Leeds added to 'areas of concern' list after spike in cases
Dominic Penna
·72-min read
A sign calling for the wearing of face-masks in shops is displayed in the city centre of Leeds, on July 23, 2020, as lockdown restrictions continue to be eased during the novel coronavirus pandemic - Oli Scarff/AFP
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05:58 PM
What happened today
Good evening. We'll be back tomorrow with more live global health security coverage. Here's a rundown the key coronavirus developments from across the UK and the world:
Leeds was among the locations designated as 'areas of concern' following a spike in the city's coronavirus cases. South Tyneside, Corby, Middlesbrough and Kettering were also added to the Public Health England watchlist.
Bolton recorded the highest rate of coronavirus infections in England in the seven days up to September 1, while infections in the UK reached 1,940 - their highest level since late May - with 10 further virus-related fatalities.
The World Health Organisation special envoy David Nabarro told Times Radio that a Covid-19 vaccine may not be ready until 2022.
Director-general of the organiastion Dr Tedros Adhanom struck a more optimistic note when he said that there was a "good number of promising vaccines", with a third WHO official expressing hope that a vaccine could arrive by mid-2021.
Spain came close to clocking half a million coronavirus cases on Friday after authorities registered 4,503 new infections, bringing the total to 498,989.
The reproduction number - or R rate - of Covid-19 transmission across the UK may still be above one, according to data released today which shows that the current R estimate across the UK is between 0.9 and 1.1,
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has conceded that work from home policies have "enhanced people's quality of life in many, many ways", but insisted that long-term construction projects such as HS2 would still be essential going forward.
A drive-in coronavirus testing centre is now up and runnng at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, with tests taking just 20 minutes to process.
And Japan's government said it will take on cost of inoculating its citizens if and when a vaccine is produced, as it aims to continue to curb the spread of the virus.
UK quarantine policy 'in tatters': Your Friday evening news briefing
Your evening guide to all the biggest and latest headlines comes from Chris Price - as Grant Shapps admits that divergent quarantine policies across UK are 'confusing', and a man who was not wearing a mask on a train is charged after wrestling with police.
And if audio is more your thing, sign up for two-minute updates from The Briefing
05:39 PM
University coronavirus outbreaks 'highly likely', warns Sage
A new document released by Sage today has said that significant Covid-19 outbreaks linked to universities are "highly likely" and could risk accentuating the spread of the virus nationwide.
The document suggests the wearing of face coverings in campus buildings and reducing in-person interactions as means of reducing the spread of the virus.
The newest Sage paper adds:
Students who are residents in university accommodation should be segmented as far as possible to co-locate courses or year groups, to minimise networks between different parts of an institution.
There is a significant risk that HE (Higher Education) could amplify local and national transmission, and this requires national oversight.
05:32 PM
Greater Manchester lockdown restrictions to ease, confirms Matt Hancock
Coronavirus restrictions are to be eased in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.
Gymnasiums, pools and other sport facilities will have permission to open from Tuesday onwards in the remaining areas of Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford and Leicester.
Elsewhere casinos, bowling alleys, ice rinks, exhibition halls, conference centres and indoor play premises can lawfully reopen from Tuesday throughout Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, with the exception of Bolton.
South Tyneside, Corby, Middlesbrough and Kettering have been added to Public Health England's watchlist of 'areas of concern' in addition to Leeds, Mr Hancock confirmed.
05:27 PM
UK schools reopening: High classroom attendance reported in first week back
The majority of headteachers are reporting a high attendance among pupils in England returning to the classroom this week, with more than 80 per cent having returned.
Schools in England have begun welcoming back students in all year groups for the start of the autumn term, with the remainder due to open next week.
Early indications from a poll, by the school leaders union' NAHT, suggest around nine in ten (92 per cent) schools have had more than 80 per cent of pupils attend.
The survey, of more 840 school leaders on Friday, found that top reasons for pupils not attending school were that they were in quarantine following a trip abroad, were still on holiday, or were unwell with an illness other than Covid-19.
05:21 PM
Wuhan virus update: 7,000 students gather for commencement ceremony
Students at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology have today attended a commencement ceremony in a gymnasium in Wuhan.
The capital of China's central Hubei province was where Covid-19 first surfaced, and emerged as a ground zero of the pandemic amid scenes of beleaguered healthcare facilities and community devastation.
Students at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology attend a commencement ceremony in a gymnasium in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province on September 4, 2020. - STR/AFP
There was also recent outrage after the World Health Organisation went on a three-week mission to China - but did not pay Wuhan a visit, despite the fact that many of the very first coronavirus cases were linked to a seafood market there.
05:12 PM
Airport coronavirus tests should be used to cut quarantine, says David Davis
Former Brexit Secretary David Davis has said that the introduction of on-the-spot Covid-19 testing at airports in the UK would cut quarantine down to just five days.
Passengers would receive their results in the space of only two hours, and would then be able to take another test following five days' isolation to confirm a negative result, he told BBC Radio 4's The Week in Westminster.
The Government has thus far resisted calls for airport testing, with the Prime Minister Boris Johnson this afternoon claiming that it would lead to a "false sense of security".
05:10 PM
Bolton coronavirus update sees town leading national UK case rates
Bolton recorded the highest rate of coronavirus infections in England in the seven days up to September 1, according to analysis by the PA news agency:
In Bolton, 265 new cases were recorded in the seven days to September 1 - the equivalent of 92.2 per 100,000 people.
This is the highest rate in England and it is up sharply from 18.8 in the seven days to August 25.
The rate in Rossendale has also increased sharply, from 16.8 to 71.3 with 51 new cases.
Pendle is in third place, where the rate has risen from 58.6 to 69.5 with 64 new cases.
In Bradford the rate has jumped from 42.8 to 63.2, with 341 new cases.
Other areas recording notable week-on-week jumps include Leeds, Salford, South Tyneside, Tameside, and Wirral.
Matt Hancock made the decision to reimpose restrictions in Greater Manchester hours after they were lifted following a “significant change” in the spread of Covid-19.
05:01 PM
Asylum seeker hostel sees Covid-19 outbreak
A Covid-19 outbreak at an asylum seekers' hostel in Birmingham has seen a total of 56 staff and residents test positive for coronavirus.
The Stone Road Asylum Centre in Edgbaston, which is ran by Serco, has subsequently closed until further notice, Birmingham City Council said.
City Council leader Ian Ward said the hostel was also one of only three sites in Birmingham given a direction order, which forces affected premises to toughen their coronavirus restrictions.
Only two other notices have been issued in Birmingham since the measures came into force last week, amid concerns over a rising infection rate.
Last Friday saw the Tipu Sultan restaurant receive a direction order for hosting "significantly more than the Government guidance of a maximum of 30" as part of one party.
04:55 PM
Coronavirus vaccine latest: WHO issues 2022 warning but says 'good number' of vaccine candidates
The World Health Organisation special envoy David Nabarro has told Times Radio in the last few minutes that a Covid-19 vaccine may not be ready until 2022.
Meanwhile the director-general of the organiastion Dr Tedros Adhanom struck a more optimistic note when he said that there was a "good number of promising vaccines".
He added: "They will only be used when they are found to be effective and safe".
This brings the total of nations involved in the scheme - which aims to guarantee fair access among richer and less wealthy countries to a jab on its arrival - to 170.
04:48 PM
Spain coronavirus cases approach half a million
Spain came close to clocking half a million coronavirus cases on Friday after authorities registered 4,503 new infections, bringing the total to 498,989 - the highest caseload in western Europe.
The second wave in Spain has been considerably less deadly than the first, however, with infections also having slowed from a daily peak of more than 10,000 this time last week.
The Health Ministry reported 19 deaths on Friday, bringing the total up to 29,148. At the peak of the virus in Europe, Spain would regularly log more than 800 daily virus deaths.
Work from home has enhanced quality of life 'in many, many ways', Johnson concedes
Boris Johnson has conceded that work from home policies have "enhanced people's quality of life in many, many ways" but claimed HS2 would be essential for future years.
