Image source, Red Funnel Group

A ferry operator says it has had to cancel crossings because 30% of its staff are isolating because they have been pinged by the NHS app, or have come into close contact with someone with Covid.

Red Funnel says six Solent sailings have been cancelled each way between Southampton and East Cowes on Wednesday and Thursday.

At the moment, close contacts of people who test positive for Covid have to isolate for up to 10 days.

The ferry firm says it is also struggling to recruit more staff and currently has 51 unfilled roles.

We've got more on this story here.

Image source, PA Media

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street says he expects passengers to wear face coverings on public transport after restrictions end in England on Monday.

He says Transport for West Midlands does not have the power to make masks mandatory but he has a "clear expectation of all passengers to continue to wear their face coverings across all modes of public transport".

He tweeted, external that staff will be at stations and on services relaying this message and handing out masks where needed.

Street's announcement follows that of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who said face coverings will be a "condition of carriage" across all transport in the capital.

Earlier, we reported the news that face masks will still be required on public transport in London after it becomes legal not to wear them across the rest of England on Monday.

William Apawu, who works as a cleaner at Woolwich Arsenal DLR station, says: "I think we've got no other option than to put it on to prevent the spread of disease. It's better than being infected by the virus."

El Koulibaly has four children and has worked for nearly 15 years as a driver on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). He says masks offered protection to him and his family.

"The prime minister says that it's not compulsory. The mayor says it is compulsory. It's going to be a fight between them isn't it? We are in the middle," he says.

You can read other people's reactions here.

Kerry Allen
BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst

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China’s National Health Commission says that China has now carried out 1.4 billion vaccinations. That's as many vaccinations as there are people within China. It's also approximately a fifth of the world’s population.

Today’s statistics suggest around 50% of China’s population have received at least one dose, as the data includes first and second vaccine doses. It should also be noted these statistics include foreign nationals based in the country.

China has carried out more vaccinations than any other country in the world. In recent weeks, it has been carrying out an average of 20 million a day. The country has set an aim to vaccinate 70% of the population by the end of the year.

There are aims to reopen the country in early 2022, provided the country can vaccinate around 80% of the population by that time, the local threshold for “herd immunity”.

Earlier in China’s vaccination campaign, national media emphasised that vaccination should be “voluntary”, although there are signs that local governments are now moving to “ban unvaccinated people from entering key public places”, to ensure that China can meet this goal.

The national Global Times newspaper says that multiple cities and districts, spanning seven provinces, local governments are looking to bar unvaccinated people from venues, such as “schools, nursing homes and libraries”.

However, such moves had earlier been heavily criticised; one town apologised in April after trying to bar unvaccinated people from restaurants and supermarkets

Image source, Getty Images

Europe's drugs regulator says the Covid Delta variant will account for 90% of strains in circulation in the EU by the end of August.

Both doses of a vaccine will be needed to protect against the fast-spreading variant, it adds.

Two-thirds of adults in the UK are estimated to have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, latest figures show.

PM Boris Johnson hailed the milestone on Twitter, external, as it was confirmed a total of 35,155,767 second doses have now been delivered since the vaccination rollout began in December last year.

That is the equivalent of 66.7% of all people aged 18 and over.

Of the four nations of the UK, Wales has the highest proportion of adults fully vaccinated, with 73.8% estimated to have received both jabs (1,861,700 second doses).

England is next on 66.5% (29,429,018 second doses), followed by Scotland on 65.7% (2,914,904 second doses) and Northern Ireland on 65.4% (950,145 second doses).

The latest figures, which have been published by the UK's four health agencies, also show that an estimated 87.4% of UK adults have now received a first dose of a vaccine - though the rate of vaccinations has been slowing in recent weeks.

Should the NHS Covid app stay or go?published at 14:41 British Summer Time 14 July 2021

14:41 BST 14 July 2021

Rory Cellan-Jones
Technology correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

There is a battle over the future of the NHS Test and Trace app.

Over the next few days it could either be effectively ditched as a key weapon in the battle against Covid-19, or become even more important as cases of the virus multiply.

