As today’s live blog comes to an end, here is a round up of the top stories of the day:
UK news...
The risk of children catching coronavirus by returning to school is "incredibly small" compared to the "clear" chances of them being damaged by not going, England's chief medical officer has said.
Sixty police officers are undergoing coronavirus testing after an outbreak at two stations in Northern Ireland.
Four people have been arrested after police officers broke up an illegal party in Greater Manchester.
Birmingham Police have issued reminders of the need for social distancing after being called to more than 70 street and house parties and other unlicensed gatherings overnight.
News from around the world...
Several lawmakers in Germany have called for a temporarily ban on private parties, after the number of Covid-19 infections reached a four-month high.
In Ukraine, former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has tested positive for coronavirus and is in serious condition, her party’s spokeswoman confirmed on Sunday.
Jordan has sealed off both its border with Syria and a northern border town, in the latest episode of growing evidence that the outbreak in Syria is considerably worse than officially documented
Russia says it expects to produce between 1.5 million and 2 million doses per month of its potential Covid-19 vaccine by the year end
India reported 69,239 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections to over 3 million.
Police in Birmingham have reminded residents to adhere to social distancing, as the city attempts to curb the rise in coronavirus infections and avoid a local lockdown.
On Saturday, police were called to more than 70 street and house parties and other unlicensed gatherings overnight - including one party which involved two marquees and a DJ.
The force tweeted: “Our officers are out tonight responding to calls about large gatherings. Please stick to Government guidelines and keep safe”.
The warnings follow growing concerns about the rising number of cases within the city. Birmingham, which is the second most populous city in the UK, has seen infection rates increase to 32.1 per 100,000 in recent days.
Earlier this week, Gareth Morris, a West Midlands Police superintendent warned that the city could be facing a local lockdown if cases spiraled out of control.
He said: “Many lockdown measures have been relaxed, but if new cases rise we will undoubtedly face the potential of stepping back into those restrictions. We all must do what we can to avoid another lockdown”.
Fines of up to £10,000 for organisers of illegal raves will come into force in England ahead of the bank holiday as authorities clamp down on unlawful gatherings.
Officers across the country have responded to a surge in unlicensed music events in recent weeks. Most notably, police in Huddersfield broke up an illegal rave involving about 300 people.
Meanwhile, West Yorkshire Police say they were called to the gathering in Deighton, where missiles were thrown at officers.
04:24 PM
Reopening schools did not result in Covid hospitalisations among children, PHE data shows
Schools reopening in June did not lead to a single child being hospitalised with Covid-19, new figures from Public Health England show.
The data reveals that despite more than 1.6 million youngsters returning to education, just 70 children tested positive for the virus, and none needed hospital treatment.
In contrast, 128 staff members were diagnosed with the virus, and PHE said most of the transmission had come from adults. Schools have been told to improve their hygiene to prevent outbreaks.
Our Science Editor, Sarah Knapton has the latest here.
04:13 PM
Comment: 'What Rishi Sunak must do to support the economy and create more jobs'
The Chancellor needs to make it cheaper and easier for businesses to employ people, argues John Timpson.
The coronavirus pandemic has taught many organisations to become more flexible in the way they manage their day-to-day operations. Government needs to learn the same lesson.
We suffer from ministers and administrators who micromanage the country, instead of providing trust and support to the population as we adjust to the massive changes occurring in 2020.
We don’t need more of the nit-picking lockdown rule-making that led to zoos remaining shut while IKEA was open, and masks worn in our golf club’s professional shop, but not in the clubhouse.
I hope the Government has noticed that the private sector has undergone an enormous amount of reorganisation without needing statutory regulations to tell it what to do.
The jobs market will change dramatically over the next 12 months, regardless of official action. Some sectors, such as home delivery, e-commerce and IT in the home, are booming, while most firms connected to travel are in the doldrums.
Watch: Covid-19 vaccine might not arrive before end of 2021, says Chris Witty
England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Witty says he is "confident" in the ability of science but warns that a vaccine might not arrive before the end of 2021.
