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Coronavirus latest news: Snitch on your neighbours to police if they break 'rule of six', says minister

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03:14 AM

Today's top stories


03:13 AM

People should report those breaking rule of six

The British public should report their neighbours to the police if they host gatherings of more than six people, a minister has said as new restrictions to contain Covid-19 come into force.

The so-called "rule of six" now legally limits social gatherings to six people both indoors and outdoors in England and Scotland, but indoors only in Wales.

Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, said "the option is open" to members of the public to phone the police non-emergency number to report concerns about neighbours breaking the rule of six, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If they are concerned and they do see that kind of thing then absolutely they should ring the number."

Guidance on how police officers should enforce the new law has not yet been issued to forces, with Mr Malthouse saying it will be circulated by the College of Policing in "the next few days". 

Britain's largest police force, the Metropolitan Police, said in a statement on Monday that officers would be patrolling public spaces to disperse large groups. 

But Mr Malthouse added: "What we're hoping is that we will see for the rule of six what we saw for the initial lockdown, which was extremely high compliance from the British people."


05:56 PM

Today's coronavirus news

I'm signing off for the day, but before I go here are your top headlines: 

  • The so-called 'rule of six' came into force today and now legally limits social gatherings to six people both indoors and outdoors in England and Scotland, but indoors only in Wales.
  • Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, has already suggested that the British public should report their neighbours to the police if they host gatherings of more than six people. But said first-time offenders found to have breached the "rule of six" restrictions should not be fined.
  • Britain is on course to suffer the biggest increase in redundancies in a generation in the second half of 2020, based on lay-off notifications by employers hit by the coronavirus shock to the economy, a think tank said on Monday
  • The head of the World Health Organization has warned that Europe is “not out of the woods”, as the continent begins to see more cases than it did at the height of the pandemic in April.  The Organization also said it expected Europe to see a rise in the daily number of Covid-19 deaths in October and November.
  • Promises to invest in pandemic preparedness to prevent a repeat of the current crisis are yet to be backed up with adequate resources, experts have warned, ahead of a meeting of G20 health and finance ministers this week. 
  • US House Democrats are launching an investigation into how Trump appointees have pressured officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to change or delay scientific reports on coronavirus.
  • The French prime minister, Jean Castex, has instructed the authorities in Marseille, Bordeaux and the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe to detail extra measures to halt the spread of Covid-19 by the end of Monday.
  • Officials in southern Germany are considering imposing hefty fines against a 26-year-old American woman linked to a cluster of coronavirus cases in the Alpine resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
  • Millions of Italian children returned to the classroom on Monday as most schools reopened more than six months after they were closed to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
  • South Korea has reported its lowest daily virus tally in about a month as it began easing its tough social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area.
  • New Zealand will lift coronavirus restrictions across the country on Sept. 21, except in its biggest city, Auckland, which is the epicentre of a second wave of infections, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.
  • Israel said it will reimpose a national lockdown to battle a coronavirus surge, as the number of daily infections around the world reached a record high.

05:47 PM

Is Britain’s death toll about to jump?

Cases are rising and restrictions are being reimposed, but will an increase in UK infections lead to a spike in deaths?

As the WHO warns of a rise in coronavirus fatalities across Europe from October, The Telegraph's Theodora Louloudis and Global Health Security Correspondent, Sarah Newey discuss how this could play out in Britain, and whether younger sufferers and breakthroughs in treatments are enough to stop a deadly second wave.


05:46 PM

More than 194,000 people have died from coronavirus in the US

There have been at least 6,526,143 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 194,155 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. 

So far on Monday, Johns Hopkins has reported 6,570 new cases and 84 reported deaths.


05:39 PM

Lockdown in Wales could be weeks away

A second coronavirus lockdown could be enforced in Wales within weeks if people do not change their behaviour, the country's health minister has said.

Vaughan Gething warned the pattern of increasing cases was "similar to the situation we faced in early February" and said action had to be taken to prevent significant harm or another full lockdown.

The number of new coronavirus cases in Wales increased by 183 on Monday - the largest rise in daily cases since May 19 - bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 19,573.

New restrictions came into force on Monday, making the wearing of face coverings mandatory in public indoor spaces and banning more than six people from an extended household from meeting inside.

Mr Gething told a press conference that case numbers in areas of South Wales such as Caerphilly county borough, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport had "risen sharply".

The Welsh Government has increased its range of available measures to respond to local outbreaks, which now include introducing curfews, restricting alcohol sales and only selling alcohol with food.

People wear face masks in the town centre in Newport, Wales - Matthew Horwood / Getty

05:31 PM

France's new Covid-19 cases rise by more than 6,000

French health authorities on Monday reported 6,158 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours, sharply down from Saturday's record high of 10,561 and Sunday's tally of 7,183.

The Monday figure always tends to dip as there are fewer tests conducted on Sundays.

The seven-day moving average of new infections, which smoothes out reporting irregularities, stood at 8,324, a record for a 28th day in a row, versus a low of 272 on May 27, two weeks after the country ended its two-month long lockdown.

The number of people in France who have died from Covid-19 infections rose by 34 to 30,950. The cumulative number of cases now totals 387,252.


05:23 PM

Europe is not 'out of the woods', WHO warns

The head of the World Health Organization has warned that Europe is “not out of the woods”, as the continent begins to see more cases than it did at the height of the pandemic in April.  

WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that, while deaths remain at a "relatively low level", the average number of daily cases in Europe is now higher than during the first peak of the pandemic.

Spain and France in particular have faced a resurgence of the virus and countries across the continent have introduced a host of new control measures including limiting gatherings and introducing quarantines for travellers arriving from abroad.

Anne Gulland has more on the story here.

A couple sit under a mosquito net in Germany to protect against the virus -  Ying Tang / NurPhoto

05:14 PM

'Hand over all the bread'

Matt

05:04 PM

US lawmakers to investigate Trump officials' meddling with CDC reports

US House Democrats are launching an investigation into how Trump appointees have pressured officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to change or delay scientific reports on coronavirus.

Democrats cited reporting by news agency POLITICO, that found political interference in the publishing process.

"During the pandemic, experts have relied on these reports to determine how the virus spreads and who is at greatest risk," Rep. Jim Clyburn, chair of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, and his Democratic colleagues wrote in a letter . "Yet HHS officials apparently viewed these scientific reports as opportunities for political manipulation."

