After advising people not to travel into and out of eight areas in England worst-hit by Indian coronavirus variant, the government has now said travel should be minimised, clarifying local restrictions are not being imposed. The government came under fire on Tuesday over the initial advice for Bolton, Blackburn, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside. When the advice emerged people cancelled travel plans, local politicians said they had not been consulted and then Downing Street issued an unprompted denial that it was imposing local lockdowns by stealth. The government wanted to encourage the public "to exercise their good judgement", rather than issuing "top-down edicts", the prime minister's official spokesman said.
Although advice on avoiding all non-essential travel has changed, around two million people in those affected areas are still being asked to meet outdoors and stay 2m apart from anyone in other households, wherever possible. People are now also being urged to get in touch with local authorities for guidance about restrictions, rules and advice. And anyone travelling to red or amber list countries should arrange "a testing or managed quarantine package", the government’s amended advice says.

The vaccine rollout continues at pace in England with people aged 30 and 31 being invited to book their first dose of a Covid jab. Several areas are seeing a surge in coronavirus cases linked to the Indian variant, with two doses of the vaccines needed for strong protection.The NHS is urging the million or so people in the latest category to book an appointment at one of the 1,600 available locations, including mosques, museums and rugby grounds, as well as pharmacies. It’s part of the government’s ambition to offer all adults the first dose of the vaccine by the end of July. So far nearly three-quarters of adults in the UK have already had one dose, and more than two-fifths have had two. "Our vaccination programme is moving at such a phenomenal pace,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock said. Meanwhile, over-18s in most areas of Wales, over-25s in Northern Ireland and those aged 30 and above in Scotland are all being invited to book appointments for their first dose.

Decision-making in the early months of the pandemic, timings of lockdowns and other restrictions, and procurement processes are topics likely to be covered when the prime minister's former aide, Dominic Cummings, is questioned by MPs later. During the four hours or so of questioning at a joint meeting of Parliament's health and science committees, MPs could also ask him about his trip to Barnard Castle in the first lockdown. It’s part of an inquiry into "lessons learnt" about coronavirus. Mr Cummings, who left his role in Downing Street at the end of last year following an internal power struggle, has been increasingly outspoken on Twitter and in his blog, and says "secrecy" had "contributed greatly to the catastrophe". Downing Street says it is getting on with the "huge task" of recovery.

“Farce” as the plan for new lockdowns “unravels”, headlines the Daily Telegraph after the government was "forced into retreat" when it updated advice for eight areas in England worst hit by the Indian coronavirus variant. The i carries the same story reporting on the “U-turn” of the "accidental lockdowns", which, it says, led to several Tory MPs protesting privately to Downing Street. The Times and the Daily Express have chosen a more positive stance. The Times says vaccinations have hit a “new high” with all those aged over 30 eligible for jabs, and the Daily Express reports the UK is "set to revel in a summer of sport and live performances" after there were 15 positive Covid cases recorded from events that involved more than 58,000 people. Read the newspaper review here.

The way we’re holidaying appears to be changing. Cornwall’s the most popular summer location in the country this year, out-booking previous title-holder London. And with remote working seemingly becoming more permanent, would you book somewhere in the world as a change of scene while you worked, rather than just going away on holiday? Read more here, if that’s got you thinking.
Whether you’re posting a holiday snap or video online, or just searching the internet, how is it you can see it anywhere in the world? The answer, lies in the ocean. Meanwhile, a place affectionately known as Kates-fridge is continuing to live up to its nickname by beating its own record for low temperatures. It’s cold in Katesbridge, County Down.

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