United States hits three million cases and record 60,000 daily tally
Tony Diver
·78-min read
Mike Pence, the US Vice President, set the White House on a collusion course with state governors when he called for schools to reopen in a briefing on Wednesday afternoon - CARLOS BARRIA/REUTERS
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..
10:57 PM
What happened today
Here are the big developments from today:
The Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) appears to have been sidelined as ministers take more direct control of the response to coronavirus.
Restaurant meals will be subsidised by the Government as part of a radical £30 billion rescue package for jobs and the economy, Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday.
Calls for inquiry after Treasury reveals £15bn cost of PPE
Dentist Dr Roy Woodhoo and Dental Nurse Charlie Coppen wear PPE to examine the first patient through the doors at Woodford Dental Care in north London - Victoria Jones /PA
The taxpayer has stumped up £10 billion for the Government’s bungled test and trace system, it emerged on Wednesday night.
Calls for an inquiry mounted after it emerged the taxpayer has also spent an “eye-watering” £15 billion on PPE amid scrutiny of the Government’s procurement process. Campaigners blasted officials for an “enormous waste” of public money after PPE and the NHS’s bungled testing and contact tracing programmes accounted for almost four-fifths of extra health spending.
The £25 billion cost of the programmes revealed in documents for Rishi Sunak’s economy package is equivalent to the entire transport budget and 15 per cent of health spending. The head of Parliament’s public finances watchdog warned the Government would have to justify the huge price of PPE amid intense scrutiny over its procurement strategy.
Atlanta's mayor defies governor to require face masks in the city
Atlanta's mayor says she will sign an executive order mandating masks in Georgia's largest city Wednesday, defying Brian Kemp, the state governor's decision to strongly encourage but not require face coverings.
Spokesman Michael Smith said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms plans to sign an order requiring masks, which could set up a confrontation with the Republican Kemp. The governor has already clashed with the mayor recently over policing issues, calling out the National Guard to protect state government offices after an 8-year-old girl was fatally shot by armed people at the site of a fast food restaurant where an Atlanta police officer shot and killed a Black man.
Like a number of other local leaders in Georgia, Bottoms has unsuccessfully appealed to Kemp to change his order that local governments can't exceed the state's requirements.
"Other cities have taken the approach that they are going to defy the governor's executive order. Savannah has done it, some other cities have done it, and Atlanta is going to do it today," Bottoms told MSNBC in a Wednesday interview. "Because the fact of the matter is that Covid-19 is wreaking havoc on our cities, specifically black and brown communities with higher death rates."
Spokespeople for Kemp did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. Kemp on Tuesday asked mayors and county commissioners to help him in a statewide push for voluntary masking.
Our lead story, "Come dine with me" explores the implications of the Chancellor's new restaurant voucher scheme.
Read analysis from our Associate Editor, Camilla Tominey, here.
09:23 PM
Serbian lockdown protests continue for a second night
News agency reports from Belgrade tonight say the Serbian capital has seen a second night of violent protest.
Police have skirmished with protesters outraged over the government's handling of coronavirus pandemic.
Clouds of tear gas and smoke filled the city centre in chaotic scenes that mirrored violence on Tuesday, when thousands came out to protest the return of a round-the-clock weekend lockdown.
Although Aleksandar Vucic, the country's President, said the curfew is likely to be scrapped, several thousand people again gathered in front of the parliament to protest.
Their anger is focused on the powerful president, who critics accuse of inviting a second wave of coronavirus infections by rapidly lifting initial lockdown measures before an election in June.
"The government only seeks to protect its own interests, the people are collateral damage," said Jelina Jankovic, a 53-year-old who attended the rally, which brought together citizens from the left to the far-right.
The video above shows the protests on Tuesday.
09:03 PM
'Dystopia greets us again in Melbourne with its closed borders and rationed toilet paper'
Melburnians are a smug lot, writes Cristian Bonetto.
After all, we’re more progressive and sophisticated than our fellow Aussies, with better coffee, culture and wardrobes! What we hadn’t banked on was also becoming the nation’s pandemic capital. Yet, while other Australian cities rejoice in their sustained low (or zero) Covid-19 infection rates, Victoria’s capital finds itself staring down a second, spirit-crushing lockdown.
Social isolation may increase risk factors of Covid-19
The psychological stress of social isolation may make people more susceptible to severe Covid-19 infection, a US scientist has claimed.
Dr Sheldon Cohen, who is a psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, said evidence from his previous research suggests social stressors are linked to an increased vulnerability to upper respiratory viruses, such as those which cause common cold.
He believes there is a possibility that the psychological effect of stay-at-home measures, adopted by countries around the world to slow down the spread of the virus by minimising contact between people, might play a similar role by increasing a person's susceptibility to Covid-19 illness.
He said stay-at-home measures can increase interpersonal stressors, such as loneliness, loss of employment and familial conflict, which may be "powerful predictors of how a person will respond if exposed to coronavirus".
"If you have a diverse social network (social integration), you tend to take better care of yourself (no smoking, moderate drinking, more sleep and exercise)," he said.
"Also if people perceive that those in their social network will help them during a period of stress or adversity (social support) then it attenuates the effect of the stressor and is less impactful on their health."
08:38 PM
Test cricket behind closed doors: Distanced huddles, fist bumps and the hum of air conditioning units
Today's test match against the West Indies took place in a deserted ground - Mike Hewitt/NMC Pool/PA Wire
The clearest indication that life was very different at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday was that Rod Bransgrove was not allowed to go into the Rod Bransgrove Pavilion.
Bransgrove was one of around 280 people allowed into the Ageas Bowl but his pass did not permit entry to the pavilion that bears his name because it was deemed part of the ‘inner zone’ for players and officials only.
But Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman whose vision and money built this ground, was delighted to abide by the rules and watch the game from the Shane Warne Stand with a sense of pride that weeks of work by his staff and the England & Wales Cricket Board had come to fruition.
The science of airborne viruses: how coronavirus particles move and how you can protect yourself
How much does Covid-19 spread in the air?
How long can coronavirus particles survive in the air? It sounds like a simple question, perhaps one that should have already been answered, months into the biggest medical crisis of a century.
But the reality is that the airborne potential of Covid-19 remains a matter of research and debate. Until now, health authorities like the WHO have focused their advice around stopping the spread of the virus through measures such as handwashing, as touch is known to cause transmission. However, this week, over 200 scientists from around the world published an open letter in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, outlining the evidence they say shows that smaller exhaled particles can infect people who inhale them.
Allan Clayton: The Government’s bailout for the arts won’t help me
Tenor Allan Clayton at Glyndebourne Opera House - Christopher Pledger/FOR THE TELEGRAPH
With the Government announcing more than £1bn of support for the arts in the UK, it would be easy to think the industry will limp on into 2021 having survived the crisis.
But Allan Clayton, opera star, writes that the latest bailout won't help him:
Icouldn’t sing for the first two months of lockdown. When it happened, I was six days away from the opening of a new production of Janacek’s Jenufa at the Royal Opera House, and then everything stopped. The rest of my season was completely wiped out too: recitals in New York, Hamlet in Amsterdam and residencies at the Wigmore Hall and Aldeburgh Festival. All vanished, and with it the prospect of payment. My first feeling was one of numbness; I completely lost my mojo. With nothing to prepare for, stuck indoors, I couldn’t find any joy in it at all. I’ve spent my whole life in music, and have been lucky enough to develop a career singing as a tenor in some of the major venues of the world. This was the longest break I’ve had from singing since I was eight years old.
Canadian finances in disarray after Covid crisis plan
The coronavirus pandemic sparked an explosion in Canada's federal budget deficit, which hit CAN $343 billion (£207bn) for the current fiscal year, Bill Morneau, the country's finance minister, has said.
The total for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, which began on April 1, is at least 10 times higher than estimates given before the crisis.
The new figure takes into account the CAN $230 billion crisis plan proposed by the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - a total that is 14 percent of GDP.
07:23 PM
Scots banned from visiting Spain this summer
Spain is off the list of approved travel corridors for Scottish citizens, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
Scotland's First Minister today lifted quarantine requirements for 57 countries, only two less than the UK's list of 59; Spain and Serbia being the only exceptions. This means that anyone entering Scotland from these nations will, for the time being, be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return.
Speaking this afternoon, Sturgeon said that Scotland's lower infection numbers made its stance "a bit different to that of the UK as a whole", and stated: "We cannot lift restrictions on people arriving from Spain because of the significantly higher prevalence. We also have concerns about Serbia where a recent outbreak has led neighbouring states to close their borders with that country."
These rules are "here for a reason", she said, warning people not to "get around" them by flying in and out of non-approved countries through English airports.
Analysis: Least well-off get the most Covid help - but what happens next?