Click the video below for his full comments.
03:38 PM
UK: 1,041 new coronavirus cases reported
The UK recorded 1,041 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, down 247 from 1,288 on Saturday.
A further six people have died after testing positive for coronavirus, compared to 18 deaths recorded on Saturday, bringing the total death toll to 41,429.
On Saturday, the global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 800,000, according to a Reuters tally.
03:15 PM
60 police officers tested for coronavirus in Northern Ireland
Sixty police officers are undergoing coronavirus testing after an outbreak at two stations in Northern Ireland.
A total of eight have been diagnosed with the infection, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.
The number testing and self-isolating has increased from 51 on Saturday.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: "Yesterday we confirmed that eight of our officers had tested positive for Covid-19. This number has not increased.
"However, the number of officers who are currently self-isolating and undergoing testing for Covid-19 has increased from 51 yesterday to 60 officers today.
"In line with public health guidance, we are taking all appropriate steps to address and manage the issue.
"While we hope to return frontline officers to their duties in the coming days, our officers' health and welfare is of paramount importance and we will ensure they return to duty when it is safe to do so."
Antrim and Newtownabbey stations have since been closed for deep cleaning.
02:50 PM
Wales: Covid death toll rises to 1,592
A further two coronavirus deaths have been recorded by Public Health Wales, bringing the country's total death toll to 1,592.
17,727 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Wales, an increase of 20 in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile in Scotland, 83 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the past 24 hours.
The country’s total caseload now stands at 19,811, while the death toll is unchanged at 2,492.
02:42 PM
‘Digital joyriding’ surges in lockdown as muggers target children's online accounts
Street muggings have doubled in recent months fuelled by teenagers targeting other schoolchildren for smartphones, which they then use to ‘digitally joyride’ on their apps and social media.
The terrifying new phenomenon has seen victims as young as 12 being robbed by gangs of older youths who not only steal their devices, but also force them to hand over passwords and PIN codes.
They then use their smartphones to gain access to online accounts such as music and TV streaming services as well as the youngster’s social media profiles.
Experts believe the spike in offences is being driven by gangs of youths who are motivated as much by boredom as they are financial gain - Philip Toscano/PA
In some cases they then taunt their victims by posing as them online to send embarrassing and offensive messages to people in their contacts list.
Known as ‘digital joyriding’, the activity is thought to have helped fuel a 97 per cent increase in muggings and street robberies since lockdown was eased.
Click here, to read the full story by Martin Evans and Max Stephens.
02:26 PM
Illegal rave attended by more than 150 people broken up by police
An illegal rave attended by more than 150 young people was broken up by police on Saturday night.
The gathering was at Entwistle reservoir, located between Blackburn and Bolton, both areas where extra restrictions are in place due to the pandemic.
The man who organised the event was later arrested by officers .
Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods, of Lancashire Police, tweeted: "Disappointed to see illegal rave started at Entwistle reservoir overnight.Force resources mobilised & it was stopped quickly."
Disappointed to see illegal rave started at Entwistle reservoir overnight.Force resources mobilised & it was stopped quickly.Organiser identified at scene,arrested,his van & all sound/other equipment seized. 150 plus young people now off back to families to possibly pass virus on pic.twitter.com/QrFsT6bw7y
Many took to social media to condemn the actions of the partygoers.
Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health at Lancashire County Council, tweeted: "Unacceptable behaviour by organiser. 1000s of young people & households are sacrificing their freedom whilst a small minority behave irresponsibly. Please please avoid social mixing."
"Serious consequences to our health and economy if this leads to more cases."
02:08 PM
Germany: Lawmakers call for ban on private parties as coronavirus cases rise
Several lawmakers in Germany have called for a temporarily ban on private parties, after the number of Covid-19 infections reached a four-month high.
In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS) newspaper, Saskia Esken, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said: “We must not risk that day care centres and schools will close again and that children are forced to remain at home for weeks because we have accepted higher infection rates due to lax rules at family parties.”
