Coronavirus UK latest – Boris Johnson says lifting of restrictions on May 17 but June 21 date won't be brought forward

BORIS Johnson has confirmed the Covid restrictions will be eased further on May 17.

The Prime Minister finally announced Brits can hug family and friends from next week, after months of social distancing.

The Prime Minister set out the rules on hugging loved ones and attending wedding and funerals yesterday.

He told the nation to use their “personal judgement” and “common sense” when hugging pals and family members after May 17.

Johnson appeared to rule out bringing forward the end of Covid-19 restrictions in England, saying that the success of the roadmap out of England's Covid-19 lockdown depended on leaving space stages.

Asked if he might bring forward a June 21 date for the final stage of his roadmap out of lockdown, Johnson said: "I think it's very important that we should proceed cautiously."

"The secret of the success that we've had so far I think it's been that we have been guided by the data and we've given time to see the effect of each successive stage on the roadmap."

Read our coronavirus live blog below for the latest updates…

  • Jon Rogers

    BRITS URGED TO STILL THINK OF VULNERABLE LOVED ONES

    Boris Johnson said: "This doesn't mean that we can suddenly throw caution to the winds.

    "We all know that close contacts such as hugging is a direct way of transmitting this disease," he said.

    "So I urge you to think about the vulnerability of your loved ones."

  • Jon Rogers

    NOT SO WARM WELCOME

    Just four of the countries included on the "green list" will allow Brits into the country without quarantining.

    The list, revealed on Friday, includes 12 destinations that have been deemed low-risk, and won't require a 10-day self-isolation period when returning to the UK from May 17, when holidays can go ahead.

    However, the majority of the countries on the list are still not letting tourists in – Australia's and New Zealand's borders remain closed to Brits along with Singpore.

    The Faroe Islands, Falkland Islands and Brunei, also all on the green list, require quarantines on arrivals between 10 to 14 days.

    Only Portugal, which includes the islands of Azores and Madeira, along with Gibraltar, are open to Brits without enforcing a quarantine on arrival from May 17, although are likely to need a negative Covid test if not vaccinated.

    Flights and holidays have also ready soared in price to both of the destinations.

  • Jon Rogers

    COVID-19 PATIENTS NOT ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL 'GO TO GP MORE AFTER INFECTION'

    Coronavirus patients who are not admitted to hospital have a low risk of serious long-term effects, but they could report more visits to a GP in the six months after infection, new research suggests.

    According to the six-month study, people who tested positive for the virus and were not admitted to hospital had a slightly increased risk of needing medical treatment for blood clots and breathing difficulties, compared with those who had not been infected.

    There was also a slightly increased risk of starting medications for breathing difficulties and migraines.

    However, the risks of these factors at the individual level remained small, researchers say.

    Experts assessed the risk of initiating medication and receiving a hospital diagnosis for a new condition by comparing individuals who tested positive for coronavirus with those who had a negative test during the first wave of the pandemic in Denmark.

  • Jon Rogers

    HIGH BMI LINKED TO INCREASE RISK OF TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 – STUDY

    People with a higher body mass index (BMI) are more likely to test positive for the virus that causes Covid-19, new research suggests.

    A study by the Chaim Sheba Medical Centre in Israel found that patients who are classed as overweight – with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 – were 22% more likely to contract the virus than someone of "normal" weight with a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.

    That figure increased to 27% for those considered obese – with a BMI of 30 to 34.9 – and 86% for people classed as morbidly obese – a BMI at or above 40.

    The research, which has been presented at the European Congress on Obesity, looked at the relationship between BMI and the likelihood of testing positive for Sars-Cov-2, at the largest medical centre in the Middle East.

    Obesity-related factors are believed to be associated with an increased risk of contracting various viral diseases.

    Some 26,030 were tested as part of the study between March 16 and December 31 2020, among whom 1,178 positive Covid-19 results were recorded.

  • Jon Rogers

    HILTON BOSS 'DELIGHTED' TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME GUESTS BACK

    The managing director of Hilton UK and Ireland has said he is "delighted" the hotel chain will be able to welcome guests back next week.

    Stephen Cassidy said: “We are delighted to be preparing to welcome back leisure guests to our properties in England, after what has been the toughest year in the hospitality industry.

    "This is a crucial step to kickstarting tourism activities in the UK, as well as a meaningful recovery for the sector.