On a visit to Solihull in the West Midlands to mark the formal start of construction on the fast-speed train, the Prime Minister said:
I think loads of people have had the benefit of working from home.
It's been magnificent and it's definitely enhanced people's quality of life in many, many ways and I congratulate people on the hard work they've put in from home
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits the HS2 Solihull Interchange building site in the West Midlands, Britain September 4, 2020. - Andrew Fox/Pool via Reuters
But I've got absolutely no doubt that mass transit transport infrastructure is going to be crucial for our country, not just now, but in the decades ahead.
Watch footage from the Prime Minister's visit below:
04:32 PM
Tony Abbott trade envoy position confirmed
The Government has confirmed former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott will join the UK's board of trade following days of speculation over his potential appointment.
He warned that thanks to "virus hysteria", draconian lockdown measures could persist almost indefinitely and would only compound the economic slowdown whilst creating a “something for nothing mindset” among young people living on furlough.
He said Australian health officials were spending up to £100,000 keeping elderly Covid patients alive.
In a terse exchange on Sky News yesterday morning, presenter Kay Burley said that “Tony Abbott is a homophobe and a misogynist”, to which the Health Secretary Matt Hancock replied: “He’s also an expert on trade”.
04:28 PM
Electric cars: Sales double in August despite market doldrums
Electric car sales doubled in August despite the overall car market declining by more than 5 per cent, reports Simon Foy.
The number of battery electric cars jumped by more than three-quarters to 5,589 compared to 3,147 for the same period last year.
Sales of plug-in hybrids also soared by more than 220 per cent, to 2,922, according to official data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
This meant that electric powered vehicles accounted for one in 10 new cars sold in the UK in August.
After a jump in year-on-year registrations in July, the industry had hoped that its virus-induced sales decline was over.
However, overall demand for new cars fell by a “disappointing” 5.8 per cent last month. Some 87,226 new cars were registered in the UK in August compared with 92,573 in 2019. Overall registrations were down 39.7 per cent on the same time last year.
Weaker Covid strain claims have 'no evidence', says head of biggest NHS hospital trust
The head of England's biggest NHS hospital trust says there is "absolutely no scientific evidence" Covid-19 is weaker than it was at the peak of the pandemic as he issued a warning against become complacent.
Dr David Rosser, of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, said that rumours Covid-19 had become less virulent were baseless and expressed the "deep concern" of medics amid a rise in hospital admissions.
Dr Rosser said the deaths equated to the same intensive care mortality rate of 33 per cent that was seen during the peak of the virus, which ran from March up until early May - but then admitted six patients was a small sample size.
He said: "There's been lots of talk about the increase we see in the community not coming through to the hospital - well, we are beginning to see that.
"We are seeing more people coming into hospital than we have in the last few weeks, more people in intensive care than we have in the last few weeks.
"We have actually had two people, one of them sadly only 29 years old, die in the last week of Covid.
"While it is nothing like it was back in the spring, we're pretty worried about where it is all going."
At its height, the trust had 175 people on ventilators in intensive care.
04:10 PM
Zante holidays: Social distancing rules flouted by nightclubs, show new videos
New footage obtained by The Telegraph appears to show nightclubs in Laganas in Zante flouting Covid-19 rules.
TUI suspended package holidays to the resort after a cluster of cases were linked to flights from the island.
Local business owners are now worried that Boris Johnson will be pressured into removing the UK’s air corridor with Greece - and footage obtained by this newspaper from nightclubs, beaches and ‘party boats’ will do little to quell their fears.
Working from home: Business leaders in plea to Government over 'devastating effects'
Business leaders have told the Government to change its guidelines on Covid security after complaining that only one in five desks can be used in some offices, Gordon Rayner writes.
Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary, met the bosses of six major employers on Thursday where he was told more must be done to get people back into the workplace.
The Daily Telegraph Alok Sharma, Business Secretary, walks from Downing Street to the Foreign office for the Cabinet meeting - Julian Simmonds
Retailers said home working was having a “devastating effect” on high streets and blamed the Government for failing to change its “work from home if you can” message. Mr Sharma responded by saying that he was in “listening mode”.
Senior executives from Rolls-Royce, Natwest, Unilever, British Land, EY and the law firm Dentons were among those on the call.
Face mask rules: Exemptions confusion as police officer pepper-sprays passenger
Police sprayed a rail passenger with pepper spray after he refused to wear a facemask claiming he had a medical condition.
Passengers on public transport in England are required by law to wear a mask, or face a £100 fine, unless they have a medical condition which prevents them from doing so.
Government guidance says that no person needs to seek advice or request a letter from a medical professional about their reason for not wearing a face covering.
However one man who was not wearing a mask on a train in Liverpool was pepper sprayed by a British Transport Police (BTP) officer after refusing to wear a mask.
The incident, which was captured on a mobile phone by a fellow passenger and has been widely shared on social media, occurred on the Wirral line service at Lime Street Station in Liverpool and has sparked confusion over government guidance.
The video shows the officer telling the man to wear a mask, only for him to counter, saying he does not have to wear one due to a 'medical condition'.
The officer continues to insist the man wear a mask or leave the train, however he refuses, sparking a violent tussle in which he is eventually pepper sprayed.
Matt Hancock pays tribute to emergency services on day of 999 Festival
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has paid tribute to healthcare and emergency services on the day of the third 999 Festival, an annual event in the emergency service calendar which as with so many other events is this year being held on social media.
The Health Secretary said:
Our emergency services are made up of extraordinary people who do the extraordinary on a daily basis.
This has never been more true than during the difficult times we've been through over recent months.
You keep us safe, protect us and have been at the forefront of helping us to turn the battle against coronavirus.
Thanks to you, we can now begin to return to our daily lives, safely and securely.
In particular I want to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, particularly during the pandemic. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
03:47 PM
UK coronavirus deaths: 10 more deaths as caseload hits four-month high
The Department for Health has confirmed a further 10 deaths from Covid-19 across all settings in the UK, taking the Government's recorded death toll to 41,537.
The UK has recorded 1,940 new confirmed cases - the highest that the infection tally has been since the end of May. This takes the total number of laboratory-confirmed UK cases to 342,351.
03:40 PM
South Shields lockdown would be devastating, warns local MP
A Labour MP has warned that a second set of lockdown restrictions could be devastating for her town, which now has the fifth highest rate of coronavirus cases in the country.
Emma Lewell-Buck, who represents the constituency of South Shields, in Tyneside, said she was "deeply worried" about the situation in the borough, where data shows there are an estimated 41 cases of the virus per 100,000 people.
This means that cases have quadrupled in a week, and the area has one of the highest coronavirus rates in England.
Addressing her constituents on social media, Ms Lewell-Buck wrote:
Please lovely Shields people stick to the guidance. If you can do so, please wear a mask, sanitise regularly and adhere to physical distancing.
Let's avoid the heartache of anyone else being taken from us too soon, let's avoid the devastation of our local economy. We can do this by pulling together.
Earlier today Rachel Reeves, the Labour MP for Leeds West, also urged constituents to renew their efforts after the city was put in the at-risk category by advocating social distancing measures, in addition to mask-wearing where required.
03:31 PM
Leeds lockdown fears: City council leader urges residents to follow guidance
Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council with responsibility for controlling the outbreak in the city, has responded to Public Health England's designation of the city as an 'area of concern' regarding coronavirus.
We have been working tirelessly with our partners and communities, doing everything within our power to keep the spread of this virus under control and to ensure Leeds stays open.
However, we can't accomplish that alone and this rise in infection rates means that inevitably, our window of opportunity is shrinking by the day and the city is rapidly approaching a tipping point.
We completely understand that these past six months have put a tremendous strain on everyone in Leeds and that being able to get out, socialise and enjoy ourselves has provided a massive lift.
But it is absolutely crucial that if we want to continue to do that, we all do it sensibly and responsibly and follow the latest guidance which is there to keep us all safe.
03:25 PM
Drive in coronavirus testing launches at Rome airport
A drive-in coronavirus testing centre is now up and runnng at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, with tests taking just 20 minutes to process.