The Chancellor has announced a raft of new measures to help the economy recover from coronavirus - Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing Street
Russell Lynch, Telegraph Economics Editor, has written some detailed analysis of the Chancellor's economic statement.
Chancellors have not always been keen on the detailed scrutiny of who wins and loses as a result of the decisions they take, he writes.
The most notable recent example was George Osborne. He scrapped the Treasury’s distributional analysis traditionally accompanying Budgets due to the inconvenient fact that his planned tax credit reforms would hit the poorest hardest. Osborne left it to the Institute for Fiscal Studies to deliver the bad news.
Under pressure from the Treasury Select Committee, the distributional analysis was restored in 2016 when Philip Hammond took the reins.
For Rishi Sunak, the current Chancellor, the Treasury’s breakdown of the impact of Covid-19 on households ranked by wealth underscores the more politically helpful message that the poorest households have been the biggest beneficiaries of the massive economic support unleashed since March.
Our graphics team have produced this handy guide to everywhere you're allowed to go on holiday under the Government's latest guidance.
06:44 PM
Texas prepares for first execution since February
Billy Joe Wardlow, 45, was scheduled to die by lethal injection - REUTERS/Handout
The US state of Texas is set to execute an inmate convicted of murdering an elderly man during a 1993 robbery - ending a five-month halt to executions due to the coronavirus crisis.
Billy Joe Wardlow, 45, was scheduled to die by lethal injection at the penitentiary in Huntsville. His attorneys have filed an 11th-hour appeal with the US Supreme Court.
With the help of his girlfriend at the time, Wardlow held up an elderly man, Carl Cole, in a bid to steal the man's truck.
The 82-year-old Cole fought back, and Wardlow, then 18, shot him in the head.
If the Supreme Court does not grant a stay, Wardlow will be the seventh death row inmate executed in the United States since the beginning of the year, and the third in Texas.
The last execution in the US took place in May 19 in Missouri, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
Texas has not carried out an execution since early February.
06:34 PM
Sam Cam invents £25 face mask for people who want fashion-conscious Covid protection
Samantha Cameron in her matching dress and face mask - FOR THE TELEGRAPH/Rii Schroer
Will wearing a mask ruin your outfit? It is perhaps the most frivolous-sounding of new concerns to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, yet for Isabel Spearman, a retail consultant, it’s the one that seemed most likely to bother shoppers who place high value on being well turned-out, Caroline Leaper reports.
Her solution? A new pop-up shop, launching on her website Daily Dress Edit today, where you can buy a pretty designer mask – and pick up a gorgeous summer day dress to match.
British brand designers Samantha Cameron of Cefinn, Emilia Wickstead, Justine Tabak, Anna Singh and Rachael Wood of Chinti and Parker, and Tania Hindmarch and Clara Francis of O Pioneers have joined forces, creating five new mask designs to match dresses in their summer collections.
A hundred per cent of profits from mask sales will benefit the Intensive Care Society, a charity that offers support and counselling to front-line NHS workers.
06:20 PM
France death toll rises by 32, but hospitalised patient figures fall
France's coronavirus death toll has risen by 32 from the previous day and now stand at 29,965.
The country’s health department said the number of people in hospital with the virus was down to 7,297, from 7,594 on Tuesday.
Here are the latest figures from France:
06:12 PM
In pictures: Serbian lockdown protests
The Serbian president has been forced to u-turn on plans to place the city of Belgrade back into lockdown after Serbians took to the streets to protest (see post at 16.35).
These pictures show the scenes in Belgrade earlier today.
Police formed up on the steps of Serbia's National Assembly building to face off with protesters.
Police were equipped with riot gear to meet protesters, who have been violent in some areas - ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AP
Sergej Trifunovic, an actor and the leader of the Serbian Movement of Free Citizens (PSG) group, was attacked by far-right protesters and was seen bleeding from his head.
Sergej Trifunovic receives help in Belgrade - MARKO DJURICA/REUTERS
Police met protesters on horses as they attempted to control the crowds.
A woman touches a police horse during a demonstration in Belgrade - Darko Vojinovic/AP
Protesters waved the Serbian flag and argued against a weekend curfew, which the President said was necessary to control the virus.
Protesters gather outside Serbia's National Assembly building - ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP
05:49 PM
Chancellor urged to address 'deep scars' on children caused by lockdown
It is "deeply disappointing" that the Chancellor did not address the "deep scars" inflicted on children by lockdown and school closures as he announced more coronavirus measures, a charity said.
Plans announced by Rishi Sunak will "do nothing" to help the two-thirds of children living in poverty with at least one parent in work, the Children's Society said.
Without a comprehensive package of support, children's life chances "could be seriously damaged" and the economy will also suffer harm in the long-term, it believes.
Chief executive Mark Russell welcomed the plans to help young people into work and said these measures must include additional support for care leavers.
He continued: "However, it was deeply disappointing to see so little in the Chancellor's plans to address the deep scars lockdown and school closures have inflicted on children's happiness and mental health.
"This crisis has left many children at greater risk, with abuse and sexual and criminal exploitation more likely to be hidden from view, while others have struggled with isolation and been left at greater risk of the ravages of poverty with some parents sadly losing work.
"Jobs and protecting the economy are of course important, but so is protecting our children and helping them to flourish and shockingly, two-thirds of children living in poverty now have at least one parent in work. The measures announced today will do nothing to address this."
05:32 PM
All you need to know at dinner time
If you're just joining us on today's coronavirus blog, here is a roundup of all the latest news.
You can sign up to our daily newsletter, which contains everything you need to know, here.
The UK's death toll now stands at 44,517 – a rise of 126. A total of 286,979 people have now tested positive for the virus in Britain.
Fiscal support worth almost £160 billion has been announced by the Government since March to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
Freelance and self-employed workers excluded from the coronavirus support have expressed anger at Rishi Sunak's failure to help them.
Businesses on the border of Australia’s two most populous states are the latest casualties as Victoria goes into a six-week lockdown.
The Ryder Cup, which was due to take place in September in Wisconsin, has been postponed for one year due to the pandemic.
Iran's coronavirus death toll now exceeds 12,000, with 153 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours amid a sharp rise in infections.
Measles and rubella have been eradicated from Sri Lanka and the Maldives after decades of immunisation programmes, says the WHO.
The Philippines has passed 50,000 cases of coronavirus, its Department of Health announced today.
05:29 PM
Dental waiting lists mean patients still can't get treatment
Some people seeking dental care may still be unable to get an appointment a month after dentists were allowed to open in England, a leading dental professor has said.
Professor Phil Taylor, dean-elect of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh's Faculty of Dental Surgery, said it will take a "long time" for dentists to work through the backlog of patients built up while practices were closed during the coronavirus pandemic.
It comes after a poll of dentists found that half believe they have patients who have suffered permanent harm as a result of practice closures.
And the survey of 246 dentists across the UK conducted by the faculty found that 87 per cent feel there is a backlog which will cause further long-term deterioration.
Prof Taylor said: "We are now one month on from dental practices in England being allowed to reopen to treat non-emergency patients after the pandemic forced the vast majority of practices to close their doors.
"While it's fantastic that many practices are now back up and running, there are still significant hurdles to overcome."
05:07 PM
UK Covid fiscal stimulus hits almost £160bn
Rishi Sunak announced a raft of new measures in an economic statement this afternoon - Jessica Taylor/AFP
Fiscal support worth almost £160 billion has been announced by the Government since March to deal with the coronavirus crisis, according to new Treasury figures.
The sum is almost £30 billion more than the latest estimate from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) of £133 billion.
It includes employment support worth £69 billion, business support worth £30 billion and some £50 billion for public service spending, funding for charities and support for vulnerable people.
The total tax deferrals and approved loans stands at almost £123 billion.
Figures released by the Treasury also set out that the Government has approved £32 billion of support for health services, including £15 billion for PPE procurement for frontline staff.
A further £10 billion has been allocated for the Government's "Test, Trace, Contain and Enable" programme to support the unlocking of the economy.
And more than £1 billion has been allocated to procure additional ventilators.
First test day allowed this summer likely finished after 17 overs
The West Indies celebrated after getting England's Dom Sibley out for a duck in the short window of play this afternoon - Adrian Dennis/AFP Pool
Cricket fans were disappointed this afternoon after the first test match of the summer in Southampton was hampered by rain and bad light.
Coronavirus prevented the usual start of the cricket season and the ECB earmarked a test series against the West Indies for the first matches of the year.
Players are inside a secure "bio-zone" designed to keep them safe from the virus.
England opened the batting this afternoon in an empty ground and played 17 overs in short bursts as officials monitored the weather.
Players are now back inside the pavilion and bad light makes the chance of more play this afternoon unlikely.
Customers wearing face masks at a market in Barcelona - Emilio Morenatti/AP
Catalonia has ordered all residents and visitors to wear face masks in public at all times, becoming the first Spanish region to toughen a national directive mandating their use when in close proximity to others, Reuters reports.