    "With pent-up demand for a safe summer of travel, we are excited to be able to welcome British holidaymakers back to Hilton hotels once again, offering best-in-class hospitality, cleanliness and booking flexibility.”

  • Jon Rogers

    BRAZIL CONFIRMS 25,000 NEW COVID CASES IN PAST 24 HOURS

    Brazil recorded 25,200 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours and 889 fatalities from Covid-19, the Health Ministry said on Monday.

    That raised the total number of confirmed cases in Latin America's largest country to 15,209,990 and the official death toll to 423,229.

  • Jon Rogers

    FDA AUTHORISES PFIZER JAB FOR KIDS AGED 12 TO 15 IN US

    THE FDA has authorized the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15 as millions of more shots are expected to become available.

    The Food and Drug Administration announced Monday that the Pfizer-BioNTech jab was safe for children under the age of 16.

    Acting FDA Commissioner Dr Janet Woodook called the move a "significant step in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic."

    She said the authorization will bring the US "closer to returning to a sense of normalcy and ending the pandemic."

    Until Monday, the shots had only been approved for people ages 16 and up while the effects on children were still being studied.

    Read the full story here.

  • Jon Rogers

    IRELAND ENJOYS FURTHER STEP TOWARDS NORMALITY AS COVID RESTRICTIONS EASED

    Tens of thousands of people have taken advantage of a substantial easing of Covid-19 public health restrictions across the country.

    Ireland took further steps back towards normality as a series of lockdown restrictions lifted on Monday.

    A phased reopening of non-essential retail began, with click-and-collect services and in-store shopping by appointment allowed.

    Large numbers gathered outside Penneys on Dublin's O'Connell Street on Monday, as the clothing store reopened its doors to customers by appointment.

    Many others attended their hairdressers and barbers to get their hair chopped for the first time in more than four months as personal services were allowed to resume by appointment.

    Restrictions on inter-county travel have also lifted while some of the limitations on indoor and outdoor social gatherings have eased.

  • Jon Rogers

    CZECH REPUBLIC PAYS TRIBUTE TO ITS COVID VICTIMS

    Czechs lit nearly 30,000 candles at Prague Castle, the seat of the presidency, on Monday evening to pay their respects to the pandemics victims.

    The hard-hit European Union nation of 10.7 million people has registered at least 29,711 virus-related deaths.

    After observing a minute of silence, President Milos Zeman was the first to light a candle. In his brief speech, he thanked the medical personnel and anyone who has been fighting the pandemic.

    Zeman said some of those people died because we succumbed to the temptation to ease (restrictive measures) prematurely.

    He said he hoped that Czechs had learned from it. His words came at the end of a day that saw the country massively relaxing its coronavirus restrictions.

  • Jon Rogers

    SPAS, SAUNAS AND STEAM ROOMS TO REOPEN ON MAY 17

    Steam rooms and saunas will reopen on May 17 as Boris Johnson confirmed some Covid lockdown restrictions will be lifted from Monday.

    The Prime Minister confirmed this evening that the UK had met the four tests to move to the next phase of the government's Covid roadmap to reopen the country.

    Under step three of the government roadmap, saunas and steam rooms can reopen from May 17 to allow the full spa experience.

    Spas have been open for treatments and swimming from April 12, but their sauna and steam room facilities have remained closed.

    Read the full story here.

  • Jon Rogers

    PROSTITUTES IN GERMANY BECOME COVID TESTERS

    A German brothel has turned into a Covid testing centre amid a stuttering vaccine rollout in the country.

    Sex workers at the Beehive love centre in Heidelberg, south west Germany, have stepped in to help with the national fight against the virus.

    The ladies check passers-by free of charge in front of the bordello.

    Jenny, 45, one of 25 women who works at the brothel, was trained by health workers to carry out the swab testing.

    She told Bild: "I wear a mask, gloves and a protective gown. I don't usually appear that covered.

    "I also do this on a voluntary basis, although I currently only have to live on around 400 euros a month. "

  • Jon Rogers

    ONE-METRE SOCIAL DISTANCING RULE MAY BE SCRAPPED NEXT MONTH – JOHNSON

    Boris Johnson has raised the prospect that the one-metre social distancing rule that has been key to limiting the spread of coronavirus could be scrapped next month.

    The Prime Minister also indicated on Monday that he may not go ahead with the introduction of coronavirus health certificates, which could require proof of vaccination or negative tests before entrance to certain venues.

