Yahoo News Covid news LIVE: Nearly 2,300 fans were infectious at Wembley Euro 2020 final
High levels of Covid-19 were found in or near Wembley stadium on the day of the Euro 2020 final, according to official data published.
Public Health England (PHE) said 2,295 people were likely to have been infectious, with a further 3,404 people potentially acquiring Covid at the July 11 final between Italy and England.
PHE’s deputy medical director Jenifer Smith said although the match was “unique”, it showed how easily Covid-19 can spread in “close contact”.
In a statement, she said: “Euro 2020 was a unique occasion and it is unlikely we would see a similar impact on Covid-19 cases from future events.
“However, the data does show how easily the virus can spread when there is close contact and this should be a warning to us all as we try and return to a cautious normality once again.”
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Turkey ‘to come off the red list’ next week after drop in cases
18:47 , Lily Waddell
We must not take our eye off the ball as Covid could roar back, warns expert
The UK must not take its “eye off the ball” with Covid-19 vaccinations, an expert has said as he warned the virus could come “roaring back”.
Dr Chris Smith, consultant virologist and lecturer at Cambridge University, said a decision on booster jabs should not be “rash, (or) rushed”, and that the Government is considering a more “strategic” approach.
It comes as Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he is “confident” a booster vaccine campaign can start next month despite reports that experts want more time to consider whether they are needed.
The Government said a further 104 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Saturday, and there had been a further 32,058 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Dr Smith said: “We all agree that (the pandemic) is not over until it is over in every corner of the world, because otherwise it will just come roaring back.
“Don’t forget we think that this started with a handful of cases in one city, in one corner of one country… and it then eclipsed the entire world.
“But one must not take one’s eye off the ball here because it would be very easy to unstitch all of the good work we’ve done so far if it turns out with time we do lose immunity because the vaccines wane in their effectiveness.
“As we go into winter, now is a critical period and I think that is why we haven’t seen a rash, rushed decision by the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) and the Government.”
The UK’s vaccination programme has so far seen around three-quarters of adults fully vaccinated with two doses.
17:11 , Lily Waddell
Spike in Covid cases in Ireland is cause for “significant concern”, top doctor warns
Dr Tony Holohan said the number of newly confirmed cases in hospital in the last 24 hours had reached a level not seen since mid-February.
It comes as the Department of Health reported an additional 2,125 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
On Saturday, there were 259 patients in hospital with the disease, up by eight on the previous day. The number in intensive care rose by two to 54.
Dr Holohan tweeted: “The number of newly confirmed Covid-19 cases in hospital in the last 24 hours has reached a level not seen since mid-February.
“This upward trend in serious infection is of significant concern, increasing the pressure on frontline healthcare services and non-COVID care.”
He added: “The Covid-19 vaccination programme is vital to our collective effort to minimise the transmission of this virus in families, in workplaces and communities.
“I would urge those who are unvaccinated to come forward for vaccination as soon as possible and to take all recommended doses to limit your risk of severe infection.
“It is critical for everyone to stay safe by following the public health advice as part of their daily routine.
“To protect yourself, consider each activity for its level of risk to your health, regularly wash hands, wear a mask when appropriate & look out for each other by keeping a 2m distance, avoid crowds, manage your social contacts & choose outdoors where possible for meeting others.”
Coronavirus daily cases hit 32,058 and 104 deaths are recorded
16:18 , Leah Sinclair
Coronavirus daily cases hit 32,058 and 104 deaths are recorded
Japan records 25,492 new Covid-19 cases
16:02 , Leah Sinclair
Japan recorded 25,492 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, with the daily total topping 25,000 for the third straight day and hitting a record for the day of the week.
New infection cases hit record highs in nine of Japan’s 47 prefectures, including Aichi, Hiroshima, Kochi and Oita.
The number of severely ill patients grew by 72 from the previous day to 1,888, hitting a record high for the ninth consecutive day, according to the health ministry. There were 34 deaths among Covid-19 patients.
2,125 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Ireland
15:54 , Leah Sinclair
Public Health officials have confirmed 2,215 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
259 patients with Covid-19 are in hospital, including 54 in ICU, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.
The figure is the highest number of cases in a day since January and the third time in a week that the caseload surpassed 2,000.
Pregnant mum with coronavirus dies after giving birth
15:13 , Leah Sinclair
A pregnant woman with coronavirus has died after giving birth, WalesOnline reports.
The mother was admitted to a hospital in Northern Ireland and died on Friday morning, according to UTV.
It is understood that the woman's child was successfully delivered before the mother sadly died.
The woman's vaccination status isn’t known at this stage.
Scotland records 3,464 new Covid-19 cases and three deaths
14:35 , Leah Sinclair
Scotland has recorded three coronavirus deaths and 3,464 new cases in the past 24 hours, the latest Scottish Government figures show.
It brings the death toll under the daily measure - of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days - to 8,070.
The daily test positivity rate is 10.9 per cent, up from 10.6 per cent the previous day.
A total of 320 people were in hospital on Friday with recently confirmed Covid-19, up by eight on the previous day, with 32 patients in intensive care, down two.
So far, 4,075,555 people have received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination and 3,541,708 have had their second.