Ralph Brinkhaus, leader of the CDU/CSU conservative parliamentary bloc, added: “Unfortunately since the start of summer a certain recklessness has spread.”
Earlier today, leading German health experts and politicians called for a change in the country's testing strategy due to a dwindling stock of coronavirus tests.
Politician and health expert Karl Lauterbach took to Twitter on Sunday to warn that tests are not being replenished at the same rate they are being used, which "will become a huge problem in the coming weeks".
As of Sunday, Germany has recorded 232,854 cases of the virus and 9,269 deaths, compared to the UK's 324,601 cases and 41,423 deaths.
01:44 PM
Ukraine: Former PM tests positive for coronavirus
Former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has tested positive for coronavirus and is in serious condition, her party’s spokeswoman confirmed on Sunday.
The 59 year old has become the first high-profile Ukrainian politician known to have contracted coronavirus.
"Her condition is assessed as serious, her temperature is up to 39 (Celsius)," the spokeswoman for her Fatherland party said. It is not yet known whether the former PM has been hospitalised.
On Saturday, the country recorded 2,328 new infections bringing the total caseload to 104,958 , while 2,271 Covid deaths have been recorded.
01:28 PM
Watch: Parents give their take on schools reopening
The risk of children catching coronavirus by returning to school is "incredibly small" compared to the "clear" chances of them being damaged by not going, England's chief medical officer has said.
Professor Chris Whitty said that while the risk to children of Covid-19 from returning to school was "not zero" the evidence that not going to school damages children in the long run was "overwhelming".
Analysis by Public Health England has also revealed that there were just 30 outbreaks of coronavirus and 67 recorded infections in English schools after they reopened in June.
The report, published on Sunday, said the reopening of schools following the easing of national lockdown was associated with a total of 198 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 70 in children and 128 in staff.
There were 67 single confirmed cases, four "co-primary" cases and 30 outbreaks of Covid-19 in schools during June, it added.
Watch the video below to hear from parents as they prepare to send their children back to school in September.
01:11 PM
Jordan seals off border amid fears outbreak in Syria is worse than reported
Jordan has sealed off both its border with Syria and a northern border town, in the latest episode of growing evidence that the outbreak in Syria is considerably worse than officially documented, reports Abbie Cheeseman.
The main border town of Ramtha was isolated last week, according to the state news agency, after a day of recording half of the national cases.
Syria’s war-battered healthcare system is ill-equipped to deal with the virus and has been largely left to spread uncontrolled in regime-held areas of the country.
An investigation into the outbreak by Syria in Context and Imperial College London has found that for every Covid–19 death reported in Damascus, their modelling finds an extra 50-100 unreported deaths.
As of Wednesday, the Damascus region had officially recorded 1,251 active cases. Numbers from Syria in Context’s investigation plugged into Imperial’s model estimates that Damascus alone has an estimated 60,000 -100,000 active infections.
People get their temperature checked in the Syrian capital Damascus - LOUAI BESHARA/AFP
According to the latest UN update, just 509 tests are being conducted per day. “With testing limited and hospitals in the capital overburdened, doctors have taken to social media to diagnose those afflicted with COVID in Damascus.
Through Facebook groups and pages, doctors in Syria and abroad are running small projects designed to provide information, diagnosis and advice,” the investigation read.
Even within the official numbers recorded by the Ministry of Health, coronavirus infections are rapidly on the rise in regime-held areas. Last week Syria registered 600 cases, more than it had registered in the first five months of the pandemic.
The situation in areas outside of regime control appears to be less extreme, though in the northeast of the country - an area controlled by a US-coalition of Kurdish and other forces - the official numbers have seen an 81 per cent rise in cases over the last week.
The rapid spread of cases in the region is again thought to be out of pace with the official numbers, according to Syria in Context’s investigation.
12:47 PM
India: More than 3 million coronavirus cases reported
India reported 69,239 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections to over 3 million.
The country’s caseload now stands at 3.04 million, behind Brazil and the United States.
The number of Covid deaths rose by 92 to 56,706, federal health ministry data showed.
