[Jimbuna]

There are fewer than 10,000 people in hospital with coronavirus in the UK, the latest figures show - similar to the numbers of Covid patients being cared for on NHS wards at the end of October.

Daily new Covid admissions have been declining since mid-January and now stand at 590, as of 5 March. At the peak of this latest pandemic wave they surpassed 4,500 in one day.

Up to four adults from two different households will be able to meet outdoors in Scotland from Friday of this week.

Restrictions on young people will also be eased, with four people aged between 12-17 able to meet even if they are all from different households.

Hospitals in and around Paris have been told to reduce non-Covid treatments by 40%, amid extensive demand for intensive care beds.

Hollywood star Michael Sheen has been "laid low" after contracting coronavirus.