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    Coronavirus - 31st May 2021

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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 11:00

    Summary for Bank Holiday Monday, 31st May

    • A scientist advising the government says lockdown relaxations planned for 21 June in England should be delayed by a "few weeks"
    • Professor Ravi Gupta says there are early signs the UK is in a new wave of Covid-19 and more intelligence should be gathered
    • Twickenham Rugby Stadium has opened as England's largest vaccination centre, as the government tries to speed up the rollout of jabs
    • Around a million households fear losing their homes as England's coronavirus eviction ban comes to an end on Monday, a charity says
    • And France has banned all non-essential travel from the UK to try to stop the spread of the Indian variant


    Welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
    Here’s a summary of the day so far:

    • Government adviser and microbiologist Professor Ravi Gupta tells the BBC the unlocking of coronavirus restrictions next month should be delayed "by a few weeks" due to early signs the UK is in a new wave of Covid-19 infections
    • As England's coronavirus eviction ban comes to an end today, around a million households fear losing their homes, a charity says
    • About 400,000 renters have had eviction notices or been told to expect them, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
    • The head of NHS Providers has said "very, very few" Covid patients in hospital in England have received two coronavirus jabs - showing the vaccines provide "very high" levels of protection
    • Holiday let firms in Wales are predicting a bumper summer, with one saying they have been "blown away" by demand
    • The wave of coronavirus infections which swept across India killed hundreds of thousands, left many children orphaned and raised questions about how they will be cared for.
    • Dr Anthony Fauci, the top infectious diseases expert in the US, has told the Guardian it is too early to declare victory against Covid-19 as cases fall in the country to the lowest rates since last June. “We don’t want to declare victory prematurely because we still have a ways to go,” he said.
    • Japan is considering requiring negative Covid-19 test results or vaccination records from fans attending the Tokyo Olympics, the Yomiuri newspaper has reported, as a poll showed public opposition to the Games remains strong.
    • The acting premier of the Australian state of Victoria, currently enduring a seven-day lockdown, has warned that the situation remains “incredibly serious” as the region posted 11 new cases of Covid, including some involving aged care homes. “I want to be very clear with everyone, this outbreak may well get worse before it gets better,” James Merlino said.
    • India has reported its lowest daily rise in new coronavirus infections since 11 April at 152,734 cases over the past 24 hours, while deaths rose by 3,128.
    • The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, wants the upcoming Group of Seven summit to reach agreement on Covid-19 vaccine passports and to open talks on a “world treaty” to prepare for future pandemics. “We’ve got to do better than this,” he told Canadian broadcaster CBC.
    • In the UK, ministers will adopt a cautious approach in deciding whether to ease lockdown on 21 June, with hospitals already under pressure and health experts warning against “charging ahead”.
    • A health expert affiliated with the World Health Organization has called on the US to share any intelligence it has about the origins of the coronavirus outbreak with the WHO and the scientific community.
    • Vietnam is planning to test all 9 million people in its largest city for the coronavirus and has imposed more restrictions to deal with a growing Covid-19 outbreak.


    The latest from Europe

    As we’re reporting, France is introducing further restrictions on UK travellers from today amid concerns over the spread of the more transmissable variant first identified in India. Here are other stories happening across Europe:

    • Spain’s King Felipe has received his first coronavirus vaccine. The royal household said the 55-year-old monarch received his jab at the same time as others of his age in the Spanish capital Madrid. Earlier this year, his two sisters caused controversy after being innoculated in Abu Dhabi during a visit to see their father, former King Juan Carlos - before they were eligible to receive a vaccine in Spain
    • Restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the Czech Republic will welcome customers indoors from today, after a court ruled that existing restrictions preventing indoor service were unlawful. But some measures will remain in place, with restaurants and pubs requiring proof of vaccination, a negative Covid test or a previous infection, while nightclubs will not allow dancing or live music
    • German Health Minister Jens Spahn is to meet state leaders later today to discuss control mechanisms at government-funded centres offering free coronavirus testing, amid allegations of fraud
    • Italy has extended a travel ban on passengers from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka amid continuing concerns over the Indian variant, although Italian citizens are exempt. The rule was due to expire on Sunday but will now remain in place for a further three weeks


    Here’s a roundup of what’s been happening over the weekend:


