HERE are the latest developments in the Covid pandemic. 

  • There have been  646 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in the North-East and North Yorkshire in the last 24 -hours. Nationally, the Government said a further 1,001 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday, bringing the UK total to 114,851. Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 133,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.
  • Health Secretary Matt Hancock has come under fierce criticism from a senior Tory who said plans to impose 10-year prison sentences on travellers who try to evade coronavirus quarantine rules are “utterly ridiculous”. Sir Charles Walker, the vice chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs, told Boris Johnson to rein in Cabinet ministers “very, very quickly”, as he also accused the Government of “robbing people of hope”. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had defended the “strong action” for UK nationals returning from high-risk destinations who lie about their movements as necessary to prevent new mutations of the virus entering the country.
  • Scientists advising the World Health Organisation (WHO) have recommended the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in all adults. WHO scientists have issued interim recommendations on the vaccine, saying that the jab could be given people aged 18 and above “without an upper age limit”. It comes after a number of countries have opted not to give the jab to those over the age of 65.
  • The Government has “still not produced a clear strategy” to tackle “vaccine hesitancy” within black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, Labour has said. Minister for equalities Kemi Badenoch said she recognised the issue “is very serious”, adding: “We have seen some progress.”
  • Captain Sir Tom Moore’s daughter has thanked the public for their “incredible support” following his death at the age of 100. Hannah Ingram-Moore described her father as “the best mentor and confidante you could ever wish for” and said the family was still “feeling his absence”. Sir Tom captured the hearts of the nation with his fundraising efforts during the first lockdown when he walked 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden before his 100th birthday, raising more than £32 million for the NHS.