Medical staff attend the new COVID-19 drive-in test centre, the largest in the Lazio region, to carry out rapid COVID-19 antigen swabs in the Long Stay car park at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport on September 4, 2020 in Rome, Italy. - Simona Granati/Corbis/Getty Images Europe People in cars line up to be tested for Covid-19 at a drive-through COVID-19 testing centre set up at a parking area of Rome's Leonardo da Vinci international airport in Fiumicino - Barcroft Media
While considered less reliable than swabs, a programme of saliva checks has launched at the airport, and is based in its long-stay car park.
03:18 PM
Virgin Atlantic news: Redundancies to affect half of staff in £1.2bn rescue
Virgin Atlantic has finalised a £1.2 billion rescue after the coronavirus pandemic took Sir Richard Branson’s 36-year-old airline to the brink of collapse, reports Oliver Gill.
Almost half of the carrier’s workforce will be axed under a radical restructuring designed to combat the fallout from the crisis in the coming years.
Boss Shai Weiss said: “We have achieved what many thought impossible.”
The airline announced 3,150 job cuts four months ago after services were grounded following a travel lockdown.
File photo dated 14/4/2020 of a Virgin Atlantic plane. - Steve Parsons/PA
While restrictions have been eased subsequently, rolling quarantines, imposed amid fears of a second spike in the virus, continues to dash recovery hopes.
Up to a further 1,150 jobs will need to be axed as a result, the airline confirmed on Friday.
Mr Weiss swung behind The Telegraph’s Test4Travel campaign. “It’s clear that the introduction of passenger testing is the only way to enable the removal of travel restrictions and open up flying to key markets, while protecting public health,” he said.
US jobs report shows 1.4 million jobs added in August
The US added 1.4 million jobs in August – slightly beating expectations, although jobs rates remain below pre-pandemic levels.
The US unemployment rate continued its declining, dropping to 8.4 per cent in August. This is a bigger fall than had been expected, but still elevated by historic standards.
August’s gains have put the total non-farm payrolls count back at levels last seen six years ago.
However, given the pace of gains is slowing, it’s hard to see when they will return to pre-pandemic heights.
UK schools reopening: How to support your children
The post-lockdown separation anxiety that dogs may suffer when their owners return to the office has been a source of worry, but what about the kids?
Never before have children spent such a prolonged period of time solely in the company of their own parents and siblings.
While there may be delight (and relief) in this week of schools reopening, what issues are parents and children facing following a unique period of intense togetherness?
Now that the gates have reopened, it will inevitably be a huge change for all children after more family time than ever before, especially with the social whirl of schools.
R number in the UK may still be above one, shows Sage data
The reproduction number - or R rate - of Covid-19 transmission across the UK may still be above one, according to data released today.
The current R estimate across the UK is between 0.9 and 1.1, according to the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).
The growth rate of transmission, which reflects how quickly the number of infections is changing day by day, has increased slightly - the latest growth rate for the whole of the UK is between minus 1 per cent and plus 2 per cent per day.
This signifies a slight change from between minus 2 per cent and plus 1 per cent last week.
02:39 PM
UK quarantine list row: Boris Johnson says country 'overwhelmingly proceeding as one'
Boris Johnson has insisted that "overwhelmingly the UK is proceeding as one" after his Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted that differing quarantine rules had caused "confusion".
Despite Scotland and Wales ordering fortnight-long periods of self-isolation for those returning from Greece and Portugal in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Mr Shapps made the decision to keep the UK's travel corridor with Portugal.
The Prime Minister said that different administrations have "different rates of infectivity" and therefore different approaches to aspects of the crisis.
"But overwhelmingly the UK is proceeding as one," he said, during a visit to Solihull.
"I think you will find if you dig below the surface of some of the surface differentiations you will find overwhelmingly the UK takes the same approach."
New York coronavirus ghost town future in prospect
Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue has long been one of the world’s most desirable shopping destinations, Josie Ensor reports from New York.
“Millionaire’s Row” had come to be synonymous with New York City’s growing prosperity and global cache.
But today a vacated Barneys department store sits empty; Victoria’s Secret and Kate Spade flagships are boarded up and high-end Italian handbag maker Valentino too has decided to close its doors.
A once busy shopping district in Manhattan stands nearly empty of pedestrians on August 12, 2020 in New York City. - Spencer Platt/Getty Images North America
New York’s non-essential businesses were forced to shut up shop when the city locked down in March to contain the spread of coronavirus, but many never opened back up.
They had hoped to weather the storm, but in a matter of five months the New York City landscape changed dramatically. Some now fear the damage done may be irreparable.
Airport testing UK plea launched by US industry chiefs
America’s biggest businesses and airlines have urged the Government to introduce airport testing to open up Transatlantic travel, as they warn a vital “economic artery” is in danger of collapse.
British American Business (BAB), which represents top US and UK banks and businesses, and Airlines for America warned the current block on Transatlantic travel was “unsustainable” and said the only way to unlock it was a comprehensive testing regime.
“The current status quo will become unsustainable for businesses, especially small, and medium-Sized enterprises (SMEs), and the carriers flying them very soon. We cannot let this happen,” said BAB’s chief executive Duncan Edwards.
“This is why, in the interest of our economies, we must now co-ordinate efforts and action with the ambition to reopen the transatlantic corridor. We already know that the best solution to achieve this is by having an aviation testing regime in place.
“Covid-19 testing before departure or at airports will be an effective risk mitigation measure for destinations considered to be at higher risk.”
Czech republic coronavirus cases rise as masks in shops to be introduced
People will be required to wear face masks in shops and shopping centres in the Czech capital city of Prague from next Wednesday following an increase in the country's caseload.
Officials said that under the new restrictions, which will come into place next Wednesday, bars and clubs in Prague will have to close by midnight, while children will be required to wear masks in common areas in schools from September 14.
Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib speaks during a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan - Ritchie B Tongo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The number of new coronavirus cases registered in the Czech Republic has hit new daily highs, with 680 new cases reported on Thursday and four government ministers in self-isolation as a precautionary measure.
The Czech Republic, which has a population of 10.7 million, has so far recorded 26,452 cases of Covid-19 and 426 related deaths.
A number of civic restrictions had been lifted throughout the summer, but some were reinstated from September 1, including face masks on public transport, following a rise in the number of infections.
01:52 PM
Coronavirus vaccine cost to be covered by Japan on behalf of citizens
Japan's government has today said that it will take on cost of inoculating its citizens if and when a vaccine is produced, as it aims to continue its acclaimed handling of the pandemic.
The government also said it planned to establish funds to compensate for possible side effects from the vaccines.
The plans were outlined by economy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who also heads the country's coronavirus response.
A man wearing a face mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus stands in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm in Tokyo - Eugene Hoshiko/AP
Outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged that Japan would secure enough vaccines for all of its citizens by the halfway point of 2021.
Japan has made bilateral agreements with a range of international pharmaceutical companies in order to secure hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine candidates that are still being tested.
It has also agreed to join a World Health Organisation effort that aims to buy and fairly distribute vaccines.
01:42 PM
Boris Johnson: Coronavirus airport tests could lead to false sense of confidence
The Prime Minister also told reporters that transit systems such as the Tube will remain crucial for the country's economy for decades to come, and spurned suggestions that the pandemic would permanently change work patterns.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson being shown around the HS2 Solihull Interchange building site in the West Midlands. - Andrew Fox
"I've got absolutely no doubt that mass transit and transport infrastructure is going to be crucial for our country, not just now, but in the decades ahead," Mr Johnson said.
01:30 PM
Schools reopening risk carries no greater risk than home, study concludes
Turning up to primary or pre-school presents no greater risk to children or staff than staying at home, a Public Health England (PHE) study has found.
More than 12,000 tests carried out over June and July yielded only three positive results. Antibody blood test - looking for evidence of past infection - also identified that rates were no higher than in the general population.
Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, described the results as “hugely encouraging” and evidence that the wider harm to children from missing school is greater than that from coronavirus.
