Coronavirus news – live: Russia Covid vaccine branded ‘foolish’ as young people who vape found to be seven times more at risk

The NHS faces a “potentially catastrophic winter” if coronavirus cases creep back up at the traditional time of maximum pressure on the service, the NHS Confederation has warned. Its director, Dr Layla McCay, said staff were already “exhausted and overstretched”.

Elsewhere, Russia claims to have approved for use the first Covid-19 vaccine. Vladimir Putin said the jab, developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute, had received the green light from the country’s health ministry even as human trials were still going on. It will be called Sputnik V.

And globally, infections have passed 20 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. Deaths are approaching the 750,000 mark, while 12.3 million people have recovered.