The order, which takes effect tomorrow, was announced by regional leader Quim Torra after more than 200,000 people in the Segria area were placed under a local lockdown following a series of coronavirus outbreaks there.
"Masks will be mandatory all over Catalonia, not just in the Segria region... I think it's an important measure," Torra told the regional parliament. "We will distribute protective equipment."
Another Spanish region took a similar decision shortly afterwards. Authorities in the Basque Country made masks mandatory regardless of the distance between people in the small town of Ordizia, where another cluster of nearly 50 cases has been detected, said the region's health counsellor.
Spanish authorities last month made wearing masks compulsory indoors and outdoors in all circumstances in which 1.5 metres of social distancing could not be maintained, and until a coronavirus cure or vaccine is found.
04:49 PM
Biggest study yet shows Covid-19 risk factors
A new paper published in the scientific journal Nature has analysed the demographic and lifestyle data of 17 million people with Covid-19 to highlight trends in the patients that eventually die from the disease.
The data shows patients are more likely to die after contracting the disease if they are:
male
older
black or South Asian
more economically deprived
an asthma or diabetes patient
a non-smoker
The researchers concluded there was unlikely to be a causal relationship between smoking and lower risk, and attributed the effect to other factors.
But "any increased risk with current smoking is likely to be small," they wrote.
The results support the findings of previous studies, including a Public Health England report, that showed BAME patients were at higher risk than white patients.
The study analysed the disease in 17,278,392 adults, and examined 10,926 Covid-related deaths.
It is the biggest study of its kind.
04:41 PM
Hamsters on a plane: Could they give us more answers about how coronavirus spreads?
Putting hamsters on an aeroplane could be one way of examining whether coronavirus can be spread through airborne transmission, an infectious diseases specialist has suggested.
Epidemiologist Professor David Heymann said "complex studies" were needed to see whether people could catch Covid-19 through air circulating on planes or through restaurant air conditioning systems.
Prof Heymann said scientists could use animal studies to test for the potential spread of the virus – an approach that has previously been used for tuberculosis research.
The US has just hit three million cases. What is going on there?
Donald Trump has called for schools to open, despite record daily case figures and a total of three million - Carlos Barria/REUTERS
It increasingly feels like the main coronavirus growth story is taking place in the United States.
A count kept by Johns Hopkins University reports there are now three million coronavirus cases confirmed in America.
While countries with spikes in cases are considering re-imposing lockdowns (Melbourne in Australia and Thiruvananthapuram, in Kerala, India are the latest), Donald Trump is calling for lockdown to be eased. He took to Twitter to call for schools to reopen, and threatened to cut federal funding if they don't.
In a press conference just now, Mike Pence, the Vice President, agreed that student should go back to school soon.
Today's figures show the country has 60,000 new cases, which is a US record. The states with the highest number of new cases are Florida, California and Texas.
Inevitably, Covid-19 is becoming a defining issue of this year's presidential race. Joe Biden, who is running for the top job, has vowed to reverse Mr Trump's decision to withdrawn from the WTO on "day one". Despite the latest figures, Mr Trump said the US was in a "good place" and criticised his top health official, Anthony Fauci, who said America was "knee deep in the first wave".
04:09 PM
Excluded workers dismayed at Government support
Workers excluded from the Government's coronavirus support have expressed anger at Rishi Sunak's failure to help them.
Campaigners believe as many as three million freelance and self-employed workers have been unable to claim on the Government's support schemes due to various restrictions.
Dave Leyland, a business development manager in the architectural facade industry, said he and his family had been "absolutely destroyed by the way we are being treated".
The 59-year-old from Denton, Greater Manchester, told the PA news agency he was ineligible either for the furlough scheme or the Self Employment Income Support Scheme due to recent changes in his work situation, and was unable to even claim universal credit as his wife receives the state pension.
"My confidence levels right now are extremely shot to pieces," said Mr Leyland, who had until recently been working for 43 years.
Mr Leyland said he had voted Conservative all his life but would never do so again after his struggles over the past few months.
"This latest statement is yet another kick in the teeth by this Government to the three million excluded, abandoned tax-paying people."
03:47 PM
German politician slapped down for 'playing games' with gas mask in parliament
An MP from the far-right AfD has worn a gas mask to protest against face coverings in Germany
A German politician has been reprimanded for wearing a gas mask in parliament as a protest against facemasks, Justin Huggler reports from Berlin.
Stefan Löw of the far-Right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) wore a gas mask as he attempted to make a speech in the Bavarian regional parliament.
But the parliament’s deputy speaker did not allow him to speak after he refused to remove the mask.
Mr Löw was protesting against a new regulation which requires members of the Maximilaneum, the Bavarian regional parliament, to wear facemasks in the chamber.
“I'm not going to play games with you here,” Alexander Hold, the deputy speaker, told Mr Löw.
“We are required to wear facemasks, but not a carnival mask, or whatever that may be.”
Mr Löw was attempting to speak in a bid by the AfD to have the facemask requirement overturned. The attempt failed.
03:35 PM
Protesters force Serbian president into u-turn on Belgrade lockdown
Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian president, has been forced to u-turn on a new Belgrade lockdown after protests across the capital - Shutterstock/ANDREJ CUKIC/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Serbia's president has backtracked on his plans to reinstate a coronavirus lockdown in Belgrade after thousands protested the move and clashed with the police in the capital.
Chaos erupted as thousands of protesters fought running battles with police and tried to storm the parliament building after Aleksandar Vucic, the President, announced on Tuesday that a weekend curfew will be reintroduced in the Balkan country after health officials reported the highest single-day death toll from Covid-19 cases.
Opponents blame the autocratic Serbian leader for contributing to the spike in deaths and new cases after he lifted the previous lockdown measures. They say he did that to cement his grip on power after parliamentary elections held on June 21. He has denied those claims.
On Wednesday, Vucic backtracked on his new lockdown plans that were to take effect during the coming weekend, claiming the measure cannot be implemented without proclaiming a nationwide state of emergency.
Vucic said that although he still supports the lockdown, "most probably, there will be no curfew,"
03:32 PM
Latest coronavirus figures: UK death toll increases by 126
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said 44,517 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Tuesday - up by 126 from 44,391 the previous day.
The Government figures do not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which are thought to have passed 55,000.
The DHSC also said that in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Wednesday, there were 630 positive test results. Overall, a total of 286,979 cases have been confirmed.
Windsor Castle and other royal properties to reopen
Windsor Castle will re-opened to the public on July 23 - Pool/Samir Hussein
Some of the Queen's residences will soon reopen to the public, but much of Buckingham Palace and Clarence House will stay closed amid social distancing concerns.
Windsor Castle, the Royal Mews and the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace will reopen on July 23, as will the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh.
But the State Rooms, Buckingham Palace's main attraction, will stay closed due to concerns about the viability of social distancing.
Clarence House and Frogmore House, near Windsor Castle, will also remained shuttered.
The Royal Collection Trust, which looks after the Royal Collection of art and manages public access to the official residences, has warned it would be seeking voluntary redundancies.
The closures "had a very significant and serious impact on our finances, as we are entirely funded by visitor income from admissions and related retail sales", a spokeswoman said.
03:17 PM
US nears three million cases - but Trump calls for schools to reopen
The United States is nearing three million confirmed Covid-19 cases Wednesday, but Donald Trump has downplayed the risks posed by the pandemic and aggressively pushed for schools to reopen.
The coronavirus is surging in several southern hotspots including Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Arizona, while it has almost entirely receded from its former epicenter in New York and the north-east.
Trump embarked on a morning tweetstorm ahead of a public meeting of his coronavirus taskforce, in which he called for students to return to their schools in fall and lashed out at his own top health agency.
In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!
The daily rolling case numbers across the US show Florida still has the lead over Texas and California.
03:09 PM
Scottish Government urged to match Sunak's measures to boost Covid-hit housing market
The Scottish Government has been warned of "dire consequences" if SNP ministers fail to match Rishi Sunak's cut on stamp duty south of the border.
The move was part of the series of announcements from the Chancellor which will see the Scottish Government receive an additional £800 million in funding - taking the total of extra cash they have received from Westminster since the start of the coronavirus pandemic to £4.6 billion.
Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes complained the figures for Scotland from Mr Sunak's summer update were "disappointing, underwhelming and fall short of the scale required to reboot the economy".
The Scottish Government had been pressing hard for its borrowing powers to be increased, to help with the response to Covid-19.
