Coronavirus news – live: Hancock rules out ditching support bubbles and tells shops to ban non-mask wearers

Sir Richard Branson has paid tribute to his mother Eve, who has died from Covid-19 aged 96.

The Virgin boss revealed the news on Twitter and also shared a blog post in her memory.

He wrote: “I'm sorry to share that, sadly like a lot of people's relatives and friends right now, my mum Eve has also passed away from Covid. She held on for one last victory, managing to fight off the virus, but had expended all of her energy in the process.

One of my wonderful sisters, Vanessa, and nephew Louis were with her until the end, as were the wonderful nurses who she entertained with tales from her life and much laughter over glasses of whisky. Rather than mourn her loss, I want to celebrate her wonderful life, her tremendous spirit, the joy she brought to so many, and the love she gave us all.

Mum was 96-years-old, but had the same enthusiasm and energy she had when I was a boy. As for so many of us in these days of Covid, it feels so strange that the person who has always been there for us, with such zest for life, is gone.

My sisters Lindy and Vanessa and I were so lucky to grow up with mum and dad as our parents, instilling values that have lasted a lifetime. They taught us the importance of hard work, of not taking yourself too seriously, of treating people how you wish to be treated, of entrepreneurship, and so much more. They showed us how family is the most important thing in the world, and surrounded us with love and encouragement.”

He remembered Eve as a “force of nature”, saying she had “lived many remarkable lives”. The businessman also said he “owed his career” to her and recounted her many charity ventures, including what he described as “one of mum's most brilliant legacies is The Eve Branson Foundation...”.

Additional reporting by PA

A West Yorkshire Police Federation chairman has said police officers are “being made scapegoats for poor policy and law writing” during the coronavirus crisis, and urged that rules about where exercise can be taken should be made clear in law.

Brian Booth said: “Walking a tightrope between maintaining public confidence and upholding the law is not made easy with poor guidance.

“At the end of the first lockdown, I highlighted the difficulties officers were facing when it came down to trying to help police the pandemic with such woolly laws - roll on six months and we are still in the same position.”

He said the government must make rules “clear for the public”. For example, he said, “if it is desired that exercise be limited to local then clearly state in law what local is. Do not insert it into guidance that has no legal standing”.

“The NHS is in crisis, my colleagues have a part to play in protecting the NHS and upholding law. Please have a review of what you expect and don't keep leaving my colleagues hung out to dry,” he added. 

Here’s a bit more on the opening of the mass coronavirus vaccination centres across England:

As mass vaccination centres open up across the UK, one woman has spoken out to reassure anti-vaxxers and Covid hoaxers that there is nothing to worry about when receiving the jab. 

Heather Gallagher, 93, from Hitchin, Hertfordshire, said receiving her coronavirus vaccine was “no problem at all”. 

Speaking at the mass vaccination centre in Stevenage, Ms Gallagher, a former nurse of over 30 years experience, sent a message to others waiting to receive a jab: “Don’t be scared.”

“Don’t worry, let them get on with it,” she added and joked: “I've had so many needles in my nursing career.”

Ms Gallagher was brought to the centre by a neighbour who has been supporting her throughout the pandemic, such as buying a weekly shop.

He said: “This will really, really help. She'll be able to go back to church again. She'll be able to get her independence back, doing some shopping and basically start to see her friends, and I think that's the most important thing mentally wise for her and I can't wait for it to happen.”

“Simple steps” to protect black, Asian and ethnic minority (Bame) communities during the pandemic have not been taken, according to charities and politicians who have demanded “decisive action” from the government to to help groups that suffer disproportionately high rates of deaths and critical illness from coronavirus.

Charities and politicians, including London mayor Sadiq Khan, are calling on the government to implement measures to better monitor the impact of the virus on Bame groups “without delay”, as infections soar during the third wave of the pandemic.

Our social affairs correspondent May Bulman has this exclusive story: 

An 80-year-old man receiving a coronavirus vaccine this morning encouraged others to also get the jab.

Keith Garwood, a retired insurance claims manager from Ampthill in Befordshire, was injected with the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab at the mass vaccination centre in Stevenage.

He said: "My own view is, it's the first time in my life, I'm 80 years of age, where we've had something which has had so much impact on your life.

"You must have it, you must have it. If you don't have it, your own life will be more restricted."

After receiving the vaccine, he said he felt "fine".

One in five people in England may have already have had coronavirus, a far higher proportion than previously thought, according to new research.

The number of Covid-19 infections across England during the pandemic could be as high as 12.4 million, or 22 per cent of the population, said data analysts at Edge Health.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the country is "at the most serious stage" of the pandemic "and that calls for the most serious restrictions".

Answering questions following a speech setting out his approach to the crisis, Sir Keir said: "There probably is more that we could do.

"An example is the question of whether nurseries should be open."

He said Boris Johnson should hold daily press conferences "ramming home" the message to "stay at home".

Pope Francis’ personal doctor has died of complications related to Covid-19, the Vatican has announced.

Fabrizio Soccorsi, 78, was being treated in Gemelli Hospital for cancer at the time of his death, which was announced in L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, on Saturday.

Read more on this story:

England's chief medical officer has warned the UK has not yet hit the peak of the current wave of Covid-19 infection, with the next few weeks being "the worst" of the pandemic for the NHS.

Professor Chris Whitty said the vaccine rollout offered hope that lockdown restrictions could be lifted in the coming months, but described the current UK death rate as "appalling".

During a BBC phone-in on the current high case rates, he said: "I don't think we're yet at the peak, I'm afraid.

"I think we will be at the peak if everybody can double down and absolutely minimise their contacts.

"The point of the lockdown is to bring that forward, but it only works if everyone really thinks about every individual interaction they have and try and minimise them."