A new poll suggests one-in-five people have deleted the app already. Ministers say it is sending out too many "pings" and its sensitivity may need to be adjusted.

On the other hand, the scientists and software developers working on the app are adamant that it is performing well, doing just what it was designed for.

So what does the future hold?

Read more about the future of the app here.

We reported earlier that some visitors to Malta were being barred from boarding flights to the island after receiving doses of AstraZeneca that had been manufactured in India.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps earlier told BBC Breakfast "it is not right and it shouldn't be happening," and said the UK would be taking up the issue with the Maltese authorities.

He's since tweeted, external that Malta has changed its travel advice so anyone given an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK, regardless of manufacture location, "is able to travel without being turned away".

Image source, EPA

Three-quarters of Britons are likely to continue wearing face coverings in shops and on public transport even when they are no longer compulsory, polling has found.

According to a survey by Ipsos Mori, 76% think it is likely that they will put a face covering on when going into shops after restrictions have been eased, while 74% said the same when it came to taking public transport.

A majority feel they are likely to wear them on planes (64%), in theatres and cinemas (60%), in their place of work (59%) and in pubs and restaurants (55%) even when no longer legally compelled to do so.

Those surveyed were less enthusiastic about wearing face masks in other settings after measures are lifted.

The prospect of attending outdoor sports and music events, like football matches and festivals, with a face mask on divided those polled, with 48% recording that they were likely to put one on. A third said they were likely to go without.

A quarter of interviewees thought they would wear masks inside the homes of friends and family once restrictions are abolished.

What's the new guidance on face masks and coverings?

Image source, Getty Images

Singapore has reported its highest number of local Covid cases in 10 months, following the discovery of a cluster linked to KTV karaoke lounges.

A total of 41 of 56 new community infections are linked to the KTV outbreak, the health ministry says.

Singapore has yet to reopen KTV lounges and clubs. The venues linked to the outbreak have been operating as food and beverage outlets, officials say.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung says police will take action against rule-breakers.

"Any outlets providing hostess services, dice games and all this very close contact, were never allowed," he adds, according to CNA., external

"So for this to now happen has been troubling (and) disappointing."

BBC Radio 5 Live

With Covid infection rates rising fastest in people aged 16-24, BBC Radio 5 Live has been hearing from young people about how they are currently coping with the pandemic.

Charlotte, 25, from South Shields says despite having both her vaccines, she's been in bed with coronavirus since returning from a holiday in Ibiza with her partner last week.

"We tested negative on Thursday before we flew home on Friday. By Saturday, I started not to feel right," she says.

"I had an NHS lateral flow test, which showed as positive, and a PCR test on Sunday. That was positive too. I've been in bed since Saturday feeling awful. It's been really rough."

After getting Covid while being careful, Charlotte describes her caution going forward: "I wouldn’t want to get on a plane or a train without a mask. I'm feel like I'm protecting people around me."

Image source, Reuters

Another caller, Tayo, agrees with Charlotte about wearing masks after 19 July.

"I think masks are a good thing, I believe they should remain," he explains, "I’m happy to wear one as long as I’m not out of breath."

The 25-year-old from Leicester adds that he is excited for more restrictions to ease next week in England, so people can "enjoy their lives and spend money.”

But Tayo says he has not yet had a Covid vaccine, explaining that he has not "done the proper amount of research on the clinical research to satisfy" himself.

Despite not being vaccinated, Tayo adds he would be upset if he contracted Covid and passed it on to someone else.

You can read a Q&A about vaccines here.

Image source, Getty Images

The next review of the countries on the UK's foreign travel green, red and amber lists will take place tomorrow. As always, we will bring you updates from that announcement.

Some newspapers have speculated that the Balearic Islands off Spain look set to move from the green to the amber list.

From 19 July, adults in England who have been fully-vaccinated in the UK will no longer have to quarantine for 10 days on return from amber countries.

They will still need to pay for a Covid test in their destination country three days before departure, and a PCR test two days after returning. There will no longer be a day eight test.

They will have to prove they were vaccinated at least 14 days previously, via the NHS Covid Pass (on the NHS app) or an NHS Covid Pass letter.