From the 0.02 per cent of positive results, there was “no evidence” of onwards transmission either to household contacts or the wider educational setting, said PHE.
The government scientists also found that children and staff who attended school more frequently were not more likely to test positive for antibodies than those who did not attend school at all or went less often.
Switzerland coronavirus news: Why have they handled it better than almost anyone else in Europe?
The Swiss have shown the benefits of their more responsive politics in the way they have weathered the economic storm, writes Jonathan Saxty.
Direct democracy in Switzerland has created a more responsive politics, where government is less willing to ride roughshod over the people. Although mask requirements, for example, have been implemented in Swiss Cantons, the government knows it has to move carefully considering the Swiss peoples’ power.
Restrictions on social gatherings look to be relaxed from October. Switzerland was one of the first countries in Europe to reopen its hospitality sector, and hospitality and retail have seen widespread recovery since May.
Tourists wearing protective masks line up to take the train of Gornergrat Bahn in front of the Matterhorn mountain during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak - Jean-Christophe Bott/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Yes, Swiss GDP shrank 8.2 per cent in quarter two. But by Western standards, this was good going. Even widely-praised Germany did worse. Switzerland also led the way with crisis loans for business, much admired globally.
It isn’t that Switzerland hasn’t suffered and doesn’t have its problems. More that it is far tougher for Swiss politicians to ram through short-term policies than in other countries. Not least in Britain.
Again, what mechanism do Britons have to influence policy other than half-decade votes for parties under no obligation to honour their promises?
'Eat Out to Help Out' equivalent considered by Transport for London bosses
Transport bosses are considering offering Londoners a free trip into the capital in an 'Eat Out to Help Out'-style stimulus initiative.
The First Ride Free scheme is being considered by Transport for London (TfL), which according to the Evening Standard could offer free train, bus and Tube tickets for those who have not travelled to central London since the start of the pandemic.
The transport network saw a huge drop in passenger numbers as members of the public were ordered to stay at home during the early stages of lockdown, although the relaxation of rules has since seen some return to the office and travel into the city on public transport.
A TfL spokesperson said the scheme was "one of a number of options that are being considered to help encourage people back into central London in the coming months", and that no final decisions had yet been made.
01:08 PM
London Underground rush hour use down almost 70% on last year
Transport for London has said that 630,000 used the Tube network on Friday between the start of service and 10am, representing a 21.1 per cent rise on the same period last week.
However this figure is still 69.2 per cent lower than the equivalent period in 2019, amid concerns about the future viability of TfL and calls from London Conservatives for the Waterloo & City line to reopen.
Passengers wear face coverings on a Jubilee Line underground train during the morning rush hour in London. Workers are being encouraged to return to their offices following the coronavirus lockdown. - Victoria Jones/PA
There were 800,000 bus journeys made, which is up 29.6 per cent on last week but down by just over 50 per cent on 2019.
01:00 PM
Sweden coronavirus strategy could finally be silencing the doubters
Sweden's Covid-19 case rate has dropped below both Norway and Denmark in a boost for its 'no-lockdown' approach, Richard Orange reports from Malmö.
"Sweden has gone from being one of the countries with the most infection in Europe, to one of those with the least infection in Europe, while many other countries have seen a rather dramatic increase,” Anders Tegnell, the country's state epidemiologist, said at a press conference earlier this week.
The number of deaths is currently averaging at two to three per day, down from the peak of over a hundred a day it suffered in mid-April.
In this file photo taken on May 29, 2020 People walk in Drottninggatan during rush hour in Stockholm, amid the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. - Sweden, which has attracted worldwide attention with its less strict strategy against coronavirus, is now facing a near record number of new cases of Covid-19 in the European Union. But authorities say the epidemic is slowing down. - Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP
Moreover, a test last week of 2,500 randomly selected people found that not one had an active Covid-19 infection, compared to 0.9 per cent at the end of April and 0.3 per cent at the end of May.
The improved outlook will come as a relief to advocates of Sweden's less restrictive coronavirus strategy - who were forced onto the defensive in May, back when the country for a period suffered the highest per capita death rate in the world.
Back to work: Sadiq Khan brands return to office campaign 'offensive'
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has this afternoon said that it is "really offensive" to suggest people working from home during the pandemic are not as productive as those working in an office.
Mr Khan told the PA news agency:
Those Londoners who have been working from home have been working. I think it's really offensive to suggest those working from home haven't been working, they've somehow been lazy - it's not the case.
They've been following the advice, which is to avoid the virus spreading, work from home where it's possible to do so, avoid public transport, particularly during the rush hour.
A public information campaign encouraging people to get back to their places of work was originally intended to begin today, but it will not now start until next week at earliest.
12:36 PM
UK coronavirus deaths dropped as doctors rejected ventilators
The chances of dying in an intensive care unit (ICU) went from 43 per cent before the pandemic peaked to 34 per cent in the period after.
In a new report, the Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre said that no drugs nor changes to clinical guidelines were introduced in that period that could account for the improvement. However, the use of mechanical ventilators fell dramatically.
Before the peak in admissions on April 1, 75.9 per cent of Covid-19 patients were intubated within 24 hours of getting to an ICU, a proportion which fell to 44.1 per cent after the peak.
Meanwhile, the proportion of ICU patients put on a ventilator at any point dropped 22 percentage points to 61 per cent either side of the peak.
Leeds has been designated as an 'area of concern' after a spike in the city's coronavirus cases, the MP for West Leeds Rachel Reeves has said.
The "areas of concern" list is published every Friday by Public Health England, and acts as a weekly watchlist breaking down the spread of the disease by region.
"Leeds is now an "area of concern" after a rise in coronavirus cases across the city," Ms Reeves wrote.
"It’s vital we social distance, wear face masks where required, regularly wash our hands & if you have symptoms get tested & self-isolate if needed. You can book a test at nhs.uk."
Leeds is now an "area of concern" after a rise in coronavirus cases across the city. It’s vital we social distance, wear face masks where required, regularly wash our hands & if you have symptoms get tested & self-isolate if needed. You can book a test at https://t.co/G7EOlctPQp
Leeds City Council said that while being on the list alone would not mean further restrictions for the time being, the monitoring of cases in the city is to increase and further steps could be taken in future.
12:08 PM
Boris Johnson social distancing reports addressed by Downing Street
Number 10 has not denied reports that Boris Johnson addressed a packed room of Tory MPs, which would constitute a breach of the social distancing guidelines currently stipulated by his Government.
The Prime Minister addressed at least 50 Conservatives in a Parliament room marked with a 29-person limit, according to reports, and is alleged to have said that his colleagues were packed in "cheek by jowl".
Repeatedly pressed on whether the rules had been broken, or why Mr Johnson had not left the room if it was too full, a Downing Street spokesman said: "I'm not privy to the detail, it's a political event."
Asked if Mr Johnson obeys his own social distancing rules, the spokesman replied: "Yes."
12:00 PM
Back to school 2020: How students and staff will stay safe from coronavirus
Every school has to draw up plans to ensure children continue to receive an education even if they have to stay when a local lockdown has been imposed after a spike in coronavirus cases.
Pupils at the King Edward VI High School for Girls in Birmingham, as schools across England reopen to students following the coronavirus lockdown. - Jacob King
Meanwhile ‘bubbles’ will be created, so that youngsters learn and mix with fellow pupils. Large assemblies or collective worship should not include more than one group, according to the guidance, while breaks in the school day and lunch times should be staggered in order to keep different bubbles of children apart.
Coronavirus UK update: Around 0.05% in England had Covid in week ending August 25
An estimated 27,100 people in private households in England had Covid-19 between August 19 and 25, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
This was the equivalent of around 0.05 per cent of the population, or one in every 2,000 people.
In Wales, an estimated 1,400 people in private households had Covid-19 between August 19 and 25.
This was also the equivalent of 0.05 per cent of the population, or one in 2,200 people - an estimate broadly unchanged from previous weekly figures of 0.04 per cent.
