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...
COVID BOOSTER JABS TO RACKLE NEW STRAINS COULD BE READY BY SEPTEMBER, SAYS OXFORD EXPERT
Covid booster jabs which will tackle new strains of the virus could be ready by September, an Oxford chief has said.
Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and chief investigator of the Oxford vaccine trial, also claimed the existing vaccines would provide some protection against the new mutations.
Prof Pollard predicted “updated” vaccines to protect against the South African and potentially other new variants would be ready by September or October.
He said: “They can certainly be available for the last quarter of this year. We are talking to the other developers and everyone is working towards that timeline to have updated vaccines available. The main thing is to change the sequence of the spike protein so it matches some of the new variants.”
GRAPHIC: COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS PER DAY
POLICE OFFICERS INJURED AS ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTESTS TURN VIOLENT
Eight police officers have been injured as anti-lockdown protests in central London turned violent.
Demonstrators hurled bottles as officers attempted to disperse the crowds in Hyde Park on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.
Photographs posted on social media show a female police officer bleeding from a cut to her head, while another suffered a similar wound on his forehead.
Two officers were taken to hospital, although their injuries are not believed to be serious, the Met said.
The protests, which also took place on Oxford Street, come almost two weeks after Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased. Five people were arrested for offences including assault on police and remain in custody, the Met said
MORE THAN HALF OF UK POPULATION HAS HAD FIRST COVID-19 JAB, FIGURES SHOW
More than half of the UK’s total population has received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, figures show.
Government data up to April 23 shows that of the 45,580,400 jabs given in the UK so far, 33,508,590 were first doses – a rise of 119,953 on the previous day.
The UK population is estimated to be 66,796,807, so the latest figures show that more than half the population have now had a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
NHS England data up to April 23 shows that of the 38,189,536 total doses given in England so far, 28,102,852 were first doses – a rise of 107,656 on the previous day.
Anyone aged 45 and over can still arrange their jab in England, as well as people who are clinically vulnerable or health and care workers.
POLICE OFFICERS INJURED AS ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTESTS TURN VIOLENT
Eight police officers have been injured as anti-lockdown protests in central London turned violent.
Demonstrators hurled bottles as officers attempted to disperse the crowds in Hyde Park on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.
Photographs posted on social media show a female police officer bleeding from a cut to her head, while another suffered a similar wound on his forehead.
Two officers were taken to hospital, although their injuries are not believed to be serious, the Met said.
The protests, which also took place on Oxford Street, come almost two weeks after Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased. Five people were arrested for offences including assault on police and remain in custody, the Met said
WATCH: UK COVID DEATHS ALMOST HALVE IN A MONTH WITH 32 FATALITIES AND 2,061 CASES RECORDED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS
UK Covid deaths almost HALVE in a month with 32 fatalities and 2,061 cases recorded in the last 24 hoursINDIA VOWS TO HANG OFFICIALS (CONTINUED...)
Intensive care units are full with nearly all ventilators in use, leaving doctors no choice but to beg for help on social media.
Tanks of oxygen are being shuttled across the country to hotspots to keep up with the demand - but local officials in several states have disrupted movement of tankers and diverted supplies to their areas.
A tanker-truck carrying oxygen supplies in Delhi’s neighboring state of Haryana went missing yesterday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
And days before, a minister in Haryana blamed Delhi authorities for looting an oxygen tanker when it was crossing their territory.
"Unfortunately, many such incidents have occurred and have dire effect on hospitals in need of oxygen supplies,"; Saket Tiku, president of the All India Industrial Gases Manufacturers Association, said.
EXPERTS RECOMMEND ‘SMELL TRAINING’ TO COMBAT SCENT LOSS CAUSED BY COVID-19
People who have experienced smell loss as a result of Covid-19 should try “smell training”, scientists have recommended.
Smell training involves sniffing at least four different odours, twice daily for several months.
Smell loss expert Prof Carl Philpott, from the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School, said that the method “aims to help recovery based on neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to reorganise itself to compensate for a change or injury”.
Research by an international group of smell experts, published in the journal International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, advised against using steroids to treat smell loss.
Prof Philpott said there is “very little evidence” they will help with smell loss and they have “potential side effects including fluid retention, high blood pressure, and problems with mood swings and behaviour”.
COVID BOOSTER JABS (CONTINUED...)
Prof Pollard predicted “updated” vaccines to protect against the South African and potentially other new variants would be ready by September or October.
