UK Covid live news: deaths pass 150,000, ONS confirms; Novavax jab could get approval in weeks, says trial chief

Latest updates: ONS figures show there were 150,116 deaths by 19 March; chief investigator of the UK trial of the drug hopes for approval by end of April

• Global treaty needed to protect states from pandemics, say world leaders
• New vaccines for variants will be needed within a year, say scientists
• University scientists deconstruct vaccines and publish recipe'
• Global coronavirus updates - live
• See all our coronavirus coverage

4.49pm BST

Simon Byrne, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, has said that he will ignore Arlene Foster's call for his resignation. (See 2.52pm.) He said:

I stand behind the actions of the senior officers in the planning of this operation. It's entirely consistent with our training and good practice and indeed were I to go, it would undermine our future planning at any event like this because we are trained to engage and to encourage people's behaviour.

The policing of a large funeral in a Covid pandemic was always going to be a challenge.

Using force to prevent the funeral was never going to work, nor indeed would it be justified or proportionate.

4.38pm BST

Former SNP MP George Kerevan has become the latest high profile figure to defect to Alex Salmond's new party, PA Media reports. PA says:

Kerevan left the party with other members of a group modelled on the think tank, Common Weal.

He is now the third current or former MP to move across from the SNP to Alba, which was launched on Friday.

Have joined new Alba Party, indy's social democratic alternative. Next step: for Alba to embrace a republican future for an independent Scotland. pic.twitter.com/uBTWvrGdCM