UAE reports 1,066 Covid-19 cases, four deaths
13:05 , Leah Sinclair
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Saturday reported 1,066 cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 1,633 recoveries and 4 deaths.
The new cases were detected through 301,430 additional tests.
More than 71.6 million PCR tests have been conducted across the country to date.
UAE reports 1,066 Covid-19 cases, four deaths
13:05 , Leah Sinclair
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Saturday reported 1,066 cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 1,633 recoveries and 4 deaths.
The new cases were detected through 301,430 additional tests.
More than 71.6 million PCR tests have been conducted across the country to date.
UAE reports 1,066 Covid-19 cases, four deaths
13:05 , Leah Sinclair
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Saturday reported 1,066 cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 1,633 recoveries and 4 deaths.
The new cases were detected through 301,430 additional tests.
More than 71.6 million PCR tests have been conducted across the country to date.
Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 210.45 million, death toll at 4,584,020
12:38 , Leah Sinclair
More than 210.45 million people have been reported to be infected by coronavirus globally and 4,584,020 âhave died, according to a Reuters tally.
Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
Poland records 222 new Covid-19 cases and one new death
12:19 , Leah Sinclair
Poland recorded 222 new coronavirus cases and one new death over the past 24 hours, data released by the Health Ministry shows.
The healthcare system is now handling 359 Covid-19 hospitalisations, including 40 patients on ventilators.
Northern Ireland: Big Jab Weekend begins
12:03 , Leah Sinclair
A drive to boost Northern Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccination rates has begun.
The Big Jab Weekend has seen mass vaccination centres open again for first doses for adults amid concerns over the increasing number of Covid cases in the region.
According to Belfast Live, there have been queues forming at several vaccination centres.
More than 100 people were at the SSE Arena in Belfast before the doors opened on Saturday and the Western Health Trust reported queues at three centres in its area.
The Belfast Trust said a “great start” had been recorded with queues at Whitla Hall.
Hilary Duff hails vaccination after contracting Covid-19
11:35 , Leah Sinclair
Hilary Duff has said she is “happy to be vaxxed” as she revealed she has contracted Covid-19.
The Lizzie McGuire actress, who welcomed her third child earlier this year, wrote on Instagram stories: “That delta... she’s a little bitch. Symptoms: bad headache. No taste or smell. Sinus pressure. Brain fog.”
She added: “Happy to be vaxxed,” signing off with a peace sign emoji.
The UK should ‘not take its eye off the ball’ says virologist Dr Chris Smith
10:14 , Leah Sinclair
Virologist Dr Chris Smith said the UK should not “take its eye off the ball” as he discussed the possible “strategic” use of coronavirus booster jabs.
He told BBC Breakfast: “We all agree that (the pandemic) is not over until it is over in every corner of the world, because otherwise it will just come roaring back.
“But one must not take one’s eye off the ball here because it would be very easy to unstitch all of the good work we’ve done so far if it turns out with time we do lose immunity because the vaccines wane in their effectiveness.
“As we go into winter now is a critical period and I think that is why we haven’t seen a rash, rushed decision by the JCVI (Joint Committee and Vaccination and Immunisation) and the Government.
“While other countries are embarking on booster programmes, people are taking stock, they are looking at the data and maybe making a decision on how to intervene strategically in certain groups.
“They’re going to have to make a decision soon because winter is soon going to be upon us and it takes time for the programme to be rolled out and it takes time for the vaccines to actually have their effects in these people.”
New Zealand records 21 new Covid-19 cases
10:01 , Leah Sinclair
New Zealand recorded 21 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warning the number will go higher in the next few days and urging the Pacific nation to adhere to the lockdown rules.
The infections in the community outbreak of the highly transmissible Delta variant now total 51. O
f the 21 new cases, 18 are in the largest city, Auckland, and three in the capital, Wellington.
Russia reports 797 Covid-19 deaths and 21,000 new cases
09:41 , Leah Sinclair
Russia reported 797 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours on Saturday and 21,000 new cases, including 1,852 in the capital Moscow.
Russia has been hit by a surge in cases this summer that peaked in July and that authorities blamed on both the Delta variant and the slow uptake of vaccines produced domestically.
The country has vaccinated more than 43 million people so far against Covid-19 out of a population of more than 144 million, the RIA news agency reported on Friday, citing the health ministry.
Schools in England to receive CO2 monitors to improve ventilation
09:24 , Leah Sinclair
Schools in England to receive CO2 monitors to improve ventilation
Cricketer Joe Root and footballer Ben Chilwell back vaccine volunteer campaign
09:23 , Leah Sinclair
Cricketer Joe Root and footballer Ben Chilwell back vaccine volunteer campaign
Concern over children’s death linked to abuse in lockdown
09:21 , Leah Sinclair
Councils have called for more support amid a “harrowing” rise in deaths and serious harm of children linked to abuse or neglect in the year since England’s first coronavirus lockdown.
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel received 536 serious incident notifications from local authorities between April 2020 to March 2021, including 223 deaths and 284 instances of serious harm.
This is an increase of 19 per cent from the previous year according to its latest financial year report, first published last month.
Numbers had fallen in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said the rise was a “huge cause for concern” for children’s safety, with families under increased pressure during the pandemic.
09:16 , Leah Sinclair
Welcome to the Standard Coronavirus Live Blog on Saturday, August 21.
