Arrests after anti-lockdown protests sweep through Bristol and Liverpool
Jordan Kelly-Linden
·40-min read
Arrests were made after an anti-lockdown protest marched on Bristol city centre - Matthew Horwood
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..
Police swooped to break up anti-lockdown protests in Bristol and Liverpool on Saturday, arresting some activists.
A group of around 200 people marched on Bristol city centre to protest the Government's latest lockdown measures.
Stand Up Bristol had organised the protest through its Facebook group, which currently has 2,800 members.
Despite being warned by police that protestors would face fines for breaking the laws surrounding coronavirus, the group chose to go ahead with the event.
One attendee, who was with her family, said: "They're not researching. If you were diagnosed with cancer, you'd want a second opinion.
"You'd search for a second opinion, surely. Nobody is - they're just accepting that it's the truth and it's not, it's lies. It's not hard to find the truth."
Avon and Somerset Police tweeted about the protest, saying: "We remain in a health crisis and enforcement action has and will continue to be taken."
They added: "CCTV and specialist evidence gatherers are recording the protest in the centre... Arrests have been made while enforcement after the event will remain an option."
Meanwhile, in Liverpool, 16 people were arrested after hundreds of protestors attended an anti-lockdown demonstration.
Merseyside Police said they had taken the action because people were breaching public order and coronavirus rules that prohibit mass gatherings.
Police have now introduced a dispersal zone within the city centre and south Liverpool until Sunday.
05:25 PM
Today's headlines
Whether you're celebrating Diwali or not, we hope you had a wonderful Saturday. That's all from me today. Here are your headlines...
Closer to home:
The UK has registered 26,860 new cases of Covid-19 and 462 additional deaths.
Arrests were made in Bristol and Liverpool after anti-lockdown protesters took to the streets.
News that a potential coronavirus vaccine may be on the horizon could be making people complacent, Professor Susan Michie, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), has said.
Returning to a tiered system of coronavirus restrictions next month will cause infections to rise to the levels which prompted England to enter its second lockdown, the government's scientific advisers have warned.
Elsewhere:
Millions of people across the world celebrated Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic today.
More than 1.3 million people have been died from Covid-19 worldwide, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.
Italy has registered 37,255 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, the health ministry announced on Saturday.
The United States expects to have enough vaccine to immunise 20 million Americans in December and 20 million a month thereafter, Operation Warp Speed chief adviser Moncef Slaoui said in a news conference at the White House.
Greek authorities announced on Saturday the closure of nurseries and primary schools until the end of November, tightening a nationwide lockdown after a spike in Covid-19 cases.
The western Chinese city of Lanzhou has detected traces of the novel coronavirus on the packaging of a batch of shrimp imported from Saudi Arabia.
Italy has registered 37,255 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, the health ministry announced on Saturday, down from 40,902 on Friday.
The ministry also recorded 544 Covid-related deaths, down from 550 the day before, Reuters reports.
The northern region of Lombardy, centred on Italy’s financial capital Milan, remained the hardest hit area on Saturday, reporting 8,129 new cases against 10,634 on Friday.
05:11 PM
Water cannon fired at Frankfurt anti-lockdown rally
German police fired water cannon during an anti-lockdown rally in Frankfurt on Saturday and eventually broke up the gathering as rules like wearing masks and socially distancing were not observed.
About 600 people from the loosely organized Querdenker movement that opposes the government’s measures to halt the rise in coronavirus infections took to the streets in Frankfurt.
Police used water cannon to free up the route of the rally, which was blocked several times by about 300 people protesting against the Querdenkers.
A police spokesman said the rally was broken up after protesters repeatedly disregarded rules on wearing masks and keeping a distance from each other.
Meanwhile, leading politicians said any quick relaxation of the country's November lockdown was unlikely. Germany has imposed measures dubbed a "lockdown light" to rein in a second wave of the pandemic. While restaurants are closed, schools and shops so far remain open.
Germany reported a rise of confirmed coronavirus cases by 22,461 to a total 775,556, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. The reported death toll rose by 178 to 12,378.
05:06 PM
Sixteen arrested in Liverpool anti-lockdown protests
Sixteen people have been arrested after hundreds of protestors attended an anti-lockdown demonstration in Liverpool city centre.
Merseyside Police said they had taken the action because people were breaching public order and coronavirus rules that prohibit mass gatherings.
Police have now introduced a dispersal zone within the city centre and south Liverpool until Sunday.
