, but it isn't something that dominates our lives as it does today.

"That's the strategic goal, if you like, and obviously the vaccination programme is absolutely central to it."


05:10 PM

Van-Tam says now is not the time for inquiry into handling of pandemic

Jonathan Van Tam has said that now is not the time for an inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are far too busy cementing in gains and making sure that we don't have the same turbulence next winter that we had this winter," he said.

He added that he hopes the inquiry will "focus very strongly on the amazing success of the vaccine procurement and delivery".

"I was out earlier this week in my hometown of Boston at one of the mass vaccination centres, and they are doing a brilliant job.

"Each one of them [vaccinators] should be able to look at themselves in the mirror in the future and say this is what I did in 2021, this is the difference that I made.

"I hope that the inquiry properly explores the role of the unsung heroes, who just one by one, day by day, hour by hour, never tiring of vaccinating the people of this country."


05:07 PM

Prof Van-Tam: We are close to bottom levels of Covid-19 in UK

England's deputy chief medical officer has suggested "we are at or close to the bottom" of levels of coronavirus cases in the UK as he hailed the public for sticking to lockdown measures.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said the numbers of people testing positive for Covid-19 were "in very low levels" and comparable to September of last year, adding that the number of people in hospital due to the virus is expected to drop further.

He said the "disappearance of our third wave" was thanks to the public following restrictions, while the vaccination programme had "undoubtedly helped" in recent months.

It comes as it was announced an extra 60 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus jab have been secured for a booster vaccination programme in the autumn.

Speaking at a Downing Street press briefing on Wednesday, Prof Van-Tam said: "We are really in very low levels that are comparable to where we were in September last year."


05:00 PM

Prof Van-Tam says 'degree of bumpiness' in autumn or winter likely

Professor Van-Tam conceded that there will be "some degree of bumpiness, probably in the autumn or winter", but remained hopeful that it would not be as bad as previous waves.

He added that the severity of future upsurges depend on the success of the vaccine rollout to younger adults and the impact of variants, which he said was a "biological unknown".


04:59 PM

Matt Hancock denies hearing 'let the bodies pile high'

Matt Hancock is asked whether he ever heard the PM say he would rather let coronavirus rip, or see bodies pile up, than have another lockdown?

No, says Hancock, he didn’t.


04:57 PM

Matt Hancock: UK on track to ease lockdown restrictions

Cabinet minister Matt Hancock said the UK was on track to release further lockdown restrictions, including allowing some indoor mixing between households, next month.

Responding to a question about whether funeral restrictions will be relaxed, the Health Secretary said: "The data show that we are essentially precisely on track for where we expected to be at this point and that is obviously good news.

"It means we can follow the road map - and we look at the data all the time.

"The dates we set out are not-before dates because we want to see the impact of each step before the decision to take the next step.

"That's why the road map has been structured the way it is, so that we can check that we are on track.

"The good news is that as far as the next step is concerned, which is in a few weeks' time - and we're going to keep monitoring the data - but as of today, we are on track for step three on May 17 and that is good news."


04:53 PM

Prof Van-Tam: Third wave of Covid-19 could be reduced to 'third upsurge'

Professor Van-Tam said the third wave of coronavirus could be reduced to a 'third upsurge' if the vaccine programme continues at pace.

Matt Hancock said the order for 60m booster jabs is a forward order and that does not mean they are in the freezer already, he clarified.

Prof Van-Tam said he is hopeful that if the vaccine programme continues at pace, “the third wave might just be a third upsurge” because of the breaking of the link between cases and hospitalisation and deaths.


04:51 PM

Prof Van-Tam: Vaccines working against dominant variants in UK

Ben Kentish from LBC asks about antibodies, as well as the data on current variants and how close we are to herd immunity.

Prof Van-Tam says there are twists and turns ahead but he doesn't want us to "run into any wet patches which is critical in the next few weeks".

He says the R number could increase as lockdown eased on May 17 and June 21 . He says he wants us to continue at pace, but with caution, and emphasises the importance of the vaccine programme.

On variants, he says all of the data was largely generated after Christmas.

Because of this, they are generated against the Kent variant - so we are extremely confident that our current vaccines are working against the dominant variant in the UK.


04:37 PM

Matt Hancock dodges questions of 'sleaze' surrounding Boris Johnson

Laura Kuenssberg from the BBC asks: If a serving government minister is found to have broken the rules on party funding or even law, should they resign? She refers to the sleaze claims surrounding the funding of the Downing St flat refurb.

Mr Hancock says he knows the prime minister answered lots of questions about this earlier today.

He adds: "And given that this is a coronavirus press conference, you won't be surprised that I'm not going to add to the answers. The prime minister has already given [answers] to very extensive questioning. Thanks."


04:36 PM

Matt Hancock: No excess vaccines available for India

Matt Hancock is asked by Channel 4 News if the Government is reconsidering its 'Britain first' approach to vaccines, given the devastating lack of available vaccines in India.

The Health Secretary said: "We do not have any excess of vaccine doses, we are doing what we can."

He said the Government is leaning in both on what we can provide and material goods we can provide, such as ventilators and the oxygen-production machines from Northern Ireland.

He said AstraZeneca is working with the Serum Institute of India, which is producing more vaccine than any other institution in the world, so it is benefiting from British science, he added.


04:32 PM

Matt Hancock: Downing St will never block vaccine exports

Melanie in Derbyshire says during the pandemic the UK has emerged as a powerhouse in biomedical research and development.

She asks what plans does the government have on continuing this after Covid-19?

Mr Hancock says the in this pandemic the UK life sciences and biomedical researchers have "given a high amount to the world".

The greatest achievement is the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab and the decision to forego a profit and provide it at cost.

He adds that the UK will never block exports of a product made for a global market.


04:28 PM

No plans to change rules on care home visits in immediate future

Asked when the public will be able to take care home relatives for a walk in the fresh air without having to self-isolate on their return, Matt Hancock said the Government are working on the rules "right now" but gave no specifics.

He said: "We are working on it right now, we had a meeting yesterday to get the rules right to make elderly residents can leave the care home without bringing coronavirus back.

"The vast vast majority has now had two doses, I hope we can have some good news for you soon."

However he said that given the "history" of infection rates and deaths in care homes these protective measures are extremely important.

Prof Van-Tam said more data is needed to determine just how effective these vaccines are for the elderly.


04:21 PM

Prof Van-Tam Covid-19 jab slashes household transmission by half

A study found that one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine slashed household transmission from symptomatic cases by up to half.

