Headlines
• The Netherlands extends curfew until at least 28 April
• Italy eases its lockdown
• Japan to vaccinate over 65s
• 80% of Sicilians refuse AZ vaccine
• The Czech Republic ends its state of emergency
World news
• An update to England and Wales’ contact tracing app has been blocked for breaking the terms of an agreement made with Apple and Google. The app was going to ask users to upload logs of venue check-ins. However, under the terms that all health authorities signed up to in order to use Apple and Google's privacy-centric contact-tracing tech, they had to agree not to collect any location data via the software.
• Today, in the second round of lockdown easing in England:
• Northern Ireland's “stay-at-home” order is ending today.
• The Dutch government has extended a night-time curfew and other restrictions until at least 28 April.
• Footfall across retail destinations in the UK was up by 101% by midday today compared to the previous week. The most recent figures from retail analysts Springboard showed footfall at shopping centres had risen 148%, while high street footfall rose 130%, but retail parks saw a 12% drop. Across all destinations, footfall was still down 36% compared to 2019 figures.
• A Dutch travel firm is to fly nearly 200 people to Greece for an eight-day holiday, to test whether tourism is feasible. Travellers won’t be allowed to leave the resort on the island of Rhodes. The trip costs €399 per person. Participants will be tested before and after the trip and must quarantine for at least five days when they return.
• Italy is easing its lockdown, with people facing fewer travel restrictions, and non-essential shops can reopen.
• France is expanding its vaccinations to all those aged 55 and above.
• 80% of Sicilians have refused the AstraZeneca vaccine, Sicily’s governor said on Sunday.
• The Czech Republic’s state of emergency and the associated ban for people to move outside their home districts has ended.
• Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there are too many uncertainties to set a new target for vaccinating Australians.
• Japan has expanded its vaccination programme to people aged over 65.
• Greece’s high schools reopened today after a five-month closure.
• Venezuela has secured funds to fully pay for vaccines via the Covax system, president Nicolás Maduro said.
• Bangladesh authorities today ordered an eight-day closure of all offices and international and domestic transport.
