Second wave death toll likely to exceed 'reasonable worst-case' scenario, Sage warns

• How to find happiness in a winter of lockdowns – according to a cult Yale course

• Long Covid sufferers 'face psychiatric problems, pain and fatigue'

• Fears of a ‘twindemic’ grow as woman tests positive for both flu and Covid-19

• Man sets up business so he can employ family and avoid 'rule of six'

• Best material for a home-made coronavirus face mask

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06:55 PM

Today's headlines

That's all for today. Before I sign off here is everything you need to know in coronavirus news from around the world:

• The UK has reported 274 more deaths and 24,405 new cases.

• According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics new Covid-19 cases in England increased by around 51,900 each day last week. Echoing stark predictions made by Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance back in September.

• Pressure is mounting in England to impose a national “circuit breaker” lockdown in response to rising coronavirus infections. The effectiveness of the three-tier system of restrictions has been called into doubt, with experts suggesting a more nationwide approach is needed to address the soaring infection rates.

• France's 65 million population are now largely confined to their homes, needing written statements to leave.

• The number of coronavirus infections in Spain rose by 25,595 on Friday, the highest daily increase since the start of the pandemic and the second consecutive record after Thursday’s 23,580, health ministry data showed.

• The US broke its single-day record for new coronavirus infections on Thursday, reporting more than one new case every second.

• Covid-19 infections are rocketing across the Western Balkans with hospitals close to being overwhelmed by incoming patients.

• Authorities in Moscow prepare for mass vaccinations against Covid as Russia's daily caseload passed 18,000, amid a shortage of doctors.

• The number of reported coronavirus cases has swept past 3 million in the Middle East, with the true number likely to be even higher.

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06:48 PM

Peru shuts cemeteries for 'Day of the Dead' even as pandemic slows

Peru's government, wary about the coronavirus pandemic despite a slowdown of new cases, has asked people to stay away from cemeteries for the important Day of the Dead celebration when millions usually pay respects to relatives who have died.

The government of President Marin Vizcarra has urged people not to go to cemeteries on Sunday to visit the deceased for the Dia de los Difuntos, as the holiday is called in Spanish.

In capital Lima, the two largest cemeteries will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, when they normally receive around 100,000 people for the holiday, said Daniel Cáceda, manager of the entity that oversees the locations.

The South American country is nearing 900,000 cases of Covid-19 and, with around 34,400 deaths, has one of the highest fatality rates per capita in the world. New cases have, however, slowed markedly from a peak of around 10,000 daily in August.

The country recorded 2,666 new cases and 47 deaths on Thursday. The pandemic is affecting Day of the Dead celebrations in other countries as well, including Mexico and Bolivia.

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06:46 PM

Britain to restrict export of flu vaccines to protect UK supplies

Britain said on Friday it will restrict the export of flu vaccines being used in the country this winter, adding that there are sufficient supplies as it undertakes a programme to administer the vaccine.

"This action will protect our supply of flu vaccinations, as part of our plans to give 30 million of the flu vaccine ahead of this unprecedented winter," health minister Matt Hancock said in a statement.

There has been an increase in global demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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06:46 PM

Belgium imposes 'more severe' lockdown rules

Belgium will impose tighter lockdown rules from Monday, closing non-essential businesses and restricting household visits.

"These are last-chance measures if we want to get the figures down," said Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, warning that the new rules would stay in place for at least a month and a half.

Belgium has the most Covid-19 cases per capita in the world and has as many hospital cases now as at the peak of the pandemic's first wave in April.

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06:43 PM

Spain records highest daily case number of pandemic yet

The number of coronavirus infections in Spain rose by 25,595 on Friday, the highest daily increase since the start of the pandemic and the second consecutive record after Thursday’s 23,580, health ministry data showed.

The death toll went up by 239, bringing the total number of fatalities to 35,878 in Spain, which approved a six-month state of emergency this week to try to curb the second wave of coronavirus contagion. That was below Tuesday’s figure of 267, which was the sharpest one-day rise of the second wave, and still a far cry from nearly 900 at the peak of the first wave in late March.

Like other European countries, Spain has resorted to increasingly drastic measures to curb infections, although less stringent than in Germany or France. The state of emergency grants regional authorities the power to limit freedom of movement through lockdowns and curfews.

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06:36 PM

Madrid food bank swamped by 'new wave of poverty'

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Conrado Gimenez's Madrid-based food bank helped around 400 people a month. Now it distributes 10 tonnes of supplies between 3,500 people every day.

Hit by one of Europe's worst coronavirus outbreaks, the Spanish economy has been pulverized. September data showed Spain was down 450,000 jobs compared to a year earlier, and around 3.8 million people are out of work.

"We're looking at a new wave of poverty," said Gimenez, whose Madrina foundation mostly helps women with young children. "We anticipate that if this continues for another three to six months there will be a social breakdown."

The leftist government has rolled out a much-vaunted basic income programme and is supporting nearly 730,000 people through a national furlough scheme, but many fall through the cracks.

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06:30 PM

Italy daily virus cases top 31,000 in new record

Italy reported a record number of new coronavirus cases Friday, with over 31,000 people testing positive in a 24-hour period.

The latest health ministry figures fuelled a national debate over whether Italy should further tighten measures to slow down the virus, despite bringing in new rules just days ago.

"Over 31,000 cases and 199 deaths. I ask you one question: what are you waiting for?" virologist Roberto Burioni said on Twitter as he pushed for tighter curbs.

The situation "is getting worse across the country," the chief of the Superior Health Institute Silvio Brusaferro told a news conference, flagging in particular "a rise in the number of people ending up in intensive care".

Italy, the first European country to be hit hard by the pandemic in March, reported 31,084 new cases Friday, raising the total to over 325,000.

Over 38,000 people have died from Covid-19 and the number of people currently in hospital with Covid-19 has risen to nearly 17,000, according to official figures.

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06:24 PM

Tests should play bigger role in international travel, says WHO

Covid tests should be more widely used in international travel than quarantines, the chair of the World Health Organization's Emergency Committee, Didier Houssin, said on Friday.

Top emergency expert Mike Ryan earlier said that travelling was now "relatively safe" with a "relatively low" risk.

He also said it was difficult to do scientific work on the origin of the virus, first identified in China last December, in a "politically toxic" environment.

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06:20 PM

London's R-value overtakes North West

London's R-number seems to have creeped higher than other areas of England currently living under strict coronavirus restrictions.

The R-value, or reproduction number, is used to track how many people, on average, will be infected for every one person who has the disease.

London, which is currently a Tier Two area, currently has a R-value of 1.1-1.3, according to the Government website.