11:36 AM
Police officer arrests man without mask on Liverpool train
A police officer attempted to pepper sprayed a rail passenger who resisted arrest for refusing to wear a face mask on a train, Jessica Carpani and Duarte Dias report.
The incident, which occurred on a Wirral line service at Lime Street Station in Liverpool, was filmed by other passengers.
The man claimed he has a 'medical condition' and is therefore exempt from the legal requirement in the UK to wear a face covering on public transport.
The British Transport Police officer who insists the man must wear a mask can be seen attempting to forcibly remove the passenger.
The passenger continues to resist, wrestling the officer, and the officer then seemingly attempts to pepper spray the man but cannot clearly do so as the passenger covers his face. Backup was called in and he was led off the train.
A spokesperson for the British Transport Police said: "A man has been charged with threatening behaviour and assaulting a police officer on a Merseyrail train to Liverpool Lime Street station. The incident happened at around 3.20pm on Wednesday 2 September.
"Officers had responded to a report of a man coughing at two passengers."
UK quarantine list latest: Greece tourism minister takes aim at Scottish and Welsh decisions
The Greek Minister for Tourism, Harry Theoharis, has criticised the UK's 'mixed bag' of quarantine rules after his country was removed from the Scottish and Welsh 'safe lists' earlier this week.
Scotland is now enforcing quarantine on all travellers arriving from Greece after several new cases were traced back to Greek holiday resorts, while Wales has imposed restrictions on seven Greek islands.
England and Northern Ireland are maintaining their travel corridors with Greece for the time being.
"The latest news is a mixed bag in the sense that England did not change the rules," Mr Theoharis told BBC Breakfast. "Every country has a right to protect their citizens the best way they see fit. There's no doubt about that."
"What we're saying and what we're maintaining is that according to the rules that the UK has said, the 20 cases in the last week per 100,000 population, we're well below that. If anything we're moving in the right direction and lowering the figure."
11:24 AM
Coronavirus vaccine news: Widespread jabs not likely until mid-2021, warns WHO chief
Coronavirus vaccinations are not likely to be widespread until partway through 2021, the World Health Organisation has suggested amid ongoing vaccine candidate trials.
WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a briefing in Geneva today: "A lot of people have been vaccinated and what we don't know is whether the vaccine works.
"At this stage we do not have the clear signal of whether or not it has the level of worthwhile efficacy and safety.
"We are not expecting to see widespread vaccination until the middle of next year."
A scientist filters out samples during the research and development of a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a laboratory of BIOCAD biotechnology company in St Petersburg, Russia - Anton Vaganov/Reuters
Ms Harris described the vaccine as something that "must be provided in every part of the world", as the race to develop one becomes more competitive and takes on added geopolitical significance.
Russia last month became the first country of any to approve its own Covid-19 vaccine, which President Vladimir Putin has expressed his faith in by granting regulatory approval after just two months of human testing.
American public health officials yesterday said that a Pfizer vaccine could be ready for distribution as soon as next month.
11:13 AM
Portugal coronavirus cases: What the data shows as travel corridor stays open
The Government has announced Portugal will keep its travel corridor, meaning English holidaymakers can continue to return from the country without going into a 14-day quarantine.
Wales, however, has added mainland Portugal to its quarantine list with Scotland having followed suit.
It was expected that Portugal would be red-listed by the UK Government in yesterday afternoon’s announcement, as cases in the country have now reached 23 per 100,000 over a seven-day average.
This is how the caseload data looks for the Iberian nation:
For Mary Lussiana, meanwhile, the Government's Portugal travel corridor debacle comes as "the final straw" as Scotland and Wales designate the country as a no-go area.
"What this whole situation has exposed is yet again how the Government’s quarantine policy undermines any efforts by the travel industry to soldier on," the Algarve resident writes.
Praia Dona Ana Beach with gorgeous tangerine sea cliffs and turquoise waters. - M Swiet Productions/Getty Images
"While there is more and more talk about airport testing (which at Heathrow is ready to roll when approved), in Portugal there was a plea that the Government should at least make decisions which last long enough for someone to book a holiday, enjoy it and come home, safe in the knowledge that they were not going to be caught out mid-stream."
Working from home: 'Business is discovering the cost of this imposition'
What is the Government more concerned about - a second wave or the economy? It’s hard to figure out, opines Jeremy Warner.
He says that it beggars belief that, more than six months after the pandemic began, ministers have yet to find ways of better reconciling the two.
"Instead, they pull both ways," he writes. "From tax and spend to return to work, quarantine and lockdown, mixed messaging and confusion remain the order of the day.
Commuters cross the concourse at Waterloo train station, London, during the morning rush hour. - Victoria Jones/PA
"Go back to the office and help save the economy, the Government urges, but how can this be done while social distancing remains in place and ministers warn that crowding together in confined spaces, such as commuter trains, may spark a renewed outbreak?
"The Government cannot have it both ways; it either thinks the pandemic a still clear and present danger to life and the NHS, or it thinks the risks to the economy of continuing as we are the more potent threat."
Coronavirus and viral load: How much of SARs-CoV-2 does it take to make us sick?
How many people outside of your family have you had a sustained face-to-face conversation with – at close quarters – over the last six months? writes our global health security editor Paul Nuki .
If you are anything like me, it’s not many. I’ve had several meals sitting opposite friends but all were outside or in well-ventilated restaurants.
I can recall just two prolonged conversations with strangers in the street which started within handshaking distance but, in both instances, we took a step back within a few seconds.
And the last time I was indoors shouting over music, hugging strangers and sharing drinks was in Alpine bar in early February, just a few weeks before the world closed down.
The change in our behaviour – replicated all around the world – has not only reduced our chances of our coming into contact with SARs-CoV-2 but has reduced the probability of being exposed to large amounts of it.
Put another way, we are not just having fewer interactions but the intensity of those interactions has dramatically faded.
Scientists are now wondering if this phenomenon – one which likely reduces the “infectious dose” of the virus people are exposed to – may help explain why hospitalisations and deaths are not tracking confirmed cases as closely as they were in the Spring.
Covid infections in France remain "exponential", according to the national health body, with more than 7,000 new coronavirus infections registered on Thursday for the second time in two days, Henry Samuel reports from Paris.
The cumulative total of confirmed cases rose to 300,181, up by 7,157, just beneath a 7,578 record set on March 31 during lockdown.
While the number of tests rose to more than 850,000 in the week of August 24 to 30, the proportion of those tested rose from 3.8 per cent to 4.3 per cent in that time and continues to rise.
The seven-day moving average of infections rose to 5,783, above the record set during lockdown for a seventh day.
The number of people in intensive care with the disease rose again for the fifth consecutive day on Thursday, up by 18 to 464, and the number of people in hospital also rose for a fifth day in a row, up 11 to 4,643.
A health worker, wearing a protective suit and a face mask, prepares to administer a nasal swab to a patient at a testing site for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) installed in front of the city-hall in Paris, France, September 2 - Christian Hartmann/Reuters
The death toll increased by 20 to 30,706 - the fourth consecutive day of a double-digit death toll.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 has forced 22 schools to close, including 12 in mainland France, but the rest of the almost 60,000 opened as planned at the start of the academic year.
10:30 AM
Coronavirus airport tests: What Britain can learn from Iceland
The Covid test I was given at Iceland’s Keflavik airport was impressively quick and relatively painless, Paul Sullivan writes.
A dozen or so tiny labs were set up at the exit portals after passport control, at which a pair of efficient and friendly medical staff inserted swabs into each nose and throat.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t smart a little, but five hours later I received a text giving me the all-clear and was then free to roam the country freely – and without a mask.
That was back in June, shortly after the country opened up to tourism again after closing its borders on March 20.
Back then, there was also a 14-day quarantine option, though who wants to go on holiday only to potentially be trapped in their hotel room for two weeks?
UK quarantine list differences 'right thing to do', Welsh minister says
Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said he is "very content" that putting Portugal on Wales' quarantine red list is "the right thing to do" after receiving the same advice from health officials and the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) as the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
Speaking on the Today programme, Mr Genting said:
Seeing a rising tide of infections coming in from that list of islands, having that direct experience in Wales and very clear advice about the higher risk to UK public health from the JBC, I did not feel that there was any course of action other than taking some form of action.
