Isabel Allende

Here are five things You need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Thursday evening. We'll have another update For You Tomorrow Morning .

The UK has approved a fifth Covid-19 vaccine, developed by US company Novavax. The vaccine offers. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has said it is safe as a first and second dose in adults. Millions of doses are currently being manufactured at a plant on Teesside. Health Secretary Sajid Javid says independent scientists on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation will now consider its use. The vaccine could then be used immediately as part of the UK vaccination programme.

Rishi Sunak has said controversy over Downing Street parties has damaged Public Trust in the government, But Boris Johnson continues to have his " full support". The chancellor told The Bbc he believed the Prime Minister had always told The Truth about parties in No 10. The Metropolitan Police is investigating 12 gatherings in Downing Street and other government buildings that took place when the country was in Lockdown - including at least three the PM was at. Mr Johnson is facing growing calls to Stand Down from the opposition and Conservative MPs. But , saying he was focused on his current job.

The World Health Organization's Europe director says in the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Hans Kluge cited high vaccination rates, The End of winter and the less severe nature of the Omicron variant as reasons for the coronavirus " ceasefire". Dr Kluge said: " This period of higher protection should be seen as a 'ceasefire' that could bring us enduring peace. " He added that some 12 million new virus cases were detected across Europe last week - the highest recorded - But said officials have not seen a significant spike in those needing critical hospital care.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has defended plans to cut the bottom off some school classroom doors to improve ventilation as " basic Common Sense ". Councils have been given £5m of funding to improve air flow in about 2,000 classrooms to slow the spread of Covid. As well as installing filters and fans, Opposition parties said it was a " lazy solution" which could raise safety concerns, including from risk of fire.

Celebrated author Isabel Allende is no stranger to international book tours. The Chilean-American, winner of the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom, has published More Than 20 books over The Past four decades. But even before the pandemic she was ready to change The Way she connects with her readers. After a gruelling promotional schedule. " We swore that we would never do another book tour because we were so sick and Fed Up , " Ms Allende remembers. " And Two Weeks later, the pandemic hit. " The pandemic has helped drive a rise in book sales over The Past two years as lockdowns meant More people were spending time At Home reading.

More Than 88,000 Covid cases were reported in the UK on Thursday - You can find More information, advice and guides on our

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Source of news: bbc.com