Health Secretary Matt Hancock outlines steps being taken in Bolton and Blackburn to combat surges in Indian variant coronavirus cases
Testing units have been brought in and new vaccination centres set up. The next cause for concern is Bedford, he says, where testing is also increasing
He urges people to get their jab, as many of those in hospital, including in intensive care, are eligible but not vaccinated
There are now 86 local authorities with five or more confirmed cases of the Indian Covid variant, he adds
People aged 37 in England will be called forward for their jab from Tuesday
A planned review of social distancing measures due to take place this month could be delayed due to the spread of the Indian Covid variant, Downing Street says
From 21 June, it was hoped all legal limits on social contact would be removed and a review of this was expected by the end of May
Data suggests the number of people on High Streets is down on pre-pandemic levels as pubs, cafes and restaurants in England reopen
Holiday flights abroad restart to a small number of countries; Galleries, theatres, sports stadiums, cinemas and soft play centres also open their doors
Restrictions also eased in Scotland and in Wales - where indoor hospitality reopened
The international scheme to ensure equal access to Covid-19 vaccines is 140 million doses short because of India's continuing Covid crisis
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Image source, TWITTER @OMPSYRAM VIA REUTERSA cyclone, classified as "extremely severe", has made landfall in India's western state of Gujarat with wind speeds of up to 160km/h (100mph).
Cyclone Tauktae travelled along India's western coast, narrowly missing the city of Mumbai. At 12 people were killed and 150,000 evacuated.
The navy has sent three warships to try to rescue hundreds of people stranded off the coast in two barges.
The cyclone comes amid a Covid-19 wave that has overwhelmed Indian hospitals.
Tauktae is the strongest cyclone to strike the region since 1998 and both Gujarat and neighbouring Maharashtra have been on high alert.
Although Covid cases are declining in both states, the devastating effects of India's second wave are still being felt.
In a land renowned for its castles, the drawbridges were finally back down, and gates lifted across Wales today.
Welsh historic monuments body Cadw is responsible for maintaining 44 major castles including Caernarfon, Conwy, and Caerphilly.
"We are delighted to invite visitors back to more of our much-loved heritage sites across Wales," said its head, Gwilym Hughes.
Many of the 427 castles sites scattered across Wales have welcomed back visitors for the first time in months.
It included Pembroke Castle, which is run by a charity, where Caroline Holt was able to show 18-month old Henry the room where Henry VII was born.
Image source, Reuters
Setting up a business is never easy, so what is it like to set up a restaurant with the added complications of a global pandemic and restrictions?
As restaurants reopened inside today, Graham Rebak, co-owner of new restaurant HUŎ in Chelsea, told the BBC about the hurdles he'd faced over the past year.
"Since we found the site in April 2020 it's been difficult all the way through. Finding tradesmen, craftsmen, builders to do the project was fraught with difficulty.
"And there were some times where you had to shut the premises because there was a fear there might have been an outbreak," he says.
"But we've battled through it and now we're hopefully looking forward to opening on 1 June."
Graham says he has also noticed fewer people are replying to job adverts, something he has put down to many people moving out of the city during the pandemic.
"In normal times... you'd have hundreds of responses but now we're seeing far fewer responses, so it's proving difficult, but we're slowly getting there."
Image source, EPAUS President Joe Biden has pledged to send a further 20 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to other countries by the end of June, marking the first time the United States has agreed to share vaccines authorised for domestic use.
The US has previously agreed to give 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine - which is not yet approved for use in the US - to other countries.
Biden has been under global pressure to share his country's vaccines, but he had insisted that he had to first control the pandemic at home.
He announced today that the US would share its doses of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines when they "become available".
"These are vaccinations and vaccines that are authorised to be put in arms of Americans, and by the end of June, when we will have taken delivery of enough such vaccines to protect everyone in the United States, the United States will share at least 20 million of those doses, that extra supply, with other countries."
He added in a tweet:, external "America will never be fully safe while this pandemic is raging globally... It is the right thing to do. It is the smart thing to do. It is the strong thing to do.
The move was welcomed by the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who responded:, external "Your commitment to global health is deeply appreciated."
Laurence Cawley
BBC News
Bob and Margaret Lusher say they have hugely missed their bingo outings
Margaret and Bob Lusher are regulars who come from Norwich to Great Yarmouth for their bingo outings. And they were back today.
"It is a friendly club," says Mr Lusher, sitting at one of the tables inside The Palace at Great Yarmouth.
"We've missed it so much - our friends, the bingo, everything. I have missed this more than the shops," says Mrs Lusher.
"I would rather come here than go shopping."
"It is the biggest thing I've missed during lockdown," says Mr Lusher.
Asked what he most wanted from his visit, Mr Rusher says: "A win. That would be nice."
"And to see our friends," says Mrs Lusher. "We've not seen them for about six months."
You can read about who joined them with dabbers at the ready, here.
A day after the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine was approved for Americans aged 12 to 15, adolescents queued up at a site in Fairfax, Virginia, to be the first of their peer group to have the shot.
