HERE'S what you need to know about the Covid pandemic from the past 24-hours:  

  • The Government said a further 33 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, bringing the UK total to 127,307. Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been 151,000 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 2,524 lab-confirmed cases in the UK. It brings the total to 4,393,307.
  • A Darlington vaccination site which was the first of its kind to provide vaccines in the town will not offer any further doses beyond July, it has been confirmed. The vaccination centre at Feethams House will close for good once it has given all remaining second doses to those who have received their first at the site. But the Darlington Primary Care Network, which runs the town centre site, has said remaining residents will still be offered the vaccine at two existing sites. They are the Darlington Arena and Cockerton Pharmacy - which are both booked through the NHS national booking system.

Full story: Darlington's Feethams House will stop vaccinating people by July - here's why

  • Supermarket chain Iceland is offering a special discount to NHS staff as a thank you for their work. The managing director of Iceland Richard Walker announced yesterday on social media that NHS staff can bag a 10 per cent discount at the supermarket from now until May 2. He said it was "as a thank you to our brilliant ⁦#NHS".
  • A police station is the latest site to support the fight against coronavirus after it opened its gates for the public to collect home testing kits. Northumbria Police have revealed they are supplying lateral flow testing kits from a base at Etal Lane Police Station once a week. The station in the Newbiggin Hall area of Newcastle has been approved by Newcastle City Council and Public Health England to supply the home kits. The public will be free to visit the station’s car park between 2-5pm every Wednesday to collect them from the mobile Community Engagement van.
  • The European medicines regulator has found a “possible link” between Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine and very rare blood clots. The Janssen vaccine is yet to be approved for use in the UK. The safety committee of the European Medicines Agency concluded that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as a “very rare” side effect of the vaccine. But the EMA concluded the overall benefits of the vaccine “outweigh the risks of side effects”. Officials reviewed eight cases reported in the United States, where more than seven million people have received the jab. They said these cases were “were very similar to the cases that occurred with the Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca”.
  • Around 100 people are trying to enter the country each day with a “fake Covid certificate”, MPs have heard. The fake documents claiming a traveller has a recent negative test result are “very easy” to forge, MPs were told. And there is no way to tell how many more are being missed. Lucy Moreton, professional officer for the Immigration Services Union (ISU), which represents border immigration and customs staff in the UK, also said there is “little to no” evidence on how well people are adhering to quarantine rules. Meanwhile, MPs heard that long queues found at airports could be a “breeding ground” for the virus.
  • The Labour candidate for Tees Valley Mayor has tested positive for Covid-19. Jessie Joe Jacobs posted a video on her Facebook page, saying that her sister, mum and niece who she lives with all have tested positive. The mayoral election is due to take place on May 6 - in just over two weeks.
  • At-home Covid-19 treatments are being sought by a team of Government experts to speed up recovery time for people who become infected with the virus. The Government has set up a new taskforce to “supercharge” the search for antiviral medications for Covid-19. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the group will seek out new medicines to “stop Covid-19 in its tracks”. It is hoped that antivirals could help to reduce infections and limit the impact of any new variants. They may also help to protect people who cannot take vaccines or those who are not fully protected after having the jab. Officials hope to find and bring two treatments online this year. This could mean that people with Covid-19, or those they have been in close contact with, could be offered antiviral medication – offered in tablet form – to stop the infection spreading and speed up recovery time.
  • There were a further 120 coronavirus cases in the North East and North Yorkshire in the last 24-hours.
  • The Government said a further 33 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, bringing the UK total to 127,307.