Another record rise in India deaths; samples show UK is most affected by B.1.617 strain outside India; Taiwan outbreak ‘could lead to tighter curbs’
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12.10pm BST
Spain expects foreign tourist arrivals to reach up to 45 million this year, tourism minister Reyes Maroto has said at a presentation of Spain’s promotional campaign to entice visitors back this summer.
Foreign tourism to Spain plunged 80% last year from 83.5 million visitors in 2019 as pandemic restrictions caused unprecedented disruption to leisure travel. The country’s government has previously said it expects tourism to reach half its pre-pandemic levels this year.
12.00pm BST
Another leader from Thailand’s anti-government protest movement contracted Covid, but was said to be asymptomatic, after spending eight weeks in jail pending trial on charges of insulting the country’s king.
Reuters has the story:
Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, who was released on bail last week from pre-trial detention, said on her Twitter account on Wednesday that she was being treated in a hospital after testing positive for the virus following her release.
Two others detainees from the protest movement, including human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and Chukiat “Justin” Saengowng, have also tested positive for Covid-19. They are also charged with insulting the monarchy.
Continue reading… Source: The Guardian: Coronavirus live news: India variant found in 44 countries – WHO; Taiwan faces new outbreak ———