There were 23 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in Portugal in the seven days to Wednesday, up from 15.3 a week earlier.
A seven-day rate of 20 is the threshold at which the UK Government has usually triggered quarantine conditions, as seen by previous decisions made in relation to France and Spain, although Portugal so far remains off England's red list.
09:30 AM
World's largest tuna market hit hard by coronavirus pandemic
Japan's tuna market, the world's largest, is taking an outsized hit from the coronavirus pandemic, pressuring restaurants and wholesalers at Tokyo's sprawling Toyosu fish market to adapt to survive.
Businesses had hoped for more activity after Japan lifted its state of emergency in late May, but big events such as shareholder meetings and wedding banquets have remained on hold while many Japanese are still wary of going to restaurants.
Prospective buyers inspect the quality of a fresh tuna at Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo - Muneyuki Tomari
Demand for fresh fish, especially the so-called "king of sushi" bluefin tuna, has slumped as the pandemic wiped out orders for events. Tuna prices dropped 8.4 per cent in July from a year earlier, far steeper than the 1.5 per cent annual fall in overall fresh fish prices, government data showed.
"Our sales are down by 60% compared to last August," said 47-year old Yasuyuki Shimahara, owner of an "izakaya" dining bar specialising in tuna dishes in Tokyo's Kanda business area.
08:44 AM
Local lockdown in Leeds will be only option without 'collective effort', warns council
People living in Leeds have been warned there will be "no alternative" to further lockdown restrictions if coronavirus infection rates continue to rise.
The city is expected to be added to Public Health England's weekly watch list of areas of concern, following a rise in cases over the previous weeks.
The city council has said that while being on the list would not mean further restrictions would be brought in at this stage, it would mean increased monitoring of cases and could see additional steps taken in the future.
The latest seven-day infection rate shows Leeds as having 29.4 cases per 100,000 people, with 44 new cases today identified on Wednesday and a testing positivity rate of 4.2 per cent.
'Corona heroes' to switch on Blackpool Illuminations
Six NHS workers and a young fundraiser will switch on the Blackpool Illuminations - being held away from the public for the first time in more than 70 years.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the resort's annual celebration will take place on Friday night behind closed doors, but will be filmed in the Tower Ballroom.
The "Corona Heroes" will join the event hosted by Diversity's Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely, Blackpool-born singer-songwriter Rae Morris and the Illuminations' creative curator Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.
This year's theme of Bring On The Light will feature a display of hearts and rainbows along the Promenade's Golden Mile, along with images of a further 48 Corona Heroes from hundreds of nominations across the UK.
Those chosen to pull the switch include nurse Leona Harris, from Rossendale, Lancashire, nicknamed "the Angel from the North". She helped raise £75,000 to buy iPads for patients in hospitals, care homes and hospices all over Britain to keep families connected.
Joining her is six-year-old Will Ritchie, from Wirral, Merseyside, who raised £14,000 for hospitals in the area after he walked a marathon in a month.
The youngster, who was born with severe visual impairment and suffers with epilepsy, struggled to reach 100 metres at the start of lockdown but later stepped up to 1,500 metres a day.
Six NHS workers and a young fundraiser will switch on the Blackpool Illuminations - - Travelpix Ltd
Hospital chaplain David Anderson and therapy dog Jasper were also chosen for the support and comfort they provided to patients as well as boosting morale for staff at hospitals in east Lancashire.
Completing the line-up are Dr Jason Cupitt, who led the Covid-19 response at Blackpool Victoria Hospital's intensive care unit; Donna Doyle, restaurant manager at Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital; and nurses Kirsty Jones and Rachelle Sutton, who moved out of their family homes while working at Blackpool's Trinity Hospice and Manchester's Nightingale Hospital.
The Illuminations will stay lit for an extra two months until January 3 to boost tourist trade.
08:10 AM
South Korean doctors divided over strike amid surge in Covid-19 cases
South Korea's peak medical association on Friday called for an end to a doctors strike which has complicated efforts to curb a new wave of coronavirus infections after the government backed down on plans to reform the sector.
Trainee medics however rejected the deal and vowed to continue the walkout which began on Aug. 21 involving about 16,000 intern and resident doctors.
The trainee doctors oppose the reforms, which include increasing the number of doctors, building public medical schools, allowing state insurance to cover more oriental medicine, and expanding telemedicine.
The government says the initiatives could help tackle crises like the coronavirus, but the doctors argued it would only deepen the concentration of physicians in cities without improving medical infrastructure and work conditions in rural provinces.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said the government would halt the proposed reforms and discuss them again with the industry and the parliament once the coronavirus outbreak had stabilised.
Korean Medical Association President Choi Dae-zip signed an agreement with Park ending the strike and called on trainees to go back to work.
"Our shared goals of improving work conditions and building a reasonable medical system cannot be achieved by a strike alone," Choi said in a statement.
Doctors hold signs criticizing the government medical policy at a hospital in Seoul, South Korea - Yonhap
A key group of trainee doctors said they had not been included in the negotiations and vowed to continue the walkout.
Dozens of trainees, some wearing surgical gowns, protested at parliament holding banners condemning the "hasty agreement".
The government extended social distancing rules by one week for the Seoul metropolitan area to Sept. 13 as health officials reported 198 new coronavirus cases as of midnight Thursday, bringing the total to 20,842 with 331 deaths.
The daily tally fell below 200 for the first time in more than two weeks on Thursday.
Minister Park said more time was needed for stricter social-distancing rules imposed last week to take effect.
Restrictions on on-site dining will be extended to include bakery and ice cream franchises starting Sunday, Park said.
07:32 AM
Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi hospitalised
Silvio Berlusconi has been admitted to hospital in Milan suffering from coronavirus, reports the Daily Telegraph's Nick Squires in Rome.
Italian reports say the former prime minister, who is 83, is suffering from the early stages of pneumonia in both lungs.
When it was announced on Wednesday that the business tycoon had Covid-19, aides said he was asymptomatic and doing fine. But his condition now appears to have worsened considerably, although he is not in intensive care.
Mr Berlusconi is reported to be staying in isolation in a 6th floor section of the hospital, set aside for VIPs.
He has been there several times before for previous medical problems. There are reports that he has been given oxygen to help him breathe.
Two of his adult children have also tested positive for the virus, as his 30-year-old girlfriend.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi - Anadolu Agency
07:28 AM
Mass testing isn't the way out of the pandemic, says architect of Sweden's Covid policy
Mass testing without contact tracing isn't the way out of the pandemic, the architect of Sweden's Covid policy has said.
Dr Johan Giesecke, who is the Deputy Chair of the WHO's Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Infectious Hazards (STAG-IH), has said that mass testing is not ‘the way out’ of the pandemic.
Asked if testing is the way out of the pandemic Dr Giesecke, who was Sweden's state epidemiologist between 1995 and 2005, said: “No. I don't think it's the way out.
"For certain phases of the pandemic, it could be useful and I think, for example, to protect the old and vulnerable.
“Testing of the patients and testing the staff and doing that repeatedly and often would be a useful way to diminish the death rate in old people's homes,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.
But he said there is little to gain from mass testing of people who carry the virus but show no symptoms and suggested countries should instead focus on contact tracing.
“I'm not quite sure what you gain from it actually, if you have a large spread in your country, then you'll know that.”
“I believe much more in contact tracing and I think most countries are turning that way now.
“When you find cases you do contact traces, you find the contacts, you isolate them and so on. I think that's the way to go. And I think most countries in Europe are going that way.”
Last month, Matt Hancock announced a "huge expansion" of testing.
The Health Secretary said that mass testing could help cut quarantine time, and reopen other parts of the economy, as it is hoped that more widescale testing could allow mass gatherings to resume - providing a lifeline to live sport and music events.