While the reproductive number in other regions, such as the North West, where many cities and town already under Tier Three, is between 1.0-1.2.

North East and Yorkshire is currently on par with London. But from Monday much of West Yorkshire will be living under the toughest restrictions from Monday when the area moves into Tier three.

For further comparison, take look at the screenshot below:

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05:59 PM

Canada says stronger response needed to fight coronavirus

Canadians need to do more to tackle a second wave of the coronavirus by slashing the number of personal contacts they have with others, health authorities said on Friday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said more targeted measures could help avert another major national shutdown of the kind that hammered the economy earlier in the year.

Released modelling updates show the cumulative death toll in the country could range between 10,285 and 10,400 by Nov 8. Cumulative cases could be between 251,800 and 262,200 by the same date.

"(The) long-range forecast indicates that a stronger response is needed now to slow the spread of Covid-19," chief public health officer Theresa Tam told a briefing.

"If we decrease our current rate of contacts by 25per cent the epidemic is forecast to come under control in most locations," she said.

Canada has recorded 10,074 deaths and 228,542 cases so far and continues to break daily records for the number of new cases. Some of the 10 provinces are reintroducing bans on indoor dining and limiting the size of gatherings.

Trudeau, stressing "the situation is serious and this is not the time to relax", said authorities know more now about the pandemic than they did six months ago.

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05:51 PM

WHO experts talks to Chinese on pandemic

A group of World Health Organization (WHO) experts held a virtual meeting with Chinese counterparts on Friday to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

The United States has accused the WHO of being too close to China in the first phase of the pandemic, when critics say Beijing was slow in sharing crucial information on the virus.

The WHO has repeatedly dismissed these accusations.

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05:42 PM

UK cases 'not spiralling out of control', new research suggests

Covid-19 rates are not surging, researchers at King’s College have said, after results from its symptom tracker app showed a far less deadly trajectory than Imperial College.

Earlier in the week, Imperial released interim data from its React-1 study which showed there are now nearly 100,000 new coronavirus cases a day in England, and nearly one million people are currently infected.

The Imperial team said rates were doubling every nine days, and warned that it was a critical time to lower the R rate.

However, King’s College, which has been monitoring the symptoms and test results of millions of people through an app, said they were not seeing such alarming numbers.

Sarah Knapton has more on this story here.

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05:27 PM

Millions more people in northern England face stricter coronavirus rules next week

Shoppers walk past a NHS sign displaying the Local Covid Alert Level as 'high' in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, northern England, on October 30, 2020 as the area prepares to be placed in the strictest 'very high' tier of restrictions from November 2.

Millions more people in northern England face stricter coronavirus rules next week, the government said on Friday, as new statistics showed a sustained surge in cases across the nation.

From November 2, nearly 2.4 million residents in five districts of West Yorkshire, including in the city of Leeds, will be barred from socialising with other households indoors.

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05:15 PM

South Africa to 'cautiously' reopen borders as lockdown eases

South Africa will reopen its borders to most countries next month, the president said Wednesday, part of a wider easing of anti-coronavirus measures announced as figures continue to improve.

The continent's most industrialised economy shuttered its borders at the start of a strict nationwide lockdown on March 27 to limit the spread of the virus.

Restrictions on movement and business have been gradually eased since June, but borders stayed sealed to avoid importing the virus from abroad.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday said most remaining rules will be rolled back from September 20, and that international travel would "gradually and cautiously" resume on October 1st.

"We have withstood the coronavirus storm," Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation. "It is time to move to what will become our new normal for as long as the coronavirus is with us."

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04:46 PM

WHO: 'This is not just a virus that kills people'

The head of the World Health Organization has issued another warning for those who underestimate the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking at the a virtual press briefing, Dr Tedros addressed the growing body of evidence suggesting Covid-19 can have worrying long term effects - dubbed long Covid - on the body.

"Although we’re still learning about the virus, what’s clear is that this is not just a virus that kills people," he said. "To a significant number of people, this virus poses a range of serious long-term effects"

"While people do recover, it can be slow – sometimes weeks or months – and it is not always a linear route to recovery"

"Though exact numbers of people experiencing the long-term affects are not yet clearly defined, post Covid-9 symptoms and complications have been reported in both non-hospitalised and hospitalised patients"

"There have been cases in women and men, both young and old. And even in children," he said, adding that the WHO is funding research to establish best standards of care to accelerate recovery and prevent such complications

Related: Long Covid sufferers 'face psychiatric problems as well as pain and fatigue'

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04:35 PM

UK Covid cases jump by nearly 25,000 as deaths up by 274

The Government said a further 274 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Friday. This brings the UK total to 46,229.

Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 61,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

The Government said that, as of 9am on Friday, there had been a further 24,405 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 989,745.

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04:13 PM

Tiny San Marino irks Italy with relaxed restaurant lockdown rules

The tiny republic of San Marino has provoked the ire of its neighbour Italy by allowing bars and restaurants to stay open until late, unlike those across the border.

Italian owners of restaurants and bars say the sharp divergence of rules between the two countries represents “unfair competition”.

Struggling to contain a sharp increase in Covid-19 infections, the Italian government this week decreed that all cafes, bars and restaurants must close at 6pm.

That has left tens of thousands of businesses out of pocket because they cannot offer their customers supper.

Miniscule San Marino, in contrast, has issued no such decree and its trattorias and osterias are free to stay open until midnight.

Nick Squires has more on this story here.

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03:59 PM

On Day of Dead, Bolivians remember Covid-19 departed by baking bread in their likeness

As the Day of the Dead approaches in Bolivia, bakers are helping those remembering loved ones lost this year to the Covid-19 pandemic by creating loaves in the likeness of the departed.

The bakers knead the dough and shape it into breads in the form of people, adding plaster faces. Known as "T'anta wawa," Bolivians believe they ease the journey of the visiting dead.

All Saints' Day is marked on November 1 in many parts of Latin America, a time when families remember their deceased. With the region hit hard by the coronavirus, this year will be particularly poignant for many, and restrictions on social gatherings mean it will be harder for the usual festivities to take place.

In a market in La Paz, Lourdes Vasquez has set up an altar to remember a colleague who died. It has a large, coffin-shaped loaf that says "Covid-19 2020" on it, as well as offerings of fruit, drinks and snacks.

Bakers said some locals are also requesting bread in the likeness of health workers, to remember those who died fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Bolivia has reported over 8,700 deaths from Covid-19.

"To remember our family members we are making T'anta wawa," said baker Marcelo Montano. "They represent loved ones that we have lost and thanks to this (bread) we have them in our hearts ... we remember them forever."

