COVID BITES

A RISE in UK cases of a Covid variant first found in India could jeopardise the easing of lockdown. With the B1617.2 variant said to be behind nearly half of all new cases in London, Prof Christina Pagel, of University College London, urged No.10 to slow the lifting of restrictions until scientists ‘know for sure it’s not more transmissible or vaccine resistant’. But the PM vowed a relaxation of rules would go ahead on Monday as planned. Ministers also refused to rule out a return of local lockdowns if needed.

INDIA has confirmed a further 4,205 coronavirus deaths, setting another daily record and taking its official toll past 250,000. Some 370,000 cases were added – pushing the country’s official total past 23million, although the true figure is suspected to be far higher. Authorities warned nearly 90 per cent of districts are seeing a high positivity rate, sparking fears the coronavirus is spreading to rural areas faster than last year. On Tuesday Telangana was the latest state to announce a lockdown.

THE UK economy shrank 1.5 per cent at the start of the year – but bounced back as lockdown eased. Solid retail spending and the reopening of schools, which triggered a return to offices, saw gross domestic product rise 2.1 per cent in March. That was the biggest monthly growth since August and chancellor Rishi Sunak called the Office for National Statistics data ‘a promising sign’. But year-on-year, the economy was 8.7 per cent lower than pre-pandemic levels.

GERMANY will let travellers avoid quarantine and Covid tests if they have been inoculated or recovered from the virus. The change in rules will also enable tourists who have not had a jab to leave isolation early if they test negative for coronavirus. But restrictions will stay for arrivals from countries where variants of the virus are prevalent. The revised measures are designed to make summer travel easier. Ministers have also vowed to roll out digital immunity certificates by June 30.