Britain’s coronavirus death toll has plunged by three-quarters in a week to the lowest daily figure since before the second wave spiralled out of control six months ago. Department of Health bosses posted another 17 Covid fatalities today, below the 64 recorded last Monday. It was the smallest daily death toll since September 28, when 13 … Read more
Britain will offer to share millions of doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine made at a factory in the Netherlands in a desperate peace offering to the European Union, it was claimed today. Boris Johnson is trying to defuse a vaccine stand-off with EU chiefs, who are facing a third wave of coronavirus on the continent, … Read more
Portugal will allow UK tourists into the country from May, the country’s tourism minister has said in the latest boost for hopes of a holiday this summer. Rita Marques said British visitors who can prove they have been vaccinated or show a negative Covid test result will be welcome from May 17. But those hoping … Read more
The EU has presented plans to issue ‘digital green certificates’ allowing its 450million people to travel freely across the bloc this summer. The scheme, which will be discussed next week during a summit of EU leaders, will facilitate travel across Europe for people who have been vaccinated as well as others who have recently been … Read more
The European Union today effectively declared vaccine war on the UK by threatening to block exports of Pfizer/BioNTech’s coronavirus jab. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, suggested that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines – the second time that threat has been made – because the continent’s rollout is … Read more
Britons planning foreign holidays abroad are pushing them back again until after the May half-term amid mounting concerns over the coronavirus vaccine rollout and rising cases in the European Union. People who have already booked trips in May are now being offered the chance by tour operations and airlines to move them to later in … Read more
MPs from all parties were today pleading with Britons to keep taking AstraZeneca jabs amid fury that the EU’s ‘Brexit sulk’ will fuel anti-vax propaganda. Politicians, medics and scientists have launched a concerted effort to reassure the public about the safety of the Oxford vaccine after a swathe of European countries suspended its use over unproven … Read more
Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon today mounted a staunch defence of the AstraZeneca vaccine after Germany became the latest EU state to pause its use. The PM insisted the jabs are ‘both safe and effective’ while the First Minister urged Britons to keep coming forward, pointing to ‘significant and growing evidence of the benefits’ in … Read more
The EU is facing vaccine chaos after AstraZeneca announced a fresh shortfall in planned shipments as five European countries claim others are signing ‘secret contracts’ to make sure they get extra jabs. The pharmaceutical giant cited production problems and export restrictions as the cause for the delay. In a statement it said: ‘AstraZeneca is disappointed … Read more
Boris Johnson said that the UK is acting lawfully and correctly by taking action to halt border checks in Northern Ireland as he visited the country today. The Prime Minister warned that the deal he signed at the end of last year that included the Northern Ireland Protocol was having an ‘impact on the peace … Read more