Coronavirus live news: Ireland to reopen schools; France investigates cruise ship deaths

Ireland extends other restrictions to April to prevent explosion in cases; three passengers died after outbreak on cruise in March 2020

• EU tells six countries to lift Covid border restrictions
• Ireland to start reopening schools as it extends other restrictions
• Boris Johnson ‘very optimistic’ all England restrictions will end in June
• China did ‘little’ to hunt for origins in early months, says WHO document
• Nigeria survey suggests 23% of Lagos residents had Covid last year

8.36pm GMT

Suriname launched a coronavirus vaccination campaign on Tuesday with a small batch of donated doses, as the nation seeks a steady supply of inoculations.

The country, which has a population of about 600,000, has reported 8,869 cases of Covid-19 and 168 deaths. It hopes to bring in 400,000 doses by the end of the year.

8.16pm GMT

The number of patients treated in intensive care units for Covid-19 in France has reached a 12-week peak of 3,435, as regional officials urge for a ban on public gatherings and consider a partial weekend lockdown.

Unlike some of its European neighbours, France has resisted a new national lockdown to control more contagious variants, hoping a curfew in place since 15 December can contain the pandemic.

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Source: theguardian