365,000 households were involved in the study, Prof Van-Tam said.

"Both vaccines are doing an extremely good at reducing transmission (after one dose)," he said.


04:20 PM

Prof Van-Tam: Decline in cases due to 'efforts of British public'

Professor Van-Tam said: "Most of the steady decline (in cases) we have seen has been down to the efforts of the British people in following lockdown.

"The vaccine has undoubtedly helped in the later stages, there is good evidence that the death rate in the elderly has dropped faster than in the second wave due to the vaccine."


04:16 PM

Matt Hancock: Seven out of 10 adults have antibodies against Covid-19

Hancock has summarised the ONS figures released earlier today about the extent to which people test positive for antibodies against coronavirus.

Testing positive means people have either had the illness or have been vaccinated.

In England seven out of 10 adults have antibodies.


04:13 PM

Matt Hancock: 60m new doses of Pfizer vaccine secured

Matt Hancock revealed the Government has secured a further 60m doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as part of the Government's booster shot programme.

He said: "We have a clear route out of this crisis but it is no time for complacency but a time for caution.

"If, like me, you get the call join me and get the jab."


04:10 PM

Matt Hancock 'delighted' to get his Covid jab

Anyone who is 42 or now older can now come forward to get the jab, Matt Hancock said.

The Heath Secretary, 42, said he is delighted that he can now get his jab too.

He received his text from the NHS today and is "looking forward to get his jab first thing tomorrow morning."

Mr Hancock then quoted the new Government slogan: "Every vaccination brings us hope."


04:08 PM

UK to deliver aid to coronavirus-ravaged India

Matt Hancock says: "We have all seen the harrowing pictures of what is happening in India. It pains each one of us who is seeing those scenes. "

The bonds between the UK and India are strong, he added and that Downing St has worked to put the first package of support of oxygen ventilators.

The Government has also been working with Northern Ireland to deliver large-scale oxygen production machines, "capable of producing a thousand litres of oxygen a minute".

Everyone in Britain stands "side by side" with India he added and that "this fight is a global fight".

"When other countries face their hour of need, we will be there."

"India is a stark reminder that the pandemic is not over and a reminder of the need to be vigilant."


04:00 PM

Matt Hancock to lead Downing Street coronavirus briefing

Matt Hancock is due to deliver this evening's Downing Street press conference.

He is expected to provide an update on the delivery of aid to India which has suffered a devastating surge in cases and deaths from the virus.

There may well be questions directed towards the Health Secretary about inappropriate comments allegedly made by the Prime Minister and accusations of "sleaze" and "cronyism" within the Tory party.

The Health Secretary will be joined by England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam and NHS England's Dr Nikki Kanani.


03:44 PM

Mark Drakeford to discuss plans for international travel with Michael Gove

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said leaders of the UK's devolved nations will discuss the Government's plans to resume international travel with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove on Wednesday evening.

Mr Drakeford told the PA news agency: "I will repeat again this evening to Mr Gove my view that the biggest danger we now face is the reimportation of coronavirus from other parts of the world.

"We've done such a fantastic job here in Wales to get us to where we are today.

"Surely the last thing we want is to go headlong into international travel, have people go into parts of the world where coronavirus is in much more vivid circulation, where there are new variants that we don't know anything about, and then to find that coming back here and undermining everything we have done."


03:35 PM

UK records 29 new deaths from Covid-19

he Government said a further 29 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday, bringing the UK total to 127,480.

Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have been 152,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The Government also said that, as of 9am on Wednesday, there had been a further 2,166 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.

It brings the total to 4,411,797.


03:26 PM

Vaccine passports may be needed for the long term, experts suggest

Vaccine passports may be necessary for the long term and more neutral language needs to be used when discussing them, an expert has said.

On Wednesday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that the NHS app will be used by holidaymakers in England to prove their coronavirus status to destination countries.

The app, which is currently used to book medical appointments and order repeat prescriptions, will display evidence that someone has been vaccinated or recently tested, he said.

But experts says any form of certification may be needed for the foreseeable future.

Professor Christopher Dye, professor of epidemiology at the University of Oxford, told the Science and Technology Committee the language around any vaccine passports or certificates needs to be carefully considered.


03:23 PM

Watch: How India's Covid crisis unfolded


03:05 PM

Northern Ireland sends three oxygen units to help India's Covid-19 battle

Northern Ireland is to provide three oxygen generation units to India, Stormont's Health Minister has announced.

The units are being transported to India as part of the UK-wide response to the escalating Covid crisis in the country.

Workers are seen sorting oxygen cylinders that are being used for Covid-19 coronavirus patients  - Narinder Nanu/AFP
Workers are seen sorting oxygen cylinders that are being used for Covid-19 coronavirus patients - Narinder Nanu/AFP

The units were procured as part of the region's own response to the Covid emergency.

They were not ultimately required in Northern Ireland hospitals.

Announcing the decision to send the units to India, Health Minister Robin Swann said he hoped they would help save lives.


02:57 PM

Matt Hancock to host Downing St press conference at 5pm

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to lead a Downing Street at 5pm.

He will be joined by England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam and NHS England's Dr Nikki Kanani.


02:49 PM

Macron to speak on Friday about easing of Covid restrictions

The coronavirus situation is improving in France and President Emmanuel Macron will outline on Friday how restrictions will be progressively relaxed, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Wednesday.

The government also plans to replace from June 2 the current state of health emergency - which gives officials greater power to impose tough measures to contain the spread of the virus - with a "transition regime" that will run until Oct. 31.

This is to retain leeway to react swiftly if health conditions were to deteriorate as France exits its lockdown, he told reporters following a cabinet meeting.

France, the euro zone's second biggest economy, started its third national lockdown at the end of March after suffering a spike in COVID-19 deaths and case numbers.

President Emmanuel Macron is hoping the lockdown, along with an accelerated vaccination campaign, will improve France's COVID-19 figures which would then allow certain businesses and leisure activities - such as outdoors dining - to reopen in mid May.


02:32 PM

German spy agency to monitor Covid sceptics

Germany's domestic intelligence agency will monitor leading protesters against Covid restrictions, the interior ministry said Wednesday, over concerns they pose a threat to democracy and have ties to right-wing extremism.

The monitoring will focus on members of Germany's "Querdenker" (Lateral Thinkers) movement, which has emerged as the loudest voice against coronavirus curbs and an active promoter of conspiracy theories that deny basic facts about the pandemic.