    • In the UK, ministers will adopt a cautious approach in deciding whether to ease lockdown on June 21, with hospitals already under pressure and health experts warning against “charging ahead”. Scientists have warned ministers that a third wave of coronavirus may have already begun in Britain, casting doubt on plans in England to lift all lockdown restrictions in three weeks’ time.
    • A health expert affiliated with the World Health Organization has called on the US to share any intelligence it has about the origins of the coronavirus outbreak with the WHO and the scientific community.
    • Authorities in Vietnam have detected a new coronavirus variant that is a combination of the Covid variants first identified in India and the UK and spreads quickly by air, the health minister has said.
    • Egypt will lift restrictions it imposed earlier this month to curb the spread the coronavirus, including early closure of shops and restaurants, from June 1, the cabinet said.
    • South Africa has extended its nightly curfew and limited the number of people at gatherings to slow the spread of Covid-19 as positive cases surge, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday.
    • Only 1% of the 1.3 billion vaccines injected around the world have been administered in Africa – and that comparative percentage has been declining in recent weeks. It is a stark figure that underlines just how serious a problem global vaccine inequity has become. But the answer for the developing world is not as simple as delivering more vaccines.
    • Italy has extended an entry ban for people coming from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as a continued precaution against the more transmissible Indian variant. The ban, which does not apply to Italian citizens, was introduced in late April and was due to expire on Sunday. It was prolonged until 21 June.
    • Kenya has extended its nightly curfew by 60 days to slow the spread of Covid-19, the interior ministry said.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 11:18

    The papers: Jabs ramp up and Covid passport 'scrapped'

    Coronavirus - 31st May 2021 0fa3e710


    • On their front pages, the Times, the i newspaper, and the Daily Express focus on the race to give every over 50-year-old in England a second vaccine dose by 21 June - the date when social distancing restrictions are due to be lifted.
    • The papers pick up on the words of Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show yesterday when he said the aim was to "vaccinate at scale".
    • The Daily Telegraph highlights NHS data, which suggests that fewer than half of people in their 50s have had their second jab.
    • According to the Daily Express, Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the vaccine rollout may be accelerated. But analysis by the Times concludes that the target should be met, even at current rates.
    • The Daily Telegraph reports that plans to make Covid passports a legal requirement at large events are to be scrapped. The paper says it's been told by a well-placed source that the proposal has been killed off.
    • The Telegraph suggests this may, in part, be because foreign visitors can't use the NHS app and people with certain medical conditions can't be vaccinated.
    • The Sun reports that British holidaymakers are missing their flights home because of delays by one Covid-19 test provider. Some customers using the government-approved firm, Qured, complain that they have waited hours for their fit-to-fly certificates after a negative test.
    • Qured told the Sun that the timings of delivery and results were generally accurate, but could change due to circumstances out of its control.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 11:25

    Delay 21 June unlocking by a few weeks - leading scientist

    Today Programme -BBC Radio 4
    The unlocking of England's coronavirus restrictions in June should be delayed "by a few weeks" due to early signs that the UK is in a third wave of Covid infections, Prof Ravi Gupta says.
    The University of Cambridge academic tells Today: "We are not too far from reaching the sort of levels of vaccination that would help us contain the virus and I think that people are not saying we should abandon the 21 June date altogether but just to delay it by a few weeks while we gather more intelligence and we can look at the trajectory in a clearer way."
    He says the costs and benefits of getting it wrong are "heavily in favour of delay".
    And he says the 21 June date was not set taking into account a new variant on the horizon which is more transmissible.

    Early signs of UK third wave - scientist advising government

    Today Programme - BBC Radio 4
    The UK is seeing an "early" third wave of Covid-19 infections which is being led by the Indian variant, Prof Gupta says.
    He is member of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) which advsises the government, and tells the Today programme: "There has been exponential growth in the number of the new cases and at least three-quarters of them are the new variant.
    "Of course the numbers of cases are relatively low at the moment - all waves start with low numbers of cases that rumble in the background and then become explosive, so the key here is that what we are seeing here is the signs of an early wave.
    "It will probably take longer than earlier waves to emerge because of the fact that we do have quite high levels of vaccination in the population, so there may be a false sense of security for some time, and that's our concern."

    Further caution urged over 21 June unlocking

    Another leading scientific adviser to the government has urged caution this morning over the 21 June easing of Covid restrictions.
    Prof Adam Finn, from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, says officials should have a clear picture of the pandemic before such moves are made.
    Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, he says that while the country's vaccination programme "will ultimately give us... protection" against the Indian coronavirus variant, key markers in the community should be taken into account before the next phase of reopening.
    "I think it's unfortunate that everyone's got this particular date in their head, because really what we need to do is understand how things are going and adjust accordingly," Prof Finn says.
    "What we've done wrong in the past is left it too late and delayed making decisions, ultimately pushed them back and then ended up with large waves of infection."
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 11:29

    Vietnam to test everyone in Ho Chi Minh City

    Vietnam is going to test the entire population of Ho Chi Minh City after a new variant of Covid was discovered there.
    The variant has features of the two first identified in the UK and in India, is "very dangerous", and is easily transmissible by air, the Vietnamese government says.
    At a testing rate of 100,000 per day, the effort will take authorities more than four months to complete at the current rate.
    Overall Vietnam has had relative success in controlling the virus, with just over 7,000 cases and 47 deaths. But a cluster linked to a religious mission has led to a spike over the past few weeks.
    Read our full report here


