Nicola Sturgeon warns 'big risk' of new variants if international travel restrictions lifted too early - Daily Record

Nicola Sturgeon has warned Scotland faces a "big risk" of importing new variants of the coronavirus if restrictions on international travel are lifted too soon.

The First Minister admitted lifting travel abroad "too quickly" last year which allowed the virus to re-seed amongst the population, which then lead to a second national lockdown.

Speaking on the Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, the SNP leader said Scots face living longer with international travel restrictions due to the risk of importing new strains of Covid-19.

She added: "The big risk that we face, not just in Scotland but in the UK, is the importation of new variants of the virus.

"Variants that might be faster spreading, that might be more severe, and crucially variants that might undermine the efficacy of the vaccines.

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"We have to be very careful about that which is why I think one of the restrictions we're all going to have to live with for longer is a restriction on international travel.

"We must not allow the progress we are making domestically to be undermined by a too lax position on international travel."

"We probably opened up international travel too quickly so we allowed the virus to re-seed into our domestic population.

"I think it is important we try the best we can to avoid that in the weeks and months ahead."

Scottish politics

Asked about the fast spreading Indian variant, Sturgeon said it wasn't a big concern at the moment in Scotland but did admit it was of interest.

"It is a variant of interest as oppose to a variant of concern," she added.

Speaking earlier, the UK Environment Secretary George Eustice said there is no evidence that the Indian variant of coronavirus is able to "get around" the vaccine.

He said: "The last I think I saw... there were around 70 cases. But I think I've seen lots of different numbers on different variants - you'll appreciate, there is quite a few - so it is a fairly small number at the moment. But it is something that we are watching.

"I'm told that there is no evidence at the moment that this particular variant is able to get around the vaccine, for instance, or indeed that it is necessarily more contagious than the others."

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2021-04-18 09:17:33Z
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Czech police hunt men wanted over Salisbury Novichok attack - Evening Standard

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1. Czech police hunt men wanted over Salisbury Novichok attack  Evening Standard
2. Salisbury poisoning suspects 'linked to Czech blast'  BBC News
3. Czechs expel 18 Russian diplomats over 2014 explosion  Financial Times
4. UK 'stands with' Czech Republic after Salisbury suspects linked to bombing  Daily Mail
5. Czechs chase Skripal Russian assassins over ammo dump explosion eight years ago  Daily Express
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2021-04-18 10:25:56Z
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COVID-19: Thousands of fans return to Wembley for FA Cup semi-final as part of coronavirus events trial - Sky News

Thousands of fans will return to Wembley Stadium for the first time in more than a year on Sunday as part of a coronavirus trial.

The FA Cup semi-final between Leicester City and Southampton will see 4,000 supporters in the stands - a fraction of Wembley's 90,000 capacity.

Sunday's game, alongside the World Snooker Championship and two gigs in Liverpool, are part of the government's Events Research Programme (ERP).

Ministers plan to slowly allow attendees to abandon face masks and social distancing measures to gauge how larger events can take place safely as we come out of lockdown.

It will also trial the idea of COVID certification to unlock parts of society, a concept which has been highly contested by politicians thus far.

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The indoor snooker tournament at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre is only allowing around 300 fans in - to facilitate social distancing - this weekend.

But gradually numbers will rise to half and then full capacity over the 17-day championship, which is about 1,000 seats.

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On 15 May - two days before the government is due to ease lockdown further - the FA Cup final at Wembley will take place with 21,000 fans.

Anyone who attends any of the trial events will have to prove they have had a negative lateral flow test (LFT) result in the past 36 hours.

They will also have to take a laboratory PCR test five days afterwards.

All participants will have consented to taking part in the government's research programme, and Test and Trace data will be shared with local authorities to detect any outbreaks following the events.

In Liverpool, the government is testing how music events can operate safely without social distancing measures.

Image: An outdoor music event will be trialled at Liverpool's Sefton Park

A night at the Circus Nightclub in the city on 30 April will not require people to wear face masks or practice social distancing, but will have a reduced capacity.

An outdoor gig at Liverpool's Sefton Park on 2 May will allow a crowd of 5,000, which is 2,500 short of its full capacity.

Attendees will not have to social distance from others or wear a face mask, but will have to prove a negative LFT result within the previous 24 hours.

They will also have to provide their data to NHS Test and Trace.

Professor Iain Buchan, chairman of public health, clinical informatics, faculty of health and life sciences at Liverpool University said the risk of an outbreak following one of the trial events is "about one in several thousand people".

"It will vary between the different events, but this is very much an ethically thought through careful science led programme that we'll be pursuing," he said.

The government will look at things like ventilation to see how it can mitigate risks.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: "We're one step closer to a summer of live events now our science-led programme is under way.

"Testing different settings and looking at different mitigations is key to getting crowds back safely.

"The Sefton Park pilot is an important addition to the programme ... I hope it won't be too much longer until gigs are back for good."

