Coronavirus LIVE UK – Ministers considering contingency plans for local lockdowns or a DELAY reopening on June 21

WATCH: GMB'S HILARY JONES WARNS ABOUT INDIAN VARIANT AMONG CHILDREN

UPDATED COVID-19 DEATH TOLL

 The Government said a further five people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Monday, bringing the UK total to 127,684.

Separate 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 Monday, there had been a further 1,979 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.

WHAT DID MATT HANCOCK SAY IN HIS ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY?

The Health Secretary updated MPs on the Government's battle plan to tackle the UK’s outbreak of the new strain and keep the PM's roadmap on track.

Mr Hancock revealed there are now fewer than 1,000 people in hospital in the UK with coronavirus and on average there are nine deaths a day.

This means the country was able to take step 3 of its roadmap today by carefully easing restrictions. The Health Secretary warned though that we must be alert to new variants that could jeopardise the progress we've made.

He said this afternoon: "We have been in a race between the virus and the vaccine. As a nation, we've taken some huge strides forward and we can make careful progress today and we must remain vigilant. The vaccination programme can give us confident but we must be alert to new variants."

INDIA UNLIKELY TO START EXPORTING COVID VACCINE UNTIL OCTOBER

India is unlikely to start exporting Covid-19 vaccines until at least OCTOBER as it struggles to vaccinate its own popultion, three government sources said.

The a longer-than-expected delay set to worsen supply shortages for the global COVAX initiative which helps poorer countries vaccinate their people.

India halted vaccine exports a month ago after donating or selling more than 66 million doses. The move has left countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and many in Africa scrambling for alternate supplies.

The World Health Organization, which co-leads COVAX, on Monday called on vaccine makers outside India to advance supplies to the programme given the shortfall from the South Asian country.

India’s population is over 1 billion and it is currently in the grips of a second wave which has seen the total death toll rise to nearly 280,000 people with the total number of cases topping 25 million.

CASE BY CASE

Indian variant cases have surged by 77 per cent with a rise of 1,000 infections in just three days, Matt Hancock revealed this afternoon.

On Friday the latest data showed 1,313 cases in the UK, and on Monday there were 2,323.

Covid-hit Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen have seen 483 cases of the Indian variant and 27 people hospitalised, with Bedford now on the watchlist as infections rise.

Mr Hancock said: "The next biggest case of concern is Bedford where we are surging testing - and I would urge everybody in Bedford to exercise caution and engage in testing where it is available."

He said there are 86 local authorities with five or more cases of the mutation, but did not specify where they were.

MASKING FOR TROUBLE

Brits heading to Portugal for a long-awaited holiday must wear face masks on the beach or will be slapped with a £100 fine.

As foreign travel finally reopened for countries on the green list, it still remains a far cry from normality – as tourists were handed face masks, hand sanitiser and were asked for full details of their trip after stepping off the plane.

Holidaymakers were also warned to abide by the strict rules regarding wearing face masks in public places, including beaches, or will face £100 fines.

Although the country is officially “open for business”, visitors must provide proof of a negative Covid PCR test and show a completed locator form with details of their accommodation.

Portugal pledged to try “at all costs to avoid quarantines and additional Covid-19 tests” for travellers, tourism minister Rita Marques said recently.

RUSSIA’S AEROFLOT HALTS MOST JUNE FLIGHTS TO TURKEY

Russia’s flagship airline Aeroflot said on Monday it was cancelling most flights to Turkey for June pending a decision from the Russian government to resume flights to and from the country.

Russia last month restricted flights to and from Turkish cities until June 1, citing a growing number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey, which is a popular destination for millions of Russian tourists.

“We had stopped sales and cancelled all flights to Turkey for June, with the exception of two flights per week permitted by the (coronavirus) task force as to not inconvenience passengers due to possible cancellations,” Aeroflot said in a statement.

An airline industry source told Reuters that Russia had decided to extend the ban on flights to Turkey until June 30, but the government taskforce said it would not confirm that such a decision had been made.

WHERE CAN I GO ON HOLIDAY THIS SUMMER?

MEXICO CONFIRMS 822 NEW CASES AND 56 MORE DEATHS

Mexico’s health ministry on Monday reported 822 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country and 56 more fatalities, bringing its total to 2,382,745 infections and 220,493 deaths.

The government has said the real number of cases is likely significantly higher, and separate data published recently suggested the actual death toll is at least 60% above the confirmed figure.

TURKEY'S ERDOGAN ANNOUNCES ONE-TIME PAYMENTS FOR BUSINESS HIT BY PANDEMIC

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday announced one-off payments totalling some 4.6 billion lira to several sectors that were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, including cafes, restaurants and musicians.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan said cafes, wedding venues and theme parks, among other businesses hit by the pandemic, would be given a one-off payment of 5,000 lira.