12:23 PM
EU trade commissioner issues a 'profound' apology after breaking lockdown rules
EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan apologised on Sunday as he faced calls to resign for attending an Irish parliamentary golf society dinner which breached Covid-19 guidelines.
The event - attended by a cabinet minister, a supreme court judge and swathes of lawmakers - was held on Wednesday, just 24 hours after the government announced new coronavirus restrictions.
Hogan faced pressure from Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin to "consider his position" after the revelations he was one of the 82 attendees at the dinner.
In the face of a fresh surge in cases the government specifically said there should be no "formal or informal events or parties" at hotel restaurants.
1) I wish to apologise fully and unreservedly for attending the Oireachtas golf society dinner on Wednesday night last.
The dinner has sparked a series of resignations at the top tier of Irish politics and prompted Martin to recall parliament on Sunday. "I wish to apologise fully and unreservedly for attending," Hogan said in a statement. "I acknowledge my actions have touched a nerve for the people of Ireland, something for which I am profoundly sorry."
Irish Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary and deputy chair of parliament's upper chamber Jerry Buttimer have both already resigned for attending the event.
Hogan previously said he had been assured the dinner would comply with government coronavirus guidelines and did not offer an apology.
On Saturday, Martin and deputy prime minister Leo Varadkar - the head of Fine Gael, the party for which Hogan previously served as a lawmaker - said in a joint statement that "the commissioner's apology came late" and that he needed to "give a full account and explanations of his actions".
12:02 PM
Four arrested after police break up house party in Manchester
Four people have been arrested after police officers broke up an illegal party in Greater Manchester.
Around 50 people were at the gathering at a house, which had a gazebo set up with loud speakers, music equipment and party lights, Greater Manchester Police said.
While police were dealing with the incident, which took place at 10pm on Saturday night, a man threw an object at the window of a police vehicle and damaged the wing mirror of a second police vehicle, before attempting to flee.
The 33 year old man was pursued on foot and a Taser was discharged before he was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
Greater Manchester has been hit by increased rates of coronavirus and in recent days, enhanced restrictions have been imposed on residents.
Chief Inspector Steph Parker, of GMP's Bolton District, said: "This is an utterly shameful incident that the Farnworth and wider Bolton community should totally condemn."
"At a time when the vast majority of Greater Manchester and the country as a whole is pulling together, it is appalling that our officers are still having to attend incidents such as this.
"The people involved should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. They are literally putting lives at risk and causing further pressure on our hard-working emergency services.
"Not content with their disgraceful behaviour, they have also damaged two police vehicles."
Watch: 'Overwhelming' evidence that missing school damages children in long run, says Prof Chris Whitty
The risk of children catching coronavirus by returning to school is "incredibly small" compared to the "clear" chances of them being damaged by not going, England's chief medical officer has said.
Professor Chris Whitty said that while the risk to children of Covid-19 from returning to school was "not zero", the evidence that not going to school damages children in the long run was "overwhelming".
Not re-entering normal education "increases the risk that they have mental and physical ill health in the long run," he added.
11:26 AM
Lebanon: Covid infections double to 12,191 following deadly blast
Hit by multiple crises at once, the poverty rate in Lebanon has almost doubled in the last year, reports Abbie Cheeseman.
According to estimates from a new UN report, over 55 per cent of the country’s population is now trapped in poverty.
With a rapidly collapsing economy, a crumbling healthcare system and on the back of one of the world’s largest non-nuclear explosions, in the space of a year Lebanon has quickly descended towards a humanitarian catastrophe.
As Lebanon battles with its faltering infrastructure and overlapping crises, an alarming rate of new coronavirus cases have been recorded since the August 4 explosion.
A priest stands by fireworks during the funeral of Joe Bou Saab, one of the nine firefighters and one paramedic who lost their lives attending the explosion at Beirut Port, in Damour, Lebanon - Sam Tarling/Sam Tarling
Infections have more than doubled to 12,191 since the deadly blasts left hundreds of thousands homeless, prompted mass-clean ups and protests on the streets, and forced thousands to surge hospitals, less than three weeks ago.
