No 10 hints that pubs could close to keep schools open in local outbreaks
Jordan Kelly-Linden
·82 min read
Screen schoolchildren using 90 minute test to keep them safe says Sir John
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..
10:57 PM
What happened today
Plans to extend shielding to some over-50s this winter have been abandoned after Cabinet ministers mounted a backlash against the proposal
Workers who have continued to come into the office during the coronavirus pandemic resent their colleagues who work from home and some are being offered extra pay or perks, HR professionals have said
Reopening schools without an improvement in test and trace could result in a second coronavirus wave more than twice the size of the first, a Lancet study suggests
Monday to Wednesday is the new weekend, restaurants said as they hailed the first day of the new “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme and reported a surge in bookings
Homeowners will be able apply for grants of up to £10,000 to install double glazing and upgrade to energy efficient doors as part of a new Government drive to improve energy efficiency
Global round-up: No 'silver bullet' says WHO chief
That's all from me, but don't worry we'll be back tomorrow with all the latest coronavirus news.
In the meantime, here's everything you need to know from today:
The World Health Organization has said that there might never be a "silver bullet" answer to Covid-19, despite the rush to discover effective vaccines and treatments.
Next year's GCSE and A-level exams could be delayed or even cancelled if there is "further disruption" caused by the pandemic, Ofqual has warned. However Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed that schools will also be included in the roll out of new viral tests, which can detect coronavirus and flu and promise results in 90 minutes,
President Donald Trump has lashed out at his coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx today, after she sounded a grim warning about the pandemic's new surge, calling her remarks "pathetic."
Covid-19 survivors suffer higher rates of psychiatric disorders including post-traumatic stress, anxiety, insomnia and depression, according to a study conducted by San Raffaele hospital in Milan.
Australia's second city, Melbourne, has started a six-week curfew today and officials have ordered non-essential businesses to close from midnight Wednesday as they struggle to control a resurgence of cases.
Police have launched an investigation after a video emerged of a DJ spitting beer onto dancers at a beach club in a Spanish resort as the country battled to reduce a spike in coronavirus cases.
Russia says it aims to launch mass production of a coronavirus vaccine next month and turn out "several million" doses per month by next year. The country is pushing ahead with several vaccine prototypes and one prepared at the Gamaleya institute in Moscow has reached advanced stages of development.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's chief of staff, Army General Souza Braga Netto, has tested positive for Covid-19, becoming the seventh Brazilian minister to have contracted the disease.
09:52 PM
Working in shared homes during lockdown hitting mental and physical health, survey finds
Young people in houseshares are having to live and work in cramped conditions, new figures show, with researchers warning that space constraints could pose "real issues" if working from home becomes a lasting norm.
The survey, carried out by researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE), found that two in five people (37 per cent) living in shared accommodation were both living and working in their bedroom during lockdown.
Many of the respondents, mostly aged between 20 and 39, said the cramped conditions were affecting both their mental and physical health.
Teachers demand major changes ahead of Scottish schools reopening
Education Secretary John Swinney - Getty Images Europe
Scotland’s largest teaching union has warned that reopening schools could lead to a resurgence of coronavirus if urgent new safety measures are not brought in within days.
The EIS said that it had “significant concerns” about guidelines for reopening schools, which are set to reopen next week, pointing to “contradictions” between rules drawn up for classrooms and wider society.
The Scottish Government has ordered schools to reopen full time by August 18 “at the latest” after initial plans to have all pupils observe two-metre distancing were abandoned, following a backlash from parents. Schools have been told distancing between pupils, which would have severely limited school capacity, is now no longer required.
However, the EIS, which has significant influence over Scottish education, has told education secretary John Swinney that urgent changes are needed, including strengthening a testing regime for schools and revisiting the rules around distancing.
No 10 ditches plan to shield over-50s after backlash from ministers
Proposals to extend shielding to some over-50s this winter have been abandoned after Cabinet ministers mounted a backlash against the proposal.
Downing Street killed off the plan to tell over-50s to stay at home after ministers warned it was impractical, could damage the economy and sent out mixed messages on the day the Government wanted workers to get back to the office.
