/Covid news – live: Boris Johnson under pressure to delay lockdown exit as Vietnam finds new ‘hybrid variant’

Covid news – live: Boris Johnson under pressure to delay lockdown exit as Vietnam finds new ‘hybrid variant’

Chinese city locks down neighbourhood amid virus surge

Ending coronavirus restrictions will be a “gradual process” even if the final stage of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown is reached on 21 June, a JCVI scientist has said.

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told BBC Breakfast that people will need to “carry on being cautious” even after all legal limitations on social contact are lifted, adding that “I think it will be a gradual process even if the June 21 date goes ahead.”

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cambridge has received her first Covid-19 vaccination at London’s Science Museum. The 39-year-old duchess said that she is “hugely grateful” to everyone who is playing a part in the vaccine rollout.

The duchess shared a photo of herself receiving the jab, a week after her husband Prince William received his first dose.

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St Paul’s Covid memorial campaign reaches £2.3m target

St Paul’s Covid memorial campaign has reached its target of raising £2.3 million.

The money will be spent on creating a dedicated memorial to those who have lost their lives to the virus inside the cathedral, and will include a book of remembrance containing the names of people who have died.

The campaign, which was set up in partnership with the Daily Mail, raised the money in less than a month.

Joanna Taylor29 May 2021 16:20

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NHS key workers enjoy day out Legoland as ‘small thank you’

NHS key workers enjoyed a day out at Legoland in Windsor with their families on Friday, a day before the theme park’s latest attraction opened up to the general public.

Staff at the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust were invited to the resort as a “small thank you” for their “selfless efforts” during the pandemic, a park official said.

<p>Families of NHS key workers enjoyed a preview of Legoland’s newest attraction</p>

Families of NHS key workers enjoyed a preview of Legoland’s newest attraction

(PA)

“Our local NHS key workers continue to do an amazing job and we wanted to say a small thank you for their selfless efforts during what has been an incredibly difficult and challenging year for us all,” Helen Bull, divisional director of the resort, said.

“We were delighted to work with the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust to invite families to experience the incredible world of Lego Mythica and the UK’s first flying theatre ride before it opens to guests.”

The families were given exclusive access to the Lego Mythica: World Of Mythical Creatures attraction

(PA)

Additional tickets have been handed out to key workers to enjoy throughout the year.

Joanna Taylor29 May 2021 15:52

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More than 400 new coronavirus cases recorded in Ireland

A further 464 coronavirus cases have been recorded in Ireland.

On Saturday morning, 90 Covid-positive patients were in hospital, including 35 in intensive care.

Joanna Taylor29 May 2021 15:39

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Boris Johnson must do the right thing and delay lockdown easing

“Boris Johnson must do the right thing and delay lockdown easing at the end of June, if the scientific evidence says so.”

One reader’s letter on why data must come before dates:

Joanna Taylor29 May 2021 15:14

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Duchess of Cambridge receives jab a week after husband

The Duchess of Cambridge has received a dose of coronavirus vaccine, a week after her husband Prince William got the jab.

The Duke of Cambridge said at the time that the royal couple “wholeheartedly support having vaccinations”.

Joanna Taylor29 May 2021 15:01

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Glasgow’s mobile vaccine centres attract queues

Scots are queueing outside drop-in vaccination centres in Glasgow as cases of the Indian variant rise.

Mobile vaccine centres were set up in the city to immunise people over 40 who are yet to receive their jabs, as Glasgow remains the only part of Scotland under Level 3 restrictions.

The newly opened centres, which opened at 11am this morning, attracted queues, including outside the New Victoria Hospital in the city’s south which has seen a recent spike in cases.

Joanna Taylor29 May 2021 14:57

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One further Covid death in Northern Ireland

One further person has died with Covid-19, Northern Ireland’s Department of Health says.

It was the first death recorded in 11 days.

Another 68 positive cases were also recorded.

Joanna Taylor29 May 2021 14:41

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No new Covid deaths reported in Scotland

Scotland has recorded 583 new coronavirus cases but no further deaths in the last 24 hours, official figures show.

The total death toll in the region stands at 7,668.

Joanna Taylor29 May 2021 14:29

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Majority of Brits frown on foreign travel to amber list countries

A majority of Brits frown on their neighbours planning to holiday in Spain, France or Greece this summer, with 60 per cent saying in a new poll that it is not reasonable to travel to such destinations while they remain on the ‘amber list’.

One in five responding to the Savanta ComRes survey said the maximum £10,000 fine for breaching the rules was too lenient, with almost one in 20 saying that dodging quarantine should be punished with jail.

Joanna Taylor29 May 2021 14:07

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Duchess of Cambridge receives first Covid vaccine dose

The Duchess of Cambridge has received her first coronavirus vaccine dose at the London Science Museum.

The 39-year-old duchess wrote on Twitter that she’s “hugely grateful” to everyone playing a part in the vaccination rollout.

Covid-19 vaccine doses are currently being offered to people aged 30 and over, as well as people who are clinically vulnerable.

Joanna Taylor29 May 2021 13:55