good afternoon. the health secretary, matt hancock, has announced that more than half of adults in the uk have now had a first dose of covid vaccine. more people received the jab yesterday than on any other day. despite this, a scientist on a government advisory body warns summer holidays overseas are "extremely unlikely" — because of the risk of travellers bringing coronavirus variants — back to the uk. it comes as france and poland have reintroduced partial lockdowns as both countries battle a sharp rise in infections in recent weeks. richard galpin reports. here in germany the authorities are warning that the country is now facing a third wave of coronavirus. infections rising exponentially. and this particularly worrying as just 8% of the population here has had a first dose of vaccine. there are now calls for lockdown measures to be brought back in. the situation also serious here in france, with covid cases surging. more than 20 million people now facing restrictions. poland, yet another eu country battling the virus, has today gone into a lockdown expected to last three weeks. the situation across the eu in part a result of a faltering vaccination programme and delays in deliveries. and this not helped by the eu's recent suspension of supplies of the astrazeneca vaccine at this critical time. italy, though, is now moving ahead, with the astrazeneca vaccine. translation: the whole government, i and i must say the whole of italy, i is very active in ensuring that the vaccination campaign proceeds at the greatest possible speed, with the greatest possible capacity. in contrast, back here in britain, where coronavirus cases are much lower than in the european union, summer holidays are now on the minds of many. but will it be possible to travel abroad, given the covid situation in the eu and other countries? i'm going to reporting the upshot of the global travel task force on 12th april, and of course that will need to take into account notjust vaccination rates here and infection rates, but what is happening elsewhere in destination countries. if travel is allowed, testing for covid and vaccinations will be required. the earliest date of departure would be mid—may. richard galpin, bbc news. earlier i spoke to ricardo mexia, vice president of the european public health association's infectious disease control department. he told me what's driving this rise. well, i believe that the fact that we are trying to get back to normality in some of the activities that have now been taking place, that probably accounts for some of the increase in the numbers. and also the fact that people are somehow tired of all the covid—i9 stress over the last year, that probably tends to get them to have different approaches and eventually not implement fully the recommendations of social distancing and all the others that somehow we have been having to deal with over the course of this. so i guess it is happening more or less across europe and hopefully we will manage to control it over the next couple of weeks. it is a different setting in different countries, but still there has been somehow this fourth wave that several countries are now facing. and what about the new variants? how much are they a factor in all of this? we believe that the variants can play some part in increasing transmission, but we still have a significant amount of cases that are, let's say, from the older variants of the outbreak. indeed, there's an increase in the spread of the disease due to these variants, but it does not account for all the transmission, and therefore we are very concerned over the biological surveillance to be able to detect as early as we can those different variants so that we can adjust policies in order to contain the transmission. what is the picture where you are in portugal? in portugal, things have evolved quite quickly over the last couple of months. during january, we had an absolutely dramatic situation and were the worst in the world with very high incidence and a very high mortality, but during february numbers have tended to go down. this was due to very strict lockdowns, which were only lifted earlier this week on monday, which was when schools started back, and several activities are starting, and we have a plan to implement other activities over every fortnight. but things are still quite restricted here. but now the incidents are low, and transmissibility of the disease is also low. so we hope we manage over the next few weeks, while the increase the number of activities that are working, we managed to contain the numbers in a manageable size. one contributing factor is links to brazil that led to some european countries isolating portugal amidst concerns that portuguese speakers from brazil were coming in and may be bringing new variants. has that problem established itself? have you had much of an issue particularly with the pi variant, the one people have been worrying about in the uk, the one that is most aggressive and most easily transmitted? yes, we have managed to identify it, but we have not had a significant number of cases. they have been contained in some transmission chains. but the big problem here actually, after christmas and new year, was a steep increase in the uk variant, which is now the most prevalent variant here. but for the other variants, we do have some cases, but it is not very significant overall. and vaccinations, how is that progressing? unfortunately, the rhythm of vaccination is very slow due to the lack of vaccines. the arrival of the vaccine in portugal, as i guess in other european countries, other eu countries, it is very low. we have had also, as other countries did, the suspension of the astrazeneca vaccine for one week. but considering that the rhythm of arrival is very low, we will be able to compensate for that interruption over this last week in the next few days. roughly only 5% of the population is vaccinated so far. brazil has registered nearly 3,000 deaths from coronavirus in the past 2a hours, the second highest daily toll. the country is battling a more contagious variant which is taking a heavy toll on young people. in the latest surge doctors say there's been