The Democrats' investigation focuses on the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports, the agency's long-running series of scientific articles that researchers have looked to for the most current and reliable information on the coronavirus.

POLITICO reported on Friday that Health and Human Services public affairs chief Michael Caputo and his scientific adviser Paul Alexander have pressured CDC officials to change the reports, in some cases retroactively, to align with President Donald Trump's more optimistic message about the outbreak.


04:55 PM

Why a second wave may mean a double dip downturn

The UK economy could just be in the eye of the Covid storm.

The spike in infections seen in the past two weeks is concerning economists as well as health experts. A record-breaking rebound in GDP expected in the third quarter could be a brief respite rather than the start to a roaring recovery, forecasters fear. 

A second wave of infections and restrictions threatens to send the recovery into reverse this autumn with experts warning the UK is again moe vulnerable than most.

“A second full lockdown, in an already weakened economy, would likely be even more damaging than the first one,” warns Ian Stewart, Deloitte chief economist.

“Rarely has human health mattered as much for the economy as it does today. The path of the disease, and our success in containing it, holds the key to economic activity.”

Tom Rees reports.

Once again the UK appears to be just a few steps behind the worst hit parts of Europe

04:39 PM

'Plant-poaching' surges in the Philippines as locals look to build up their gardens during lockdown

Authorities in the Philippines are dealing with a surge in an unusual crime during the coronavirus pandemic: plant-poaching.

As the draconian lockdown forced people back into their homes from March until June, citizens of the south-east Asian nation turned to houseplants to get their greenery fix. 

Despite restrictions having been eased since then, the love of gardening remains in dense urban areas and officials say this is driving sellers to dig up rare and endangered species from the county’s forests.

Traders operating on the black market are “having a fiesta because the market is bigger and prices are more attractive”, Rogelio Demallete, an ecosystem specialist at the country’s Biodiversity Management Bureau, told Bloomberg. “People are buying and raising plants because of boredom from the quarantine.”

Marcus Parekh has more on this story here.

A stallholder arranges pot plants for sale at a stall inside a mall in Makati City, Metro Manila -  Veejay Villafranca / Bloomberg

04:27 PM

UAE gives emergency approval to Covid-19 vaccine

The United Arab Emirates has issued emergency approval for the use of a Covid-19 vaccine, currently in its third phase of testing in the gulf country, health authorities said on Monday.

"The vaccine will be available to our first line of defense heroes who are at the highest risk of contracting the virus," said the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority in a tweet. 


04:09 PM

Marseille's intensive care units overloaded with new cases

Intensive care capacities in France's southern city of Marseille are close to overloaded, the director of public hospitals there said on Monday.

The local government also announced new measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic including cancelling fairs and other events and banning drinking alcohol in public late in the evening.


04:02 PM

Even the swans know how to wear a mask properly

The news has been pretty heavy as of late, so we thought we'd share some light relief.

Check out this ace tweet by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo:


03:50 PM

Minister defends new restrictions

The Government has defended new coronavirus restrictions as the "rule of six" came into force in England.

Health minister Lord Bethell told the Lords: "We are seeking to have rules that are simple to understand and straightforward to apply."

He acknowledged that over the last few months the guidelines had become "increasingly complex and difficult to understand in all their detail".

Lord Bethell was answering concerns raised by peers over the introduction of new rules that any social gathering of more than six people is against the law.

He said the "jeopardy" was enormous, adding: "If we don't get this communications challenge right, if people do think they are confused and have a way out because it is in some way complicated, we will fail."

If coronavirus came back in a second wave, there would be "tens of thousands of deaths", the NHS would be "challenged" and the economy would be "shut down", the minister warned.


03:40 PM

Police will respond to calls about people breaking ‘rule of six’, says Chair of NPCC


03:33 PM

India to fast-track Covid-19 vaccine

India is considering emergency fast-tracking a Covid-19 vaccine for its elderly and high-risk citizens by early 2021, as the country struggles to contain the world’s fastest growing epidemic.

New Delhi has already reported over 4.7 million cases of the deadly virus, although this is thought to be a gross underestimation due to a lack of testing, with a peak not expected until February 2021.

India’s Minister of Health, Harsh Vardhan, said the country would look to shorten the Phase III stage of vaccine trials - the final phase, whereby a vaccine is tested on human volunteers.

Mr Vardhan did not specify how India would decrease the time taken to produce a Covid-19 vaccine but he promised no safety regulations would be ignored, volunteering to receive the first immunization personally.

Globally, there are almost 200 vaccine candidates in development and 15 are in Phase III.

However, public health experts are cautioning that their manufacture should not be rushed and instead, extensive testing must be done to make sure any vaccine is both safe and effective.

Joe Wallen reports.


03:26 PM

England cases rise by 2,621

Public Health England said that as of 9am on Monday, there had been a further 2,621 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. Overall, 371,125 cases have been confirmed.

PHE also said a further nine people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Monday. This brings the UK total to 41,637.

Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 57,400 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.


03:13 PM

Bordeaux imposes new curbs to limit virus surge

The southwestern French city of Bordeaux will impose a series of measures to limit public gatherings as Covid-19 infections soar, the government's top official in the region said Monday.

Bordeaux and the Mediterranean city of Marseille have emerged as virus hotspots, along with the capital Paris, heightening fears of a second wave of coronavirus cases despite face mask requirements and strict social distancing rules.

Group and family gatherings in Bordeaux and the surrounding region will now be limited to 10 people or less, including in parks, the regional prefect Fabienne Boccio said at a press conference.

Standing at bars will no longer be allowed in the city of some 800,000 residents, nor will discotheques or private parties for marriages and other family events, she said.

And the maximum number of people allowed to watch sporting matches and large events will be cut to 1,000 from 5,000.

Companies are being urged to have employees work from home whenever possible, and bus services will be reinforced during rush hours to avoid crowding.


02:55 PM

Experts urge G20 ministers to back rhetoric with resources and fully fund pandemic preparedness

Promises to invest in pandemic preparedness to prevent a repeat of the current crisis are yet to be backed up with adequate resources, experts have warned, ahead of a meeting of G20 health and finance ministers this week. 

In a draft statement seen by The Telegraph and set to be published after a summit on Thursday, ministers concede that “major gaps still exist in global pandemic preparedness and response” and commit to closing them. 

