India Covid Cases Slow; Thai Death Toll at Record: Virus Update Bloomberg 50 mins ago
(Bloomberg)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lost a crucial election as India’s Covid crisis deepens, with an official in his Bharatiya Janata Party conceding defeat in the populous state of West Bengal. Modi had been widely criticized for continuing to hold mass rallies in the state as infections rose.
Talks starting this week between the U.S. and the World Trade Organization over expanding access to vaccines will focus on how to get them “widely distributed, more widely licensed, more widely shared,” according to White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain. U.S. cases dropped to 45,236, the fewest on a Saturday since late September.
Boozed-up Brits get rowdy in the streets on first Bank Holiday since Covid rules relaxed
Brits desperate for a night out on the town flooded the streets of Leeds and Liverpool on Sunday to celebrate the first long weekend since Covid rules were eased
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Social distancing rules to be scrapped from June 21 in pubs and restaurants Mirror 4 hrs ago Dan Bloom
Social distancing rules will be scrapped entirely from June 21 in England s pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas, it s claimed today.
Indoor venues will be able to operate at full capacity for the first time in 15 months once England enters Step Four of its lockdown roadmap, The Times reported.
But masks, screens and one-way systems appear likely to stay to mitigate the risks, despite the government s aim to end all legal restrictions at that point. That could mean cinema and theatre-goers keeping masks on during shows.
Removing all Covid restrictions in the hard-hit hospitality sector from June 21 is critical and will mean firms can come off life support , an industry chief has said.
Social distancing rules will be ditched next month to allow pubs, restaurants and theatres to open to full capacity with no limits on groups for the first time in more than a year, reports claim.
But one-way systems, screens and rules on mask-wearing while moving around might remain.
Audiences in theatres and cinemas will have to wear face coverings during performances, while there will be strict guidance on ventilation and staggered entry.
Kate Nicholls - chief executive of trade body UKHospitality - said reports of lifting limits on trading are very welcome and will allow businesses to be viable for the first time in nearly 16 months.
There is a “good chance” social distancing will be ditched next month, Boris Johnson has said. The final decision on whether the change can be brought in from June 21 will depend on the data, the Prime Minister added. Mr Johnson said he feels like the next stage of reopening on May 17 – which covers indoor hospitality, entertainment and possibly foreign travel – “is going to be good”. One industry chief has said a return to unrestricted trading for hospitality from June 21 is “critical” and will mean firms can “come off life support”. The comments from Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade body UKHospitality, came as The Times reported social distancing rules will be lifted to allow pubs, restaurants and theatres to open to full capacity for the first time in more than a year.