Since Thursday Lebanon, a country half the size of Wales, has been recording over 600 cases a day.
The country’s situation is “unbearable,” Health Minister, Hamad Hassan, told local radio earlier in the week.
In July, the labour minister, Lamia Yammine Douaihy, announced the unemployment rate had risen beyond 30 per cent.
An estimated 70,000 further people were left unemployed from the blasts. As Lebanon re-entered full lockdown on Friday in an attempt to curb the soaring virus rates, the economic situation is only set to worsen.
11:09 AM
In pictures: Birmingham police break up more than 70 illegal gatherings
Birmingham Police have issued reminders of the need for social distancing after being called to more than 70 street and house parties and other unlicensed gatherings overnight.
The force tweeted that they had dispersed dozens of parties, including one at Northfield on the outskirts of Birmingham that included two marquees and a DJ.
"Everyone packed up and went home after we arrived," they tweeted. "Please understand we are still in a pandemic."
In a separate tweet, the force said officers had "responded to over 70 street and house parties and other unlicensed events" on Saturday night.
Fines of up to £10,000 for organisers of illegal raves will come into force in England ahead of the bank holiday as authorities clamp down on unlawful gatherings.
Drone images show more than 200 revellers flouting restrictions by holding raves for the second weekend in a row in Birmingham - Superintendent Jack Hadley / SWNS.COM/SWNS A street rave with marquees and a DJ in the Northfield area of Birmingham - SWNS.com/SWNS- Cambridge A street rave with marquees and a DJ in the Northfield area of Birmingham - SWNS- Cambridge/SWNS.com
11:05 AM
Germany: Health experts warn of pending coronavirus test shortage
Leading German health experts and politicians have called for a change in the country's testing strategy due to a dwindling stock of coronavirus tests, reports Daniel Wighton.
Politician and health expert Karl Lauterbach took to Twitter on Sunday to warn that tests are not being replenished at the same rate they are being used, which "will become a huge problem in the coming weeks".
"In autumn we will have to clearly prioritise who gets a test."
The politician was responding to a warning from Berlin’s chief virologist Christian Drosten, who has called for free mandatory coronavirus tests at airports to be discontinued.
Testing has been mandatory at airports for all returnees from so-called high-risk areas in Germany since early August, with the federal government picking up the bill.
Drosten said that a worldwide demand for reagents and consumables is the reason for the upcoming shortage.
People travel with protective mask in the public transportation in Berlin - NurPhoto/NurPhoto
Drosten, along with a team of experts from various laboratories, penned a letter to Berlin's Mayor Michael Müller ahead of a crisis meeting on Friday to warn that tests were running out, with the impacts especially serious for care facilities.
"(Currently) diagnostics cannot be carried out as part of the planned testing of nursing staff in old people's and nursing homes”.
Lauterbach said on Sunday that the problem was "not limited to Berlin but affects all of Germany".
Germany's aggressive coronavirus testing strategy has been seen as a major reason for the country's success in fighting the virus, particularly its low mortality rate.
As of Sunday, Germany has recorded 232,854 cases of the virus and 9,269 deaths, compared to the UK's 324,601 cases and 41,423 deaths.
10:56 AM
Russia hopes to produce up to 6 million doses of its vaccine each month
Russia expects to produce between 1.5 million and 2 million doses per month of its potential Covid-19 vaccine by the year end, Reuters has reported.
The country hopes to gradually ramp up production to 6 million doses a month, the RIA news agency cited industry minister Denis Manturov as saying on Sunday.
Large-scale testing of the vaccine, which was developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya institute, is scheduled to begin in Russia next week.
Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had approved the world’s first coronavirus vaccine.
Moscow hailed the speedy development of the vaccine as evidence of its medical prowess, but scientists have raised concerns about a lack of testing and transparency.
10:37 AM
The Philippines: Covid death toll rises to 2,998
The Philippines recorded 2,378 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, its smallest daily spike in nearly four weeks.
The country’s total caseload stands at 189,601, while 32 more people have died from coronavirus taking the death toll to 2,998.
