Socialising between households and care home visits have been banned in Oldham after a spike of more than 100 new coronavirus cases in a week, authorities have said.
Residents have been asked to not host visitors after a "significant proportion" of recent cases have been from multiple members of the same households testing positive.
The guidance begins today and will be in place for the next two weeks, Oldham Council said.
The new rules include:
Keeping two metres apart from friends and family when seeing them outside.
Those in the shielding group must continue to isolate for another two weeks from July 31.
The city will not be relaxing rules allowing families to visit loved ones in care homes.
Oldham has seen 119 cases in the seven days to 25 July, in the week ending 17 July the town, located in Greater Manchester, saw just 26 positive cases.
This means the current rate of infection is 50.2 positive tests per 100,000, versus 10.2 per 100,000 the week before.
Twice as many people are now dying at home from unexplained causes rather than Covid-19, with experts calling for an urgent investigation into what is causing the excess deaths.
£500m scheme to kick-start film and TV production announced by Government
A £500 million scheme aimed at getting film and television production back up and running has been announced by the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.
The funds will be used to assist companies who are struggling to secure coronavirus-related insurance.
The Film and TV Production Restart Scheme funding will be available to productions made by companies where at least half of the production budget is being spent in the UK.
Once productions have restarted, the funding will be used to compensate companies where costs are incurred due to projects being delayed or abandoned.
"It will fill the gap left by the lack of available insurance and cover coronavirus-related losses for cast members and crew illnesses and filming delays or disruptions caused by the ongoing battle against the virus," a statement from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said.
The film and television industry supports more than 180,000 jobs and contributes more than £12 billion to the economy each year, according to the department.
09:42 PM
Half of Mumbai's slum residents have had coronavirus, says study
Over half the people living in the slums of Mumbai have had the coronavirus, according to a city-commissioned study released today that raises fresh doubts about India's official case numbers.
India is already the third worst-hit country after the US and Brazil, with nearly 1.5 million cases, though experts have previously said the lack of testing could mean the true tally is much higher.
Blood tests on 6,936 randomly selected people conducted by Mumbai's city authorities found that 57 per cent of slum residents and 16 per cent of non-slum residents had virus antibodies.
Mumbai, where about 40 per cent of the population lives in slums, has reported just over 110,000 infections and more than 6,000 deaths so far. The western city of 20 million people is home to India's largest slum Dharavi, where an estimated one million people live.
But deaths in the sprawling slum have not exploded, with local officials saying their aggressive efforts to stem the spread of the virus has been effective.
The survey results suggested asymptomatic infections were "likely to be a high proportion of all infections" and also indicated the virus death rate was likely to be "very low", the study said.
09:30 PM
Flights to Europe offered for as little as £1 as airlines scramble to save summer holidays
British Airways is offering return flights to Europe for just £1 under its loyalty scheme as airlines seek to rescue summer holidays.
The airline, Britain’s biggest, has offered the deals to its executive club members of which there are an estimated 10 million worldwide.
It has offered 100,000 “reward” seats at reduced rates across its short-haul network, with a number priced at only £1 and up to 18,000 loyalty or Avios points. Vienna, Amsterdam and Nice have the most availability.
Ryanair and EasyJet have also cut prices – with some one-way flights available for under £10.
Covid-19 infection rate higher among California Latinos
Latinos in California are becoming ill and dying from Covid-19 at far greater rates than other groups, the state’s top health official has warned, prompting new outreach and data collection efforts as cases surge.
Latinos make up 39 per cent of the population in the US state, but account for 56 per cent of Covid-19 infections and 46 per cent of deaths, the California health and human services secretary, Dr Mark Ghaly, said.
Of particular concern is the heavily Latino Central Valley agricultural region, where cases continue to soar and hospitals are becoming overwhelmed even as the rate of new infections may be slowing in the state overall, Ghaly said.
Experts said a perfect storm of workplace issues and cultural traditions in the Central Valley has led to a spike in cases that has devastated many families.
Many Latinos in the Central Valley are poor, working in industries such as agriculture that have been deemed essential during the pandemic.
Many employers have not reliably provided protective equipment to workers or implemented social distancing or rules requiring masks to be worn, state officials say.
In addition, cultural norms that foster large family gatherings and include many multi-generational households have led to fast and deadly transmission of the virus, often to older relatives who are less able to survive.
09:11 PM
How would Heathrow's coronavirus test work?
Heathrow wants to test passengers who arrive in the UK for the coronavirus.
The airport proposes to trial a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, similar to that in the NHS.
It would take a nose and throat or saliva swab and produce a result in between five and 24 hours. Because of the risk that it may not detect Covid-19 in pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic passengers on arrival, it would be repeated in either five or eight days after the first test.
This covers the time that scientists estimate it takes the virus to incubate during which time those infected may not display symptoms but could still spread it in the community.
Passengers would be expected to quarantine as normal until they received a double negative result, at which point they could be freed early from the normal self-isolation of 14 days.
From how much it will cost, who will pay for it and how accurate the results are, Charles Hymas has all you need to know here.
09:02 PM
Attacks on police in Yorkshire rise during lockdown
Attacks on police in parts of Yorkshire have risen sharply over the course of the coronavirus lockdown, figures show.
The BBC reports that officers have been coughed and spat at with some hurt while dealing with a rise in domestic violence cases during the pandemic.
Over a seven week period there were 469 assaults on officers in West and South Yorkshire compared to 326 for the same period last year.
Police chiefs said the violence was "totally unacceptable".
In West Yorkshire, the number of assaults has increased by 45 per cent, rising from 255 between May and July in 2019, to 371 this year.
Figures for the same period show a 38 per cent increase in assaults, from 71 to 98, in South Yorkshire.
08:55 PM
Heathrow boss calls for passenger virus tests on arrival to save tourism season
The chief executive of Heathrow Airport has urged the Government to allow passengers to be tested for Covid-19 on arrival in a trial to rescue the summer tourism season.
John Holland-Kaye told The Telegraph that Heathrow could have a test "up and running" in two weeks, meaning holidaymakers who have just set off for Spain could be checked – at a cost of £150 – when they arrived home.
They would be tested on arrival and, if the result was negative, would be tested again five or eight days later. A second negative test would allow them to come out of quarantine up to six or nine days early, depending on how quickly tests are processed.
France and Germany are among at least 20 countries already using such tests to cut quarantine for arrivals from countries with high levels of coronavirus, and there is growing pressure on Boris Johnson to follow suit.
What happened to the FTSE, pound and UK companies on the markets today?
London-focused estate agent Foxtons suffered a 20 per cent slump in revenue during the first half of the year, underlining the impact of coronavirus on the housing market.
Sales fell from £51.8m to £40.4m during the six months to the end of June as the pandemic halted viewings and sales. Revenue fell in all areas of the business – lettings by 21 per cent to £25.7m; sales by 28 per cent to £11.1m; and mortgage broking by 9 per cent to £3.6m.
Sales volumes fell 28.1 per cent to 858 transactions, while lettings volumes fell 14.2pc to 7,952 transactions. Overall, the company made a £4.3m loss, compared to a £2.4m loss during the same period last year.
Foxtons, which also serves Surrey, said it had seen “steady improvement” in activity since restrictions eased, with the cut to stamp duty supporting the market.
Could America be seeing a 'K-shaped recovery' from the coronavirus crisis?
US economists have begun talking about a “K-shaped recovery” from the coronavirus crisis amid signs of stark differences in the impact on the richest and poorest Americans.
It is based on the idea that wealthy Americans will quickly recover from the financial freeze triggered by the virus, keeping their jobs and seeing the value of assets rise.
However those lower down the income scale, such as blue collar workers, are bearing the brunt of the redundancies and could be facing years of financial peril.
Real Madrid player tests positive for coronavirus ahead of Manchester City match
Manchester City are keeping a close eye on developments in Spain after one of Real Madrid’s fringe players tested positive for coronavirus ahead of next week’s Champions League.
City are due to host the Spanish champions in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Etihad Stadium on Friday week, with Pep Guardiola’s side holding a 2-1 advantage.
Real are expected to be without striker Mariano Diaz after the striker - who has made just seven appearances for the club this season - returned a positive test on his return from a short holiday following the conclusion of the La Liga season.
The Madrid club confirmed Mariano, 26, was now in quarantine at home after missing training on Tuesday.
New York and New Jersey adds more states to quarantine list
Travelers from 34 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, must now quarantine for 14 days when they travel to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The Governors of New York and New Jersey have announced that Illinois, Minnesota, Puerto Rico and DC are now on the list of states that face quarantine restrictions under a joint travel advisory issued last month.
The advisory includes states if their seven-day rolling average of positive tests exceeds 10 per cent, or if the number of positive cases exceeds 10 per 100,000 residents. The list has included Texas, California and Florida for weeks.
Gov Andrew Cuomo has expressed worry for weeks that infection rates in hard-hit New York could once again rise because of travel from high-risk states.
08:22 PM
Immunity: why antibody studies may offer a false sense of security in big cities
Experts have urged caution over rising hopes that megacities struck hard by Covid may be immune from a second wave of infections.
Blood test studies conducted in London, Delhi, Moscow and New York – all of which have been badly hit by the pandemic – have indicated that some areas may be inching towards some kind of population-level immunity.
But virologists have warned that the studies, while promising, should be interpreted with caution and should not be used as an excuse for relaxing social distancing or hygiene measures. In short: that light is not necessarily a sign of the end of the tunnel.
Anne Gulland, Nataliya Vasilyeva and Jennifer Rigby have the full story here.
08:16 PM
Florida death toll passes 6,000
Florida's coronavirus death has toll surpassed 6,000 today as the virus claimed another 186 while the US as a whole recorded a further 54,448 cases, health officials said.
The so-called Sunshine State is now second only to California in total number of coronavirus cases with 441,997, an increase of 9,230 from the day before.
