Coronavirus latest news: Indian variant only severely affects the unvaccinated, says Government advisor
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Coronavirus vaccines are "almost certainly less effective" at reducing transmission of the Indian variant, the deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has said.
Professor Anthony Harnden told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The vaccines may be less effective against mild disease but we don't think they're less effective against severe disease.
"But in combination with being less effective against mild disease, they're almost certainly less effective against transmission."
However, "all the evidence so far suggests there is no evidence of increased severity of illness or that [the Indian variant] evades the vaccine," he added.
It comes as England moves to the next stage of the lockdown roadmap on Monday, with pubs and restaurants able to serve people indoors again.
Follow the latest updates below.
09:17 AM
China cancels Everest spring climbing over coronavirus worries
China has decided to cancel the 2021 spring climbing season from the Tibetan side of Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak, because of coronavirus concerns, the official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.
It cited a notice on Friday from the General Administration of Sport, following a severe pandemic situation.
The Himalayan nation of Nepal, which is so short of oxygen canisters it has asked mountaineers to bring back their empties, has issued a record 408 permits to climb Everest in the April-May season after last year's closure.
In contrast, a total of 21 Chinese climbers had secured approval for climbs in spring, Xinhua added.
Last Sunday, state media said China would establish "a line of separation" at the summit of Everest to prevent the mingling of climbers from Nepal and those ascending from the Tibetan side as a precautionary measure.
08:53 AM
Portugal prepares for visitors
Portugal's secretary of state for tourism Rita Marques has said "everything is open" in her country.
Portugal confirmed this week it will reopen its borders to UK tourists from Monday.
Ms Marques told BBC Breakfast: "We have been working hard to tackle the pandemic, as I said, so restaurants and coffee shops and shops and everything is open as from May 1.
"Some restrictions apply, of course, so you have to wear a mask, you have to maintain social distancing.
"I guess, at the end of the day, the experience will be great."
She said masks are worn "indoors and outdoors", adding: "Masks need to be used all day long, except when you are on the beach, of course.
"So if you are going to a restaurant near the beach you should wear a mask, but if you are near the sea you don't need to wear a mask."
08:35 AM
Taiwan faces its worst outbreak yet
Taiwan, which once enviable success in containing Covid-19, has been forced to impose new restrictions in its capital city as it battled its worst outbreak since the pandemic began.
Authorities raised the alert level for Taipei, the capital, and the surrounding area of New Taipei city. The level 3 alert, which remains in effect for two weeks, requires people to wear a mask outdoors and limits indoor gatherings to five people and outdoor gatherings to 10 people.
Health authorities said that 180 new locally spread cases had been confirmed, the majority in Taipei and New Taipei. That's more than the total of 164 cases previously confirmed for the entire pandemic period. The daily number of new cases rose steadily from single digits early this week to 29 before the triple-digit jump announced Saturday.
"The epidemic is gaining intensity," Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said, while noting that more cases are being identified as authorities hone in on hot zones.
Taiwan, a self-governing island of about 24 million people off China's east coast, has kept the coronavirus largely at bay. It has tallied 1,475 cases, mostly infected people who arrived from abroad, and 12 deaths. The total number of locally spread cases more than tripled in the past week to 344 from under 100 as of last weekend.
08:02 AM
Bolton councillor calls for increased support for those in self-isolating
Bolton Council chief executive Tony Oakman has said he wants increased payments for people who are self-isolating.
He told BBC Breakfast: "The areas that this Indian variant has particularly taken a hold in are areas with low incomes, deprivation, mixed households, and therefore if you're on a limited income and you're thinking 'Where am I going to pay for the food? How am I going to survive this week?', then you might be tempted to not isolate."
Mr Oakman also highlighted the importance of "responsibilities" of the individual and people "adhering to the simple rules and advice that is available to them in terms of trying to make the right decisions and choices".
He said the council is "glad" about the acceleration of the vaccination programme across Bolton and will keep "pushing" for people aged 18 and over to be able to get a jab.
Mr Oakman said it has been explained that a rollout to people aged 18-plus is not possible.
"At the minute we are having to work within the rules that have been explained in previous interviews, but we're glad that we are getting the acceleration of the vaccination programme across Bolton, and we will keep pushing for 18 years plus," he said.
07:47 AM
Vigilance still key, despite vaccine roll out
Professor Anthony Harnden said vaccines will help in "dampening down" the spread of the virus but that vigilance is needed.
The deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said the situation is different to January because we now have a "highly vaccinated population".
He told BBC Breakfast: "I think the vaccines will help in terms of dampening down the spread of this virus but we do need to be vigilant and we just need to see what happens over the next few weeks."
He said decisions on easing restrictions are "very, very difficult" but acknowledged people are "completely fed up" with the impact on their lives.
He said: "I sympathise with those that are making the decision. My imperative is to make sure that as many people are vaccinated as quickly as possible.
"I'm very grateful that I haven't got to make that decision (about June 21) because I think it is a very difficult decision."
07:25 AM
Bringing forward second jabs the 'better strategy'
The deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has defended the approach of bringing forward second jabs rather than speeding up the rollout to younger people.
Professor Anthony Harnden told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that targeting more vulnerable people with full immunity is a "better strategy".
He said: "The reason we think this is if we immunise 18-29 year olds, for instance, in these areas we'll be taking vaccines from somebody else in the country.
"The vaccines may be less effective against transmission and immunity takes a number of weeks to develop, so it's not a very good strategy for preventing transmission, what we want is to prevent disease.
"From a vaccination strategy it just won't help mass-vaccinating a number of young people at the expense of older people who haven't been vaccinated."