“We recognize the important link between investment in public health and economic resilience and growth, both in countering the current crisis and in the long term,” the draft communique reads.  

“We will work together to lay the foundation for targeted actions to help respond to the most immediate challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and ensure that the world is better prepared to curb the impact of future health-related crises,” it later adds. 

Sarah Newey has more on this here.

An Indonesian medical worker peers out from a tent during a drive through Covid-19 testing operation 

02:42 PM

Data breech exposed personal data of every Welsh Covid-19 cases

The personal data of every Welsh resident who tested positive for Covid-19 between February 27 and August 30 was accidentally uploaded to a public server, where it was searchable by anyone using the site.

Public Health Wales said the data breach, involving the details of 18,105 Welsh residents, was the result of "individual human error".

In the cases of 16,179 people, the information published consisted of their initials, date of birth, geographical area and sex.

However, for 1,926 people living in nursing homes or other enclosed settings such as supported housing, or residents who shared the same postcode as those settings, the information also included the name of the setting.

Public Health Wales removed the data on the morning of August 31 after being alerted to the breach. In the 20 hours it was online, it had been viewed 56 times.

A spokesman said there was "no evidence at this stage" that the data had been misused.


02:36 PM

'It would take 500 years to spend as much on investing in preparedness as the world is losing due to Covid-19', new report finds

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) released its annual report Monday, noting that Covid-19 revealed the world’s “collective failure” to prepare and calling for a renewed commitment to collaboration and the World Health Organization (WHO).

GPMB is an independent body, convened by the WHO and the World Bank, to ensure preparedness for global health crises.

In its 2019 report, the board noted that “a rapidly spreading pandemic due to a lethal respiratory pathogen” was a real threat, and that the world was not prepared, financially or structurally. 

Among the lessons learned from Covid-19, the board notes that a pandemic can wreak havoc on social and economic systems, in addition to health.

Political leadership matters, the report says, especially when leaders realize that they do not need to choose between protecting people or the economy.

The board says it’s worth investing in pandemic preparedness, noting: “It would take 500 years to spend as much on investing in preparedness as the world is losing due to Covid-19.” 


02:25 PM

UK Health Secretary 'tried to restrict testing in Scotland due to backlog', says Sturgeon

Matt Hancock wanted to restrict the number of people who could get a coronavirus test in Scotland because of a UK-wide backlog, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The First Minister said the UK's Health Secretary proposed limiting the number of slots available for testing in Scottish mobile and regional test centres.

But his Scottish counterpart Jeane Freeman "managed to avoid that happening" during negotiations over the weekend, Ms Sturgeon said.

She explained that the UK Government processes the majority of Covid-19 tests in Scotland but a UK-wide "demand issue" has been causing delays for patients waiting to receive their results.

Speaking at the Scottish Government's coronavirus briefing, Ms Sturgeon said: "We were concerned over the weekend that one of the ways the UK Government was trying to deal with the backlog was to restrict access to testing, and the Health Secretary managed to avoid that happening in Scotland."

Ms Sturgeon said she has "serious concern" about the testing backlog and has urged Mr Hancock to share the "full scale and nature of issues they are facing" so her government could help to try and fix the problems.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon -  Fraser Bremner/PA

02:16 PM

England testing struggles continue

A shortage of Covid-19 tests have been reported across England.

There are currently no tests at all available in any of the top 10 Covid-19 hotspots in England, Ben Kentish at LBC has tweeted

According to his tweet there are no walk-in, drive-through or home tests available for people in Bolton, Salford, Bradford, Blackburn, Oldham, Preston, Pendle, Rochdale, Tameside or Manchester.

More as we get it.


01:56 PM

Czech Post to deliver free masks to pensioners

Czech Post will deliver face masks and respirators to millions of senior citizens this week as the country scrambles to stem a steep rise in Covid-19 cases, a spokesman said Monday.

Around three million Czech pensioners will get envelopes containing five face masks and a respirator as part of a government initiative criticised by the opposition as a populist campaigning ploy ahead of October regional elections.

"It's a standard envelope. We will deliver them to the mailboxes of people aged over 60 between Tuesday and Friday," Czech Post spokesman Matyas Vitik told AFP.

After fighting off much of the Covid-19 pandemic with timely measures including mandatory face masks outdoors in the spring, the Czech Republic is now experiencing a second wave with record daily increases.

On Saturday, the EU member of 10.7 million people registered 1,541 new Covid-19 cases, posting a record spike for the third day in a row.

The country has had more than 36,000 confirmed cases since the March outbreak, including 456 deaths.


01:48 PM

Germany considers fining 26-year-old American superspreader

Officials in southern Germany are considering imposing hefty fines against a 26-year-old American woman linked to a cluster of coronavirus cases in the Alpine resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, including at a hotel that caters to US military personnel.

The woman, who wasn’t named for privacy reasons, has been blamed for a spike in cases that pushed Garmisch-Partenkirchen above the threshold of 50 new cases per 100,000 in a week at which authorities are required to impose further infection control measures.

German media report that the woman, who lives locally and wasn’t named, had visited several bars in the town last week despite having symptoms and being told to quarantine while waiting for her Covid-19 test result.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a model case of stupidity and an example for how quickly one can become infected,” said Bavaria’s governor, Markus Soeder.

Such recklessness must have consequences, he added. That’s why it’s reasonable for the health authorities to consider, after carefully examining the case, whether to impose appropriately high fines, AP reports.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

01:38 PM

'Despite 10,000 new cases a day, the French are embracing life – not imposing new rules'

France seems to have taken a more balanced approach to the latest rise in cases, suggests our destinations expert Anthony Peregrine:

Autumn is stalking France (as elsewhere) – but not that you’d notice. Smiling people are still hurling themselves into the sea and outdoor swimming pools.

Yesterday, the beaches of Languedoc were full. Temperatures are frying birds as they fly, which is why so many gather around our bird-tables and birdbaths. We’ve got tits great, blue and coal; finches green and gold; sparrows, collared doves, tree creepers, warblers and white-fronted redstarts. Hoopoes, hawfinches, thrushes and jays turn up from time to time. It’s a riveting spectacle.

I mention this to illustrate that, though things in France are far from normal – and are presently getting edgier by the day – the nation is apparently avoiding hysteria.