a rise of deaths in people aged between 30 and 59. freya cole reports. the start of another hectic day for intensive care workers in sao paulo. the ward is full of covid—i9 patients, relying on ventilators and constant monitoring so they can stay alive. for the head of intensive care, the biggest concern now is a sharp rise of younger people being admitted in a serious condition. translation: today we face | the prospect that the situation will get worse because the patients we are witnessing have a slightly we are admitting have a slightly different profile than before. we are seeing more younger patients with very serious conditions and no underlying health issues. covid—i9 has left a trail of death across brazil. a local variant, pi, is highly contagious. in the last 21 hours almost 3,000 people died, the second highest daily death toll since the pandemic began. the hospital workers have had no reprieve. some doctors say the health system is on the brink of collapse. translation: there is a waiting list at practically all— hospitals with icu beds. that creates a problem for us health workers because we are already tired, we have been doing this for a year now and causes it us additional stress because we know we are not helping everyone who needs us. having to hospitalise more young people in brazil only adds to the pressure because young immune systems resist the disease more so than older people. it means beds are taken for longer, creating a backlog which doctors feel is never—ending. freya cole, bbc news. pakistan's prime minister imran khan has tested positive for covid—i9. he was vaccinated just two days ago. according to the country's health minister, mr khan is self—isolating at home. pakistan has recently seen a sharp rise in coronavirus infection. mr khan arranged for his own inoculation to be filmed to encourage people to take up the vaccination. protesters opposed to the coronavirus lockdown are gathering in london ahead of a planned march to westminster. there's a heavy police presence along the route, as scotland yard urge people to stay at home. our correspondentjon donnison is in central london, where anti—lockdown protesters have been gathering. it have been gathering. looks to me like you are in trafalgar it looks to me like you are in trafalgar square. have you got some sense of where they are coming from, and where they are going to? well. and where they are going to? well, they started — and where they are going to? well, they started at _ and where they are going to? well, they started at hyde _ and where they are going to? well, they started at hyde park— and where they are going to? -ii they started at hyde park round about lunch time. difficult to estimate numbers, but i think we are talking hundreds, rather than thousands. certainly, a lot of police here, and along the route of this march. they have been marching into central london. we understand they are on the embankment at the moment. but the police here at trafalgar square are pretty low—key. a lot of them here, and they have just started to start moving people on from the square. some of them anti—lockdown protesters, but some of them just people milling about. in terms of the kind of people we have got here, a bit of a mix. i think you've definitely got some conspiracy theorists, lots of people saying nhs hoax, government lies, that sort of thing. a lot of people very critical of the media, including the bbc. but also i have spoken to people who just think of the lockdown has gone too far, and that it the lockdown has gone too far, and thatitis the lockdown has gone too far, and that it is not a price worth paying, even though we have got this pandemic. in even though we have got this pandemic— even though we have got this andemic. , ., ,., . pandemic. in terms of the police tactics, pandemic. in terms of the police tactics. we _ pandemic. in terms of the police tactics, we have _ pandemic. in terms of the police tactics, we have had _ pandemic. in terms of the police tactics, we have had the - pandemic. in terms of the police tactics, we have had the vigil- pandemic. in terms of the police | tactics, we have had the vigil last saturday in the case of sarah everard, the woman who was killed ten days before, and the police broke that visual art. presumably, given the controversy over that and how it was handled, they know their tactics this time are going to be watched pretty closely.- watched pretty closely. well, i think they _ watched pretty closely. well, i think they do. _ watched pretty closely. well, i think they do, but _ watched pretty closely. well, i think they do, but they've - watched pretty closely. well, i think they do, but they've got | watched pretty closely. well, i | think they do, but they've got a watched pretty closely. well, i - think they do, but they've got a bit of a dilemma. on the one hand, you could argue that they would need to be seen to be consistent, so seem to be seen to be consistent, so seem to be policing this demonstration in the same way that they policed that one. on the other hand, they don't want to be accused of being heavy—handed again. certainly, the police i have seen here in trafalgar square, is pretty softly softly at the moment. they have been going up to people, asking them what they are here for, may be getting them to move along if they are gathering in groups of more than two or three people, but they are being pretty softly softly here. in hyde park, we did hear of a police leading some people away, but we have not got reports of any arrests as yet. i know you will keep us up—to—date. thank you. as london witnesses more demonstrations, the government is coming under pressure to allow protests to go ahead. more than 60 mps and peers have signed a letter warning that allowing police to criminalise people for protesting is "is not acceptable" and "arguably not lawful". earlier one of the people who signed the letter, conservative mp sir christopher chope, said there wasn't enough evidence to justify continuing the current regulations. across the world, there has not been any evidence of coronavirus spreading as a result of transmission out in the open air, so that needs