Coronavirus news LIVE updates – UK sends aid to pandemic hit India as Brits over-30 to be ‘offered Covid vaccine by May’
THE UK is sending ventilators and vital aid to Covid-ravaged India after harrowing images showed people dying in the street.
The outbreak in world's second most populous nation has been described as "hell on earth" as a mutant strain spreads like wildfire.
India set a new global record for daily Covid infections on Sunday with another 349,691 cases, bringing the total to 17million.
Experts warn there could be 5,700 deaths a day at the predicted peak next month, and 750,000 more deaths by August.
Dominic Raab tweeted: “Today we have sent the first of several urgent deliveries of surplus medical equipment to our friends in India to help provide life-saving care for vulnerable Covid patients.
"No one is safe until we are all safe.”
Meanwhile pubs reopened today in Wales and Scotland in the next phase of lockdown easing.
And Brits in their 30s are set to be offered Covid jabs by early May.
People aged 44 will be formally invited this morning to get vaccinated — with a new TV ad campaign also encouraging uptake among young people.
Insiders say it is likely all over-40s will get an invite by the end of this week.
It was also possible that those in their 30s will get one as soon as next week — depending on supplies.
In a further sign of life returning to "nornal", Wembley Stadium last night hosted 8,000 football fans in the biggest Covid test event yet.
All those watching Manchester City beat Spurs in the Carabao Cup final had to take a lateral flow coronavirus test at a designated site – not at home – 24 hours beforehand.
They were also required to send off for a PCR Covid-19 test to take again within five days.
Read our coronavirus live blog below for the latest updates...
INDIA ASKS TWITTER TO TAKE DOWN SOME TWEETS CRITICAL OF ITS COVID-19 HANDLING
The Indian government asked social media platform Twitter to take down dozens of tweets that were critical of India's handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
Twitter has withheld some of the tweets after the legal request by the Indian government, a company spokeswoman told Reuters on Saturday. The government made an emergency order to censor the tweets, Twitter disclosed on Lumen database, a Harvard University project.
In the government's legal request, dated April 23 and disclosed on Lumen, 21 tweets were mentioned. Among them were tweets from a lawmaker named Revnath Reddy, a minister in the state of West Bengal named Moloy Ghatak and a filmmaker named Avinash Das.
The law cited in the government's request was the Information Technology Act, 2000.
While it was not clear which section of the law had been invoked in this case, New Delhi typically uses a clause which empowers it to order blocking of public access to information in a bid to protect "sovereignty and integrity of India" and maintain public order, among other things.
BORIS JOHNSON SAYS BRITAIN IS SIDE BY SIDE WITH INDIA
Boris Johnson has said Britain “stands side by side with India” in the shared fight against Covid.
He just tweeted: “Vital medical equipment is on its way from the UK to India to help stop the tragic loss of life from the virus and we’ll continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time.”
KATE GARRWAY’S HUSBAND BEGGED TO BE PUT TO SLEEP TO ESCAPE ‘MENTAL TORTURE’ OF COVID
Kate Garraway has revealed her husband Derek Draper begged to be put unconscious to escape the “mental torture” of Covid.
The 53-year-old presenter has shared the devastating last texts she received from seriously ill Derek before he was put in an induced coma, as he told her he feared every breath could be his last.
Writing in her new memoir The Power of Hope, which is being serialised by , Kate explained how the family started fearing the worst in March when Derek was rushed to hospital with very low oxgyen levels.
She writes: “And then I read his next text, just to me this time: ‘OK, not for the kids. I’ve been playing down how really awful it is. It is second after second of being locked in a mask thinking every second you’re going to die.
I think they now may want to put me to sleep.’ He was referring to the induced coma they had told me about. It went on: ‘I know they are trying to do the best for me. But I just can’t breathe – it’s mental torture. I need a break. I want to be put unconscious.’”
DAILY COVID CASES HALVE IN MONTH
UK daily Covid cases have halved in a month with 1,712 new infections and 11 deaths in the past 24 hours.
This time a month ago there were 3,862 new cases in the same time period as the UK’s Covid vaccination blitz continues.
Today’s figures mean there has been 4,404,882 total cases in the UK since the pandemic began, as well as 127,428 deaths.
This time last week there were 1,882 new cases and 10 deaths recorded, while two weeks ago there were 1,730 cases and seven new deaths.
Four weeks ago on Sunday there were 3,862 new cases and 19 deaths.
HANCOCK: INDIA OUTBREAK SHOWS ‘THIS DISEASE ISN’T OVER YET’
Matt Hancock has said the “heartbreaking scenes” in India show “this disease isn’t over yet”.