Ms Forbes tweeted:
If the UK Gov won't make the investment now, then they should give Scot Gov the consequentials & the powers to do it ourselves. But there is no reply to Scot Gov, Welsh Gov & NI Executive's plea for fiscal flexibilities and no sign, as yet, of the level of funding we need. /3
Merkel tells EU to prepare for no-deal Brexit amid recovery fund rift
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has today said that the EU should be prepared for a no-trade deal Brexit, speaking a day after Boris Johnson warned her that Britain was “ready” to walk away without an agreement.
“I will continue to push for a good solution, but we should also prepare for a possible no deal scenario," Mrs Merkel said in the European Parliament in Brussels.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel wears a protective face mask as she attends a plenary session at the European Parliament in Brussels on July 8, 2020 upon the presentation of the German programme for EU presidency. - Yves Herman/AFP
She added that progress in negotiations so far has been "slim to put it diplomatically", as she set out plans for Germany’s six month EU Presidency which will be dominated by economic recovery efforts amid the pandemic.
European leaders are still yet to agree on the makeup of any recovery fund in response to coronavirus, with Italian Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte urging the Union to formulate a "strong, ambitious political response".
Mr Conte proceeded to warn that he "wouldn't accept a weak compromise" of measures.
Our Brussels correspondent James Crisp has the full story here.
02:53 PM
Ryder Cup 2020 postponed due to pandemic
The Ryder Cup, which was due to take place in September in Wisconsin, has been postponed for one year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh said:
It became clear that as of today, our medical experts and the public authorities in Wisconsin could not give us certainty that conducting an event responsibly with thousands of spectators in September would be possible. Given that uncertainty, we knew rescheduling was the right call,
As disappointing as this is, our mandate to do all we can to safeguard public health is what matters most.
While professional men's golf has resumed in the US, players said the biennial event should not go ahead without fans. The Ryder Cup has now been rescheduled for September 24-26 2021.
02:43 PM
BREAKING: UK deaths today - 126 more fatalities announced by Department for Health
The Department for Health has announced 126 further deaths from coronavirus in the UK across all settings as of 5pm yesterday (July 7).
This brings the UK's cumulative recorded death count to 44,517.
A further 630 cases were confirmed across pillars one and two, bringing the cumulative case count to 286,979.
02:32 PM
Coronavirus cases reach 50,000 in Philippines
The Philippines has passed 50,000 cases of coronavirus, its Department of Health announced today.
A further 2,539 cases have been reported in the last day following the easing of lockdown measures, bringing the total number to 50,359.
Medical workers process blood samples at the Medical City Drive-Thru Covid-19 Testing Center set up at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health in Pasig City, Metro Manila, the Philippines, on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. - Veejay Villafranca/Bloomberg
Parts of capital city Manila imposed a 48-hour 'hard lockdown' on Sunday, which came after a regional spike in infections.
02:24 PM
Tour operator calls for Government support for travel industry
The tour operator Vivid Travel has asked why Rishi Sunak’s mini-budget made no reference to the travel industry, which has called for help from the Government.
Kane Pirie, the firm's managing director and owner, said:
Covid-19 has created an economic hit of tsunamic proportions. Travel is the forgotten, unloved sector it seems the Government does want.
We were one of the first industries to be shut down, we are refunding prior sales on a scale unequalled and new sales are entangled in a myriad of shifting risks and regulation. The industry has been knocked out.
The industry is fighting hard for survival but support is needed. There is no end to the disruption in sight and realistically it could well be 2021 before confidence returns to the market.
02:16 PM
Government should aim to completely eliminate coronavirus, scientists say
A group of scientists has said that the UK government should aim for the complete eradication of coronavirus.
Broad programs should be put into place including limiting local and international travel and stepping up test-and-trace efforts, the Independent SAGE group has suggested in its most recent report.
“If we’re going to stamp out this virus ahead of winter, we’ve got to look at mass testing programs,” said Jeremy Hunt, the former Health Secretary, on a call organised by the group.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said last month that a "significant amount" of the coronavirus may be circulating until early spring, which the Independent SAGE group says could lead to thousands of preventable deaths.
02:06 PM
Former Chancellor urges caution from Rishi Sunak after stamp duty and value-added tax announcements
Conservative MP Sajid Javid has advised his successor as Chancellor of the Exchequer to take steps to get the UK's national debt under control.
Mr Javid suggested Rishi Sunak should set out new financial rules during the autumn budget in order to reduce national debt as a proportion of national income by 2024.
Mr Javid said in the Commons:
Can I commend (his) statement and the actions he has taken to ensure that we get the strongest possible recovery as we can and he's been absolutely right thus far to spend what it takes, something he set out very clearly back in March.
But I know that he will be acutely aware that interest rates will not stay low forever and eventually we will need to bring back our national debt under control in order to sustain a recovery and continue to create jobs and to keep taxes low.
So can I encourage (him) in his autumn budget, to set out new fiscal rules with an aim of getting our national debt down as a proportion of our national income by the end of this Parliament.
Mr Sunak replied: "I thank (him) for his kind support and also his advice and he is of course absolutely right and I hope he was heartened by what he heard me say in the statement about the importance of returning in the medium term our public finances to a sustainable footing."
He added that Mr Javid was "right" to highlight the sensitivity of Britain's debt to interest rates, and promised that he would look at this "keenly" in the next few months.
01:55 PM
Russell Lynch: Sunak's VAT cut is not enough to make me a happy camper
Rishi Sunak’s latest bid to aid hospitality firms suffering a coronavirus cataclysm is a headline grabber, but the Chancellor didn’t mention the elephant in the room: social distancing, our economics editor Russell Lynch writes.
VAT cuts and even August restaurant vouchers are better help than nothing. But up against the one metre-plus world we have to live in until a vaccine is discovered, it is just an extra pair of hands pushing the Sisyphean boulder up the hill.
Sunak has made a habit of under-promising and over-delivering - but not today. This was a Chancellor who doesn’t want to offer “false hope” to those in danger of losing their jobs.
And his dark hint over the “medium-term” fixing of the public finances - a Banquo at this “eat out to dine out” feast - will worry businesses and households alike.
Have a read of Russell's take in its entirety here.
01:51 PM
Live: The long-awaited return of cricket
England's Ben Stokes warms up ahead of play on the first day of the first Test cricket match between England and the West Indies at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, southwest England on July 8, 2020 - Adrian Dennis/AFP
Welcome news for sports fans today as the professional return of cricket sees England take on the West Indies.
Follow all the updates courtesy of our award-winning sport desk here.
01:34 PM
Nicola Sturgeon to keep Scotland coronavirus quarantine restrictions
Tourists travelling to Scotland from Spain will have to continue to quarantine, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed, as she rejected some of the countries that are on the UK Government's list of air bridges.
Speaking at her daily virus briefing, the Scottish First Minister said the 14-day quarantine restriction will be lifted on July 10 for people returning or visiting from 39 countries with a low rate of coronavirus, including Germany, Norway and Malta.
Other countries which have a lower or not significantly higher prevalence of the virus than Scotland, including France, Greece, and Poland, will also be included on the list.
But the First Minister said the restriction will not be lifted for Spain or Serbia - both countries that English tourists will be able to visit from July 10 without having to quarantine on return.
Telegraph readers have had their say on the Chancellor’s latest plans and have offered predictions on how the UK’s economy will fare in the months and years to come following the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson watched on as Chancellor Rishi Sunak gave his 'mini-Budget' this afternoon - AFP
Have a read here of what your fellow readers have had to say, and add your own opinions on today's measures in the comment section.
01:20 PM
Portugal and UK renew discussions over a travel corridor
British holidaymakers could visit Portugal without having to quarantine on their return if the UK Government agrees to add Portugal to its list of 'travel corridors'.
Beachgoers play soccer and practise social distancing in Praia da Ribiera during the Covid-19 pandemic. - Horacio Villalobos/Corbis News
Portuguese and British authorities are in talks as the UK prepares to reevaluate its decision to keep Portugal off the list of countries where travellers, including returning Britons, can visit without facing 14 days of self-isolation on their return.
Transport minister Grant Shapps has said on Monday the decision will be reviewed by July 27.
12:59 PM
Masks to be made compulsory outdoors in New Jersey
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is to issue an order today that the public must wear masks outdoors.
The order will apply in cases where crowds are congregating, not if people are outdoors alone or with family members, Murphy said during an interview on MSNBC.
He will also limit indoor dining, and the mask mandate comes amid a resurgence in transmission of the virus across the state, although Governor Murphy admitted that the coming order is "harder to enforce".
The masks will be required outdoors in cases where social distancing isn’t possible, he said. On enforcement, he said, violators will “at least get a warning.”
12:55 PM
John Longworth: Sunak entirely missed out small businesses
Rishi Sunak showed a spark of creativity but his job retention plans were underwhelming, writes John Longworth chairman of the Independent Business Network.
This is like emerging from war. The last time we experienced this, we won the war and lost the peace, not least by investing in welfare and health, overseas aid and the military, when our competitors were investing in manufacturing, business and economic growth.
