Covid news - live: New UK Covid variant under investigation as surge testing rolled out in two more areas

An estimated 93.6% of people aged 65 and over in England have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, new figures suggest.

Regional estimates range from 84.7% for London to 95.9% for southwest England.

The figures, from NHS England, are for first doses of the vaccine up to February 28.

Here are the estimated figures for each region:

South west95.9%

Midlands 94.8%

Southeast England 94.6%

Eastern England 94.4%

Northwest England 93.8%

Northeast England/Yorkshire 93.7%

London 84.7%

Around one in five people aged 16 to 64 in England are likely to have had their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, NHS England figures suggest.

An estimated 21.3 per cent of people in this age group had received their first jab by February 28. The estimates show little variation between regions, ranging from 19 per cent in London to 23.4 per cent in northwest England.

Police have arrested three men on suspicion of theft after "boxloads" of coronavirus tests destined for schools were stolen from a lorry.

Essex Police said the lateral flow tests were stolen from Harlow Business Park in the early hours of Tuesday and were meant for secondary schools across the country. The force said the tests have been recovered.

A 31-year-old from Canvey Island, a 27-year-old from Newham, east London, and a 37-year-old from Dagenham, east London, have been arrested on suspicion of theft.

The man from Dagenham has also been arrested on suspicion of drug-driving, and all three are in police custody.

A further 184 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 83,917, NHS England has said.

Patients were aged between 19 and 98. All except six, aged between 47 and 85, had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths were between November 19 and March 3, with the majority being on or after February 28.

There were 50 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

The European Commission and Italy have blocked a shipment of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine destined for Australia after the drug manufacturer failed to meet its EU contract commitments, two sources have revealed.

The sources told Reuters AstraZeneca had requested permission from the Italian government to export some 250,000 doses from its Anagni plant, near Rome.

The Italian government reportedly refused and the European Commission is said to have supported its decision, according to the sources.

The Scottish government's ban on evictions should not end at the same time as lockdown, MSPs have heard.

Over the winter, landlords were not allowed to actively remove tenants from their properties in most circumstances, extending the policy already in place through emergency coronavirus laws which meant eviction proceedings could not begin.

Following an extension in January, the policy may now end this month.

But Shelter Scotland said the measures should remain in place for some time to come, so the full economic impact, particularly on workers and their jobs, is understood.

The government said a further 242 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Thursday, bringing the UK total to 124,025.

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have been 145,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

The government also said that, as of 9am on Thursday, there had been a further 6,573 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.

It brings the total to 4,201,358.

Pubs without beer gardens will be allowed to serve drinks in their carparks from 12 April, the government has said.

Licensing rules for pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants were simplified last summer to make it easier for businesses to partially reopen in line with Covid guidelines.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed the relaxed rules will remain in place when outdoor hospitality venues are allowed to begin reopening from 12 April at the earliest, reports Joanna Taylor.

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Wetherspoon has announced it will open beer gardens, rooftop gardens and patios at 394 of its pubs in England from 12 April, when it is hoped lockdown measures can continue to ease for hospitality businesses.

The pubs will be open from 9am to 9pm from Sunday to Thursday and 9am to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Some pubs will have restrictions on closing times.

They will offer a slightly reduced menu, with food available from 9am to 8pm seven days a week.

Patrons will be able to order and pay through the Wetherspoon app, and staff will be able to take orders and payment at the table.

John Hutson, chief executive of Wetherspoon, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming our customers and staff back to our pubs.”

Surge testing will take place in two more areas where the South African variant of coronavirus has been found, the Department of Health said.

A DHSC statement said the testing and genomic sequencing was being targeted in the North Wembley area of Brent, north London, and the TS19 postcode area in Stockton-on-Tees, in County Durham.

The statement said: “The increased testing is being introduced in addition to existing extensive testing and, in combination with the public following current lockdown rules and Hands Face Space advice, will help to monitor and suppress the spread of the virus. Positive cases will be sequenced for genomic data to help increase our understanding of Covid-19 variants and their spread within these areas.

“Enhanced contact tracing will be used for individuals testing positive with a variant of concern. This is where contact tracers look back over an extended period in order to determine the route of transmission.

“People living within the targeted areas are strongly encouraged to take a Covid-19 test when offered, whether they are showing symptoms or not.”