Read more.


01:28 PM

Grouse shooting and hunting exempt from latest restrictions

The government has exempted grouse shooting and other “hunting” with guns from the restrictions, it has emerged. 

Pro-hunting and shooting groups can continue to hold gatherings of between six and 30 people because they are covered by a loophole that permits licensed “outdoor activity”.

The new rules, which came into force across England, mean any gathering of more than six people will be illegal from today, Monday Sep 14.

However the regulations include a string of exemptions for sports clubs, wedding receptions and even political protests.

Among the list includes an exemption for when “a gathering takes place outdoors (whether or not in a public outdoor space)” for the purpose of “a physical activity which is carried on outdoors”, where a licence, permit or certificate is held by the organiser.

Read more on what the new rules mean here.

Members of a shooting party on the moors at the Rottal Estate in Glen Clova, near Kirriemuir -  Jane Barlow / PA

01:20 PM

Record number of new coronavirus cases

The World Health Organisation recorded a new global daily record for coronavirus cases, with India accounting for nearly a third of the total.

Numbers rose by 307,930 over the previous 24 hours, with the tally since the emergence of the outbreak now more than 28 million.

The agency said that deaths rose by more than 5,500, bringing the global total to 917,417.

India, Brazil and America are driving the growth in cases, with Delhi reporting almost 95,000 cases on Sunday alone.


01:14 PM

Police will not yet impose fines on rule of six-breakers

Downing Street suggested police would not immediately start imposing fines today on people who break the "rule of six" restrictions.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "What you would expect to happen is for the police to be out today encouraging people to follow the new rules but in the coming days, if we see people continuing to flout the new rules, it is right that people could face a fine.

"The regulations are in place to help to stop the spread of the virus, to protect the NHS and to ultimately save lives."

Asked whether people should report neighbours who breach coronavirus rules, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said:

"What we want people to be focused on is following the new rules and ensuring that they, themselves, help again as they have in the past to slow the spread of the virus.

"What you have seen in recent weeks is some egregious flouting of the rules, such as the holding of large illegal parties, and members of the public have been contacting the police about those because they have been concerned about the risk to public health."


01:01 PM

Around 99 per cent of English schools have reopened, Downing Street say

Downing Street said 99 per cent of England's schools had reopened following the coronavirus lockdown with only a "very small" number remaining closed due to Covid-19 outbreaks.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said data on school attendance would be published on Tuesday.

"The indications are that around 99 per cent of schools expected to open have done so," the spokesman said.

"There is a very small number of schools which have asked some or all of their pupils to remain at home.

"Those schools are following the published guidance and ensuring that where there is a positive case swift action is taken.

"Children who are self-isolating continue to receive remote education from home."

Year eight pupils wear face masks as they chat in a corridor at Moor End Academy in Huddersfield, northern England -  OLI SCARFF  / AFP

12:51 PM

Decision to reduce Lighthouse testing capacity 'plainly not acceptable'

Wales' health minister Vaughan Gething said issues with the UK Government's Lighthouse Labs were "plainly not acceptable".

Community testing was started in the Rhondda area of south Wales at the end of last week but this was "hampered by ongoing issues" with the labs.

"Late on Friday night, a unilateral decision was made within the UK Government to reduce Lighthouse testing capacity at all mobile testing units in Wales, including in the Rhondda, to just 60," Mr Gething said. "We intervened and helped to increase this over the weekend."

The health board, local authority and Welsh Ambulance Service also made extra testing capacity available to cope with the demand, he said.

The Welsh health minister also said the pattern of increasing Covid-19 cases in the country is "similar to the situation we faced in early February".

He said Wales' Tactical Advisory Cell had warned that "action should be taken now to prevent significant harm or another full lockdown".

 A healthcare worker looks on at a temporary coronavirus testing centre at Oldway House in Porth, Wales. - Matthew Horwood  / Getty

12:33 PM

Today's coronavirus news from around the world

If you're just joining us, here's what you need to know: 

  • The so-called 'rule of six' came into force today and now legally limits social gatherings to six people both indoors and outdoors in England and Scotland, but indoors only in Wales.
  • Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, has already suggested that the British public should report their neighbours to the police if they host gatherings of more than six people. But said first-time offenders found to have breached the "rule of six" restrictions should not be fined.
  • The Government has secured the supply of 60 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate being developed in France. Valneva SE, a specialist vaccine company, announced a "major parternship" with the UK worth around £433 million.
  • Britain is on course to suffer the biggest increase in redundancies in a generation in the second half of 2020, based on lay-off notifications by employers hit by the coronavirus shock to the economy, a think tank said on Monday
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) expects Europe to see a rise in the daily number of Covid-19 deaths in October and November, the head of the body's European branch has said. 
  • Millions of Italian children returned to the classroom on Monday as most schools reopened more than six months after they were closed to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
  • South Korea has reported its lowest daily virus tally in about a month as it began easing its tough social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area.
  • New Zealand will lift coronavirus restrictions across the country on Sept. 21, except in its biggest city, Auckland, which is the epicentre of a second wave of infections, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.
  • Israel said it will reimpose a national lockdown to battle a coronavirus surge, as the number of daily infections around the world reached a record high.

12:20 PM

On the front line of Kenya’s coronavirus mystery

Moi County Referral Hospital, Voi. Coronavirus cases are beginning to surge in Kenya, and public hospitals are overwhelmed. An economic downturn is hitting people hard. - Simon Townsley

Across Africa the huge death toll predicted at the beginning of the pandemic has simply not happened - the reasons why are still a mystery, Will Brown finds: 

A red line on the ground marks as far as the young man can go. Gabriel* shuffles towards it. Underneath his medical scrubs his shoulders are hunched, his body weary from fighting the virus.

A daunting series of corridors, barred doors, and biohazard signs in the Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi, a town in Southern Kenya, keep coronavirus patients like him away from the outside world.   

“Sometimes you feel like you want to run away, but you just have to stay and do your duty,” says one nurse.

But for all the fear in her voice, the nurse says she is slightly relieved. Despite being the main medical facility for 350,000 people, the hospital’s 16-bed quarantine centre is almost empty. 

Doctors braced for the worst, stockpiling protective equipment and cutting routine services. But for some reason that no-one really understands the storm has not arrived. 

Read more here.


12:07 PM

What are the new social distancing rules?

