We are bringing today’s blog to a close now. Here is a summary of developments:
- Free Covid tests in England will end on 1 April and those who test positive will no longer legally have to isolate from this Thursday, Boris Johnson announced in his ‘living with Covid’ plan.
- Charities have warned the ending of mandatory coronavirus rules in England will cause “huge anxiety” to immunocompromised and disabled people, leaving them feeling “abandoned” and “forgotten”.
- Iran has returned 820,000 donated coronavirus vaccines, State TV reports.
- Mexico reported 98 Covid deaths and 4,832 new cases.
- Brazil reported 318 Covid-19 deaths and 37,339 new cases, the health ministry said.
- France has reported 17,195 new daily Coronavirus cases compared with 59,003 on Sunday.
- Italy reported 201 Coronavirus daily deaths and 24,408 cases.
- Trudeau said emergency powers were still needed following the blockades caused by the so-called ‘Freedom Convoy’.
- The UK recorded 38,409 new Covid cases and 15 more deaths within 28 days of a positive test on Monday, government data showed. That is compared to 25,696 cases and 74 deaths reported on Sunday.
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Over-75s and people with suppressed immune systems in the UK are to be offered another Covid-19 booster vaccination
in the coming weeks to increase potentially waning protection, after advice from the government’s vaccines watchdog. - Germany expects vaccinations with Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine to begin across the country over the course of this week, the health ministry said.
- Britons can now only order a free box of lateral flow Covid-19 tests every 72 hours, according to the government’s website.
- South Africa’s health department said it was changing Covid vaccination rules to try to increase uptake, as inoculations have slowed and the country has ample vaccine stocks.
- International tourists and business travellers began arriving in Australia with few restrictions today. On Monday the country removed its final travel restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers.
- New Zealand will lift Covid vaccine mandates and social distancing measures after the Omicron peak has passed, its prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said.
- Nurseries in England continue to be severely affected by the pandemic, with the latest official data showing record numbers of early years and childcare settings reporting Covid cases at the end of last month.
- Jordan’s prime minister, Bisher al-Khasawneh, tested positive for Covid-19 during an official visit to Egypt, state news agency Petra news agency reported.
Updated
Mexico reports 98 Covid deaths and 4,832 new cases
Mexico reported 98 deaths from Covid-19 and 4,832 new infections, the health ministry said.
This brings the overall death toll to 315,786 and the number of cases to 5,418,257.
Updated