Some protest organisers "have clearly demonstrated that their agenda goes beyond simply mobilising protests against the government's corona measures", a ministry statement said.

Their main aim appears to be to "permanently undermine trust in state institutions and their representatives", it added.

They are also suspected of seeking links with right-wing extremists such as "Reichsbuerger" (Citizens of the Reich) who question the legitimacy of the modern Federal Republic of Germany, and of spreading anti-Semitic messages and QAnon myths, the ministry said.


02:13 PM

'Pioneering' Chile moves to cover pregnant women with Covid-19 vaccines

Chile has designated pregnant women a Covid-19 vaccination priority and this week began issuing Pfizer doses to those with underlying health issues in their second or third trimesters.

Chile's top public health official Paula Daza said women were being inoculated with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine since more information existed about its safety for pregnant women.

An estimated 230,000 will be offered vaccines, with those with health conditions followed by those working in high-risk jobs such as the health and education sectors.

Chile is running one of the world's fastest COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, so far inoculating health workers, teachers, civil servants, journalists, and age groups progressively - at present people in their 40s.

More than 52 per cent of the 15.2 million people it aims to vaccinate by July have received one dose of a vaccine, and 41.6 per cent have received two.


02:00 PM

Putin says Russia will deliver 'emergency' India virus aid

Russia will deliver emergency aid to coronavirus-hit India on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a phone call, the Kremlin said.

Family members prepare the body of a relative for cremation in New Delhi - Reuters
Family members prepare the body of a relative for cremation in New Delhi - Reuters

Russia will deliver "emergency humanitarian aid" including "20 units of equipment for the production of oxygen, 75 artificial lung ventilation devices, 150 medical monitors and 200 thousand packages of medicines," the Kremlin said.


01:53 PM

Thailand converts airport into vaccination centre

Long queues have returned to Thailand's unusually quiet international airport this week, after it converted its check-in area into an immunisation centre as part of efforts to speed up its Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

Cordons and suitcases were replaced with evenly-spaced chairs at check-in counters, where immigration and airport staff and cabin crew lined up to register for the vaccines, of which more than 1,000 will be administered each day.

Airport staff members prepare to be vaccinated - Shutterstock
Airport staff members prepare to be vaccinated - Shutterstock

The inoculations provided a buzz of activity seldom seen this past year at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which has been hit by a dramatic slump in passengers and air traffic from weaker demand and tighter entry curbs.

In 2019, before the pandemic came, Thailand welcomed nearly 40 million tourists, mostly through the main gateway. Thailand had only 6,737 visitors in March.

Staff member Siwaporn Singkhrut, who was among the first of more than 30,000 set to receive vaccines at the airport, said there was plenty of room to expand the service to more people.


01:45 PM

Russia's low vaccination rate linked to demand, says Kremlin

Russia's relatively low rate of vaccination so far is linked to demand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, adding it would grow in line with demand while supply of doses was strong and distribution was working fine.

Asked why Russia is not in a leading position globally in terms of the share of its population inoculated against Covid-19, Peskov said: "At the moment, the vaccination rate is absolutely in line with the demand of the population.

"Of course, we expect that the demand for these vaccines will grow over time and thus the rate of vaccination will increase."


01:37 PM

Donate seven dollars for a Covid-19 vaccine to help end pandemic, WHO urges

People across the world are being encouraged to donate $7 a dose in a World Health Organization-led push to raise extra funds for the COVAX international COVID-19 vaccine-sharing programme.

Launching the "Go Give One" campaign on Wednesday, the WHO's director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it would allow anyone who wants to "to play their part in vaccinating the world with a simple donation" and, in time, help end the pandemic.

The WHO estimates that $7 would cover the cost of buying and delivering a vaccine dose for someone in a low income country.

The campaign also will seek matching funds from businesses whose employees and customers make contributions.

"The best way out of this pandemic is by getting vaccines to everyone, starting with health workers and the world’s most vulnerable people," Tedros said in a statement.


01:32 PM

Support for Scottish independence drops amid pandemic and hard border fears

Support for Scottish independence has fallen amid increasing nervousness that the country would find it harder outside the UK to tackle a pandemic, and the prospect of a hard border with England, according to detailed research.

Polling and focus groups conducted by Lord Ashcroft, the former Conservative Party deputy chairman, showed 49 per cent support for separation and 51 per cent opposition.

The survey of 2,019 adults (double the sample of a normal poll) found that many people were worried whether "vaccination, furlough and business support programmes could have been sustained outside the UK".

Major doubts were also raised about the strength of a separate Scotland's economy, the likelihood of it being able to join the EU with a huge spending deficit, and the implications for the border with England.

Asked how Scotland would change after independence, more people said they feel taxes, energy bills, food prices and unemployment would increase rather than drop.

Simon Johnson has the full story here


01:26 PM

Switzerland to allow 3,000-person events from July for vaccinated attendees

Switzerland might allow events with up to 3,000 spectators from July, the government said on Wednesday, although such events would be restricted to attendees who have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Attendees may also have to prove they've recovered from the illness or test negative.

The government said this was not a re-opening plan, but rather a roadmap to prepare cantons and event organizers should events be possible.

The actual decision on whether to allow large events was due in the second half of June.

The government also laid out a scheme to provide financial assistance of up to five million Swiss francs ($5.5 million) for event organizers, should they be required to cancel scheduled events on short notice due to a deteriorating epidemiological situation.


01:22 PM

Revellers fined for hosting parties

Groups of revellers have been fined after breaching Covid-19 regulations by holding house parties and a pub lock-in.

Avon and Somerset Police said people had been issued with fixed-penalty notices after incidents had taken place in Bristol and Taunton last week.

The current regulations in England do not allow anyone to meet indoors with anybody they do not live with, unless there is a legal exemption.

The force said on April 20 officers were called to The Waggon pub in Taunton amid reports of a lock-in.

Officers from outside the premises observed a small number of people inside the premises drinking and dancing.

Seven fixed-penalty notices were issued.


01:13 PM

Chinese vaccine makers consider mixing doses

Chinese vaccine makers are looking at mixing their jabs and whether a booster shot could help better protect against Covid-19

Sinovac and Sinopharm, the two Chinese manufacturers that combined have exported hundreds of millions of doses all over the world, say they're are considering combining their vaccines with those from other companies.

Earlier this month, the head of China's Center for Disease Control, Gao Fu, said that current vaccines offer low protection against the coronavirus and mixing them is among strategies being considered to boost their effectiveness.