He added: “We’ve been working this weekend to put together a package of support.
“We’ll keep on working with colleagues around the world to try to save lives from this awful disease.”
PRITI PATEL BLASTS ‘SENSELESS THUGS’ AT ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST
Home Secretary Priti Patel has blasted “senseless thugs” who pelted police with bottles at an anti-lockdown and vaccine passport protest.
Eight police officers were injured and some left with bloody faces after being struck by missiles during yesterday’s London rally.
Two cops were taken to hospital and five people arrested after the violence in Hyde Park following a march through central London.
Demonstrators held placards reading “Do Not Comply”, “We Want Our Freedom”, “Covid-19 Vaccine Holocaust”, and: “No To Vaccine Passports”.
GRAPHIC: COVID VACCINATIONS IN THE UK
TRAVEL BOSS ‘CONFIDENT’ MED HOTSPOTS WILL OPEN BY SUMMER
Thomas Cook boss Alan French has said he is “confident” Mediterranean hotspots will be open for UK holidaymakers when schools break up in the summer.
He said he backs government plans for a traffic light system, saying it “works well”.
He told Sky News: “I’m confident that we will see travel opening up on 17 May – it was predicated on a number of things happening, most of which have happened.
The chief exec said he was so confident he had booked a holiday to Croatia himself, adding: “I’m pretty confident by the time certainly that the school holidays return, most of the popular destinations in the Med will be open.”
EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT GETS HIS COVID VACCINE
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has received a coronavirus vaccination, his office said on Sunday.
The statement did not give details on the type of vaccine he received.
FASHION ICONS DIES FROM COVID AGED 59
Beloved fashion designer Alber Elbaz has died from coronavirus at the age of 59.
The Israeli born creative director, known mostly for his work at French fashion houses Lanvin And Yves Saint-Lauren, passed away on Sunday April 25, 2021 after a three week battle with .
'THIS DISEASE ISN'T OVER YET'
Matt Hancock has said the "heartbreaking scenes" in India show "this disease isn't over yet".
He added: "We've been working this weekend to put together a package of support.
"We'll keep on working with colleagues around the world to try to save lives from this awful disease."
BRTAIN IS SIDE BY SIDE WITH INDIA, SAYS BORIS
Boris Johnson has said Britain "stands side by side with India" in the shared fight against Covid.
He just tweeted: "Vital medical equipment is on its way from the UK to India to help stop the tragic loss of life from the virus and we’ll continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time."
KATE GARRWAY'S HUSBAND BEGGED TO BE PUT TO SLEEP TO ESCAPE 'MENTAL TORTURE' OF COVID
Kate Garraway has revealed her husband Derek Draper begged to be put unconscious to escape the “mental torture" of Covid.
The 53-year-old presenter has shared the devastating last texts she received from seriously ill Derek before he was put in an induced coma, as he told her he feared every breath could be his last.
Writing in her new memoir The Power of Hope, which is being serialised by , Kate explained how the family started fearing the worst in March when Derek was rushed to hospital with very low oxgyen levels.
She writes: “And then I read his next text, just to me this time: 'OK, not for the kids. I've been playing down how really awful it is. It is second after second of being locked in a mask thinking every second you're going to die.
I think they now may want to put me to sleep.' He was referring to the induced coma they had told me about. It went on: 'I know they are trying to do the best for me. But I just can't breathe – it's mental torture. I need a break. I want to be put unconscious.'”
DAILY COVID CASES HALVE IN MONTH
UK daily Covid cases have halved in a month with 1,712 new infections and 11 deaths in the past 24 hours.
This time a month ago there were 3,862 new cases in the same time period as the UK's Covid vaccination blitz continues.
Today's figures mean there has been 4,404,882 total cases in the UK since the pandemic began, as well as 127,428 deaths.
This time last week there were 1,882 new cases and 10 deaths recorded, while two weeks ago there were 1,730 cases and seven new deaths.
Four weeks ago on Sunday there were 3,862 new cases and 19 deaths.
BILL GATES SAYS WORLD WILL BE 'BACK TO NORMAL' BY 2022
Bill Gates has said he remains hopeful the world will be "completely back to normal" by the end of 2022.
Speaking to the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, he said the successful vaccination programmes in the UK and US will help free up doses for other countries.
Although he doesn't believe Covid will be completely eradicated by next year, he said cases will be cut to "very small numbers".
Pressed over whether he was still confident that the world would be "completely back to normal" by the end of 2022, Mr Gates said: "Yes, I am."
