EU says UK not being transparent on vaccine exports – follow live

The number of Covid-19-related deaths in Northern Ireland has fallen for the eighth week in a row, according to new figures.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency recorded 15 deaths in the week leading up to 19 March, down by 17 on the previous week.

The statistics agency counts deaths by looking at death certificates, rather than by recording deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test like the Department of Health.

They put the total death toll in NI at 2,886, while the government puts it at 2,104.

Transport for London (TfL) has issued advice for when England’s stay at home rule is lifted on Monday.

The organisation says: “The government is urging people to stay local where they can and TfL is asking Londoners to consider walking and cycling by taking advantage of the city’s network of safe walking and cycling routes.

“Those who need to use public transport should try to minimise their journeys [and] plan for quiet times and routes.”

Quiet times are defined as 8.15am to 4pm and after 5.30pm on weekdays, and at weekends before 12 noon and after 6pm.

Around three in 20 adults (14 per cent) who test positive for Covid-19 break self-isolation rules, new figures suggest.

The survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that the majority (83 per cent) of rule-breakers left home to go to the shops, work or school during their isolation, while a minority (22 per cent) received an unauthorised visitor.

Rishi Sunak has said that staff could “vote with their feet” and quit their jobs if British companies don’t allow them back into offices after lockdown.

The Chancellor told The Telegraph that the “spontaneity” of office life is unparalleled.

“You can’t beat the spontaneity, the team building, the culture that you create in a firm or an organisation from people actually spending physical time together,” he said.

Mr Sunak told The Sun that young people particularly benefit from office environments.

“Imagine you’ve just left college or university you start this job in a big company and you’re sitting at home on your own,” he said.

“How do you get to know your peers, how do you learn the culture of an organisation, how do you get those mentors, which are important for your career development?”

Some companies, like Nationwide Building Society, have announced plans to allow some employees to continue working from home if they wish after lockdown restrictions have ended.

Robert Jenrick has said that domestic vaccine passports would not be rolled out until everyone has been offered the Covid-19 vaccine.

He told LBC radio that the passports were part of a “wide range of options” being considered “in the longer-term, once the whole country has been vaccinated”.

Earlier, he told Times Radio that, if approved, the passport rollout would not happen by May, when some hospitality restrictions are eased.

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has responded to European Commission president Ursual von der Leyen’s comment that she has “no knowledge” of vaccine exports from the UK to the EU.

Asked whether the UK had indeed sent supplies, he told Sky News: “Vaccines are based on complex international supply chains.

“There are elements of the vaccines being produced in the UK, there are elements being produced in parts of the European Union and indeed all over the world – we are working with the Serum Institute, for example, in India.

“So it is critical for all countries that there is the free flow of medical products, including vaccines, across international borders and it would be very damaging if countries started to pull up drawbridges and prevent vaccines, medicines or elements of them from crossing international borders and the UK strongly opposes that.”

People arriving in Ireland from high-risk countries must undergo mandatory hotel quarantine from today.

Travellers from 33 countries the Irish government have deemed high-risk, such as Brazil and South Africa, must stay in a hotel for 12 nights on their arrival.

This could be reduced by two days if the person receives a negative test on day 10.

The cost per adult for this stay, including all services, is €1,875 (£1600).

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has said that ‘pub passports’ are possible – but not in the near future.

Speaking on Times Radio, he said that the government is “taking to time to consider this issue carefully” and that the “work is happening” on passports, but denied the suggestion that it could be done by the time restrictions ease in May.

“Domestically, there are a range of issues we need to work through, that work is now happening and it will be reporting back later,” he said.

“But if we do go down that route, we don’t anticipate it being in the near term. … We’re taking time to consider this issue carefully. It is a complex issue.”

“Pub passports” could be the future of indoor social contact.

According to reports in The Times and The Daily Mail, the government is considering issuing short-term passes to people with sufficient virus immunity, allowing them to enter pubs, restaurants and other venues without the need for social distancing.

Plans reportedly being reviewed by Michael Gove include the NHS app being converted into a site for these digital certificates which could be issued for as little as 24 hours and antibody tests being conducted on a person’s blood to determine whether or not they are sufficiently Covid immune.

Digital certificates could be issued to those who have received the Covid-19 vaccine or to those who have recently received a negative Covid test.

The plans, if they are announced to the public, are likely to receive pushback. ‘Vaccine passport’ proposals have repeatedly proven controversial, as scientists and governments the world over debate their practical and ethical problems and implications.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has taken a swipe at the UK’s “transparency” over vaccine exports, just a day after the row seemed to begin to cool off.

Yesterday, the UK and the EU issued a joint statement saying that they hoped to create a “win-win situation” on vaccines.

But today, Ms Von der Leyen said she has “no knowledge so far of UK exports”, adding “perhaps I am mistaken and [am] waiting for their transparency”.

She also called on AstraZeneca to “honour the contract” they have made with the EU at an online summit of its leaders.

Ms Von der Leyen said that AstraZeneca “has to catch up, has to honour the contract it has with the European member states, before it can engage again in exporting vaccines”.

She added: “We have worldwide supply chains that have to be intact and it is of the utmost importance that we get back to an attitude of openness.”

Earlier this month, the EU enacted a policy allowing member states to block vaccine shipments due for export if additional jabs are needed within the bloc.

It came amid a fierce row over vaccines between the UK, who say they did a better job of securing contracts, and the EU, who believe Britain should share their greater resources more with the continent.