Today's death toll was Florida's highest for a single day, although not all fatalities necessarily occurred between Monday and Tuesday, AFP reports.
The state's total deaths from the virus now stand at 6,177 while 148,488 people have died nationwide, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
In Miami, only 8.7 per cent of intensive care beds were available.
Florida's Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis, has seen his approval ratings plummet since May when he boasted that the virus was contained and accused the media of sowing panic.
A Trump loyalist, DeSantis has refused to require mask-wearing in public, although some mayors have done so in their jurisdictions.
08:10 PM
Pilot concert to test safety measures taking place in London
The Clapham Grand will operate with less than 20 per cent of its usual capacity, which has been reduced from 1,250 to 200, as part of a pilot concert to test measures which could see the return of live music is taking place in London.
While crowds normally stand at the venue, seating and tables have been put in to allow for social distancing. Audience members will also be able to order drinks to their tables and they have been asked to arrive at staggered intervals.
One-way systems have been put in place around the venue and people will be temperature checked as they enter the building.
The venue's manager, Ally Wolf, said the number of staff working at the venue for the Government-backed pilot has "dramatically increased" from what would normally be expected.
"All our operational costs have gone up... and we are now operating at 20 per cent of our actual capacity to actually facilitate the show, so our revenue has just gone through the floor," he said.
"This business model of operating like this isn't feasible for the majority of live music venues, or most venues."
Mr Wolf said the south London venue, which was formerly a variety hall, could adapt for the pilot because of its size, and added that it would not be possible for other venues and they are "not setting a precedent" for the live music industry as a whole.
08:04 PM
Frustration at Scotland's slower reopening of gyms...
Health club owning “Dragon” @DuncanBannatyne has just told me he’ll shut all 11 of his gyms in Scotland (at the cost of 600 jobs) if lockdown rules aren’t changed by the end of next month. He’s frustrated bars can open here but gyms can’t. Full interview on @BBCScotNine tonight.
Berlin couple test positive for coronavirus after Manchester visit
An urgent track and trace operation is under way in Berlin after a couple tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from a holiday to visit friends in Manchester, the Guardian reports.
Fifty people who have had contact with the couple since their return are in quarantine, of whom 13 have so far tested positive for the virus.
The Turkish couple, a 50-year-old taxi driver and his 45-year-old wife, arrived home on a Ryanair flight on July 16. They were not diagnosed until six days after their return. The whole family is now infected, including the couple’s four children, aged nine to 21, and their grandmother.
Gudrun Widders, an official at the local health office in Berlin’s Spandau district, told the Bild newspaper that no one in the family has required hospital treatment.
Widders told the Guardian today that the health office had made repeated attempts to contact Ryanair so the airline could contact other passengers who were on the plane, but that it has “so far had no feedback”.
Ryanair insisted it had provided the German authorities with the relevant information.
07:54 PM
Birmingham's £60m aquatic centre may not be ready for 2022 Commonwealth Games if Covid strikes again
A £60 milllion aquatic centre for Birmingham 2022 will not be ready in time if the city sees a significant second spike of Covid-19, organisers fear.
Plans for the 50m swimming pool, a 25m diving pool and 1,000 permanent spectator seats were approved almost 18 months ago after Birmingham won the bid to host the Commonwealth Games.
Officials had aimed to open in 2021, but any future lockdowns will almost certainly rule out the possibility of getting the site completed in time for the Games the following summer.
Officials seek to combat spike in cases in Wrexham, Wales
Staff and patients at north Wales hospitals are being "actively" tested for coronavirus as health officials combat a spike in cases in Wrexham, the BBC reports.
Officials said "universal screening" was now underway at Wrexham Maelor Hospital if there was a case on a ward, while Plaid Cymru said the number of cases "paints a worrying picture of an infection that isn't under control".
There are now between 70 and 80 confirmed cases of Covid-19 at the hospital. There have been 53 cases in the Wrexham area in the last week - 30 per cent of all Welsh infections.
Public Health Wales (PHW) recorded 21 new cases of Covid-19 in Wales today, with eight of those in the Wrexham authority area.
Two mobile testing units are being put in place for the Hightown and Caia Park areas of Wrexham from Wednesday, in a bid to track and trace more individuals who may be spreading the disease in the community.
The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton, said the increased cases in the area appeared to be linked to both the hospital and the earlier outbreak at a food processing plant in the town.
There have been nearly 300 cases of Covid-19 linked to the Rowan Foods site on the Wrexham Industrial Estate since April.
07:35 PM
Covid sweeps through obesity-cursed Mexico
Mexico is blaming its obesity crisis for a surging coronavirus death toll as the country prepares to overtake the UK in recording the fourth highest number of fatalities in the world.
The Central American country ranks first in the world for its levels of obesity, thought to play a significant role in pushing up death rates among patients with Covid-19.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the country’s Leftist president, has blamed food and drink companies for leaving the population susceptible to serious coronavirus illness through pre-existing conditions.
But critics also accuse the president of mismanaging the epidemic, dismissing the danger of the virus, reopening the economy too quickly and aiding a cover-up of official figures.
French health authorities reported 725 new confirmed coronavirus cases today, below the daily average of 924 over the past week but unlikely to alleviate fears of a second wave.
In a statement, authorities said "viral circulation is still sustained in France", stressing the reproduction rate was steady at 1.3.
A reproduction rate, or "R", of 1.3 means that 100 people with the virus infect, on average, 130 other people. A rate of less than 1 is needed to gradually contain the disease.
France also reported 14 new deaths from the virus, taking the total to 30,223, and twice the daily average increase of seven seen over the past week.
The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 went down by 104 to 5,551, continuing a two-month downward trend.
07:13 PM
Cases in USA up by 54,448
A further 54,448 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), taking the total to 4,280,135.
It said the number of deaths had risen by 1,126 to 147,672.
The CDC reported its tally as of 4pm ET on July 27. Its figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.
07:08 PM
Coronavirus around the world, in pictures
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Health Minister Roberto Speranza, as Italy extends its state of emergency - Reuters A lab technician unloads a cooler that arrived via drone, which usually carries blood samples to be tested for Covid-19, the Israeli Ministry of Transportation started a pilot project for drone delivery - AFP People wearing face masks demonstrate during a march organised by the COB, Bolivian Workers' Center, to demand early elections - Reuters Medical staff tend to virus patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Machakos County Level-5 hospital in Machakos - AFP Rescued migrants are being checked by a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) worker upon their arrival in Senglea, in Valletta's Grand Harbour, - Reuters
06:59 PM
How Covid is eroding our great British traditions
With Sainsbury's announcing an app to put an end to the queue, will any British tradition survive the 'New Normal', asks Guy Kelly.
First it was handshakes. Then pubs and choirs. Now, after a long but patient wait, queueing itself is under threat. What key part of British life will Covid-19 try and strike down next, the Prime Minister himself? Oh...
This week, in news that shouldn’t necessarily be dispiriting but somehow is, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis are reportedly ready to launch apps that will allow shoppers to wait in cars or cafés until it is their turn to enter, instead of standing, at least 1m apart, outside.
It will, they say, be safer and more convenient. But it will also bring an end to what is perhaps the closest thing to Britain’s national sport. “An Englishman, even if he is alone,” the humourist George Mikes famously wrote, “forms an orderly queue of one.” Not on his phone in the nearby Starbucks, he doesn’t.
We are experiencing an identity crisis in the new normal. What kind of country will we be after this? Where do we go from here? What is important to us now?
Nicola Sturgeon warns against booking foreign holidays after 'worrying' Covid spike on Continent
Nicola Sturgeon has highlighted a "worrying resurgence" of the coronavirus in France, Germany and Belgium as she warned Scots against booking foreign holidays.
The First Minister said she would not travel abroad for a break now and warned she could remove any country from Scotland's quarantine-free list at very short notice.
With Scotland recording no Covid-19 deaths for 12 days running, she said stopping cases being imported from other countries was increasingly important.
Italy’s Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, has extended the country’s state of emergency until October, meaning he will continue to have the power to impose a lockdown and other safety measures without needing the approval of Parliament.
Conte told the Senate that the extension was “inevitable”, despite the infection rate falling significantly.
"Contagion has fallen, but the numbers show that the virus continues to circulate, giving rise to outbreaks at local level which have been identified and contained," he said.
"The international situation remains worrying and what is happening in countries close to us obliges us to be watchful...this way the country is more secure."
Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League, attacked the extension. He told reporters: “Keeping Italians terrorised, distant from each other and locked up is an attack on our democracy and economy.”
Salvini, who refused to wear a mask during a conference at the Senate on Monday, said the “emergency seemed to be over” and so the state of emergency didn’t need to be extended.
The country has reported 181 new infections today, bringing the total to 246,488, and 11 further deaths.
06:33 PM
65 rescued migrants test positive for virus, Malta says
65 migrants who were in a group of 94 people rescued at sea and brought to Malta on Monday have tested positive for Covid-19, Malta's health ministry said today.
It was the single largest cluster of positive cases detected on the Mediterranean island since the first case came to light in the country on March 7.
The health ministry said 85 of the migrants had been tested so far, with a further nine still awaiting a test. The nationalities of those infected were not immediately given, Reuters reports.
06:26 PM
Italian Prime Minister seeks to extend Covid emergency period
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte asked Parliament today to extend a state of emergency, which expands his Government's powers as it responds to the pandemic.
Reuters reports that opposition parties objected, arguing that that Conte was trying to keep too much power in his own hands despite a dramatic fall in the rate of contagion.
Conte announced a six-month state of emergency on January 31, when the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Rome.
"The virus continues to evolve and has not run its course. It would be incongruous to abruptly suspend such an effective measure," Conte told the Upper House.
However, he drew back from requesting an extension until the end of the year, saying he only wanted a renewal until October.
The state of emergency gives greater powers to both regional and central government, including making it easier for ministers to declare red zones should the virus flare up again, and to bolster hospital resources.