ARRESTS | 25 people have now been arrested in #Liverpool city centre for public order offences and breaches of Coronavirus regulations. A further male has been arrested after a police officer was assaulted. Please read our statement about why it's so important people stay home: pic.twitter.com/XcLXXLpuPH
El Paso nurse tells of 'horrific' conditions inside 'the pit' where Covid patients go to die
A nurse in Texas has described "horrific" conditions inside an El Paso hospital where Covid-19 patients are taken to die in an area known as "the pit", as the United States continues to break grim new records for the pandemic.
Lawanna Rivers, a travelling registered nurse, posted a tearful video on Facebook describing her harrowing experience working at University Medical Center in El Paso.
The frontier city is among the hardest-hit in the struggling state, with case numbers rising so rapidly that local health authorities have said morgue trucks and tent hospitals will run out of space. Ten mobile morgue trucks were ordered on Monday.
More pictures from Bristol's anti-lockdown protest
Police had warned protesters to cancel the march or face possible fines and arrests.
A man is arrested during the anti-lockdown protest on November 14, 2020 in Bristol, England. - Finnbarr Webster Lockdown protest on November 14, 2020 in Bristol, England. England is currently in a national lockdown from November 5 until December 2. - Matthew Horwood Anti lockdown protestors march through Bristol city centre, November 14 2020 The group Stand Up Bristol had previously been told that they faced being issued with fines and possible arrest for being involved in the gathering on the city's College Green. - Tom Wren / SWNS
04:21 PM
Of the UK's latest fatalities 304 of those died in English hospitals
A further 304 people, who tested positive for coronavirus have died in English hospital, NHS England has announced.
The patients were aged between 21 and 100 years old and all except 9 had known underlying health conditions. The date of death range from 10 September to 13 November 2020.
NHS England provided this regional breakdown:
East of England - 12
London - 14
Midlands - 77
North East & Yorkshire - 79
North West - 87
South East - 17
South West - 18
04:20 PM
A further 462 people have died in the UK after testing positive
In the UK overnight, 462 more people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.
This number is up from 376 the previous day, according to government data.
There were 26,860 people in the UK that tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday, down from 27,301 on Friday.
04:10 PM
How one scientist's unwavering belief in mRNA gave the world a Covid-19 vaccine
“Redemption! … I was grabbing the air, I got so excited I was afraid that I might die or something.”
Katalin Karikó laughs as she recounts her reaction to the news earlier this week that the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, which is based on research she pioneered and risked her career for, was 90 per cent effective in protecting against Covid-19.
For the Hungarian-born scientist the breakthrough goes beyond the hope that the new vaccine will help turn the tide of the pandemic. It is a validation of her career-long belief in the therapeutic potential of synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA), a technology that could open the door to a new generation of medical treatments and cures.
For more than four decades, Prof Karikó has relentlessly explored how the single-stranded molecules of genetic code could be used to treat conditions from strokes and cancer to influenza. Despite demotions, countless grant rejections and, at points, deep scepticism from fellow scientists she ploughed on.
Prof Katalin Karikó has been working to develop RNA therapeutics and vaccines for more than four decades - Katalin Karikó
03:53 PM
Border between Tunisia and Libya reopens
Travellers began to cross between Tunisia and Libya again on Saturday after a seven-month border closure due to novel coronavirus restrictions was lifted.
The closure at the end of March had a severe impact on trade between the two countries and left Libyans and Tunisians stranded on either side of the frontier.
A Tunisian diplomatic source said 20,000 Tunisians were currently in Libya.
Dozens of travellers began to cross when the frontier opened at midday Saturday, an AFP correspondent at the border said.
Many Tunisians travel to Libya for work, while Libyans go regularly to Tunisia for medical treatment.
Informal trade between the two countries supports thousands of families in southern Tunisia.
Air links with Libya are due to resume Sunday, according to the Tunisian transport ministry.
Tunisia had reopened its borders at the end of June, allowing travel from Europe during the tourist season, but had kept them closed to neighbouring Libya and Algeria.
03:41 PM
Istanbul mayor calls for lockdown
Istanbul's mayor called on Saturday for a lockdown of at least two weeks to contain an "out of control" rise in coronavirus cases, and said virus-related deaths in the city alone outstrip reported nationwide figures.
Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading politician in Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said the country's largest city must act fast and provide a clear picture of how the pandemic's second wave is emerging.
"This job is not like it was in the March-April-May period (during the first wave). The circle is getting narrower," he said at the opening of a water treatment plant.
