Covid index - April 2021 - June 2021
1 May: Care home residents in England will be able to make low-risk trips without having to self-isolate for two weeks
The rules will be relaxed from Tuesday, allowing for quarantine-free outings such as walks or garden visits
Campaigners had threatened legal action, arguing that residents' human rights were being breached
South Asian communities in England were more at risk during the second wave of the pandemic, a study says
A campaign is launched to raise money to build a memorial in St Paul's Cathedral to pandemic deaths
India is due to begin vaccinating all adults over the age of 18 amid a deadly second wave of infections
Australian citizens returning from India could face jail and fines after the journey is made temporarily illegal
2 May: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has been discussing the pandemic with the BBC's Andrew Marr
He says the government's aim is still for restrictions to end from 21 June - "but there need to be some safeguards in place"
Measures could include some "around distancing" and maybe around masks, Raab adds
UK is working closely with India as it grapples with soaring cases, and shortages of oxygen, medicines and vaccines
India has again reported its highest number of deaths in a 24-hour period since the start of the pandemic
In England, self-isolation rules for contacts of Covid-positive person could be relaxed, as a result of a major new study
From next week, 40,000 people contacted by Test and Trace will be asked to take a rapid test every morning for a week
Large crowds are being allowed into more events today as studies continue into the spread of coronavirus
Some 5,000 people will attend a music festival at Sefton Park in Liverpool
Capacity crowd will watch the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield
3 May: Holidays abroad should be discouraged to prevent further lockdowns, a cross-party group of MPs has said
Under the UK government’s roadmap to ease restrictions, international travel for leisure could resume from 17 May
The easing of restrictions in Wales sees some families and friends able to hug again and the reopening of gyms
There will be no limit for the number of funeral mourners in England from 17 May under new plans
A pilot event in Liverpool has seen 5,000 music fans attend a mini-festival
India's Covid crisis continues, with hospitals in Delhi pleading for more help with oxygen supplies
The UK recorded 1,671 new cases on Sunday and 14 deaths within 28 days of a positive test
Globally, there have been 152,900,958 recorded cases and 3,203,430 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University
4 May: European Union leaders are discussing plans for allowing non-essential overseas travel
Proposals include allowing anyone who has had their final coronavirus vaccine jab two weeks beforehand to travel
Travel will resume when known to be safe, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss says
India officially passes 20 million Covid infections but the government says cases are falling
The Indian Premier League, the world's richest cricket tournament, has been suspended amid the country's crisis
In England care home residents can now leave their home for low-risk trips without having to self-isolate
Relatively few secondary school people tested positive for Covid after classes returned in England in March
5 May: The NHS would be ready to offer booster jabs from September, Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi says
But there is no decision yet on whether to offer boosters to over-50s in the UK, he adds
Two suspected Covid cases are recorded among the Indian delegation to a G7 meeting of foreign ministers in London
India sees another record number of daily deaths, with 3,780 losing their lives to Covid-19
The UK records its lowest weekly number of deaths involving coronavirus since last September
The UK pledges £29.3m extra funding to fast-track vaccines that fight new variants and boost testing facilities
The rights of care home residents to have visits from loved ones must be underpinned by law, MPs say
President Joe Biden sets out plans to vaccinate 70% of US adults by 4 July
He also hopes to roll out jabs for 12 to 15-year-olds as soon as possible
6 May: Almost all of 50 of the UK's biggest employers tell the BBC do not plan to bring staff back to the office full-time
People who can work from home are still advised to do so by government, but that restriction is likely to change in June
India says a double mutant variant of the coronavirus discovered there in March may be linked to its deadly second wave
The US backs an initiative to waive intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines
Countries hope that will boost vaccine production but drugs companies argue it could stifle innovation
A study examines what's holding back vaccine take-up in ethnic minority communities in the UK
7 May: Experts have recommended that a version of the Indian Covid variant be made a "variant of concern"
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will lead a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street at 17:00 BST
International travel prices are set to rise this year due to pent-up demand and fewer planes in service
A Labour MP says pregnant women in the UK are struggling to get the vaccine because clinics can't guarantee they will have the right type of jab available
Australia will resume repatriation flights for some citizens in India after a ban on arrivals from the country ends
The UK's largest tour operator has said it will subsidise the cost of Covid testing for customers who book holidays
8 May: Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has outlined England's new summer travel rules