06:15 PM
Greggs mulls job cuts as end of furlough scheme looms
The boss of Greggs has warned it could be forced to cut jobs after the end of the taxpayer-funded furlough scheme unless there is a sharp recovery in customer demand.
Chief executive Roger Whiteside said 75 per cent of Greggs' workforce is now back in stores, but that some workers will remain furloughed until the subsidy ends in October. At that point, the firm will be forced to make a decision about staffing levels.
The former stock market darling swung to a £62.2m loss in the first half of 2020 as coronavirus wrecked its business model and forced all of the company's 2,050 outlets to close. It made a £36.7m profit in the same period of 2019.
Portugal's Madeira island makes masks compulsory in public
Wearing masks in public at all times will be compulsory on the popular Portuguese island of Madeira from August 1, the local government announced today, making it the first region in the country to adopt such measure.
The Madeira island, popular with tourists for its wine and green landscape, has managed to keep its tally of coronavirus cases low since the pandemic started.
So far it has only reported 105 infections, with no new cases since Saturday.
06:03 PM
Russian state virology institute starts human trials for second potential vaccine
A Russian state virology institute has started human trials of the country's second potential Covid-19 vaccine, injecting the first of five volunteers with a dose on July 27, the RIA news agency reported today.
The individual was feeling fine, the agency reported.
The next volunteer in the trial by the Vector virology institute in Siberia would receive an injection on July 30, RIA cited consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor as saying.
A Government register of all clinical trials shows that the institute, which is overseen by Rospotrebnadzor, is testing a peptide vaccine using a platform first developed for Ebola.
The trial is then expected to scale up to 100 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 60, the clinical trials register shows. Vector is working on six different potential vaccines, World Health Organisation (WHO) records show.
A separate state research facility in Moscow, the Gamaleya Institute, completed early human trials of an adenovirus-based vaccine earlier this month and expects to enter large-scale trials in August.
More than 100 possible vaccines are being developed around the world to try to stop the coronavirus pandemic. At least four are in final Phase III human trials, according to WHO data - including three developed in China and another in Britain.
05:56 PM
Greece sees uptick in cases
Greece has reported an increase in Covid-19 cases, with officials confirming 52 new infections in the last 24 hours, promoting growing concern.
The increase brings the total number of cases in the country to 4,279, after managing to keep infections and casualties low through early enforcement measures.
Seven people were found to have the virus after being tested at land frontiers, airports and other entry points, according to the National Organisation of Public Health organisation, EODY.
The death toll has risen to 203, the state body announced, which has been in part attributed to tourists.
Earlier today, Greece’s deputy civil protection minister, Nikos Hardalias, said mask wearing would become mandatory as of tomorrow in almost all indoor spaces where social distancing was difficult, including shops, banks, public offices and elevators. Churches will remain exempt.
Hardalias said: "The rise in infections in Athens and Thessaloniki proves the virus is still here. The requirement [of facial coverings] is for the collective good. The situation must not cause panic but neither complacency."
05:48 PM
Deaths in France up by 14 - double the daily average increase over the last week
French health authorities reported 14 new deaths from Covid-19 today, taking the total to 30,223, a figure twice as high as the daily average increase of seven seen over the last week.
In a statement, authorities said the number of people in hospital for Covid-19 went down again, pursuing a two-month downward trend.
05:42 PM
German officials 'very concerned' by rising cases
The head of Germany's public health agency has said he is "very concerned" by rising infections in the country, the BBC reports.
"We are in the middle of a rapidly developing pandemic," Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), told reporters.
Mr Wieler said Germans had become "negligent" and urged people to wear masks and respect social distancing and hygiene rules.
In the past week the country has recorded 3,611 new infections.
The warning comes as countries across Europe grapple with new infections and the problem of travellers moving across the continent for the summer holidays.
05:37 PM
Latest weekly Covid-19 rates for local authorities in England released
Here is today's update of the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 for every local authority in England.
The figures, for the seven days to July 25, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).
The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.
Data for the most recent three days (July 26-28) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.
In Blackburn with Darwen, the rate is broadly unchanged at 79.2 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to July 25, compared with 79.9 in the seven days to July 18. A total of 118 new cases have been recorded.
Second on the list is Leicester, where the rate continues to fall and is now down from 75.2 to 56.0, with 199 new cases.
In third place is Oldham, where the rate has jumped from 14.9 to 53.9, with 127 new cases.
Other areas reporting notable week-on-week jumps include:
Trafford (up from 8.9 to 34.3, with 81 new cases)
Manchester (up from 13.5 to 22.5, with 123 new cases)
Sandwell (up from 22.9 to 28.7, with 94 new cases)
The list is based on Public Health England figures updated on July 28 on the Government's coronavirus online dashboard.
05:28 PM
Coronaviruses linked to Sars-Cov-2 have been circulating in bats ‘for decades’, study finds
Coronaviruses capable of infecting humans have been “circulating unnoticed in bats for decades”, according to experts tracing the origins of Sars-Cov-2.
In a study published in Nature Microbiology today, an international team of researchers analysed the lineage of the novel coronavirus and found it is likely to have diverged from the most closely related bat virus between 40 and 70 years ago.
Since then, they added, many unsampled descendants also capable of infecting humans through the virus’ spike protein have probably been circulating in bats.
The finding not only has significant implications for preventing future pandemics, but adds to mounting evidence discrediting conspiracy theories that suggest Sars-Cov-2 was bioengineered or escaped from a laboratory, the authors said.
A further 119 people who tested positive for the coronavirus have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community in the UK, the Government has said.
This brings the official number to 45,878, however separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 56,400 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The Government also said that in the 24-hour period up to 9am today, there had been a further 581 lab-confirmed cases. Overall, a total of 300,692 cases have been confirmed.
Here's how the number of deaths with the virus in the UK compares to some other countries across the world:
05:15 PM
Canada approves remdesivir for use against coronavirus
Canada has given the green light for people with severe symptoms of Covid-19 to be treated with the anti-viral drug remdesivir.
"Remdesivir is the first drug that Health Canada has authorized for the treatment of Covid-19," said the health ministry.
At least two major US studies have shown that remdesivir can reduce the duration of hospital stays for patients with the virus.
Washington authorized the emergency use of the medicine - which was originally intended as a treatment for Ebola - on May 1, followed by several Asian nations including Japan and South Korea.
Canada said it can be used on virus patients who have pneumonia and need extra oxygen to help them breathe.
The doses used in Canada will be made by a unit of Gilead Sciences, the US pharmaceutical company that developed the drug.
In early July, the European Commission also authorized use of remdesivir to treat the coronavirus.
05:10 PM
Anthony Fauci denies Trump claim that he misled US public about coronavirus
Dr Anthony Fauci has insisted that he had “not been misleading the American public under any circumstances” - hitting back against a claim by Donald Trump.
The director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases was speaking the morning after Sinclair, an influential broadcaster with links to the President, released an interview on a widely syndicated TV show in which the researcher behind the Plandemic conspiracy theory claimed Fauci made the coronavirus and sent it to Wuhan, China.
Also on Monday night, Trump retweeted a series of controversial claims about the pandemic, including a claim on a podcast hosted by the former White House counselor Steve Bannon that Fauci “misled the American public on many issues”.
Asked about the tweets on ABC News’ Good Morning America, Fauci said: “I don’t tweet, I don’t even read them. I don’t really want to go there. I just will continue to do my job, no matter what comes out, because I think it’s very important.”
Fauci, 79, who has served six presidents since 1984, continued: “We’re in the middle of a crisis with regard to a pandemic. This is what I do. This is what I’ve been trained for my entire professional life and I’ll continue to do it.
“I have not been misleading the American public under any circumstances.”
05:00 PM
Spain reports 905 new cases
More from Spain: the country reported 905 new cases of Covid-19 today, with the regions of Catalonia, Aragon and Madrid accounting for most of them.
The total number of coronavirus cases stood at 280,610, up from 278, 782 on Monday, the country’s health ministry said. That is a rise of 1,828 from the previous day, and includes results from antibody tests on people who may already have recovered.
04:56 PM
Spain lockdown destroys over one million jobs in second quarter
The coronavirus pandemic has destroyed the jobs of over a million Spaniards during the second quarter, mainly in tourism, data showed today, but the Government said the "worst moment" for the labour market had passed.
The National Statistics Institute (INE) reported that the number of unemployed rose by only 55,000 between April and June to 3.4 million.
That pushed the unemployment rate in the eurozone's fourth-largest economy to 15.3 per cent from 14.4 per cent in the first quarter.
But those figures significantly underestimate the impact of the virus on the Spanish job market, which registered a 1.07 million drop in the number of people employed during the second quarter, the INE said.
The unemployment data is based on surveys, not claims for benefits, and the survey counts only people actively seeking a job as unemployed. As the lockdowns imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus kept people from hunting for jobs, they were not considered as unemployed by the survey.
It also does not take into account the millions of workers on the Government furlough scheme that was put in place to avoid massive layoffs at firms hit by the lockdown.
"The figure is horrible, without a doubt the worst in history," Pepe Alvarez, the leader of the UGT union, Spain's second-biggest, told radio Cadena Ser.
04:49 PM
Boris Johnson: Motorists should be more courteous towards cyclists
Boris Johnson has said that he would like to see motorists being more “courteous” towards cyclists.
It follows the announcement of the Government's £2bn "cycling and walking revolution", which includes a commitment to building thousands of miles of new protected bike lanes, cycle training for any child or adult, and bikes available on prescription.
Speaking at an event to publicise the strategy, he said:
"What we will do is create thousands of miles of protected cycle lanes - I really believe that protected cycle lanes are essential to give people the confidence people need, many people aren’t very brave or confident cyclists.
"What I also want to see is more work done to get motorists to understand that we are all going to be sharing the roads, going to be sharing it with cyclists, so be respectful, be courteous.
