Covid news - Hancock predicts ‘happy and free’ summer as UK sees record day for vaccinations

A total of 598,389 people received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in the UK today – a daily record.

Official data showed that 8.98 million people have been given the first dose of a vaccine, up from 8.38 million yesterday.

Italy reported 237 coronavirus-related deaths today, down from 421 the day before, the health ministry said.

The country has now registered 88,516 deaths linked to Covid-19 since last February, the second-highest toll in Europe.

The daily tally of new infections was equal to 11,252 compared with 12,715 yesterday. Some 213,364 tests for Covid-19 were carried out in the past day, against a previous 298,010, the health ministry said. 

British tourists breached Austria’s Covid lockdown rules by travelling to a popular ski resort, according to police.

They were among 96 foreigners discovered staying at accommodation in the town of St Anton am Arlberg in Tyrol on Friday.

Under current restrictions, hotels are closed to tourists, skiers cannot stay overnight in resorts and visitors must enter quarantine on arrival in the country.

St Anton’s mayor Helmut Mall claimed the new arrivals had attempted to evade the rules by claiming they were looking for work – even though there are no jobs available.

Our reporter Peter Stubley has the full story:

Police are investigating potential breaches of the coronavirus regulations at a loyalist funeral in Belfast.

There were reports of crowds in the north of the Northern Ireland capital turning out to send off Hugh Hill.

Under the rules aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19, no more than 25 people are allowed to attend funeral services. Pre and post-funeral gatherings and wakes are also banned.

Chief Inspector Darren Fox said officers had engaged with representatives of the family beforehand as well as local community representatives.“Across these engagements, police emphasised the need for adherence to the current health protection regulations and sought assurances from those with influence,” he said.

Regrettably, at the funeral on Friday morning, a significant number of people gathered as part of the cortege, in a manner likely to be in breach of the health protection regulations.

“Across these engagements, police emphasised the need for adherence to the current health protection regulations and sought assurances from those with influence,” he said.

“Regrettably, at the funeral on Friday morning, a significant number of people gathered as part of the cortege, in a manner likely to be in breach of the health protection regulations.

“As a result, police have commenced an investigation into the matter, evidence has been gathered, and where individuals are identified as potentially being in breach of the regulations, they will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service.”

If you are 16-25, chances are that you have lost months of face-to-face education, your current job, your future employment prospects, or your independence. 

For members of Caitlin Talbot’s generation, the best-case scenario has been to put ambitions on hold, move back in with parents, or else default on rent payments. 

The urgency of the current crisis demands an imaginative stimulus package for Generation Covid, she says. 

Read the full article here:

Captain Tom Moore, the 100-year-old Second World War veteran who was knighted after raising millions for the NHS, has been admitted to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.

Sir Tom is being treated for pneumonia on a ward in Bedfordshire after needing additional help with his breathing, his daughter said in a tweet from her father’s account.

He is not in intensive care and his family hope that he will return home “as soon as possible”, Hannah Ingram-Moore added.

The UK has reported a record daily rise in the number of people vaccinated against coronavirus, after data showed nearly 600,000 more people had received their first dose.  

More than 8,977,300 people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 jab and 491,000 have had the second since the vaccination drive began, according to government figures.

Boris Johnson said Captain Tom Moore had “inspired a whole nation” as he joined those sending their best wishes to the 100-year-old charity fundraiser.

Others sending prayers included Michael Ball, who recorded a charity single with the Second World War veteran.

A furious row has erupted after a cabinet minister accused Labour of putting lives at risk with its call to vaccinate teachers before schools reopen.  

Liz Truss said the proposal would mean a vulnerable person “who isn't getting their vaccine and who is more likely to die in the next few weeks and months”.  

But a senior Labour figure last night accused the international trade secretary of failing to understand the policy before she spoke. 

AstraZeneca has agreed to step up its deliveries to the EU following the row over export controls.

European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen said the drug firm had agreed to begin deliveries a week earlier and increase supplies to 40 million by the end of March.

AstraZeneca had originally committed to 80 million, only to downgrade that to 31 million, prompting a dispute between the EU and the UK over supplies of vaccines produced in Europe.