Here are the coronavirus headlines for Friday, February 4, as the director of the World Health Organization's Europe office said the continent is now entering a "plausible endgame" to the pandemic and that the number of coronavirus deaths is starting to plateau.
Dr Hans Kluge said that there is a "singular opportunity" for countries across Europe to take control of Covid-19 transmission due to three factors: high levels of immunisation due to vaccination and natural infection, the virus' tendency to spread less in warmer weather and the lower severity of the Omicron variant.
"This period of higher protection should be seen as a cease-fire that could bring us enduring peace," he said.
Read more: Doctors and nurses criticise Welsh Government for not providing same level of PPE as England
Dr Kluge noted that there were 12 million new coronavirus cases across WHO's European region last week, the highest single weekly total during the pandemic. He said that spike was driven by the hugely infectious Omicron variant, but admissions to hospital intensive care units have not risen significantly.
As the winter subsides in much of Europe in the coming weeks, when the virus' transmission naturally drops, Dr Kluge said the upcoming spring "leaves us with the possibility for a long period of tranquillity and a much higher level of population defence against any resurgence in transmission.."
Even if another variant emerges, Dr Kluge said, health authorities in Europe should be able to keep it in check, provided immunisation and boosting efforts continue, along with other public health interventions.
He said, however, this demands "a drastic and uncompromising increase in vaccine-sharing across borders", saying vaccines must be provided to everyone across Europe and beyond.
Scientists have repeatedly warned that unless the majority of the world's population is vaccinated, any opportunities for Covid-19 to keep spreading means it could mutate into deadlier and more transmissible forms.
Numerous countries across Europe, including the UK and Denmark, have dropped nearly all their coronavirus restrictions after saying that Omicron has peaked. Others, including Spain, are now considering whether to consider Covid-19 to be an endemic problem that might be handled more like seasonal flu. Rules for travelling to Europe from the UK here.
At WHO's Geneva headquarters, director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the world as a whole is still far from exiting the pandemic.
"We are concerned that a narrative has taken hold in some countries that because of vaccines - and because of Omicron's high transmissibility and lower severity - preventing transmission is no longer possible and no longer necessary," Dr Tedros said on Tuesday. "Nothing could be further from the truth."
The agency has said even countries with high levels of vaccination should not succumb to political pressure and release all of their coronavirus measures at once.
Read more: The Covid situation in hospitals across Wales right now
Latest infection rate for Wales
Eleven more people have died with coronavirus in Wales, according to latest figures.
The data from Public Health Wales, published on Thursday, February 23 and covering a 24-hour period, shows 2,424 new positive cases to bring the total to 784,811.
The overall number of people who have died within 28 days of testing positive in Wales rises to 6,844.
The latest infection rate based on PCR tests, for the seven days up to January 29, now stands at 537.1 cases for every 100,000 people – a reduction from the 545.9 recorded on Wednesday.
The infection rate based on PCR tests is only a guide to the spread of Covid in Wales as it does not include lateral flow test results, which are reported weekly in Wales. People with no symptoms who test positive on an LFT no longer need a confirmatory PCR test.
The highest infection rate in each Welsh local authority for the seven days between January 23 and January 29 was Newport with 830.8 cases per 100,000, followed by Carmarthenshire with 671.2 and Torfaen with 640.7. Cases for your area here.
Welsh Government accused of not providing same level of PPE as England
NHS staff in Wales are being placed at an "unacceptable risk" of Covid infection due to lack of suitable PPE, doctors and nurses have warned.
The British Medical Association (BMA) in Wales claims that frontline workers are expected to "make do" with inadequate protection despite their pleas to the Welsh Government to improve access to certain types of masks.
In a joint letter with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Wales, the unions call on Health Minister Eluned Morgan to ask for FFP2 masks to be made available to all healthcare workers in primary and secondary care, and FFP3 masks for those treating Covid patients.
It follows updated infection prevention and control guidance published on January 17 for respiratory protective equipment (RPE) which changed to reflect further evidence that Covid-19 spreads through the air.
The BMA said that healthcare workers in England now have access to these masks via a portal, but in Wales, there is "a reluctance" to issue this protection to staff.
"Two years into the pandemic, adequate PPE shouldn't be something healthcare workers have to concern themselves with but we are still calling for appropriate protection for those on the frontline," said BMA Cymru Wales in a statement.
"No-one should feel unsafe going to work. Adequate protection is vital. Without it, staff are placed at an unacceptable risk of infection and we cannot afford further staff absences."