67 Covid cases recorded in schools in June, according to Public Health England analysis
There were 30 outbreaks of coronavirus and 67 recorded infections in English schools after they reopened, analysis has found.
A Public Health England report, published on Sunday, said the reopening of schools following the easing of national lockdown was associated with a total of 198 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 70 in children and 128 in staff.
There were 67 single confirmed cases, four "co-primary" cases and 30 outbreaks of Covid-19 in schools during June, it added.
A total of 121 cases were linked to the outbreaks, 30 in children and 91 in staff, the analysis said.
Co-primary cases were defined as two or more confirmed cases with a common epidemiological link diagnosed at the same time, while outbreaks were defined as two or more epidemiologically linked cases where subsequent cases were diagnosed within 14 days.
Outbreaks were usually small in size and more than half (53 per cent) involved just one secondary case, the analysis said.
The report said there was a "strong correlation" between community coronavirus incidence and risk of outbreaks in educational settings, even during a period of low Covid-19 incidence.
Children eating lunch in segregated positions at Kempsey Primary School in Worcester - Jacob King/PA
09:52 AM
US: Donald Trump accuses Food and Drug Administration of delaying coronavirus vaccine
Donald Trump has accused the US Food and Drug Administration of preventing pharmaceutical companies from finding people to test coronavirus vaccines on.
The US president suggested "deep state" elements at the FDA wanted to delay a vaccine until after the election.
Mr Trump wrote on Twitter: “The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics.
The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives! @SteveFDA
The president addressed his tweet to Stephen Hahn, the Commissioner of the FDA.
Earlier this week a senior official, Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, threatened to resign if a vaccine was rushed through for approval.
He said: "I could not stand by and see something that was unsafe or ineffective that was being put through. You have to decide where your red line is, and that’s my red line."
09:35 AM
More countries at risk of joining quarantine list as cases rise across Europe
A handful of European countries could be removed from the UK's shrinking quarantine-free list as new cases rise across the continent.
The Czech Republic reported 506 positive tests on Friday, its highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic, while Switzerland has seen new cases climb above 300 a day twice this week, a four-month record.
Both countries, along with Iceland, are edging perilously close to the UK's quarantine threshold of 20 per 100,000 residents over a one-week period (17.4, 19.3 and 18.8, respectively).
Three other countries, the Faroe Islands (88 per 100,000), Gibraltar (71.2) and Liechtenstein (21) have already crossed the threshold, so could also find themselves entering the quarantine conversation next week.
For all of the latest travel news, check out our live travel blog here.
09:11 AM
Indonesia reports highest Covid death toll in Southeast Asia
Indonesia reported 2,037 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing its total caseload to 153,535.
A further 86 new deaths were recorded on Sunday, taking the total death toll to 6,680 - the highest Covid death toll in Southeast Asia.
08:54 AM
Peru: 13 crushed to death trying to flee illegal party in nightclub
At least 13 people were crushed to death or asphyxiated trying to flee from a Lima nightclub raided by police because it was open in violation of Covid restrictions, Reuters have reported.
National police and government officials said that at least six people were injured - including three police officers - as around 120 people attempted to escape from the Thomas Restobar club on Saturday night.
An Interior Ministry statement said that attendees attempted to exit through the only entrance door and became trapped between the door and a staircase leading to the street.
08:49 AM
Italy ‘not considering’ new lockdown, despite rising Covid cases
The Italian government is not considering a new lockdown to curb coronavirus infections, Health Minister Roberto Speranza has said.
In an interview with daily newspaper La Stampa, Mr Speranza said: “We will not have a new lockdown.”
He added: “I am optimistic, although prudent. Our national health service has become much stronger.”
The minister also argued that the country’s current situation could not be compared to February and March, when the disease was spreading out of control and it was difficult to track and isolate infected people.
On Saturday, Italy reported 1,071 new coronavirus infections, exceeding 1,000 cases in a day for the first time since May.