    As he approved the next major easing of restrictions in England, Mr Johnson said the nation remains "on track" for the final step towards lifting all legal restrictions as planned on June 21.

    But the Prime Minister went further, to suggest it may be possible to scrap the one-metre plus social distancing rule from that point as well.

    "When it comes to social distancing from June 21, I look at the data very carefully and I think at the moment, it looks to me as though we may be able to dispense with the one-metre plus rule," he told a Downing Street press conference.

  • Jon Rogers

    SPANIARDS WARNED PANDEMIC ISN'T OVER

    Spains top coronavirus expert on Monday delivered a stern warning to citizens who are acting as if the pandemic has ended now that the government has relaxed measures against the spread of the coronavirus amid an accelerating rollout of vaccines.

    Scenes of revellers partying in mass over the past weekend, in many cases without social distancing or masks, have infuriated many, including health workers, and created a new political quarrel.

    The street celebrations followed the end of a state of emergency, a blanket national rule that allowed authorities to take strict measures against the virus such as travel bans, nighttime curfews and curbs on social gatherings.

    Fernando Simon, who heads the Health Ministry's emergency coordination centre, said that he was unable to predict how the contagion rate would evolve after the euphoric scenes.

  • Jon Rogers

    EASING OF RESTRICTIONS MAY INCREASE R NUMBER BUT WILL NOT OVERWHELM NHS – SAGE

    The easing of restrictions on May 17 will likely cause an increase in infections across England but not enough to overwhelm the NHS, scientists advising the Government have said.

    Modelling has shown that England's R number will probably rise above 1 when lockdown measures are relaxed under stage three of the Government's road map, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said.

    While it means that Covid-19 infections will increase across the country, it is "highly unlikely to put unsustainable pressure" on the NHS, the group concluded at its meeting on May 5.

    Sage said it remained "highly likely" there will be a further resurgence in hospital admissions and deaths "at some point", and that the full impact of easing restriction will not be seen until mid-June at the earliest.

    But that resurgence will be smaller if measures that reduce transmission, such as social distancing, are maintained beyond the end of the Government's road map on June 21.

  • Jon Rogers

    FRANCE'S NEW COVID CASES FALLS TO 2021 LOW

    The number of daily new COVID-19 infections in France fell to 3,292 on Monday, the lowest figure since the start of the year, while the tally of patients in intensive care for the disease was down for the seventh consecutive day.

    New cases always tend to dip on Mondays as fewer tests are conducted over the weekend, but the seven-day moving average of daily infections, which evens out reporting irregularities, fell to 17,767, a trough since Jan. 14, versus an April 14 peak of 42,225.

    France exited its third lockdown a week ago and is hoping to gradually unwind all its major restrictive measures by the end of next month.

    The reopening of outdoor bars and restaurants will go ahead on May 19, Health Minister Olivier Veran said earlier in the day.

    The number of people hospitalised for COVID-19 decreased by 131 to a seven-week low of 25,666. And, amongst that total, patients in intensive care units for the disease stood at 4,870, the lowest since March 27.

  • Jon Rogers

    MORE VISITORS AND 'GREATER FREEDOMS' FOR ENGLAND'S CARE HOME RESIDENTS

    Care home residents in England will be able to have up to five named visitors, and will no longer have to self-isolate for 14 days after leaving the home to attend medical appointments.

    The changes come into effect from next Monday, when the country enters the third stage of its road map for easing coronavirus restrictions.

    Boris Johnson said the number of visitors would increase from two to five per resident.

    Guidance from the Cabinet Office says a maximum of two visitors can visit a resident at any one time.

    And residents will be able to leave the care home for more trips without needing to isolate for 14 days on their return.

  • Jon Rogers

    SOME QUARANTINE-FREE TRAVEL FOR SCOTLAND FROM MAY 24 IF PLANS APPROVED

    Scots will be able to travel to some countries overseas without having to quarantine on return, if proposals currently under consideration by the Scottish Government are confirmed.

    The PA news agency understands the Scottish Government is currently considering operating a traffic light system similar to the one confirmed for England.

    If Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms adoption of the proposed system at her planned coronavirus briefing on Tuesday it is expected to come into force on May 24.

    Under the system countries would be classified as green, amber and red and a review would take place every four weeks.