    Million people fear eviction as ban ends - charity

    As England's coronavirus eviction ban comes to an end on Monday, around a million households fear losing their homes, a charity says.
    About 400,000 renters have had eviction notices or been told to expect them, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
    One renter in arrears told the BBC his landlord has "the power to just flick their finger and get me out".
    But a landlord said she had struggled to pay her mortgage while her tenant was not paying rent.
    The government says it's balancing the needs of landlords to use the courts with support for tenants by continuing to require extended notice periods.
    During the pandemic, bailiffs were asked not to carry out evictions if anyone living in the property had Covid-19 symptoms or was self-isolating.
    Eviction notice periods were extended to six months as an emergency measure during the pandemic - but will drop to four months from 1 June.
    Before the pandemic, notice periods were usually two months in England.

    Time has run out for many renters, says Shelter boss

    BBC Radio 5 Live
    The end to England's Covid eviction ban could be the "beginning of the end" for many people who are renting, Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says.
    Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, she says one in four people - or 1.8 million adults - who are renting their home privately are worried it means they will lose their home at short notice.
    "So we could be seeing the start of a path, very sadly, to homelessness for many of those people," she says.
    Neate says a lot of people have lost a "considerable" amount of income during the pandemic, noting that the government's furlough scheme did not apply to everybody.
    She also says that rents are expensive in England, and that many people have fallen into debt "and time has now run out".
    Those who have built up rent arrears "still have that debt hanging over them", she says.
    However, Neate stresses that "it isn't too late to get help" and urges those who are worried to get advice from Shelter's website.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 11:31

    Increasing nerves about England's next stage of unlocking

    Nick Eardley - Political correspondent
    Three weeks today has been dubbed Freedom Day by some – the point at which the remaining restrictions are due to be lifted.
    But there’s increasing nervousness about whether it can go ahead in full because of the Indian variant.
    This morning you’re seeing some of the different pressures the government is going to have to weigh up.
    Nervtag scientist Prof Ravi Gupta is urging minister to postpone 21 June by a few weeks to give more time for second vaccination doses to be done.
    In the Telegraph, the British Chambers of Commerce warns the government against “rolling back on the roadmap” – saying it would be “astonishing” for the government to change tack.
    And ministers? They say it’s too early to make a firm decision. They’re waiting for more data over the coming fortnight.
    Many will be watching to see what it says.

    What's the roadmap for lifting lockdown?

    Rising cases of the Indian variant could delay England's next stage of lifting lockdown.
    Step four of the government's roadmap is due no earlier than 21 June.
    So what restrictions are due to be lifted?

    Government cannot rule out lockdown easing delay in England

    The government cannot rule out a delay to the planned lockdown easing in England on 21 June, Environment Secretary George Eustice says.
    Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Eustice says the government has to take things "one step at a time".
    "I've said all along, as has Matt Hancock and the prime minister, we can't rule anything out because we know this has been a difficult pandemic, a dynamic situation," he says.
    "We have to make that judgement a couple of weeks before. It will only be by then that we will see the full impact of the latest easements we made on 17 May.
    "I know everyone wants to know what is going to happen, but we can't actually make that judgement until we see the impact of the easements just made."
    A final decision on whether restrictions will be lifted will be reached on 14 June.
    Read more on this story.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 11:35

    No travel to France without a 'compelling reason'

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    From today, non-EU nationals will not be able to travel to France unless they have "compelling reasons" to do so.
    The restrictions - which apply to people from the UK - have been put in place due to concerns over the variant of the virus first identified in India.
    The Consulate General of France in London says on its website that for those who do have to travel to the country for essential reasons, "a PCR or antigen test less than 48 hours old will be required", and that on arrival "travellers are obliged to self-isolate for seven days".
    The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) say the rules apply to anyone travelling by air, car, ferry and train.