Sunak should have announced a massive borrowing programme, a new growth target for the Bank of England including the tacit managing of a competitive currency and a bold programme of tax cuts for business and individuals in order to boost the economy which would have done more for jobs than anything else.
He could have boosted the high street by having a differential VAT regime for “bricks“ versus “clicks”.
To say that the Chancellor's job retention schemes, designed to mitigate the end of the ill-conceived subsidy for idleness, were underwhelming would be an understatement.
The shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said "fear is hurting our economy" and urged the Government to "get this right".
She told MPs: "The Government's contracts with outsourcing firms amount to almost £3 billion but we still haven't got test, track and isolate working properly in the UK like it is in many other countries.
"And Government still hasn't got a grip on the low-value and limited scope of sick pay, risking people's ability to self-isolate.
"Fear is corrosive, fear is hurting our economy. Government has got to get this right."
12:20 PM
Face masks 'not a magic bullet', says Welsh First Minister
Wearing a face mask is not a "magic bullet" in preventing the spread of coronavirus, the First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has said.
Responding to a call from a Brexit Party Senedd member for them to be made mandatory in public, he said the Welsh Government would keep the guidance on the wearing of face masks in public under review.
Face masks are not currently mandatory in Wales, but their use is recommended in places like public transport. They are mandatory on public transport in England and Scotland, and also in shops in Scotland.
12:09 PM
Watch: Johnson and Starmer clash over hospital parking at PMQs
12:04 PM
VAT cut for hospitality and restaurant discount announced
Rishi Sunak has confirmed that VAT for the hospitality industry will be cut from 20 per cent to 5 per cent. This will be cut on "food, accommodation and attractions" for the next six months - covering restaurants, pubs, hotels, cinemas and zoos.
Rishi Sunak delivers his summer economic update to the House of Commons - House of Commons/PA Wire
The public is also to be given a 50 per cent 'eat out to help out' discount at participating restaurants throughout August from Mondays to Wednesdays, with a maximum discount of £10 per head. "We can all eat out to help out," Mr Sunak said.
11:58 AM
Sunak confirms stamp duty cut
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons:
We need people feeling confident to buy, sell, renovate, move and improve. So, to catalyse the housing market and boost confidence, I have decided today to cut stamp duty.
Right now there is no stamp duty on transactions below £125,000. Today I am increasing the threshold to half a million pounds.
This will be a temporary cut running until March 31 next year. And as is always the case, these changes to stamp duty will take effect immediately.
The average stamp duty bill will fall by about £4,500 and nine out of ten people buying a home this year will pay no stamp duty at all.
11:55 AM
Sunak announces furlough bonus and 'green homes grant'
Rishi Sunak has announced that a £1,000 bonus per staff member will be paid to firms who return furloughed staff to work and keep them on until January.
Unveiling the furlough bonus scheme, Rishi Sunak has told the House of Commons: "If you stand by your workers, we will stand by you".
He noted that 700,000 people will be leaving education, while more are just starting out in their careers, saying "coronavirus has hit them hard".
He also announced an extra £2 billion in funding for the Department for Work and Pensions, and a £2 billion "green homes grant", in which homeowners will be able to apply for vouchers in order to make their homes more efficient and create local green jobs.
Vouchers will cover the full cost of this for low-income households, up to £10,000. A £1 billion fund will also be released to make public buildings more energy efficient.
11:49 AM
England's deputy chief medical officer 'very, very concerned' about second wave
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries has said that she is "very, very concerned" about the possibility of a second wave of Covid-19.
Asked on ITV's This Morning, Dr Harries said that there is "a possibility" that the virus is weakening, but there is not enough clear evidence of this.
And I just say two things: it is possible that that will happen but we should not be complacent.
I think it's far too early to say that, and if people think that they might come into contact with this virus and it's weaker so they shouldn't worry, that's not the right message to have at all.
She added that it is "highly unlikely" that coronavirus will just be eliminated.
11:41 AM
Sunak sets out his stall ahead of mini-budget statement
Starting his statement to the House of Commons, Rishi Sunak said:
Today we act with a plan for jobs. Our plan has a clear goal - to protect, support, and create jobs. It will give businesses the confidence to create and hire, to give young people a better start, to give people everywhere the opportunity of a fresh start.
Where problems emerge, we will confront them. Where support is justified, we will provide it. Where challenges arise, we will overcome them.
We entered this crisis unencumbered by dogma and will continue in this spirit, driven always by the simple desire to do what is right.
11:29 AM
Sri Lanka and the Maldives free from measles and rubella, WHO announces
Measles and rubella have been eradicated from Sri Lanka and the Maldives after decades of immunisation programmes, the World Health Organisation has announced.
"Coming at a time when the entire world is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, this success is encouraging and demonstrates the importance of joint efforts," WHO regional director Khetrapal Singh said in a statement.
The Maldives recorded its last endemic case of measles in 2009 and rubella in October 2015, the global health body said, whilst Sri Lanka's last endemic cases of measles and rubella were in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
11:19 AM
PMQS: Boris Johnson confirms car parking U-turn
Sir Keir Starmer went on to challenge the Prime Minister on car parking fees, saying he "must know this is wrong".
Boris Johnson said that hospital car parks are free for NHS staff for this pandemic, and pledges to "get on with our manifesto commitment to make them free for patients as well".
This appears to be a U-turn from yesterday's announcement, as was hinted at by Nicky Morgan this morning.
11:09 AM
Sir Keir Starmer: Johnson's comments caused 'huge offence' to care homes
Sir Keir Starmer said that the Prime Minister’s comments on care homes had “caused huge offence to frontline care workers”, and asked if Boris Johnson would apologise.
Mr Johnson replied:
The last thing I wanted to do is to blame care workers for what has happened, or for any of them to think I was blaming them because they’ve worked incredibly hard throughout this crisis.
Tragically 257 of them have lost their lives and when it comes to taking blame, I take full responsibility for what has happened.
But the one thing that nobody knew early on during this pandemic was that the virus was being passed asymptomatically from person to person in the way that it is, And that’s why the guidance changed and it’s thanks to the hard work of care workers that we’ve now got incidents down in our care homes, and I pay tribute to them.
When asked again by Sir Keir whether he would apologise, Mr Johnson insisted that it was "not the case" he had tried to blame care workers, before promising to reform care homes on the basis of "cross-party consensus".
10:58 AM
Coming up: Prime Minister's Questions and Sunak statement
In the next five minutes another instalment of Prime Minister's Questions will commence, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to take questions from leader of the opposition Sir Keir Starmer among other MPs.
This will be followed by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, outlining his 'mini-budget' with a view to bringing the British economy back to life through a new package of relief and support measures.
10:52 AM
Iran coronavirus death toll exceeds 12,000 after 153 further fatalities
Iran's coronavirus death toll now exceeds 12,000, the health ministry said today, with 153 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours amid a sharp rise in the number of daily infections and deaths since the easing of lockdown.
Iran recorded 200 deaths from Covid-19 within a 24-hour period on Tuesday, the highest official figure recorded to date. The total number of known infections now stands at 284,379.
President Hassan Rouhani launched new measures at the weekend to try to curb the spread of the disease, announcing that Iranians who do not wear masks will be denied state services, and that workplaces which do not comply with new protocols will be forcibly closed for a week.
10:40 AM
Cancun welcomes 70,000 tourists since reopening
Almost 70,000 tourists have visited Cancun since the Mexican resort city reopened to visitors almost a month ago, according to tourism officials.
Approximately 13,000 visitors are currently staying at 120 hotels, which reopened at 30 per cent capacity after Cancun once again opened its doors for tourism on June 8.
People spend time on the coast of Cancun, Mexico, Saturday, June 13, 2020 - Victor Ruiz/AP
Mexico does not have any travel restrictions when entering the country. Visitors do not need to self-quarantine or be tested for Covid-19.
However, the country is not featured on the UK Government's list of travel corridors or the list of destinations exempt from the FCO warning against all but essential travel.
10:32 AM
BREAKING: Hillingdon Hospital 'closes due to coronavirus outbreak'
A hospital has been forced to close to emergency ambulances and admissions after an outbreak of coronavirus among staff, it has been reported.
At least 70 members of staff at Hillingdon Hospital in London are now understood to be isolating after some tested positive for Covid-19, according to the Health Service Journal.
A spokesman at the hospital, which is in Boris Johnson's constituency of Uxbridge, told the publication: "An outbreak of Covid-19 was declared on 3 July.
"As of 7 July, 70 members of staff are now isolating, a number of whom have tested positive for Covid-19."
UK puts forward Liam Fox for World Trade Organisation
The former international trade secretary Liam Fox will be nominated by the Government as a candidate to lead the World Trade Organisation, a senior Government source has confirmed.