CONTINUED
A furious Ms Patel rounded on the "criminal" thugs who attacked Met officers as she shared shocking photos of injured frontline cops.
And she vowed to double prison sentences for yobs who attack emergency service workers following yesterday's disgraceful scenes.
Ms Patel tweeted: "Our brave police are the best of us and should not be the target of senseless violence by a criminal minority for just doing their job.
"I am getting tough on these thugs and will be doubling the sentence for assault of an emergency worker.
"I wish the officers a speedy recovery."
PRITI PATEL BLASTS 'SENSELESS THUGS' AT ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST
Home Secretary Priti Patel has blasted "senseless thugs" who pelted police with bottles at an anti-lockdown and vaccine passport protest.
Eight police officers were injured and some left with bloody faces after being struck by missiles during yesterday's London rally.
Two cops were taken to hospital and five people arrested after the violence in Hyde Park following a march through central London.
Demonstrators held placards reading "Do Not Comply", "We Want Our Freedom", “Covid-19 Vaccine Holocaust”, and: “No To Vaccine Passports”.
BRITAIN SENDING COVID EQUIPMENT TO INDIA
Boris Johnson has announced Britain is sending life-saving medical equipment to India as the country battles the "world's worst" Covid outbreak.
The government will transport ventilators and oxygen concentrators amid India's record number of infections.
The PM said: "Vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, is now on its way from the UK to India to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from this terrible virus."
TRAVEL BOSS 'CONFIDENT' MED HOTSPOTS WILL OPEN BY SUMMER
Thomas Cook boss Alan French has said he is "confident" Mediterranean hotspots will be open for UK holidaymakers when schools break up in the summer.
He said he backs government plans for a traffic light system, saying it "works well".
He told Sky News: "I'm confident that we will see travel opening up on 17 May - it was predicated on a number of things happening, most of which have happened.
The chief exec said he was so confident he had booked a holiday to Croatia himself, adding: "I'm pretty confident by the time certainly that the school holidays return, most of the popular destinations in the Med will be open."
EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT GETS VACCINE
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has received a coronavirus vaccination, his office said on Sunday.
The statement did not give details on the type of vaccine he received.
UK COVID CASES PLUNGE TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE MARCH 2020
UK Covid cases have plunged to their lowest level since the pandemic started 13 months ago, new data shows.
Symptom tracking app Zoe has recorded the lowest level of new cases since the pandemic began last March, King's College London Professor Tim Spector tweeted.
The app - a project devised by KCL - has millions of users who log their symptoms. The app's statistics are not official Government figures.
Cases have , according to the app.
PARAMEDIC DIED IN FINAL WEEK BEFORE RETIREMENT
A paramedic who died after a huge stone smashed his windscreen on a 999 call had a week left at work before retirement, his heartbroken family have revealed.
Jeremy Daw — also known as Jack — was in the front passenger seat when the vehicle was hit yesterday.
The 66-year-old had come out of retirement in January because of Covid pressures and to “do his duty”.
Tragically, he only had four shifts remaining before he was due to retire again.
Police are appealing for information over the incident, which happened on the A49 in Herefordshire at 8am on Saturday.
CONTINUED
"The safety of our police officers should be top of the agenda. We wish all our injured colleagues a swift recovery and will be supporting them as best as we can."
The protest, which also took place in Oxford Street, came almost two weeks after Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.
The Met said five people were arrested for offences including assault on police and public order offences.
ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST 'TO BE RAISED WITH MET POLICE SENIOR MANAGEMENT'
A police leader has said an anti-lockdown protest in which eight officers were injured will be raised with senior management in the Metropolitan Police with "utmost urgency".
Demonstrators hurled bottles as officers attempted to disperse the crowds in Hyde Park on Saturday evening after a march and rally that featured banners with messages including: "You don't need proof to know truth."
Photographs posted on social media showed a female police officer bleeding from a cut to her head while another suffered a similar wound on his forehead.
The Met said two officers were taken to hospital, although their injuries are not believed to be serious.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation - which represents thousands of rank-and-file Scotland Yard officers - said: "We can assure everyone that we shall be raising the scenes we witnessed in Hyde Park yesterday with senior management in the Metropolitan Police with utmost urgency.
BIGGEST COVID TEST EVENT YET
Wembley Stadium will host 8,000 football fans in the biggest Covid test event yet later today.
The Spurs against Manchester City match kicks off at 4.30pm for the Carabao Cup final.
All in attendance had to take a lateral flow coronavirus test at a designated site - not at home - 24 hours before kick-off.
They were also required to send off for a PCR Covid-19 test to take again within five days.