Under-18s will also no longer have to self-isolate. Children aged 10 and under will not have to take a test before departure for England, but will have to take a test on day two. Those aged four and under will not need to take any tests.

Here are the rules for travelling to green, amber and red list countries

Image source, Reuters

Malta has relaxed a ban on unvaccinated tourists entering the country, just hours before it was due to come into force.

Anyone without a vaccination certificate from a list of countries, including the UK and all EU members, will be allowed into Malta if they can produce proof of a negative test in the previous 72 hours.

They will be expected to observe an unspecified "period of quarantine" in a designated hotel.

The last-minute change follows criticism from the European Commission, which said a ban would have been discriminatory.

Malta is currently on the UK's foreign travel green list.

Most remaining Covid rules in Wales - but not all - will be scrapped from 7 August, if coronavirus rates allow, it has been announced.

Under new Welsh government plans, all legal limits on the number of people who can meet others end from that date.

Nightclubs are set to reopen, with social distancing laws replaced with a requirement for risk assessments.

But face coverings will still be required in most indoor public places, except in hospitality businesses, such as pubs.

London mayor Sadiq Khan says masks will remain compulsory on London Transport despite England's restrictions easing on 19 July, here's why:

When Paul Treacy caught Covid last year, his recovery was hit by drawn-out symptoms.

After managing to walk the dog once a day in lockdown, the freelance photographer soon realised he would need two daily expeditions if he was to keep taking photographs.

Now, Paul is looking back on pictures from those walks, which helped sustain his creativity and make sense of the long Covid symptoms he was experiencing.

Image source, Paul Treacy

Image source, Paul Treacy

Image source, Paul Treacy

You can see more of Paul's photographs here.

Image source, Reuters

Earlier, we mentioned newspaper reports that suggested the Spanish islands of Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza might be moving from the UK's foreign travel green list to the amber list.

The reports come as Spain recorded another 43,960 infections for Tuesday and passed four million cases since the pandemic began.

In the European Union, only France and Italy have had a higher numbers of cases.

The latest wave has been driven mainly by infections with the Delta variant among younger people.

In response, Spanish regions are taking steps to make vaccines available to younger age groups.

Image source, Getty Images

With social distancing restrictions ending in England and easing further in Scotland on 19 July, good ventilation will remain very important in avoiding Covid.

For months we've been told to wash our hands and maintain social distancing to beat the virus.

But scientists and engineers say we also need to think about the air we breathe inside buildings.

Good ventilation matters and we've spoken to some experts for some top tips.

The first tips is: "If it's stuffy, walk away". That's from Dr Hywel Davies, external, technical director of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

If you walk into a room and the air feels stale. not enough fresh air is being introduced, which increases your chances of catching coronavirus.

He says: "If you've got someone who's infected in a building, and you're bringing in plenty of outside air, you're diluting whatever infectious material they're giving off. You're reducing the risk of other people becoming infected."

Here are five ways to avoid catching coronavirus indoors

Image source, EPA

South Korea has announced the tightening of social distancing rules in most areas of the country to combat the country's worst Covid outbreak yet.

New daily cases have risen to a high of 1,615 as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread.

Gatherings of more than eight people will be banned from Thursday, and restaurants and bars will have to close by midnight.

Tougher restrictions are already in force in the capital Seoul and the surrounding area.

South Korea is considered one of the success stories of the pandemic, with an effective track-and-trace campaign suppressing outbreaks and case numbers kept low.

But recent outbreaks have caused concern, and shortages have stalled an initially successful vaccination campaign. Just over 30% of the population have received at least one jab.

Image source, Reuters

Indonesia has recorded more than 40,000 daily cases for three days in a row, as it battles a devastating Covid surge.

It is now recording more daily cases than India, which fell below 33,000 per day on Tuesday, and almost 1,000 daily deaths.

There are also concerns that the virus is now spreading beyond the central island of Java to outlying regions where healthcare capacities are lower.

Areas such as Sumatra, Papua and Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) are seeing rising numbers of cases.

India had more than 400,000 daily cases at the height of its outbreak in May but has a population five times that of Indonesia.