Dr Fox, the Conservative MP for North Somerset, has been put forward by the UK to be the WTO's new director general, having held ministerial roles under John Major, David Cameron and Theresa May.
He was an ardent supporter of the UK's exit from the EU, and served as international trade secretary during the Brexit negotiations.
10:19 AM
Has the lockdown killed live music?
Like every other non-essential business, live music venues shut their doors as soon as the coronavirus lockdown was imposed, and due to health risks around indoor gatherings, it is unlikely they will be able to reopen until 2021.
But despite the recent £1.57bn announced by the Government for the arts sector, the doors of smaller live music venues are at risk of permanent closure.
10:13 AM
Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson brief Cabinet on new measures
Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson have told today's Cabinet meeting that the measures being announced today will come on top of the furlough scheme, which has protected nine million jobs.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Chancellor outlined the details of today's 'Plan For Jobs' to support, create and protect jobs, following on from the PM's New Deal speech last week.
"He spoke about how the Government needs to work together to deliver the plan, for example, through encouraging businesses to participate in the 'kickstart scheme' of subsidised jobs announced overnight.
"The PM emphasised the Government's commitment to delivering a green economic recovery."
09:59 AM
Watch: Protesters storm Serbian Parliament as lockdown reintroduced
09:55 AM
Stamp duty holiday: Sunak announcement due at 12.30pm
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak will address the House of Commons at 12.30pm, unveiling a 'mini-Budget' which is set to include a stamp duty holiday intended to kickstart the economy.
Mr Sunak is also due to announce a new £2 billion scheme to get hundreds of thousands of young people into work, as well as a host of other measures.
World Health Organisation chief pulls out of London meeting at the last minute
The World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pulled out of an event in London at the last minute this morning.
Organisers said that Mr Ghebreyesus will instead attend diplomatic meetings that are linked to the US' notification of its withdrawal from the organisation.
President Donald Trump has said the US - which is currently the biggest funder of the WHO to the tune of around $450 million - will redirect funds "to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs".
09:37 AM
Covid-19 aftershock forces millions into child labour and early marriages
As incomes plummet and jobs are lost en masse in the wake of coronavirus, a report has found that millions of children are now being forced into child labour, begging and early marriages, writes Harriet Barber.
Already, eight million children have been forced into begging and child labour as a consequence of the outbreak, World Vision warns. The report said 110 million children are facing hunger, and that 85 million households across Asia have little or no food stocks.
Norbert Hsu, of World Vision, warned that “we are on the cusp of a catastrophe for children”.
The United Nations has projected that 66 million more children could fall into extreme poverty, adding to the existing 385 million children living in extreme poverty in 2019.
In May, the UN also warned that the impact of Covid-19 could push an additional 10 million children into acute malnutrition.
New lockdown brings new economic pain to Australia
Businesses on the border of Australia’s two most populous states are the latest casualties of the coronavirus as Victoria goes into a six-week lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of the disease.
Recent days have seen mass cancellations at hotels and campgrounds, and New South Wales yesterday shut its border with Victoria whilst urging citizens to stay away from the border region.
“It's a double whammy for us,” said Mark Francis, chief executive of Murray Regional Tourism. “Whilst it's saving us from a health crisis, it is shutting down the visitor economy.”
Businesses that were gearing up for the winter season now have to contend with the renewed measures, after being affected across January and February by devastating bushfires before taking a further hit from the pandemic.
Motel and campground owners said that a wave of cancellations in recent days has dragged occupancy rates down from more than 90 per cent - which is typical for this time of year - to about 15 per cent.
09:19 AM
The view from New York as restrictions eased
New York City yesterday moved into the third phase of relaxing lockdown restrictions, with nail and tanning salons and tattoo studios allowed to reopen.
Dog runs and numerous other outdoor activities have also been permitted to restart under stage three of New York's four-phase plan to phase out lockdown measures.
Traffic officers wearing masks are seen walking in a line down the street as the city moves into Phase 3 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic on July 7, 2020 in New York City. - Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images North America The head of a Cookie Monster costume is put on a table next to a person removing their costume in Times Square as the city moves into Phase 3 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic on July 7, 2020 in New York City - Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images North America People gather to watch a surprise outdoor performance by the New York Philharmonic - Noam Galai
09:00 AM
European Union stimulus plan 'little more than political theatre'
The European Union has set out its response to the coronavirus pandemic through the announcement of a Recovery Fund, but the plan amounts to little more than political theatre, writes Ambrose Evans-Pritchard.
The permanent bureaucracy in Brussels will gain fresh levers of patronage and police powers. This matters in EU eschatology. But in immediate terms it is neither a New Deal nor an authentic economic rebirth.
Stripped of decoration, the pure fiscal component (grants) amounts to €100bn a year for the whole EU, or 0.6pc of GDP annually. This will be spread around, after much horse-trading and with political strings attached, and will have almost nothing to do with the pandemic once the funds are actually disbursed.
No funds will arrive before next Spring. In the meantime, Italy must cover a budget deficit heading for 14pc of GDP this year. Not even the European Central Bank can mop up this much debt so quickly without deviating promiscuously from its "capital key", and provoking fresh complaints at the German Constitutional Court.
Read Ambrose's full take on European prospects of economic recovery here.
08:52 AM
Concerns as Hong Kong sees surge in infections
Hong Kong has reported 24 new coronavirus cases today, with 19 of them being local infections.
This has sparked worries of renewed spread in the community, after mostly imported cases were logged throughout the last few months.
The total number of cases in Hong Kong since late January now stands at 1,324, with seven fatalities.
08:40 AM
Confirmed Africa coronavirus cases pass half a million
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa have reached more than half a million after South Africa emerged as a new global hotspot.
The announcement of more than 10,000 confirmed cases in South Africa in the space of a day took the recorded total across the continent to at least 504,000.
The true number of cases across Africa’s 1.3 billion population is unknown, with its 54 countries continuing to face a shortage of coronavirus testing equipment in what the World Health Organisation has called “a real crisis of access”.
08:26 AM
Six months on: The unanswered questions around coronavirus
After six months and more than 10 million confirmed cases, researchers are desperate to solve the many mysteries of the novel coronavirus.
In this file photo Dr. Nita Patel, Director of Antibody discovery and Vaccine development, lifts a vial with a potential coronavirus, COVID-19, vaccine at Novavax labs in Gaithersburg, Maryland. - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP
While the genome has been sequenced and vaccine development has started, there is still a lot we don't know - from why some people get so ill and others do not, to how long immunity will actually last.
Our global health correspondent Anne Gulland has the full story here.
Scores of care providers face compensation claims from families who blame negligence for the deaths of loved ones. But some in the sector have reacted angrily to the Prime Minister's comments.
"I am fuming, absolutely livid about the fact he says we didn't follow procedure," said Debbie Adams, the manager of a care home in Luton. "All the PPE that we had to scrounge - we were the last in the chain."
Serbia latest: 23 arrested after night of violence in Belgrade
An update on the unrest in Belgrade, where Serbian police have detained 23 people after clashes which followed the announcement of new lockdown measures.
Thousands took to the streets on Tuesday evening after President Aleksandar Vucic announced a curfew in Belgrade that will span the entire weekend. It came after Serbia announced 13 new coronavirus deaths, its highest total to date.
Police clash with protesters outside the Serbian Parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, 07 July 2020 (issued 08 July 2020) - Roca Sulejmanovic/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Seventeen demonstrators and 43 police officers were injured in the rioting. President Vucic described the situation as ‘alarming’ and said hospitals in Belgrade are full, but some opponents blamed him for lifting previous measures too soon.
07:49 AM
Latest scenes from down under as Victoria re-enters lockdown
A man wearing a face mask sits on a bench prior to the general lockdown in Melbourne, Victoria. - Luis Ascui/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock People continue to shop prior to the general lockdown in Melbourne, Australia, 08 July 2020. Melbourne will be put back into lockdown for six weeks from 11:59pm on 08 July - Luis Ascui/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Healthcare workers walk with testing supplies into a public housing tower, locked down in response to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease - Stringer/Reuters
07:32 AM
Morning news quiz answers
Here are your morning news quiz answers (questions posted at 7.16am).
Johnny Depp
A fillet of halibut
Birmingham
Ballet workouts
07:30 AM
Matt of the day
Here is Matt's take ahead of a big day for the Chancellor.
Boohoo launches independent review of UK factory conditions
Online fashion retailer Boohoo said it was launching an independent review of its supply chain in Britain, led by a senior lawyer, following a media report about dire working conditions in one British factory.
Shares in Boohoo have lost about a third of their value since The Sunday Times said workers in a factory in Leicester making clothes destined for Boohoo were being paid as little as £3.50 an hour.
The review will be led by Alison Levitt QC.
