Grant Shapps refuses to say if it’s ‘accountable’ to journey to an amber list nation
Popular European vacation locations Spain, Greece, Italy and France are unlikely to make the UK’s journey “green list” within the subsequent replace, scheduled for 7 June, regardless of the justice secretary’s declare that ministers are “very eager to see as many nations as attainable” on it.
“It means extra alternatives for holidaymakers, and the convenience of transport that clearly makes a vacation a way more nice expertise, so we’ll proceed, the place we see the proof, so as to add nations,” Robert Buckland informed Sky News earlier.
Boris Johnson informed MPs final night time “fairly a couple of” nations – together with Malta, Fiji, Finland and numerous Caribbean islands – are in competition to be added to the list, stories The Daily Telegraph.
It comes amid rising considerations of a possible third wave of coronavirus infections within the UK, after a number one infectious illness knowledgeable mentioned on Thursday that Britain was getting ready to one.
Professor Andrew Hayward, a Sage member who teaches at University College London, informed BBC Breakfast yesterday he’s “very involved” concerning the unfold of the B1.617.2 Covid mutation. The newest knowledge suggests circumstances associated to the so-called Indian variant have greater than doubled up to now week alone throughout the UK.
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Scotland Covid case charges up 25% in final week, Sturgeon introduced
Nicola Sturgeon has introduced that, throughout Scotland as a complete, new circumstances of coronavirus have risen by 25 per cent over the previous week.
During an deal with at Holyrood, the primary minister mentioned there are early indications that the nation’s R charge is now again above 1.
But, balancing out the unhealthy with the nice, she introduced Moray will transfer from Level 3 restrictions to Level 2 on account of good progress it has made after a week-long extension of stricter restrictions.
Glasgow will stay in Level 3, she mentioned, whereas the much-debated East Renfrewshire will stay in Level 2 – regardless of it now having a better case charge than the town. Ms Sturgeon mentioned it is because the state of affairs in Glasgow is extra severe and on a a lot larger scale.
Rounding off her replace, the FM mentioned from Monday, Scotland is imposing journey restrictions on anybody from Bedford, Bolton and Blackburn/Darwen in England. “If you’re planning a visit to Scotland and you might be from any of these areas, you’ll have to delay,” she mentioned plainly.
Sam Hancock21 May 2021 12:31
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‘Potential enhance’ in England Covid case charges – ONS
The proportion of individuals testing constructive for coronavirus in England exhibits “early indicators of a possible enhance” though charges stay low, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has mentioned.
Around one in 1,110 folks in non-public households in England had Covid-19 within the week to fifteen May – up from one in 1,340 the earlier week, in keeping with the newest ONS estimates.
It comes because the so-called Indian variant continues to unfold throughout pockets of the nation, particularly in northwestern England. Hospital admissions in Bolton had been reported to be on the rise yesterday.
Follow our breaking report right here:
Sam Hancock21 May 2021 12:22
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Minister abruptly ends GMB interview over ‘amber list’ journey guidelines
A Good Morning Britain interview with Robert Buckland got here to an abrupt finish when the justice secretary walked off, following a heated dialogue with hosts Ranvir Singh and Kate Garraway concerning the authorities’s beleaguered journey visitors gentle system.
Mr Buckland was being questioned on amber list nations, with over 250,000 folks set to depart the UK for these locations within the subsequent 5 days, which led to him saying merely: “Amber is a no.”
But Ms Ranvir pressed him over why we don’t simply have crimson or green choices, with Ms Garraway repeatedly telling the politician to “simply reply” her colleague’s questions. The heated alternate ended with Mr Buckland criticising the duo for not permitting him to “get a phrase in edgeways”, earlier than he eliminated his microphone and obtained up from his chair.
Sam Hancock21 May 2021 12:16
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Covid-19 demise tolls seemingly a ‘considerably undercount’, WHO warns
At least two or 3 times as many individuals as reported have in all probability died on account of coronavirus, in keeping with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The WHO has registered 3.4 million Covid deaths, however the true determine might truly be greater than 10 million, the organisation mentioned on Friday.
Based on extra mortality figures from 2020 alone, the WHO estimates that 3 million folks died simply final 12 months – 1.8 million greater than the 1.2 million reported.
The WHO estimated the figures as a part of its World Health Statistics Report 2021, which additionally highlights the “main threats” to inhabitants well being and wellbeing posed by the pandemic in each the brief and long run.