"Especially in the last week... there is at least 50 more deaths in Istanbul alone than the number reported in the whole of Turkey," added Imamoglu, who was elected last year in a shock defeat for President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party (AKP).
Seen as a possible future presidential contender, the mayor - who himself had Covid-19 last month - said he endorsed a local committee's proposal for an immediate 2-3 week lockdown followed by a controlled opening and robust contact-tracing period.
The disease has killed more than 11,300 in Turkey. Daily deaths and new cases - at 93 and 3,045 respectively on Friday - have risen to levels last seen in late April, just after the initial peak.
03:23 PM
Vaccine promise is making people feel complacent, Sage scientist warns
News that a potential coronavirus vaccine may be on the horizon could be making people complacent, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has said.
It is still too early to see whether lockdown has helped England get on top of the virus so the public must continue to follow the restrictions in order to get the R-value down, Professor Susan Michie Director of Centre for Behaviour Change at UCL told the BBC's Today programme.
"The next two weeks are going to be crucial. They're going to be challenging, partly because of the weather," Prof Michie said, adding that "the promising news of the vaccine may be making people complacent."
She warned that "the vaccine is very unlikely to come in until the end of the year or the beginning of next year" and so "everybody has to really get all the resolve together to really pay attention to resisting any urges at break the rules."
Levels of general compliance with the rules has been pretty steady since the summer, Prof Michie told the BBC. However, data shows that adherence to restrictions seems to be "slightly less for younger people and it is also slightly less for higher income."
02:55 PM
Northern Ireland cases rise by more than 500 new infections
Northern Ireland has recorded 511 new infections and 10 fatalities.
The Department of Health #COVID19 dashboard has been updated with latest data.
511 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Sadly, a further 10 deaths have been reported (2 of the deaths were outside the 24 hour period). https://t.co/YN16dmGzhvpic.twitter.com/PqYmbH1VM4
Coronavirus crisis leaves popular Paris spots deserted
Boarded-up windows outside flagship branches of department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps bore testimony on Saturday to the impact of a Covid-19 lockdown in Paris.
On what would usually be a busy weekend for Christmas shopping, only handfuls of people were out on Boulevard Haussmann, where the stores are located.
"It's sad. We are outside Galeries Lafayette and everything is closed," said one would-be shopper, Emmanuelle Tiger. "They've put up (shop window) lights. That's great, but we don't feel the Christmas spirit at all."
Under the lockdown, in force since the end of October in the capital and other large cities, people must stay indoors apart from trips to buy food or other essential goods, or for a brief hour of exercise.
France has the seventh-highest Covid-19 toll in the world, with almost 44,000 fatalities, and the government has said it may extend the lockdown beyond Dec. 1, when it is due to end, if infection rates do not fall.
02:17 PM
Gym over faces £67,000 fine for refusing to close during lockdown
A north London gym owner is facing a £67,000 fine from his local council after refusing to close during the second national lockdown.
Andreas Michli, 34, said he finally shut his Zone Gym in Wood Green on Wednesday after police blocked customers from entering his premises.
Haringey Council, which has repeatedly issued fines against him, is now seeking to obtain a closure order through the courts which it intends to enforce.
Mr Michli told the PA news agency: "There were a lot of reasons why I didn't close. I couldn't actually find a reason why to not keep it open, other than there was legislation in place."
"It felt like the right thing to do socially, morally and scientifically."
Mr Michli said he was delaying his decision on when to reopen the premises until the outcome of the court hearing next week.
On top of the £67,000 fine he faces, the local authority is also seeking a further £7,500 for court costs, Mr Michli claimed.
Gyms are included in the list of venues that must close under national Covid-19 lockdown restrictions which came into effect on November 5 in England.
02:00 PM
5 completely normal things you can still do this lockdown
It's the weekend – and while two-week holidays abroad and weekender staycations may be off the cards, you can still have mini adventures on home turf in and around your own neighbourhood.
Here are five of the best ways to do just that...
Audio tours. Group tours are out, but some prefer going under their own steam anyway. Enter the audio tour, which give your aimless meanderings purpose – and fills them with facts. With voicemap.me, you can track down the ghost of Anne Boleyn in York with history aficionado James Easton. Search for travel podcasts in your own area and you’re on your way.
Wild walks. There couldn’t be a better time to bask in the autumnal hues of our woods and forests. November is prime time for trees to turn vibrant shades and then lose their leaves. You can use a map to find more off-the-beaten track spots, but also know that this time round more of the big-hitters, such as The National Arboretum at Westonbirt in Gloucestershire, are staying open for outdoor recreation and exercise for those that live nearby.