Here is their experience - and what they're looking forward to once they're vaccinated.
'Nervous, but excited' - US adolescents getting Covid jab
Cousins Johanna, left, and Sean, right, have to enjoy their pints outdoors in the evening sunshine in the southside of Glasgow - despite much of the mainland in Scotland being able to order alcohol indoors.
"The weather has been absolutely heinous so I was looking forward to not being freezing," says Sean.
Disappointments aside, Sean says that living with restrictions in Scotland has become the "new normal" and that she believes the decision to keep Glasgow in higher restrictions - along with Moray - was the right one.
Johanna added: "The response was really quick. I'm getting my vaccine earlier because of that and it shows there is some responsibility there. It makes you feel safer knowing they've made that decision."
BBC Radio 5 Live
We've been hearing today about concerns around the Indian virus variant in Bolton and Blackburn. And how testing and vaccination is being sped up there, while testing is also surged in Bedford.
More than 6,200 people were vaccinated in Bolton at the weekend amid concerns over the Indian Covid-19 variant.
21-year-old Bolton resident Josie (pictured) took up the offer of a vaccine after the roll-out scheme was extended to all over-16s in the badly affected BL3 area.
Josie told BBC Radio 5 Live's Rachel Burden today: "I’ve wanted it for so long so I thought I’ll just go down and see if they’ll let me and thankfully they did."
Josie works in a supermarket and says even though staff wear masks and regularly sanitise, she does worry about her customers and feels “more comfortable serving them now I’ve got the vaccine".
“It’s been really hard being in the lockdown for so long like we have in Bolton, everyone has been clinging to that hope of going outside," she said. "I think the vaccine is going to help us stay on track for that, so long as everyone gets it."
Watch the interview here, external.
GP and clinical director of Rumworth in Bolton, Dr Saveena Ghaie, spoke to 5 Live’s Nicky Campbell about what’s happening in the area.
"A lot of our residents live in multi-generational households, a lot of those young people might be passing it on to their elderly relatives.
"They were so pleased to have the jab that they really didn’t mind waiting in that wet weather," she said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the "vast majority" of Bolton locals who had been hospitalised in recent days had not taken up their offer of a vaccine, including people in intensive care.
Dr Ghaie said she thinks that's due to "a lack of information or maybe scaremongering".
Brookie Simkiss said son Daryan couldn't get to sleep last night because he was so excited
One of the country's oldest resorts is open for business again, with holidaymakers heading back to Blackpool for the first time in months.
Hotels have to adhere to capacity rules but many are full, with excited guests turning up hours before their check-in times.
Nigel Seddon, who owns the family-run Elgin Hotel said while dealing with the lockdowns had been an "emotional rollercoaster", it was a pleasure to all be "back together" and seeing "so many familiar faces".
Brookie Simkiss, who had travelled to the hotel from Walsall in the West Midlands, said she had not been able to get her four-year-old to sleep on Sunday night because he was "so excited" to be going to the seaside.
"Daryan can't wait to go swimming and to the beach [and] we've booked the zoo tomorrow," the 28-year-old said.
And Joan Pilkington, 83, who lives on her own in Shepley, West Yorkshire, said she was elated to be back in the resort as living under lockdown had been "terrible".
"I normally come six or seven times a year and have missed celebrating two birthdays," she said. "I'm coming back on 21 June too. I'm making up for missed time."
Nick Beake
Europe Correspondent
Andreia Rocha and her husband Rui Silva
We've been bringing you updates from Portugal today, where tourists from the UK have been able to head to once more.
It's a big change - boat tour operator Andreia Rocha has spotted many more dolphins than Brits along the Algarve this year.
She’s really struggled to keep her business going during Covid and feared it would go under.
She and her husband, who pilots their 12-seater boat, have had plenty of time to look after their newborn baby, but no income from customers.
In the good times, 90% of their tickets were bought by the British, and she tells us she’s ecstatic that UK tourists are starting to come back.
She’s already receiving bookings online.
Two of their customers could well be Amanda and Peter Tyler, who flew into Faro earlier today.
"We’ve been waiting for this for six months," Amanda tells us at arrivals.
They and all the British visitors who touched down today are now heading for their hotels and apartments - and they found the beaches much quieter than usual.
The Algarve is waking up – and there is real excitement - but this is by no means a return to normal.
Image source, Getty ImagesFile photo of Thai detainees in a local jail
Thailand has seen its highest number of daily Covid cases, with the majority of the new infections stemming from the country's overcrowded prisons.
Some 6,853 prisoners make up for 9,635 of Monday's new cases - more than double the previous daily record.
Thailand admitted there were growing clusters in jails after several prominent activists tested positive.
The country has managed to keep coronavirus numbers low for the last year, but saw a huge spike last month.
A total of 111,082 cases have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic. The previous highest daily total was 4,887 on 13 May, according to Johns Hopkins University.
It also reported 25 new deaths on Monday, bringing the total number of fatalities to 614.
Euphoria at the return of indoor hospitality and hugging has not reached every part of Scotland.
