20 April 2021
News summary
FM expected to confirm further lockdown easing
Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is expected to confirm the most significant stage in lockdown easing in Scotland, later. The biggest raft of changes since Scotland went into lockdown on Boxing Day last year is due to take place on Monday 26 April. The scheduled unlocking will include the reopening of hospitality, gyms and non-essential shops. Non-essential travel between Scotland, England and Wales could also be allowed for the first time this year. The target date was set by Nicola Sturgeon when she announced her "cautious" route out of lockdown in February. However, some restrictions were eased earlier than expected due to falling infection rates.
India added to coronavirus ‘red list’ for travel
India has been added to a “red list” of countries from which most travel to the UK is banned, over fears of a new COVID-19 variant, the health secretary has said. From 04:00 BST on Friday 23 April, most people who have travelled from India in the last 10 days will be refused entry. British or Irish passport holders, or people with UK residence rights, will be allowed in but must quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days. Matt Hancock said there had been 103 UK cases of the India variant. In a statement to the House of Commons on Monday, the health secretary said the vast majority of the cases of the new variant - officially known as B.1.617 - had been linked to international travel.
News in brief
- India 'not seen the worst yet' as deaths reach record high amid variant battle
- Wales to ease COVID-19 restrictions on outdoor mixing and hospitality
- More than 10m people fully vaccinated in UK
- Young people to be reinfected with COVID-19 for study
- Harry Richford: East Kent NHS Trust pleads guilty over baby death
- PPE fixer who was Tory donor named in admin error
- Spire boss awarded bonus worth over £300,000 after NHS COVID-19 revenue boost