Open-air galleries. Some of the world’s best art doesn’t actually lie behind glass in galleries, but is free for all to see. Stroll the streets of the UK’s cities and you’ll find creativity abounds in our country’s massive murals. Manchester’s Northern Quarter is good example.
Green spaces. Find the largest stretch of outdoor green space near you and take the time to discover every corner. In Birmingham, that’s the 8,000 acres of Sutton Park where any concerns of social distancing melt into the distance, as Exmoor ponies settle into view. If you’re not sure which parks are near you, make use of Ordnance Survey’s green spaces map
Bird watching. Swap safaris in the African bush for a serious bird watching expedition near to home. Of course, this can be done on a number of walks, but many wetland centres are staying open in Lockdown 2 (pre-booking essential). Near to Newcastle, the Washington Wetland Centre is home to buzzards, redshanks, herons and woodpeckers.
01:48 PM
Diwali in Sri Lanka
A priest looks on at a hindu temple during the Diwali festival in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
A priest looks on at a hindu temple during the Diwali festival, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Colombo, Sri Lanka - DINUKA LIYANAWATTE / REUTERS
01:39 PM
Germany plans to roll out a €22 billion Covid aid package in first half of 2021
Germany expects to pay out 22 billion euros in Covid-19 relief aid from January through June 2021 to companies and self-employed people, people close to the matter said, as the impact of the pandemic extends into next year.
Separately, Germany's November coronavirus aid package to compensate firms affected by lockdown measures will this month amount to 14 billion euros, they said. Initially, the government had expected to pay out 10 billion euros.
The German government's council of economic advisers expects the economy to shrink less than initially feared this year thanks to a strong summer, but a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is clouding the growth outlook for 2021.
As part of the new round Covid-19 relief measure, companies can get up to 200,000 euros a month to cover fixed costs such as rent, while solo entrepreneurs can get up to 5,000 euros.
12:56 PM
Coronavirus world news – in pictures
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France: A medical staff member works in the Intensive Care Unit where patients suffering from the coronavirus disease are treated at Ambroise Pare clinic near Paris.
A medical staff member works in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are treated at Ambroise Pare clinic in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France - BENOIT TESSIER / REUTERS
New York, US: Customers dine at the Panna II Garden restaurant in the East Village. New restrictions requiring bars and restaurants to close at 10pm have come into place across Manhattan and the rest of the city.
Customers dine in the Panna II Garden restaurant in the East Village as new restrictions were announced on bars and restaurants for 10 PM closure, to help fight the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Manhattan, New York City - ANDREW KELLY / REUTERS
Athens, Greece: Police officers check a woman's documents. Only those with exemption who have to go to work, as well as health emergencies, are except from the latest lockdown curfew
Police officers check documents for exemption in a bus as Greece extends curfew three more hour from 9.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m., with only people who have to go to work, as well as health emergencies, to be exempt in Athens, Greece - Anadolu Agency
12:26 PM
Iran to impose tougher restrictions
Iran will impose stricter restrictions from next Saturday, President Hassan Rouhani has said on state television as the country announced a near record rise in daily deaths.
The toughest measures - classified by health officials as “red” or level 3 - will be imposed in the capital Tehran and about 100 other towns and cities, Reuters reports.
Non-essential businesses and services will be shut and cars will not be allowed to leave or enter, Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said in a televised media briefing.
Iranian health officials have devised a colour-coding system that denotes the severity of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
“The goal is not to shut down people’s businesses, but we have to set limits,” Raisi said.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani - PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
12:15 PM
Lebanon starts two-weeks of restrictions to stem virus spread
Lebanon started a new two-week lockdown Saturday after coronavirus infections crossed the 100,000 mark in a country where hospital capacity has become saturated.
The capital's roads were largely empty and police checkpoints had been set up at several locations, while the seaside promenade often thronging on weekends was deserted, an AFP photographer said.
The airport however remained open, as did essential businesses.
Under the measures announced, during the day people were to stay home unless they were granted an exception, and only cars with certain number plates were allowed on the roads. A nightime curfew was to come into force from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am.
Since February, the country has recorded 102,607 Covid-19 cases, including 796 deaths, it says.
The new restrictions are set to last until November 30 but the authorities have said they could be extended, as they fear the health system would not be able to cope with many more cases needing intensive care.
