Image source, Getty Images

We've been reporting on the easing of travel rules between France and the UK, but that's not all that's happening there today.

French teachers are staging a mass strike that could close half of schools as they protest against the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Ministers have made keeping schools open a priority, despite a recent surge in cases fuelled by the Omicron variant.

Teachers say Covid rules in school are confusing and constantly changing.

Many primary schools will be closed today as unions expect about 75% of teachers go on strike.

The nationwide strike could be the biggest in decades as 11 unions representing teachers, parents and other school staff vent their anger at the government's Covid policies.

"The exhaustion and exasperation of the entire educational community have reached an unprecedented level," the 11 unions say in a statement.

Also today, Health Minister Olivier Véran says he has tested positive for Covid and is self-isolating, but will continue to work remotely.

Read more here.

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People in England's "left behind" communities (LBNs) are 46% more likely to die from Covid-19 than those living in the rest of the country, a study suggests.

LBNs are mainly found in the North and Midlands in de-industrialised areas - as well as coastal areas in the south of England. People in these areas worked longer hours and lived shorter lives, with more ill-health, says the report.

The study was published by the All-Parliamentary Party Group (APPG) for LBNs and the Northern Health Science Alliance., external

Paul Howell, Conservative MP for Sedgefield and co-chair of the APPG, said: "The findings from this report are clear; people living in 'left behind' neighbourhoods are overall worse off when it comes to health and something needs to change."

Read more here.

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A Canadian father who has not been vaccinated against Covid has temporarily lost the right to see his 12-year-old child.

A judge ruled his visits would not be in the child's "best interest".

It follows a request by the father to extend his visiting time during the holidays.

The judgement is the first depriving a parent of access rights on immunisation grounds, a family law expert told Le Devoir newspaper, external.

The judge's decision, made at the end of last month, external in Quebec province, suspends the father's visitation rights until February, unless he decides to get vaccinated.

Read more here.

Image source, PA Media

The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, a long-time critic of the PM's management of the pandemic, has called for Boris Johnson to resign for what he described as an "indefensible" party during lockdown.

Andy Burnham said he understood people's anger after they endured "nightmarish" restrictions at the time of the May 2020 drinks event at Downing Street.

He said trust and integrity in politics were at risk if the prime minister refused to stand down.

On Wednesday, Mr Johnson apologised for the way he handled the event in the Downing Street garden and said he understood the public's "rage" over it.

But Mr Burnham said the prime minister's account, which included his insistence that he believed the party was a work event, "didn't stack up".

Read more

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An update on whether Covid rules in Wales could be relaxed is expected tomorrow.

Wales' rules were last tightened on 26 December, meaning no more than 50 people can attend a sporting event, social distancing restrictions are also in place in businesses and a rule of six applies in hospitality venues like pubs.

Speaking earlier, Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan said there were "very positive signs" that Wales is "coming to the peak" and "possibly turning the corner" on the coronavirus wave.

Her comments come two days after the First Minister Mark Drakeford told the Senedd that modelling suggested rates getting worse over the next week.

He indicated that ministers could ease restrictions in a week's time, but cautioned that it was a "big if" whether Wales would be in a position for that to happen.

More from Wales here - and for a reminder of the current rules, that's here.

Image source, Melissa Hamblett

We've been speaking to some of the holidaymakers who are delighted that France has relaxed its border rules for UK travellers.

Melissa Hamblett from Gloucester has had to reschedule a trip to Disneyland for her son Max's birthday five times since they originally booked in 2020.

"Our son doesn't know the update yet, he's at school right now," she said. "He's going to be so happy."

She and her family are big Disney fans, and said it has been "really disappointing" having to keep rescheduling. "I was convinced [it] would be happening again. I got bored of getting my hopes up."

But not all would-be travellers are happy. Steven Berry, from Wigan, is also due to travel to Disneyland but is worried about France's mask restrictions

"My youngest daughter is deaf, non-verbal and has autism so she cannot wear a mask and neither can anyone who needs to communicate with her as she needs to see lip patterns and facial expressions.

"Even if we did get an exemption, the thought of spending a week’s holiday constantly having to justify why we’re aren’t masked up, the frowns and looks we’ll get, just isn’t worth it!

