There were 1,589 further cases of Covid-19 in the last 24-hours in the North East and North Yorkshire, government figures revealed yesterday (Saturday).

There were 1,035 further deaths in the UK, within 28-days of getting a positive coronavirus test result, in the last 24-hours.

In other coronavirus related news:

  • The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have received their Covid-19 vaccinations, joining more than a million people who have been given the jab.
  • The total number of lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK has now exceeded three million since the outbreak began, according to the Government’s dashboard.
  • The official coronavirus death toll in the UK has risen to more than 80,000 as lab-confirmed cases passed the three million mark. It comes as doctors have warned that pressure on the NHS could get worse in the coming weeks and some experts criticised the current lockdown measures as not being strict enough.
  • Police forces across England have urged people to stay home and avoid traveling as they continue to fine those breaching lockdown restrictions. Several constabularies issued the message on Saturday as doctors said that pressure on the NHS from coronavirus could get worse in the coming weeks.
  • A GP helping with the vaccine rollout has told of her tears of joy at being able to give people the “hope” of protection from Covid-19 through a jab. Dr Nikki Kanani also described how care home residents had been moved by the prospect of being reunited with family members after having the vaccine. The GP, based in south-east London, has not yet been offered a vaccination herself but said she “can’t wait” to get one to “know that I’ve got that protection”. Dr Kanani, medical director of primary care for NHS England and NHS Improvement, said she had worked with both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines in the rollout.
  • Twelve people have been arrested for breaching Covid-19 restrictions during an anti-lockdown protest in south-west London, the Metropolitan Police said. A crowd of about 30 people marched down Clapham High Street on Saturday afternoon chanting “take your freedom back” while being heckled by members of the public.
  • Police Scotland have urged members of the public not to attend an anti-lockdown march through Edinburgh after a man was arrested at a similar event in Glasgow. The Scotland Against Lockdown group, which organises events on social media, announced last week plans to “march for freedom” through the capital from Holyrood to the First Minister’s residence at Bute House.
  • Nine more people have died of coronavirus in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health has confirmed. It brings the total death toll to 1,443 since the onset of the pandemic.
  • The national lockdown needs to be toughened further to have a similar impact on case numbers as the March shutdown, scientists have said. A more infectious variant, coupled with the usual winter pressures, requires stricter measures than the ones announced by Boris Johnson for England this month, the experts warned. Similar lockdown measures are in place across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • A new Covid-19 testing centre has opened in Galashiels. The UK Government-run facility at Langlee Community Centre is one of 24 walk-through sites in Scotland, where people without access to a car can receive a test. The announcement came after Scotland reported the highest number of deaths in a 24-hour period on Friday, with hospital numbers also exceeding the peak seen in April.