Twelve countries and territories including Portugal, Israel and Gibraltar are on the green list of destinations
People returning from those places will not have to quarantine
The travel industry has expressed disappointment in the limited green list, calling it 'a missed opportunity'
There have been a further 15 deaths and 2,490 new cases in the UK, according to government data
The EU has agreed to purchase 900 million more doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, with the option for 900 million more
EU leaders are to talk to Indian PM Narendra Modi after he called for Covid vaccine patents to be waived
Pakistan has declared an eight-day partial lockdown ahead of the celebration of Eid al-Fitr next week
India has reported, for the first time, more than 4,000 deaths in one day from the Covid virus
The World Health Organization has granted emergency approval for the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine
9 May: Michael Gove says "all being well" the UK PM will confirm a relaxation of restrictions in England from 17 May
Asked whether a ban on hugging would be lifted he said "friendly contact" was something the government wanted to see
A scientist that helped develop the AstraZeneca vaccine warns the world faces "absolute calamity" from coronavirus
Prof Andrew Pollard said a million people around the globe could die this month from Covid
Doctors in India are reporting cases of a rare infection among recovering and recovered Covid-19 patients
People take to the streets in Spain to celebrate the end of a state of emergency
On Saturday, a further 5 deaths and 2,047 new cases were reported in the UK, according to government data
10 May: Boris Johnson is to confirm the next stage of lockdown easing in England at 17:00 BST
Indoor hospitality and household mixing are set to return from next Monday
Up to 30 people will be allowed to attend weddings, receptions, funerals and wakes
The government is expected to urge people to be cautious over physical contact with others
The Welsh cabinet will agree which restrictions to lift next when ministers meet later
Northern Ireland has had five suspected cases of blood clot cases linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine
Restrictions are also being eased across Europe, including in Ireland and Spain
11 May: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to confirm later that Scotland's Covid rules will be relaxed further next week
The UK government will pledge to support Covid recovery in the Queen's Speech
Boris Johnson will promise a post-pandemic skills "revolution" for England, with loans for adults wanting to retrain
Brit Awards will take place this evening in front of a live audience at London's O2, as part of the government's pilot scheme for events
Portugal could host the Champions League final. It can't be played in Istanbul as Turkey is on the UK government travel red list
US regulators have authorised the use of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15
Europe is considering similar approval
World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the variant first found in India last year as a "variant of global concern"
12 May: Additional measures and arrival ban: insert Maldives and Turkey (SI2021/571)
Up to six people from different households will be able to meet indoors at pubs, cafes and restaurants in Wales from Monday
Monday was already due to be the reopening date for indoor hospitality in England and Scotland
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to make a statement on the pandemic in the House of Commons later
The UK economy shrank by 1.5% in the first quarter of 2021, amid a lengthy winter lockdown
Dua Lipa demands a pay rise for NHS workers as she wins at the Brits - the UK's first major in-person ceremony of the pandemic
Lockdown restrictions saw the sharpest fall in violent crime for at least 20 years, a report suggests
Online shopping scams surge during the pandemic
Confirmed Covid-19 deaths in India pass a quarter of a million
13 May: The Indian variant is being carefully watched amid concerns over its spread in the UK, scientists say
Hospitals in the UK are facing a huge backlog, putting lives at risk, patient groups and staff are warning
A record high of 4.95 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of March 2021, according to NHS England
More than 436,000 people had to wait more than 52 weeks to start hospital treatment in March 2021 - compared with 3,097 in March 2020
Adults are more likely to have mild and moderate side-effects after mixing AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine doses, a study finds
Ohio will award cash prizes of $1m (£710,000) to five recipients of Covid-19 vaccines to boost up-take of jabs
Australia has secured 25 million doses of the Moderna jab as it seeks to boost its delayed vaccination drive
14 May: Second vaccine doses could be brought forward to help tackle the Indian variant in the UK's worst-affected areas
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi says the programme can be flexed, with more doses for affected areas
Local restrictions could also be introduced after cases of the variant in England more than doubled
Public Health England recorded 1,313 UK cases of the Indian variant in figures released yesterday, up from 520 a week earlier
People in Wales are being advised to only travel abroad for "essential" reasons for at least three more weeks
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to provide an update on restrictions Glasgow and Moray will face amid outbreaks there
US officials have said vaccinated people can go mask-less in most indoor and outdoor settings
President Joe Biden removed his mask in the Oval Office and hailed it a "great day for America"
