Delayed vaccines and variants risk spike in Africa; Portugal, Iceland, Malta expected to be on UK green list; India cases rise by world record 414,188
- Under-40s in UK to be offered alternative to AstraZeneca jab
- New concerns as Indian Covid variant clusters found across England
- EU wants three ‘course-changing’ Covid drugs from October
- Living through India’s pandemic: ‘Oxygen is the new currency’
- Japan to extend Covid emergency in Tokyo as Olympics loom
12.24pm BST
Around one in 1,180 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to 2 May – down from one in 1,010 the previous week, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics.
It is the lowest figure since the week to 5 September 2020, when the estimate stood at one in 1,400, PA Media reports.
We’ve published the latest release of our #COVID19 Infection Survey.
Infection rates have decreased in England, Wales and Scotland and remained level in Northern Ireland in the weeks up to 2 May 2021 https://t.co/KLrvxJAeHI pic.twitter.com/rfzD8PZDIy
12.22pm BST
The head of Northern Ireland’s vaccination programme, Patricia Donnelly, has said the rollout to the under-40 age group will be limited over the coming weeks due to the changed advice on who should get Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs, PA Media reports.
Donnelly said:
Protecting our adult population through vaccination is a huge and unprecedented undertaking. Logistical challenges are inevitable, but the programme has already proved itself to be highly resilient. I would again appeal for patience from the public, as we reset the programme in light of the updated JCVI advice. Pfizer supplies remain steady but limited, so our progress with the 30-39 age group will be limited for the next few weeks. Likewise, those under 30 will have to wait a few weeks before being offered appointments for their first dose.
Continue reading… Source: The Guardian: Coronavirus live news: WHO warns of risk of new wave in Africa; UK no-quarantine travel list to be announced ———