EU threatens to block vaccine exports; John Magafuli, one of Africa’s most prominent Covid-19 sceptics, dies of ‘heart condition’; Brazil daily cases top 90,000 for first time
- EU threatens to halt vaccine exports to UK unless it gets ‘fair share’
- Tanzania’s Covid-denying president, John Magufuli, dies aged 61
- European countries at the start of a third wave of Covid, experts warn
- Australia among countries ‘blocking vaccine access’ for PNG
- See all our coronavirus coverage
Delaying the winter lockdown caused up to 27,000 extra deaths in England, the Resolution Foundation thinktank has claimed as it accused the government of a “huge mistake” which should be central to any public inquiry into the UK’s handling of the pandemic.
In an assessment of policy over the last year, it said delaying the start of the latest lockdown until January, despite evidence of fast-rising cases before Christmas, led to around a fifth of all fatalities caused by the virus. It said these could have been avoided if restrictions were put in place quickly enough to prevent the death rate rising from early December.
Related: Delaying England’s winter lockdown ’caused up to 27,000 extra Covid deaths’
Quarantine-free travel to Australia from New Zealand could be in place by the end of April, Radio New Zealand reports.
Ministers are working on the proposal, which could be put to Cabinet as soon as Monday. Deputy prime minister Grant Robertson says he is “very optimistic” about the travel bubble being opened soon.
It would be conditional on there being no coronavirus outbreaks or lockdowns in the meantime.After a year of closed borders, New Zealanders have greeted the news with enthusiasm, particularly those with family in Australia and the tourism industry, which has been struggling in the absence of international visitors.The National party has been pressuring the government to open a travel bubble between the two countries immediately.