    Cases slowing in Bolton but no room for complacency - senior doctor warns

    The rise in Covid cases in Bolton is slowing down but there is no room for complacency, a senior doctor has told the BBC.
    The seven-day rate in Bolton currently stands at 386.7 cases per 100,000, down from 452.8 on 21 May, suggesting the recent surge in cases in the town - driven by the variant first identified in India - may have peaked.
    Bolton shares a border with Blackburn with Darwen, and both areas have reported some of the highest numbers of cases of the Indian variant, with Bolton recording 1,354 up to May 25 - the highest in the country - and Blackburn with Darwen recording 361.
    Health teams in both local authorities have been running surge testing for the virus, along with "surge vaccinations" to boost take-up among everyone who is eligible for the vaccine.
    Dr Helen Wall, senior responsible officer for the Covid vaccine programme in Bolton, tells BBC Breakfast: "I'm pleased to report that things are starting to slow in terms of the rise here in Covid cases, but we really can't rest on that.
    "It's only been a few days of the rates slowing down so we really are keen to keep pushing forwards and get the rates down further."
    Dr Wall adds: "I think the age of eligibility [for vaccines] going down every few days has really helped, and will really help us, if we can get those people through the doors to be vaccinated asap."
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 11:37

    13 days to go and Covid leaves the Copa America without a host

    Coronavirus - 31st May 2021 E76ac210

    The 2021 Copa America has been left without a host nation less than two weeks before it starts after Argentina was stripped of the tournament.
    Argentina was originally set to co-host with Colombia, who were removed on 20 May after protests in the country.
    The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) says Argentina has been removed because of the "present circumstances".
    The country is currently experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases, with more than 200,000 registered in the past seven days.
    Opposition to the tournament had grown both inside and outside Argentina's government, while Uruguay striker Luis Suarez told reporters on Friday that priority had to be given "to the health of human beings".
    You can read more here.

    Olympics fans 'may need to take Covid test'

    People going to watch the Olympics in Japan this summer may need to provide a negative Covid test result or proof that they've been vaccinated, Yomiuri newspaper reports.
    The country extended a state of emergency in Tokyo and several other regions on Friday until 20 June - just one month before the already-postponed Games are due to start.
    Foreign spectators have already been banned, and organisers are expected to decide next month whether or not Japanese fans can attend. High-fives and loud cheers have also already been prohibited.
    But public support for cancelling the Games altogether is growing. A poll by Nikkei newspaper found that more than 60% of respondents were in favour of cancelling or postponing the Olympics - a result echoing previous polls by other media outlets.
    And the phrase "negative test certificate" has been trending on social media in Japan today.
    "If you can't eat, cheer or do high-fives, what's the point in paying for a ticket and an expensive test? one person asked on Twitter.
    See what we know about the Tokyo Games and their plans to go ahead here.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 11:42

    How are eviction rules changing for England's renters and landlords?

    Coronavirus - 31st May 2021 4d4d4a10

    We reported earlier that, with England's eviction ban ending today, up to a million people fear losing their homes.
    During the pandemic, bailiffs were asked not to carry out evictions if anyone living in the property had Covid-19 symptoms or was self-isolating.
    And eviction notice periods were extended to six months as an emergency measure - but they will drop to four months from 1 June. Before the pandemic, notice periods were usually two months in England.
    So how exactly are eviction rules for renters and landlords changing?
    The BBC explainers team has compiled this guide for anyone unclear about the new rules.

    Egypt to lift Covid restrictions on Tuesday

    Egypt will lift restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus from Tuesday.
    Since 6 May, restaurants have been forced to close by 21:00 local time due to rising Covid cases. From tomorrow, they will be allowed to stay open later.
    Businesses in Egypt have summer and winter working hours, with closure times ranging from 22:00 to midnight.
    The country has more than 260,000 virus cases, including more than 15,000 deaths.
    The country imposed strict measures at the start of the pandemic last year and has eased out slowly.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 11:46

    Fall in vaccine appointment no-shows in Glasgow

    There has been a "drastic" decrease in the number of people failing to turn up for their coronavirus vaccine appointments at SSE Hydro arena in Glasgow, the Scottish health secretary says.
    On the weekend of 22 May and 23 May, around half of all vaccination appointments at the SSE Hydro were missed.
    But Humza Yousaf tells the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme he is encouraged by the fact the numbers of "did not attends" has fallen over the last few days.
    He says: "Unfortunately the weekend before there was a large number of 'did not attends' at the Hydro.
    "On Thursday and Friday certainly the data that came through to me that was verified shows the numbers of 'did not attends' have drastically fallen, which is positive.
    "There's still a lot of people not attending and so we're putting a lot of effort into that younger cohort."
    Across Scotland, more than two million people have now been fully vaccinated.
    https://twitter.com/HumzaYousaf/status/1399278243262480387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1399278243262480387%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flive%2Fuk-57304369


    Planned rule easing may not happen in parts of Scotland

    We've heard about vaccine take-up in Scotland this morning, but there are fears Covid restrictions may not be relaxed further next week in parts of Scotland where infections are rising.
    Under the lockdown easing roadmap, areas in level two are scheduled to move down to level one on 7 June.
    But Health Secretary Humza Yousaf says this may not be possible for areas where Covid case numbers are a "cause for concern".
    He says this could affect locations outside Glasgow, which is the only part of Scotland still in level three.
    "It may not be the entire country moving to level one," he tells the BBC.
    "I think people would understand where there are rising case numbers, where there is rising test positivity... it may be the case that parts of the country move to level one but actually other parts of the country we decide to keep in level two."
    You can read more about what to expect in Scotland next week here.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 13:58

    What's been happening today?