He said: “They can certainly be available for the last quarter of this year.
“We are talking to the other developers and everyone is working towards that timeline to have updated vaccines available.
"The main thing is to change the sequence of the spike protein so it matches some of the new variants.”
He said the vaccines provided “the way out” of having to impose never-ending lockdowns, in an interview marking the one-year anniversary for the first person in Europe to be given a Covid vaccine jab as part of the Oxford trial.
COVID BOOSTER JABS TO TACKLE NEW STRAINS COULD BE READY BY SEPTEMBER, SAYS OXFORD EXPERT
COVID booster jabs which will tackle new strains of the virus could be ready by September, an Oxford chief has said.
Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and chief investigator of the Oxford vaccine trial, also claimed the existing vaccines would provide some protection against the new mutations.
WHEN WILL THE GREEN LIST BE ANNOUNCED?
There is currently no set date but ministers have called on the Government to make the green list announcement by May 1.
May 17 is the expected start date for holidays abroad, as the Government continues to ease the lockdown restrictions and the Commons Transport Committee says the travel industry needs time to prepare.
The planned traffic light system will see countries grouped into red, amber and green categories.
Countries on the “green” list would be able to travel without quarantine restrictions and would require a pre-flight Covid test as well as a PCR test on day two of returning to the UK.
“Amber” countries require a mandatory 10-day quarantine at home as well as a Covid test on day two and eight.
“Red” countries will have to isolate for 10-days at a quarantine hotel, costing £1,750 per person.
MORE THAN HALF OF UK POPULATION HAS HAD FIRST COVID-19 JAB, FIGURES SHOW
More than half of the UK's total population has received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, figures show.
Government data up to April 23 shows that of the 45,580,400 jabs given in the UK so far, 33,508,590 were first doses - a rise of 119,953 on the previous day.
The UK population is estimated to be 66,796,807, so the latest figures show that more than half the population have now had a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
NHS England data up to April 23 shows that of the 38,189,536 total doses given in England so far, 28,102,852 were first doses - a rise of 107,656 on the previous day.
Anyone aged 45 and over can still arrange their jab in England, as well as people who are clinically vulnerable or health and care workers.
THOUSANDS GATHER FOR ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST IN LONDON
Thousands of people have gathered for anti-lockdown protests in London – despite pubs, shops and gyms reopening.
Crowds marched through the streets for the ‘Unite for Freedom’ rally against Covid restrictions, vaccines and passports.
Signs saying “freedom is non-negotiable” were held up as people let off brightly coloured smoke bombs. And activists carried giant inflatable syringes to fight against what they call “coerced vaccinations” – with not a single face mask in sight.
The mob ignored police warnings not to gather in large groups to make their way through the capital.
Cops have vowed to crack down on anti-social behaviour at hotspots over the second weekend of freedom as temperatures hit 20C.
Read the full story here.
COVID NEWS ROUND-UP: THE LATEST
- Thousands gather for anti-lockdown protest in London – despite pubs, shops and gyms reopening
- Covid booster jabs to tackle new strains could be ready by September, says Oxford expert
- Brits enjoy boozy night on the town on second weekend of freedom since beer gardens reopened
- Summer holidays threat as travel to ‘green list’ countries may still be blocked by Foreign Office
- Surge Covid testing extended in Birmingham to halt spread of South African variant
UK COVID DEATHS ALMOST HALVE IN A MONTH WITH 32 FATALITIES AND 2,061 CASES RECORDED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS
UK Covid cases have almost halved in a month, with 32 deaths and 2,061 cases recorded in the last 24 hours.
Today's deaths are 45 per cent lower than those recorded on Saturday four weeks ago.
Today's figures bring the total number of cases in the UK to 4,401,109, while there have been 127,385 deaths. This time last week there were 2,206 new Covid cases and 35 deaths - a drop of 60 per cent compared to a month before.
The number of cases was 14 per cent lower than the Saturday before.
Yesterday there were 2,678 new Covid cases and 40 fatalities recorded
INDIA: COVID PATIENTS ‘DYING ON THE PAVEMENT’ (CONTINUED...)
Doctor Harjit Singh Bhatti continued: "Even with my best possible efforts, I'm not able to provide that care to all my patients.
"And I am seeing that if I am treating one patient, then many of my patients are left untreated, or they are not able to get that adequate amount of attention, which they have to get.