The most recent update from the Government on September 9 means that people can no longer socialise in groups of more than six from today, September 14.

This replaces the existing guidance on allowing two households to meet indoors and the cap on 30 people. 

Limited exemptions related to support bubbles larger than six will apply and hospitality settings and places of worship can take in more than six people overall.

But what else? Read more on this here.

The latest Government guidelines on social distancing advertised on a board reading 'Don't mix with other households' - PHIL NOBLE / Reuters 

11:58 AM

New antibody treatment to be trialed on Covid-19 patients

An antibody treatment that could lessen the impact of Covid-19 is to be trialled on patients in UK hospitals.

The Recovery trial, co-ordinated by the University of Oxford, will assess the impact of giving patients REGN-COV2 antibody treatment alongside usual standard care to see if it lessens the severity of Covid-19 and can reduce deaths.

In June, the Recovery trial, which includes 176 UK hospital sites, found that a cheap steroid called dexamethasone could save the lives of people with severe Covid infection.

In the new phase 3 study, at least 2,000 patients will be randomly allocated to receive REGN-COV2 plus usual care, and the results will be compared with at least 2,000 patients not on the therapy.

REGN-COV2, which was created by the US firm Regeneron, is made up of two monoclonal antibodies (REGN10933 and REGN10987). These are man-made antibodies that act like human antibodies in the immune system.

The cocktail of drugs targets two components in the spike protein of the Covid-19 virus with the aim of interrupting its ability to infect.

England's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, said:

"Today's news is another promising step in the search to find effective treatments, which will improve our ability to deal with this destructive virus, and a testament to the confidence that others around the world have in this brilliantly conceived and executed trial.

"I look forward to seeing how REGN-COV2 performs in clinical trials, and I urge people to volunteer in this research which could ultimately save many lives."


11:45 AM

New report slams the world's lack of investment in pandemic preparedness

A collective failure by political leaders to heed warnings and prepare for an infectious disease pandemic has transformed "a world at risk" to a "world in disorder", according to a report on international epidemic preparedness.

"Financial and political investments in preparedness have been insufficient, and we are all paying the price," said the report by The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB).

"It is not as if the world has lacked the opportunity to take these steps," it added. "There have been numerous calls for action ... over the last decade, yet none has generated the changes needed."


11:30 AM

UK faces biggest wave of redundancies in a generation, think-tank says

Britain is on course to suffer the biggest increase in redundancies in a generation in the second half of 2020, based on lay-off notifications by employers hit by the coronavirus shock to the economy, a think tank said on Monday.

Around 650,000 people, and potentially a lot more, were likely to be made redundant in Britain between July and December, said the Institute for Employment Studies, an independent research organisation.

"Sadly, much of this restructuring appears now to be inevitable," it said.

Layoff notifications were running at more than double the levels of the 2008/9 recession and around 450,000 redundancies could occur in the July-September period - 50 per cent more than the quarterly peak during the global financial crisis.

Ian Nicholson / PA

11:22 AM

Rheumatoid arthritis drug shown to shorten Covid recovery time

A rheumatoid arthritis drug known as baricitinib has been found to shorten the time taken to recover from Covid-19 in hospitalized patients when taken in combination with Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral remdesivir, producers Eli Lilly and Co said on Monday.

Lilly said the drug, which is branded as Olumiant, in combination with remdesivir showed a roughly one-day reduction in median recovery time versus patients treated with remdesivir alone.

Based on the results from the trial, which tested more than 1,000 patients, Lilly said it plans to discuss the potential for an emergency use authorization (EUA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Remdesivir is at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19 after the drug was granted an EUA in May after trial data showed the antiviral drug helped shorten hospital recovery time.

The drug, which has been licensed by Lilly from Incyte Corp , could potentially help suppress a potentially lethal immune response to Covid-19 called "cytokine storm".


11:11 AM

Starmer self-isolating after member of his household shows Covid symptoms

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is self-isolating after a member of his household showed possible coronavirus symptoms.

A spokesman for Mr Starmer said: "This morning Keir Starmer was advised to self isolate after a member of his household showed possible symptoms of the coronavirus.

"The member of his household has now had a test. In line with NHS guidelines, Keir will self-isolate while awaiting the results of the test and further advice from medical professionals."

Sir Keir took part in a phone-in on LBC radio this morning and his office has alerted the broadcaster about the situation.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer -  Aaron Chown / PA

11:00 AM

Not everyone in China will need to get vaccinated against Covid-19, says official

Not everyone in China will need to get vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the country's top medical official.

"Since the first wave of Covid-19 appeared in Wuhan, China has already survived the impact of Covid-19 several times," Gao Fu, director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said at a vaccine summit in the city of Shenzhen on Saturday, according to state-run news agency China News Service.

The question of vaccinating the public was one of balancing "risks and benefits," he added, pointing to factors like cost and potential side effects.

There isn't currently a need for mass vaccination at this stage – though that could change if another serious outbreak takes place, Gao said.

The policy marks China apart from many Western governments, most notably Australia, that have outlined plans to introduce mass public vaccination drives.


10:46 AM

Around 400 new beds will be added to Wales' largest hospital in preparation for winter surge

A new 400-bed facility will be built next to Wales' largest hospital to manage any increase in Covid-19 cases this winter.

The building, next to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, will follow the decommissioning of the Dragon's Heart Hospital at the Principality Stadium.

Health minister Vaughan Gething announced £33 million of funding for the new Cardiff and Vale University Health Board inpatient facility on Monday.

"This investment will help Cardiff and Vale University Health Board manage any potential increase in admissions caused by Covid-19 in what is likely to be a challenging winter for health and social care services," Mr Gething said.

"We know the winter can present greater difficulty for NHS staff, and with the virus more likely to spread in colder conditions we need to ensure we have the bed capacity to cope with increased demand."

He said further actions to be taken across health and social care would be announced through the publication of a Winter Protection Plan.

University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff - Matthew Horwood / Getty

10:30 AM

UK Government signs £1.3 billion vaccine deal with Valneva

A factory in West Lothian is preparing to deliver 60 million Covid-19 vaccines by next year as part of a £1.3 billion deal with the UK Government.

Valneva is to produce a total of 190 million doses of its experimental drug VLA20001 - if the vaccine development proves successful - at its facility in Livingston over the next five years, having reached the agreement.

