By France and Poland have reintroduced partial lockdowns as both countries battle a sharp rise in Covid infections in recent weeks.
Twenty countries in the European Union have now reported an increase in the rate of positive tests and 15 have said hospital or intensive care admissions have increased, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Some 21 million people in 16 areas of France, including the capital Paris, are affected as the country fears a third wave
Non-essential shops, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities in Poland are closed for three weeks
A member of the UK government’s vaccine taskforce has described France’s approach to the AstraZeneca jab as “crackers”.
Sir John Bell says the changing advice from French officials was undermining confidence in the whole vaccination programme
A UK government adviser says it is “extremely unlikely” that Britons will be taking foreign holidays this summer.
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The UK reported 4,802 new Covid cases on Friday, and 101 deaths. More than 26 million Britons have received their first vaccine dose.
Wealthy countries, including the UK, are blocking plans to help developing countries create vaccine manufacturing capabilities, the BBC has learned.
Fears of third wave grow in Europe.
Europe’s fight against the virus has been held back by a sluggish vaccine delivery programme.
More than two thirds of European countries have seen a week-on-week rise in coronavirus infections.
There are concerns that low rates of vaccination across the bloc could lead to new variants capable of evading the vaccines that would otherwise keep most of the UK’s vulnerable people safe.
European holidays in May, and even in the summer, look doubtful as the surge in Covid cases across Europe.
Europe is bracing for a third wave of coronavirus forcing Italy to ban holiday travel, France into lockdown and Germany to consider breaking away from the EU’s vaccination program to buy Russian vaccines.