"I am hoping that nearer the time of when we travel, that mask restrictions will be eased.”

It's been a busy morning with Covid news. Here are the top headlines:

• Boris Johnson is still facing calls to quit as prime minister after admitting attending a drinks party during lockdown last year. But Johnson's ministers have rallied around him and pledged their support. Johnson has cancelled a visit to Lancashire after a family member tested positive for coronavirus
• Someone who has announced they are quitting though is Jonathan Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer. He said it had been the "greatest privilege" to serve the UK during the pandemic.
• People with Covid in England can stop self-isolating after five full days as long as they test negative on days five and six. It is not yet known if Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will follow England's lead
• Wales' health minister says there are "very positive signs" that Wales is "coming to the peak" of the coronavirus wave. There's an announcement on Wales' Covid rules due tomorrow
• France is relaxing its travel rules for fully vaccinated UK holidaymakers. Travellers will still need to show proof of a negative Covid test, taken 24 hours before leaving the UK. The travel industry has welcomed the move and reported a surge in bookings for ski holidays
• Retailer Next has become the latest employer to cut sick pay for unvaccinated staff who must self-isolate because of Covid exposure. Ikea has already announced it is doing the same
• There's some sobering news on hospital waiting lists which have got even longer due to the Covid pandemic - the number of people waiting for treatment in England has hit six million for the first time

Image source, Blackburn with Darwen Council

A former Lancashire mayor who quit after breaking Covid rules says Boris Johnson should do the same.

Iftakhar Hussain stood down as Blackburn with Darwen mayor after celebrating a wedding in a house last year when there were strict limits on the numbers who could gather.

Mr Hussain, who is still a Labour councillor, says the PM "has made a mockery of the system".

"I made a mistake and I owned up to it and I think the prime minister should do the same.

"I shouldn't have [gone to the wedding], I put my hands up and stepped aside," he says.

At a stormy PMQs on Wednesday, Johnson apologised for attending a No 10 party in May 2020 and said he regretted his actions.

Wednesday was a tough day for Boris Johnson. At midday, he got up in front of MPs and admitted attending a party at No 10 during lockdown.

Cabinet ministers rallied around the PM - here's what some of the key people tweeted.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries tweeted at 15:04 saying the PM was "right" to apologise and take responsibility, and civil servant Sue Gray's inquiry should go ahead, external and "establish the full facts".

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove backed this up, tweeting: "Nadine is right", external at 15:22.

The comments were echoed by Health Secretary Sajid Javid at 16:43, who also said Gray's investigation should be allowed to continue, external.

At 18:25, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi tweeted a downward pointing finger emoji,, external indicating he also agreed with the culture secretary's point.

Later in the evening, at 20:11, Chancellor Rishi Sunak tweeted that the PM was right to apologise, external (as well as mentioning what he'd been up to that day).

BBC Radio 5 Live

Nicky Campbell has been asking Radio 5 Live listeners what their opinion is of Boris Johnson now.

Gill in Yorkshire’s daughter was working in ICU as a trainee nurse during the first lockdown. She says Boris Johnson has taken the country for “fools”.

“It’s not even the party anymore,” she says. “I can’t get out of my head his face when somebody asked him the other day about it and he smirked.”

Kev in Lincolnshire says he has accepted the prime minister’s apology.

“Who would want Boris’s job at the moment?” he asks. “He’s got to make all these decisions – having a casual drink in the garden in the fresh air for 25 minutes, I can forgive him for that.”

Respiratory consultant Pradeep sent his partner and newborn baby to live with his in-laws during the first lockdown as he was worried about infecting them with Covid.

“What [Boris] did is a slap in the face to people like us,” he says.

“I can tell you in the medical profession there’s a lot of anger and indignation, we’ve been taken for fools and I’m really, really angry about this.”

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, who himself is a vaccinator, says the atmosphere in temporary hubs can be "quite quiet and sombre".

He asks if licensing conditions for radio can be lifted, suggesting presenter Chris Evans might even be listening to the debate.

He adds that the change would "help lift spirits".

Javid replies: "Personally I think that’s a very good suggestion."

