Summary for Sunday, 14th February 2021
Here’s what you need to know so far:
Also on the programme we will hear from:
Then the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme will start at 09:00 GMT with guests including:
Here is a summary of recent events around the world:
The announcement extends a set of measures brought in 10 days ago. The restrictions, which come into effect from 10pm local time on Sunday evening, could be extended again, the ministry statement said.
She said New Zealanders had been able to enjoy more freedom than in many other countries around the world, but that “with Covid raging outside our borders and new more transmissible strains of Covid 19 we have had to make both continual improvements to strengthening our border while continuing to plan and prepare for managing any potential resurgence”.
Ardern said there was a need “to go hard and early” and take a cautious approach.
As of 11.59pm tonight Sunday, Auckland will move to level 3 for three days. The rest of New Zealand will move to level 2 for the same period, she said.
In Auckland, this means people should stay home, and work from home if possible. Schools will be open for the children of essential workers.
- All coronavirus legal restrictions must be permanently lifted by the end of April, say a group of Tory backbench MPs
- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says there will be no "an arbitrary commitment" to reopen without reviewing the impact of the virus on hospital admissions
- The children's commissioner says one in six children "will never catch up" lost school days
- Auckland in New Zealand is to go into lockdown after the discovery of three new local cases of Covid-19
- The ban on evictions in England is to be extended until the end of March
- People aged 65 to 69 in England are among those being invited to book their Covid-19 jab from Monday
- Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has said she is "devastated" at breaking lockdown rules
- South Africa says on Monday it will reopen 20 of its land border crossings
- Latest figures indicate 116,908. people have died with the virus in the UK
Good morning and welcome
Welcome to today's live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.Here’s what you need to know so far:
- All coronavirus legal restrictions must be permanently lifted by the end of April, a group of Tory backbench MPs have demanded
- It comes after PM Boris Johnson said on Saturday he plans a "cautious" reopening
- People aged 65 to 69 in England are among those being invited to book their Covid-19 jab as the vaccination programme enters a new phase on Monday
- The ban on evictions in England is to be extended until the end of March, the government has announced
- South Africa, which has been hit hard by a second wave linked to a new Covid variant, says it will on Monday reopen 20 of its land border crossings that were shut last month to try to stop the spread of infections
- China refused to hand over key data to the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of Covid-19, one of its members has said
- And Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has said she is "devastated" at breaking lockdown rules by travelling to see her parents in Cornwall
Coming up on Sunday’s political shows
This morning's political programmes are getting under way, starting now with an appearance by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday.Also on the programme we will hear from:
- Wales’ first minister Mark Drakeford
- Epidemiologist Prof Tim Spector
- Children's Commissioner for England Anne Longfield
- and Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Bridget Phillipson
Then the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme will start at 09:00 GMT with guests including:
- Dominic Raab
- Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth
- Leader of Plaid Cymru Adam Price
- and the World Health Organization’s technical lead on Covid-19 Maria Van Kerkhove
Summary
The GuardianHere is a summary of recent events around the world:
- Lockdown measures will be introduced across Auckland from midnight on Sunday, while restrictions will also be increased elsewhere in New Zealand, after three local cases were reported over the weekend.
- Germany has tightened border restrictions, banning travel from Czech border regions and Austria’s Tyrol after a rise in contagious strains.
- The European Union’s health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said the bloc will fast-track approvals of coronavirus vaccines adapted to combat mutations.
- Australia is expecting 80,000 vaccine doses to arrive in the country before the end of the week. Health minister Greg Hunt said Australia’s vaccine campaign will commence late in February.
- China accused the US of damaging the World Health Organization in recent years, after the US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, cited “deep concerns” about the way the findings of the WHO’s investigation into the origins of Covid-19 were communicated.
Saudi Arabia extends restrictions for a further 20 days
Saudi Arabia has extended by 20 days restrictions on entertainment activities, gatherings and dine-in restaurant services to curb the spread of coronavirus, state news agency SPA said on Sunday, citing an interior ministry statement.The announcement extends a set of measures brought in 10 days ago. The restrictions, which come into effect from 10pm local time on Sunday evening, could be extended again, the ministry statement said.
Germany reports 6,114 new Covid cases and 218 deaths
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 6,114 to 2,334,561, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Sunday. The reported death toll rose by 218 to 64,960, the tally showed.New Zealand announces snap lockdown over Auckland cases
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, is addressing media in Wellington, following the discovery of three positive community cases in Auckland.She said New Zealanders had been able to enjoy more freedom than in many other countries around the world, but that “with Covid raging outside our borders and new more transmissible strains of Covid 19 we have had to make both continual improvements to strengthening our border while continuing to plan and prepare for managing any potential resurgence”.
Ardern said there was a need “to go hard and early” and take a cautious approach.
As of 11.59pm tonight Sunday, Auckland will move to level 3 for three days. The rest of New Zealand will move to level 2 for the same period, she said.
In Auckland, this means people should stay home, and work from home if possible. Schools will be open for the children of essential workers.