Lebanese policemen check cars at a checkpoint in the Sanayeh district of the Lebanese capital Beirut a day after the country went into lockdown - ANWAR AMRO / AFP
11:50 AM
Iran reports 452 new coronavirus deaths
Iran’s health ministry has announced that a near daily record of 452 more people died from Covid in the past 24 hours, taking the country’s death toll to to 41,034.
Saturday’s increase in fatalities is just below the record 461 deaths announced on Friday. So far every day this month Iran has recorded more than 400 new deaths from the virus.
Spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari also announced 11,203 new cases of infections.
11:40 AM
Meanwhile in Nepal...
Dogs at an adoption centre for disabled pets take part in Tihar (Diwali) celebrations in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Hindu devotees worship a dog as part of offerings for Tihar which is the local name for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a dog care centre in Kathmandu - PRAKASH MATHEMA / AP
The five-day-long Tihar festival is the second major event for Nepalese Hindus which started 13 November. During its second day people worship dogs, repaying the love towards man's 'best friend'
A dog of Sneha care center, shelter home to disable dogs and pet adoption, looks on during a dog worship day that is celebrated as part of the Diwali festival, also known as Tihar Festival, in Kathmandu, Nepal - NARENDRA SHRESTHA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Staff of the Sneha care centre draped traditional flower garlands on dogs to mark the occasion.
A puppy is decorated with a flower garland for Tihar which is the local name for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a dog care centre in Kathmandu - PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP
11:30 AM
Pandemic casts shadow over India's festival of light
Fear of the coronavirus, mixed with chronic pollution, has spoiled the party for hundreds of millions of Indians celebrating the biggest faith holiday of the year on Saturday.
Diwali is meant to be the festival of light, but the pandemic has clouded the future for many in the country of 1.3 billion.
The smog-shrouded capital New Delhi has banned firecrackers because of sky-high pollution levels and, while people still thronged markets, traders said Covid-19 had scared them off spending.
With 8.7 million cases, India has the world's second-highest coronavirus infection count behind the United States. About 130,000 people have died from Covid-19 in India since February and Delhi is going through a new surge with nearly 8,000 new cases a day.
Vendors selling decorations for Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, wait for customers at their stalls in a market area in New Delhi - JEWEL SAMAD/ AFP
11:13 AM
Austria to return to full lockdown
Austria is planning to switch from its current night-time coronavirus curfew and partial shutdown to a full lockdown from Tuesday until Sunday Dec. 6 inclusive, a draft and summary of the government decree seen by Reuters showed on Saturday.
The 8pm to 6am curfew will move to an all-day lockdown and non-essential shops will close, the texts said.
Secondary schools have already switched to distance learning, but schools for younger ages that are still open will do the same while providing childcare when necessary.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is due to hold a news conference outlining new restrictions in the face of surging infections at 4:30 p.m. (1530 GMT).
Austria is set to impose a second lockdown - LISI NIESNER / REUTERS
11:01 AM
South Africa reopens international borders
South Africa has now reopened its international borders to all countries, including the UK, it has been confirmed.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday that the country would be lifting the ban on visitors from its list of 'high risk' countries but did not say when the changes would go into effect. The South African Tourism UK tourist board has now stated that the new rules kick in "effective immediately".
Travellers will be required to present a negative Covid-19 test taken with 72 hours of departure but otherwise face no restrictions.
South Africa does not yet have a travel corridor with the UK, but given its a Covid low case rate of 19.5 per 100,000 based on seven-day figures, could soon have one approved.
I'm running the @telegraph's coronavirus live blog today and am looking for some happy news stories on all the ways people across the world are staying safe and adapting to the current restrictionshttps://t.co/jvxLcTFvbS
Greece closes nurseries and primary schools as lockdown restrictions tighten
Greek authorities announced on Saturday the closure of nurseries and primary schools until the end of November, tightening a nationwide lockdown after a spike in Covid-19 cases.
Greece has fared better than many other European countries in tackling the coronavirus, mainly due to an early nationwide lockdown imposed weeks after the pandemic broke out in February.
A gradual increase in infections since early October has forced authorities to reimpose restrictions and order a second nationwide lockdown, which expires at the end of November and includes a night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am.
On Saturday, the government tightened the measures further, closing primary schools and nurseries from Monday for two weeks until the end of the lockdown period. Distance learning has already been implemented in secondary schools and universities.
Greece registered 3,038 new coronavirus cases on Friday. On Thursday it recorded 3,316 new infections and 50 deaths, the highest daily tolls recorded during the pandemic so far.