Take a look at the pictures below:

Lourdes Vasquez arranges a coffin-shaped bread and other offerings at an altar set up in honour of the victims of the coronavirus disease at a market before Day of the Dead celebrations, in La Paz, Bolivia

Masks for making Tanta Wawas in honor of the victims of the coronavirus disease are displayed at a market

Bakers make Tanta Wawas in honor of the victims of the coronavirus disease before Day of the Dead celebrations, in La Paz

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03:50 PM

Covid-19 visits 'Sleepy Hollow' Halloween celebrations

Halloween decorations are seen on display during the Great Jack OLantern Blaze in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.

The display features over 7,000 hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins set against the mysterious backdrop of Van Cortlandt Manors 17th-century buildings and riverside landscape.

Croton-on-Hudson, a quaint village an hour north of New York that's thrived thanks to a tale written some 200 years ago, is holding its annual Halloween bash – with the election and the pandemic lending an extra dose of chills.

The October 31st holiday is an industry of its own in this picturesque corner of the Hudson River Valley. Tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world venture there seeking the spirit of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", an 1820 story by Washington Irving about a headless horseman who haunts a superstitious schoolteacher.

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03:42 PM

Polish PM says over 70s should stay at home for next two weeks

Polish people over 70 years old should stay at home for the next two weeks, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawecki said on Friday.

On Friday Poland reported a fourth consecutive daily record for new coronavirus cases, with 21,629 new infections.

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03:33 PM

Record number of rare turtles born as pandemic brings respite on Mexico beach

Record numbers of a species of endangered baby turtles have hatched on a beach in Mexico after the pandemic reduced human activity.

More than 2,250 olive ridley turtles were released into the Gulf of California by the indigenous Seri community, compared to the 500 released in a normal year.

The turtles’ beach nests are normally disturbed by fishing and tourist activity, which have been hampered by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read more on this heart warming story here.

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03:26 PM

Iceland tightens coronavirus measures

Iceland further tightened its restrictions to curb a spike in coronavirus infections on Friday, lowering its limit on public gatherings to 10 people from 20 and suspending sporting activities and stage performances.

The new restrictions will take effect on Saturday and remain in force until Nov. 17.

Iceland has an infection incidence of 213 per 100,000 on a two-week average, down from a spike in mid-October to 291.5. Only 12 people have died with the virus in Iceland.

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03:15 PM

A remembrance Sunday to remember

Soldiers unable to gather to mark Remembrance Sunday due to Covid-19 have been going on memorial walks from their base instead.

In normal times, around 300 troops go on parade in Colchester in Essex on Remembrance Sunday.

The event is not happening this year, but the Air Assault Regiment RLC base has mapped out a walk so soldiers can reflect on the meaning of Remembrance individually or in small socially-distanced groups while observing the government's Rule of Six.

The four-and-a-half-mile route takes soldiers from Merville Barracks and past key monuments in the town.

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03:05 PM

Tees Valley to enter tier three following talks, says MPs

Part of the North East of England was heading for the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions although the rise of new cases was levelling off in the region.

Hartlepool MP Mike Hill said the Tees Valley region, which also includes Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar, said talks about entering Tier 3 had been taking place with a minister on Friday.

The Labour MP tweeted: "Local leaders are thrashing out a package for the Tees Valley Region right now.

"MPs will be informed of the outcome later today but we are moving towards Tier 3."

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02:55 PM

How to find happiness in a winter of lockdowns – according to a cult Yale course

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the nation’s mental health. In August, almost half of the population reported feeling anxious or worried in the preceding two weeks, one in five felt lonely, and 15 per cent of us felt hopeless.

The Mental Health Foundation, a UK charity which has been studying the impact, reports that “almost everyone” has been affected. With the pandemic set to continue for months (if not – gulp – years), it’s time to ask: what can we do to help ourselves cope?

To answer that question, you could do worse than look across the pond, to a free course from Yale University that teaches people around the world to live a happier, more fulfilling life.

The Science of Wellbeing, which guides students through the psychology behind happiness and how to carve out contentment, has developed something of a cult following since it launched on campus in 2018. Within a few days of its release, a quarter of students at the Ivy League university had opted in, making it the most popular class in the institution's 319-year history.

Harriet Barber explains more.

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02:46 PM

Britons face mad dash home after Cyprus stripped of travel corridor

Hundreds of British holidaymakers in Cyprus, including families on a half-term holiday, now have until 4am on Sunday to return home or face a two-week quarantine.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the move on Twitter yesterday at 5pm, after the country’s seven-day infection rate crossed the threshold of 100 per 100,000 residents.

Flights immediately increased in price for those wishing to make a last-minute dash back to the UK on Saturday October 31, with direct flights home from Cyprus rising to £405 from Paphos and £371 from Larnaca within an hour of the announcement. Comparatively, direct flights on Sunday November 1 from the island to the UK were just £109 at the same time.

This morning, there are no direct flights available to book for October 31 to avoid quarantine; options with multiple stops coming in at 13 hours travel time are also pricey at £387 one-way from Paphos. The fastest option (with one stop) back from Larnaca is £564.

Read more in our travel live blog.

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02:32 PM

Middle East records 3 million cases

The number of reported coronavirus cases has swept past 3 million in the Middle East, an Associated Press count showed Friday, with the true number likely even higher.

Across the Mideast, there have been over 75,000 deaths attributed to the virus by health authorities, the AP count relying on reported figures by individual countries shows.

There have been 2.5 million recoveries from the virus causing the Covid-19 illness.

In the Mideast, the hardest-hit nation remains Iran, which served as the initial epicenter of the virus in the region. In Iran alone, authorities say there have been over 600,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, with some 477,000 recoveries and 34,000 deaths. Yet even those numbers are believed to be low, Iranian officials say.

In some war-torn nations, it remains difficult to know the scope of the pandemic as well. In Yemen for instance, it's believed that the vast majority of the country's cases have gone undiagnosed and untreated, and health workers have said only those who are near death are usually brought to hospitals.

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02:27 PM

Welsh cases rise by more than 1,700

There have been a further 1,737 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 49,571.

Public Health Wales said a further 11 deaths had been reported, with the total rising to 1,859.

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02:26 PM

Travellers from UK virus hotspots could still barred from entering Wales

A travel ban preventing people in areas of the UK with high levels of coronavirus from entering Wales could continue following the country's firebreak lockdown, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

"I will want to study, over this weekend and into next week, the comparative incidence rates between Wales and parts of England which are under Tier 2 and Tier 3 restrictions," Mr Drakeford said.

"The point of asking people in those places not to travel into Wales was because the rate of virus circulation in those places was so much more than it is here and I'm afraid there is still a significant gap between those places and Wales.

