Coronavirus - 15th May 2021

• People are being urged by scientists and public health experts to take a cautious approach when lockdown restrictions ease
  
• The British Medical Association raises serious concerns about the decision to press ahead with the easing of measures on Monday
  
• Cases of the Indian Covid variant have nearly tripled in the past week in England, according to official figures
  
• The Army is to be deployed in north-west England to help with surge testing where cases of the variant are rising sharply
  
• Extra testing is already taking place in targeted areas across England, including Bolton, Blackburn and London
  
• Health minister Edward Argar says there has been a "minor increase" in hospital presentations in Bolton
  
• Second doses are being speeded-up for older age groups in affected areas
  
• Police in Glasgow have urged Rangers football fans to disperse and follow Covid measures after crowds poured onto the streets
  
• More than 20,000 football fans in England will attend today's FA Cup final at Wembley - the largest crowd at the government's pilot events so far
  

• Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the Indian Covid variant could pose "serious disruption" to lockdown easing in England on 21 June if it was found to be "significantly" more transmissible
  
• The Army is to help with surge testing efforts in parts of north-west England where cases of the variant are rising rapidly
  
• Glasgow and Moray will remain under level three Covid restrictions for at least another week, following a rise in cases driven by the Indian variant
  
• Tourism bodies in Northern Ireland have raised concerns over new rules for people visiting from the Common Travel Area (CTA). A series of tests has replaced the need for visitors to self-isolate, but the new rules have been deemed "unmanageable"
  
• Wealthier nations should postpone plans to give children and teenagers Covid vaccines and instead donate supplies to low-income countries, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged
  
• And Greece has launched its tourist season, lifting most remaining restrictions on movement and declaring "we are putting the lockdown behind us"
  

What the papers say

• The Daily Mail carries comments from the prime minister, who said there was a "real risk" the plan to lift all restrictions on 21 June could be threatened.
  
• The PM has shocked the public by warning there will be "tough choices" ahead if the mutation spreads much faster, with the hospitality industry said to be "in despair" at the fresh doubt, writes the i weekend.
  
• A former chief scientific adviser, Sir Mark Walport, has told the Times the situation is "poised on a knife edge", with a lot hinging on the transmissibility figure.
  
• From Monday, people in England will be able to mix indoors and physical contact will be permitted, but scientists say that the lifting of measures could lead to a substantial rise in the number of hospital admissions, the paper adds.
  
• The PM has admitted that "the race between our vaccine programme and the virus may be about to become a great deal tighter", the Guardian reports.
  
• However, the chairman of the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group, Mark Harper, has urged ministers to "keep cool heads" in the Daily Telegraph - with data suggesting the vaccines are having an effect against the variant.
  
• The Scottish Daily Mail reports that there is "anger as Sturgeon slams the brakes on" after the first minister's decision to keep Glasgow and Moray in level three restrictions from next week.
  

What's happening today?

• Scientists and public health experts are urging caution as lockdown rules lift further in England on Monday. Fears over a rise in cases of the Indian variant have led to calls from the British Medical Association to curtail physical and social contact and stick to the outdoors
  
• People eligible for a vaccine in areas where the Indian virus variant is spreading are being urged to get the jab
  
• Prof Anthony Harnden, who advises the government on vaccinations, has backed plans to prioritise the second jab for over-50s and the vulnerable over younger cohorts
  
• Health minister Edward Argar has defended the timing of India being added to the UK's "red list"
  
• Some teachers in England remain worried about the government's decision to drop the requirement for children to wear face coverings in schools, according to the school leaders' union, ASCL
  
• And police have urged Rangers fans to disperse and follow coronavirus regulations after crowds poured onto the streets of Glasgow to celebrate the club's Scottish Premiership win
  

Plea for people to get jab as Army deployed in hotspots

Call for higher self-isolation payments

Everything is open, says Portugal's tourism minister

• What are the rules for green list countries?
  

Doctor urges 'utmost caution' as young people mix again

Australian flight arrives half empty from India after passengers banned

China bans Everest climbers over virus fears

Why doesn't Japan cancel the Tokyo Olympics?

