Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast: Apologies and forgiveness | Keir Starmer & Alok Sharma

New Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calls on the government to apologise for the lack of protective equipment reaching the NHS frontline.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma refuses to apologise, and defends the government’s coronavirus response. Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin gives a message to mark Easter Sunday.

The families kept apart by coronavirus lockdowns

Families trying to overcome the pain of being separated from their loved ones at a time when they need them the most.

A large portion of the planet’s population is now living under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The disruption is the most significant the world has seen outside of war for more than a century.

For many, the worst part is being cut off from the people they love by border closures, visa restrictions and enforced quarantines.

Al Jazeera’s Sonia Gallego reports from London in the UK.

Coronavirus: British PM Johnson discharged from hospital

LONDON (REUTERS) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been discharged from a London hospital as he continues his recovery from Covid-19, his office said on Sunday (April 12).

“On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work. He wishes to thank everybody at St Thomas’ for the brilliant care he has received,” a spokesman said.

China’s Harbin Tightens Quarantine Measures Against Covid-19

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The northeastern Chinese city of Harbin is tightening rules to curb the spread of coronavirus by extending quarantine periods for certain visitors to 28 days.

People arriving in the city in Heilongjiang province from overseas or other parts of China that are considered high risk will be first required to undergo 14 days of quarantine at a designated location. In addition, they will then have to isolate for a further two weeks at home, according to a statement Sunday from the municipal government. Such visitors to the city would also be required to take two nucleic acid tests and a serum antibody test, the statement added.

Residential compounds with confirmed or asymptomatic cases will be subject to a 14-day lockdown and all residents in those communities would be required to take the three virus tests, according to the announcement.

Heilongjiang has reported more than 100 imported infections from Russia at its land borders with the country so far this month.

Read more: Russia Flight Had Half of Infections Found in China Saturday

— With assistance by Charlie Zhu, and Qi Ding

UK COVID-19 hospital death toll passes 10,000 mark, up 737

LONDON, April 12 (Reuters) – The death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 10,612 across hospitals in the United Kingdom after a recorded daily rise of 737, the health ministry said on Sunday.

The figures were as of 1700 BST (1600 GMT) on April 11.

The two previous daily increase figures were both above 900. On previous weekends since the outbreak began, figures have dipped, which can reflect longer delays in registering deaths. (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Kate Holton)

England's coronavirus death toll rises by 657 to 9,594

LONDON (Reuters) – The death toll from the novel coronavirus in English hospitals rose by 657 to 9,594, officials said on Sunday.

Of the 657, there were 42 patients aged between 30 and 98 who had no known underlying health condition.

Figures for the whole of the United Kingdom were expected to be published later on Sunday.

Britain's coronavirus death toll passes 10,000

LONDON (AFP) – Britain’s coronavirus death toll has passed 10,000, after another 737 people died from the virus in the latest count, the health ministry said on Sunday (April 12).

The country has now recorded 10,612 deaths in hospitals from Covid-19.

The increase was lower than the nearly 1,000 fatalities recorded on each of the previous two days, but means Britain still has one of the highest Covid-19 daily death rates globally.

Britain has 2,295 spare critical care beds, Hancock says

LONDON, April 12 (Reuters) – Britain’s National Health Service has not been overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic and now has 2,295 spare critical care beds, Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Sunday.

“Today marks a sombre day in the impact of this disease as we join the list of countries who have seen more than 10,000 deaths related to coronavirus,” he told a news briefing.

“At the start of this crisis people said that the NHS would be overwhelmed. And we’ve seen the risk of that elsewhere but not here.” (Reporting by Kate Holton and Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Alison Williams)

Philippines Easter celebrations: Catholics mark holy week

More than 200 Filipinos have died from the virus and the number is expected to rise.

Catholics in the Philippines have marked the holy week behind closed doors after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a lockdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Virtual masses have been held online, but some Filipino priests say they are finding other ways to conduct their services.

Al Jazeera’s Jamela Alindogan reports from the capital, Manila.

UK COVID-19 hospital death toll passes 10,000 mark, up 737

LONDON (Reuters) – The death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 10,612 across hospitals in the United Kingdom after a recorded daily rise of 737, the health ministry said on Sunday.

The figures were as of 1700 BST (1600 GMT) on April 11.

The two previous daily increase figures were both above 900. On previous weekends since the outbreak began, figures have dipped, which can reflect longer delays in registering deaths.