"Things have been improving but there’s still a long way to go."
Boris Johnson rides a bicycle during a visit to the Canal Side Heritage Centre in Beeston near Nottingham to launch of a strategy to get more people cycling - PA
04:43 PM
NHS contact tracing app ready for rollout 'in a few weeks', says outgoing test and trace head
The NHS coronavirus contact tracing app will be ready within weeks, the outgoing chief of the Government's test and trace regime has said.
Tom Riordan, the chief executive of Leeds City Council, who headed the tracing operation of the manual contact tracing programme, said the app would be most useful in large cities in which people frequently use public transport.
His comments come after the NHS scrapped attempts to build its own version of the app – which used smartphones' Bluetooth connections to record when people came into close enough proximity to potentially spread the virus – after it suffered a series of technical glitches.
The Government is now building a new version of the app designed by Apple and Google, which it hopes will work more smoothly with versions of the iPhone and Android phones.
France sends thousands of test kits and ventilators to India
A French air force jet has delivered ventilators and tens of thousands of coronavirus test kits to help India as it heads towards its peak in the pandemic crisis, officials said.
AFP reports that the consignment, which in part was in response to India sending medicines as France suffered in the pandemic earlier this year, was handed over to the Indian Red Cross at a military airport in New Delhi.
The 130 ventilators, 50,000 test kits and 50,000 swab kits arrived as the number of pandemic cases in India passed 1.5 million while nearly 35,000 have died. With about 50,000 new infections now reported each day, India has the world's fastest growing caseload and its total is only behind Brazil and the United States.
In announcing the donation this week, France's President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to India for allowing the export of medicines in April to fight the coronavirus when there was an international shortage.
"When France was going through a critical phase of this public health crisis earlier this spring, India was by our side," Macron said in a letter to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said the medicines sent by India were "essential for the treatment of critically ill patients."
04:36 PM
Tory peer says Britons on holiday in Spain should 'accept the consequences'
Baroness Buscombe, a Conservative peer and former welfare minister, has sparked anger after declaring that Britons caught out by the Spain quarantine changes should “accept the consequences” of booking a break “for pleasure” in a pandemic and should not be given any extra state help.
As HuffPost's Paul Waugh reports, Buscombe used an emergency Lords question on the row to criticise calls for fresh financial support to be given to workers forced to self-isolate for 14 days on return from holiday.
Labour, trade unions and other parties have all called for enhanced statutory sick pay to be made available to workers hit by the changes, but Baroness Buscombe made her views against this plain.
“The trouble with Labour and the Liberal Democrats is they love spending other people’s money,” she said.
“They complain about austerity and then want to spend yet more of taxpayers’ money on people who have chosen to take risks by travelling mostly for pleasure in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.
“Perhaps we should change the word ‘pandemic’ to ‘plague’... Isn’t it time to stop treating everyone as if they are incapable of taking proportionate risks and accepting the consequences?”
04:30 PM
North Korea introduced tougher measures to combat virus
North Korea has today introduced tougher curbs against the coronavirus, state media reported, after it locked down the town Kaesong, on the border with the South, to tackle what could be its first publicly confirmed infection.
Strict quarantine measures and the screening of districts were in progress and test kits, protective clothing and medical equipment were being supplied, the North’s KCNA state news agency said.
The measures come after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared an emergency on Sunday after a person who defected to South Korea three years ago returned across the highly fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ) to Kaesong this month with symptoms of Covid-19, KCNA reported.
Reclusive North Korea had reported testing 1,211 people for the virus as of July 16 with all returning negative results, the World Health Organization said in a statement sent to Reuters. The report said 696 nationals were under quarantine.
All those under quarantine were working at the Nampo seaport and Sinuiju-Dandong land border with China, Dr Edwin Salvador, WHO representative to North Korea, told Reuters by email, noting that the country has been quarantining labourers coming into contact with goods arriving into the country.
04:24 PM
Closing furlough scheme a 'mistake' which could lead to unemployment surge, says report
The Government plan to shut the coronavirus furlough scheme this autumn "seems to be a mistake" which will result in a surge in unemployment, according to a leading economic think-tank.
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) has warned that the rate of unemployment is set to surge to around 10 per cent of the country's workforce by the end of the year.
NIESR hailed the Government's coronavirus job retention scheme but called on the Chancellor to extend the scheme into next year in a bid to preserve jobs.
Around 9.5 million roles have been supported by the furlough scheme, but it will be wound down from next month and removed entirely at the end of October.
The think-tank called on the Government to rethink this, arguing that extending the programme until the middle of next year would dramatically cut the number of redundancies and would probably pay for itself.
It said that if the Government continues with current plans, unemployment will recede as the recovery gathers speed in 2021 but will remain above its recent level of around 4 per cent.
04:17 PM
Goldman Sachs chief David Solomon under fire after DJ-ing at Hamptons party
The boss of Goldman Sachs is under fire after a charity concert that he opened in the Hamptons over the weekend was accused of "egregious" social distancing violations.
Goldman chief David Solomon, whose DJ name is D-Sol, was on stage for an hour playing electronic dance music on Saturday to a crowd of thousands, including Facebook's high-profile early backers the Winklevoss twins. Top-priced tickets, which included private bathrooms, reportedly cost as much as $25,000 (£19,352).
Mr Solomon said in an interview on Monday that the party in the Hamptons, an enclave where rich New Yorkers and A-list celebrities spend their summers, was "beautiful" and proves "we can do things that feel more normal and allow us to live with this virus safely".
However hours later New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted to his 2.4m followers that he was "appalled" after seeing videos of the event that showed "egregious social distancing violations". He said the state would now investigate the event to see if it was safe, adding that the Department of Health had no tolerance for "reckless" behaviour.
Videos from a concert held in Southampton on Saturday show egregious social distancing violations. I am appalled.
The Department of Health will conduct an investigation.
We have no tolerance for the illegal & reckless endangerment of public health.pic.twitter.com/gf9kggdo8w
At the Scottish Government's daily coronavirus briefing today, the First Minister wasn't so subtle in her advice to those who are keen to get away this summer, and urged holidaymakers to support the Scottish tourism industry will uncertainty around going abroad remains.
"As the prevalence of Covid in Scotland continues to fall, we must guard against the risk of cases coming into the country from outside. So, if necessary, the Scottish Government will reimpose quarantine restrictions on travel from certain countries, as we did at the weekend with Spain, if those countries see a sharp increase in cases.
"People planning an overseas holiday need to be aware of that. You cannot assume that the rules and regulations applying to or in your destination when you book a holiday will stay the same while you’re there, or will be the same when you come to travel.
"I want to reiterate this point very strongly today, my advice to you remains to be very cautious about non-essential foreign travel at this time.
"And if you are in a position to have a holiday, and want to take a holiday, the safest way of doing so is to stay here in Scotland so you avoid the risks of foreign travel. You are also, as an added bonus, helping the Scottish tourism industry."
03:59 PM
Failures in translation of Covid guidance costing lives, campaigners say
Failures in translating the Government's coronavirus guidance are costing lives, campaigners say.
Local charity leader Jacques Matensi-Kubanza said people who should be shielding have not done so and died because they could not access information in their language.
His comments come after Doctors of the World wrote a letter to the Government raising concerns over a "blind spot" on translating coronavirus guidance, the BBC reported.
The charity said public health messages had only been translated into a limited number of languages and had not been promptly updated when guidance changed.
More than 4.2 million people in England and Wales said English or Welsh was not their main language, and 860,000 said they spoke little or no English in the March 2011 census.
Mr Matensi-Kubanza, chair of West Midlands charity African French Speaking Community Support (AFSCS) - which translates and redistributes health information in its local community, said older people are being especially affected.
03:56 PM
What is the difference between elimination and eradication?
At the Scottish Government's news conference earlier today, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that she was trying to get all four nations of the UK to commit to aiming to eliminate the coronavirus.
But what does this actually mean?
Independent Sage say that Scotland and Northern Ireland are on course to eliminate the virus, and the group of scientists have advocated this "Zero Covid" approach.
In a series of posts on Twitter, Devi Sridhar, professor of global public health at Edinburgh University and a Scottish Government adviser on the pandemic, explains the difference between elimination and eradication.
Eradication -> getting rid of every case of COVID on the planet. Only possible in long-term w/vaccine.
Elimination -> stopping community transmission within national borders. Imported cases will occur, but if identified quickly, can mean return to largely ‘normal’ daily life.
These terms keep being used interchangeably- but they have distinct meanings. We have eliminated malaria & measles in many countries. We have not eradicated them.
Lockdown may have aged how we look, new study reveals
Five months spent in lockdown has taught us a great deal, writes Sameeha Shaikh.
The country has been schooled in the real power of the beauty industry, the magic in the fingertips of facialists and the indispensability of a haircut. But now, as we begin to emerge out of months spent in quarantine, it's the impact of confined movement on the face that we're being taught a lesson in.
New research from Glowday, the UK’s first marketplace for non-surgical treatments, has found that over a quarter of women in the UK (27 percent) feel lockdown has aged them. Of the 2000 women surveyed, this rang most true for the 25-34 year old demographic, of which 44 percent said this was the case for them.
Hannah Russell, chief executive of Glowday, says, “Lockdown has changed our habits. We may have let our skincare routine slip, we've probably been drinking more, eating comfort food and for many people, especially people with children, they've generally found the whole thing exhausting and possibly not been sleeping well.
Deaths at home from causes other than coronavirus are on the increase, ONS figures reveal
Twice as many people are now dying at home from unexplained causes rather than from Covid-19, as experts call for an urgent investigation into what is causing the excess deaths.
New figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show there were 766 more deaths than usual at home in the week up to July 17.
In contrast, just 295 deaths involved coronavirus in England and Wales and only 29 of those occurred at home.
It brings the total excess deaths at home during the pandemic to more than 20,000.