    Coronavirus - 31st May 2021 9514da10
    People gather in the good weather at Boscombe beach, Dorset, as Bank Holiday Monday could be the hottest day of the year so far

    As we head into the afternoon, here's what has been going on so far this Bank Holiday Monday:


    • Elsewhere in the world, Vietnam hopes to tackle a new Covid outbreak by mass testing risk groups in Ho Chi Minh City and introducing new social distancing measures
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 14:02

    Vietnam to suspend international flights into Hanoi

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    We reported earlier that Vietnam is going to test everyone in Ho Chi Minh City to try and stem a new outbreak of the virus.
    Now, the government says it will also suspend all incoming international flights to the country's capital Hanoi from tomorrow. Ministers didn't mention their plans for domestic flights.
    A new variant of Covid was discovered in Vietnam last week, which the government says has features of two other variants first identified in India and the UK, and is "very dangerous".
    International flights into Vietnam have been restricted since the beginning of the pandemic last year.

    EU countries 'should gradually open up to travel'

    We heard earlier how France has banned all non-essential travel from the UK from today. But looking forward, the European Commission is proposing all EU countries should gradually ease their travel measures over the summer.
    The recommendation was made on Monday in light of people being vaccinated, and the severity of outbreaks in the bloc decreasing.
    The Commission added that fully-vaccinated people should be exempt from testing and quarantines when travelling within the EU.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 14:06

    Twickenham becomes major walk-in vaccination centre

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    Twickenham Rugby Stadium has been turned into a major walk-in vaccination centre in a drive to try to contain a surge in Indian Covid variant cases in nearby Hounslow.
    Up to 15,000 first dose jabs are being made available for those in the local area who have not yet been vaccinated.
    Anyone who is eligible for their first dose can walk in without an appointment.
    Pippa Nightingale, the chief nurse for north-west London, is encouraging people "to take some time out of your day and come and see us" during the fine bank holiday weather.
    And Kelly O'Neill, Hounslow Council's director of public health, says: "Getting the vaccine is the single most important step we can take to protect ourselves, our families and our communities against Covid-19 and we encourage all our local community to have their vaccine as soon as they are eligible."

    Hong Kong bank executives can apply to skip quarantine

    Hong Kong, which has some of the world's strictest quarantine requirements, will allow top bankers to be exempt if they've been vaccinated.
    The city currently has a mandatory 21-day quarantine in place.
    The move comes after officials warned that the city's slow vaccination uptake could hurt its status as a global financial centre.
    Executives applying for the exemption will also need to provide a detailed itinerary to officials. If they attend any activities or events not on that itinerary, they will be placed in mandatory three-week quarantine, and could face six months in prison and a HK$5,000 ($644, £454) fine.
    Read the full story here
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 14:12

    Should the 21 June rule easing be delayed?

    The BBC has been speaking to businesses and medical experts about whether or not the planned lifting of social distancing measures on 21 June should go ahead as planned in England.
    "It's been a long wait [for the end of social distancing]," says Hugh Osmond, the founder of Various Eateries, who points out that all of the UK's most vulnerable people have now been offered a vaccination.
    Osmond tells Radio 5 Live that data suggest the vaccines are effective against the so-called Indian variant and adds: "It's a disgrace really that the full opening hasn't been brought forward."
    And Greg Parmley, chief executive of live music trade association Live, says: “The live music industry has been completely closed for more than a year now and the sector is completely geared up for a return from June 21, from festivals to small venues.
    "The government's own Events Research Programme has shown that music events can be held safely, with almost no Covid impact, so there is no reason to keep us closed any longer.”
    But Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, says the number of Indian variant cases in the UK has been "doubling every seven to 10 days since the beginning of April and if that isn't exponential growth I don't know what is".
    He adds that as the effects of restrictions easing on 17 May are only just starting to be felt, that rise in cases may actually start to speed up soon.
    Asked why the number of cases matters when people have been vaccinated, Prof Hunter says while vaccinations will reduce hospitalisations and deaths, they won't stop them entirely, and a large surge in cases would still result in significant pressure on the NHS.