to be taken into account, and instead of the presumption being that we shouldn't be allowed to exercise our freedoms and liberties, the presumption should be that we can only have those taken away if there are compelling reasons, backed up there are compelling reasons, backed up with evidence, for in so doing. there isn't any evidence any longer, and that's why the government has actually allowed from the 8th of march people to go outside and campaign for the local elections. i have argued that at the same time, they should have allowed people to go outside and carry on with demonstrations and protests or gatherings if they so wish. hater gatherings if they so wish. how disturbed where _ gatherings if they so wish. how disturbed where you _ gatherings if they so wish. how disturbed where you buy the scenes last weekend at the vigil for the murder victim, last weekend at the vigil for the murdervictim, sarah last weekend at the vigil for the murder victim, sarah everard last weekend at the vigil for the murdervictim, sarah everard in south london? murder victim, sarah everard in south london?— murder victim, sarah everard in south london? well, i think that all ofthat south london? well, i think that all of that could _ south london? well, i think that all of that could have _ south london? well, i think that all of that could have been _ south london? well, i think that all of that could have been avoided - south london? well, i think that all of that could have been avoided if. of that could have been avoided if we had not imposed a ridiculous prohibition upon such gatherings, and i think the police were put into and i think the police were put into an impossible position because the law says that that gathering was unlawful, and therefore the police had to enforce the law. my view is that parliament should have been allowed to actually take a view on this. originally, when we had the lockdown regulations brought in about a year ago, there was an exemption for public protests, and meetings. that exemption was then removed but there was no opportunity for parliament to vote on that particular issue. they were presented with pages and pages of regulations, and they could either vote yes or no, and so that's the situation we are in at the moment and i hope that this coming week they will be the opportunity for us to remove such restrictions if they are contained in the fresh regulations. half of all adults in the uk have now had the first dose of a covid vaccine. the health secretary matt hancock has welcomed the news and hailed the mileston as a huge success. well, we are committed that all adults— well, we are committed that all adults will be offered the first dose — adults will be offered the first dose of— adults will be offered the first dose of the vaccine by the end of july. _ dose of the vaccine by the end of july we — dose of the vaccine by the end of july. we are on track to deliver that, _ july. we are on track to deliver that, and — july. we are on track to deliver that, and i_ july. we are on track to deliver that, and i am delighted that today half of— that, and i am delighted that today half of all_ that, and i am delighted that today half of all adults have now been vaccinated, including the prime minister— vaccinated, including the prime minister yesterday. yesterday was, in fact, _ minister yesterday. yesterday was, in fact, the — minister yesterday. yesterday was, in fact, the biggest day of vaccinations in this country because micro—history. the team are doing an amazing _ micro—history. the team are doing an amazing joh — micro—history. the team are doing an amazing job. the vaccination programmes are our route out of the pandemic _ programmes are our route out of the pandemic it— programmes are our route out of the pandemic. it will help us to protect people. _ pandemic. it will help us to protect people, and we know that these vaccines— people, and we know that these vaccines protect you, and we also know _ vaccines protect you, and we also know that — vaccines protect you, and we also know that they protect those around you and _ know that they protect those around you and they make it less likely that your — you and they make it less likely that your loved ones will catch coronavirus. and of course for all of us. _ coronavirus. and of course for all of us, there _ coronavirus. and of course for all of us, there are our route out so i'm delighted that so many people are coming forward and getting the 'ab. a are coming forward and getting the sport now, and a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. thank you. good afternoon. southampton are through to the semi—finals of the fa cup after a comfortable 3—0 win over south coast rivals bournemouth. nathan redmond had a big part to play in all three goals, setting up moussa djenepo for the first. a brilliant solo run and finish put the premier league side firmly in control before half time. redmond then made the game safe with his second goal, reacting well to seal saints place at wembley. so, confirmation of that win for southampton, and later manchester city are away to everton — city boss pep guardiola says the fa cup is another chance to win a title. it another incredible opportunity for a competition to go through and go into international break with a good job done and hopefully when we come back the players will come back and the staff will come back well, save for the coronavirus, and yes, play the last two months the best as possible to try and arrive in may with a chance to wind titles. bre ntford brentford �*s hopes of automatic promotion have suffered a setback after a drop in points at home to nottingham forest. brentford did lead through a penalty from ivan tony, but forrest grabbed a point, thanks to this goal. the draw leaves brentford fourth, four points off the top two, but that gap could become seven if watford beat birmingham this afternoon. peter lorimer, one of leeds united's greatest players, has died at the age of 7a, after a long illness. he was famed as a ferocious striker of the ball, and after making his debut aged just 15, he became their leading scorer with 238 goals — a record that stands to