Gao later tried to walk back his comments, saying he was talking in general about improving vaccine efficacy.

China National Biotech Group has a plan for future "sequential use" of their vaccines, Li Meng, the head of international cooperation for the company, said Wednesday at an international conference.


01:06 PM

Europe will reach herd immunity this summer, says BioNTech

Europe can achieve herd immunity against coronavirus within three to four months, the head of German pharmaceutical company BioNTech said.

While the exact threshold required to reach that critical level of immunisation remains a matter of debate, experts say a level above 70 per cent would significantly disrupt transmission of the coronavirus within a population.

"Europe will reach herd immunity in July, latest by August," Ugur Sahin, BioNTech's chief executive, told reporters.

He cautioned that this herd immunity initially wouldn't include children, as the vaccine has so far only been approved for people over 16. A small number of children who fall ill with COVID-19 suffer serious illness or long-term effects.

Sahin said data from people who have received the vaccine show that the immune response gets weaker over time, and a third dose will likely be required.


12:55 PM

Cases in Selby expected to surge after warehouse covid outbreak

A cluster of Covid-19 cases centred on a distribution warehouse shows how "one outbreak can create significant turbulence and concern", a senior council official has said.

An outbreak involving the Clipper Logistics warehouse in Selby has pushed the small North Yorkshire town to the top of the table of English local authority areas for new coronavirus cases.

Officials from North Yorkshire County Council said on Wednesday they believed the intensive testing ongoing at the site would push Selby's case rate even higher before it begins to subside.

Richard Webb, North Yorkshire's director of health and adult services, reminded a virtual press conference how he described the situation in the county last week as "encouraging but volatile".

Mr Webb said on Wednesday: "I stand by that assessment even though the last seven days has put a greater emphasis on the volatility."


12:48 PM

Full stadiums at Tokyo Olympics 'very difficult'

Full stadiums will be "very difficult" at the Tokyo Olympics, the head of the Games warned on Wednesday, as a decision on how many domestic fans can attend was pushed back until June.

Overseas spectators have already been barred from the Games for the first time, and a ruling on Japan-based fans was expected by the end of this month.

But less than three months before the opening ceremony, parts of the country including Tokyo are under a coronavirus state of emergency and organisers said they needed more time. The opening ceremony is on July 23.

"As we look into the evolving situation with the domestic infections status involving new strains, we have agreed that a decision regarding spectator capacity at the Olympic and Paralympic venues will be made in June," Olympic officials said after top-level talks Wednesday.


12:41 PM

Vaccine passports 'very helpful short-term measure'

Professor Christopher Dye, professor of epidemiology at the University of Oxford, told the Science and Technology Committee the language around any vaccine passports or certificates needs to be carefully considered.

He said: "I think we need to discuss this in terms of neutral language and the term passport and certificate has been difficult. So, a word like pass is more neutral, but we should try to have a conversation in neutral terms."

Asked whether "vaccine passports" might be a short-term measure or if they may be around for some time,

Prof Dye told MPs: "I think vaccine passports, or certificates, passes, whatever you want to call them, are going to be a very helpful short-term measure - I think they're going to be in place for the long term as well.

For one reason, on the latter part, Covid is not going to go away, and it's going to be endemic around the world - it is going to keep resurfacing.


12:34 PM

Greece: Vaccine hesitancy driving high death rate, says PM

Greece's prime minister has issued an appeal for elderly Greeks to get vaccinated, blaming hesitancy for persistently high rates of death and hospitalization.

"The data we have from ICUs and intubated patients are clear: 95% of them, who are fellow citizens of ours, are not fully vaccinated," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

Greece's vaccination program has remained roughly in line with the European Union average, but deaths are higher and the number of Covid-19 patients requiring intensive care unit treatment is at its highest level since the start of the pandemic.

Health experts say Greeks over age 80 and below 70 are failing to make or skipping vaccination appointments in significantly larger numbers than those in the 75 to 79 age bracket.

The government has appealed to the Greek Orthodox Church and retiree associations to help with the vaccination campaign.


12:31 PM

India to receive urgent humanitarian assistance from 14 UK aid charities

India will receive urgent humanitarian assistance from 14 of the UK's leading aid charities as it tackles an overwhelming coronavirus surge.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which brings together a number of UK organisations, has extended its Coronavirus appeal to include the country and will assist in efforts to slow the spread of the virus and provide further help to the most vulnerable households.

Health workers treat patients inside a converted banquet hall - Prakash Singh/AFP
Health workers treat patients inside a converted banquet hall - Prakash Singh/AFP

Chief executive Saleh Saeed said: "We have all seen the devastating images from India showing hospitals overrun and oxygen supplies falling short of demand, with thousands of people unable to receive potentially life-saving treatment.

"Several cities have imposed lockdowns and curfews, which will have a knock-on effect for people's livelihoods, with the poorest and most marginalised communities hit hardest.

Organisations, including the Indian Red Cross, ActionAid, Oxfam India and Save the Children, will help support the country's health system by providing PPE, disinfection kits, medical supplies and ambulances, and setting up isolation facilities.


12:24 PM

Covid-19 hospitalisations in England drops to seven-month low

The number of patients in hospital in England with Covid-19 has dropped to its lowest level for seven months, figures show.

A total of 1,310 patients were in hospital at 8am on April 27, according to figures from NHS England.

This is the lowest since 1,299 on September 21, and is down 96 per cent from a record 34,336 on January 18.

During the first wave of the virus, patient numbers peaked at 18,974 on April 12 2020.

Both south-east and south-west England are reporting numbers down 98 per cent on their second-wave peak, while eastern England has seen its number drop by 97 per cent.


12:18 PM

Covid antibody levels up nearly a third in two weeks amid ongoing vaccine success

The number of people with Covid antibodies has jumped by almost a third in two weeks amid the ongoing success of the vaccine rollout, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

An estimated seven in 10 adults (68.3 per cent) in private households in England were likely to have tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies in the week to April 11, up from 53.1 per cent two weeks earlier.

The presence of Covid-19 antibodies implies someone has had the infection in the past or has been vaccinated.

It takes between two and three weeks after infection or vaccination for the body to make enough antibodies to fight the virus.

Lizzie Roberts has the full story


12:14 PM

Should face masks be ditched on June 21?

As June 21 approaches, Britons are preparing for the end of coronavirus restrictions, but Boris Johnson has already warned that there is no guarantee that all measures could end on June 21.