The vaccine is expected to enter the clinic by December and first regulatory approval could be granted in the second half of 2021.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: "Having visited Valneva just last month, I have seen first-hand the incredible work they are doing to develop and manufacture a Covid-19 vaccine.

"This new agreement could help us vaccinate millions of people across the country, as well as help create a UK vaccine manufacturing facility to speed up access to a potential Covid-19 candidate and boost the country's resilience against future pandemics."

Valneva will provide the UK Government with 60 million doses in the second half of 2021, if vaccine development is successful.

There will then be more than 40 million doses available in 2022 and a further 30 million to 90 million doses between 2023 and 2025.

The vaccine is expected to have a two-dose regimen. Revenue from these options could amount to almost €900 million


10:20 AM

GPs told to give patients face-to-face appointments or be investigated

GPs have been ordered to give patients face-to-face appointments amid warnings that they will come under investigation if the public is denied care.

A letter is being sent to every family doctor in the country following growing concern that too many people are being "shut out" from surgeries and only allowed consultations via telephone or video. 

Health chiefs have warned GPs that failure to offer appointments in person is a "breach of contract" and may heap pressure on Accident and Emergency departments.

Laura Donnelly reports.


10:12 AM

Pubs are 'low risk' says Wetherspoon boss as 66 staff test positive

Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has stressed that pubs are "low risk" environments to catch coronavirus as 66 of the chain's staff tested positive for the disease since pubs reopened in July. 

Mr Martin told investors that he believed the safety of pubs during the pandemic had been "widely misunderstood".

He said: "It is clearly not the case that pubs are 'dangerous places to be'. There have been more positive cases at one farm in Hereford than at all Wetherspoon pubs – and over four times as many at one sandwich-making facility in Northampton.

"Although it is clearly possible for Covid-19 infections to take place in pubs and shops, the evidence indicates that the risk is low, provided social distancing and hygiene rules are followed, and common sense is used."

It came as the pub giant said trading was "very quiet" over the weekend after the Government announced plans to tighten restrictions on larger social gatherings from Monday. 

Simon Foy has the story here.

Tim Martin with Boris Johnson -  HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP

10:00 AM

Public should call police if they see others breaking 'rule of six', says Kit Malthouse


09:48 AM

Britain removed from Sweden's travel red list

Sweden has taken Britain off its red list of countries it advises citizens not to travel to, despite an uptick in new coronavirus cases and restrictions on public gatherings.

Swedes can now travel freely to most European destinations, though Finland, Ireland, the Baltic countries and Malta remain on the red-list, according to Reuters.


09:43 AM

Philippines slash social distancing requirements despite surge in cases

Experts described as dangerous and premature on Monday the Philippines' decision to cut the social distancing minimum to 30 centimetres on public transport, as the country saw another daily record in newly confirmed Covid-19 deaths.

The new rules took effect on Monday, when the country reported 259 new confirmed deaths, a record for the second time in three days.

Total fatalities increased to 4,630, while infections have doubled in the past 35 days to 265,888, Southeast Asia's highest number.

"This will be risky, reckless and counter-intuitive and will delay the flattening of the curve," Anthony Leachon, ex-president of the Philippine College of Physicians, told news channel ANC.


09:32 AM

Poll: The 'rule of six'

 


09:30 AM

Europe likely to see Covid-19 deaths spike in October and November - WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) expects Europe to see a rise in the daily number of Covid-19 deaths in October and November, the head of the body's European branch has said. 

More than 51,000 new cases were reported on Friday alone in the 55 countries monitored by WHO Europe, which is more than the highest peak in April, according to the organisation.

"It's going to get tougher. In October, November, we are going to see more mortality," WHO Europe director Hans Kluge told the AFP news agency. 

Even though the continent is experiencing a surge of cases, the number of deaths has remained relatively stable. But the resurgence is expected to lead to an increase in daily fatalities, the WHO said.

"It's a moment where countries don't want to hear this bad news, and I understand," Kluge said, stressing that he wanted to send the "positive message" that the pandemic "is going to finish, at one moment or another."

The WHO Europe's over 50 member states are holding an online meeting on Monday and Tuesday to discuss their response to the new coronavirus and agree on their overall five-year strategy.


09:25 AM

Children return to school in Italy

Millions of Italian children returned to the classroom on Monday as most schools reopened more than six months after they were closed to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Although some Italian schools opened earlier this month, roughly 5.6 million students from a total of eight million went back to school on Monday, confronting a new reality of restrictions.

Italy was one of the first in Europe to be hit by the pandemic, which has now officially killed over 35,500 people out of a total of 280,000 cases.

Premier Giuseppe Conte admitted on Sunday that Italian schools faced a difficult situation, including a lack of teachers, single-seat benches and surgical masks.

"There will be difficulties and inconveniences, especially in the beginning," Conte wrote on Facebook.


09:23 AM

Russia reports 5,509 new Covid-19 cases

Russia reported 5,509 new coronavirus cases on Monday, pushing its national tally to 1,068,320, the fourth largest in the world.

Authorities said 57 people had died in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 18,635.


09:07 AM

UK Government signs 'major partnership' with vaccine manufacturer

The Government has secured the supply of 60 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate being developed in France. 

Valneva SE, a specialist vaccine company, announced a "major parternship" with the UK worth around £433 million. The doses will be provided in the second half of 2021.  

There is an option for the Government to access a further 130 million doses between 2022 and 2025, the company said.

The vaccine candidate, VLA2001, is expected to enter clinical studies at the end of the year, with regulatory approval following any successful outcome in the second half of 2021. 

The UK will also invest in Valneva's manufacturing facility in Livingston, Scotland, to help scale up production of the vaccine. 

Alok Sharma, the business secretary, said: “Having visited Valneva just last month, I have seen first-hand the incredible work they are doing to develop and manufacture a Covid-19 vaccine. 

"This new agreement could help us vaccinate millions of people across the country, as well as help create a UK vaccine manufacturing facility to speed up access to a potential Covid-19 candidate and boost the country’s resilience against future pandemics.”

 


08:58 AM

Scotland Yard vows to break up large gatherings

Britain’s biggest police force has announced it will be patrolling public spaces from Monday to disperse any large groups that are seen socialising.

The Metropolitan Police vowed to “respond swiftly” to any reports of individuals gathering in groups larger than six, but said it would initially seek to “engage, explain and encourage people to act responsibly”.