Children at greater risk not attending school, England's chief medical officer has said
The risk of children catching coronavirus by returning to school is "incredibly small" compared to the "clear" chances of them being damaged by not going, England's chief medical officer has said.
Professor Chris Whitty said that while the risk to children of Covid-19 from returning to school was "not zero" the evidence that not going to school damages children in the long run was "overwhelming".
His comments to reporters on Saturday come as he joined the UK's chief and deputy chief medical officers to issue a joint statement on schools and childcare reopening.
Prof Whitty said the statement was not guidance to parents but laying out the evidence of "things we know with confidence, the things that we think are probable and also some of the things we don't know and making clear there is always some residual risk".
In their joint statement the chief and deputy chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said there were "no risk-free options" but school attendance was very important.
08:25 AM
Children aged 12 and over should wear masks, say WHO and UNICEF
The World Health Organization has said that children aged 12 and over should wear masks to help tackle the pandemic.
In a document published on the WHO website dated August 21, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund said that children aged 12 and over should wear masks when a one-metre distance from others cannot be guaranteed and there is widespread transmission in the area.
Kids wearing masks to protect against coronavirus, play beside the water-filled barriers outside the Hong Kong Government Office in Hong Kong - Kin Cheung/AP
The two organisations said that whether children between six and 11 needed to wear masks depended on a range of factors including: the child’s ability to use the mask, the intensity of transmission in the area, access to masks and adequate adult supervision.
Children aged five years and under should not be required to wear masks based on the safety and overall interest of the child, the WHO and UNICEF said.
08:06 AM
No Covid vaccine before winter of 2021, warns Chief Medical Officer
The Chief Medical Officer has warned the UK it is unlikely there will be a vaccine to deal with coronavirus before the winter of 2021.
Chris Whitty has warned the public it could take another year before a safe vaccine is developed and ready for widespread distribution.
He said he would be “surprised” if an effective vaccine which could be used for most of the population would be ready before this Christmas.
Professor Whitty’s words of warning will come as a disappointment to people hoping the development of a vaccine would soon allow the country to return to normal after the upheaval, restrictions and economic chaos caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The number of coronavirus cases in Germany has increased by 782 to 232,864, according to the latest data from the Robert Koch Institute.
A further 2 coronavirus deaths have also been confirmed, bringing the country’s total death toll to 9,269.
07:38 AM
Today’s front page
Here is a quick look at today’s Sunday Telegraph.
Today’s front page leads with the news that Boris Johnson has told allies that failing "to reopen schools is not an option".
His comments follow the news that the UK’s four chief medical officers have issued a joint endorsement of the Government’s drive to get every pupil back into the classroom next week.
Prof Chris Whitty and his Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish counterparts will state that children are at far less risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19 and have an “exceptionally small risk of dying”.
Click here to read the full story by our Political Correspondent, Harry Yorke.
Covid-19 can survive on frozen meat and fish for up to three weeks, a study has found, as scientists warn that contaminated food may cause outbreaks.
Individual pieces of salmon, chicken and pork from supermarkets in Singapore were sliced into cubes then a sample of the virus was added to them.
The meat and fish was stored in conditions which simulate those used to transport food between countries - 4C (standard refrigeration temperature) and minus 20C (standard freezing temperature).
Scientists found that infectious Covid-19 was still present on the samples after 21 days.
Cases have levelled off in India's two largest cities, New Delhi and Mumbai.
New hotspots continue to feed surges in cases in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states in India's north, and in the southern states of Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
03:59 AM
Australian baby boy contracts coronavirus
The Australian state of Queensland recorded two new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, including a baby boy.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the boy, whose age and other details have not been released, was doing "very well".
The baby is a family member of one of the cases linked to the outbreak at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre, where six people were confirmed infected.
Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, reported four new cases on Sunday.
Australia's central bank expects the national accounts, to be released on September 2, will show the nation has suffered its first recession in nearly 30 years with two quarters of negative growth.
03:51 AM
Victorian cases back above 200
Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton is hopeful - JAMES ROSS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Cases of coronavirus in the Australian state of Victoria reached more than 200 for the first time in three days.