06:47 AM
Different quarantine advice across the UK 'creates confusion', says Grant Shapps
Wales will quarantine travellers from Portugal, Gibraltar, French Polynesia and the Greek islands of Mykonos, Zakynthos, Lesbos, Paros, Antiparos and Crete as of Friday.
Scotland will do the same for travellers from Portugal and French Polynesia from 0300 GMT on Saturday. England and Northern Ireland will not.
"I do realise it creates confusion for people not to have a single rule (across the UK) but we do have this devolved approach throughout the United Kingdom and I can only be responsible for the English part of that," Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News.
Asked about testing at airports, Shapps said there was no silver bullet as a day zero test was unlikely to work.
"A day zero test as you come home is unlikely to find the vast majority of people who travelled with coronavirus," Shapps said, adding that the government's health experts thought such a test would pick up just 7 per cent of people who were positive.
"So you probably have to have some kind of quarantine period, perhaps seven or eight days, maybe a test then - those are the things we are working through," Shapps said.
06:37 AM
Kenyan classroom replaces students with chickens as staff are mostly on unpaid leave
Chickens have replaced students in one Kenyan school as struggling educators make what money they can after the country's studies were called off until January.
Private schools in the East African nation say they are hit especially hard. More than 300,000 staff are mostly on unpaid leave until classes resume, said Peter Ndoro, CEO of Kenya's Private Schools Association.
In the classroom-turned-poultry farm, owner Beatrice Maina called the situation "a disaster as far as academics is concerned." Her Mwea Brethren School is normally attended by over 300 children and has 20 full-time teachers. But all have been sent home.
Chickens are being reared in a former classroom at the Mwea Brethren School in Kirinyaga county, Kenya - AP
As the economy sputters, Maina is raising a different flock altogether in the empty classrooms.
Blackboards now display her notes on chicken rearing. Dates of deworming and data for feed have long replaced multiplication tables.
Maina's not alone. Some colleagues have ventured into other businesses.
"I hope even my teachers are still doing something because life must continue," she said.
Schools in Kenya have been closed since March. Public schools are in a slightly better state because the government is paying some salaries for teachers and staff, Ndoro said.
06:30 AM
Directors at Venice Film Festival urge reopening of movie theaters
Spanish director Pedro Almodovar has joined a chorus of voices at the Venice Film Festival urging the reopening of movie theaters after coronavirus lockdowns, saying films are meant to be seen on the big screen, not at home.
Venice organizers have prided themselves on pushing ahead with the festival despite the cumbersome and costly anti-virus restrictions that include protective masks during all screenings, theaters at a half or one-third capacity and rigorous temperature checks and sanitization. They went ahead with the first major in-person COVID-era film festival convinced they needed to chart a path forward for a film industry hard-hit by the lockdowns.
Almodovar, who premiered his short film "The Human Voice" on Thursday, said streaming platforms had played an "essential role" in keeping people entertained during months of virus-required confinement at home.
Pedro Almodovar walks the red carpet ahead of the movie "The Human Voice" at the 77th Venice Film Festival - Elisabetta A. Villa
But he said they had also contributed to the "dangerous" phenomenon of people growing increasingly comfortable living, working and eating at home - a type of "imprisonment" that he said must be resisted.
"And the antidote is the cinema," he said, describing going out, sitting next to strangers in a movie theater where "you find yourself crying or rejoicing with other people."
"If I put my film on a platform like Netflix, then I somehow lose that contact and that meeting point with the spectator," he said. "So you have to tell people to go to the cinema, to go to the theaters, because some things will only be discovered on the big screen, in the dark with people that we do not know."
05:39 AM
New Zealand records first Covid-19 death in over three months
New Zealand recorded its first coronavirus death in more than three months on Friday when a man in his 50s succumbed to the virus.
Health officials said the man was part of a second-wave cluster of infections that emerged in Auckland last month, ending a spell of 102 days free of community transmission in the South Pacific nation.
The death at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital on Friday afternoon takes New Zealand's death toll from the virus to 23, with the most recent previous fatality on May 24.
"I acknowledge the anxiety New Zealanders may be feeling about today's news, both in the wider community and also for the family and whanau (relatives) grieving over this death," health chief Ashley Bloomfield said in a statement.
"Our thoughts are with his family and community at this time of loss and grief."
The Auckland cluster emerged in a family of four and has since grown to 152, including three recorded on Friday.
It has proved difficult to eliminate despite a two-and-a-half week lockdown in Auckland that ended on Sunday night.
"We have always recognised that further deaths linked to Covid-19 were possible," Bloomfield said.
"Today's news reinforces the importance of our shared vigilance against Covid-19, the very serious consequences the virus can carry with it."
05:01 AM
India adds another 83,000 cases in the past 24 hours
The number of people infected with the coronavirus in India rose by another 80,000 and is near Brazil's total, the second-highest in the world.
The 83,341 cases added in the past 24 hours pushed India's total past 3.9 million, according to the Health Ministry. Brazil has confirmed more than 4 million infections while the US has more 6.1 million people infected, according to Johns Hopkins University.
India's Health Ministry also reported 1,096 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total fatalities up to 68,472.
India's case fatality rate of 1.75pc is well below the global average of 3.3pc, the ministry said. Experts have questioned whether some Indian states have undercounted deaths.
04:48 AM
Demand for new cars fell by around 5pc in August
Demand for new cars falls - Getty Images Europe
Demand for new cars fell by around 5pc last month, industry data shows.
Around 88,000 new cars were registered in the UK in August compared with 92,573 during the same month in 2019, according to preliminary figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Registrations of battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are believed to have bucked the overall trend by showing year-on-year growth after several new models were released.
The SMMT said August's figures should be treated with caution as it is traditionally one of the quietest months of the year for new car sales as it precedes the September number plate change.
The automotive industry has been badly hit by the pandemic, with demand down 97.3pc in April, 89.0pc in May and 34.9pc in June.
July saw an 11.3pc increase, which was attributed to pent up demand and special offers.
04:18 AM
Robert Pattinson tests positive for Covid-19 delaying the new Batman movie
Actor Robert Pattinson has contracted coronavirus - AFP
Robert Pattinson, 34, has reportedly being struck down with coronavirus.
However, the blockbuster was forced to halt filming just days after production had resumed in the wake of lockdown due to Mr Pattinson contracting the virus.
Filming had been taking place at the Warner Bros studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire.
Madrid races to finish new hospital for second wave
Work progresses on Madrid's Emergency Hospital for Covid-19 patients - Getty Images Europe
Near Madrid airport, an army of cranes works round the clock to build a new pandemic hospital which is expected to open in November.
But a second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak is already under way in Spain, straining the capital's public health care system.
Builders have been working round the clock since July to build the 45,000-square-metre (484,000-square-foot) Isabel Zendal hospital, which will be able to care for over 1,000 patients during a health emergency.
The regional government of Madrid is spending over 50 million euros (£43.9 million) to build the hospital, which will have bay windows which will allow doctors to monitor patients without becoming contaminated.
The opening of the new hospital however will come too late to deal with a surge in infections in the Madrid region, which Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called "worrying".
02:58 AM
Protesters sprayed with tear gas in Nepal during a religious event
Nepal police fire tear gas to stop religious rally amid Covid-19 surge - Reuters
Police in Nepal used tear gas and water cannon to break up a religious rally that defied a government ban on public gatherings imposed to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite the ban, about 2,000 residents poured into a major thoroughfare of Lalitpur, near Nepal's capital Kathmandu, to pull a chariot of the rain god, Rato Machhindranath, a ritual that has been celebrated for countless generations.
Authorities imposed temporary curbs in Kathmandu and surrounding areas in August to help contain coronavirus contagion and asked residents to observe festivals at home.
The number of infections in the Himalayan nation had increased to 42,877, with 257 deaths.
02:47 AM
New Zealand to maintain current restrictions
NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to keep current restrictions in place - Getty Images AsiaPac
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today that New Zealand will keep its current restrictions in place until at least mid-September as a precaution.
Authorities had earlier lifted a lockdown in the city of Auckland following an outbreak there that began last month, but they continue to limit gathering sizes across the country and mandate that people wear masks on public transport.