07:20 AM
Government "calmly" continuing to lift restrictions
Health minister Edward Argar said the Government was acting "coolly" and "calmly" as it presses ahead with coronavirus restriction easing on Monday, despite rising cases of the Indian variant.
Referring to reports the new variant could be up to 50 per cent more transmissible, he said: "As Chris Whitty said yesterday, it's possible, but equally it could be much less more transmissible, if that makes sense.
"We don't know how much more transmissible it is yet.
"All the evidence so far suggests there is no evidence of increased severity of illness or that it evades the vaccine.
"So, at the moment, on the basis of the evidence we are doing the right thing, coolly, calmly continuing with Monday, but keeping everything under review."
Mr Argar added that people should take personal responsibility when deciding whether or not to hug loved ones, when allowed to do so.
"You have to take all the facts into consideration," he said.
"It's about personal responsibility, it's about making the right judgment call."
06:55 AM
'Snarky conversations' over guidance on face coverings in schools
Geoff Barton, of the Association of School and College Leaders, said Government guidance on wearing face coverings in schools had caused some "snarky" conversations between teachers and parents.
"The past year has taught us not to be too comfortable with anything and to expect the unexpected all the time," he told BBC Breakfast.
"Parents who heard what the Prime Minister said will say 'well, why are you possibly not ending face coverings in my school or college?' and I think it's made it more difficult to navigate our way through the communication.
"Everyone heard an announcement that was rather cut and dry from the Prime Minister rather than more nuanced.
"So, there have, as you're implying, been one or two snarky conversations with parents who don't want their children wearing face coverings."
He added: "Ultimately, governors and heads will follow public-health advice and will insist, if it's necessary, that face coverings continue to be worn."
Read more: Masks likely to stay in classroom as schools set to defy guidance
06:39 AM
China cancels Everest climbs over fears of virus from Nepal
China has cancelled attempts to climb Mount Everest from its side of the world's highest peak because of fears of importing Covid-19 cases from neighbouring Nepal, state media reported.
The closure was confirmed in a notice on Friday from China's General Administration of Sport, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
While China has mostly curbed domestic transmission of the coronavirus, Nepal is experiencing a surge with record numbers of new infections and deaths.
China had issued permits to 38 people, all Chinese citizens, to climb the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) -high mountain this spring. Nepal has given permission to 408 people. Climbing was not allowed from either side last year because of the pandemic.
In Nepal, several climbers have reported testing positive after they were brought down from the Everest base camp.
05:31 AM
Devastating surge spreading in India's rural areas
India's two biggest cities have reported a drop in daily infections but the government is warning that the devastating surge is spreading in rural areas, where nearly two-thirds of India's 1.4 billion people live.
India reported 326,098 new confirmed cases and 3,890 deaths in the past 24 hours, though experts say both figures are an undercount. The Health Ministry had reported 343,144 cases on Friday and 362,727 on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday warned people to take extra precautions as the virus was spreading fast in rural areas. He said the government was mobilising all resources, including the military.
News reports say hapless villagers have been rushing the sick to nearby towns and cities for treatment because health care facilities are limited in the countryside.
India's capital has reported less than 10,000 new cases in a day for the first time in over a month. It recorded 8,506 cases in the past 24 hours.
After a peak of 11,000 daily infections, Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment capital, has been reporting less than 2,000.
04:17 AM
Taiwan tightens curbs after rise in domestic cases
Taiwan raised its coronavirus alert level on Saturday in the capital, Taipei, and the city around it, bringing curbs for a period of two weeks that will shut many venues and restrict gatherings in the wake of 180 new domestic infections.
The new rules will not mean offices, schools or restaurants have to close, but will cause the shutdown of cinemas and other entertainment spots, while limiting family get-togethers to five people indoors and 10 outdoors.
Taipei's government has already ordered bars, nightclubs and similar venues to shut.
03:13 AM
First flight lands in Australia as India travel ban ends
A plane carrying more than 70 Australians fleeing virus-stricken India landed in the country's north on Saturday, the first since a controversial ban on arrivals ended.
The plane touched down in Darwin on Saturday morning after picking up vulnerable passengers from New Delhi, but 72 of its booked passengers were barred from flying after 48 tested positive for Covid-19 and others were deemed close contacts.
Initially planned to carry 150 travellers, just over half of those booked were cleared to board the plane, a Northern Territory Health spokeswoman said.
Under the arrangement, those who test positive for the virus, or were deemed close contacts, have to remain in India until they return a negative test.
The arrivals will quarantine at Outback quarantine facility Howard Springs for at least a fortnight.
03:03 AM
Today's top stories
Boris Johnson on Friday warned that the Indian variant could “seriously disrupt” plans to lift the final Covid restrictions on June 21
Nicola Sturgeon has cancelled the easing of lockdown in Glasgow on Monday following evidence the more transmissible Indian Covid variant is "driving" the surge of cases in the city
GPs have rejected NHS instructions to immediately offer every patient a face-to-face appointment, warning the move “cannot happen overnight”
Scientists on a committee that encouraged the use of fear to control people’s behaviour during the Covid pandemic have admitted its work was “unethical” and “totalitarian”
Border Force failings mean passengers will have to endure chaos that makes a mockery of Global Britain, an airports chief has told The Telegraph
Second coronavirus vaccine doses will be brought forward by a month to tackle the Indian variant after Government scientists said the mutated virus may be 50 per cent more transmissible
Face masks are set to stay in the classroom as schools and councils prepare to defy government guidance, The Telegraph has found