Boohoo said: "We take extremely seriously all allegations of malpractice, poor working conditions, and underpayment of workers. The group will not tolerate any incidence of non-compliance with its Code of Conduct or any mistreatment of workers, and will not hesitate to terminate relationships with any supplier who does not comply."
Boohoo said it would also welcome the opportunity to work with interior minister Priti Patel and local officials on any future investigations to help tackle labour malpractice in Leicester.
07:05 AM
Free hospital parking for NHS staff to end
Free hospital parking for NHS staff will end in all but "certain circumstances" once the coronavirus pandemic begins to ease, the Government has said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on March 25 that the Government would cover the costs of car parking for NHS staff who he said were "going above and beyond every day" at hospitals in England.
But the Department of Health has said the free parking will continue only for "key patient groups and NHS staff in certain circumstances" as the pandemic eases, although no further timeline has been given.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has said to reintroduce charges while the virus is still being fought would be "a rebuff to the immense efforts of staff across the country and the sacrifices they have made to keep others safe".
07:01 AM
Infected droplets could be floating in the air for several hours
The WHO said Tuesday it would study fresh evidence on airborne transmission of the coronavirus, after an international group of scientists concluded it could spread far beyond two metres.
The World Health Organization said it would put out a new scientific brief within days, rounding up the knowledge about how the virus can be transmitted and ensuring its guidance stays in line with the evidence.
Coronavirus can spread through the air far beyond two metres, a group of 239 international scientists said Monday. When an infected person exhales, they expel droplets.
Droplets under five micrometres in size can become suspended in the air for several hours and travel up to tens of metres, they said.
Benedetta Allegranzi, the WHO's technical lead on infection control, told a virtual press conference: "We acknowledge that there is emerging evidence in this field.
"And therefore we believe that we have to be open to this evidence and understand its implications regarding the modes of transmission and also regarding the precautions that need to be taken," she said.
06:50 AM
Melbourne shoppers strip supermarket shelves bare
Shoppers in Australia's second-biggest city stripped supermarket shelves Wednesday as millions in Melbourne prepared for a return to virus lockdown, with warnings the new restrictions could prompt a mental health crisis.
Five million residents were ordered back into a six-week lockdown beginning midnight Wednesday into Thursday as soaring community transmission of the coronavirus brings more than 100 new cases daily.
A further 134 infections were detected in the past 24 hours - small in comparison to the tens of thousands in hard-hit countries such as the US and Brazil, but considered a major spike in Australia, which had otherwise been successful in containing COVID-19.
The country's largest supermarket chain, Woolworths, said it had reimposed buying limits on items including pasta, vegetables and sugar after shoppers rushed to stores across Victoria state.
Experts have warned that people everywhere will have to get used to the "new normal" of on-and-off restrictions as new clusters emerge and subside, while there are also concerns over the economic and mental health impacts the measures will bring.
06:26 AM
Exclusive | Dozens of care homes investigated over Covid-19 safety fears
Dozens of care homes have been urgently investigated over "serious concerns" that staff and residents were left dangerously exposed to coronavirus, The Telegraph can disclose.
During lockdown, urgent inspections were carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on around 50 homes where managers allegedly failed to follow safety procedures around coronavirus.
Meanwhile, providers are now facing scores of compensation claims from families who blame negligence for the deaths of loved ones, it can be revealed.
How closely did you follow yesterday's news? Here is your morning news quiz - answers out later today.
Which Hollywood actor told a High Court judge his drug use started "at a very young age" when he took one of his mother's "nerve pills"?
What main course was served to EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier during a dinner at Downing Street?
Which English city was due to host the Conservative Party conference which will now be a largely virtual event in October?
How did The Duchess of Cornwall say she has been keeping fit during the lockdown?
06:10 AM
Chancellor to announce coronavirus recovery package
The Chancellor will announce a £2 billion scheme aimed at alleviating youth unemployment by subsidising work placements when he sets out his coronavirus recovery package.
A three-point plan to boost the ailing economy by helping job creation will include a plan to help pay for six-month placements for some under-25s facing long-term unemployment.
Rishi Sunak will set out the measures in his summer economic update in the House of Commons on Wednesday, and is expected to raise the threshold for the tax and temporarily exempt stamp duty for the first £500,000 of any property price to boost the economy, potentially saving buyers up to £15,000.
The move, which is part of a multi-billion pound package to revive the post-Covid economy and create thousands of jobs, will benefit seven out of ten house buyers in England and Northern Ireland. It will come into effect immediately. Mr Sunak will also use his mini-budget to unveil a £2bn scheme to get hundreds of thousands of 16 to 24-year-olds into work by directly paying their wages for six months.
05:50 AM
Today's front page
Here is your Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, July 8.
dt
05:40 AM
Traveller stuck in airport since March
It may sound like a Hollywood movie, but for Roman Trofimov, living in an airport for more than 100 days has been far from entertaining; in fact, he says it is like prison.
The Estonian traveller is pleading to be rescued from the departures area of Manila airport in the Philippines.
Mr Trofimov has been staying there since he arrived in the country on an AirAsia flight from Bangkok on March 20. He is stuck because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He had been travelling in south-east Asia and arrived in Manila, but had his passport taken before going through immigration.
AirAsia was unable to return him to Thailand.
Mr Trofimov was denied entry into the Philippines because entry visas were no longer being issued for arrivals.
"I've been stuck here for more than 100 days. I need help getting out," he said.
The desperate tourist said he asked his embassy for help but they were unable to organise a repatriation flight.
He has been sleeping in an airport departures hotel room and surviving on food and snacks donated by staff.
"I am a person with disability, my health is getting worse because of malnutrition, lack of sun and fresh air," he said.
05:04 AM
US expert criticises virus details from China
Deborah Birx in the East Room of the White House in Washington - Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg
The world could have had a stronger initial response to Covid-19 if China had been more forthcoming about key features of the virus, American coronavirus task force response coordinator Dr Deborah Birx said.
She said the US would have been more focused on identifying patients without symptoms if China had shared information about the frequency with which patients - particularly young people - were asymptomatic.
"We were looking for people with symptoms. We should have looked for anyone who would have been exposed," Dr Birx said.
04:57 AM
Brazilian President says he will recover with hydroxychloroquine
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says he is confident that he will swiftly recover from coronavirus thanks to treatment with hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug that has not been proven effective against Covid-19.
He tested positive on Tuesday after months of downplaying its severity while deaths mounted rapidly in the country.
Mr Bolsonaro confirmed the test results while wearing a mask and speaking to reporters.
"I'm well, normal. I even want to take a walk around here, but I can't due to medical recommendations," he said.
The emergencies chief of the World Health Organisation says coronavirus is continuing to gain pace globally.
Noting the marked increase in the number of confirmed cases being reported in the past several weeks, he warned that a spike in deaths could soon follow.
"In April and May, we were dealing with 100,000 cases a day. Today we're dealing with 200,000 a day," Dr Michael Ryan said.
He dismissed the idea that the significant jump in cases was due to more widespread testing: "This epidemic is accelerating."
04:39 AM
Lockdown extended as West Bank cases increase
A Palestinian man buys from a street vendor in the city of Nablus - JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP
The Palestinian Authority has extended a lockdown in the West Bank for another five days in hopes of slowing a new outbreak of coronavirus.
The stay-home order allows people to go out only for food or medicine and prohibits most inter-city travel in Palestinian areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The lockdown was imposed on Friday and had been set to be lifted on Wednesday.
After the authority largely contained a first wave of cases, infections skyrocketed in recent weeks, with more than 4,600 cases in the West Bank.
Neighbouring Israel is also experiencing a new outbreak, reporting record levels of new cases in recent days.
A bride walks on the beach as she is photographed before her wedding in Ashdod, Israel - REUTERS/Amir Cohen
04:28 AM
Coronavirus news from around the world
San Francisco has delayed reopening indoor restaurants and outdoor bars because of continued infections.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador tested negative, a step he needed to take before travelling to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
A member of the Trump administration's White House task force on Covid-19 says experts have been surprised by the impact the virus has had on high-income and upper-middle-income countries.
Latin America and the Caribbean now account for 50 per cent of cases in the Americas, and the number of registered cases continues to accelerate.
India's death toll has surpassed 20,000 and case numbers have surged as the South Asian nation pushes ahead with relaxations to its almost two-month lockdown.
Iran has recorded its highest number of deaths from Covid within a 24-hour period.
04:21 AM
Positive case in New Zealand escapes hotel quarantine to visit supermarket
New Zealand authorities will press charges against a coronavirus patient who escaped quarantine in Auckland and went shopping at a supermarket.
Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the head of managed isolation and quarantine, said the 32-year-old man escaped through a fence at the Stamford Plaza hotel and was gone for just over an hour before returning.
The man later tested positive for the virus.