"If that remains the same, then we will expect to have a similar regime after November 9 as we had prior to October 23 because it just doesn't make sense to add to the difficulties we already face by the virus being imported from elsewhere."

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02:16 PM

UK's R-value slows but remains above one

The reproduction "R" number of the Covid-19 epidemic in Britain fell slightly for the second week in a row, government scientists said on Friday, adding the estimated growth rate had slowed too.

The "R" number was 1.1-1.3, down from 1.2-1.4, the UK's Government Office for Science said. That means on average every 10 people infected will infect between 11 and 13 other people.

The estimated daily growth rate of the epidemic was +2% to +4%, down from +3% to +6% last week.

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02:03 PM

Eurozone set for double dip despite third quarter rebound

Europe’s biggest economies rebounded sharply in the third quarter but are expected to shrink again as coronavirus cases rise and restrictions on businesses tighten.

German GDP rose by 8.2pc from July to September - the biggest jump in output since records began in 1970, beating economists’ expectations of a 7.3pc increase, according to official figures.

Economic activity in France bounced back by 18.2pc over the same period, but remained 4.3pc lower than the year before.

Meanwhile, the Spanish economy expanded by 16.7pc in the three months after shrinking lost 17.8pc in the second quarter, but was still down 8.7pc from last year, government figures showed.

The European Central Bank has indicated it will inject more economic stimulus in December, acknowledging the growing threat.

Read more here.

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01:53 PM

Nottingham students crowd outside bars hours before city enters Tier 3

Students in Nottingham were filmed crowding outside bars just hours before the city implements Tier 3 restrictions.

The gathering took place on St James Street, in Nottingham City Centre, which has a number of pubs and bars, some of which are prominent student bars.

The Government announced the city would be placed into the “very high” bracket from Friday at 12.01am – with rules coming into place such as a ban on buying alcohol from shops after 9pm. Nottinghamshire Police had issued a warning earlier on Thursday that they would have “no hesitation” in fining people deliberately flouting the rules.

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01:44 PM

Long Covid sufferers 'face psychiatric problems as well as pain and fatigue'

Many sufferers of “long Covid” can endure psychiatric problems, as well as pain and fatigue, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has warned.

The body, which is drawing up guidelines on how to treat the condition, says it should be considered in anyone who appears to have symptoms 12 weeks after the first ones appeared, when there is no alternative explanation.

Experts said that a “sizeable minority” of sufferers could continue to suffer symptoms after three months, regardless of how severe their original infection was.

Laura Donnelly explains more here.

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01:39 PM

Machu Picchu to reopen to tourists – but children are banned

Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel which attracts around 1.5 million visitors each year, will reopen on November 1 after a seven-month closure.

This year marked only the second time that Peru's biggest tourist draw has shut since 1948; in 2010 it was forced to close during extended and torrential rain storms.

The 125.8-square-mile site, which sits 7,972 feet above sea level in the Andean mountains, overlooking the Urubamba Valley, will, at first, limit admission to 675 people a day. The first round of tickets has already sold out.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, it saw average daily visitor numbers of 2,000-3,000.

Read more here.

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01:30 PM

EU pushes for more transparency from WHO's members on pandemics

The World Health Organization (WHO) should be given more powers to handle pandemics and its member states should share more information with the agency during health emergencies, European Union officials said on Friday.

The appeals are in line with a draft EU document on reform of the WHO, as Reuters reported last week citing a document drawn up by the German government after discussions with other member states.

The WHO should be faster in its reaction to health crises, Germany's Health Minister Jens Spahn said before a video conference on Friday of EU health ministers, adding that its member states should share more information and give it more resources and powers.

The EU remarks come after criticisms that China and other countries did not share information on the COVID-19 pandemic in a timely fashion at its onset.

The EU draft document, which ministers are expected to endorse on Friday before its formal adoption ahead of a WHO assembly in mid-November, urges the U.N. agency to make public more quickly how and whether its member states respect their obligations on sharing information on health crises.

Related: 'You get what you pay for': WHO experts face off criticism from MPs

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01:24 PM

Staff shortages threaten Slovakia's blanket Covid-19 test plan

Shortages of medical staff are threatening a widely-watched scheme to test nearly all of Slovakia's 5.5 million-strong population for Covid-19 this weekend, the prime minister said on Friday.

The premier, Igor Matovic, called for a last push to make it work. President Zuzana Caputova, who had voiced reservations about the plan, called on authorities to step back and ease pressure on people to participate.

The nationwide programme - which has drawn attention from countries trying to find ways to fight a resurgence of infections across Europe - is voluntary. But anyone without evidence of a negative result will have to go into lockdown next week.

Matovic has said it will identify a large proportion of infected people, slow the spread of the epidemic and help avoid wider restrictions.

But he said on Friday more than a third of testing teams did not have enough personnel.

"Let's show ... that in this decisive moment we can pull together and make this," he said in a post on Facebook. "Otherwise the only thing that remains in our hands is a total lockdown."

The govenrment has already offered medics a 500-euro ($590) bonus on top of earlier agreed compensation if they work this weekend.

The plan is to use antigen tests that can return results within 15-30 minutes but are less accurate than standard PCR tests. Young children are exempt.

President Zuzana Caputova said it was now clear that hundreds of thousands of people would not have access to the tests.

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01:13 PM

Wales will not return to a 'network of local restrictions' following lockdown, Drakeford says

Wales will not return to a “network of local restrictions” when the country’s firebreak lockdown ends on November 9, first minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed.

“Instead, we will put in place a simple set of national rules that are easier for everyone to understand, to help keep us safe and keep the virus under control,” he said.

Shops, bars, restaurants and gyms will reopen when the firebreak lockdown ends.

Pupils will return to schools, churches and places of worship will resume services and community centres will allow small groups to meet safely indoors.

Drakeford said two schemes are being introduced to support people on low incomes when they are asked to self-isolate due to a positive test, or when asked to do so by contact tracing teams.

These will be a top-up to statutory sick pay for all social care staff, including personal assistants, and a 500 self-isolation support payment for people on low incomes.

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01:11 PM

Scientists predicted UK cases would hit 50,000 a day. Now it has finally happened

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics new Covid-19 cases in England increased by around 51,900 each day last week.

This follows several other studies and warnings made by Prof Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance last month, which predicted similar soaring case counts.

Last month the "two chiefs" highlighted the exponential rise in coronavirus cases in Britain and warned that without further measures the UK will see 50,000 cases a day by mid-October.

Prof Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance urged the country to follow the rules or face further restrictions, warning that cases are doubling every seven or eight days.