this day. he was part of the team that won two league titles, the fa cup and league cup under legendary manager don revie in the late 60s and early 70s. lorimer also won 21 caps for scotland and played in all three of their matches at the 1974 world cup. the club said his passing left a huge hole in the leeds united family and his legacy at elland road would live on. peter lorimer, who has died at the age of 7a. to the six nations now, and while all eyes will be on paris later, there are a couple of games before that. scotland currently in action against italy at murrayfield. he had to be easing to victory, having already run in four tries. hugh having already run in four tries. huthones secured a bonus point going over before half time. at the break it is scotland 2a, italy ten. later england are in dublin to play ireland, and then the deciding game in paris. victory would also see captain alun wynjones become the first welshman to win four six nations grand slam titles, but he's not thinking about that just yet. the privilege and the sense of pride we have _ the privilege and the sense of pride we have in— the privilege and the sense of pride we have in representing wales has been _ we have in representing wales has been accentuated by the situation that is_ been accentuated by the situation that is going on off the field. i as an individual, and the team, needed reminding _ an individual, and the team, needed reminding of what we are representing. to cricket, and england won the toss and put india into bat in their fifth and deciding t20 match in abmedabad. it has been a great batting show from the hosts. india have made 224 for two from their 20 overs, so england are about to take the field to start their innings. you can follow all the sport as always on the bbc sport website. that is it from me for now. the tokyo 2020 olympic organising committee has said that international spectators will not be allowed to enterjapan during the olympic games which are scheduled for this summer. the decision will ensure the four—yearly spectacle will be a largely televised event this year. olympic and paralympic tickets purchased by overseas residents will be refunded, it said in a statement. our sports correspondent alex capstick told me this wasn't entirely unexpected. let's get more on this from joseph choong, a british modern pentathlete, who will be competing at the games in tokyo. you speak to you, thank you for talking to us this afternoon. i wonder what you make of this decision. had you been hoping for family and friends to join you and cheer you on this summer? absolutely. i know a lot of my friends have already asked if i can get them tickets. my parents and grandparents already have tickets and were hoping to come out and support. i suppose it has kind of been expected. it is obviously disappointing, knowing that everyone will have to watch from home and i can't see them as it happens. what can't see them as it happens. what difference does _ can't see them as it happens. what difference does it _ can't see them as it happens. what difference does it make _ can't see them as it happens. what difference does it make in - can't see them as it happens. what difference does it make in your sport? difference does it make in your sort? , ., , , difference does it make in your sort? , ., ,, , difference does it make in your sort? , ., _ , ., ., , sport? obviously being in a minority sort, we sport? obviously being in a minority sport. we are _ sport? obviously being in a minority sport, we are used _ sport? obviously being in a minority sport, we are used to _ sport? obviously being in a minority sport, we are used to not _ sport? obviously being in a minority| sport, we are used to not competing in front of big crowds, —— but we would have sold out like any other big sport. that part of it makes our sport so special at the olympic games. when it comes to competing, the important thing with the spectators and the cloud is you have to drown it out, is almost a negative impact if you're focusing on them which means you are not thinking about what you are doing. that's a really interesting point. i suppose a lot of people who go along to these events think i am cheering them on, giving them lots of encouragement, whoever it might be performing, but actually, you know, although i'm sure you really appreciate their goodwill, it actually can be a bit of a drawback. absolutely. i think i heard my parents shouting too loudly from the sidelines, i might get a bit distracted from what i'm trying to achieve. the key during the competition is to drown it out. aside from that, when you are around the olympic village, that's part of what makes it had leaner grow special, having the fans and just being there to create the atmosphere. what was rio like? of it was my first olympic games. i was four years younger, i was one of the younger members of the team, but for me it wasjust younger members of the team, but for me it was just all about the experience and enjoying it. i went to do as well as i could, but i loved being able to go on those trips outside the olympic village to see the city or the beach or whatever, and just enjoy a different sort of culture and environment. so yes, it was incredible to experience that and it would be a massive shame that and it would be a massive shame that in tokyo will not be able to do the same thing. you that in tokyo will not be able to do the same thing.— the same thing. you will certainly at least be _ the same thing. you will certainly at least be able _ the same thing. you will certainly at least be able to _ the same thing. you will certainly at least be able to enjoy - the same thing. you will certainly at least be able to enjoy a - at least be able to enjoy a different climate, a different culture, and hopefully different opportunities, even if they are a bit socially restricted. how is your training going at the moment? are you on course with your fitness and with your preparations? yes. you on course with your fitness and with your preparations?