The first minister says the areas need to remain in level 3 Covid restrictions to keep infections under control.

A "very small number" of cases are found, prompting the council to urge people to get tested.

The council's director of public health says the area is "at a precarious point".

Pubs and restaurants reopen indoors - but Mark Drakeford advises against travel abroad.

The government in Lisbon says anyone arriving will need to take a negative PCR test before departure.

Gateshead's public health director says people should be extra vigilant in the face of new variants of Covid-19.

In recent days, cases of the so-called Indian variant have been discovered in Newcastle and North Tyneside.

A total of 19 cases have been detected across north-east England, three were said to be travel-related but no further information has been provided on where the cases are.

Alice Wiseman (pictured) says the problem is being closely monitored and the public need to be cautious in the days ahead.

"We're working together across local authorities to make sure we have that broader understanding of where those cases are because we know that our communities live, work and go to school in many different areas, so it's important we work collectively on that," she said.

"Whilst the numbers aren't high at the moment we have seen other parts of the country where cases have risen rapidly so we are watching them."

The finishing touches are being carried out at museums across the North East as they prepare for re-opening next week.

The venues, which would normally attract hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, have been closed for months due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Discovery Museum in Newcastle has been carrying out final checks before it welcomes people back on Monday.

Facilities manager Nick Butterley said: "We can't wait, there's something very sad about seeing the place empty.

"We know how much people enjoy it and how much families enjoy the museum and it won't be quite the same as there's not all the things out that people expect.

"But I think people understand that we have to keep some exhibits tucked away for now."

Local restrictions have also not been ruled out in areas worst affected by the Indian variant.

Scottish government ministers answer questions on the Covid situation, immigration and school assessments.

The city overtakes Moray as having the highest rate of infection as Scotland prepares to move to level two on Monday.

A daily update on the latest coronavirus cases and vaccines in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

More than 170 people who died with Covid likely contracted the virus at a Brighton hospital.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

Door-to-door Covid testing has begun in Redditch as health officials look to prevent the spread of the South Africa variant.

Image source, PA Media

Surge testing started in parts of the town earlier this week after a handful of cases, fewer than 10, were identified, Worcestershire County Council said.

A mobile testing unit has been set up at the Abbey Road Stadium and the authority has praised the response of residents as it has been fully booked until Saturday. , external

The council's map of the affected site includes areas around Webheath, Southcrest and Headless Cross.

Redditch Borough Council leader Matt Dormer said: "We have got to take it seriously and continue the great work that we have been doing and take up those testing spaces.

"Let us book it out every single day, I really do urge everybody to just come forward, have a test, even if you live on the edge of that postcode."

Victoria Uwonkunda
BBC Africa Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

Coronavirs is, once again, spreading in the Seychelles: last week, health authorities confirmed a new rise in the number of confirmed cases.

The news came to a surprise to many, partly because of the country’s remarkable vaccine success.

In just a few months, the Seychelles has managed to immunise more than 60% of its population of nearly 100,000 people.

“By having this comprehensive vaccination programme, we’ve shown the world that, as small as we are, there is this commitment to put this pandemic under control,” said Sharon Ernesta, a reporter with the Seychelles News Agency.

The vaccine rollout was so successful that, in March, the country started welcoming tourists again.

So, when this new rise in cases was reported, many were left scratching their heads. What went wrong?

Find out in Friday’s edition of Africa Daily.

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Business owners in Lincoln say they are looking forward to seeing the "smiles on people's faces" when they reopen to the public on Monday.

Ian Robinson, general manager of the White Hart Hotel, said: "I can't tell you how I feel. The whole team are so excited.

"When you are ringing the staff up to come back to work , the joy is just immense. We've worked so hard to keep everything going so we've got a business to come back to.

"[I'm looking forward to] seeing smiles on people's faces, not just our customers but the staff as well. Everybody has waited so long."

Des Davis, who runs Margaret's Tea Rooms, said he was itching to welcome customers back indoors.

"I can't wait for next week when things get back to some kind of normal," he said.

"It's going to be huge. All our regular guests have been phoning like crazy to book a table.

"There's a lot of excitement about reopening. It will be nice to get people back indoors, it will feel like a tea room again."

Durham's public health boss is advising people to take it "one step at a time" as lockdown restrictions are further eased next week.

From Monday, people will be able to hug and socialise indoors, more businesses - such as cinemas, theatres and bingo halls - can reopen and pubs and restaurants can serve customers indoors.

County Durham's director of public health Amanda Healy said: "There'll always be variants and we do just need to be cautious, that's why we'll be encouraging people to test regularly and the really important thing is for people to take up the vaccine.

"But also have some enjoyment - venues have worked incredibly hard, whether it's a gym, cinema or restaurant to welcome people back in as safe a way as possible."

Image source, Getty Images

There are no confirmed cases of the so-called Indian variant of Covid-19 in Cumbria, the county's public health director says.

With the number of cases rising fast in neighbouring Lancashire and Greater Manchester, Colin Cox said: "There's been nothing confirmed in Cumbria so far."

However, he said it is a concern and the situation is being continually monitored: "The variant is spreading quickly and not just in Indian communities, while originally it was associated with people returning from India from family visits and things like that.

"It's now certainly taking a hold on parts of Lancashire and other parts of north-west England and outside those communities as well."

The government has said second vaccine doses could be brought forward and local restrictions introduced to help tackle the variant in the worst-affected areas.

"It's close to us but I wouldn't get too panicked about it, for most people in Cumbria it's something for people like myself to keep an eye on," Mr Cox added.

The university says it reviewed the decision after "listening carefully to feedback from students".

First Minister Mark Drakeford says the next three-week Covid restrictions review in Wales will be held at the start of June.

He said: "If the public health situation remains positive, we will look at whether we can move to alert level one".

Mr Drakeford said this could mean relaxing the rules further around meeting people in their own homes, increasing the number of people able to attend wedding receptions, and restarting larger events "building on the experience of our pilot programme, which started yesterday".

Image source, Welsh government

Double tragedy hit Graeme Carling when Covid took his mother Margaret, then his father Graeme the same night.