"If that continues unabated...here would be something like 50,000 cases per day by the middle of October," Sir Patrick Vallance said at a Government press briefing on September 21, before adding that will lead to "200-plus deaths per day" by November.

We're a little bit passed mid-October, but it looks as if the predictions have finally come true. Let's just hope the deaths don't follow suit too.

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12:58 PM

Moscow plans vaccinations as Russia's Covid-19 cases hits record amid doctor shortage

Authorities in Moscow were preparing for mass vaccinations against Covid-19 and Russia's daily tally of infections rose past 18,000 to a record high, amid a shortage of doctors across the country, the Kremlin said on Friday.

Moscow residents who want to be vaccinated against Covid-19 may be able to do so as early as next month if large volumes of doses are supplied by then, Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said on Friday.

The capital was creating a large network of specialised vaccination rooms with 2,500 high risk people - primarily doctors and teachers - having already been vaccinated, Russian news agencies reported, she said.

Around 9,000 Moscow residents have received both shots of the Sputnik V vaccine as part of an ongoing large-scale trial, its developer was quoted by the RIA news agency as saying on Thursday. The vaccine is taken in two doses, with a 21-day gap.

Mass vaccination of the public is not yet possible, as the necessary number of doses of the vaccine have not yet been delivered, Rakova said on Friday, speaking on the Russia 24 TV channel, adding she thought that this could happen next month.

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12:46 PM

Infections soar across Western Balkans as hospitals struggle to cope

Covid-19 infections are rocketing across the Western Balkans with hospitals close to being overwhelming by incoming patients.

Croatians queued up in hundreds of cars before the Zagreb Fair gate in the capital on Friday waiting to get a Covid-19 test, with new daily cases in the small European Union member country approaching 3,000.

Authorities reported 2,776 infections and 20 deaths in Croatia, a nation of 4 million people, over the past 24 hours, but epidemiologists warned numbers could rise to up to 4,000 a day in the coming weeks.

"We expect to see a peak in infections in two to three weeks," said Kresimir Lujetic, head of Croatia's Medical Chamber. He added that Zagreb hospital wards treating coronavirus patients had reached full capacity and that a sports hall will be turned into a makeshift hospital to take in more.

Neighbouring Slovenia, a country of 2 million which earlier this month reimposed a lockdown against the second wave of the global pandemic, reported 1,798 new cases on Friday and a new record of 23 deaths in a day.

To the south, Bosnia reported 1,449 new cases and 30 deaths on Friday with officials warning hospital capacities especially in the capital Sarajevo were almost full and the system could face collapse.

While in North Macedonia, 862 new cases were reported on Thursday with hospitals also stretched to their limits. NATO sent 60 respirators to help its newest member cope with the crisis, and the government has made wearing face masks mandatory in public.

Dejan Dokic, professor at Skopje's university medical faculty, said the capital's high air pollution in winter months made its residents more vulnerable to respiratory diseases including Covid-19.

In Serbia, 1,384 new infections and 44 deaths were registered on Thursday, but officials, wary of further economic damage from the crisis, said new restrictions would not be introduced as yet.

The Belgrade government is financing the construction of two new hospitals with an overall capacity of 1,500 Covid-19 patients, with openings scheduled for December.

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12:39 PM

Covid-19 cases in England rose by 51,900 per day last week

New Covid-19 cases in England increased by around 51,900 each day last week, a steep increase on the 35,200 daily cases the week before, a survey by the Office for National Statistics said on Friday.

The ONS Infection Survey estimated 568,100 people had Covid-19 infections between 17 to 23 October, up from 433,300 the week before.

Related: Why Britain’s response is faltering as the second wave rolls in

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12:36 PM

Warsaw braces for mass abortion rights protest

The Polish capital prepared for a mass demonstration on Friday against a court ruling that would ban almost all abortions.

Crowds of protesters are expected to defy coronavirus restrictions and risk contagion to join the demonstration in Warsaw.

"We're prepared to fight till the end," Marta Lempart, co-founder of the Women's Strike movement, told reporters on Friday.

Security is expected to be tight following some clashes between protesters and far-right activists in nine consecutive days of protests.

The government has defended the verdict, saying it will halt "eugenic abortions", but human rights groups have said it would force women to carry non-viable pregnancies.

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12:30 PM

Welsh firebreaker 'necessary', says Drakeford

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has said the country's latest figures for coronavirus show how "necessary" it was to introduce a two-week firebreak lockdown.

Mr Drakeford told a press conference in Cardiff that the rate of Covid-19 in Wales had reached more than 220 cases per 100,000 people.

"In Merthyr Tydfil, the seven-day incidence rate has exceeded 600 cases per 100,000," Mr Drakeford said.

"Today, a further 1,700 cases of coronavirus will be confirmed but the actual number of infections will be much higher.

"The number of people with coronavirus in hospital is at its highest point since the end of April."

Mr Drakeford said 1,191 people were in hospital with coronavirus-related symptoms, which is up 20% from the same point last week.

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12:21 PM

One in 20 adults living in England are unsure of local coroanvirus restrictions, survey finds

Around one in 20 people in England are unsure of what level of coronavirus restrictions they are living under, according to a survey.

Some 5 per cent of adults said they do not know or are unsure which tier they are in, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Its survey, conducted between 21 and 25 October, found 48 per cent of adults report being in Tier 1, while 37 per cent said they are in Tier 2.

Ten per cent said they are living under Tier 3 restrictions, although more areas have entered the higher two levels of measures since the survey was carried out.

One in five people will be living under the toughest restrictions from Monday when West Yorkshire moves into Tier 3, meaning 58 per cent of the population of England will be living under either Tier 2 or 3.

The ONS analysed responses from 4,226 adults in Britain to its Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, examining the social impact of coronavirus.

Of those in England, 78 per cent of adults said it is easy or very easy to find out about the alert level in their area, while 2 per cent feel it is difficult or very difficult.

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12:10 PM

Xinjiang outbreak linked to 'forced labour' factory

The biggest coronavirus outbreak witnessed by China in months has been linked to a factory in Xinjiang believed to be run by Uighur forced labour.

At least 190 cases of the coronavirus were recorded in the western region of Kashgar, with reports claiming the cases originated in a factory under a state-led “poverty alleviation” effort.

The outbreak represents the country’s largest cluster of cases since June, when 180 infections were reported in Beijing.

State media reported that the outbreak began when a 17-year-old girl tested positive on Saturday after visiting her parents.

She was tested "during the county's routine nucleic acid testing, a measure introduced in August in Xinjiang to improve Covid-19 alert timeliness,” they said.

State news agency Xinhua added that the region’s entire 4.74 million population were tested within three days of the case being identified.

The factory, Shuchang Garment, was immediately cordoned off. It employs around 300 people who earn around £10 per day.