— with your preparations? yes, in terms of fitness _ with your preparations? yes, in terms of fitness and _ with your preparations? yes, in i terms of fitness and preparations, with your preparations? yes, in - terms of fitness and preparations, i would not be doing myjob if i was not on course. we have had 13 months since our last competition, so the training is going really well. the only blip has been motivation over the last 13 months, when we have had such a long time with no certain competitions coming up it has been difficult to drag yourself through the difficult sessions. but at the moment we have got our first competition at the world cup in budapest next week, so it's nice to have that back on the table and i'm really looking forward to competing again. really looking forward to competing aaain. �* , , again. i've 'ust remembered something— again. i've just remembered something that _ again. i've just remembered something that was - again. i've just remembered something that was said - again. i've just remembered something that was said to l again. i've just remembered i something that was said to me again. i've just remembered - something that was said to me by a guest who i spoke to about the olympics a few months ago, and they said one of the difficulties is they don't know whether each country will have had the kind of preparatory competitions and events to get their athletes ready for the games itself. are you at all worried about that, that the standard might be a bit compromised this year? covid—i9 has obviously run riot in so many countries, and disrupted so much of the preparations and had an impact on individuals health as well. i think if the olympics happened in the next month some countries would be at a disadvantage in my sport. i know there have been a little competition going on and a lot of countries have much to get there but we haven't, so at the moment i am two or three little competitions and practice down on some of my competitors. but with the olympic ranking system still undecided, we have got at least four more competitions that i'm assuming have to go ahead in order to complete the final olympic entry list. so before competitions to go, that should be plenty to get everyone and running, ready for the games. irate plenty to get everyone and running, ready for the games.— plenty to get everyone and running, ready for the games. we look forward to seeinr ready for the games. we look forward to seeing you — ready for the games. we look forward to seeing you out _ ready for the games. we look forward to seeing you out there, _ ready for the games. we look forward to seeing you out there, performing l to seeing you out there, performing once again this summer in the olympics. very best of luck for that, and for a good and safe journey out there and a good time out there. people will chair you one safely from their living rooms. we won't at least be putting you off that way. a real pleasure to speak to you, good luck for the summer. thank you very much. learning a language might have been an aspiration for many of us in lockdown, but now new figures here in the uk show there's been a boom in people learning one in particular — welsh. and notjust in the uk — people have been learning it all over the world too. tomos morgan meets some of the people in far flung places who've taken it up. i ddysgu cymraeg nawr, to learn welsh now, the classroom's gone online, just like everything else over the last year. since i was a baby. but these classes aren't just for those living here in wales that can't speak the language. they're full of learners from all over the world. i will give you an eight out of ten for that, that's pretty good. people like student nicole gallegos who lives in, yes, you guessed it, costa rica. not your usual hotbed for celtic languages, i'lladmit. she began studying in october on a language app after realising that her surname has a welsh connection. i heard that the gallegos people are like a compilation of spanish and welsh people that came to the land many years ago, so gallegos kind of has a little bit of welsh in it. and heraim? to be fluent and to come and study in cardiff in the future. it would be super, super cool if could go and study there after i finish studying here. the royal welsh college of music and drama in cardiff, is it? yes, that's right. i wasn't quite good enough to get in there, so if you do, you'll have done very well. thank you! last year, welsh was the fastest—growing language in the uk on duolingo, and the number of users worldwide learning welsh has increased by 100,000 since october, with a fifth of all students based in america and even someone in antarctica. so we're here just outside doorn in the netherlands... back to a more familiar time zone in holland and jen bailey, an australian music conductor, has also taken to studying one of the oldest languages in in europe over the pandemic. without the social interaction of the orchestra over the last year, the added interaction online, on facebook, has been a huge relief for her. some people live in wales and some of them like me, come from across the world, no particular family connection, no reason whatsoever to learn welsh, and that gave a tribe and it gave validation — it's not completely weird to learn welsh. but this increased interest has meant that online classes have been overwhelmed, with a lack of teachers to meet the demand. we were surprised initially that anyone would be interested in wanting to learn online. i've been running online chat clubs all over the world, people from all over the world connecting and ijust put up the chat club and it fills up within a few hours and then i have to turn people away. as face—to face socialising begins again, will welsh continue to flourish as the pandemic eases? for now, there's still plenty of grammar yet to be learned. tomos morgan, bbc news, cardiff. years ago when i was growing up in the days before digital signals when you had to see the transmitter, folks like us, when you lived on the other side of the estuary down in devon, used to get the welsh television that is the limit to my welsh. here he is with the weather in english. hello, today, turned into a dry day for most of us but it hasn't been sunny everywhere. many spots have been stuck with a lot of cloud.