Air Commodore Webb said the man was a New Zealand citizen who had recently returned from India and his actions were "completely unacceptable".
New Zealand has eliminated community transmission of the virus and is trying to contain cases at the border by placing new arrivals into a 14-day quarantine at hotels.
Air Commodore Webb said CCTV footage indicated the man had not been in close contact with others at the Countdown supermarket and had used a self-service checkout. Nevertheless, the supermarket has been closed for a deep clean.
04:13 AM
More Americans want to be tested as virus spreads
Houston residents Teresa Torres, Ilse Gonzalez and Vanessa Agudelo took time out for a selfie after making care packages for the local homeless community. The coronavirus outbreak in the US worsened on Tuesday with more states reporting record rises in new cases - REUTERS/Adrees Latif
Authorities in the United States have reported alarming upswings of daily caseloads in two dozen states over the past two weeks - a sign that efforts to control transmission of coronavirus have failed in large swaths of the country.
California, Hawaii, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas on Tuesday shattered their previous daily record highs for new cases.
The biggest jumps occurred in Texas and California, the two largest states, with more than 10,000 each.
About 24 states have reported disturbingly high infection rates as a percentage of diagnostic tests conducted over the past week. In Texas alone, the number of hospitalised patients more than doubled in just two weeks.
The trend has driven many more Americans to seek out Covid-19 screenings. In Houston, a line of more than 200 cars snaked around a medical centre as people waited hours in sweltering heat to be tested.
Residents line-up in their vehicles to be tested in Houston, Texas - REUTERS/Adrees Latif
03:11 AM
Naked sunbathers ignore social distancing in Italy
Six Italians who were sunbathing completely naked on the shores of Italy's Lake Como have been fined € 3,333 (£3,000) each for acting “against public decency”.
The nudists were spotted on Sunday by the carabinieri police patrolling the shores of the popular lake by boat to ensure that beach-goers complied with social-distancing rules.
According to local media, the six men – aged between 43 and 68 – were sunbathing on the small beaches of Abbadia Lariana, which was crowded with both local and international tourists.
Experts warn of potential wave of Covid-linked brain damage
Scientists have warned of a potential wave of coronavirus-related brain damage as new evidence suggests Covid-19 can lead to severe neurological complications, including inflammation, psychosis and delirium.
A study by researchers at University College London (UCL) described 43 cases of patients with Covid who suffered either temporary brain dysfunction, strokes, nerve damage or other serious brain effects.
The research adds to recent studies that also found the disease can damage the brain.
Neuroscientists and specialist brain doctors say emerging evidence of Covid's impact on the brain is concerning.
"My worry is that we have millions of people with Covid-19 now. And if in a year's time we have 10 million recovered people, and those people have cognitive deficits ... then that's going to affect their ability to work and their ability to go about activities of daily living," Adrian Owen, a neuroscientist at Western University in Canada, said.
Renewed lockdown measures in Victoria's capital city of Melbourne will kick in from midnight for at least six weeks - confining about five million people to their homes except for essential business.
The state also closed its busy border with New South Wales at midnight on Tuesday, cutting off movement between the country's two most populous and economically significant states.
Mr Frydenberg said the estimate was based on Victoria accounting for around a quarter of the national economy.
Australia's overall total of almost 8,800 Covid-19 cases and 106 deaths remains far below many other countries.
The Morrison Government is continuing to provide support to Victorian families & businesses with an unprecedented amount of fiscal support during this difficult time.
We will continue to do more & ensure support gets to the people who need it most. pic.twitter.com/ySz9EChLuT
Britons headed for Costa Brava may have to wear masks on beach
British holiday-makers heading for the Costa Brava will be expected to wear masks on the beach as Catalonia prepares to tighten its rules after it was hit with a surge in coronavirus.
The Catalan Health Minister is proposing the move.
Face masks are currently obligatory in Spain only on public transport and in closed public spaces, and outdoors where social distancing cannot be guaranteed.
But the proposal would require people in Catalonia, one of two areas back in mini-lockdown, to wear them virtually everywhere outside their home - including on the beach.
US reaches grim milestone of three million Covid-19 cases
A woman in Richmond, Virginia, wears an improvised mask against Covid-19 as she watches workers remove a statue of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart from Monument Avenue - JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The US coronavirus outbreak crossed a grim new milestone of more than three million confirmed cases on Tuesday as more states reported record numbers of new infections, and Florida faced an impending shortage of intensive-care unit hospital beds.
Authorities have reported alarming upswings of daily caseloads in about two dozen states over the past two weeks - a sign that efforts to control transmission of coronavirus have failed in large swaths of the country.
The President of the United States on Tuesday formally started the nation's withdrawal from the World Health Organisation - but the decision could be overturned before it takes effect if he is defeated by Joe Biden in the November election.
Donald Trump made good on threats to deprive the UN body of its top funding source over its response to coronavirus.
Mr Biden vowed he would immediately end the pullout if he won the top job in the White House.
Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage. https://t.co/8uazVIgPZB
"Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage," Mr Biden wrote on Twitter.
Urgent cancer referrals were "inappropriately" rejected by hospitals during the coronavirus lockdown without tests being carried out, GPs have said.
Cancer Research UK said the findings from a survey of more than 1,000 GPs were alarming, warning that patients whose lives may be at risk were being left in limbo.
Family doctors were surveyed in June and asked what had happened to patients they had referred to hospitals for tests in the month to that point because cancer was suspected. A quarter of GPs said urgent referrals had been inappropriately turned down by hospitals more often than had been the case before the pandemic.
Demonstrators gather in front of the Serbian parliament building during a protest against a lockdown in Belgrade - REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Serbian police fired tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters who flooded into Belgrade on Tuesday night, angry at the return of a weekend coronavirus curfew.
The crowds protested in the city centre over the government's handling of the crisis, with infections now spiking after Serbia shed its initial lockdown measures two months ago.
President Aleksandar Vucic announced the return of a round-the-clock weekend curfew earlier in the evening after the Balkan state recorded its deadliest day yet, with 13 fatalities.
In the past two weeks, daily infections have shot up and now regularly top 300.
"Nobody can endure these numbers. We don't want to kill our doctors," said the president.
11:43 PM
Stamp duty holiday to kickstart economy
Home buyers will today be offered an emergency stamp duty holiday as the centrepiece of the government's coronavirus recovery plan to be unveiled by Rishi Sunak.
The Chancellor is expected to raise the threshold for the tax and temporarily exempt the first £500,000 of any property price to boost the economy and save buyers up to £15,000
The move, which is part of a multibillion-pound package to revive the post-Covid economy and create thousands of jobs, will benefit seven out of 10 house buyers in England and Northern Ireland.
Dozens of care homes have been urgently investigated over "serious concerns" that staff and residents were left dangerously exposed to coronavirus, The Telegraph can disclose
Home buyers will today be offered an emergency stamp duty holiday as the centrepiece of the government's coronavirus recovery plan to be unveiled by Rishi Sunak
Samantha Davis, the wife of Star Wars and Harry Potter actor Warwick Davis and herself an actress, has died aged 53. Samantha co-founded the dwarfism charity Little People UK and featured in the final Harry Potter film, alongside Warwick. Warwick announced the news in a statement to the BBC, revealing she had died on 24 March.
The Prince of Wales has made his first public appearance since his wife, the Princess of Wales, announced she was battling cancer last month, and made a sweet promise to a Royal fan
While Western eyes are fixed on Tehran and Tel Aviv, Ukraine’s frontlines are showing clear signs of crumbling. There is a very real possibility they could crumble this summer if we do not throw the kitchen sink at Russia. Even if we do, it may already be too late for the weapons and munitions long promised by the West to save the day.
King Charles is said to have extended an olive branch to his youngest son and his wife by 'hinting' they should visit Balmoral this summer - but it could put the couple in a 'difficult position'.
Meghan Markle was on hand to congratulate her husband Prince Harry and his Royal Salute Sentebale team after they won the Royal Salute Polo Cup in Wellington, Florida
BBC Breakfast star Carol Kirkwood has been missing from the show this week. The weather presenter's absence comes after she shared an update on her health last week…
Springtime On The Farm returned to Channel 5 with Helen Skelton and Jules Hudson but fans had the same complaint for the show and the former Blue Peter presenter
The rest of Europe, Remainers like to tell us, is forging ahead into a glorious green future while Brexit Britain is stalling, the government backsliding one by one on its net zero commitments.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's daughter Lady Louise Windsor has to follow a very antiquated rule with regards to her younger brother James, Earl of Wessex
Meghan Markle is said to be missing "some aspects" of life in the UK and is worried that her children may grow up to "blame her" if they are "deprived" of the chance to be working royals in the UK.
This Morning guest Catherine was left stunned as she learnt the real value of her £10 charity shop bargain during the latest episode of the ITV chat show.
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