Experts are concerned people are still unable to access medical care, even though there are now relatively few cases of coronavirus in hospitals.
Twitter limits access to Donald Trump Jr's account over Covid misinformation
Twitter said today that it has limited access to Donald Trump Jr’s account for 12 hours because a tweet he had posted violated the social media site’s misinformation policy on Covid-19.
The eldest son of the US President on Monday posted a video of doctors talking about the drug hydroxychloroquine (see previous post). The video was taken down by the social media company for breaking its rules on Covid-19 misinformation.
“It is beyond the pale for Twitter to silence someone for sharing the views of medical professionals who happen to dissent with their anti-hydroxychloroquine narrative,” said Andy Surabian, a spokesman for the President’s son, after sharing a screenshot that showed Twitter had temporarily limited some of @DonaldJTrumpJr’s account features.
But Twitter hit back.
“We did not suspend the account. The screenshot shared directly says that Twitter required the Tweet to be deleted because it violated our rules, and that we would limit some account functionality for 12 hours,” a Twitter spokesman told Reuters.
Facebook, Youtube and Twitter remove Covid video tweeted by Trump due to false information
A Breitbart video touting misinformation about the coronavirus has quickly spread across social-media platforms, where clips were retweeted by President Donald Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr.
The video, which got more than 14 million views on Facebook alone, according to CNN, which cited CrowdTangle data, has since been taken down from Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter — including removing tweets that the President shared.
"Tweets with the video are in violation of our COVID-19 misinformation policy," a Twitter representative told Business Insider. "We are taking action in line with our policy."
In a tweet, the Facebook representative Andy Stone said: "Yes, we removed it for sharing false information about cures and treatments for COVID-19."
That Breitbart video from the doctors claiming that Hydroxychloroquine cures the coronavirus has been going crazy in anti-vax, anti-mask, reopen Facebook Groups today. Its at >20 mil views on FB. And that doesn't include all the private groups it's been spreading through. pic.twitter.com/QJ8ocMf3aM
British Airways faces strike action after a trade union warned it will move towards industrial action "with immediate effect".
Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, claimed the airline has published a timetable to "fire and rehire" thousands of workers on August 7.
In a letter to British Airways chief executive Alex Cruz, Mr McCluskey accused the airline of dragging the "good name" of British Airways "through the mud" and pledged to "work every hour between now and then to convince you not to do so".
British Airways owner IAG announced in April that it would cut up to 12,000 jobs due to the reduction in flights caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Unite has claimed the company is planning to rehire remaining employees on downgraded terms and conditions if an agreement cannot be reached.
British Airways said in a statement the pandemic has resulted in job losses across every industry and many airlines have "already made thousands of staff redundant", adding that they are "not immune" to the crisis and they must "adapt to survive".
03:10 PM
Belarus President 'had the coronavirus'
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said today that he had had the coronavirus without any symptoms and had already recovered from it, the BELTA news agency quoted him as saying.
"Today you are meeting a man who managed to survive the coronavirus on his feet. Doctors came to such a conclusion yesterday. Asymptomatic," Lukashenko said during a meeting with the military.
The 65-year-old leader has resisted calls to impose lockdown measures or close the borders to contain the spread of the pandemic in the eastern European country.
He has previously dismissed fears about the pandemic as a "psychosis" and suggested remedies such as drinking vodka or taking saunas to battle the virus.
As of today, 67,366 cases of coronavirus were registered in Belarus, a country of 9.5 million people, with 543 deaths, according to the health ministry.
Frustration over his handling of the pandemic has fuelled opposition protests against Lukashenko ahead of an election on August 9.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko (R) speaks with officers as he visits the Belarusian Interior Ministry special forces base in Minsk, Belarus - Shutterstock
02:59 PM
Catalonia to fine young people having street parties
Catalonia has banned informal outdoor parties popular with young people, saying anyone taking part would be fined up to 15,000 euros, in the latest step to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The measure was announced a day after Catalan leader Quim Torra said those participating in the tradition of the "botellon," where young people gather at night on the street or in parks to share drinks and party, were being irresponsible.
"For public health reasons, the shared consumption of alcoholic beverages on the streets and in any other open public space is banned in all Catalonia," government spokeswoman Meritxell Budo told reporters.
Anyone ignoring the ban would be fined between 3,000 and 15,000 euros, Budo said, with municipalities in charge of monitoring and enforcement.
Catalonia, which is Spain's second-most populous region is its worst affected by the coronavirus with 75,613 cases, including 10,134 in the last two weeks.
02:46 PM
Covid-19 has not claimed as many lives in Africa as originally feared – but the economic impact is stark
We need to revisit the issue of debt and development. The nature of debt has changed – who owns it, what it looks like, Romilly Greenhill writes.
Consider, China is now the largest single creditor nation to Africa, with combined state and commercial loans estimated to have been $132bn (£100bn) between 2006 and 2017.
The poorest countries are due to pay $11 billion in debt service to the Chinese government next year, compared to only $9 million to the UK. There are many questions, and currently few answers, about China's attitude to international debt.
The impact of Covid-19 is the other imperative for new thinking on debt and development. So far, the pandemic has not claimed as many lives in Africa as originally feared, but the economic impact – and what this could mean in the fight against poverty – is stark.
Europe became the epicentre of the global pandemic before the continent locked down. This week, for the first time, we return to ‘ground zero’ of some of the worst-hit countries to assess the damage.
Today, Henry Samuel explores the suspected role a church in Mulhouse, eastern France, played in the pandemic.
Evangelical pastor Samuel Peterschmitt has spent most of his life spreading the good word.
For the past four months, he has been fighting allegations his Open Door church carelessly sowed death.
“People need scapegoats,” he sighed.
Read the full story here, and come back to Telegraph.co.uk at 8am on Wednesday 29 July to read part three, a dispatch from Spain.
02:25 PM
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Jet2 suspends flights to Balearic and Canary Islands until Aug 10
Tour operator Jet2 has suspended flights and holidays to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza up to and including August 9, after the Government changed its advice on travel to the Balearic and Canary Islands.
The company had already suspended flights and holidays to mainland Spain until August 16, and on Monday evening advised customers due to travel to the Balearic and Canary Islands on Tuesday not to go to the airport.
Customers are able to rebook with no fee, receive a credit note or full refund, Jet2 said.
"What we need now is clarity and consistency from the Government. We understand that this is a fast-moving situation, however the information we are receiving is contradictory and often comes with little or no notice," they said in a statement.
"We want to provide customers, who work hard and save hard for their well-deserved holidays, with timely information and we need this from the Government. We would like to sincerely thank our customers for their understanding and patience."
02:10 PM
Today in pictures
Some lockdown restrictions have been reinforced in Oldham after a spike in cases, while the UK Government doubled down on its decision to quarantine passengers returning from Spain.
Here are some photos from across the UK today as the coronavirus pandemic rolls on.
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall wears a mask to protect against coronavirus, during a visit to the recently reopened National Gallery, meeting members of staff involved in the organisation's Covid-19 response and reopening process - Ben Stansall/Pool Boris Johnson talks to the owner of the the Cycle Lounge, Rodney Rouse, a bicycle repair shop, after the government announced a new plan to get Britain cycling, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease - Rui Vieira/Pool via REUTERS British department store group Selfridges (pictured) warned today that it plans to axe 450 jobs after sales slumped on coronavirus and the nationwide lockdown. - BEN STANSALL/AFP Design Museum staff look over an installation by 1024 architecture on display in the exhibition 'Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers' at the Design Museum in London. The museum is preparing to reopen its doors to visitors on 31 July 2020 after four months of lockdown - ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
01:43 PM
England records 12 further coronavirus deaths
A further 12 people, who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,303.
Patients were aged between 45 and 99 years old. All had known underlying health conditions.
01:36 PM
Worldwide summary
If you're just joining us, here are the latest developments from around the world today.
The disease control agency in Germany has raised "great concern" over rising virus numbers in the country - in the last seven days it has registered an average of 557 new cases a day, up from around 350 in early June.
Pedro Sanchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, has called the move to impose a 14-day quarantine on all those entering Britain from Spain as "unbalanced", insisting parts of his country are safer than the UK.
The spread of Covid-19 does not appear to be impacted by seasonality, the World Health Organization said, warning against false beliefs that summer is safer.
Greece will reopen six of its ports, including Piraeus in Athens, to cruise ships at the weekend, the tourism minister says. But the government also says it is making masks compulsory again in shops and public services in response to a recent rise in infections.
Iran has reported 235 new deaths from the virus, a record toll for a single day in the Middle East's hardest-hit country.
Vietnam has suspended all flights to and from Danang for 15 days after at least 22 cases coronavirus had been detected in or around the city, the government said.
01:11 PM
How prevalent is Covid-19 in your area?
With the news that Oldham will be reinstating some lockdown restrictions after a rise in cases, use our postcode tool below to see how your area is faring.
12:58 PM
West Devon and Scarborough have gone several weeks with 'no Covid-19 cases'
We will bring you more news on Oldham as we get it.
Elsewhere, a handful of local authorities have gone for several weeks without a single confirmed case of Covid-19, according to the latest figures.
The area to have had the longest spell without a new case is West Devon, where the most recent case was recorded on June 26.
The Isle of Wight has not recorded any new cases since July 2, while in Scarborough no cases have been recorded since July 3.
The figures are published by Public Health England and cover positive cases that have been confirmed up to and including July 24 by tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).
They also show no recorded cases in Ryedale in North Yorkshire since July 5 and in Torridge in Devon since July 9.
Because the figures are based only on recorded cases, there may have been people in these areas who had Covid-19 in recent days or weeks but were not detected. Therefore, these areas cannot be described as being completely free from Covid-19.
12:46 PM
Spike in cases not at the level of other local lockdowns, authorities say
The rise in cases in Oldham is "worrying", the council said, but added the numbers are not at the same levels of other local lockdowns.