10:30 AM
Countries pledge $2bn to share vaccines fairly around the world
The world has taken a major step towards ensuring the fair distribution of coronavirus vaccines around the world thanks to funding pledges of £270 million from the UK, France and the European Union.
The new funding means that the key part of the World Health Organization-led Covax programme has reached its initial target of £1.5bn ($2bn) this year.
However, an additional £3.8bn will be needed in 2021 to reach the long-term aim of having two billion doses of a successful vaccine for fair distribution around the globe by the end of next year.
People working inside a Unicef warehouse, the world's largest humanitarian facility, where they are preparing to support the distribution of vaccines globally - AP
10:21 AM
China finds coronavirus on packaging of Saudi shrimp
The western Chinese city of Lanzhou has detected traces of the novel coronavirus on the packaging of a batch of shrimp imported from Saudi Arabia.
The Lanzhou Municipal Health Commission said in a statement on its website that it had found one positive sample on Friday on the inner packaging of imported frozen shrimp from Saudi Arabia that had passed through customs in the coastal city of Tianjin.
The cold storage plant in Lanzhou where the case was discovered had been temporarily closed, all employees of the plant had been tested, all food involved was sealed and the whereabouts of all food sold had been determined, the statement said.
The positive sample in Lanzhou follows the detection of the virus on the packaging of a batch of Brazilian beef in Wuhan on Friday, and on Argentinian beef samples in Shandong and Jiangsu provinces this week.
The World Health Organization says the risk of catching Covid-19 from frozen food is low, but China has repeatedly sounded alarms after detecting the virus on imported food products, triggering disruptive import bans.
10:08 AM
Covid has claimed more than 1.3 million lives to date
More than 1.3 million people have been died from Covid-19 worldwide, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.
In total, there have been at least 1,303,783 deaths for 53,380,442 declared cases, although experts say the official data is likely to capture only a fraction of the number of total infections and fatalities.
A coronavirus patient is stretchered from a rescue helicopter just after landing at Strasbourg's university during a transfer operation from Lyon to Strasbourg - CHRISTIAN HARTMANN / REUTERS
09:50 AM
India celebrates Diwali despite coronavirus restrictions
The coronavirus pandemic hasn't done much to dampen Diwali celebrations in northern India.
The north Indian city of Ayodhya kept its Guinness World Record for a second year in a row by lighting 606,569 oil lamps and keeping them burning for at least 45 minutes to mark the Hindu festival of lights.
Thousands of volunteers lit the lamps, called diyas, along the Saryu river's banks, through lanes and at houses as dusk fell Friday in Ayodhya, where Hindus believe the god Ram was born and where he returned after 14 years in exile.
Thousands of visitors ignored social distancing advice thronging the river banks to take in the spectacle.
People light lamps on the banks of river Saryu in Ayodhya, India, - Rajeev Bhatt / AP
09:42 AM
Returning to tiered restrictions in England will cause coronavirus cases to rise, scientists say
Returning to a tiered system of coronavirus restrictions next month will cause infections to rise to the levels which prompted England to enter its second lockdown, the government's scientific advisers have warned.
In newly-released documents, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said the country's coronavirus reproduction rate - or R number - is likely to fall below 1 during the four-week lockdown.
But the experts said that infections will "return to the same rate of increase" as before national restrictions were imposed on 5 November if the country returns to its previous three-tier system.
In its document, SAGE said England's lockdown is "likely to reduce R to less than 1" and the number of hospital admissions and deaths "would be expected to fall until at least the second week of December".
But it warned that the "longer-term outlook" depends on "policies over the festive period".
"If England returns to the same application of the tiering system in place before 5th November, then transmission will return to the same rate of increase as today," SAGE said in the document dated 4 November.
09:32 AM
Care home testing pilot to start on Monday
Family and friends of people living in care homes in England will get access to regular testing to allow them to visit their loved ones, the government has said.
A pilot scheme launching on Monday will take place in 20 care homes across Hampshire, Devon and Cornwall. But the plan will be rolled out to other regions before Christmas, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.
The tests – offered to one family member or friend for each resident – could put an end to “heartbreaking” restrictions on visits, when used in combination with other protective measures such as PPE.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, said:
"I know how heartbreaking restricting visits to care homes has been, not only for residents – many of whom will feel disoriented and confused by the situation – but also their loved ones who aren’t able to simply hug each other to support them in this difficult time.
"By respecting social distancing and staying at home as much as possible we will help reunite families and friends with loved ones in care homes as quickly as possible."