International experts have described such factories as “coercive” and claim they often include forced labour. China denies the accusations.

Under the industry-based poverty alleviation scheme, Uighurs are tracked and allegedly given little choice other than to accept the work placements.

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12:00 PM

UK death toll reaches 62,000

More than 62,000 deaths involving Covid-19 have now occurred in the UK, new figures show.

A total of 60,070 deaths have so far been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases, according to the latest reports from the UK's statistics agencies.

This includes 979 deaths in Northern Ireland up to October 23 (and registered up to October 28), which were confirmed by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency on Friday.

Since these statistics were compiled, a further 1,802 deaths are known to have occurred in England, plus 24 in Scotland, 123 in Wales and 41 in Northern Ireland, according to additional data published on the Government's coronavirus dashboard.

Together, these totals mean that so far 62,060 deaths involving Covid-19 have taken place in the UK.

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11:51 AM

Swiss ramp up contact-tracing in face of Covid surge

Coronavirus infections rose by 9,207 and hospitalisations by 279, data from Swiss health authorities showed on Friday, as the country’s health care and contract tracing systems struggled to manage the second wave of Covid-19 cases.

The total confirmed cases in Switzerland and tiny neighbouring principality Liechtenstein increased to 154,251 and the death toll rose by 52 to 2,037.

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11:42 AM

Socially distanced spooks?

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the Halloween fundraising plans of Ollie Slim of Brighton, Sussex.

For the first time in 14 years, crowds of trick or treaters will have to stay out of his spooky garden due to the pandemic ruling on six or more.

His past efforts on fright night have raised over £10,000 for the Macmillan Cancer charity.

The outside fence now has a barcode which people can scan with their phones which are then redirected to a JustGiving page where they can donate.

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11:32 AM

Fears of a ‘twindemic’ grow as woman in California tests positive for both flu and Covid-19

A Californian Covid-19 patient has also tested positive for flu, in what may be America's first instance this season of someone catching both infections.

The double infection in Solano County prompted health officials to again urge people to get flu shots amid fears that colliding waves of flu and Covid will put health systems around the world under intense pressure.

Ben Farmer has the full story.

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11:21 AM

Police hand £10,000 fine after christening party with 'up to 50 guests'

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11:12 AM

Rise in over-55s dipping into pension pots

Growing numbers of pension savers have been withdrawing cash from their pots, in a sign that over-55s are turning to their retirement funds for a short-term cash boost during the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the pension freedoms, over-55s with defined contribution pensions can take money out of their pots, subject to tax rules.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures show 347,000 people withdrew from their pensions throughout July, August and September 2020.

That was a 6 per cent increase compared with the same period of last year.

It was also a 2 per cent rise compared to the previous three months - which HMRC said is contrary to normal seasonal patterns.

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11:00 AM

Police tell students 'you will be punished' after Halloween fancy dress gathering

Police in Nottingham have warned students "you will be punished" after dozens of young people in Halloween fancy dress were confronted by police in the city ahead of Tier 3 rules being implemented.

Nottingham was placed into the "very high" bracket on Friday at 12.01am, with new rules coming into place such as a ban on buying alcohol from shops after 9pm.

However, dozens of densely-packed youngsters broke social distancing guidelines to dance together on St James Street.

Assistant Chief Constable Kate Meynell said: "It is perfectly clear that these kind of gatherings are not allowed and there really is no excuse for what we saw last night."

"This pandemic is a serious risk to public health. Cases are rising fast and more people are getting seriously ill as a result.

"We expect people to follow and obey the law and hope that this latest incident serves as a warning to others - that if you do break the rules in this way you will be caught and you will be punished."

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10:43 AM

Layla Moran: We must control, suppress and eliminate to break the cycle

"We really need to avoid continuous lockdowns, school closures and stopping people from travelling to work. I don’t need to tell you the incredibly damaging impact that would have on our physical and mental health, not to mention our finances and the economy.

"That’s why we, a cross-party group of MPs and scientists, have put together a plan to create a ‘Covid-secure’ UK. Our principle is that by focusing on saving as many lives as possible in the immediate term, we will also save jobs and be able to open up the economy sustainably. We can’t ignore the vulnerable and the elderly in favour of our economy, or vice versa.

"Otherwise, we face developing a ‘boom and bust’ mentality for our economy where we relax restrictions too soon, open everything back up, only to have to bring back extreme measures months later."

Read the full column here.

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10:27 AM

Africa could see a surge in the coming months

Africa will likely see a resurgence of the Covid-19 disease in the coming months, experts have warned, triggering fears that the continent may not be in the clear even as it sidestepped the worst of the pandemic’s first wave.

Some countries, including Kenya and South Africa, have seen surges in positive cases following recent reopening of airports and businesses after months in lockdown.

“The continent has done very well in bending the curve where most infections peak around July and then decline steadily," said John Nkengasong, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Infection (Africa CDC). "But we are beginning to see some stagnation. The time to prepare for the second wave is truly now.”

Africa has recorded nearly 1.8 million cases and 42,000 deaths.

Read the full story here.

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10:16 AM

40 students facing fines after halls of residence party

Nottinghamshire Police said 40 young people are facing fines after a party was broken up at a student hall of residence.

Officers attended a flat in Trinity Square shortly before 11.15pm on Wednesday after details of the party were shared on social media, the force said.

Police said they took the details of the attendees who each face a fixed penalty notice of £200.

The organisers of the party face a fine of £10,000 for organising an inside gathering of more than 30 people.

Speaking after the party was broken up, Assistant Chief Constable Kate Meynell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "This pandemic is a serious risk to public health. Cases are rising fast and more people are getting seriously ill as a result.

"We expect people to follow and obey the law and hope that this latest incident serves as a warning to others - that if you do break the rules in this way you will be caught and you will be punished."

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10:04 AM

What's the best material for a home-made face mask?

Reusable vacuum cleaner bags are the best material for making home-made face masks with, the University of Cambridge has concluded after testing everything from socks to jeans.

The cloth bags, which can be cleaned in the washing machine, were found to be the best at preventing droplets and aerosols from escaping while still enabling wearers to breathe sufficiently well.

Although some materials, such as thick denim and polyester, were better at stopping the spread of ultra-fine airborne particles, they made breathing too difficult to be useful.

"A mask which blocks particles really well but restricts your breathing isn't an effective mask," said the study's first author Eugenia O’Kelly, a doctoral candidate from Cambridge's department of engineering.

"Denim, for example, was quite effective at blocking particles, but it's difficult to breathe through so it's probably not a good idea to make a mask out of an old pair of jeans."

Read the full story here.

