Portugal extends restrictions on travel via land and sea to Spain; England to launch nine ‘vaccine passport’ pilots from mid-April; Pope Francis says crisis remains severe, especially for the poor * Boris Johnson to give go-ahead for trials of Covid passports * See all our coronavirus coverage 6.04pm BST Authorities in BANGLADESH have announced a seven-day lockdown from Monday, with non-essential retail and transport services shut, according to AFP. There were 7,087 new cases reported on Sunday - the highest since the start of the pandemic - taking the infection toll to just under 640,000. Cases have been surging in recent weeks in the nation of 168 million people. The coronavirus infections are spreading fast. The infection and death rates are jumping,” road transport minister Obaidul Quader said in a video message late Saturday. “In view of the prevailing situation, the Sheikh Hasina government has decided to enforce a lockdown across the country for seven days starting from Monday.” 5.38pm BST GREEK health authorities have reported 78 deaths linked to the coronavirus – the highest daily number recorded so far this year. A further 1,955 cases were also registered in the last 24 hours, including 921 in the Athens area and 262 in Thessaloniki, according to Kathimerini newspaper. Continue reading...
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