Victoria reported 208 new cases and 17 deaths on Sunday.
The latest fatalities took Australia's national toll to 502 and Victoria's to 415.
Victoria Chief Health Officer Professor Peter Sutton said the overall trend in the state was positive.
"Next week, if we carry on like this, we'll see numbers below 150," he said.
03:07 AM
Fears over speed of spread in South Korea
South Korea has 397 new coronavirus cases - in a 10th day of triple-digit increases, as the speed of viral spread nears the levels seen during the worst of the outbreak in spring.
The resurgence, which began in the densely populated capital before spreading to practically every major city and provincial town over the past week, is a major setback for the country that had been eager to tout its hard-won gains against the virus.
A disinfection worker sprays antiseptic at Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea - Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Sunday's jump in infections marked the third consecutive day they have crossed 300. Most of the new cases come from the Seoul area, home to half of the country's 51 million population where health workers have struggled to trace contacts tied to places likes churches, schools, restaurants and work.
Birmingham Police have issued reminders of the need for social distancing after being called to more than 70 street and house parties and other unlicensed gatherings overnight.
The force tweeted that they had dispersed dozens of parties, including one at Northfield on the outskirts of Birmingham that included two marquees and a DJ.
"Everyone packed up and went home after we arrived," they tweeted.
"Please understand we are still in a pandemic."
Everyone packed up and went home after we arrived - thank you for complying. Please understand we are still in a pandemic #OpReliantpic.twitter.com/ESStwdzBkM
Fines of up to £10,000 for organisers of illegal raves will come into force in England ahead of the bank holiday as authorities clamp down on unlawful gatherings.
Officers across the country have responded to a surge in unlicensed music events in recent weeks amid warm weather and an easing of lockdown restrictions.
Tougher measures targeting those breaching coronavirus regulations with large gatherings will come into effect on Friday, ahead of the August bank holiday weekend.
Care homes 'pushed' into accepting coronavirus patients
Nursing homes were pressured into accepting patients with coronavirus while simultaneously being refused treatment for residents by hospitals and GPs, according to research.
A report by the Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI) found homes were told hospitals had a blanket "no admissions" policy at the height of the pandemic.
The QNI, a charity which focuses on the improvement of nursing care of people in their own home, found care home residents were regularly refused treatment in April and May.
Published by the Independent, the research found GPs and local managers in some homes had placed unlawful do-not-resuscitate orders on residents.
Boris Johnson has told allies that “failure to reopen schools is not an option” as the UK’s four chief medical officers issue a joint endorsement of the Government’s drive to get every pupil back into the classroom next week.
Prof Chris Whitty and his Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish counterparts will state that children are at far less risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19 and have an “exceptionally small risk of dying”.
In an interview due to be broadcast on Sunday, Prof Whitty says the threat posed by coronavirus to children pales in comparison with the “disparities” and “deep-rooted problems” that come with continuing to keep them at home.
France warns virus is spreading largely among younger people
Visitors wait to enter the Louvre in Paris - REUTERS/Charles Platiau
Coronavirus in France is circulating four times more among people under the age of 40 than those over 65, France's health minister said.
But he warned that contamination was on the rise among the elderly and more vulnerable too.
"We're in a risky situation," Olivier Veran said.
Like President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Veran ruled out the need for another total lockdown to combat the spread of the disease. But he said localised measures could be taken as cases grow in France and elsewhere.
"This is not a French exception, it's a European dynamic," he said.
France reported a 3,602 hike in new infections on Saturday, a smaller rise than the previous day. Earlier in the week, however, the number of daily cases reached a post-lockdown high.
Mr Veran said the cross-contamination between groups of the population - younger people between the ages of two and 40 and their elders - was already taking place.
Parties and gatherings where social distancing rules were not being respected were now the main source of contagion, as opposed to earlier in the summer when it had been in the workplace.
In many cases, younger carriers of the virus were asymptomatic or suffered fewer complications.
A new report from Europe’s main health agency shows Covid-19 case numbers are tracking up, raising the possibility of an impending second wave for Europe
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