He said restaurants, cab drivers, barbers, musicians, car washes and others would receive 3,000 lira.

Erdogan also announced additional support for the agriculture sector.

Turkey emerged on Monday from a full lockdown that lasted nearly three weeks, during which many businesses were closed. A daily curfew and weekend lockdowns will remain in place until June.

THE GREAT INDOORS

Brits blew £2.8million-a-minute on Mad Monday as pubs and restaurants opened indoors and other Covid rules were lifted.

Around 20 million went drinking and eating inside,  shopped and hit cinemas, theatres and gyms for the first time in up to seven months.

Around 140,000 boozers, restaurants and cafes were the busiest for nine months, since August’s Eat Out to Help Out frenzy.

A dash of drinkers and diners was seen across the country, in cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle.

Cinemas saw a rush after Vue’s 88 sites and most of Odeon’s 112 locations reopened after some had been closed since October. Movie Peter Rabbit 2 drew fans.

More on the story here.

EU'RE WELCOME

Fully vaccinated Brits are set to be welcomed into the EU with no need for a test or quarantine as "Covid passports" get the green light this week, according to reports.

However confusion over holidays remained as ministers told people to stay away from "amber list" countries despite the end of the legal travel ban.

It comes as hundreds flew to Portugal and other defied government warning by going to Greece and Italy as the blanket bar on holidays was lifted on Monday.

Right now, all European countries except Portugal and Gibraltar are on the government's amber travel list - meaning anyone jetting off for a break must quarantine and take two tests on their return.

The EU, however, has formulated a plan which would see member states give unrestricted entry to those who have had both jabs from low-risk countries such as the UK, reports the Telegraph.

LOCKED OUT

The chances of full lockdown being lifted on June 21 are “close to nil”, a government adviser has reportedly said.

The final decision on whether to ease restrictions could be delayed until the full extent of the spread of the Indian Covid variant – and the effectiveness of vaccines against it – becomes known.

A spike in cases of the variant has seen it spread rapidly to reach all parts of the UK within a matter of weeks.

Downing Street has refused to say if Boris Johnson’s promise to announce an update on post-June 21 plans by the end of the month will still go ahead as planned.

Some ministers and scientist have insisted the full easing of lockdown restrictions that will allow indoor mixing, weddings and clubs to reopen, is still likely to go ahead.

INDIA UNLIKELY TO START EXPORTING COVID VACCINE UNTIL OCTOBER

India is unlikely to start exporting Covid-19 vaccines until at least OCTOBER as it struggles to vaccinate its own popultion, three government sources said.

The a longer-than-expected delay set to worsen supply shortages for the global COVAX initiative which helps poorer countries vaccinate their people.

India halted vaccine exports a month ago after donating or selling more than 66 million doses. The move has left countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and many in Africa scrambling for alternate supplies.

The World Health Organization, which co-leads COVAX, on Monday called on vaccine makers outside India to advance supplies to the programme given the shortfall from the South Asian country.

India's population is over 1 billion and it is currently in the grips of a second wave which has seen the total death toll rise to nearly 280,000 people with the total number of cases topping 25 million.

WATCH: COVID-19 IN NUMBERS

JAPANESE HEALTH OFFICIALS CALLS FOR OLYMPIC CANCELLATION

A top medical organisation has thrown its weight behind calls to cancel the Tokyo Olympics saying hospitals are already overwhelmed as the country battles a spike in coronavirus infections less than three months from the start of the Games.

The Tokyo Medical Practitioners Association representing about 6,000 primary care doctors said hospitals in the Games host city "have their hands full and have almost no spare capacity" amid a surge in infections.

"We strongly request that the authorities convince the IOC (International Olympic Committee) that holding the Olympics is difficult and obtain its decision to cancel the Games," the association said in a May 14 open letter to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga which was posted to its website on Monday.

A jump in infections has stoked alarm amid a shortage of medical staff and hospital beds in some areas of the Japanese capital, promoting the government to extend a third state of emergency in Tokyo and several other prefectures until May 31.

Doctors would soon face the added difficulty of dealing with heat exhaustion patients during the summer months and if the Olympics contributed to a rise in deaths "Japan will bear the maximum responsibility", it added.

LOCAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH "REALLY WORRIED" ABOUT INDIAN VARIANT

Bedford's director of public health said she was "really worried" about the spread of the Indian Covid-19 variant in the area.

Vicky Head told BBC Breakfast on Tuesday there had been 80 confirmed cases of the variant in Bedford.

She said: "What we know is what we've been seeing locally, which is a really massive rise in cases.

"About three or four weeks ago we were having three or four cases a day. We are now up to 10 times that."

She added: "What we think now is that pretty much all of our cases are likely to be the variant from India."