New Zealand reported five new virus cases on Friday, two among returning travelers already in quarantine and three connected to the Auckland outbreak.
Ardern also said she'd recently been talking with other world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, about the danger of people experiencing "lockdown fatigue."
02:00 AM
Three-quarters of a million lives could be saved by January
In the first global projections of the Covid-19 pandemic by nation, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington's School of Medicine is predicting nearly 770,000 lives worldwide could be saved between now and January 1 through proven measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing.
"These first-ever worldwide projections by country offer a daunting forecast as well as a roadmap toward relief from Covid-19 that government leaders as well as individuals can follow," said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray.
"We are facing the prospect of a deadly December, especially in Europe, Central Asia, and the United States. But the science is clear and the evidence irrefutable: mask-wearing, social distancing, and limits to social gatherings are vital to helping prevent transmission of the virus."
The Institute modeled three scenarios: A "worse case" in which mask usage stays at current rates and governments continue relaxing social distancing requirements, leading to 4 million total deaths by the end of the year; A "best case" of 2 million total deaths if mask usage is near-universal and governments impose social distancing requirements when their daily death rate exceeds 8 per million; and A "most likely" scenario that assumes individual mask use and other mitigation measures remain unchanged, resulting in approximately 2.8 million total deaths.
Mr Murray highlighted the unprecedented opportunity to save lives with rapid action.
01:36 AM
South Korean doctors expected to end strike as cases surge
Doctors, medical students and healthcare professionals attend a rally to protest against government proposals to increase intake of medical students - AFP
South Korean doctors have agreed to end a two-week strike which has hindered efforts to curb a new wave of coronavirus infections, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said today, after overnight talks over the government's medical reform plans.
Some 16,000 intern and resident doctors have been on strike since August 21. Trainee doctors are the backbone of healthcare services in emergency rooms and intensive care units, and volunteer at temporary testing stations.
The doctors oppose the reform proposals, which include increasing the number of doctors, building public medical schools, allowing state insurance to cover more oriental medicine, and expanding telemedicine.
Today, South Korea reported 198 new cases, raising the total to 20,842 with 331 deaths.
01:22 AM
Australia's coronavirus death toll surges on aged care fatalities
An Australian state reported a record 59 deaths today, the highest ever daily total for the country, including previously unrecorded fatalities in aged care homes over the past several weeks.
The increase fatalities in Victoria state pushed the country's death toll to 737 as the national cabinet - made up of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders - met to thrash out differences over internal border closures.
The Victorian capital of Melbourne has been responsible for the bulk of recent cases under Australia's second wave of infections.
The 59 fatalities included 50 people who died in aged care facilities in July and August, the state health department said in a tweet.
The national death toll now stands at 737, while there have been around 26,100 infections.
01:05 AM
Celebrities help War Child smash coronavirus funding target
Carey Mulligan, global ambassador for War Child UK - Getty Images North America
A-list supporters helped War Child smash its original £300,000 coronavirus fundraising target, raising £500,000 for children whose lives have been torn apart by war and the pandemic, the charity said.
In six weeks, 87 high-profile figures from the arts and entertainment industries donated more than 100 prizes or experiences which were then auctioned off as part of its coronavirus crowdfunder.
They included a private video call with Louis Tomlinson that crashed the website due to popular demand, a once-in-a-lifetime stunt experience with Vanessa Kirby and the Mission Impossible stunt team and a private concert from Marcus Mumford.
The £500,000 raised will allow War Child to continue its life-saving work for children living through conflict and the pandemic in countries such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, War Child said.
Carey Mulligan, global ambassador for War Child UK, said: "I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to every single person who contributed in any way to this effort.
12:55 AM
Mexico records 5,937 new coronavirus cases, 513 more deaths
Mexico's health ministry on Thursday reported 5,937 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 513 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 616,894 cases and 66,329 deaths.
The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.
11:46 PM
Brazil's Bolsonaro says Covid-19 vaccinations will not be mandatory
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro says a vaccine will be optional - Reuters
Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who has consistently downplayed the severity of the coronavirus outbreak, has reiterated that Covid-19 vaccinations will not be obligatory when they become available.
"Many people want the vaccine to be applied in a coercive way, but there is no law that provides for that," Bolsonaro said in a Facebook live chat with his supporters.
Vice President Hamilton Mourão said earlier that mass vaccination was inevitable to fight the pandemic in Brazil, but was firmly in line with Bolsonaro's stance.
"There is no way for the government - unless we live in a dictatorship - to force everyone to get vaccinated," Mourão said in a radio interview.
In the second worst outbreak outside of the United States, Brazil has recorded more than 4 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and the official death toll from Covid-19 has risen to 124,614, the health ministry said.
11:13 PM
Travellers to Wales from Portugal and Greek Islands to self-isolate from today
Holidaymakers in Portugal returning to Wales now have to quarantine for 14-days - Reuters
The Welsh Government has imposed quarantine restrictions on travellers arriving in Wales from Portugal, Gibraltar, French Polynesia and six Greek islands from 4am on Friday.
Health minister Vaughan Gething said there was "clear advice" that travel from the countries and territories constituted "a public health risk".
The Azores and Madeira remain exempt from the quarantine requirement, which will apply to the Greek islands of Mykonos, Zakynthos, Lesvos, Paros, Antiparos and Crete.
Anyone arriving in Wales from those areas from 4am on Friday must self-isolate for 14 days.
On Tuesday, the Welsh Government advised passengers returning from Zakynthos to quarantine for two weeks and offered Covid-19 tests within 48 hours of their return, as well as eight days later.
Mr Gething said more than 20 people on one flight from Zakynthos on Tuesday night had already tested positive for coronavirus - accounting for over 10pc of those on board.
11:08 PM
Prince William to speak at festival for emergency workers
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, will attend an online festival celebrating the Uk's emergency workers - WPA Pool
The Duke of Cambridge is due to take part in an online ceremony to honour the emergency services.
The annual Emergency Services Festival of Thanksgiving - otherwise known as the 999 Festival - is going digital this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Held on the Friday closest to September 9, the multi-faith festival helps commemorate the thousands of emergency responders who have died in the line of duty.
This year, more than 300 NHS and other emergency workers have died after contracting Covid-19 on duty.
The 999 Festival had been scheduled to be hosted in Belfast Cathedral, but will instead be broadcast on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn at 2pm on Friday.
William, who was himself an air ambulance pilot, is due to say: "This year, more than ever, we have been repeatedly reminded of the sacrifices made by all those in the emergency responder community, as they worked tirelessly to protect us against Covid-19 and keep the country going in the most challenging circumstance."
The Government has announced Portugal will keep its travel corridor, meaning English holidaymakers can continue to return from the country without going into a 14-day quarantine.
For the Love of Dogs viewers were left infuriated as they pointed out a 'bad habit' of presenter Alison Hammond's during the latest episode of the ITV show, which has seen ratings plummet.
The moment was filmed by a Pollok resident who was left disgusted after spotting the vermin from her kitchen window in the Templeland Road area of Glasgow.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made their first public appearance alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2018, but a Royal author has claimed it was marred by an awkward moment
Prince William made a surprise visit to a school in the West Midlands today, where he issued a 14-word update on his wife, Kate Middleton, amid her cancer treatment
Callum Laing, 40, was diagnosed with a stage 4 Glioblastoma brain tumour, after he had been suffering from intense headaches - but surgeons in Edinburgh have made a surprising discovery.
The ITV The Martin Lewis Money Show star, who is a BBC Sounds podcast host too, spoke out on Twitter/X over how to get in touch with your bank urgently
Footage taken by a Brazilian tourist shows several pedestrians stepping to soothe the black horse which caused damage after running through the London streets on Wednesday.
A horse trainer who was accused of the murder and rape of a showjumper he was in an “illicit relationship” with has been found dead before the second day of his trial was set to begin.
Whatever the long-term electoral consequences of the ending of the SNP-Greens agreement, Humza Yousaf has at last seized one of the most important elements in politics: the initiative.
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