These new restrictions have been put in place to "avoid that possibility", the council said.
Katrina Stephens, Director of Public Health for Oldham, said: “We know that effective testing is at the heart of tackling the spread of the virus. We therefore urging anyone who shows symptoms that may be coronavirus to book a test online.
“Where people test positive or have symptoms, or where people have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, they must ensure they follow the guidance on self isolation. If you have symptoms you should stay at home for seven days and book a test as soon as possible.
“If you test positive you should self-isolate for seven days. Members of your family and support bubble and others who you have been in contact with should self-isolate for 14 days, even if they access a test themselves and test negative. This is because it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear.
“If we all do our bit and stick to the restrictions now, we can help stop the spread of coronavirus, and protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
12:41 PM
'Significant proportion' of cases from 'large families', Oldham council say
In a statement Oldham council said a "significant proportion" of recent cases have been from multiple members of the same household testing positive.
"Household spread is a real issue – especially in households with large families," the council said.
The new restrictions include:
We are advising that you do not have social visitors to your home, outside of those in your support bubble
To ensure we protect older and vulnerable people, our care homes will not relax restrictions on care home visiting
We are advising those who are clinically vulnerable whose shielding should have come to an end from 31 July to extend shielding for a further two weeks from that date (to 14 August).
12:38 PM
BREAKING: Oldham reinforces some lockdown restrictions
Socialising between households and care home visits have been banned in Oldham after spike of more than 100 new coronavirus cases in a week, authorities have said.
Residents have been asked to not host visitors from outside their household and those in the shielding group must continue to isolate for another two weeks from July 31.
The city will also not be relaxing rules allowing families to visit loved ones in care homes.
Oldham has seen 119 cases in the seven days to 25 July. By comparison the week ending 17 July saw just 26 positive cases.
This means a current rate of 50.2 positive tests per 100,000 versus 10.2 per 100,000 the week before.
12:30 PM
15 staff at one NHS trust test positive
East Kent Hospitals said 15 members of staff have tested positive for coronavirus out of 9,000 tested over a five day period.
Kent has been under the spotlight after the region recorded some of the highest Covid-19 mortality rates in England last month.
The 15 staff who tested positive are isolating in line with national guidance, the trust said.
Chief medical officer Dr Rebecca Martin said: "We know that while many people experience mild - or even no - symptoms of Covid-19, they have the potential to carry and pass on the virus without knowing it.
"Testing staff means we can be sure no member of staff who may be carrying the virus without knowing it is working in our hospitals."
East Kent Hospitals runs three acute hospitals and serves a local population of around 759,000 people.
12:07 PM
WATCH: British tourist 'fuming' over quarantine on return from Spain
11:56 AM
Without a trace: human traffickers exploit the pandemic to separate children from their families
The remote district of East Singhbhum in India’s northern Jharkhand state was one of the nation’s poorest even before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, Joe Wallen reports.
Families living in thatched-roof homes – unique to the forested region – would struggle to feed their children, earning only ₹4,000 (£41) a month as agricultural labourers.
So the village became a target of human traffickers, who promised lucrative jobs in India’s megacities for children - who would then disappear without a trace.
But when the Covid-19 pandemic hit East Singhbhum life became impossible for many families, as limited existing employment opportunities dried up.
A number of countries are reporting worrying rises in coronavirus cases, prompting fears of a second wave. Here are the latest developments from today:
Iran has notched up a new daily record of 235 coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours, according to official health ministry figures.
Hong Kong reported 106 new coronavirus cases today, including 98 that were locally transmitted, as the city braced for the implementation of strict new measures that will ban restaurant dining and restrict gatherings to two people.
The Philippine health ministry has confirmed 1,678 new coronavirus infections, reporting more than 1,000 new daily cases for a 14th successive day. In a bulletin, the ministry said total deaths had increased by four to 1,947, with confirmed cases rising to 83,673.
Russia reported 5,395 new cases of Covid-19, bringing its nationwide tally to 823,515, the fourth largest in the world.
11:14 AM
Duchess of Cornwall sports peacock print mask
The Duchess of Cornwall has been spotted wearing a rather fetching peacock print face mask.
Camilla arrived at the recently reopened National Gallery in London to speak to staff involved in the organisation's Covid-19 response and reopening process.
It appears the Duchess has taken a leaf out of Samantha Cameron's style book, by matching her mask to her dusty blue dress.
The Duchess of Cornwall wearing a face mask arrives at the recently reopened National Gallery in London - Aaron Chown/PA Wire Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrives at the National Gallery wearing a peacock print mask - Neil Mockford/GC Images
11:01 AM
Health is priority when it comes to local lockdowns, says PM
Boris Johnson said the priority must be people's health in determining when local lockdowns are lifted.
Asked about the lockdown in Leicester, he said: "I have every sympathy for local leaders who want their area out of lockdown, I can understand their instincts.
"But we have to look at the big picture, we have to look at the national situation and, of course, we need to look at the health of the people of Leicester as well."
He added a review in ongoing but that "the priority has got to be people's health and getting the disease under control".
10:59 AM
PM hints at review of 14-day quarantine period
Asked about reports the 14-day quarantine period could be reduced, Boris Johnson said: "We are always looking at ways in which we can mitigate the impact of the quarantine, try to help people, try to make sure that the science is working to help travellers and holidaymakers."
He added that travellers have "got to stick to the guidance".
"I'm afraid if we do see signs of a second wave in other countries it is really our job, our duty, to act swiftly and decisively to stop ... travellers coming back from those places seeding the disease here in the UK," he said.
'It's up to individuals to take the risk', says PM on foreign holidays
Boris Johnson said it was up to individuals to decide whether they wanted to take the risk of going abroad in the present circumstances.
"These are decisions for families, for individuals, about where they want to go," he said.
The Prime Minister said the quarantine measures were aimed at stopping cases being brought in to the UK.
"It's vital that when people are coming back from abroad, if they are coming back from a place where I'm afraid there is another outbreak, they must go into quarantine.
"That's why we have taken the action that we have and we will continue, throughout the summer, to take such action where it is necessary," he said.
Signs of a second wave in Europe, Boris Johnson warns
Boris Johnson said there were signs of a second wave of coronavirus in Europe as he defended the Government's decision to impose quarantine restrictions on Spain.
"What we have to do is take swift and decisive action where we think that the risks are starting to bubble up again," he said.
"Let's be absolutely clear about what's happening in Europe, amongst some of our European friends, I'm afraid you are starting to see in some places the signs of a second wave of the pandemic."
Greece will make mask-wearing compulsory at more indoor public spaces to contain the spread of Covid-19 after a small flare up of Covid-19 infections in the second half of this month, its Deputy Civil Protection Minister said today.
Health authorities had made mask-wearing compulsory for consumers at supermarkets 10 days ago. Masks have been also compulsory at public transport.
But the new measure goes into effect from Wednesday.
Greece has managed to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections to 4,227 confirmed cases and 202 deaths after imposing an early lockdown based on official data up to Monday.
10:40 AM
Australia sends medical team to Papua New Guinea as cases rise
Australia is sending a medical team to help Papua New Guinea (PNG) fight an outbreak of coronavirus after the neighbouring country experienced a rise in infections.
The Pacific nation has recorded an increase in new cases in the past week, according to data analysis firm Worldometer. There were 62 confirmed virus cases as of late Tuesday, up from just eight infections 11 days ago.
After PNG asked for assistance, Australia arranged to send a team of medical and crisis response staff to the capital Port Moresby, Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham said.
The Australian team would help with laboratories, case management, infection control, triage and emergency management and public health, he added.
A day earlier, PNG halted entry for travellers, except those arriving by air, in an effort to tighten curbs against coronavirus infections.
10:30 AM
Five coronavirus stories from around the world
Here are five stories to read from across The Telegraph this morning:
Madame Tussauds London, Sea Life London Aquarium and The London Dungeon are set to reopen their doors for the first time since being shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Merlin Entertainments said these and other major attractions including the lastminute.com London Eye and Shrek's Adventure! London will reopen with enhanced hygiene and safety measures on August 1.
All guests and team members will have their temperature checked before they are allowed to enter the attractions which now have hygiene stations and hand sanitiser at key locations. Masks for anyone aged over 11 will also be required.
Boris Johnson's Madame Tussauds London figure is prepared for the world-famous attraction's reopening on August 1st in line with recent Government guidelines - Yui Mok/PA Wire Enhanced hygiene and safety measures and reduced ticket capacity will be in place to ensure social distancing is maintained as guests grab the ultimate celeb selfie. - Yui Mok/PA Wire A Madame Tussauds London artist gets Anthony Joshua's figure ready for its big comeback when the attraction reopens on August 1st - Yui Mok/PA Wire
09:51 AM
'Put social life on back burner' young Belgians told, as Antwerp reinforces restrictions
Belgian authorities have imposed a curfew in Antwerp and blamed partying youngsters for making the city the epicentre of a potential second wave.
The new rules, which will come into force Wednesday and last four weeks, will mean all residents must be at home between 11.30pm and 6am.
They have been brought in after the number of cases in the city, which has a young population and vibrant nightlife, surged in recent weeks.
Bars, cafes, and restaurants will have to shut early and more strictly enforce social distancing of at least 1.5 metres between customers.
In a bid to stop the spread of the virus face masks will now be compulsory in public spaces for everyone above the age of 12.
Teleworking has been made compulsory again for most employees and facilities including gyms have been shut.
Authorities have said most of the new cases are amongst younger people who have picked up the virus at parties and weddings.
Governor Cathy Berx warned youngsters they can be badly hit by the disease too and urged them to "put social life on the back burner".
09:41 AM
Over 56,000 deaths linked to Covid-19 in UK
Just over 56,400 deaths involving Covid-19 have now been registered in the UK, the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show.
Figures published this morning by the ONS show that 51,366 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred in England and Wales up to July 17, and had been registered by July 25.
