UK

1.1 million people in private households in the UK have reported having long COVID, latest estimates show. The data from the Office for National Statistics defined the condition as symptoms that lasted more than four weeks and are self-reported, rather than clinically diagnosed. Of the 1.1 million, 674,000 people were thought to have symptoms that

Lockdown restrictions in Wales will ease on 12 April to allow travel between the country and the rest of the UK. First Minister Mark Drakeford will confirm the measures at a briefing tomorrow, including the goal of fully entering Alert Level 3 by 17 May. He will warn, however, that the next steps on Wales’

The UK is no longer a country “where the system is deliberately rigged against ethnic minorities”, a government-ordered review has said. The Independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities – which was appointed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson following last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests – has published its 258-page report on inequality in Britain.

The UK has recorded 56 more COVID-19 deaths and 4,040 new cases in the latest 24-hour period. This compares with Monday’s figures of 23 deaths and 4,654 infections. There is typically an increase in reported deaths on Tuesdays as weekend updates are added in. A total of 126,670 people in the UK have died within

Metropolitan Police officers “acted appropriately” at the Clapham Common vigil held in memory of Sarah Everard, a review has found. The report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has found that the force “was justified in adopting the view that the risks of transmitting COVID-19 at the vigil were

The prime minister has admitted “we don’t know… how strong our fortifications now are” against a fresh COVID wave – while the chief medical officer has warned of a “leaky wall” of vaccine defence. Speaking at a Downing Street news conference on Monday – as people in England saw lockdown restrictions eased slightly – Boris

Fewer than two in five licensed premises will have outdoor areas available to serve diners and drinkers when lockdown rules are eased next month, new figures show. Around 41,100 or 38.2% of sites in Britain have a garden, terrace, car park or other area they might use at the next stage of reopening – with

Boris Johnson says he hopes Monday’s relaxation of COVID rules in England kickstarts a “Great British summer of sport” – but has urged people to remain cautious and to stick to the rules. From Monday, groups of up to six, or two households, are able to reunite outdoors, and outdoor sport can resume. The stay

The UK has planned to ensure second COVID jabs are administered on time, according to the culture minister, who also confirmed a batch of the Moderna vaccine was due to arrive in the coming weeks. It comes as England is set to relax lockdown restrictions with the rule of six returning from Monday, and the

Police have urged people not to participate in further “Kill The Bill” protests in Bristol after more violence broke out on Friday night. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it “disgraceful” after bricks, glass bottles and fireworks were thrown at officers. Ten people were arrested after trouble flared when police tried to disperse people in the

Arrests have been made during a third “Kill The Bill” demonstration in Bristol after projectiles were thrown at police. More than 1,000 protesters had taken part in a peaceful protest in the city – third in less than a week – including a sit-down demonstration near Bridwell police station – the scene of Sunday’s violence.

Protests outside a Yorkshire school over a teacher showing a class a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed have sparked a conversation about freedom of expression, religious freedoms and what is appropriate to show and teach children. The unnamed member of staff is understood to have been teaching students about blasphemy in a religious studies (RS)

A demonstration that took place outside a school after a teacher showed a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed in the classroom was “disturbing”, a cabinet minister has said. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the protest was “not right” and that “we shouldn’t have teachers feeling intimidated”. “That is not a road we want to go

MPs have voted to extend the government’s emergency COVID legislation for another six months. Despite opposition from some Tory backbenchers, the Coronavirus Act 2020 was passed by 484 votes to 76, a majority of 408. MPs also approved the regulations underpinning the steps to ease restrictions from 29 March as laid out in Boris Johnson’s

The national medical director for the NHS is urging any remaining over-50s to book in for their COVID-19 jab ahead of a vaccine slowdown from Monday. Professor Stephen Powis has called on anyone who is eligible but has not yet received a first jab to book an appointment in the next few days. The NHS

Plans to overhaul the UK’s asylum system will seek to break the business model of people smugglers, the home secretary has said. Priti Patel told the Commons “while people are dying, we have a responsibility to act”. She added that the new plan for immigration “is driven by three fair but firm objectives”. Live UK