Sam Hancock21 May 2021 11:50
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Nicola Sturgeon to offer Covid briefing within the subsequent hour
Scotland’s first minister is because of maintain a digital coronavirus briefing with Scotland’s well being secretary Humza Yousaf and nationwide medical director Jason Leitch at 12.15pm.
Nicola Sturgeon is predicted to announce her authorities’s choice concerning East Renfrewshire and whether or not it would return to Level 3 coronavirus restrictions to assist get a present surge in circumstances below management.
The space has now overtaken Glasgow as Scotland’s Covid hotspot, although it stays in Level 2 whereas the town is in Level 3.
The charge of circumstances in East Renfrewshire, which shares a council border with Glasgow, rose to 118.3 per 100,000 folks within the seven days to 17 May, whereas the town itself was 112.1. Case charges in Moray, which was beforehand Scotland’s Covid hotspot, fell to 36.5 per 100,000 folks over the identical interval.
Sam Hancock21 May 2021 11:34
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What EU vaccine passports imply for British holidaymakers – explainer
The European Commission has agreed a journey cross that may enable European residents and residents – vaccinated or not – to journey freely throughout the 27-nation area by this summer season. The cross, a kind of vaccine passport, is to assist facilitate journey between member states.
The free certificates will present particulars of vaccinations, check outcomes and restoration from Covid, and might be in power from 1 July, with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen asserting: “We are delivering on our dedication to have the EU Digital Covid Certificate up and operating earlier than the summer season.”
So what does that imply for British holidaymakers? Helen Coffey and Cathy Adams take a better look.
Sam Hancock21 May 2021 11:22
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Half of clinically extraordinarily susceptible in England nonetheless shielding – knowledge
Half of England’s clinically extraordinarily susceptible (CEV) folks have continued to defend from Covid regardless of authorities recommendation they not wanted to, new figures present.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) mentioned 50 per cent of CEV folks reported they had been persevering with to defend when requested between 26 April and 1 May.
But an ONS evaluation, printed on Friday, discovered that 84 per cent of CEV folks reported being conscious that authorities recommendation to defend had been paused and that two-thirds (67 per cent) had acquired two doses of coronavirus vaccine.
The ONS mentioned that roughly 420,000 (11 per cent) CEV folks had been estimated to haven’t left the home within the final seven days.
Some 3.7 million folks in England establish as being clinically extraordinarily susceptible to extreme affect from Covid-19, the ONS added.
Sam Hancock21 May 2021 10:58
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Peston ‘bemused’ by Boris Johnson’s optimism about 21 June
ITV’s Robert Peston stories the next:
Sam Hancock21 May 2021 10:42
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Spain, Greece, Italy and France ‘is not going to make subsequent green list replace’
It is trying more and more unlikely that European vacation hotspots Spain, Greece, Italy and France will make the UK’s journey “green list” within the subsequent replace, regardless of the justice secretary’s declare that the federal government is “very eager to see as many nations as attainable” make the list.
“It means extra alternatives for holidaymakers, and the convenience of transport that clearly makes a vacation a way more nice expertise, so we’ll proceed, the place we see the proof, so as to add nations,” Robert Buckland informed Sky News earlier.
It comes as Spain introduced it could enable UK holidaymakers in from Monday, with out proof of a adverse Covid check. The nation will stay on Britain’s amber list, although.
Our deputy head of journey Helen Coffey stories:
Sam Hancock21 May 2021 10:33
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Spain to permit guests from UK with out PCR check from Monday
Spain will enable guests from Britain and Japan into the nation and not using a adverse PCR check for Covid-19 from Monday, in keeping with an order printed within the state gazette at present.
But the UK authorities is advising Britons towards travelling to amber list nations, saying journeys to these nations ought to solely happen for “distinctive circumstances” comparable to visiting a sick relative or going to a funeral.
Restrictions right here will nonetheless require travellers returning to Britain from Spain – which is on the federal government’s amber list – to self-isolate upon arrival. The amber list covers the preferred, largely European, UK vacation locations: Spain, France, Italy and Greece.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps mentioned yesterday “you shouldn’t be travelling to those locations proper now”.
People who determine to take action nonetheless should take two post-arrival exams, and are additionally required to self-isolate at residence for 10 days, though they’ll cut back that point in the event that they take an extra adverse check on day 5.
Sam Hancock21 May 2021 10:09