Police urge Rangers crowds to disperse

Ireland's Covid jabs to go ahead despite cyber attack

London Tube line to reopen after 15 months

• What's the Covid risk on transport?
  

'Real worry' about lockdown easing from British Medical Association

• How are England's rules changing on Monday?
  

Wembley set to welcome 21,000 fans for FA Cup final

More than three million first jabs given in Scotland

England's theatres prepare to reopen, but fear a Covid plot twist

Culture Secretary warns of 'heightened vigilance' over Indian variant

Bolton councillor implores locals to get vaccinated

In pictures: How will England's lockdown rules change on Monday?

• People can meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors
  
• Six people or two households can meet indoors and overnight stays can take place
  
• Up to 30 people can attend weddings, receptions and other life events
  
• The number of people who can attend a funeral is no longer capped, but determined by the size of venue
  
• Up to 30 are allowed to attend a support group or parent-and-child group (not counting under fives)
  

UK records another seven Covid deaths

Eurovision hit by positive test

Doctors in Wales 'bullied for raising safety fears'

Rangers fans continue celebrations despite warnings

France surpasses 20 million vaccine target

Malaysia reports record number of daily Covid-19 deaths

Vietnam reports a further 165 new coronavirus cases

Bodies of Covid-19 victims dumped in rivers, Indian officials admit

Taiwan records 180 new cases in island’s worst Covid outbreak of pandemic

The new rules will not mean offices, schools or restaurants have to close, but will cause the shutdown of cinemas and other entertainment spots, while limiting family get-togethers to five people indoors and 10 outdoors.
For the first time, masks will have to be worn outdoors.
Taipei’s government has already ordered bars, nightclubs and similar venues to shut.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said a “level of risk” in certain hot spots, such as Taipei’s gritty Wanhua district, had spurred the decision to raise the alert level.
“Only by doing this can infections be dealt with and controlled,” he told reporters.
People should avoid travel between Taipei and the rest of the island to prevent spreading the infection, Chen added.
President Tsai Ing-wen’s spokesman said she would reduce the number of “unnecessary meetings” or public events. The presidential office is close to Wanhua.
The rising community infections unnerved the stock market this week, but at the same news conference, Premier Su Tseng-chang reiterated that the island’s economic fundamentals remain good.
Taiwan has millions of vaccine doses on order from Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca Plc, though only a small number have arrived from the latter due to global shortages and vaccination rates remain low.
More vaccines will start arriving next month, Tsai has said.
Since the pandemic began, Taiwan has reported fewer than 1,500 cases among a population of about 24 million, most of them imported from abroad, but a recent rise in community transmissions has spooked residents.
The island has never gone into a full lockdown and its people are used to life carrying on near normal, despite the pandemic ranging in many other parts of the world.
Late on Friday, several universities, including the elite National Taiwan University, said they would immediately switch to remote learning, telling students to stay away from campuses.
Museums in Taipei, and the zoo, said they would shut too.

What happened today?

• The British Medical Association has raised serious concerns about the decision to press ahead with the easing of lockdown restrictions in England on Monday, citing worries over the Indian variant
  
• Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden warned the live events industry that the UK is entering a "period of heightened vigilance" due to the variant
  
• Wembley is welcoming 21,000 for the FA Cup final as part of the government's pilots of mass events
  
• Some teachers in England remain worried about the government's decision to drop the requirement for children to wear face coverings in schools, a union said
  
• A further seven people have died in UK within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus, and another 2,027 cases were reported
  
• And police have urged Rangers fans to disperse after crowds poured onto the streets of Glasgow to celebrate the club's Scottish Premiership win
  

• Ireland's Covid vaccination programme will continue as planned despite a cyber attack described as the most significant in the state's history
  
• China has banned attempts to climb Mount Everest from its side of the mountain for fear of importing the coronavirus from Nepal
  
• Australia had its first repatriation flight from India after ending its controversial travel ban from the Covid-hit country, but the plane was half empty as 70 people either tested positive or had been in close contact with someone who had
  
• Portugal's tourism minister welcomed UK tourists from Monday, saying "everything is open"
  

That's all for now

Today's live page was brought to you by Katie Wright, Dulcie Lee and Victoria Lindrea.