According to the roadmap out of lockdown, from 17 May indoor venues can operate with 1,000 people or at half-capacity - whichever is lower.

Outdoor venues are allowed 4,000 people or half capacity, whichever is lower.

And large outdoor venues will be allowed 10,000 people or a quarter of capacity, whichever is lower.

If data milestones are met, the government plans to remove all social limits from 21 June, but "this will be subject to the results of the scientific Events Research Programme".

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2021-04-18 02:15:33Z
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Boy, 17, dies after being knifed in the stomach at sports club as teens, both 15, arrested... - The Sun

A BOY of 17 has died after being stabbed in the stomach at a sports club.

Two boys, both 15, and a man, 20, were today arrested on suspicion of murder.

A boy of 17 has died after being stabbed in the stomach at Cam Sports Club in Dursley, GloucestershireCredit: Google

They were previously arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but the charges changed after their alleged victim died from his injuries.

The teen boy suffered fatal injuries after being attacked yesterday at Cam Sports Club in Dursley, Gloucestershire.

He was rushed to hospital in Bristol with suspected stomach wounds but later died.

A police spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with the victim's family and friends at this sad time.

"They are currently being supported by specialist officers."

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2021-04-17 18:08:42Z
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MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: The Queen now needs us - Daily Mail

MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: For 70 years we've needed the Queen, now she needs us

By Mail On Sunday Comment For The Mail On Sunday

Published: 22:02 BST, 17 April 2021 | Updated: 22:09 BST, 17 April 2021

When the many noble titles of Prince Philip were recited at the end of his funeral, one stood out from the rest of the polished and majestic orders and ranks: 'Husband of her most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth the Second'. 

This was his greatest work, the one for which we owe him most.

Together they had Majesty thrust upon them far earlier in their lives than they had expected or hoped.

From that moment they could not take a step that was not watched and judged.

In decade after decade of global turmoil and national reassessment, they were the still centre of the spinning world.  

And together they found their way into the hearts and minds of their people, reassuring and steady when they must often have been full of doubt and diffidence.

And it was always 'They'. 

When the many noble titles of Prince Philip were recited at the end of his funeral, one stood out from the rest of the polished and majestic orders and ranks: 'Husband of her most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth the Second'. This was his greatest work, the one for which we owe him most

Now the Queen must reign without her strength and stay, a sad fact brought home to millions of TV watchers by glimpses of her solitude at the Duke's funeral, prevented by social distancing from receiving the immediate comfort of her family.

Never has she been more in need of the loyalty and prayers of her people, faced with doing alone what she has for most of her life done in company with a brave, funny, wise and experienced consort.

It might also be a good moment to suggest to some wayward members of the Royal House that they might now put aside their differences for a greater purpose. 

For nearly 70 years we have needed our Queen. Now she needs us.

We should govern ourselves better, in civility, mutual kindness, patience, tolerance and wisdom, to lighten the burden on her.

Surely that was the thing we learned most from the muted ceremony at Windsor, which with its facemasks and empty seats was not really grand enough to mark such a significant loss, for all the service's beauty and reverence.

Queen Elizabeth II (top right) and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby watch as the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin is carried into St George's Chapel

The Queen and Prince Philip are seen together in 2007 in a photo which marked their diamond wedding anniversary 

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh are pictured last year in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle ahead of his 99th birthday

What we also learned was that the world that so many of us have known and perhaps thought permanent, is now passing away for good or ill.

This was a ceremony rich in the language, music and traditions of an older Britain, a country undivided by nationalisms, of lusty hymns, self-confidence, naval might, global importance, smooth lawns and sunlight on old stone.

But as Prince Philip realised long ago, there is no guarantee that such things will endure. 

Nations that appear lucky only do so because they work hard at the things that bring good fortune.

Her Majesty stands alone, head bowed, in the chapel as her husband's coffin was carried into the church to be laid to rest

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones, Peter Phillips, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence prepare to set off from the castle behind the coffin

We must learn again in each new generation how to ensure that we remain peaceful, united, free, prosperous and well defended.

Likewise our luck in having a stable monarchy, which has held us together and lifted our spirits through many setbacks, came from our readiness to be loyal to it.

New times are coming. 

One of the most moving moments of the service was when a lone piper, playing a lament, marched sadly out of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, passing slowly out of sight and sound until he was heard and seen no more – as those who go ahead of us from life to death also do.

We must surely learn, as we say farewell to what we knew and loved, that the era we live in now will one day be a long time ago. 

And that we have inherited a great treasure from our forebears, which it is our duty to hand on to those yet unborn, who will come after us.

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2021-04-17 21:02:42Z
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Prince Philip's coffin brought into chapel as funeral service begins - Sky News

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2021-04-17 15:52:20Z
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Queen arrives at chapel for Prince Philip's funeral service - Sky News

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2021-04-17 14:21:42Z
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