However, anyone that fails to comply with officers could be hit with a fixed penalty notice of £100, which doubles for further offences up to a maximum of £3,200.

The force faces a particular challenge on Monday as parks in the capital are expected to be busy with temperatures climbing to around 28C.

Matt Twist, the deputy assistant commissioner in charge of the force’s response to the pandemic, said: “We will be deploying resources across the capital to engage with groups of more than six to highlight the risks and regulations.

"Where necessary, officers will enforce the regulations. We will be working closely with the London boroughs and their enforcement teams, and doing all we can to persuade Londoners to take the threat seriously. Where people just won’t listen, and are putting everyone at risk, we absolutely will take enforcement action.”


08:55 AM

Keir Starmer: The rule of six is right

Sir Keir Starmer has said he supported the Government's "rule of six" restrictions that have come into force this week.

Speaking to LBC radio this morning, he said: "I do support the 'rule of six'. I think you need something simple, easily understood and I think the Government was slow back in February and March to appreciate the problem it was about the face and we can't repeat that error again, so I do support the 'rule of six'.

"We've publicly come out in support of it and I will say, as I said to the Prime Minister I would, as the leader of the Opposition I say to everybody, please follow the Government advice, please follow these rules."

He added: "You can make the argument of why not five or why not six or seven - you have to go with a number backed by the science and they say six and I think we should abide by that rule."

Sir Keir said ministers' "side of the bargain" was to improve NHS Test and Trace and to ensure more people were self-isolating now that fresh social restrictions had been put in place.


08:52 AM

A warning, then a fine

Kit Malthouse said first-time offenders found to have breached the "rule of six" restrictions should not be fined.

Asked whether instances of people gathering in groups of seven or more, and from different households, should be met with a £100 fine per person, Mr Malthouse told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "No, police should start with encouraging them to comply and explaining to them what the situation is and impressing upon them the duty they have towards our collective health.

"Only in the situation where individuals refuse to comply should police consider moving towards enforcement."


08:49 AM

Kit Malthouse: I cancelled my own child's party

Here's more from Kit Malthouse, the policing minister this morning. 

He told Times Radio he had cancelled his own child's birthday party to avoid breaking the new rules on social gatherings.

"You are speaking to a dad who had to cancel his own kid's birthday party next weekend," he said.

"You cannot meet socially in groups of more than six in England and that includes children.

"While I understand that people will say "They are mixing in school anyway', this is not about eliminating contact, it's about limiting contact."


07:42 AM

Law on social gatherings should be a 'secondary consideration' - Lord Sumption

A former Justice of the Supreme Court has encouraged the public to disregard the new laws against large gatherings if they still feel comfortable socialising. 

Lord Sumption, an outspoken opponent of the restrictions on personal liberties brought about by the pandemic, said the main concern for individuals should be the level of risk they are willing to take in meeting others. 

He claimed the latest 'rule of six' was unenforcable and could only be enforceable with an "army of snoopers and informers" which both the police and public would "abhor". 

People who are more at risk from Covid-19 should be able to choose whether they feel the threat of the virus outweighs the importance of seeing their loved ones, he said. 

He praised an article for the Telegraph by Salley Vickers, the author, who said she would rather risk dying from the virus than being deprived the company of her family. 

Asked whether he would encourage people to "flout these laws", Lord Sumption told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I would say people should make their own decision in the light of their own health and the law should be a secondary consideration for them."


07:31 AM

Not enough testing capacity to allow care home visitors, says operator

Family members are being stopped from making regular visits to care homes because they cannot be included in the testing programme, a care group has said. 

Dan Ryan, the director of operations at Methodist Homes, said visits were still taking place in gardens and through windows of care homes across the country. 

But family members would need to become part of the "testing regime" for the visits to be more routine, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 

He said: "It's really not a possibility at the moment, my understanding is there just isn't capacity in the system.

"We're provided with enough tests by the Government to make sure we have weekly testing for our staff and monthly testing for our residents.

"I think if we had the opportunity to bring in one family member per resident and do the testing alongside our staff, we would be very welcoming of that."

 


07:03 AM

British public should take 'personal responsibility' with new rules, police chief says

A police chief has sought to downplay suggestions that new Covid-19 rules will rely on the British public to "grass up" anyone gathering in groups of more than six people. 

Martin Hewitt, the chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), said fines for breaching the rules on large gatherings would be an important way of enforcing the latest law limiting social gatherings.

Asked if the system needed the public to "grass up" their neighbours, he told BBC Breakfast: "I don't think I would describe it as that at all, I think what it relies on is us being responsible. 

"I think it is about everybody accepting their own personal responsibility."


06:49 AM

Workers worried about lack of social distancing, TUC says

Frances O'Grady, the general secretary of the TUC union, has warned many workers were concerned about a lack of social distancing in the workplace.

She urged the Government to make it a requirement for employers to publish risk assessments for staff and the community to see whether a workplace is safe.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, she said: "As we've seen in Leicester it only takes one cowboy employer to shut down a whole city.

"We all have an interest in tough safety standards in the workplace."


05:51 AM

Consumers face 'rip-off' testing scams, say trading standards officers

Criminals will exploit new quick Covid testing kits to rip off consumers, say trading standards officials as they issued a checklist of pandemic scams.

In a new intelligence report, National Trading Standards (NTS) warned consumers of price gouging traders would seek to profiteer from specific products such as instant-result Covid-19 tests and other “high-demand” products.

It follows traders exploiting demand for sanitizers and face masks at the start of the pandemic when they were in short supply. Price gouging on such products sparked 1,600 complaints in London alone.

Read the full story


05:20 AM

Indonesia's restrictions begin as hospitals struggle to cope

Main streets were less crowded as Indonesia's capital began two weeks of social restrictions on Monday to curb a rise of coronavirus infections that has pushed its critical-care hospital capacity to unsafe levels.

Police at checkpoints imposed sanctions on bikers that did not wear their masks. But business owners were confused, and workers said supporting the health care system, strained by Covid-19 patients, should be the priority.

Jakarta Gov. Anies Baswedan announced the restrictions on Sunday, to last from Monday to Sept. 27, in what he described as an emergency decision to control a rapid expansion in cases in Jakarta.