Ms Head said: "That's one of the really striking things about the variant, is just how transmissible it is. If someone goes to school and tests positive, we are then seeing their whole family test positive."

INDIAN MINISTER SLAMMED FOR CLAIMING COW URINE CAN PREVENT COVID-19

THE GREAT INDOORS

Brits blew £2.8million-a-minute on Mad Monday as pubs and restaurants opened indoors and other Covid rules were lifted.

Around 20 million went drinking and eating inside,  shopped and hit cinemas, theatres and gyms for the first time in up to seven months.

Around 140,000 boozers, restaurants and cafes were the busiest for nine months, since August’s Eat Out to Help Out frenzy.

A dash of drinkers and diners was seen across the country, in cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle.

Cinemas saw a rush after Vue’s 88 sites and most of Odeon’s 112 locations reopened after some had been closed since October. Movie Peter Rabbit 2 drew fans.

More on the story here.

BOVINE STUPIDITY

An MP in Covid-ravaged India has been blasted for her "disturbing" claim that drinking cow urine every day prevents her from catching the virus.

Controversial politician Pragya Thakur hailed it a "life-saver" - despite doctors repeatedly telling people not to use cow excrement as a way to treat coronavirus as the country continues to be battered by a deadly second wave.

The MP, who is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party and represents Bhopal, claimed drinking cow pee protects her from Covid.

She has been slammed for her remarks which outraged politicians say "invite more devastation" by "discouraging people from getting the jab".

More on the story here.

MINISTERS CONSIDERING CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR LOCAL LOCKDOWNS

British ministers are considering contingency plans for local lockdowns or a delay to reopening after June 21 in response to concern about the spread of the coronavirus variant first detected in India, The Times reported.

Officials have drawn up plans modelled on the Tier 4 restrictions introduced last year, the paper said.

People would be advised to stay at home and non-essential shops and hospitality would be closed if the variant was not brought under control, it added.

It said businesses in areas subject to the restrictions would receive grants of up to 18,000 pounds and the scheme would be administered by local authorities, with payments adjusted according to the length of restrictions.

Grants would be made available for the worst-affected sectors, such as nightclubs, and for "mass events" including festivals in another scenario being considered with a delay to reopening after June 21, the report said.

INDIA RECORDS MORE THAN 4,000 DEATHS IN 24 HOURS

India's total virus cases since the pandemic began swept past 25 million on Tuesday as the country registered more than 260,000 new cases and a record 4,329 fatalities in the past 24 hours.

The numbers continue a trend of falling cases after infections dipped below 300,000 for the first time in weeks on Monday. Active cases in the country also decreased by more than 165,000 on Tuesday — the biggest dip in weeks.

But deaths have continued to rise and hospitals are still swamped by patients.

India has recorded nearly 280,000 virus deaths since the pandemic began. Experts warn that both the number of deaths and total reported cases are likely vast undercounts.

Infections in India have surged since February in a disastrous turn blamed on more contagious variants as well as government decisions to allow massive crowds to gather for religious festivals and political rallies.

EU'RE WELCOME

Brits are set welcomed into Europe using "vaccine passports" as confusion over holidays continues after ministers urged people to book staycations despite the travel ban ending.

EU ambassadors are expected to rubber-stamp plans this week to let fully-vaccinated British holidaymakers fly to anywhere in Europe without the need for quarantine or a Covid test.

It comes as hundreds are expected to head to popular European destinations as the blanket bar on holidays was lifted for the first time this year.

Right now, all European countries except Portugal and Gibraltar are on the government's amber travel list - meaning anyone jetting off for a break must quarantine and take two tests on their return.

FLIGHT CLUB

Travel bosses and MPs raged at the Government’s cautious green list yesterday as thousands of Brits made a dash for the beaches of Portugal.

And, as the first tourists jetted off for some southern sunshine, Boris Johnson’s former right-hand man Dominic Cummings branded Britain’s Covid borders policy a “joke”.

The PM and Health Secretary Matt Hancock were urged to add more popular sunshine destinations to the green list by the start of the summer season.

EasyJet chief Johan Lundgren wants ministers to make more of Europe green, warning: “The Germans are going to beat the Brits to the sun loungers and for no good reason at all.”

More on the story here.

JABULOUS

Coronavirus jabs will be open to 37-year-olds from today in a bid to keep the Indian variant at bay, the Health Secretary has announced.

Matt Hancock today stated that 37 year-olds will be next in line to have a dose before 36-year-olds are invited on Wednesday.

Speaking this afternoon Mr Hancock said jabs had been quadrupled in hotspot areas this weekend such as Blackburn and Bolton, where cases of the Indian variant are dominant.

He thanked the people of Bolton and Blackburn for their “community spirit” when it comes to the jab rollout and urged people to come forward for their jab when they are offered it.

Mr Hancock said the vaccine has saved lives and has prevented hospitalisations.