In response, a Welsh Government spokeswoman said: "We have clear guidance for staff who come into direct contact with patients or service users and this is constantly reviewed. In line with UK infection prevention and control guidance, FFP3 masks are supplied to all NHS staff engaged in aerosol-generating procedures and in other circumstances where a local risk assessment suggests a continuing risk of infection transmission despite other protective measures being in place."
Unvaccinated audience members to quiz politicians and experts on Question Time
Question Time featured unvaccinated audience members challenging a panel of health experts and politicians after an appeal launched last month.
Several members of the audience were given the opportunity to voice scepticism and ask questions about the benefits of getting the jab.
Presenter Fiona Bruce previously called for people who have chosen not to have a Covid-19 jab to apply for the episode, which was broadcast from London.
Thursday's panel included Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, Labour shadow mental health minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Imperial College's Robin Shattock, Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Confederation and The Daily Telegraph's Tim Stanley.
Asked by an unvaccinated philosophy graduate what "rights individuals have" to choose whether or not to get the jab because of health concerns, Prof Shattock said there was "overwhelming evidence" the vaccine was safe.
He added later: "I think the issue here is that it's not just about personal choice... You're not just getting vaccinated to ensure your own health, it's about ensuring everybody else's health."
Another audience member questioned whether checks for natural immunity could be used as an alternative to the vaccine.
Asked whether antibody tests should be prioritised higher in the Covid-19 response, Prof Shattock said: "The issue is natural immunity is very variable. You can't in a mass population basis go around and measure everybody's antibody levels."
The BBC previously said it had made the decision to invite unvaccinated people to take part as they represent substantial numbers of the British public.
"We think this is an interesting part of the debate which is worthy of discussion.
"Question Time always strives to discuss each side of every argument," it said in a statement.
Thursday's show required all audience members show proof of full vaccination or evidence of a negative lateral flow test, while seating was socially distanced and those in the audience wore a mask when not speaking.
Four No10 aides quit within hours
Boris Johnson's administration was plunged into further turmoil after four of his closest aides resigned, leaving the Prime Minister without key members of his inner circle.
In a torrid day for the PM, his chief of staff , principal private secretary , director of communications and policy chief quit Downing Street within hours of one another.
Munira Mirza, the former director of the No 10 policy unit and one of Mr Johnson's most loyal and longstanding advisers, walked out after attacking the Prime Minister's use of a "scurrilous" Jimmy Savile smear against Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
There also appeared to be division within the Treasury over the Savile comments as Chancellor Rishi Sunak admitted he would not have used the jibe, while one of his ministers later defended Mr Johnson suggesting it was a "perfectly reasonable remark".
The exit of private secretary Martin Reynolds had widely been expected after he reportedly sent an email inviting at least 100 staff to a "bring your own booze" party in the No 10 garden during the first coronavirus lockdown in England.
There had also been questions over the future of chief of staff Dan Rosenfield after the truncated Sue Gray report into alleged Covid rule-breaking at the top of Government criticised "failures of leadership".
Communications chief Jack Doyle gave a resignation speech to staff in No 10, according to the Daily Mail - who he used to work for - telling them the tumultuous past weeks had "taken a terrible toll on my family life" as he stressed he had always intended to only stay two years in the role.
The former journalist is reported to have attended at least two of the 12 lockdown-busting events in Downing Street and wider Government that are under scrutiny by the Metropolitan Police, with officers following up on Ms Gray's inquiries.
Military response to protesters 'not on the cards' in Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a military response to the ongoing Ottawa protest against Covid-19 measures is "not in the cards right now".
Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly said this week that all options are on the table, including calling in the military, to end the ongoing demonstration that was being called an "occupation" by some on the city council.
Thousands of protesters railing against vaccine mandates and other Covid-19 restrictions descended on the capital last weekend, deliberately blocking traffic around Parliament Hill. Police estimate about 250 remain.
Mr Trudeau said one must be "very, very cautious" about deploying troops on Canadian soil, adding there has been no such request to the federal government. He said any formal requests for assistance from the City of Ottawa or Ontario will be considered.
Organisers, including one who has espoused white supremacist views, had raised millions for the cross-country "freedom truck convoy" against vaccine mandates and other restrictions.
It has attracted support from former US President Donald Trump.
The protesters are calling for the removal of Mr Trudeau's government, though it is responsible for few of the restrictions, most of which were put in place by provincial governments. A protest is planned in the provincial capital of Toronto on Saturday.
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