Figures published last week by the National Records for Scotland showed that 4,193 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to July 19, while 850 deaths had occurred in Northern Ireland up to July 17 (and had been registered up to July 22) according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
Together, these figures mean that so far 56,409 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.
09:29 AM
WATCH: Spanish PM slams UK quarantine decision 'inappropriate'
09:18 AM
Selfridges to cut 14 per cent of workforce
The iconic British department store Selfridges is to cut 450 jobs, 14 per cent of its workforce, due to the coronavirus impact.
“It will, without doubt, be the toughest year we have experienced in our recent history,” according to a company statement reported by CityAM.
“The task ahead is significant and, as we look to reinvent retail and prepare to build back, we will need to go further.
“As a family business, the hardest decisions are the ones that affect our people which is why it pains me to share news today of the toughest decision we have ever had to take that we will, very regrettably, need to make a 14 per cent net reduction in our overall headcount, approximately 450 roles.”
ONS: Deaths in all but two English regions below five-year average
All but two regions of England had deaths below the five-year average in the week ending July 17, the ONS said.
The exceptions were the East Midlands, where the number of registered deaths was 3.0 per cent above the five-year average, and the West Midlands, which was 2.7 per cent above the average.
The other regions were:
South-east England (2.3 per cent below)
South-west England (2.5 per cent below)
Eastern England (2.7 per cent below)
Yorkshire & the Humber (3.5 per cent below)
North-west England (5.5 per cent below)
London (6.9 per cent below)
North-east England (9.7 per cent below)
In Wales, the number of deaths registered in the week to July 17 was 1.3 per cent below the five-year average.
08:57 AM
ONS latest: Deaths below average for fifth week in a row
There were a total of 8,823 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week to July 17, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 270 fewer than the five-year average of 9,093.
This is the fifth week in a row that deaths have been below the five-year average.
Of the deaths registered in the week to July 17, 295 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate - the lowest number of deaths involving Covid-19 since the week ending March 20 (103 deaths).
08:43 AM
Rapid rise in German cases 'of great concern'
The rapid rise in Germany's coronavirus numbers is very worrying, the country's Robert Koch Institute for disease control said this morning, urging citizens to keep their distance and wear face masks.
"We must prevent that the virus once again spreads rapidly and uncontrollably," RKI head Lothar Wieler told reporters.
"The latest developments in the number of Covid-19 cases is of great concern to me and all of us at the RKI," he said.
Data from the RKI shows the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 633 to 206,242 today. The reported death toll rose by 4 to 9,122.
However, the Government said anyone who arrived in England from these countries before Tuesday would still need to self-isolate.
It comes as Britain's air corridor to Spain, one of the most popular tourist destinations for Britons, was removed on Saturday causing chaos for travelers.
In case you missed it: Senior White House adviser tests positive for Covid-19
Donald Trump's National Security Adviser has tested positive for coronavirus, making him the highest-ranking US official known to have contracted the disease so far, Josie Ensor reports.
Robert O'Brien, who is reported to have caught the virus from a “family event”, has mild symptoms and has been self-isolating since receiving the result, a White House spokesman said on Monday.
North Korea has introduced tougher prevention measures against Covid-19, state media reported, after it locked down the border town of Kaesong to tackle what could be its first publicly confirmed case of the disease.
Strict quarantine measures and the screening of districts were in progress, and test kits, protective clothing, and medical equipment were being rapidly supplied, the North's KCNA state news agency said.
The measures come after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared an emergency on Sunday after a person suspected of being infected with the virus returned from South Korea.
North Korea had reported testing 1,211 people for the virus as of July 16 with all returning negative results, the World Health Organization said in a statement yesterday. The report said 696 nationals were under quarantine.
08:03 AM
Spain latest: Quarantine to be cut to 10 days
Quarantine for people arriving from Spain and other countries with high levels of Covid-19 will be cut to 10 days under plans being finalised by ministers, The Telegraphhas learnt.
The Government hopes to announce this week a new policy of testing arrivals from high-risk countries eight days after they land. If they test negative they will be allowed to come out of self-isolation two days later, reducing the mandatory quarantine period by four days.
Read the full story by Charles Hymas and Gordon Rayner here.
07:57 AM
Pandemic fallout will leave 6.7m children dangerously undernourished, Unicef warns
A 6 month old eats ready-to-use therapeutic food at her home in Mopti, central Mali - UNICEF/UNI287192/Dicko
Almost seven million children could become dangerously undernourished this year, a stark report has warned, amid growing concerns that the fallout from the pandemic will kill more people than the coronavirus itself.
According to an analysis by Unicef published in The Lancet, an added 6.7 million children under five years old could suffer from wasting this year - a life-threatening form of malnutrition that leaves children emaciated.
As a result at least two decades of progress in tackling hunger could be reversed.
Russia reported 5,395 new coronavirus infections today, bringing its nationwide tally to 823,515, the fourth largest in the world.
The country's coronavirus taskforce said 150 people had died over the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll in the country of around 145 million people to 13,504.
St Petersburg shopping centre reopens despite cases still on the rise
A sign on a revolving door reads "Face Masks and Gloves Required for Entry" at the Galeria shopping and entertainment centre which reopened yesterday after the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions - Roman Pimenov\\TASS A woman emerges from one of the itting rooms complying with social distancing rules at the Galeria shopping and entertainment centre reopened after the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. - Roman Pimenov/TASS A shop assistant in a face mask arranges clothing for sale at the Galeria shopping and entertainment centre which reopened after the lifting of restrictions, despite cases still rising in Russia - Roman Pimenov\\TASS
07:22 AM
Holidaymakers going abroad should know they may have to quarantine, minister says
People who go on holiday abroad should have an understanding that they may be asked to self-isolate when they return, ministers have said.
Local government minister Simon Clarke said: "All holidays have to be taken understanding that foreign travel in the middle of a global pandemic which has caused devastation across the world has to be conducted against the backdrop of the Government's right to take steps to protect the UK.
"We've made enormous strides in this country over the last few weeks and we have now got the situation very largely under control.
"We cannot jeopardise that, we cannot render all the sacrifices that we've made redundant by failing to intervene to stop risk from being reimported from abroad.
"By all means go on holiday, but understand that there is a chance that you might be asked to self-isolate on your return."
07:02 AM
Government must reserve right to change advice, minister says
Simon Clarke said the UK Government must reserve the right to take action to keep the British public safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He told the BBC: "The reality is people travelling abroad will have to accept that there is a degree of uncertainty.
"As the situation changes on the ground, we have to reserve the right to take action to keep the British public safe.
"That's what we've done in the case of Spain. I think we'd have faced equally, frankly, strong criticism from you this morning had we done anything else.
"If we'd failed to take these steps, we'd be accused of inaction in the face of a growing health crisis and therefore it is important to remember we're doing this because the balance of medical opinion is it's the right thing to do."
06:58 AM
Rise of the anti-maskers: Psychology of why face coverings are causing so much upset
Read Science Editor Sarah Knapton's full story here - but enjoy the snippet below on the latest point of contention.
A divisive new battleground has emerged in recent weeks between Britons who are angry at being forced to wear face masks, and those equally furious about non-compliance.
Libertarians, massing under the banner 'Keep Britain Free', complain that covering up is an affront to civil rights, and largely pointless when pubs and restaurants are exempt.
Pro-maskers, operating under the ‘mask it or casket’ slogan, brand the dissenters selfish, with some shops even installing mirrors which state: “We have provided this space away from everyone else where you can stare at your reflection, since apparently you’re the only person you care about.”
06:51 AM
Matt of the day
Here is Matt's take on the Government's move to tackle obesity against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.
Track and trace app 'for London in next few weeks'
A track and trace app could be rolled out in major cities "in the next few weeks", according to the Government's lead on track and trace.
Tom Riordan, who is also chief executive of Leeds City Council, was asked if the much-maligned app was "still alive", to which he told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: "I think it is still alive. I think it will happen and it's needed.
"It's not the silver bullet, but it is something that could really help... I think it is probably needed more in places like London where people use public transport more than the rest of the country and we need the economy to kickstart.
"And I would expect that to start to be rolled out in the next few weeks."
06:41 AM
Concerns over 'blind spot' of non-English speakers in UK
Concerns have been raised about a Government "blind spot" on translating coronavirus guidance for many non-English speakers in the UK.
Charity Doctors of the World said public health messages had only been translated into a limited number of languages and had not been promptly updated when guidance changed.
It has co-ordinated a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick calling for a stronger focus on helping "excluded people", according to the BBC.
More than 4.2 million people - or 7.7% of the population in England and Wales - said that English or Welsh was not their main language, according to the March 2011 census.
Head of policy and advocacy Anna Miller told the broadcaster that attempting to draw attention to the "blind spot" was a struggle.
06:31 AM
Ministers told to get a grip on summer holiday confusion
Ministers were told to get a grip on summer holiday 'confusion' after the Balearic and Canary islands were added to the list of places where only essential travel should take place.
Holiday firms and the opposition urged the Government to bring more clarity to the situation as travel companies cancelled flights.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised against all non-essential travel to the Spanish holiday islands following a Covid-19 upsurge in some parts of mainland Spain.
The move brought the FCO advice into line with existing advice for mainland Spain and with the UK Goverment's decision to impose a 14-day quarantine requirement on people arriving from the whole of the country.
But the quarantine policy has been criticised by Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who described it as an "error"
06:24 AM
Today's front page
Here is your Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, July 28.
dt
05:57 AM
Working from home? We're WFA (working from abroad) instead
For the thousands left unexpectedly facing quarantine on return from their holiday in Spain after this weekend’s abrupt change to travel restrictions, there is, perhaps, an alternative: what if they just stayed there? Indeed the world has become the remote workforce's new office, breeding a new tribe of WFA (work from anywhere) employees who, since Covid-19 hit, have swapped their homes for more distant climes.
