Covid news - live: Sturgeon imposes total travel quarantine and Oxford vaccine still protects after 12 weeks

This is an interesting story from Taiwan - the authorities there agreed to let off a man fined for breaking the Covid-19 quarantine after it turned out he’d actually been kidnapped.

The incident took place in late October 2020 when the man, identified only by his surname Chen, returned to the island from Hong Kong.  

He had planned to stay at his friend’s home for the 14 days of mandatory quarantine, but was kidnapped when debt collectors forced their way into the house and assaulted Chen, mistaking him for his friend who owed them money.  

Mayank Aggarwal has more on this story here:

Nicola Sturgeon has announced she will introduce a "managed quarantine" system for anyone arriving in Scotland, describing the current UK-wide restrictions as "too reactive".

Follow this breaking news story for further updates below:

Some pupils will return to Scottish schools from 22 February, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Addressing MSPs in Holyrood, the first minister said that, subject to confirmation on 16 February, all children under school age in early learning and childcare will return.

Pupils in Primary 1 to Primary 3 will also be allowed back into school, as will those in the senior phase of secondary school.

However, the first minister said older pupils will only be able to return to ensure practical work important to achieving qualifications is completed and only between 5 per cent and 8 per cent of any school's roll should be able to return.

Matt Hancock has said the UK is "far further ahead" with its vaccination efforts due to it decision not to join the EU purchase scheme.

Asked about the distribution of vaccines to other countries, he told the Commons: "After we've completed the vaccination of the clinically extremely vulnerable, there are still many millions of people here who are at risk of dying from this dreadful disease.

"So, absolutely we will lean into the international effort. Thanks to the fact that we didn't choose to join the EU scheme, we are of course far further ahead than we would have been otherwise and we will play that vital role internationally."

The government has announced an extra £50m for students in England facing hardship during the coronavirus pandemic.

The support - comes on top of £20m made available in December - can be used to help students losing out on jobs or facing extra costs maintaining accommodation in two places.

Zoe Tidman has more details below:

The Welsh government has called for a "five-nations" approach to quarantine rules for travel.

A spokesman said: "We need a five-nations approach to this issue, with the administrations of the UK and the Republic of Ireland working closely together.

"A joint approach would benefit all and bring greater protections to these islands.

"While we support quarantine for travellers from red-list countries, we believe this is the bare minimum, and any plans should go further.

"We will continue to make the case to the UK Government to do more to stop the risk and spread of new variants entering the UK."

Captain Sir Tom Moore has died at the age of 100 after testing positive for Covid-19. He was admitted to Bedford Hospital on Sunday after being treated for pneumonia for several weeks and testing positive for the virus last week.

A further 767 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 72,912, NHS England said.

Patients were aged between 23 and 102. All except 31, aged between 23 and 102, had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths were between 29 December and 1 February, with the majority being on or after 27 January.

There were 44 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman: "The Queen is sending a private message of condolence to the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore. Her Majesty very much enjoyed meeting Captain Sir Tom and his family at Windsor last year.

“Her thoughts, and those of the Royal Family, are with them, recognising the inspiration he provided for the whole nation and others across the world."

A mutation of coronavirus was detected in Liverpool in January in cases among staff at a hospital, Public Health England said.

A cluster of an initial five cases was detected on January 10 among staff at Liverpool Women's Hospital who had attended an event outside the hospital, believed to be a funeral.

A spokesperson for Public Health England said the cases involved the E484K mutation of the virus but were not new variants.

Investigations are ongoing, she said.

PA