    Welsh holiday cottages to earn year's takings over summer

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    Many holiday accommodation providers have no available dates for the summer

    Holiday let firms in Wales are predicting a bumper summer, with one saying they have been "blown away" by demand.
    Greg Stevenson of Under the Thatch says some of its 60 properties will take a normal year's earnings in a few months.
    North Wales Holiday Cottages also has many properties booked until October.
    Meanwhile, lack of availability in other hotspots will mean more bookings in Powys and Ceredigion, says Mid Wales Tourism's chairman.
    Following the end of the first lockdown in 2020, self-catering occupancy rates in Wales reached 90% in August - with industry bosses confident that figure could be topped this year.
    Read more on this story.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 15:01

    More than 1,600 people in Scotland die after catching Covid in hospital

    More than 1,600 patients have died after being infected with Covid in Scotland's hospitals, NHS data shows.
    And almost a third (30.8%) of all patients who definitely or probably caught coronavirus while in hospital for other reasons died within a month.
    NHS Scotland figures show 1,137 patients who were definitely infected while on a ward died in the subsequent 28 days, in addition to 524 deaths linked to "probable" cases of hospital-acquired coronavirus.
    Of all the patients who were diagnosed with Covid after being admitted to hospital - regardless of where the person was infected - 4,089 (26.9%) died within 28 days.
    The mortality data, published by Public Health Scotland, covers the period from 7 March 2020 to 31 March 2021.
    During that time, there were at least 3,725 definite cases of hospital infection where a patient tests positive 15 days or more after being admitted, and 1,671 probable cases where a positive test is recorded between eight and 14 days after admission.

    Polish children return to school after seven months

    The majority of children in Poland have returned to school today for the first time since October.
    Classes are back on for primary school children in years four to eight, as well as for all secondary school year groups. Younger primary school children in years one to three went back to school on 4 May.
    As well as reopening schools, Poland has eased other Covid restrictions throughout May - including around shopping centres, hotels and restaurants.
    New Covid infections in Poland have fallen since hitting an all-time high of more than 35,000 on 1 April. Today, 333 new cases were reported.
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    • Post n°15

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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 15:59

    People soak up Bank Holiday sunshine

    Lots of people are out and about to soak up sunny weather this Bank Holiday Monday.
    Here's a selection of photographs.
    Coronavirus - 31st May 2021 3e11a510
    People enjoy the warm weather on Bournemouth beach, Dorset

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    Some people chose an alternative route across the sea at Bournemouth Pier

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    After the recent wet weather, beach hut owners headed to their own sun spots

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    There were crowds at Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire

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    Some headed to Paddington Basin in north London to catch a few rays
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    • Post n°16

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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 16:06

    Delay to 21 June rule easing would be 'devastating' for hospitality - industry body

    As we've been reporting throughout the day, the government is facing calls to delay the end of social distancing measures, currently scheduled to take place in England on 21 June.
    But Kate Nicholls, chief executive of industry body UK Hospitality, has told the BBC that any delay would be "devastating" for the sector and has called on the government to extend financial support for businesses if they cannot fully reopen on 21 June.
    "It would be devastating for many of our members and catastrophic for those not able to open at all (such as) nightclubs and music venues and for those with restricted opening, so wedding venues and indoor leisure," she says.
    These businesses in particular are "hemorrhaging cash" and a delay would "push them closer to the cliff edge of business failure", she adds.
    Some government business support schemes, including grants and business rate relief, are due to be cut back in July.
    "If there is any delay it's imperative to extend the business support schemes to protect the millions in the sector that are at risk," Nicholls says.
    She adds that many hospitality venues are currently operating at 60% capacity due to social distancing rules which means most businesses are not turning a profit.

    Family's 10-day hotel quarantine was 'worst ever experience'

    Coronavirus - 31st May 2021 38212f10

    A father says his family's stay in a quarantine hotel was their "worst-ever experience" after his wife and baby son were left needing hospital treatment.
    Abby Pansegrauw, 34, and her son, one, fell ill as a result of food they ate while at the hotel, doctors believe.
    Her husband, Etienne, describes staying at the Novotel London Heathrow Airport in April as like being in a prison.
    The hotel says it is "unlikely" it caused the food poisoning and it is "disappointed" to hear their views.
    The family of five, which splits its time between London and Swindon, Wiltshire, paid £2,400 for their 10-day stay at the hotel after paying £2,000 for their flights back to the UK from South Africa's Eastern Cape.
    You can read more about their experience here.
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    • Post n°17

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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 16:12

    Malaysia announces $9.7bn stimulus as cases surge

    Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has announced a new 40 billion ringgit ($9.7bn; £6.8bn) stimulus package.
    Cases of Covid are rising sharply in Malaysia, and the country is entering a "total lockdown" tomorrow - though some factories are being allowed to keep operating at a reduced capacity.
    More than 1,200 deaths were reported this month, compared to 471 in the whole of last year. On Saturday, the country reported 9,020 new cases - its highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic.
    The number of daily new Covid cases in Malaysia has also soared past India's on a per capita basis.