15 May: People are being urged by scientists and government ministers to take a cautious approach when lockdown restrictions ease
Cases of the Indian Covid variant have nearly tripled in the past week in England, according to official figures
The Army is to be deployed in north-west England to help with surge testing where cases of the variant are rising sharply
Extra testing is already taking place in targeted areas across England, including Bolton, Blackburn and London
Health minister Edward Argar says there has been a "minor increase" in hospital presentations in Bolton
Second doses are being speeded-up for older age groups in affected areas
Meanwhile, more than 20,000 football fans will attend today's FA Cup final - the largest crowd at the government's pilot events so far
On Friday the UK recorded another 17 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, and a further 2,193 cases
16 May: Jabs will be offered to those aged 35 and over in England next week
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says Monday's lockdown easing "remains on track" because of "very high uptake rates of the vaccine"
He says the Indian variant is more transmissible and likely to become "dominant" in the UK but he is "confident" the jab works against it
Five people who have had a single jab have been hospitalised with the Indian variant in Bolton, and one who had received both
If the variant is 40-50% more transmissible than the Kent variant, the UK will have a "real problem", he adds
People are being urged to be very cautious about mixing as restrictions are lifted in England, Scotland and Wales on Monday
Indoor hospitality and entertainment venues will reopen and more people can meet outdoors, with limited indoor mixing also allowed
No 10 has defended its decision not to ban travel from India sooner, saying the UK has "some of the toughest border measures" in the world
But Labour's Yvette Cooper says the government should have put India on the travel "red list" much earlier
The boss of the world's busiest airport for international passengers says Covid passports are the only way to restart mass foreign travel
17 May: Step 3: indoor hospitality open. Rule of 6 indoors, groups of 30 outdoors.
Traffic light system for foreign travel. People returning to the UK require proof of a negative test, taken within 3 days before the service on which they will arrive in England departs. Those returning from amber countries must also book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 travel tests for when they return to the UK; only the day 2 test is required for those returning from green countries. (SI2021/582)
Pubs, cafes and restaurants in England reopen indoors today under the latest easing of the coronavirus lockdown
But data suggests the number of people on High Streets is way down on pre-pandemic levels
"We must take this next step with a heavy dose of caution," Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns, urging people to be tested regularly
London Mayor Sadiq Khan calls for younger people in areas with cases of the Indian variant to be vaccinated soon
Holiday flights abroad, to a small number of countries, are restarting and passengers and airports are dealing with new requirements
Galleries, theatres, sports stadiums, cinemas and soft play centres in England are also reopening
Hugging is also back, with government guidance changing on close contact between people
In Scotland, most areas are moving from level three to level two restrictions, while most islands will move to level one
Indoor hospitality also reopens in Wales today, with up to six people from different households allowed to meet inside
18 May: Oxford Vaccine Group director says it feels "morally wrong" for children in richer countries to get a Covid jab before high-risk people in poor countries
Boris Johnson says there is nothing "conclusive at the moment" to suggest the government needs to deviate from its lockdown easing roadmap
PM's ex-adviser Dominic Cummings accuses the government of too much "secrecy" which "contributed greatly to the catastrophe" of the handling of Covid
Ministers will step up calls for people - especially those living in hotspots of the Indian Covid variant - to accept a vaccination as soon as they are offered one
The health secretary says anyone who was unsure should "look at ... Bolton" - where he said most people in hospital with Covid were eligible for a jab but refused it
But Yasmin Qureshi, the Labour MP for Bolton South East, challenged that assertion, blaming poor organisation of the vaccine rollout instead
The NHS website for booking a vaccination is now open to those aged 36 and over in England
Cross-Channel rail operator Eurostar secures a £250m rescue package after warning it was fighting to survive
19 May: EU ambassadors have backed proposals to reopen borders for non-essential travel from countries with low infection rates
A decision on whether to add the UK and other countries to the EU's "safe list" will be made on Friday
But most of the EU is on UK's "amber list" so travellers have to quarantine on return and take two Covid tests
Boris Johnson has warned people should not be holidaying in amber list countries, after a minister said people could visit friends
Health Secretary Matt Hancock will lead a No 10 press conference at 17:00 BST
England's 21 June roadmap date on lifting contact limits "is very much in the balance", a government scientist says
The government did not plan enough for a "threat" on the scale of coronavirus, its spending watchdog has found
India has recorded one of the highest ever number of daily coronavirus deaths in the world, at 4,529
Bars, shops and cultural spaces across France are set to reopen as the country starts lifting restrictions