While legal powers to impose domestic Covid-19 restrictions have already been extended by Parliament until September, The Telegraph’s Allison Pearson has declared that Britons must call time on fear and rid themselves of face masks once and for all from June 21.

Should face masks be ditched on 'Freedom Day' and when could England see a return to normality?


12:08 PM

Indians rush for vaccines as coronavirus toll tops 200,000

Indians struggled to register online for a mass vaccination drive set to begin next month as the country's death toll from the coronavirus surged past 200,000 on Wednesday.

The second wave of infections has seen at least 300,000 people test positive each day for the past week, overwhelming health facilities and crematoriums and fuelling an increasingly urgent response from allies overseas sending equipment.

The last 24 hours brought 360,960 new cases for the world's largest single-day total, taking India's tally of infections to nearly 18 million. It was also the deadliest day so far, with 3,293 fatalities carrying the toll to 201,187.

Experts believe the official tally vastly underestimates the actual toll in a nation of 1.35 billion, however.

"The situation is horrific, absolutely terrible, according to what I see. Everyone is afraid, every single person. People are afraid that if I am talking to a person, maybe I won't get to talk to them tomorrow or in the near future," New Delhi resident Manoj Garg said.


11:57 AM

People given two doses of vaccine 'must maintain social distancing'

People who have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine are being told to keep up social distancing partly due to British culture, a senior health official has said.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England (PHE), told MPs there was a desire for the population in the UK to move together - in contrast to the US, which is allowing fully vaccinated people to meet indoors without the need for social distancing.

Dr Ramsay told the Commons Science and Technology Committee the UK's policy of leaving up to 12 weeks between vaccine doses - a move she said had saved lives - meant the UK was behind the US when it came to fully jabbed individuals.

"I think they (US) are able to be less cautious, perhaps, than us because of the fact that more people have had two doses, which one would expect to get even better protection against transmission," she said.

"Our data is now coming through showing that even one dose is very good (against transmission), so I think we can begin to look at those factors and we are looking at those factors.


11:47 AM

Comment: The impact of India's Covid crisis will be felt across the world

What is happening in India could be the catalyst for serious political disturbances in many developing nations, writes Jonathan Saxty.

Health workers bring the bodies of coronavirus victims for cremation - Altaf Qadri/AP
Health workers bring the bodies of coronavirus victims for cremation - Altaf Qadri/AP

What seems to be happening in India is clearly a human tragedy.

Even accounting for the size of India’s population it seems astonishing that the country saw over 362,000 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, while the country has officially surpassed 200,000 Covid deaths – itself a possible under count.

In Delhi, one person is apparently dying every four minutes from the virus. On the other side of the world, Brazil apparently recently saw 4,000 Covid deaths in just one day.

While it would be a stretch to suggest revolution and secession are on the cards anywhere, it is not inconceivable that what is happening could catalyse serious political disturbances in many developing nations. There is also the potential for spill-over effects. Politicians have a habit of looking for external fights to deflect domestic discontent.


11:30 AM

Cyprus to offer holidays for Britons fully vaccinated from May 10

Cyprus is offering hassle-free holidays to fully vaccinated individuals from 65 countries from May 10 as it seeks to recoup lost ground from the pandemic.

The Mediterranean island, which has fared better than most countries in containing the Covid-19 outbreak, will accept vaccines permitted by the European Medicines Agency and Sputnik V.

"I think it's a fantastic initiative and I think it's very very important for people to know, that irrespective of (country risk) categorisation, if someone is fully vaccinated they no longer require tests to come to Cyprus," Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios.

The move affects travel from 65 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, European Union member states, Britain and Gulf states.

The island had already opened up to those countries in a colour-coded risk assessment system based on testing.


11:23 AM

UK regulator sees no heart inflammation concerns from Pfizer vaccine

There are no new safety concerns around the Pfizer vaccine and heart inflammation based on the rollout of the shot in, the UK MHRA medicine regulator said on Wednesday, after cases of the condition in Israel.

"The MHRA is as aware of the reports of myocarditis under investigation in Israel. Based on our experience and safety monitoring in the UK, there is currently no new safety concerns raised regarding myocarditis," a MHRA spokeswoman said.

The comment echoed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which said it had not seen a link between the shot and heart inflammation.


11:18 AM

Boris Johnson denies 'let the bodies pile high' remark

Boris Johnson has denied media reports that he had said he would rather bodies piled "high in their thousands" than order a third lockdown.

Asked by opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer whether he made the comments, Johnson told parliament: "No," and called on Starmer to substantiate the allegations.

According to two separate accounts published on Monday, Mr Johnson barked in frustration on October 30 after losing the argument over lockdown: "No more ----ing lockdowns. Let the bodies pile high in their thousands!"

It is alleged that three different people overheard the remark and have confirmed what he said.


11:12 AM

EU demands immediate access to UK-made vaccines in AstraZeneca legal battle

EU lawyers hav demanded AstraZeneca immediately deliver Covid-19 vaccines from its factories in Britain.

The call came in the opening hearing of the European Commission's legal case in Brussels against the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker over supply delays.

AstraZeneca has missed delivery targets to both Britain and the EU, delaying the bloc's immunisation campaign in particular, and stoking tensions between London and Brussels.

The bloc accuses the company of failing to meet its contractual obligations, whereas AstraZeneca says it is complying with the agreement, which it considers not fully binding.

"We demand deliveries by the end of June and we also demand with immediate effect the use of all plants listed in the contract," EU lawyer Rafael Jafferali told the judge in a hearing room.


11:07 AM

Two-thirds of Spaniards over 60 have had jab against Covid says PM

Two-thirds of Spaniards over the age of 60 have received at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19 Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday during a visit to a Johnson & Johnson lab in Toledo.

Describing the data as "promising," Sanchez reaffirmed a national target to fully inoculate 70 per cent of Spain's 47 million population before the end of summer.


10:58 AM

Over half of UK adults have Covid antibodies, figures suggest

More than half of adults in the UK are now likely to have Covid-19 antibodies, new figures have suggested.

The estimates range from 57.8 per cent of adults in Scotland to 68.3 per cent in England, with 61.0 per ent for Wales and 62.5 per cent for Northern Ireland.

The presence of Covid-19 antibodies implies someone has had the infection in the past or has been vaccinated.

It takes between two and three weeks after infection or vaccination for the body to make enough antibodies to fight the virus.