While most of the country went into level two and most islands skipped to level one, Glasgow and Moray remain under tighter restrictions.
It means bars and restaurants in those two areas will not be able to serve alcohol indoors and they will have to close their doors to indoor diners at 20:00.
The latest figures show that Covid infections are continuing to rise in Glasgow, with weekly case rates now at 100.3 per 100,000 people, with indications they may rise further.
The number of weekly cases per 100,000 people is a key indicator for the Scottish government when judging what level of restrictions an area should be under. Moray's rate for the 14 May was 55.2, but that now appears to be falling.
Donald Macleod, convenor of the Glasgow Licensing Forum, believes hospitality is being "treated with contempt".
"I am happy for those who can open but I feel desperately sad and sorry for all those in Glasgow on what should have been a happy Monday, which has become a very blue, dank, dreary Monday," he says.
"Cases go up but mortality rates don't, hospital admissions don't and yet we are locked down. There is no run on the NHS. We should not be shutting down an economy, a whole city.
"Many are going to go out of business."
Sarah Portlock
BBC News, West Midlands
"Whisky woman" Amy Seton has been looking forward to seeing her customers in person again.
The businesswoman says the pandemic, which caused the closure of Grain and Glass, formerly the Birmingham Whisky Club, in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, had been awful.
“The changing goalposts made it difficult, we opened and then closed, or had to manage the rule of six, or make sure people were family members.
“We were putting staff on and off furlough which is very difficult for them. We were all really worried," she says.
Image source, Rav Reyet“But we started collection boxes online which we are going to continue doing.
"And we started doing tastings online. We did a whole festival online too.
“It got a bit of money in and a whole new customer base which has been really positive."
Birmingham's whisky woman on creating her own business
“Now we're reopening, which is great – and we have lots of people trying to book, which is lovely.
“It’s been quite difficult to get new staff though as a lot of people have relocated or got new jobs, for understandable reasons.
“We are excited to see our regulars again. Everyone has been very supportive.”
A couple from Lincoln whose wedding has been cancelled twice have finally been able to tie the knot.
Abi Morgan and Luke Hinojosa planned to marry last June, but were forced to postpone due to Covid restrictions.
They got married earlier today at the White Hart Hotel in Lincoln after rules were eased, allowing up to 30 people to attend a wedding ceremony.
Abi said she felt a sense of relief as well as being delighted that they were finally able to tie the knot.
"It's [the pandemic] put our lives on hold," she said.
Luke said: "Everything pretty much stopped, waiting for the day to finally be here, but we feel like we can carry on with life now as husband and wife,"
"I have a wife now," he added.
They said they were also looking forward to spending their wedding night away from home.
Luke said: "It's going to be strange because we haven't been able to stay anywhere for months, [but] we are looking forward to a good night away."
Image source, PA MediaAround 4,500 supporters were admitted for Barnsley's play-off match against Swansea this evening
There are big changes happening in spectator sport today as up to 10,000 fans will be allowed to return to England’s outdoor sports venues.
The latest easing of Covid rules means home fans will able to watch the final two rounds of this season’s Premier League from the stands as stadiums reopen with reduced capacity.
The final two rounds of matches will be played on 18-19 May and 23 May.
Up to 2,000 fans were allowed at a number of Premier League matches in December, the last time fans were in attendance at top-flight games, before the country went back into lockdown.
Image source, ReutersFans also returned for Newcastle's rugby union match with Northampton
Up to 10,000 fans or 25% capacity, whichever figure is lower, will be allowed at larger outdoor venues, while at smaller outdoor venues, the limit will be capped at 4,000 or 50% capacity.
At indoor venues, the cap will be 1,000 or 50%, whichever is lowest.
Fans returned for today’s rugby union fixtures between Newcastle Falcons and Northampton Saints as well as Bristol v Gloucester; while spectators will be allowed back into cricket grounds for the round of County Championship matches that begins on 19 and 20 May.
Image source, Roxy Deniz OzalpRoxy and her friend Amy making the most of the change in guidance on physical contact
Hugs are back for people in England and Scotland from today.
One person who’s missed them greatly is Roxy Deniz Ozalp from London. She helps to run Morning Gloryville – an organisation that hosts morning dance raves for people to have fun, socialise and exercise.
“At Morning Gloryville hugs are so important,” she says. “We hug for at least 20 seconds which releases happiness hormones in our body. We feel this burst of joy. It’s so precious.
“During the pandemic, a lot of people have been alone for long periods of time. Many couldn’t visit family and even had to say goodbye to loved ones who passed away."
Earlier, she met some friends outdoors for some hugs.
“Now we’re coming through such extraordinary times, we are celebrating that with hugs. How symbolic is that?”
Image source, Getty ImagesMuch has changed across the UK today with the easing of restrictions bringing a further step towards a return to normality. Here's a round-up of what you can do now, and how to do it safely:
As holidays to Portugal resumed today, our Business Reporter Simon Browning joined excited - and relieved - passengers on a flight to Faro.
From spending £129 to courier a PCR test, to providing a Covid certificate, this is what his journey was like: