France seeing 'exponential' rise in cases as Macron hints at second lockdown
Georgina Hayes
·44-min read
France is seeing an 'exponential' rise in cases - Shutterstock
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04:39 PM
Today's top stories
Here are the key developments from around the world today:
The UK recorded 1,108 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 over the past day, the Government said, down slightly from the figure recorded on Friday. There were 12 deaths.
A winter surge of coronavirus would kill 81,000 people in a reasonable worst case scenario, leaked Sage papers reveal, as Matt Hancock warned that restrictions may not be eased over Christmas to avoid an "uptick" in the number of Covid-19 cases.
South Korea has recorded its 16th consecutive day of triple digit rises in new coronavirus cases, exacerbating fears about a shortage of hospital beds in the capital of Seoul.
Demonstrators descend on Trafalgar Square to protest coronavirus restrictions
Thousands of people from across the UK took to London today to protest against ongoing coronavirus restrictions.
Called the "United for Freedom" march, the event began in Trafalgar Square at 12pm, with demonstrators calling for "no more lockdowns" and "no to vaccinations".
Many people held signs and placards, with some reading "World Hoax Organization" while others called for an "end to medical tyranny".
Jeremy Corbyn's brother, Piers, was due to make an appearance at the event as well as conspiracy theorist David Icke.
The scene today in Trafalgar Square - Anadolu Agency A protester holds a placard reading "No to mandatory vaccines" - Anadolu Agency One sign reads "Save our children" while another says "I will not be masked, tested, tracked or poisoned, this will not be my new normal" - Anadolu Agency
04:19 PM
Covid-19 tests: All your questions answered
Various coronavirus tests are available in the UK - what are your options for booking one, and how reliable are they?
From how to book a test to how long the results take, our reports have all the answers to your questions here.
04:07 PM
France reports 5,453 new cases
France has reported 5,453 new confirmed coronavirus cases today, down from 7,379 seen on Friday.
The health ministry said the cumulative number of Covid-19 deaths rose to 30,602 from 30,596 reported on Friday.
The number of people in hospital with the disease was at 4,530 versus 4,535 the day before and the number in intensive care rose to 400 from 387.
03:57 PM
Children can carry coronavirus in their noses for weeks, study finds
Children can carry coronavirus in their noses for up to three weeks, according to a South Korean study.
As children prepare to return to school this latest study could shed some light on how likely children are to spread the virus to others.
Previous studies have found the vast majority of children with the virus have mild or no symptoms.
This study, based on 91 children at hospitals and isolation facilities across South Korea between February and March, found that even among those with few or no symptoms, the virus could be found in their swabs as much as three weeks later. All of the children recovered from the virus.
The UK recorded 1,108 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 over the past day, the Government said, down slightly from the figure recorded on Friday.
A further 12 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for the disease, it added.
Britain has been increasing the number of tests it is conducting, particularly in areas with local outbreaks.
03:22 PM
Hospital bed sheets artwork unveiled as tribute to coronavirus victims
An artist has unveiled an NHS-inspired installation made from hospital bed sheets as a memorial to those who have died in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Luke Jerram created the flag installation from 120 sheets.
In Memoriam "commemorates all the people we have lost and is also a tribute to all the NHS and key workers", the artist said.
"I'm hoping the artwork will help some people with the grieving process," he added.
"There's been a lot of grief. The country is in a grieving process. I'm hoping this artwork may be of use to people to contemplate the pandemic but also to help with the bereavement."
Jerram said he bought the bed sheets - which resemble a medical cross logo from the air - and "stitched" them up.
In Memoriam on display at outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Woolwich Common in London before it moves to Norwich, Newbury and Bournemouth.
Nurse Angela Helleur, right, is guided through Luke Jerram's In Memoriam art installation that was erected outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Woolwich Common in London - AP
03:19 PM
No further deaths in Wales
There have been no further deaths with coronavirus in Wales, according to the latest figures from Public Health Wales (PHW).
The total number of people who have died with Covid-19 is 1,595.
There have been 40 new cases of the virus reported by PHW, meaning 17,917 people have now tested positive.
02:51 PM
Cases in Northern Ireland up by 89
Cases continue to rise in Northern Ireland as 89 more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 24 hours.
The health department's daily dashboard shows that 444 people have been diagnosed in the last seven days. In total, 7,138 people in Northern Ireland have tested positive.
Seventeen people remain in hospital with Covid-19, with two patients in an intensive care unit.
There have been no further deaths reported and this total remains at 560.
There are currently fifteen active outbreaks of the virus in care homes, the BBC reports, while 180 outbreaks have been closed.
Eighteen intensive care beds remain free, while 82 per cent of hospital beds are occupied.
02:46 PM
Myanmar reports 77 new cases in its biggest daily rise
Myanmar reported 77 new coronavirus infections on today, the Southeast Asian nation’s biggest daily rise, amid a recent resurgence of the virus after weeks without confirmed domestic transmission.
Last Wednesday, Myanmar also reported 70 new cases.
The Health Ministry did not immediately say where the 77 new cases were found. Most recent infections have been in Sittwe, the capital of conflict-torn Rakhine state, where authorities have imposed a lockdown and curfew.
Myanmar’s outbreak has been relatively small compared with other countries in the region since it found its first case in March, with only six deaths and 733 infections reported so far.
02:19 PM
New guidance for schools should have come 'months ago', says union head
Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said the new Government guidance should have been received "months ago".
She said: "It is simply unacceptable that this guidance was altered immediately on what is a key issue for schools - what to do when pupils are found to have Covid. As it stands currently there is still no clarity on what should happen in a school where there is an outbreak.
"This does not build confidence in Government's competence to keep schools safe when it scores such an own goal.
"The NEU wrote to the PM on June 10 proposing an education recovery plan which anticipated much of what is in this guidance. The key difference, however, is that our plan required Government investment. Yesterday's Government plan leaves schools to go it alone if they have to organise remote learning.
"This is simply not good enough. Remote learning requires significant extra resources, both in IT provision for students without laptops and internet access, and more teachers - as those working in schools cannot manage a full teaching timetable and plan for remote learning at the same time.
"In the end, this advice is better than none at all. But only just."
How to make sure children are mentally prepared for the big return to school
When school starts next week, some pupils won’t have seen a classroom for nearly six months. However, the doughty 11-year-olds of Highgate Primary School in Haringey had a preview of Covid-era school life when they briefly returned in the summer term. After entering the playground through a different gate, they queued at a new handwashing station.
“We got the children to hold out their hands and supervised the hand wash for them,” recalls Rebecca Lewis, deputy head and Senco (special educational needs coordinator). “On that first morning, at least half had trembling hands.” But by the following day, she says, pupils’ anxiety had vanished – testament to the support of staff and parents.
From extra hygiene measures to year-group bubbles and socially-distant playtimes, the school year ahead is going to feel significantly, uncomfortably different, and many children may find it hard to adjust.
Are you ready for a school term like no other? Experts and parents explain how to get back in the learning mindset, and keep anxiety at bay.
Coronavirus skeptics and right-wing extremists march in protest against coronavirus-related restrictions in Berlin - Getty Images Europe A classroom is disinfected before students taking a final-term school exam at a public school in Sanaa, Yemen - AP People take part in mourning rituals to commemorate Ashura during the Islamic month of Muharramon in Istanbul - Getty Images Europe Students wearing face masks take part in a drill at Xinjian Road Primary School. The school carried out an epidemic prevention and control drill on Friday in preparation for its reopening - China News Service
01:42 PM
Exclusive: Commuters will be enticed back on to trains with three-day season tickets
Commuters will be offered three-day season tickets under plans being studied by ministers to get Britain back to the office.
Rail firms believe the part-time tickets are the only way to entice home workers back on to trains to give them the flexibility of going to their workplace for a few days a week.
An announcement on new types of ticketing could be made as soon as next month if, as expected, the Government extends the current emergency funding for the railways.
Boris Johnson will launch a major new push next week to get people back to the office, and one of the major hurdles in his way is the financial burden of commuting.
'It's all very delicately balanced now', says Sturgeon
2. Scientists puzzled that rapid rise in cases in many parts of world not (yet) matched by rise in hospital/ICU admissions/deaths. Many theories but nothing definitive & it could just be timelag. & rise in ICU numbers here today from 3 to 5 another reminder not to be complacent.
⚠️ 5 things we all still need to do to stop COVID-19 spreading
🇫Face coverings in enclosed spaces 🇦Avoid crowded places 🇨Clean hands and surfaces regularly 🇹Two metre distancing 🇸Self isolate and book a test if you have symptoms: https://t.co/eSO1YM7pre
A further six people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,547, NHS England said today.
The patients were aged between 52 and 91 and only one 85-year-old patient did not have a known underlying condition.
The dates of the deaths ranges from June 23 to August 28, with the majority on or after August 27.
Another five deaths have been reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
01:12 PM
Scottish SPCA fears surge of pet abandonments
Fears are growing about a surge of animal abandonments in the coming months as hundreds of pet owners suddenly return to work and struggle to manage the animals they bought early in lockdown when they were always at home, the Scotsman reports.
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said that, although the number of abandonments is down year-on-year between May and June from 88 to 31 incidents, the easing of lockdown restrictions will mean empty houses for longer - with more adults back at work and children in school - which causes issues like separation anxiety with dogs.
Dogs Trust Scotland said the number of calls it has received from people volunteering to hand over their dogs has already risen from 42 cases in April to 121 in July, and that Google searches for "buy a puppy" have increased by 166 per cent since the start of lockdown on March 23.
01:00 PM
Police disband Berlin protests as demonstrators fail to adhere to virus rules
Berlin police have disbanded a mass protest in the German capital against coronavirus curbs a few hours after it had begun after marchers failed to heed their orders to keep their distance and wear masks.
The protest came as infections rise across Europe, with similar protests during the day in Paris and elsewhere.
"Unfortunately, we have no other option," Berlin police said on Twitter. "All the measures taken so far have not led to compliance with the conditions."
A police spokesman said the protesters were dispersing peacefully, though the police also reported on Twitter pockets of disturbance, such as a construction container fire and blocked roads.
Police, who deployed 3,000 officers to control crowds estimated at 18,000, had been preparing for possible violence as activists opposed to the virus measures urged social media followers across Europe to arm themselves and gather in Berlin.
Earlier this week the city banned the protest but a German regional court overnight gave the final go-ahead by overruling the earlier decision.
Police officers detain a demonstrator - Reuters Scenes from the protest - Anadolu Agency
12:46 PM
Sinovac's coronavirus vaccine candidate approved for emergency use in China
Sinovac Biotech Ltd's coronavirus vaccine candidate CoronaVac was approved for emergency use as part of a programme in China to vaccinate high-risk groups such as medical staff, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a unit of state-owned pharmaceutical giant China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), also said it had obtained emergency use approval for a coronavirus vaccine candidate in social media platform WeChat last Sunday.
CNBG, which has two vaccine candidates in phase 3 clinical trials, did not say which of its vaccines had been cleared for emergency use.
China has been giving experimental coronavirus vaccines to high-risk groups since July, and a health official told state media in an interview aired last week that authorities could consider modestly expanding the emergency use programme to try to prevent possible outbreaks during the autumn and winter.
State media Xinhua reported late on Friday that two vaccine candidates were approved in June for the emergency use program launched in July, without identifying the specific products.
Officially, China has given little details on which vaccine candidates have been given to high-risk people under the emergency use programme and how many people have been vaccinated.
12:33 PM
Coronavirus developments around the world
Good afternoon. If you're just joining us, here are some of the key developments from across the world today:
Berlin police are calling for the dispersal of a mass demonstration against pandemic restrictions and mask wearing because participants are not respecting social distancing measures. Thousands of coronavirus sceptics have descended on Berlin for the protest that has been allowed to go ahead after a bitter legal battle.
England could face "national action" and "very extensive local lockdowns" in the event of a winter wave, the Government says, with a "worst-case scenario" of 80,000 deaths. "Cases go up again, and we have to use very extensive local lockdowns or take further national action. We don't rule that out but we don't want to see it", Health Secretary Matt Hancock tells The Times newspaper.
The Canadian Government has announced it will extend a ban on most travellers entering Canada until the end of September. Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning from abroad will still be subject to strict quarantine measures - a restriction in force since mid-March.
Operations have resumed at the world's biggest gold mine in Indonesia after more than 1,000 workers had blocked access to the site in protest at being stopped from visiting their families over virus concerns. The miners reached an agreement with US-based operator Freeport, which says it will restart bus services for workers to return home. These services had been cancelled over fears about the spread of infections, leaving many workers unable to leave the site for six months.
12:16 PM
Philippines records 3,637 new cases
The Philippines has recorded 3,637 new coronavirus infections and 94 more deaths today, the health ministry said in a bulletin.
This takes the country’s total number of cases to 213,131 and raises its death toll to 3,419.
The nation has the highest number of virus infections in Southeast Asia, with a death toll second only to neighbouring Indonesia.
12:12 PM
South Korea records 16th day of triple digit case rises amid hospital bed shortage
South Korea has recorded its 16th consecutive day of triple digit rises in new coronavirus cases, exacerbating fears about a shortage of hospital beds in the capital of Seoul.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) recorded 308 new cases as of midnight on Friday, the majority of them in the capital and surrounding areas. Despite attempts to scale up social distancing regulations, outbreaks have continued to appear in churches, offices, nursing homes and medical facilities, putting strain on hospital resources.
As of Friday, the health ministry said that 4.5 per cent of beds in greater Seoul were available for critical cases as of Friday, down from 22 per cent a week earlier.
“Only about 15 beds are immediately available in the greater Seoul area for patients in critical condition as there were numerous patients who were in a serious condition and needed to be hospitalised,” Yoon Tae-ho, director general for public health policy at the health ministry, said at a news briefing Saturday.
“But we should have a little more room shortly because more people are being released.”
11:50 AM
Teachers' union calls for more funding for staff in event of lockdown measures
Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT - the Teachers' Union, called on the Government to provide more funding so extra staff can be recruited if schools are affected by local lockdown measures.
He said: "We have been saying for some time that schools need clarity on these important issues and that it is the responsibility of the Government to provide that clarity.
"There must be a recognition that whilst children will be affected by local restrictions, so too will teachers and other staff in schools.
"The availability of staff where there is a local lockdown or outbreak may mean that schools have to limit provision if they cannot be staffed safely
"The Government now needs to confirm that schools will have the additional resources they need to deliver an effective remote learning offer to all pupils as well as funding for additional staff that will be necessary to maintain continuity of provision in the event of local disruption."
11:40 AM
Portugal 'likely' to lose its travel corridor this week
Britons in Portugal, or those with a holiday booked, could be in for disappointment as Covid-19 cases in the country rise once again.
Figures published yesterday show the number of cases per 100,000 over seven days – the metric used by the Government to determine which country is on the UK’s travel corridors list – is now at 18.1.
Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, told the Telegraph: "Portugal is likely to go back on the UK’s quarantine list this week and the country itself is now preparing a 'State of Contingency' from September 15.
"It has been unable to manage its caseload over the last two weeks as more tourists have entered Portugal, especially Lisbon and Porto."
Follow all the latest on our travel live blog here.
11:22 AM
Covid unlikely to stop Tour de France, says French minister
The chances of the Tour de France not being completed because of the Covid-19 crisis are very slim, French sports minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said today.
"On every subject, whether it's the Tour or anything else we have to be able to adapt, to be able to make decisions depending on the situation," Blanquer told reporters ahead of the first stage.
"That type of thing could happen but of course I hope that it won’t and I think that it won’t because the Tour organisers have done an extraordinary job. The chances (of the Tour not reaching Paris) are very slim."
The number of daily cases in France has been rising steadily in recent weeks, casting a menacing shadow over the three-week event which is starting nine weeks later than originally scheduled.
French health authorities have today introduced stricter regulations for exclusions from the Tour in the event of coronavirus cases.
They ruled that a team should be withdrawn if two or more of its members - including riders and support staff - tested positive within seven days, race organisers said.
Until now, this year's race had been operating under International Cycling Union (UCI) guidelines which said teams should be excluded if two or more riders were to test positive over the same period.
Teaching unions criticise Government over 'last minute' guidance on schools reopening
Teaching unions have criticised the Government for introducing new guidance on the reopening of secondary schools just days before millions of pupils are due to return to classes.
The Department for Education (DfE) on Friday night published its guidance about how schools in areas with significant rises in Covid-19 cases could be put on a “rota system” to limit the number of people pupils come into contact with.
Meanwhile, teachers and students may need to wear face coverings in communal areas.
But, union leaders expressed their dismay that the guidelines were announced at the last minute, adding that many head teachers would struggle to implement the rules at such short notice.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said the timing of the guidance was “reprehensible”.
Berlin authorities warn of violence as thousands pour in from across Europe to protest mask rules
Thousands of coronavirus sceptics are set to descend on Berlin today for a mass protest against pandemic restrictions that was allowed to go ahead after a bitter legal battle.
Police said they will turn out in force and strictly monitor compliance with mask-wearing and social distancing, with Berlin police chief Barbara Slowik warning that if the demonstrators do not adhere to virus safety rules, police will clear the area "very quickly".
"We will not be able or willing to watch tens of thousands assemble and create infection risks," she added.
Berlin city authorities had previously decided not to allow the Saturday demonstration to go ahead, fearing that the estimated 22,000 protesters would not keep a distance of 1.5 metres (five feet) apart or comply with face mask requirements.
The ban sparked outrage from organisers and their supporters who flooded social media with angry messages vowing to protest anyway, with some even calling for violence.
Protesters attend a demonstration against coronavirus restrictions in Berlin, Germany - Shutterstock More from Berlin - Reuters
10:52 AM
Winter Covid surge would kill 81,000 people in reasonable worst case scenario, leaked Sage papers reveal
A winter surge of coronavirus would kill 81,000 people in a reasonable worst case scenario, leaked Sage papers reveal.
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, has warned that restrictions may not be eased over Christmas to avoid an "uptick" in the number of Covid-19 cases.
BBC's Newsnight reported a "reasonable worst-case planning assumption" presented to the Government warned there could be up to 81,000 excess deaths directly attributed to Covid-19 between July and next March.
The broadcaster said the scenario was laid out in a document signed off by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) for the Cabinet Office at the end of July.
Mr Hancock said countries in others parts of the world were already experiencing a second wave, adding it was "a very serious threat".
An Eat out to Help Out loophole meant diners could save up to £180 off meals, the Telegraph has discovered, as the Treasury admitted it is powerless to stop gaming of scheme.
People eating out under the scheme were able to cheat their way to bigger discounts by asking to pay for each course separately, and claim a discount of up to £10 per person for each.
This means that a table of six could have saved up to £180 if they each claimed the full discount for a three course meal.
GPs are 'shutting out' patients which could lead to illnesses going untreated
GP surgeries are “shutting out” patients despite a fall in deaths from coronavirus, raising fears that potentially serious illnesses are going undetected.
Clinicians and patient’s groups have warned that many people are still either too afraid to visit their doctor or have been told no face-to-face appointments are available as part of continued coronavirus social distancing measures.
Rachel Power, the chief executive of the Patient's Association, said: “The NHS must provide services that work well for patients, and that includes those who value face-to-face contact.
“Some patients are effectively shut out from GP services at the moment, which is worrying for them, and risks health issues going undetected and untreated.”
New schools guidance 'reprehensible', says union leader
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, branded the timing of the new guidance "reprehensible".
He said: "It was obvious weeks ago that lockdown advice was necessary. The Government's decision to publish this at 9pm on the Friday of the Bank Holiday weekend before most schools are due to return is nothing short of reprehensible and demonstrates a complete lack of regard for the wellbeing of school leaders and their teams.
"The decision confirms the Government simply does not understand the commitment and professionalism of school leaders who will feel compelled act immediately."
Azerbaijan has extended some coronavirus lockdown restrictions, including the closure of its borders, until September 30 after a further rise in the number of infections, the Government said today.
The country, which saw a daily increases in cases of between 130 and 180 in recent weeks, will reopen museums and exhibition halls from September 1, the Government said.
But shopping malls will remain closed and public transport will be limited, while the ban on travelling between the regions remains in place.
The measures to stem the virus were introduced on March 24 and have been extended several times.
The South Caucasus country of about 10 million people has registered 35,986 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 527 deaths.
09:50 AM
Last minute guidance for schools 'incredibly difficult' for teachers
Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Commons Education Select Committee, acknowledged that guidance being issued a few days before children return to classrooms is "incredibly difficult" for teachers.
"Well, I don't know why that decision was made, I'm not in Government. It's better that it's there," he told BBC Breakfast.
"I appreciate that it is incredibly difficult for teachers and support staff because it's just come out.
"Maybe the Government had a late last-minute science advice from the World Health Organisation, I don't know, but the important thing is that advice has been welcomed."
Asked about a paragraph being removed from the guidance shortly after it was issued, he added: "Clearly these things shouldn't happen and mistakes obviously have been made, and been rectified, but the important thing is that the guidance is right.
"And the Department for Education should be doing everything possible to help schools to work through the guidance and help children return to school."
09:40 AM
'Draconian action' could be needed if public don't stick to rules, says Tory MP
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood said "draconian action" could be needed if the public do not stick to social distancing rules, hinting the Government could take stronger action than local lockdowns.
He told Times Radio: "It's an enduring emergency and until a vaccine turns up there is a national resolve, there is a responsibility, a duty of every individual... also the Government needs to keep the nation safe and that's where Matt Hancock's work comes in and then Rishi Sunak needs to make sure the economy is working.
"If the nation, if individuals aren't following the rules then ultimately... we cannot break the chain of spread and therefore draconian action is required to take place.
"We'd prefer it to be local but absolutely, if that R-rating does go too high, this is a warning for every single listener: ensure that you do socially distance so we can actually contain it.
"This is an enduring emergency, I repeat. Until there's a vaccine this is the new normal that we've got to get used to."
09:19 AM
Namibia to lift lockdown restrictions as cases rise
Namibia will lift lockdown restrictions, allowing international travel, schools to reopen and onsite alcohol consumption from September, President Hage Geingob announced Friday, but he extended an overnight curfew as Covid-19 cases continue to rise.
The southern African country of two million now has 6,906 confirmed cases and the virus is not yet contained - of its 65 deaths, 55 were in August alone.
But as with other southern African nations, leaders are weighing the impact of the virus against the economic and social damage done by lockdowns.
“The virus is likely to remain in our midst for a prolonged time and we must learn to live with it ... learning to live with the virus means adapting our attitudes and behaviours so that we can reduce the damage it can do to our country,” Geingob said in a televised address.
He announced that an 8pm to 5am curfew in place in the capital Windhoek and the Erongo region – Covid-19 hotspots – will be introduced across the country.
But Hosea Kutako International Airport will open its doors to international travellers from Tuesday, while schools, vocational education training providers and universities will be allowed to hold onsite classes from September 7.
Restaurants and hotels outside worst-affected Windhoek and the Erongo region can start selling meals and alcohol to be consumed on the premises, the President announced.
09:16 AM
Labour: New schools guidelines 'long overdue' but 'unfair' to school leaders
On the news that schools will be told to operate on a rota if local lockdowns make it impossible to operate as normal, Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green said that while the guidelines were "long overdue", the timing of the release of information was "unfair" to head teachers and school leaders.
"School leaders have been asking all summer for information about what they should do in the event of local restrictions in their area," she told Sky News.
"And really unfair, I think, to heads, that (the guidelines) are sent out late on a Friday night, at the start of a bank holiday, days before the first day of the new school term.
"Heads are going to feel under a lot of pressure now over this weekend to start looking at these, thinking about how they will implement them in their schools, whether they will have to make any changes to arrangements they've already put in place.
"At a time when, really, it would be quite good to give them a weekend off. They've had a long summer of having to put preparations in place for children's return and I do think the Government's timing is really unfair to heads and school leaders."
08:48 AM
Government must listen to local leaders on lockdowns, says Manchester Mayor
More consultation with local authorities is needed regarding Government decisions on local coronavirus lockdown restrictions, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has said.
He told BBC Breakfast: "I think we will better negotiate what lies ahead of us in the autumn and winter if Government listens to local leaders - they know their communities.
"It wasn't just in Greater Manchester where they overruled us. In Bradford, basically communities were split there - some are still under restrictions, some not.
"You then have the situation where some people on one half of the street are under restrictions and others not.
"My main message to the Government is you must not impose these things from London when you are going to affect communities in this way, it must be by negotiation and agreement.
"And that needs to be a core principle that we agree on before we go any further into the rest of what will be a very difficult year."
Police chief: Being confused about the rules is becoming an excuse
Mr Rhodes also said that varying guidelines were "inevitably" confusing but that uncertainty was becoming an "excuse" for some rule-breakers.
"There's a world of difference between good people who are doing their best to enjoy themselves and they're a bit confused, and there are people that are clearly just ignoring the normal rules that the rest of us are trying to abide by," he said.
"Being confused is becoming a bit of an excuse for some people at the moment."
08:42 AM
Police chief urges people not to risk new freedoms this bank holiday weekend
Andy Rhodes, Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary, said a lot of good work was being done by "sensible" organisers to get around the disappointment of event cancellations, but urged people not to risk certain "freedoms" that were starting to return.
"Given it's the bank holiday weekend, what we're saying to people is be sensible, respect the work that some of the people have put into trying to arrange events sensibly, if they're online et cetera," he told BBC Breakfast.
"Try and get the best out of those, but do it within the law and do it safely, without risking creating a spike in infections in your local community, because we have seen across the North West just how damaging that can be to the economy, to vulnerable people.
"It takes away some of those freedoms that we're starting to get back, so our message is enjoy yourself but do it sensibly and don't go anywhere near anyone who's trying to organise events that are illegal."
08:34 AM
France reports 7,379 new cases in post-lockdown record
France has recorded its biggest daily rise in coronavirus infections since March, while President Emmanuel Macron has raised the possibility of another nationwide lockdown.
A further 7,379 cases were confirmed on Friday, bringing the country's total to 267,077 and making it the largest daily spike since March 31, when 7,578 cases were tallied at the peak of the first wave.
France was seeing an "exponential" rise in cases, the health ministry said, and the surge follows daily increases of 6,111 on Thursday and 5,429 on Wednesday.
But despite the rise, hospital numbers and daily deaths have been relatively stable as younger people less vulnerable to the virus make up most of the new cases, the ministry said.
Deaths rose by 20 on Friday, bringing France's overall death toll to 30,596.
Shortly before Friday's figures were released, Mr Macron said a second national lockdown could not be ruled out if infections spiralled out of control.
“We’re doing everything to avoid another lockdown, and in particular a nationwide lockdown," he said, but added that it couldn’t be ruled out.
"Containment is the crudest of measures to fight against a virus," said Mr Macron, urging people to be "collectively very rigorous".
08:14 AM
Russia's coronavirus death toll exceeds 17,000
A further 111 people have died with the coronavirus in Russia in the last 24 hours, raising the official death toll to 17,025.
Russia's coronavirus taskforce reported 4,941 new cases, bringing its nationwide tally to 985,346, the fourth largest caseload in the world.
08:03 AM
Peru extends coronavirus state of emergency
Peru on Friday extended its national emergency until September 30 and prolonged a lockdown in some of the areas worst affected by the coronavirus, the Government said.
The South American country has one of the worst death rates in the world from Covid-19 with 86 fatalities per 100,000 people.
"The national emergency that was planned until the end of August... is prolonged for the whole month of September," Prime Minister Walter Martos said.
This week Peru overtook Belgium to sit second only to the tiny European state of San Marino as the country with the highest death rate in the world.
Peru has recorded more than 620,000 cases and 28,000 deaths among its 33 million population.
Hong Kong mass virus test plan hampered by China distrust
Hong Kong's plan to offer free coronavirus tests to all residents has become swept up in the festering political debate dividing the city, where many remain deeply distrustful of both local leaders and China.
AFP reports that the involvement of doctors and companies from the mainland has compounded fears of Beijing's surveillance state, while many health experts in the city have questioned the efficacy of a mass testing programme.
"Public trust in Hong Kong's government has been hovering at all-time lows for many months," Dixon Sing, a political expert at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology told AFP.
China's involvement in the testing scheme, he added, "simply intensifies that distrust among the majority of the population".
07:50 AM
Pupils need their 'Nightingale moment', says Children's Commissioner
The same monumental effort which saw Nightingale field hospitals assembled in just weeks to deal with thousands of Covid-19 patients must now be directed towards assisting pupils with their return to schooling, the Children's Commissioner has said.
Before millions of English students return to class next week, Children's Commissioner for England Anne Longfield has called on the Government to substantially step up financial and mental health support in order to avoid "losing a generation for good".
In an interview with The Guardian, Ms Longfield said children had made a huge sacrifice due to the pandemic and their recovery from missed time in class, as well as the psychological impact of the experience, could take up to a year.
She told the paper: "The Government needs to be bold, and on the sort of scale that saw hospitals built in weeks, and workers paid in furlough, to make sure no child is left behind. If not they risk losing a generation for good. The stakes are simply that high.
"Kids have not had their Nightingale moment during the crisis, but if it comes at this stage, where there's a determination to do things differently for children and help the most disadvantaged fully in life, that would be a great Nightingale moment to have."
Ms Longfield added the Government should prioritise helping disadvantaged children in an upcoming spending review, while stressing that any further school closures should only happen as a last resort.
07:38 AM
Union leader lambastes last minute Government guidance on schools
A union leader has expressed a "weary, resigned sense of inevitability" at the timing of the latest Government guidelines on the reopening of schools.
Asked how teachers would feel about the situation, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think, probably, the most polite response... is a weary, resigned sense of inevitability that here we are again, right at the last minute with something that we have been accused of expressing treachery in asking for - where's the plan B in case of local lockdown - at last it has arrived."
06:53 AM
Restaurants extending their Eat Out to Help Out discount
When the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced his plan to boost footfall in restaurants, pubs and cafes, not many people predicted quite the level of success the Eat Out To Help Out scheme has achieved.
Giving customers 50 per cent off food and non-alcoholic drinks, up to £10, on Mondays to Wednesdays, encouraged diners back into hospitality spots, drawn in by the discount. With 35 million meals eaten in just the first two weeks, some restaurateurs have dubbed Monday-Wednesday the new weekend.
Yet August is coming to an end, and with it the government-funded discount. With the weather worsening, diners may start to think twice before heading out for dinner, especially if it will cost £10 more. Restaurants around the country, including many in the capital listed here, however, have decided that the benefits of a £10 discount, even if they foot it themselves, far outweigh the pitfalls.
About one-third of students returned to school in the Chinese capital on Saturday in a staggered start to the new school year because of the coronavirus.
The first batch of 590,000 students in Beijing included all three years of high school, the first and third years of middle school and the first grade of primary school. Another 400,000 students are to start school on Tuesday, and the final 520,000 on Sept. 7.
Both students and teachers are required to wear masks.
China reported nine new coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing its official total to 85,022. All the new cases were overseas arrivals. The country's death toll remained at 4,634.
India has recorded 76,472 new cases in the past 24 hours, raising its tally to over 3.4 million. A country of 1.4 billion people, India now has the fastest-growing caseload in the world.
The Health Ministry on Saturday also reported 1,021 deaths for a total of 62,550. India is reporting around 1,000 deaths every day.
There has been a spurt of new cases over the last few weeks. One of the reasons is testing: India now conducts more than 900,000 tests every day, compared with just 200,000 two months ago.
Even as western Maharashtra and the three southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka remain the worst-hit regions with nearly 64 per cent of fatalities and 55 per cent of active cases, the virus is spreading fast in the country's vast hinterlands.
05:56 AM
In pictures: Mexican wrestlers champion face masks
Mexican wrestler Gran Felipe Jr. pretends to chase a woman not wearing a face mask as he campaigns to promote their use - Getty A man puts a face mask on given by Mexican wrestlers at a market in Xochimilco, Mexico City - AFP Mexican wrestlers Gran Felipe Jr. and his brother Ciclonico pretend to punish a man not wearing a face mask - AFP
04:50 AM
Malaysia extends ban on foreign tourists until end of year
Malaysia has extended its pandemic movement restrictions including a ban on foreign tourists until the end of the year.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in a televised address late on Friday that global cases have been rising and the country has seen sporadic virus clusters even though the situation was under control.
Malaysia has recorded more than 9,000 cases with 125 deaths.
Mr Muhyiddin said the extension of restrictions will not disrupt daily activities as most businesses and schools have resumed. Only nightclubs and entertainment centers remain shut and international sporting events prohibited. Borders will stay closed and those entering the country will be quarantined.
An honor guard wearing participates in National Day rehearsals in Putrajaya, Malaysia - AP
04:22 AM
Mass demonstration in Berlin allowed to go ahead
A German regional court gave the go-ahead on Saturday for mass demonstrations planned in Berlin against coronavirus curbs, ruling against the capital's ban on such protests.
Police have readied for violence as activists opposed to the virus measures have urged social media followers across Europe to arm themselves and gather in Berlin.
Activists, angered by Berlin's decision to ban demonstrations after marchers at a recent rally failed to wear masks or keep their distance, flooded the city with thousands of applications for additional protest rallies this weekend.
"The gatherings planned by several initiatives for Aug. 29 against the corona policy of the federal and state governments can take place," the court ruled.
A man holds a sign that reads: "The lies regime must step down" at a gathering of coronavirus skeptics in front of the Brandenburg Gate on the eve of a planned protest march - Getty
03:17 AM
Cases in Australian state at 8-week low
Australia's Victoria state on Saturday reported its lowest rise in cases in almost two months, but authorities warned there would be no rush to lift social distancing restrictions.
The Victorian state capital of Melbourne is four weeks into a six-week hard lockdown that was spurred by a second wave of infections.
State officials on Saturday reported 94 new infections and 18 deaths. It was the first time new daily case numbers have fallen below 100 in eight weeks, and continues a steady trajectory downward this week.
"Every day we see the strategy working is a good day but we just need a bit more time to be able to be confident that we are, in fact, defeating this and that we can open up, gradually, steadily, safely," Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said.
02:51 AM
Cases rocket in South Korea
South Korea has reported 323 new cases of the coronavirus, marking its 16th consecutive day of triple-digit daily jumps, as health officials prepare to tighten social distancing restrictions in the greater capital area.
The numbers released by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday brought the national caseload to 19,400. Fatalities reached 321 after the country added five more deaths overnights.
The KCDC said 249 of the new cases came from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where about half of the country's 51 million people live, where health workers have struggled to track infections linked to various places, including churches, restaurants, schools and apartment buildings.
The country has added 4,630 cases over the 16 days, raising fears about possible shortages in hospital capacities.
A health worker disinfects an alley in Seoul - GETTY IMAGES
12:56 AM
Peru extends state of emergency
Peru on Friday extended its national emergency until September 30 and prolonged a lockdown in some of the areas worst affected by the coronavirus, the government said.
The South American country has one of the worst death rates in the world with 86 fatalities per 100,000 people.
"The national emergency that was planned until the end of August... is prolonged for the whole month of September," Prime Minister Walter Martos said.
This week Peru overtook Belgium to sit second only to the tiny European state of San Marino as the country with the highest death rate in the world.
Peru has one of the worst death rates in the world - GETTY IMAGES
12:14 AM
Hancock warns of extensive lockdowns if there is a second wave
Nationwide restrictions cannot be ruled out should England see a spike in coronavirus cases this winter, the Health Secretary has warned.
Matt Hancock also hinted that restrictions may not be eased over Christmas to avoid an "uptick" in the number of Covid-19 cases.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Hancock said countries in others parts of the world were already experiencing a second wave, adding it was "a very serious threat".
But he said the UK was managing to keep the number of new cases "flat" through the test and trace system and local lockdowns.
Lockdowns could be necessary if cases increase, the Health Secretary said - PA
TikTok celebrities Bryce Hall and Blake Gray are facing criminal charges after they hosted recent parties in the Hollywood Hills despite the city's ban on large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, authorities said Friday.
The Los Angeles city attorney's office filed misdemeanour charges Thursday against Hall and Gray.
The internet celebrities with millions of followers on TikTok share a home and allegedly held two parties less than a week apart.
Bryce Hall and Blake Gray are internet sensations - GC IMAGES
11:20 PM
Today's top stories
Bank Holiday Monday is at risk of being the coldest on record, and authorities fear the recent explosion in illegal raves could see thousands of revellers still attend underground parties, fuelling the spread of Covid-19
Covid tests that provide results in as little as 20 seconds are being trialled by Heathrow under plans to replace quarantine with mass-screening of its 78 million travellers a year, The Telegraph can reveal
Schools will be told to operate on a rota if local lockdowns make it impossible to operate as normal, the Education Secretary has announced
David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst will forever be remembered for their roles as Del Boy and Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, but the pair's relationship off-screen has been far from perfect.
Maxine Longmuir, 69, was thrilled when she won a £2,500 holiday to Portugal on the ITV quiz show, but claims she was left devastated when she was told she was unable to rebook it
The Queen might have dined on some of the finest food in the world - but she was still partial to the occasional takeaway, and would send a footman to collect it
A driver who had been parking in a neighbour's space for three years was left fuming after his car was towed away - and the whole thing was caught on camera.
Prince Harry was left upset by his father's decision to evict him and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage as they were under the impression that the property would always be available to them, according to a royal expert.
Prince Louis is celebrating his sixth birthday today, but fans of the Royal Family have been left disappointed as Kensington Palace has broken a tradition.
Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden isn't afraid to show off her enviable figure, and she recently did just that in an array of skimpy bikinis aboard a yacht
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