"So even, I said this in my social media profiles also, I said that sometimes it is situation of grief and relief.
"Like I grieve for my patient who lost their life, but I also have relief for those patients who will get their bed.
"So it's a type of very, very worrisome and very alarming situation."
COVID PATIENTS ‘DYING ON THE PAVEMENT’ OUTSIDE HOSPITALS IN INDIA
COVID patients are "dying on the pavement" outside hospitals in India - as doctors fear infections will soon hit 500,000 per day.
Doctor Harjit Singh Bhatti said the crisis was now "horrific" as the country fights the "world's worst" coronavirus outbreak, with dying Covid patients lined up on stretchers.
Dr Bhatti told : "I have never seen this type of situation in my whole medical career.
"From last 10 years I am practicing medicine, I have not seen this type of situation where people are dying on the roads. They are not able to get better. They are not able to get oxygen."
The doctor described the tragic feeling of relief he has when the death of a patient means there is an extra bed for someone else.
GRAPHIC: UK COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS PER DAY
SUMMER HOLIDAYS THREAT AS TRAVEL TO ‘GREEN LIST’ COUNTRIES MAY STILL BE BLOCKED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE
Summer holidays abroad are under threat as travel to ‘green list’ countries could still be blocked by the Foreign Office.
Its advice may contradict the UK’s traffic light system, rendering some destinations off-limits – despite being ruled safe.
The Foreign Office publishes its own travel guidance based on factors such as the risk of becoming trapped by Covid restrictions or the capacity and quality of the country’s health services, reports.
So in a major blow for locked-down Brits, getaways to European hotspots and beyond hang in the balance.
ITALY REPORTS OVER 13,000 CASES IN 24 HOURS
Italy has reported over 13,817 cases on Saturday, the health ministry has said.
BREAKING
UK Covid cases have almost halved in a month, with 32 deaths and 2,061 cases recorded in the last 24 hours.
Today's deaths are 45 per cent lower than those recorded on Saturday four weeks ago.
Today's figures bring the total number of cases in the UK to 4,401,109, while there have been 127,385 deaths.
This time last week there were 2,206 new Covid cases and 35 deaths - a drop of 60 per cent compared to a month before.
MOTORISTS WHO NOW DRIVE TO WORK DUE TO COVID WARNED TO CHECK CAR INSURANCE POLICIES AHEAD OF RULE CHANGE
Motorists who now drive to work due to Covid are being warned to check their policies ahead of a rule change next week.
If you don't, you could unwittingly invalidate your car insurance - and risk being slapped with a £300 fine. When you buy car insurance, you're usually asked how you plan to use the vehicle, including whether you'll commute or use it for social purposes only.
This will influence how much your premium is, as different types of driving carry different risks.
For more on the story click here.
THOUSANDS GATHER FOR ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST IN LONDON
Thousands of people have gathered for anti-lockdown protests in London - despite pubs, shops and gyms reopening.
Crowds marched through the streets for the 'Unite for Freedom' rally against Covid restrictions, vaccines and passports.
Signs saying "freedom is non-negotiable" were held up as people let off brightly coloured smoke bombs.
And activists carried giant inflatable syringes to fight against what they call "coerced vaccinations" - with not a single face mask in sight.
The mob ignored police warnings not to gather in large groups to make their way through the capital.
Cops have vowed to crack down on anti-social behaviour at hotspots over the second weekend of freedom as temperatures hit 20C.
Read the full story here.
Thousands of people took part in the Unite for Freedom march EXPERTS RECOMMEND 'SMELL TRAINING' TO COMBAT SCENT LOSS CAUSED BY COVID-19
People who have experienced smell loss as a result of Covid-19 should try "smell training", scientists have recommended.
Smell training involves sniffing at least four different odours, twice daily for several months.
Smell loss expert Prof Carl Philpott, from the University of East Anglia's Norwich Medical School, said that the method "aims to help recovery based on neuroplasticity - the brain's ability to reorganise itself to compensate for a change or injury".
Research by an international group of smell experts, published in the journal International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, advised against using steroids to treat smell loss.
Prof Philpott said there is "very little evidence" they will help with smell loss and they have "potential side effects including fluid retention, high blood pressure, and problems with mood swings and behaviour".
BREAKING
Half of Brits have now received a Covid vaccine in the historic fight against the virus.
More than 33.4MILLION Brits have had their life-saving jab in our vaccine rollout - which has allowed the country to ease lockdown restrictions.