Antibodies then remain in the blood at low levels, although these levels can decline over time to the point that tests can no longer detect them.


10:54 AM

Matt Hancock called for covid jab

Matt Hancock has revealed he will be getting his first vaccination against Covid-19.

The 42-year-old posted on Twitter: "Delighted to have received my text inviting me to book my vaccination.

"This feels like a huge personal step towards normal."

On Monday the NHS invited all 44-year-olds in England to come forward for a vaccine.

Around half a million of the age group will begin receiving a text inviting them to book a jab, with health service sources predicting that the 40 to 43-year-olds will get the call later this week.


10:46 AM

'Very important' as many people are vaccinated as possible before restrictions end

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, told MPs it is "very important" as many people as possible are vaccinated before all restrictions are eased.

Speaking at the Science and Technology Committee, she said: "It is really very important that we have as many people vaccinated before we release all those restrictions, so at the moment we are trying to balance it very carefully.

"As more people get vaccinated we are releasing gradually, we're observing what happens, and then that's allowing us to carry on, but it does depend on what the future holds, how people behave, how the vaccine works."

She added that many people had only had their first vaccine dose and while the proportion of people with two jabs is increasing, there are still some elderly who have not been vaccinated and children cannot yet have a vaccine.


10:39 AM

Prince Charles calls for aid to India

Prince Charles has called on the British public to send aid to India amid a devastating surge in coronavirus hospitalisations and deaths.

The Prince said he was "deeply saddened" by the "tragic images" in recent weeks of hospitals overflowing with patients and pyres of burning bodies in parks and outdoor areas.

Funeral pyres burn as the last rites are performed of the patients who died of Covid-19 at a cremation ground in Allahabad  - AFP
Funeral pyres burn as the last rites are performed of the patients who died of Covid-19 at a cremation ground in Allahabad - AFP

He said in a statement: "For well over a year the pandemic has had a devastating impact on so many of us around the world.

This week, I have been deeply saddened by the tragic images we have all seen as Covid-19 takes its horrific toll in India.

"Like many others, I have a great love for India and have enjoyed many wonderful visits to the country.

"Indian aid and ingenuity has been a support to other countries through this immensely difficult time. As India has helped others, so now must we help India.

"With support from the Indian diaspora, the British Asian Trust has launched an Emergency Appeal for India to channel this desire to do something about this terrible situation and help save lives."


10:28 AM

Death threats against German MPs as new lockdown measures approved

Police in Germany have warned of online death threats against MPs over a new national coronavirus lockdown law approved last week, Justin Huggler reports.

A list of MPs who voted for the new law has been circulating on the Telegram instant messaging service with the title “Death List of German politicians”.

Police “do not currently see any danger to MPs,” Gabriele Katzmarek, an MP from the centre-Left Social Democrats (SPD) responsible for security wrote in a letter to colleagues leaked to the German press.

But she warned MPs to be vigilant and added: “Please contact the police immediately if you notice anything suspicious”.

The new law removes control of lockdown measures from regional governments and gives Angela Merkel direct control.

German police detain anti-lockdown protesters at a rally on Monday  - Markus Schreiber/AP
German police detain anti-lockdown protesters at a rally on Monday - Markus Schreiber/AP

10:19 AM

'Life is precious' say Indian migrants fleeing Covid-hit cities

Amid India's Covid-19 crisis, migrant workers are abandoning cities and heading for their villages in droves.

India's death toll from coronavirus surged past 200,000 on Wednesday with nearly 18 million people infected.

People wear protective masks and face coverings as they gather next to the tracks at Jadavpur railway station in Kolkata - Bloomberg
People wear protective masks and face coverings as they gather next to the tracks at Jadavpur railway station in Kolkata - Bloomberg

The cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Surat and Bangalore remain under lockdown.

Healthcare facilities have been overwhelmed, with hospitals overrun and shortages of oxygen, medical supplies and hospital staff.

"I was reading about all the cases and the deaths and getting worried. I still had work but I didn't want to stay in the city," said Sanjit Kumar, 30, who left Surat in western India last week on a train for his village in eastern Bihar.

I was getting scared looking at messages of deaths on WhatsApp. Life is precious for everyone.


10:07 AM

People may be allowed to hug loved ones in June

People may be able to hug their loved ones in June, a Government scientific adviser has said, as a new study shows a single jab cuts virus transmission by up to half.

Dr Mike Tildesley, from the University of Warwick and a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M) group, suggested the decision on whether social distancing would be needed going into the summer months could be a political one.

However, he said vaccines were doing the job of preventing most people falling seriously ill, and he was hopeful hugs would be back on the agenda by the date the Government has set for lifting legal limits on social contact.


09:32 AM

Poll: Are you happy to download NHS app to travel?

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed this morning that an NHS app will be needed for international travel.

He failed to clarify if this was the Covid-19 Track and Trace app or the general NHS app, but what is clear is that the app will act as your vaccine passport.

How do you feel about that?


09:28 AM

Women at no greater risk from blood clots, MPs told

Women are at no greater risk from blood clots after the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, despite there being more cases and deaths reported in them, MPs have heard.

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, chairman of the Commission on Human Medicines, told the Science and Technology Committee: "There are two things to consider - the first is the way the vaccine was deployed, particularly in healthcare workers and social care workers.

"The majority of the workforce there is female and so they had higher exposure rates.

"But when you then start relating to the exposure rate in different populations, what you find is that the case incidence rate between male and female is actually very similar.

"So, from our data that we've got in the UK, it doesn't look as if the females are at a higher risk of this adverse event compared to males."

He added that whether people had a history of thrombosis is not seen as a risk factor.

Sir Munir continued: "The only risk factor that we are finding is age in that there is a slightly higher risk in the younger age group compared to the older age group."


09:04 AM

Wales: Six in 10 adults likely have Covid antibodies

In Wales, an estimated six in 10 adults (61.0%) in private households would have tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies in the week to April 11, the ONS said.

This is up from around one in two adults, or 48.2%, two weeks earlier.

The latest estimate for Scotland is six in 10 adults (57.8%), up from just over four in 10 (43.8%), while for Northern Ireland the estimate is also six in 10 adults (62.5%), up from just over one in two (54.6%).


08:49 AM

England: Seven in 10 adults likely have Covid antibodies

An estimated seven in 10 adults (68.3%) in private households in England were likely to have tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies in the week to April 11, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - up from an estimated one in two, or 53.1%, two weeks earlier.

