Coronavirus news – live: Covid laws extended until end of September as NHS England lowers emergency level

Some 91% of people classified as clinically extremely vulnerable had received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine by March 21, NHS England figures show.

The proportion of people aged 16 to 64 in an "at risk group", or who are unpaid carers, to have received a first jab by this date was 72.5%, the data shows.

People are identified as at risk or a carer in a number of ways, including through GP records, those receiving carer's allowance or on the GP Learning Disability Register, and those identified as unpaid carers by local authorities, NHS England said.

Newly vaccinated people are right to celebrate their jabs, but should act as if they are unvaccinated until two weeks after their second dose, a US epidemiologist has said.

Speaking at a briefing at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Dr Keri Althoff, an epidemiologist at the school, discussed daily life as the vaccine rollout continues.

Asked whether partially vaccinated people could take different precautions, she said: "We want to make sure that with the mRNA vaccines you are two doses in plus 14 days, that is the time point at which you can feel vaccinated.”

She continued: "So definitely celebrate when it's your turn to get vaccinated and you receive the vaccine, but then also remember that you have about two weeks left until you can start adjusting your behaviours to reflect what is now recommended for people who are vaccinated.

"Until that point, you should still be cautious to the point where you are treating all of the guidelines for how we're interacting with each other in the category of an unvaccinated person."

Students could face a “Wild West” approach to grading this summer under the system replacing exams, the education select committee has warned.

Teacher-assessed grades will be awarded this year after exams were cancelled for the second year in a row due to disruption from the coronavirus pandemic.

Zoe Tidman explains:

The government said a further 63 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of today.

It brings the UK total to 126,445.

Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 149,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The government also said that, as of 9am today, there had been a further 6,397 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.

It brings the total to 4,319,128.

Scientists are to look into the effectiveness of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine when delivered using a nasal spray.

The University of Oxford will examine the level of immune system responses generated by the vaccine using this delivery technique, as well as monitoring safety and for any adverse reactions.

Thirty healthy Oxford-based volunteers aged 18-40 will receive the vaccine through an intranasal spray device, similar to many over-the-counter hay fever nasal sprays.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca jab is currently being delivered by intramuscular injection as part of the national rollout.

Boris Johnson has revealed he has already booked a visit to the pub for when restrictions ease but suggested he might wait for a haircut, despite saying he "badly" needed one.

During a visit to a nursery in Greenford, west London, today, the prime minister told broadcasters: “I do need a haircut, I do badly need a haircut - it’s going to happen.”

Asked if he had booked a hair appointment for April 12, he said: “For the pub? Yes. For the haircut? I don’t know about that.”

Hairdressers in London have been shut since before Christmas but, under the Government's road map for easing lockdown measures, are set to reopen on April 12.

Outdoor hospitality venues, such as beer gardens, are also permitted to serve customers from this date - with Mr Johnson suggesting he will prioritise a visit to the pub over getting his famous blond mop trimmed.

Northern Ireland is set to adopt the UK's coronavirus red list of countries, first minister Arlene Foster has said.

Brazil and South Africa are on the current red list of countries from which entry to the UK is banned.

The Stormont Executive also heard work is ongoing on hotel quarantine plans for travellers arriving from abroad.

There are currently no international flights landing in Northern Ireland.

Boris Johnson suffered a substantial backbench rebellion as 35 Conservative MPs tonight opposed the extension of coronavirus laws for a further six months.

The prime minister had ordered his MPs to support an extension to wide-ranging powers contained in the Coronavirus Act.

But several ignored this and opted to vote against, including former cabinet ministers David Davis and Esther McVey.

Conservative MP Chris Green (Bolton West) acted as a teller for the noes, also a sign of rebellion.

For Labour, 21 Labour MPs rebelled to oppose the extension - including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and one-time leadership hopeful Rebecca Long-Bailey.

Around 6,100 deaths among those aged 70 and over have been averted due to the Covid-19 vaccination programme so far, a new analysis shows.

The study, from Public Health England, said there was now evidence "that the Covid-19 vaccination programme is already having a significant impact on severe Covid-19 disease in England beyond the effect of the national lockdown."

Experts said the "true value" of the vaccines would become apparent in the future as lives continue to be saved during any further waves of coronavirus in the UK.

The study said around 5,900 deaths had been averted among those aged 80 and over and 200 in those aged 70 to 79.

Three additional French regions including the Rhone department around the city of Lyon will be put under tightened Covid-19 restrictions for four weeks from Friday.

The move follows similar measures imposed a week earlier on the Paris region and a large part of northern France, where most non-essential stores have been ordered to close and people are limited in how far they can travel from their homes.

"The Covid-19 pandemic is accelerating almost everywhere in France," health minister Olivier Veran said, adding that pressure on the hospital system will continue to increase in coming days.

The new restrictions take effect from Friday at midnight.

They come on top of nationwide curbs. A nightly curfew is in place and restaurant, bars, museums and cinemas are closed across the country.