At with that, questions to the health secretary have come to an end.

We saw some fiery exchanges earlier between the health secretary and his opposite number in the Commons.

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting paid tribute to the "outstanding public service" of Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, who is leaving his post as England’s deputy chief medical officer.

But, Streeting said: "It wasn't the government resignation we were looking for” - a reference to Labour's latest call for Boris Johnson to step down - this time over the lockdown party issue.

He added: “JVT already has a knighthood, but working with the prime minister, he must have the patience of a saint”.

The shadow health secretary said Labour “thank him for his service” and described him as “truly a national treasure”.

Conservative MP Mark Harper welcomes the change to self-isolation rules but criticises the policy of mandatory vaccination for front-line NHS and care staff.

He says it will mean thousands of workers losing their jobs and that "persuasion" is the best and right way to get health workers vaccinated.

In response, Javid says the government is committed to the April deadline for bringing in mandatory vaccination for front-line NHS staff because in settings where there are more vulnerable people it is right they are put first.

He adds that vaccines limit transmission so make it safer for those being given care.

The minimum self-isolation period in England is changing from Monday

Watch Health Secretary Sajid Javid explain what the new rules will be when they come into force.

Conservative MP Greg Clark asks whether, given more than 91% of eligible over-50s have had their booster, the health secretary can confirm the government is on track to lift Plan B restrictions when they expire on 26 January.

The restrictions include mandatory masks in most public places, Covid passes for entry to some large venues and advice to work from home.

Clark also specifically highlights advice to wear face coverings in secondary classrooms.

Javid says no restriction should be in place "for a moment longer than is absolutely necessary" and that the government will set out its plans "as soon as we can".

Conservative chair of the Health and Social Care Committee Jeremy Hunt says he welcomes today’s announcement and adds his praise to the vaccine programme.

He says part of its success was down to GPs who were diverted away from their normal duties.

Hunt says that meant they were not able to deliver other treatment and asked the minister when the Covid backlog plan is going to be published and if it will have "independently verified assurance that we are training enough doctors and nurses for the future”.

Sajid Javid says the government is “working on a workforce strategy”.

SNP MP Patricia Gibson asks how, if the prime minister cannot follow his own rules, the health secretary can continue to ask the public to follow them.

She says the prime minister's credibility is "in tatters" and asks if the health secretary truly believes he is the best person to lead the country.

In response, Sajid Javid says the prime minister apologised yesterday and it is right to wait for the outcome of an ongoing investigation into lockdown parties in government buildings.

Image source, PA Media

The health secretary has been detailing some key changes to Covid isolation:

• Length of self-isolation for people with Covid is being cut to at least five full days
• Currently, isolation is at least seven days. People can stop isolating after two negative lateral flow tests on days six and seven
• From Monday, people with two negative tests can leave isolation from the start of day six.

Read more: What are the Covid self-isolation rules now?

In response to Streeting's statement, Javid criticises him for giving "not one word of thanks" to the NHS, volunteers or military involved in the vaccination programme.

This prompts an angry response from Labour's shadow health secretary, who gets to his feet and says "the prime minister is not fit to lick the boots of NHS staff in this country”.

Javid goes on to reassure people there are enough tests available, saying the government has quadrupled the number of lateral flow tests available.

The health secretary asks why Streeting thinks England should have automatically changed its isolation policy to be line with that of the US - the US switched to 5 days in December.

He adds that UKHSA data shows approximately 30% of people are still infectious at the end of day five, hence the need for two negative tests.

Streeting describes the changes to the self-isolation periods as “great news for the prime minister”.

Earlier, Boris Johnson cancelled a scheduled visit to Lancashire because a family member has tested positive for Covid.

He says it's a "terribly unfortunate coincidence of timing" that the PM is having to isolate, and is not able to "face the cameras or the public" after yesterday's party apology.

Of course the changes Sajid Javid has announced today affect people who have tested positive, not their contacts.

Streeting goes on to say it’s good of the health secretary “to help the prime minister back to work in time to face the music again at prime minister’s questions next week”.

He ends by asking Javid "what on earth" he thought he was doing when he "leapt to the PM's defence" yesterday.

"His first duty is to public health," Streeting says.