The presence of Covid-19 antibodies suggests someone has had the infection in the past or has been vaccinated.


08:39 AM

Holidays to Portugal 'hopeful' from middle of May

Holidaymakers could be able to visit Portugal from the "middle of May", the nation's ambassador to the UK has said.

Asked when Portugal will be opening its borders to tourists from the UK, Manuel Lobo Antunes told Sky News: "As soon as possible, this is not just a unilateral matter, we have to coordinate this issue with our British friends and the UK Government.

"But we are hopeful, as we have been saying for these last months, that from the middle of May, regular mobility between the UK and Portugal and vice versa, can be established, that's our hope."

Asked if Britons who have not been vaccinated can travel into the country, he added: "Yes, that's the idea, that's what we wanted, to as much as possible go back to the regime that existed before the pandemic.

"It's in that direction we are working and that is possible."


08:25 AM

Downing Street press conference this afternoon

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to lead a Downing Street press conference on coronavirus later today.


08:23 AM

The four factors for international travel

In the next couple of weeks, we will know which countries fall into which category when it comes to the Government's traffic lights system.

Green will mean no need to quarantine, amber will mean quarantining at home and red will mean quarantining at a Government-approved hotel.

Here are the four factors the Government will consider when making their decision on countries and their categories.

  1. Rates of vaccination

  2. Rates of Covid cases

  3. Mutations and variants in that country

  4. How accurate the reporting of Covid is perceived in that country


07:57 AM

Covid around the world, in pictures

A Covid-19 coronavirus patient breathes with the help of oxygen provided by a Gurdwara, a place of worship for Sikhs, under a tent installed along the roadside in Ghaziabad - Prakash Singh/AFP
Children wait for a bus to head back to their village after Nepal declares prohibitory orders effective from Thursday as the major second wave of the coronavirus disease - Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

07:52 AM

Lifting restrictions too early would be 'big mistake'

Professor Peter Openshaw said it would be a " big mistake" to ease coronavirus restrictions too quickly.

Asked if the road map out of lockdown could move sooner, he told Today: "I really think that we're doing the right thing by being cautious and by proceeding according to the evidence and not easing too fast.

"I think we do know that easing too fast would be a big mistake and we don't want to lose all the ground that's been gained by massive public effort to get to where we are now.

"It's so vital that we do keep up the precautions and move with cautious speed."


07:44 AM

Transmission results 'better than many of us expected'

Professor Peter Openshaw welcomed the findings of a Public Health England (PHE) study showing that a single dose of a Covid-19 vaccine can cut transmission by up to half.

Prof Openshaw, a member of the Covid-19 clinical information network, described the results as "very, very reassuring and "certainly better than many of us expected just a few months ago".

He told the BBC Radio Four Today programme: "It shows that the immune system is doing something a lot more than we were expecting of it really."

He said it is known from other studies that infection is "typically much milder" in people who have been vaccinated and added that with two doses the outcome is "almost certainly going to be even better".


07:39 AM

Scrapping social distancing will be political decision

Dr Mike Tildesley, from the University of Warwick and a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M) group, suggested the decision on whether social distancing would need to be in place after June 21 could be a political one.

Asked at what stage people will be able to be close to another person if both have been vaccinated, he told Times Radio: "I think this is really difficult because of course, in a sense, this becomes more of a sort of a political decision rather than an epidemiological decision because we have been told that on June 21 all of these legal limits on contact will be removed, but it's still unclear exactly what that means.

"Whether that means that on that date some social distancing will be in place or whether all of those will be removed and you'll be able to go and hug your loved ones...

"I think the key thing is that if you're both vaccinated, of course, it does reduce the risk of anyone becoming severely ill and my hope is that as we move towards that June date, we will be in a position that we can not just see our loved ones, but also we can hug our loved ones because it's been a very long time since we've been able to do that.

"We obviously do need to monitor the data as we get to the main relaxation, when you are allowed to go inside people's households, it's really important that we monitor that data and ensure that we don't get a resurgence at that point."


07:36 AM

Transmission findings 'significant'

Dr Mike Tildesley, from the University of Warwick and a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M) group, told BBC Breakfast the PHE findings on transmission were "significant".

He added: "We know that these vaccines are very good at preventing severe symptoms but they're not 100% effective, so it's really important if someone does get infected having been vaccinated, they aren't likely to pass the virus on to others, because then that reduces the risk of the virus spreading further and potentially putting vulnerable people who may not have protection at risk."

He said the study offered "extra evidence to suggest we do need as many people to be vaccinated as possible, even if you are not at severe risk of developing severe symptoms, because that way we're getting much higher levels of protection across the population, protecting the vulnerable and, hopefully, further reducing the number of people who will get severely ill and sadly die from the disease."

The vaccines' effects on cutting transmission are likely to be even higher after two doses, though further evidence was needed, he added.


07:18 AM

India passes 200,000 Covid deaths - and there is no sign this is the peak

India crossed a grim milestone Wednesday of 200,000 people lost to the coronavirus.

As a devastating surge of new infections tears through dense cities and rural areas alike, the country's health care systems are on the brink of collapse.

But as the deaths and cases continue to increase, the peak has not even been reached yet in India.

The health ministry reported a single-day record 3,293 Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing India's total fatalities to 201,187, as the world's second most populous country endures its darkest chapter of the pandemic yet.

Read the full story here.


07:03 AM

Can Britons travel to Spain? 'Wait and see', says minister

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the public will have to "wait and see" about whether the UK will permit travel to Spain.

He told Times Radio: "Spain specifically, I'm afraid I just don't have the answer to that because the Joint Biosecurity Centre will need to come up with their assessment and we can't do that until a bit nearer the time.

"So we will need to wait and see."


06:56 AM

Have you downloaded our new app?

And talking of apps...


06:42 AM

NHS app to become vaccine passport

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the NHS app is being worked on to become a health certificate for international travel.

He told Sky News: "In terms of vaccine certification, I can confirm we are working on an NHS application, actually it will be the NHS app that is used for people when they book appointments with the NHS and so on, to be able to show you've had a vaccine or you've had testing.

"I'm working internationally with partners across the world to make sure that system can be internationally recognised, as that's the way forward.

"Actually, I'm chairing a meeting of the G7 secretaries of state for transport, my equivalents from America and Canada and all the G7 countries, next week on exactly this subject."


06:41 AM

'Looking good' for international travel from May 17

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the data "continue to look good" domestically to allow limited international travel from May 17 at the earliest.

