A MAN has pleaded guilty to a fake fit-to-fly Covid certificate, while large brands announce reopening plans. Here's everything you need to know about the Covid pandemic. 

  • Here is a breakdown by area of the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the North-East and North Yorkshire

York – 12,283 an increase of three.

Sunderland – 22,126 an increase of three.

Stockton-on-Tees – 15,941 an increase of six.

South Tyneside – 11,369 an increase of eight.

Redcar and Cleveland – 9,329 an increase of three.

North Yorkshire – 29,936 an increase of 19.

North Tyneside – 12,532 an increase of six.

Newcastle upon Tyne – 23,699 an increase of 14.

Middlesbrough – 12,509 an increase of eight.

Hartlepool – 8,929 an increase of four.

Gateshead – 13,792 an increase of five.

Darlington – 7,553 an increase of six.

County Durham – 38,110 an increase of 25.

The total increase across the region of 110.

  • The Government said a further four people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, bringing the UK total to 127,543. Figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been 152,000 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 1,946 lab-confirmed cases in the UK. It brings the total to 4,423,796.
  • A man has pleaded guilty to possession of a fake fit-to-fly Covid-19 certificate, which he used to try and board a plane to Egypt. Emmanuel Nere Mehari, 27, was stopped at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2 on April 12 and the forged document was discovered. Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard that Mehari was attempting to visit an unwell relative but did not know that a certificate or negative coronavirus test was required. Airport authorities checked his document and despite suspicions allowed him to board the plane, before receiving a call back from the clinic that had provided the certificate telling them it was a fake.
  • Easyjet has confirmed a route from Newcastle Airport will resume after flights were cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. The airline, which last year announced it would not operate any international flights from the region, confirmed that its Bristol service would make a return. Saying that flights would initially operate four days per week throughout May and June, the airline said the frequency would increase to six a week from July. It follows on from the recent confirmation that Vueling would be operating between the airport and Barcelona for the summer period.
  • The NHS app may not be ready for use as a vaccine passport when international travel resumes, Downing Street has admitted ahead of expected travel list announcements. Holidaymakers visiting most popular foreign destinations will be required to show evidence that they have been vaccinated, received a recent negative test or have coronavirus antibodies. But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman indicated that officials are working on alternative plans for when international travel resumes, which is expected on May 17 for people in England.
  • The team behind Darlington's vaccination programme have spoken out about their disappointment after 130 people failed to show up for appointments over the bank holiday. Yesterday, Darlington Primary Care Network (PCN) issued a frustrated statement on social media following the high number of no-shows over the weekend. The PCN had to put on an extra last-minute clinic on Monday to ensure no vaccines were wasted, meaning staff had to spend their bank holiday phoning around to make sure slots were filled. 
  • There is no evidence that drinking alcohol after a Covid-19 vaccine interferes with how it works, a UK regulator has said. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) was responding to social media reports that people should abstain from drinking for up to two weeks after a vaccine. In January, advisers to the alcohol education charity Drinkaware, which is funded by the alcohol industry, said there was some evidence that drinking, especially regular heavy drinking, could interfere with the body’s ability to build immunity in response to some vaccines. But there is nothing in the patient information leaflets from the NHS or the vaccine manufacturers to suggest such a link.
  • Odeon has confirmed it will reopen the vast majority of its screens in the UK on May 17 – the first day on the Government’s road map when indoor venues can reopen in England. The cinema chain, which has sites in Newcastle and Durham, said screenings will include the new James Bond film No Time To Die, which has been delayed on numerous occasions due to the lockdown; Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway and the latest instalment of the long-running Fast & Furious franchise.