20 May: Prof Andrew Hayward, a member of the Sage advisory group, tells the BBC the UK could be at the start of a another wave of coronavirus
"This strain can circulate very effectively... I don't really see why it wouldn't continue to spread in other parts of the country," he says
Covid was only the 18th highest cause of death in Wales in April and the ninth highest in England
It was the leading cause of death in both nations each month from November to February
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps urges people to use common sense when considering overseas travel
Airports could start segregating passengers arriving from red list countries next month, Shapps says
People aged 25-29 are now eligible for a vaccination in Northern Ireland, as are 34-year-olds in England
The Duke of Cambridge has had his first jab and tweeted his thanks to all involved in the rollout
£100m will be spent to try to deal with the record backlog of NHS treatments caused by the pandemic, Wales' new health minister says
21 May: Retailers enjoyed a surge in spending as shoppers flocked to UK high streets following the easing of restrictions
Nicola Sturgeon is announcing updates to the Covid protection levels, which dictate restrictions in Scotland
Moray is to have restrictions eased but Glasgow, the other area in level three, will not yet
Spain says it is officially lifting restrictions for UK travellers from Monday
It says the UK and Japan will be on a list of countries whose residents will not need a PCR test to enter Spain
The EU is delaying making a decision on which countries will be added to the EU-wide white list for travel for two weeks
A report suggests the risk of stillbirth or premature birth may increase for those who have coronavirus around the time of birth
Most pregnancies are not affected and pregnant women should have the jab when offered it, scientists say
Experts in Australia are concerned about rising vaccine hesitancy there
UK billionaires see jump in wealth during pandemic
Retail sales soar 9.2% in April as shops reopen
Covid: Test and Trace failure helped Indian variant spread, report says
Third dose of Covid jab to be trialled in UK
22 May: From Sunday, people travelling from the UK will not be allowed to enter Germany
The decision is down to a rise in cases of the Indian variant in the UK
German citizens and residents, plus people with an exceptional reason, can still enter - but face a two-week quarantine
But Spain is lifting restrictions for UK travellers from Monday
In England, those aged 32 and 33 can book in for their first vaccine from today
More surge testing begins in parts of west London
Scottish Covid jab certificates can be altered by people online, it emerges
On Friday, nine Covid deaths were recorded in the UK, and 2,829 cases
The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Rotterdam tonight, in front of a Covid-tested audience of 3,500
23 May: Dr Jenny Harries tells the BBC the "straightforward message" is "get your second dose"
She was speaking after data showed two doses of Pfizer and AZ vaccines are effective against the Indian variant
But both vaccines are only 33% effective against the Indian variant three weeks after the first dose
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he's "increasingly confident" restrictions in England can end on 21 June
But Home Secretary Priti Patel warns it is not "green light all the way"
Labour urges the government to put all "amber" countries onto the travel "red list" for a short period
Former adviser Dominic Cummings repeats claim that government's original plan was "herd immunity"
But that is denied by Priti Patel - who says it was "absolutely not" the policy
The UK reported another six Covid deaths on Saturday, and 2,694 more cases
From today, most people travelling from the UK are not allowed to enter Germany because of variant concerns
24 May: British tourists can now enter Spain without any restrictions, but UK rules mean they must still quarantine when they're back
The number of flights available to Spain and other amber list countries has gone up by 300% in the last fortnight, figures show
Where Spain leads "others will follow", predicts travel consultancy boss Paul Charles
Statistics show overseas visitors to the UK fell by about three-quarters in 2020 - as did overseas travel by UK residents
Lockdown rules are easing in Northern Ireland - with indoor socialising in groups of up to six allowed and pubs reopening inside
In Wales, many families can visit loved ones in care homes again as rules are relaxed
The first direct international flight from Scotland since travel restrictions were relaxed has headed for Portugal
Extra help to encourage people to self-isolate - including a "buddying" scheme - is being trialled in nine areas of England
The number of coronavirus deaths in India passes 300,000, although experts say the number could be much higher
25 May: Vaccine minister Nadim Zahawi questionedc about changes to Covid guidance
On Friday, the government published the guidance that urged people not travel in and out of areas hardest hit by the Indian variant, but made no official announcement
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "making a major change impacting so many people without even telling them is utterly shameful"
Downing Street has denied bringing local lockdowns by stealth, pointing out the new guidance was advice not law
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said "crucial lessons" about clear messaging during a pandemic had not been learned
The variant is spreading fastest in Bolton, Blackburn, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside
