The new Indian variant of the COVID virus that's been detected in the UK has all the hallmarks of a very dangerous virus. It has two new significant mutations in the spike protein that help it infect cells and evade the immune system. New figures from Public Health England (PHE) show there have been 73 cases detected in England and another four in Scotland. The variant - officially named B.1.617 - is almost certainly playing a part in the very sharp spike in the epidemic in India. Live COVID updates from across the UK and around the world It has been detected in at least five Indian states that are hotspots for the surge, with more than 200,000 new cases of COVID detected nationwide on Wednesday. One of the concerning … 阅读全文

As with pretty much everything else about COVID-19, uncertainties abound. It's hard to be sure with any level of precision how much of an impact one or another intervention has made during the coronavirus pandemic. Even having said that, it's pretty clear that of all the interventions during COVID-19, few have been as powerful as nationwide lockdowns. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:02 3:02 COVID cases drop 'due to lockdown' - PM You might think this goes without saying, but even during the first lockdown there were some who argued that the fall in cases in April, May and June was less down to the lockdown than due to the behaviour of the virus itself. It had petered out, some said - simply running out … 阅读全文

New coronavirus infections in India have reached a record high with 184,372 cases reported in the past 24 hours alone. The country has reported 13.5 million COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began - pushing its toll past Brazil's and making it second only to the US, though both countries have much smaller populations. Deaths are also rising and have crossed the 170,000 mark. Even those figures, experts say, are likely to be an undercount. Live COVID updates from across the UK and around the world The latest surge comes as millions of Hindu pilgrims gathered in the temple town of Haridwar, in Uttarakhand, to celebrate Maha Kumbh Mela. The month-long festival had been been flagged as a superspreader event - as more than 50 million people were expected to attend. … 阅读全文

University students in England who have been studying online since Christmas, have been told by the government they cannot return to campuses until at least 17 May. The Department for Education announced that as part of the route out of lockdown, all students who have not yet resumed in-person teaching will do so "no earlier than 17 May". The return will coincide with step three of the government's wider roadmap, also due to begin that day, where restrictions on social contact and indoor mixing will be further eased. However, as with all steps, progression to the next stage remains dependent on a review of the latest data and the impact of step two which began on Monday with the opening of non-essential shops, pub gardens and outdoor dining. Image: The … 阅读全文

Prosecutors in Italy are urging the World Health Organisation to assist them in their investigations into Italy's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, the WHO has failed to answer any of a series of questions sent from the prosecutor's office in Bergamo, one of the hardest-hit communities in the country. The investigators are particularly surprised the health body instructed staff not to co-operate, claiming they had immunity from questioning; but they allegedly went even further by writing to the Italian health ministry urging them to tell the investigators to ease up the pressure on the WHO. This was according to documents obtained by the prosecutors, which they showed to Sky News. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible … 阅读全文

The sale of live wild mammals at food markets should be suspended as an emergency measure, the World Health Organisation has said. The statement comes after a WHO team visited Wuhan in China to investigate the origins of COVID-19. The most likely scenario is that the virus originated in bats, was spread to another unidentified animal, and then passed on to humans, a WHO report said in March. Live COVID updates from across the UK and around the world The organisation said in a separate report on Tuesday that animals, "particularly wild animals", are the source of more than 70% of emerging infectious diseases in humans. They added many of these are caused by novel viruses - a virus that has not previously been recorded. The report states: "Wild mammals, … 阅读全文

The only guarantee on this roadmap is that there are no guarantees. Who really knows how long this reopening will last? The prime minister has said he'd like it to be "irreversible" but nobody can be certain. So when venues are told they can reopen - and they are lucky enough to have outdoor space to do so - they grab the opportunity. Image: 'It's just nice hearing people's voices again,' said one grateful pub-goer Image: 'It's just nice hearing people's voices again,' said one grateful pub-goer At The Derry pub near Stockton-on-Tees they were desperate to just crack on after five months closed - it was just before bonfire night last November when they last had customers in. "The sun is shining today the beer is flowing and we … 阅读全文

Boris Johnson has urged the nation to "behave responsibly" as pub gardens reopen and restaurants resume outdoor dining in England. In the next major step in the easing of England's coronavirus lockdown, shops deemed non-essential are also reopening, as are hairdressers, indoor gyms, swimming pools, nail salons and zoos. However, social mixing indoors remains heavily restricted, with around two in five adults yet to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine - and the vast majority yet to get both. Live COVID updates as England's lockdown eased The prime minister has postponed his long-awaited pub garden pint out of respect for the late Duke of Edinburgh. But a government source confirmed Mr Johnson would have his hair cut on Monday morning ahead of the prime minister leading tributes to … 阅读全文

Police called to break up a COVID regulations-busting party were threatened and hit with bottles. The organiser was hit with a £10,000 fine, and 57 others were issued with £200 fixed penalty notices for COVID-19 regulation breaches following the party in Liverpool on Saturday night. Officers arrived to find many more people than the "rule of six" at the home in the Kirkdale area of the city, along with music equipment and evidence of drug use. One officer suffered a minor injury. Chief Inspector Phil Mullally said: "Incidents such as this are wholly unacceptable and we will continue to take robust action against anyone who continues to blatantly breaches COVID regulations, which are in place for the benefit of all of our safety. "Despite the easing of some lockdown measures, … 阅读全文