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09:46 AM

Many oncology staff returning positive antibody tests

A study of oncology staff after the first peak of coronavirus suggests there is a need for more extensive testing due to many returning positive results for Covid-19 antibodies - including employees who did not show any symptoms.

The research involving more than 400 workers in England also found that a substantial proportion of those with positive antibodies after the first peak had lost them after four weeks.

At the start of June, staff were given an antigen test for signs that the virus was present, and two different antibody tests for signs of a previous infection.

No one tested positive for the antigen, meaning they were probably not infected at the time of testing, but 18.4% were positive for antibodies specific to the virus, suggesting previous infection.

The highest rates were among oncology nurses (21.3%), followed by doctors (17.4%), administrators (13.6%) and radiographers (8.9%).

Just 38% those who tested positive for the antibodies reported previous symptoms suggestive of Covid-19.

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09:30 AM

Government paid £65m interest in three months to help keep businesses afloat

Britain's biggest lenders charged the Government more than £65 million in interest in just three months to provide loans to British businesses during the pandemic.

The Government handed over £65,658,583 for interest on loans between the start of April and the end of June, according to figures obtained by the PA news agency through a freedom of information request.

The interest was paid on loans taken under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

Through the schemes, banks lent billions of pounds to small businesses, with the Government promising to pay the interest for the first 12 months, as ministers tried to protect the economy, which is now in a recession.

The Bank of England's base rate is currently 0.1%, a record low.

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09:13 AM

Council tax discount claims at record level

More than 2.5 million working age people across England claimed a council tax discount between April and June. It marks the highest number since records began in 2015, according to local authorities.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which released the figures, said they expect these numbers to have risen further over the summer and could keep rising in future years due to the pandemic's impact on people's finances.

Council tax support is available for people on low incomes. Different local councils have different rules around the support available but it usually takes the form of a percentage discount on one's council tax bill.

Cllr Richard Watts, chair of the LGA's resources board, said: "The sharp rise in council tax support claimants is heaping further pressure on this already underfunded vital local safety net.

"No one wants to ask those on the lowest incomes to pay more but councils have faced an impossible position that the pandemic has made worse.

"The Government must ensure councils have the full amount of funding required to provide council tax support to those who need it.

"Otherwise, it is almost inevitable that bills will continue to be forced up for those who can least afford to pay."

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08:59 AM

40% more Covid patients in Nottinghamshire hospitals than in April

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals across Tier 3-hit Nottinghamshire is 40% more than the peak of wave one of the virus in April, the county's public health director has said.

Jonathan Gribbin said "even a well-organised NHS and care system will struggle to cope" with the sharp rise in patients in the county's hospitals.

The region was placed in the highest level of coronavirus restrictions from 12.01am on Friday following a surge in the number of people aged over 60 contracting the virus.

According to statistics from Nottinghamshire County Council, 361 beds across the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System (ICS) were occupied by Covid-19 patients as of October 27.

Mr Gribbin said that figure increased to 413 beds the following day, adding: "I think straight away it gives you an indication of how quickly it's increasing."

During a media briefing on Thursday, he said: "As of yesterday that 413 figure represents around 40% above what we saw at the wave one peak back in April time."

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08:38 AM

Eat Out to Help Out scheme caused 'significant' rise in new infections, study suggests

According to the University of Warwick, the sharp increase in COVID-19 infection clusters emerged a week after the scheme began.

The government's initiative was designed to boost the economy after the national lockdown, and allowed pubs and restaurants to offer heavily discounted meals on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August.

Research from the university suggested that between 8% and 17% of newly detected infection clusters could be linked to the scheme.

Areas where there was a high uptake of Eat Out to Help Out also saw a decline in new infections a week after the scheme drew to a close.

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08:11 AM

BA sinks to £6.2bn pre-tax loss for first nine months of the year

The FTSE 100 group said Covid has had a material impact on the global airline and travel sectors since late February and there were "no immediate signs of recovery".

Chief executive of International Airlines Group, Luis Gallego, said: "These results demonstrate the negative impact of Covid-19 on our business but they're exacerbated by constantly changing government restrictions.

"This creates uncertainty for customers and makes it harder to plan our business effectively.

"We are calling on governments to adopt pre-departure testing using reliable and affordable tests with the option of post-flight testing to release people from quarantine where they are arriving from countries with high infection rates.

"This would open routes, stimulate economies and get people travelling with confidence. When we open routes, there is pent up demand for travel."

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07:46 AM

Last party in Nottingham before Tier 3 restrictions enforced

Young people have taken to the streets of Nottingham in fancy dress and have been drinking alcohol in large groups ahead of the implementation of Tier 3 restrictions.

The Government announced the city would be placed into the "very high" bracket from Friday at 12.01am - with rules coming into place such as a ban on buying alcohol from shops after 9pm.

In the market square in Nottingham city centre on Thursday evening, youngsters were seen posing for photographs dressed as minions from the film Despicable Me and chanting near police vehicles.

Nottinghamshire Police had issued a warning earlier on Thursday that they would have "no hesitation" in fining people deliberately flouting the rules.

Assistant Chief Constable Kate Meynell said: "The aim of the measures is to save lives and lessen the burden on the NHS - which is becoming increasingly stretched as we approach the time of annual winter pressures in hospitals. Positive action now will save lives.

"The people of Nottinghamshire have been incredibly supportive and patient with the national and local measures that have impacted on all our lives this year.

"Sadly there has been a minority of people who think the legislation doesn't apply to them and we have been forced to take action, and in some cases hand out fines."

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07:29 AM

One in six nurseries fear they could close by Christmas if income doesn't rise, survey reveals

More than a quarter (26%) of early years settings in the most deprived local authorities could be forced to shut permanently over the winter due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the report said.

A sustained fall in demand for places, combined with not enough Government support, could lead to mass childcare closures in England, the Early Years Alliance (EYA) warned.

A survey of more than 2,000 nurseries, pre-schools and childminders in October found that 17% of settings did not believe they will remain viable over the next three months if they have the same income.

Just over half (51%) said they would need emergency funding to stay open over the next six months - and only a quarter expected to make any profit between now and March.

Nearly two in three (65%) said the Government has not provided enough support for the early years sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The EYA is calling for a £240 million emergency Early Years Sufficiency Fund targeted at providers at risk of closure to ensure there are enough places for families across the country.

On average, early years providers have seen a 21% fall in occupancy levels compared with this time last year - despite being allowed to open to more children since June.

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07:07 AM

Nearly fifth of England to soon be under toughest coronavirus restrictions

Nottinghamshire entered Tier 3 on Friday morning, while West Yorkshire will move up to the highest alert level from Monday.