Jakarta previously imposed large-scale social restrictions from April to June, then eased the gradually with businesses reopening and using health protocols.

But the virus has spread significantly since June, and medical facilities are filling with sick patients. Seven of 67 Covid-19 referral hospitals in Jakarta are 100 per cent occupied, while 46 are more than 60 per cent occupied.

Officers stand guard at a police check point as the large-scale restriction is imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in Jakarta - AP

04:29 AM

Australian official under police guard over virus measures

An Australian health official revealed on Monday that she has been under police guard because of death threats and growing public anger over pandemic border restrictions.

Queensland state Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said she now travelled with a police escort because of the threats.

"It has taken an enormous toll on me, but then this has taken an enormous toll on nearly every single person in our community," Ms Young told reporters.

"Every single person in our community in Queensland has had to give up an awful lot and we can't see a clear end to this so we're going to all have to work this through together," she added.

The Queensland state government has been under mounting criticism for making travellers spend two weeks in hotel quarantine when they cross the state border from other parts of Australia. 


04:12 AM

Israel to reimpose lockdown as WHO reports record cases

Israel said it will reimpose a national lockdown to battle a coronavirus surge, as the number of daily infections around the world reached a record high.

Britain, France, Austria and the Czech Republic also reported spikes, as global cases rapidly approached 29 million with more than 921,000 Covid-19 deaths, according to an AFP tally.

The Israel lockdown will last three weeks starting on Friday, keeping people to within 500 metres of their homes. It is the first developed economy to take such drastic steps to contain a second wave of infections.

"I know these measures will exact a heavy price from all of us," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The World Health Organisation reported 307,930 new cases worldwide on Sunday, the highest daily figure in its database since the beginning of the pandemic.


03:47 AM

Rare dolphins return to Hong Kong as virus halts ferry traffic

The number of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins seen around Hong Kong has jumped as the pause in high-speed ferry traffic due to the coronavirus allows the threatened species to make something of a comeback, scientists said.

Marine scientist Lindsay Porter of the University of St. Andrews said the mammals - also known as Chinese white dolphins and pink dolphins - were moving back into parts of the Pearl River Delta that they typically avoided due to the ferries that connect Hong Kong and Macau.

Dolphin numbers in the area had jumped by up to 30 per cent since March when the ferry traffic was suspended, allowing scientists a rare opportunity to study how underwater noise affected their behaviour, she said.


03:37 AM

Nationwide curfew 'obvious next step if new restrictions fail'

A national curfew would be an "obvious next step" for containing coronavirus if new lockdown rules fail to reverse the current increase in the spread of the disease, ministers believe.

Pubs and restaurants in local lockdown areas are already closing at 10pm, and the measure could be rolled out more widely amid fears that people tend not to adhere to social distancing rules when they consume more alcohol.

The proposal would affect greater numbers of young people, who have been blamed for a recent spike in infections.

Read the full story


02:09 AM

NZ easing restrictions everywhere but Auckland

New Zealand will lift coronavirus restrictions across the country on Sept. 21, except in its biggest city, Auckland, which is the epicentre of a second wave of infections, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.

Ms Ardern said Auckland's restrictions would be reviewed next Monday. She also said the government would immediately ease all physical distancing requirements on planes, a boost for Air New Zealand, which has had to limit passengers on its planes for months.

"I know this change will make a real difference to Air New Zealand and those parts of the country seeking increased numbers of visitors," Ms Ardern said in a news conference in the South Island city of Dunedin, where she is on an election campaign trip.

Masks will still be mandatory on all public transport, she said.


01:58 AM

Social distancing rules eased in Seoul as infections decrease

South Korea has reported its lowest daily virus tally in about a month as it began easing its tough social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency says the 109 new cases added in the past 24 hours took the country's total to 22,285 with 363 deaths.

It's the 12th consecutive day for South Korea's daily jump to stay in the 100s. The 109 additional cases are also the lowest daily tally since mid-August.

The government on Sunday relaxed its physical distancing guidelines in the Seoul metropolitan area, citing a downward trend in new infections and worries about public livelihoods.

Under new distancing rules that are formally effective from Monday for two-weeks, franchise cafes and bakeries are allowed to have customers drink and eat inside their shops while indoor gyms and after-school academics can reopen. A ban on dining at restaurants after 9 pm was also lifted.

Imperial guards wearing face masks at the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul - AP

01:25 AM

New crews taking extra precautions to keep virus out of Antarctica

The first US flight into Antarctica following months of winter darkness left from New Zealand on Monday with crews taking extra precautions to keep out the coronavirus.

Antarctica is the only continent without the virus, and there is a global effort to make sure incoming scientists and workers don't bring it with them.

The US Air Force flight left from the gateway city of Christchurch carrying 106 passengers and crew, said Tony German, the US.Antarctic programme's representative in New Zealand.

He said the new arrivals will start getting ready for the summer and swap out with skeleton crews who have spent the Southern Hemisphere winter in Antarctica.

The flight was delayed for three weeks by big storms, resulting in an extended six-week quarantine for those aboard.

Staff board a US Air Force C-17 as they prepare to take the season's first flight to McMurdo Station in Antarctica  - AP

01:05 AM

Mexico's death toll nears 71,000

Mexico reported 4,408 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 217 additional fatalities on Sunday, bringing its totals to 668,381 infections and 70,821 deaths, according to updated Health Ministry data.

The government has said the real number of infected people is likely to be significantly higher than the confirmed cases. 

Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Lucia Ledesma eyes her pet Harley, a therapy dog who provides emotional support for healthcare workers who are treating patients infected with the new coronavirus, in Mexico City - AP

12:12 AM

Cases in Australian hot spot at 3-month low

Australia's second most populous state, the epicentre of the country's second wave, on Monday reported its lowest single-day rise in new infections in nearly three months.

Officials recorded 35 new cases and seven deaths in Victoria, as a tight lockdown in the state capital of Melbourne was partially eased.

Melbourne was placed under strict lockdown measures in early August after more than 700 cases were detected in Victoria state in a single day.

From Monday, the city's 5 million residents will be allowed outside for exercise for two hours, double the limit under the original lockdown measures, while a nightly curfew has also been shortened.

Australia has recorded a total of 27,000 infections, including 817 deaths.

Anti-lockdown protesters chant slogans at Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market during a rally  - AFP

12:06 AM

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