He told Sky News: "The earliest possible unlock is May 17, so stage three of the unlock, we won't have international travel before that.

"I have to say that so far the data does continue to look good from a UK perspective, notwithstanding those concerns about where people might be travelling to and making sure we're protected from the disease being reimported.

"I will set out towards the beginning of May ... which countries fall into the various different categories."


06:39 AM

Cancer care ‘no longer safe’ as NHS has too few medics to cope with backlog

Cancer services are "no longer safe" as there are too few medics to cope with a backlog of patients waiting for scans and X-rays since the pandemic, medics have warned.

The Royal College of Radiologists said a third more consultants – almost 2,000 doctors – were needed to cope with demand, even before the crisis hit.

Its census of more than 1,000 specialists found that nearly half are now planning to cut their hours, and a fifth are considering leaving the NHS.

The number of patients facing long waits for tests such as MRI scans, ultrasounds and gastroscopies has risen 10-fold in the past year, with 327,663 patients waiting at least six weeks, up from 29,832 a year ago.

One medic told the census: “We cannot deliver adequate services for our patients” while another said “we can no longer provide cancer and acute care safely.”


06:15 AM

'You can visit Spain', says tourism minister

Spain's tourism minister Fernando Valdes Verelst told a travel and tourism conference in Mexico: "I think the best thing that Governments right now can provide to travellers is certainty, give the proper information and the security that they can travel and they can come back to the countries.

"In those terms, in the European Union, we put in place a system ... that provides us with digital certificate.

"Spain is going to be ready in June to use this digital certificate. We are doing a pilot programme in May, in all our 46 airports.

"We are going to give all these travellers that certainty. Spain is going to be ready in June to tell all travellers worldwide that you can visit us."


06:14 AM

Spain ready to welcome UK tourists from June

Spain will be ready to welcome back tourists - including those from the UK - in June, the country's tourism minister has said.

The European Union has previously set out plans for coronavirus vaccine certificates that could be used by UK holidaymakers this summer.

Digital Green Certificates will be accepted as "proof" a person had a Covid-19 jab, received a negative test result or recovered from the virus, according to the European Commission's proposal.

And Spain - which welcomed 18 million Brits in 2019 - says a digital certificate scheme is currently being trialled with a view to a wider rollout in June.


06:05 AM

Today's front page

Here is your Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, Apr 28.

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05:55 AM

S.Korea to lift mandatory quarantine for residents fully vaccinated

South Korea said on Wednesday it will offer some exemptions to mandatory quarantine measures for people who have been fully inoculated against Covid-19, in an effort to encourage more vaccinations.

South Korea has so far vaccinated 4 per cent of its 52 million strong population, but has set an ambitious target of giving shots to 70 per cent of its people by September and reaching herd immunity by November.

From May 5, residents who have had both vaccine shots will not have to undergo the mandatory two-week quarantine for people who have been in contact with a confirmed patient or have returned from overseas travel, ​Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official, told a briefing.

The exemption will only apply for those with a negative Covid-19 test and who show no related symptoms.

It will not apply to residents arriving from nations such as South Africa and Brazil where variants are prevalent and to people who are vaccinated in foreign countries.


05:01 AM

India's Covid death toll passes 200,000

India's coronavirus death toll passed 200,000 on Wednesday with more than 3,000 fatalities reported in 24 hours for the first time, official data showed.

A total of 201,187 people have now died, 3,293 of them in the past day, according to health ministry data, although many experts suspect that the true toll is higher.

India has now reported 18 million infections, an increase of 360,000 in 24 hours, which is a new world record. This month alone the country has added almost six million new cases.

The explosion in cases, blamed in part on a new virus variant as well as mass political and religious events, has overwhelmed hospitals with dire shortages of beds, drugs and oxygen.

Health workers and relatives carry the body of a COVID-19 victim for cremation in Jammu - AP
Health workers and relatives carry the body of a COVID-19 victim for cremation in Jammu - AP

04:27 AM

South Korea sending medical supplies to India

South Korea says it will provide India with oxygen concentrators, Covid-19 diagnostic kits and other aid items to help the South Asian nation with the world's worst surge in coronavirus infections.

Health official Yoon Taeho said on Wednesday the government will also allow irregular flights to bring back South Korean nationals from India. He says those returning will undergo virus tests three times and be placed under a quarantine.

Yoon didn't elaborate on the amount of aid items South Korea will send to India. The country's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the amount of material it was considering sending to India would be "considerable".

Earlier on Wednesday, South Korea reported 775 new virus cases, taking the country's total to 120,673, with 1,821 deaths.

Read more: Why has India been hit so badly – and where could be next?


02:49 AM

Canada reports first death of patient following AstraZeneca vaccine

The province of Quebec on Tuesday reported Canada's first death of a patient from a rare blood clot condition after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

Canada has reported at least five cases of blood clots following immunisation with the vaccine, but public health officials maintain the benefits of the AstraZeneca shot outweigh the potential risks.

Canadian health authorities are gathering additional information on this case, the country's public health agency said.

Quebec Public Health Director Horacio Arruda told reporters the death of the patient due to thrombosis will not change the province's vaccination strategy.


02:29 AM

Australian to fast-track vaccines for Olympic athletes

Australia's Olympic Committee on Wednesday hailed a decision to fast-track vaccinations for athletes travelling to the Tokyo Games despite accusations of queue-jumping.

The Australian government announced late on Tuesday that an estimated 2,000 athletes and staff would get jabs before travelling to the games, which are scheduled to begin on July 23.

"We want to see our athletes head to Tokyo to compete and then return to Australia safely," said health minister Greg Hunt.

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll welcomed the news Wednesday as a "great relief" to athletes and officials - like himself - who are going to the Games.


11:56 PM

UK survey finds rising unease about AstraZeneca vaccine

British enthusiasm for the AstraZeneca vaccine has faded in the past month, reflecting rising unease about its possible links to rare adverse side effects, though overall UK confidence in vaccines is high, an updated survey has found.

The survey of almost 5,000 people showed a significant increase in the proportion who said they want to be vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as possible, but also found that almost a quarter of those asked now believe the AstraZeneca vaccine causes blood clots – up from 13 per cent last month.

Reports of possible links to very rare blood clots have dented confidence in the AstraZeneca shot, which was developed with Oxford University scientists and shown in trials to be 76 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19.

Read more: Over 42s can now book avaccine - everything you need to know


11:43 PM

Today's top stories