The Prime Minister has said that, from August 1, staff may begin returning to offices. But with up to 40 per cent of Britain’s workforce able to work remotely and as many as a third keen for things to stay that way many are trading in their travelcards for a one-way plane ticket.
Hoping to capitalise on this sudden abundance of itchy feet, Barbados this month began offering 12-month visas to frazzled workers looking to make a move; cheaper rent makes it a yet more compelling prospect.
Australia restricts surgeries so nurses can be deployed to care homes
Victoria state, Australia's coronavirus hot spot, is restricting non-urgent surgeries so that hospital nurses can be transferred to elderly care homes, where most deaths are occurring, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday.
Victoria reported 384 new infections and six deaths on Tuesday, down from a record 532 cases on Monday.
Mr Andrews said residents of the care homes would be moved to hospitals if they were not being adequately protected from infection.
"Some of the stories we've heard, some of what's gone on in some of these settings is simply not acceptable," Mr Andrews said, without elaborating.
Australian Defence Force staff arrive at Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility on the outskirts of Melbourne - DANIEL POCKETT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
04:52 AM
Chinese authorities 'covered up' cases in Wuhan, claims scientist
Chinese authorities were warned that coronavirus could spread between humans in early January, but did not tell the public for a week, a leading microbiologist has claimed, saying that there has been a “cover up”.
Professor Yuen Kwok-yung says he alerted health officials on January 12 to suspected human to human transmission of Covid-19, but his warnings were not made public until January 19, according to a new BBC Panorama documentary about China’s sluggish early response to the pandemic.
The professor, who helped to identify an outbreak of Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, diagnosed a family of seven with the novel coronavirus in Shenzhen, 700 miles from Wuhan, the global pandemic’s original epicentre.
Only some members of the family had been to Wuhan, which set alarm bells ringing about the infectious nature of the virus. Prof Yuen said he immediately informed Beijing.
Australian police disperse protesters at BLM rally
Australian police on Tuesday detained at least one person and ordered about 50 others to disperse after they gathered in Sydney to go ahead with a Black Lives Matter protest despite an official ban because of the pandemic.
The march had been called to highlight the deaths of Aboriginal people in custody, building on momentum from global rallies for racial justice and against police brutality.
Organisers had pressed ahead with the gathering despite the courts upholding the police ban, pledging to comply with social distancing restrictions.
A demonstrator wearing a face mask with the Australian Aboriginal flag is seen after police shut down the rally - Reuters
02:21 AM
Pakistan urges worshippers to buy sacrificial animals online
Pakistani authorities are encouraging people to buy sacrificial animals online or at least wear masks when visiting cattle markets, fearing preparations for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha could reverse a decline in infection numbers.
Government social-distancing restrictions this year including half-day closing have seen a drop in customers at the normally bustling markets which, like in other Muslim countries, are set up in urban centres ahead of one of Islam's most important festivals.
The main cattle market of Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, was less busy on Sunday than in preceding years with just six days before festivities.
Most visitors flouted a requirement to wear masks, and many were accompanied by children who this year are barred.
"I don't understand this coronavirus. I have not seen anyone dying of it," said trader Muhammad Akram. "Look around you: No one is wearing a mask."
Pakistan has reported over 270,000 cases with almost 6,000 deaths.
Men prepare lunch as they sell bulls at a cattle market, ahead of the Muslim festival of sacrifice Eid al-Adha in Karachi - Reuters
02:02 AM
Vietnam suspends flights to and from tourism hot spot
Vietnam has suspended all flights to and from Da Nang for 15 days starting on Tuesday after at least 14 cases had been detected in the city, the government said on Tuesday.
The Southeast Asian country has also suspended all passenger bus and train services to and from the city, the government said in a statement.
The city, a tourism hot spot, had reintroduced social distancing measures over the weekend after the government confirmed the first domestically-transmitted cases in more than three months.
A man and his children ride a bicycle on a street in Hanoi - Reuters
01:53 AM
68 new cases reported in China
New cases continue to rise in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang, with 57 reported on Tuesday.
The capital Beijing also reported its first case of domestic transmission in more than two weeks, while the northeastern province of Liaoning added another six cases in its local outbreak. Another four cases were found among Chinese travellers arriving from outside the country, bringing the daily total over the past 24 hours to 68.
Despite the new clusters, China appears to have largely contained the virus and the death toll remains at 4,634 among 83,959 cases.
01:25 AM
Australian Open postponed
The Australian Open, the country's oldest and most prestigious golf event, has been postponed from its scheduled staging in November due to Covid-19, organisers said on Tuesday.
Golf Australia had planned to stage the 105th edition at Melbourne's Kingston Heath Golf Club later this year but were now looking at other dates in early 2021, the governing body said.
Melbourne is midway through a six-week lockdown as authorities battle a surge in Covid-19 infections.
"These are very challenging times for all Australians and the uncertainty the global pandemic has caused makes it very difficult to be definitive in relation to future dates at this time," Golf Australia operations manager Simon Brookhouse said in a statement.
"Then, when you consider the rescheduled major championships, particularly the (US) Masters from 12-15 November, assembling the customary world-class field was also becoming increasingly difficult."
12:52 AM
Bolivian prison inmates riot over Covid exposure in pictures
The death of an inmate suspected of having the coronavirus prompted rioting in four of the most populated prisons in Bolivia's Cochabamba region over access to medical care.
Inmates protest on the roof of a San Sebastian prison - AP The sign reads: "The rich have private doctors. The prisoners - no doctors, no medicines". - Reuters Detainees riot on the roof of the prison and show posters demanding medical assistance amid the health emergency - Jorge Abrego/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
12:19 AM
Brazil's President takes off mask for selfies with supporters
Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday took off his mask in public as he greeted supporters in Brasilia, days after saying he had recovered from coronavirus, which he said had not had a serious impact on his health.
The right-wing leader tested positive earlier this month and went into quarantine at his residence, but said on Saturday that his latest test had come back negative.
"I didn't have any problems," Mr Bolsonaro said on Monday. "For people who have prior health problems and are of a certain age, anything can be dangerous."
Brazil has the worst coronavirus outbreak in the world outside of the US and Mr Bolsonaro has been criticised for minimizing the severity of the disease and doing little to curb its spread as deaths mount.
Standing outside the Alvorada Palace, the Brazilian president's official residence, Mr Bolsonaro removed his mask after supporters asked that he take it off so they could snap pictures and selfies with him.
Initially, Mr Bolsonaro said he would not take his mask off because he would end up "on the frontpage of tomorrow's newspapers" if he did, but ended up doing so for brief periods of time in response to supporters.
Jair Bolsonaro, center front, removes his protective mask during a meeting with supporters - AP
11:49 PM
More than 900 females feared dead during lockdown in Peru
A staggering 900-plus girls and women are missing and feared dead in Peru since Covid-19 confinement began, authorities said on Monday.
The Andean nation home to 33 million people has long had a horrific domestic violence problem.
But Covid-19, which has compounded home confinement combined with job losses and a health crisis, has seen an already scary situation grow worse in just 3 and a 1/2 months, according to Eliana Revollar, who leads the women's rights office of the National Ombudsman's office.
Seventy percent of that figure are minors, she added.
"During the quarantine, from March 16 to June 30, 915 women in Peru were reported missing," and feared dead, said Ms Revollar.
Before Covid-19, five women were reported missing in Peru every single day; since the lockdown, the number has surged to eight per day.
Commuters wearing face masks and face shields walk on a bridge to a bus platform in Lima, Peru - AP
11:16 PM
Today's top stories
Quarantine for people arriving from Spain and other countries with high levels of Covid-19 will be cut to 10 days under plans being finalised by ministers.
Wild camping patrols have been launched by police after amid a rise in illegal staycations during the pandemic.
A divisive new battleground has emerged in recent weeks between Britons who are angry at being forced to wear face masks, and those equally furious about non-compliance.
It's now widely accepted that Sars-Cov-2 was transmitted into humans from a bat (or possibly a pangolin) in the not too distant past but pets appear to play no part in its spread.
From the Algarve to the Amalfi Coast and the islands of Croatia, waiters are twiddling their thumbs and lifeguards gazing out over half-empty beaches as Europe’s tourism sector takes a huge hit from the effects of the pandemic.
Affluent Americans may want to double-check how much of their bank deposits are protected by government-backed insurance. The rules governing trust accounts just changed.
Former NBA guard Darius Morris has died at the age of 33. He played for five teams during his four NBA seasons. Morris played college basketball at Michigan.
It’s key to note that we’re not saying the “best team” or “best roster.” Instead, we’re talking about the best confluence of factors that can outline a path for survival and then success.
Teams have made their big splashes in free agency and made their draft picks, it's time for you to do the same. It's fantasy football mock draft time. Some call this time of year best ball season, others know it's an opportunity to get a leg up on your competition for when you have to draft in August. The staff at Yahoo Fantasy did their first mock draft of the 2024 season to help you with the latter. Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens are here to break it all down by each round and crush some staff members in the process.
Budgeting apps can help you keep track of your finances, stick to a spending plan and reach your money goals. These are the best budget-tracking apps available right now.
With free agency and the draft behind us, what 32 teams look like today will likely be what they look like Week 1 and beyond for the 2024 season. Matt Harmon and Scott Pianowski reveal the post-draft fantasy power rankings. The duo break down the rankings in six tiers: Elite offensive ecosystems, teams on the cusp of being complete mixed bag ecosystems, offensive ecosystems with something to prove, offenses that could go either way, and offenses that are best to stay away from in fantasy.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate edged back toward 7% this week but remains elevated, prompting housing experts to revise their forecasts for the rest of 2024.
Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss the Padres-Marlins trade that sent Luis Arraez to San Diego, as well as recap all the action from this weekend in baseball and send birthday wishes to hall-of-famer Willie Mays.
