HERE'S everything you need to know from the past 24-hours. 

  • The Government said a further 20 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, bringing the UK total to 126,882. Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been 150,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The Government also said that, as of 9am on Tuesday, there had been a further 2,379 lab-confirmed cases in the UK. It brings the total to 4,364,529. Numbers for cases and deaths over Easter will be affected by incomplete data plus a longer than usual lag in reporting.
  • Boris Johnson faces a battle to introduce domestic vaccine passports after running into fierce opposition from Tory critics and Labour. A Government review into “Covid status certification” found they could “potentially play a role” in settings such as theatres, nightclubs and mass events, and might also be used in pubs and restaurants to reduce social distancing restrictions. The prospect of having to show a certificate to access shops or bars has outraged members of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG) of Conservatives, while Labour hit out at the “discriminatory” and “poorly thought-through” proposals.
  • Downing Street has insisted all adults will be offered a coronavirus vaccine by the end of July as planned despite official estimates of supplies being sharply downgraded. The Cabinet Office has indicated that an average of 2.7 million doses a week will be given in England until the end of July, down from a previous estimate of 3.2 million. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman refused to be drawn on “details around supplies and deliveries” of vaccine doses but said “we remain on track” to meet the targets set for the programme.
  • Boris Johnson has pledged to make new testing requirements for returning holidaymakers “as affordable as possible” amid concerns that many people will be priced out of foreign travel. The Government announced plans for a new system on Monday that would require travellers arriving in the UK from low-risk countries to take pre-departure and post-arrival coronavirus tests. Aviation leaders such as easyJet boss Johan Lundgren have suggested this would be unnecessary, but called for lateral flow tests to be accepted – rather than more expensive alternatives – if the policy is implemented.
  • Secondary school and college pupils in England will need to continue wearing face masks in class when they return after Easter, the Government has said. It is hoped the precautionary measure will help limit the risk of transmission. The move came after five education union leaders called on ministers not to “rush into” removing face coverings from classrooms after Easter without careful consideration of the scientific evidence.
  • Rugby clubs, farms and stately homes are among the venues transforming themselves into pop-up holiday venues this summer as Covid travel restrictions lead to a surge in demand for staycations.
  • Landowners are taking advantage of a relaxation in the law that allows sites to open for 56 days without planning permission this year, up from 28 days in a normal year. Camping booking platform Pitchup said temporary campsites have sprung up on all kinds of land, from farms to parkland around stately homes to rugby clubs, county showgrounds and village pub beer gardens. They are proving a lifeline for businesses that may have otherwise struggled to survive the pandemic and for customers who might otherwise have been unable to take a holiday post-lockdown.
  • There were 89 new Covid-19 cases recorded in the region yesterday. Nationally, the Government said a further 20 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, bringing the UK total to 126,882. Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been 150,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The Government also said that, as of 9am on Tuesday, there had been a further 2,379 lab-confirmed cases in the UK. It brings the total to 4,364,529. Numbers for cases and deaths over Easter will be affected by incomplete data plus a longer than usual lag in reporting. Here is a breakdown by area of cases recorded in the region since the pandemic beganL County Durham 37,698 was 37,676; Darlington: 7,440 was 7,435; Gateshead: 13,681 was 13,674; Hartlepool: 8,810 was 8,808; Middlesbrough: 12,357 was 12,353; Newcastle: 23,286 was 23,282; North Tyneside: 12,365 was 12,357; North Yorkshire: 29,388 was 29,368; Redcar and Cleveland: 9,254 was 9,248; South Tyneside: 11,285 was 11,284; Stockton-on-Tees: 15,746 was 15,739; Sunderland: 21,939 was 21,936; York: 12,219 was 12,219