    Remote island nation of Palau reports first Covid case

    Coronavirus - 31st May 2021 D317d610

    Palau, a remote island nation in the Pacific, has reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus.
    The island has a population of just 21,000, and has so far managed to avoid the virus by closing its borders early in the pandemic - despite its economy, which relies on tourism, taking a big hit.
    The health ministry says a traveller who arrived in Palau earlier this month was found to have the virus, even though they tested negative several times - once before going to the island, and twice more during a two-week quarantine.
    "Further tests revealed that this is a historical - past infection - case of Covid-19 and it is not infectious," the ministry said in a statement today, adding that they believe the person had the virus in January this year.
    They refused to release any details about the person or where they're from, but said that they've been placed in isolation as a precaution.
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    • Post n°18

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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 16:19

    What’s the latest from Taiwan?

    Kerry Allen - BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst
    Cases remain high in Taiwan even though the island has been in near lockdown since 20 May.
    In the last 24 hours, Taiwan has confirmed 278 new cases, and 15 new deaths. This is striking, given that on 20 May, Taiwan’s total death toll was 15.
    There have now been 124 total deaths, with the youngest being 36-years-old.
    A level 3 Covid-19 alert is in place across the island until 14 June.
    There are four Covid-19 alert responses. Level 3 means all but essential businesses are closed, and mask-wearing is mandatory. A level 4 response would be a full lockdown.
    Over the weekend, one of Taiwan’s hardest hit areas, Taipei, conducted a simulation for a level 4 lockdown to help people prepare for potential further restrictions.
    However, the Taipei Times says “there is evidence that the situation has stabilised over the past three days”.
    Taiwan News says the R number has dropped to 1.02. However, this latest outbreak meant that the R hit a peak of 15 in mid-May.
    In the early stages of the pandemic, Taiwan was seen as something of a success story; swift lockdowns and strict quarantines meant there were fewer than 800 cases by the end of 2020.
    Taiwan has a population of 23.8 million.

    Foreign holidays are back - but what are the new rules?

    For people living in the UK, foreign holidays are back, but organising a trip isn't straightforward.
    England's traffic light list classes destinations as green, amber or red. Similar rules apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
    There's no quarantine when you return from a green country. However, you must pay for Covid tests before and after you travel and complete a passenger locator form.
    If you're thinking of booking a holiday abroad and are confused about the rules, you can read this BBC guide to the current situation.
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    • Post n°19

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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 16:24

    Breaking News

    Anyone over 18 can receive vaccine in Twickenham today

    We reported earlier that Twickenham rugby stadium has been turned into a vaccination walk-in centre. It's part of an effort to suppress the spread of cases of the Covid variant first identified in India in nearby Hounslow
    The NHS has now confirmed that, for the rest of the day, anyone aged over 18 can turn up to to the stadium and receive a vaccine.
    The rollout is happening at the ground until 20:00 BST this evening.

    Breaking News 

    One Covid death reported in UK today

    The UK has today reported one further death within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test.
    The single death, which was in Scotland, takes the UK total by that measure to 127,782 since the start of the pandemic.
    There have also been another 3,383 positive Covid cases reported over the past 24 hours

    Breaking News 

    More than 600,000 vaccine doses given in past 24 hours

    More than 600,000 Covid vaccine doses have been administered across the UK during the past 24 hours, official data shows.
    Of those, 183,526 were first doses and 418,848 were second doses.
    Across the UK, 39,259,168 people have now received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, while 25,332,851 people are now fully vaccinated.
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    • Post n°20

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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 19:11

    Early evening summary

    Here is a quick recap of all the main Covid updates from around the world:


    WHO needs to be stronger, say member states

    The WHO is facing calls for significant reform after members jointly agreed it needed to be stronger and more independent if future pandemics are to be avoided.
    At the annual World Health Assembly, the UN agency's 194 member states agreed, in a 14-page resolution, to "strengthen WHO's capacity to rapidly and appropriately assess disease outbreaks". They also called for a total overhaul of the global alarm system.
    Countries and institutions were woefully unprepared for the pandemic when it hit last year, according to three independent panels that reported to the assembly.
    One of the reports also found that the WHO had been too slow in declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. It raised this alarm on 30 January 2020.
    Members are now creating working groups in order to put together concrete proposals, which they will present at next year's assembly.
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    • Post n°21

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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 19:17

    What's the latest from China?