09:28 AM
US aims to vaccinate 20 million people in December
The United States expects to have enough vaccine to immunise 20 million Americans in December and 20 million a month thereafter, Operation Warp Speed chief adviser Moncef Slaoui said in a news conference at the White House.
Mr Slaoui said the Pfizer results provided optimism that other vaccine candidates would also be effective.
He vouched for the safety of the vaccines in development and said two vaccines and two therapeutics maybe granted emergency use authorisation by the end of the year.
"While we are not there yet, we are close to the objective" to having a vaccine ready for deployment in December, Mr Slaoui said.
Donald Trump has accused Pfizer and the US Food and Drug Administration of waiting until after the election to announce its positive vaccine news for political reasons.
The US has reported more than 10.7 million coronavirus cases and more than 244,283 virus-related deaths, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
08:37 AM
Experts urge public not to stay away from A&E after 5,000 heart deaths since first lockdown
Britain has seen an extra 5,000 heart deaths since the first lockdown, experts warned as they urged the public not to stay away from Accident and Emergency departments this time.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said too many people were staying away from hospitals amid fear of putting pressure on the NHS or catching Covid. NHS figures for October show the total number of people attending A&E was a quarter lower than normal.
The BHF analysis revealed 4,622 "excess deaths" from heart and circulatory diseases from the start of lockdown to mid-October. Its experts urged anyone suffering heart problems not to delay seeking care.
Russia reports record daily increase in new infections
Russia reported on Saturday a record daily increase of 22,702 new coronavirus infections, taking the national tally to 1,903,253.
Authorities also reported 391 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the official death toll to 32,834.
Security members inspect cafes, bars, and restaurants in Moscow which are prohibited to serve customers between 11 pm and 6 am until Jan. 15 - Anadolu
08:11 AM
Turkmenistan is 'Covid free'
Turkmenistan's strongman leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov insisted his reclusive country had no coronavirus cases on Saturday, state media reported Saturday, even as he opened a new hospital for infectious diseases.
Mr Berdymukhamedov hailed the country's "big achievement" in avoiding the coronavirus in comments reported by the state newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan.
"As a result of the preventive measures taken, no cases of coronavirus infection have been registered in the country to date," Mr Berdymukhamedov said.
Hardline Turkmenistan and North Korea are among less than a dozen countries yet to declare a single coronavirus case. The other countries are Pacific island nations.
07:45 AM
How to buy your local pub and save it from the pandemic
They had already lost their post office, school and local bus service, so when the pandemic threatened to take away their pub the villagers of Halse in Somerset took action and bought it themselves.
Residents of the village of 290 people in the Quantock Hills clubbed together to raise £380,000 to buy the freehold of the New Inn, pictured, which has served patrons for around 300 years. They and residents of neighbouring villages invested via a newly formed community benefit society at £100 a share, with some investing thousands.
They exchanged contracts in September. With an additional £52,000 in grant funding provided by the Plunkett Foundation, which supports community ownership projects, an army of 75 volunteers set about renovating the neglected business.
The New Inn, a community owned pub in the Somerset village of Halse - Jay Williams
07:20 AM
Turkey's death toll returns to April levels
Turkish health ministry statistics show 93 people died in one day of Covid-19 amid a surge in infections, bringing the daily death toll to numbers last seen in April.
In figures released late Friday, the health ministry also reported 3,045 new confirmed cases among people presenting symptoms. Turkey has been under criticism for only releasing the number of symptomatic cases in its figures since late July and the total number of confirmed infections is unclear.
The figures also show an upward trend in the number of critically ill patients. The total death toll has reached 11,326.
Turkey lifted temporary weekend lockdowns in late May and reopened travel, restaurants and other businesses. Officials have been urging people to stay at home but new restrictions so far have been limited to curtailing the movement of senior citizens in Istanbul and Ankara, closing businesses at 10 pm and banning smoking in crowded public places across the country.
Police fine smokers in Ankara after Turkey banned smoking in outdoor public areas as part of restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 - AFP
07:14 AM
Closure of churches 'breaches human rights'
Closing churches is a breach of human rights, religious leaders have claimed, after launching legal action against the government.
More than 120 Church leaders are pursuing a judicial review over what they claim is the “unlawful” closure of religious buildings.
The claims will challenge the English and Welsh government’s regulations on church closures and come just days after religious leaders from a variety of faiths challenged the government's decision to ban “essential” communal worship during lockdown.