Meanwhile, UK holidaymakers are set to spend half what they normally would pre-pandemic, a forecast suggests
The US has issued a travel warning for Japan as infections rise, but insists its athletes can still safely take part in the Olympic Games
Indian police have visited a Twitter office to serve notice, after it labelled a Covid tweet by ruling party as "manipulated media"
26 May: Ministers clarify advice for eight areas worst hit by Covid, after a day of confusion over whether new advice amounted to local restrictions
Amended guidance asks people to minimise travel to and from hotspots - earlier advice said avoid non-essential travel altogether
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admits the communications "could have been clearer"
Boris Johnson is set to face questions about coronavirus during his weekly Prime Minister's Questions session
Dominic Cummings, the PM's ex-senior adviser, is being questioned by MPs as part of an inquiry into "lessons learnt" in the pandemic
Cummings starts by saying: "When the public needed us most the government failed"
He's due to be grilled for four hours
About a million people aged 30 and 31 in England are being invited to book in their first dose of a Covid vaccine
Several French social media influencers say they have had a mysterious financial offer to spread negative publicity about the Pfizer vaccine
27 May: Health Secretary Matt Hancock is giving a statement in the Commons about the government's handling of Covid
He tells MPs the "unsubstantiated allegations" from Dominic Cummings that he lied during the pandemic "are not true"
Hancock was called "completely incapable of doing the job" and accused of lying by the PM's ex-aide Dominic Cummings
The health secretary says he has been "straight with people in public and private throughout"
The health secretary tells MPs what the government has done to handle the pandemic has been "unprecedented"
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth says the claims are "grave and serious" and people "deserve full answers"
GPs in England say they're struggling to keep up with a "tsunami of patients" as the country emerges from lockdown
US President Joe Biden orders intelligence agencies to investigate how the virus emerged
France is putting rules on British travellers, meaning from 31 May UK arrivals will have to quarantine for seven days
28 May: Scientists who advise government stress the importance of vaccines amid the fight against variants and hopes of easing restrictions
Vaccinations mean "we are in very different place" from the autumn, Dr Mike Tildesley says
If scientists get more time to gather evidence about the Indian variant "we can allow the vaccines to help us", he says
Prof Andrew Hayward says people with only one dose of the vaccine could end up in hospital, even if they are young
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng says he sees "nothing in the data that will delay" June's lifting of restrictions in England
But Prof Christina Pagel says it should be delayed "until we have a much higher proportion" of people double-jabbed
Glasgow residents are due to find out if it will remain in level three of Scotland's Covid-19 restrictions
Surgeons in England say there is a "colossal backlog" of non-urgent operations because of Covid-19
29 May: India reports its lowest single-day rise of coronavirus cases in 45 days
A further 173,790 Covid-19 cases are reported there on Saturday
Restrictions in the capital Delhi are to ease from Monday as cases reduce
But the rest of the 2021 Indian Premier League cricket season will take place in the UAE in September and October
The tournament was suspended after several positive coronavirus tests among players
A leading professor urges caution over the next step in England's lockdown easing
Sir Tim Gowers says things could turn bad "very, very quickly" if limits are entirely lifted prematurely from 21 June
Confirmed Covid cases in the UK are rising, with the latest daily figure above 4,000 for the first time since April
Meanwhile, countries across the world introduce "vaccine lotteries" giving cash incentives for people to get jabs
30 May: Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi tells the BBC's Andrew Marr it would be irresponsible not to consider compulsory jabs for NHS staff
But Labour's Thangam Debbonaire says we should work with health and care staff - not threaten them with mandatory vaccinations
Zahawi also says the governments hopes to give all over-50s a second vaccination by 21 June
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens says people over 50 should bring forward their second jab if contacted
More than half of 30-39-year-olds have had their first dose in the past two weeks
Maros Sefcovic, European Commission vice president, tells Andrew Marr the EU is working with the UK over foreign holiday plans
The head of NHS Providers says very few Covid patients in hospital in England have received two jabs
Chris Hopson says this shows vaccines provide "very high" levels of protection
31 May: A scientist advising the government says lockdown relaxations planned for 21 June in England should be delayed by a "few weeks"
Professor Ravi Gupta says there are early signs the UK is in a new wave of Covid-19 and more intelligence should be gathered
Twickenham Rugby Stadium has opened as England's largest vaccination centre, as the government tries to speed up the rollout of jabs
Around a million households fear losing their homes as England's coronavirus eviction ban comes to an end on Monday, a charity says
France has banned all non-essential travel from the UK to try to stop the spread of the Indian variant
Covid index - April 2021 - June 2021
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© Jo Edkins 2024