It will take the total number of people in the highest level of restrictions to just over 11 million - 19.6% of the population.

And with the Tees Valley and the West Midlands expecting to be moved up to Tier 3, millions more people could soon be under the strictest level of Covid-19 restrictions.

Local authority sources in the West Midlands said the "very high" alert level could be imposed "by the end of next week or the start of the following week", while leaders in the Tees Valley said the Government had told them it intended to raise their area into Tier 3 - although no agreement had yet been reached.

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06:50 AM

Fire claims may increase as people celebrate Bonfire Night at home, insurer warns

Households are being warned of the dangers of trying to celebrate Bonfire Night at home, as lockdown restrictions curb community events.

Insurer Aviva said its data shows fire claims increased by two-thirds (66%) between November 5 and 7 last year, compared with the rest of the month.

In 2018, the increase was even more remarkable on Bonfire Night of November 5, with claims increasing by 150%, compared with the rest of the month.

Aviva said claims have often included damage to fences, sheds and garages caused by out-of-control bonfires.

Fireworks were also responsible for burning trampolines, artificial grass and in some cases, interiors of homes, when fireworks crashed through windows or were put through letterboxes maliciously.

In one incident, a very loud firework cause a patio door pane to crack due to the noise alone.

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06:33 AM

Workers on furlough fall by more than 20%

Nearly one in every 13 workers in the UK may have been on furlough as of mid-October, just weeks before the Government support scheme comes to an end this weekend.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics showed 7.5% of the workforce was receiving support from the Government between October 5 and 18, which is equivalent to more than two million people.

This is a sharp fall from June 1 to 14, when 29.5% of the country's workers were benefitting from the scheme, while the number of jobs furloughed peaked at 8.9 million in early May.

The furlough scheme will be replaced with the less generous Job Support Scheme on November 1, and will cover employees doing 20% of their usual work who will receive at least 73% of their usual pay.

Concerns have been raised the more generous support system will cease just as the public health situation with the coronavirus gets worse.

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06:12 AM

West Yorkshire to move to Tier 3 restrictions

West Yorkshire will be placed under Tier 3 Covid-19 restrictions from Monday, Britain's highest alert level, the government said on Friday.

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05:45 AM

Japan eases travel curbs for China, eight others

Japan has eased travel curbs for China, Australia, South Korea and six other countries and regions, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Friday, as Tokyo steps up efforts to revive its economy while preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Japan lowered its infection risk advisory level for Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand, Brunei and Vietnam, besides China, South Korea and Australia, to 2 from 3, telling its citizens to avoid non-urgent, non-essential trips.

Under the infection risk advisory level of 3, the public are instructed not to take any trips.

Read more: Cyprus and Lithuania lose UK travel corridors as quarantine re-imposed

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05:09 AM

France begins second lockdown

France's 65 million population are now largely confined to their homes, needing written statements to leave.

Millions of people raced to buy supplies ahead of the new lockdown which began midnight on Friday, with essentials like pasta and toilet paper in high demand.

The lockdown is scheduled to last a month, with bars and restaurants also closed until at least December and travel between regions limited.

Factories and building sites will remain open, as will creches and schools - although children aged six and up must wear masks in class.

President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the second wave "will probably be more difficult and deadly than the first", although he insisted this lockdown would be less severe than measures imposed in the spring.

Read more: France to force six-year-old schoolchildren to wear face masks

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04:59 AM

US breaks single-day record of cases with swing states among hardest hit

The United States broke its single-day record for new coronavirus infections on Thursday, reporting more than one new case every second, with swing states in the upcoming election some of the hardest hit by the surge.

Among the hardest hit are hotly contested states such as Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that will play an important role in deciding whether Republican President Donald Trump gets a second term or Democratic challenger Joe Biden becomes president.

Read the full story

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04:35 AM

Cases in Japan surpass 100,000

Japan's coronavirus cases have topped 100,000, nine months after the first case was found in mid-January, the health ministry said on Friday.

The country confirmed 808 new cases on Thursday, bringing the cumulative Covid-19 cases to 100,334, including 712 people who were on a cruise ship that was docked off a Japanese port earlier this year.

About one-third of the cases come from Tokyo, where 221 cases were confirmed on Thursday, bringing a prefectural total to 30,677, with 453 deaths. Nationwide, Japan has more than 1,700 deaths.

Experts say Japan has so far managed to avoid "explosive" infections as in Europe and the US without enforcing lockdowns, most likely thanks to the common use of face masks and disinfectant, as well as other common preventive measures including social distancing.

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04:27 AM

Brazil's Bolsonaro says second lockdown 'crazy'

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime critic of stay-at-home measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic, said on Thursday that it was "crazy" for countries to start locking down again to control second waves of the virus.

Most Western countries and parts of Latin America have reported their highest single-day surges in the past few weeks. Many governments, with the notable exception of the United States, have started taking stronger measures to bring the spread of the virus under control.

Read more: In charts - As Europe locks down, how far behind are UK cases and deaths?

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04:20 AM

Young people take to Nottingham streets despite police warnings

Young people have taken to the streets of Nottingham in fancy dress and have been drinking alcohol in large groups ahead of the implementation of Tier 3 restrictions.

The Government announced the city would be placed into the "very high" bracket from Friday at 12.01am - with rules coming into place such as a ban on buying alcohol from shops after 9pm.

In the market square in Nottingham city centre on Thursday evening, youngsters were seen posing for photographs dressed as minions from the film Despicable Me and chanting near police vehicles.

Nottinghamshire Police had issued a warning earlier on Thursday that they would have "no hesitation" in fining people deliberately flouting the rules.

Read more: The latest local lockdown restrictions in Oxford, Nottingham, Manchester and Liverpool

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04:14 AM

Today's top stories

• Boris Johnson is facing growing pressure to implement a widespread lockdown before and after Christmas while allowing families to meet over the festive period.
• The NHS contact tracing app will force more people into self-isolation after the algorithm was tweaked, officials have announced.
• A financial adviser has paid £6 to register as a business, meaning he can employ his family to avoid the "rule of six" restriction.
• Britons are now dying of coronavirus at the same rate as French counterparts, Telegraph analysis has found, as the UK government faces calls to follow France in imposing a second national lockdown.
• Schoolchildren aged six and under in France will have to wear face masks in class under new rules rolled out as part of the country's second lockdown that begins on Friday.
• Preventing future pandemics could be more than 100 times cheaper than tackling deadly outbreaks after they emerge, new report finds.
• Africa will likely see a resurgence of the Covid-19 disease in the coming months, experts have warned, triggering fears that the continent may not be in the clear even as it sidestepped the worst of the pandemic’s first wave.