Investors should be wary of stock market's overreaction to vaccine news
A coronavirus vaccine breathed new life into the London stock market this week, as investors rushed to put money into firms that just days previously looked in danger of going bust. But savers need to be cautious about cheap-looking shares, experts have warned.
“Value” stocks – those whose prices had already been weak beforehand – were especially popular when the vaccine’s success was announced. Those hardest hit by the pandemic, such as Cineworld, Rolls-Royce and catering company SSP rose substantially on the day.
Enthusiasm tailed off by the end of the week, however, as savers began to appreciate that it might be some time before a vaccine became the silver bullet they craved. Those who quickly shifted their money into value stocks may have acted too soon, some professionals said.
Ukraine registered a record 12,524 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, its health minister said on Saturday, up from a high of 11,787 reported on Nov. 13.
Maksym Stepanov said the new cases had taken the total confirmed infections to 525,176, with 9,508 deaths.
05:21 AM
Three Australian states go a week without local transmissions
Australia's three most populous states on Saturday recorded at least a week with no local transmissions, boding well for the country's recovery from the pandemic after a flare-up marred an impressive early response.
Victoria recorded its 15th consecutive day of no new infections and no related deaths, two weeks after the state emerged from one of the world's longest and strictest lockdowns.
Neighbouring New South Wales saw seven days without local transmissions, while Queensland has had no new community infections for two months.
This latest data may mean Australia can record its first week of no local transmissions since the start of the pandemic as the rest of the country has not seen any cases for weeks or months.
Melbourne's aquarium reopened to the public on 13 November as the state of Victoria recorded zero new cases of coronavirus and zero deaths in two weeks - JAMES ROSS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
04:47 AM
News in brief from around the world
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is self-quarantining after his chief spokesperson tested positive and Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said he has tested positive as the virus surges to record levels across the US.
South Korea's soccer association says four players and a staff member of the men's national team have tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Austria for a friendly with Mexico.
The number of confirmed cases in Germany increased by 22,461 to 775,556, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Saturday.
Crematoriums in the Czech Republic are bursting at the seams as it became the hardest hit country in Europe in terms of new deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
02:36 AM
No US-wide lockdown, says Biden adviser
President-elect Joe Biden's top coronavirus adviser said on Friday there were no plans for a wholesale nationwide lockdown to curb the surge as three US West Coast states jointly called for a halt in non-essential travel.
The joint advisory from California, Oregon and Washington urging residents to avoid venturing out of state came as health experts voiced concerns that the coming holiday travel season would accelerate already alarming spikes in infections and hospitalisations.
The country's patchwork of measures will likely remain intact after Mr Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20 the head of the Democrat's coronavirus advisory board said.
"We're not in a place where we're saying shut the whole country down," Dr Vivek Murthy, a former US surgeon general, told ABC's "Good Morning America"."Right now the way we should be thinking about this is more like a series of restrictions that we dial up or down depending on how bad a spread is taking place in a specific region," he said.
Dr Murthy's comments were a sharp rebuttal to Mr Trump's repeated campaign assertions that Mr Biden was intent on locking down the country if he were elected president.
People line up for coronavirus tests at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles - Reuters
02:24 AM
South Korea's cases top 200 for first time in months
South Korea reported 205 new coronavirus cases as of Friday midnight, rising above 200 for the first time since September, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Saturday.
Of the new cases, 166 were domestically transmitted and 39 imported. More than 65 per cent of the locally transmitted cases were from Seoul and Gyeonggi province, a densely populated region near the capital.
The latest daily tally was slightly up from 191 a day before, taking the country's total number of infections to 28,338 deaths, according to the KDCA.
People take a pictures of a performance in which 300 drones fly in the night sky over the Olympic Park in eastern Seoul, South Korea - JEON HEON-KYUN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Christmas is set to be saved for families who want to see relatives abroad after Grant Shapps said tests to reduce quarantine time will be launched in December.
Prince Harry has reportedly extended an olive branch to King Charles and asked if the pair can meet during his upcoming visit to the UK and he received a 'four-word response'
A member of the Britain’s Got Talent audience has commented on the long-running rumours that a part of the hit entertainment show is faked each week for TV viewers
Jennifer Gothard won £10,000 on a £3 "triple cashword" scratchcard in March - but is still waiting for her winnings due to a new rule introduced by operator Allwynn
The US shared “gobsmacking” evidence with Britain at the height of the Covid pandemic suggesting a “high likelihood” that the virus had leaked from a Chinese lab, The Telegraph can reveal.
TV presenter Piers Morgan has claimed King Charles should sit down with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to discuss the pair's use of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles
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