    The Scottish Government said it would not comment on reports ahead of Tuesday's coronavirus briefing.

  • Jon Rogers

    RANGERS FANS WARNED BY POLICE NOT TO CELEBRATE TITLE IN LARGE NUMBERS

    Police have urged Rangers fans not to gather in large numbers when their team collects the Scottish Premiership trophy after a supporters' group announced plans for a march.

    The Union Bears group posted an invitation to supporters to march from Ibrox to George Square in Glasgow city centre after Saturday's final league game of the season against Aberdeen.

    Police Scotland has warned such a plan would be against coronavirus regulations.

    Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, Divisional Commander for Greater Glasgow Division, said: "Ahead of the match between Rangers and Aberdeen at Ibrox Stadium on Saturday, an appropriate policing plan is in place to maintain public safety and minimise any disruption to the community.

    "Under the current restrictions no-one should be gathering in numbers of more than six at the stadium or any other location and Police Scotland supports the club in urging its fans to do the right thing and follow the coronavirus regulations around gatherings."

  • Jon Rogers

    JOHNSON APPEARS TO RULE OUT BRING JUNE 21 DATE FORWARD

     Boris Johnson appeared to rule out bringing forward the end of Covid-19 restrictions in England, saying that the success of the roadmap out of England's Covid-19 lockdown depended on leaving space stages.

    Asked if he might bring forward a June 21 date for the final stage of his roadmap out of lockdown, Johnson said: "I think it's very important that we should proceed cautiously."

    "The secret of the success that we've had so far I think it's been that we have been guided by the data and we've given time to see the effect of each successive stage on the roadmap."

    Johnson added the one-metre plus social distancing rule for restaurants and pubs might be ditched on June 21

  • Jon Rogers

    BRITS URGED TO STILL THINK OF VULNERABLE LOVED ONES

    Boris Johnson said: "This doesn't mean that we can suddenly throw caution to the winds.

    "We all know that close contacts such as hugging is a direct way of transmitting this disease," he said.

    "So I urge you to think about the vulnerability of your loved ones."

  • Jon Rogers

    INDIAN VARIANT COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS IN AUTUMN – WHITTY

    Professor Whitty, responding to a question about the Indian variant, said: "It has gone up very sharply, that's a reason to be very careful about it.

    "With all the variants, things can come out of a blue sky, that happened with the Kent variant, that has happened to India.

    "At this point in time, our view is that this is a highly transmissible variant, but it is less likely to be able to escape vaccination, but the data is less properly in there.

    "We don't know whether this will cause significant problems in the autumn."

  • Jon Rogers

    VALLANCE 'CONFIDENT' THIS IS THE FINAL LOCKDOWN

    Patrick Vallance said that things are "pointing in the right direction" and vaccines are helping put things on a "smoother path".

    Asked about the return of people to offices and city centres, the Prime Minister said he believes the "bustle" of city and town centres will come back, as he thinks people will want to see each other.

  • Jon Rogers

    HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WELCOMES MAY 17 DECISION

    In response to the Prime Minister's confirmation that indoor hospitality will reopen on May 17, Kate Nicholls, chief executive of industry body UKHospitality, said: "This is a much welcome and vitally important next step, as we continue along the road map to remove restrictions.

    "There is a huge sense of relief within the sector, in particular for the six in 10 venues that were not able to reopen over recent weeks due to a lack of outdoor space.

    "However, with significant restrictions still in place, this is a psychological opening rather than an economic one, with the profitability of the sector still a huge issue.

    "This is why sticking to the road map and the removal of all restrictions by June 21 is absolutely crucial, enabling venues to finally operate in viable conditions, after 14 months of severely disrupted trading."

  • Jon Rogers

    'CONSIDERABLE STEP' ON THE ROAD BACK TO NORMALITY – PM

    "This unlocking amounts to a very considerable step on the road back to normality and I am confident that we will be able to go further," Johnson told a news conference.

    Johnson has previously said nearly all restrictions could be lifted on June 21.

  • Jon Rogers

    BRITS URGED TO KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES WHEN NOT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

    Boris Johnson has said people should continue to follow social distancing rules when not with family and friends.

    He told a Downing Street news conference: "We only have to look at the very sad situation in other countries to see the lethal potential of this virus and we must continue to fight the spread of variants here in the UK.

    "While we have no evidence yet to believe these variants are completely vaccine resistant, we must remain vigilant."

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