    Kerry Allen - BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst
    Coronavirus - 31st May 2021 4ba0bb10

    Southern Guangdong has become the latest Covid-19 hotspot in China.
    In the last 24 hours, 20 new cases have been confirmed in the province; 64 people are currently being treated in hospital.
    Cases span four populous cities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan and Maoming.
    As a result, parts of the province have gone into lockdown.
    In Guangzhou, flights have largely been cancelled in and out of the city’s international airport, and travellers on all forms of transport must show a negative Covid test within 72 hours if they wish to leave the area.
    China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, is today calling on social media users to “cheer Guangdong on”.
    It tells locals to “make a vaccination appointment ASAP, wear a mask when you travel, and fight the epidemic”.
    China is the world leader in terms of the number of vaccine doses administered; there have now been more than 639.17 million vaccine doses administered nationally.
    However, China has a population of 1.4 billion; strict lockdowns are common as soon as a single symptomatic Covid-19 case is identified to prevent cases from quickly spreading.

    Covid caused India's worst recession since independence

    Coronavirus - 31st May 2021 Cb900b10

    India experienced its worst recession since independence in 1947 as a result of the pandemic.
    The country's economy contracted 7.3% in 2020-21, according to official data released today - and although it saw slight growth of 1.6% between January and March this year, there are fears a debilitating second wave of the virus has made the economic situation worse.
    About 230 million people in India fell into poverty because of the pandemic last year, according to a study by Azim Premji University in Bangalore. It defines poverty as living on less than 375 rupees ($5; £3.50) a day.
    Many were already struggling when the second wave of the virus hit earlier this year. In April alone Covid led to 7.3 million people losing their jobs, according to the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy.
    More than 160,000 people have died in the past eight weeks, and hospitals across the country have become overwhelmed with Covid patients.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 19:30

    Hungary to produce Chinese Sinopharm vaccine

    Hungary's planned vaccine factory, which was first announced in December, will produce China's Sinopharm vaccine.
    Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto made the announcement today, after talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
    Hungary is the only EU country to vaccinate people with Sinopharm, and also with Russia's Sputnik V. Neither vaccine has been approved for emergency use by the EU.
    About 55 billion forints ($193m; £136m) has been earmarked for the plant's construction, which the government says will make Hungary self-sufficient in vaccine production from the end of 2022.
    The government also says the country has vaccinated more than half of its population, and more than a third have received two doses.

    What's the latest in France and Italy?

    Italy reported 82 Covid-related deaths today, an almost 100% increase from 44 deaths reported on Sunday. However the number of new infections fell to 1,820, down from 2,949 yesterday, the health ministry said.
    Meanwhile in France, where lockdown measures are easing and the vaccination campaign is speeding up, the number of people in intensive care units with Covid is continuing to fall. There are now 2,945 people in ICUs. At one point in mid-April there were more than 6,000 people in their care.
    However, France's health ministry has also reported 126 new Covid deaths in hospitals today - an increase from the last three days, including over the weekend, where the hospital Covid death toll was below 100.

    Portugal: "Authorities must learn from their mistakes"

    Reuters reports:
    Portugal’s government said on Monday authorities must learn from their mistakes after a decision to allow thousands of English football fans to party in the streets of Porto for Saturday’s Champions League final prompted criticism from some lawmakers.
    “Every day, unfortunately, there are people who do not respect the rules, but that doesn’t mean the rules are illegitimate,” prime minister António Costa told reporters, admitting the event “didn’t go perfectly”.
    “It is clear that what happened this weekend cannot serve as an example, it must serve as a lesson,” Costa said, adding authorities must work to provide more information to tourists about measures they must adopt during their holidays.
    Earlier the government came under fire from some lawmakers for sending contradictory Covid-19 messages ahead of the match, in which Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0.
    In the days leading up to Saturday’s final, big crowds of English fans, largely maskless and not socially distancing, took over Porto’s streets to drink and chant team slogans.
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    • Post n°23

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    Post by Kitkat Mon 31 May 2021, 19:33

    That's all from us today

    Here's a summary of the day's top stories.

    • There are signs the UK is in the early stages of a third wave of coronavirus infections, a scientist advising the government has said. Prof Ravi Gupta, from the University of Cambridge, said although new cases were "relatively low", the Indian variant had fuelled "exponential growth"
    • The UK economy's recovery from the pandemic is set to be stronger than previously thought, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has said. It forecasts the UK economy is likely to grow 7.2% in 2021, up from its March projection of 5.1%
    • The OECD also raised its forecast for global growth to 5.8%, compared with the 4.2% it predicted in December
    • Around a million households fear losing their homes as England's coronavirus eviction ban comes to an end on Monday, a charity has warned
    • Vietnam has suspended incoming flights to its capital Hanoi from Tuesday and is mass testing risk groups in Ho Chi Minh City amid a new outbreak
    • France has banned all non-essential travel from the UK from Monday, to try to stop the spread of the variant first identified in India.

    Thanks for joining our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
    Updates were brought to you by Ashitha Nagesh, Ella Wills, Hamish Mackay, Paul Gribben, Victoria Bisset, and Claire Heald.
    Do join us again tomorrow.
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