Industry chiefs and prominent backbenchers including former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith also warned it was “economic madness” by depriving business of key managers and experience at a time when they were needed to help rescue industry in face of a recession.
Charles Hymas and Gordon Rayner have the story here.
08:56 PM
US politicians edge closer to agreement on coronavirus relief bill
Top US Democrats and White House negotiators have said they had made progress in talks on a new coronavirus relief bill, though the administration said President Donald Trump could act alone if no deal is reached.
A key sticking point remains what to do about the $600-per-week (£458) enhanced unemployment benefit, a key lifeline for the tens of millions of Americans thrown out of work during the pandemic, which expired on Friday.
"We're making some progress on certain issues, moving closer together," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters after Monday's talks. "There are a lot of issues that are still outstanding. But I think there is a desire to get something done as soon as we can."
Schumer, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows spent about two hours in talks on Capitol Hill. Mnuchin reported "a little bit of progress" in the talks.
"We're open to a bigger package if we can reach an agreement," Mnuchin told reporters. But Meadows later shot down that idea.
Congressional Democrats and Republicans remain far apart on next moves, with Democrats standing behind a $3 trillion plan that passed the House in May and Republicans raising concerns over their own $1 trillion proposal laid out by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell last week.
08:39 PM
Nearly half of America's low-income communities have no ICU beds in their area
New research looking at the American health care system has exposed a striking gap in access to ICU care from one community to the next, Stat News has reported.
The study, published Monday in Health Affairs, examined an area’s median household income compared to the number of ICU beds per 10,000 residents over 50 years old — the age cohort at greatest risk for Covid-19 hospitalization.
Nearly half of the communities with a median income under $35,000 (£26,700) had no ICU beds at all in their ZIP code cluster, compared to only 3 per cent of communities with a median income over $90,000.
The authors warn that the staggering scarcity of critical care services in low-income populations can exacerbate existing disparities seen in deaths due to Covid-19. Many low-income individuals are already at increased risk of infection because they are less likely to be able to work from home and may face more challenges in quarantining.
08:20 PM
Indigenous people must be included in global response, UN head says
The interests and input of indigenous peoples must be included in the global response to the coronavirus pandemic and any recovery strategy, the UN secretary general has said.
In a message ahead of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, observed on 9 August, António Guterres said the world’s 476 million indigenous people must be consulted in all recovery efforts.
Indigenous people’s communities have for generations been ravaged by diseases brought from elsewhere, Guterres said, adding that in the present crisis this vulnerability has been exacerbated by a lapsing of environmental protections.
08:04 PM
Andy Murray calls for assurance on quarantine issue ahead of US Open
Players need assurance that they would not face mandatory quarantine upon returning to Europe from the U.S. Open before travelling to New York amid the Covid-19 pandemic, former world number one Andy Murray has said.
Organisers United States Tennis Association (USTA) will set up a strict bio-security 'bubble' to minimise the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus during the Grand Slam, which will be played from August 31-September 13.
The Western & Southern Open, which was relocated from Cincinnati this year because of Covid-19, will also be held in New York from Aug. 20-28 and will serve as a tune-up for the hardcourt Grand Slam.
Murray, a two-times champion at Cincinnati, was on Monday awarded a wildcard at the Western & Southern Open which has the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Daniil Medvedev also in the field.
Mandatory quarantine would rule out players' participation in other ATP and WTA claycourt events scheduled in Europe before the French Open from the end of September.
The two major claycourt events in the leadup to Roland Garros are in Madrid (September 13-20) and Rome (September 20-27).
Andy Murray - Susana Vera / REUTERS
While Spain does not require mandatory quarantine, Italy would need travellers to quarantine for 14 days if coming from the U.S. The USTA has said the organisers are working with relevant authorities to resolve issues.
"My understanding is that it would be sorted before we go to America. But things can change in the next 10 to 12 days," Murray told journalists. "Hopefully before we leave, the players will have the assurances that, when they come back from America, they won't have to quarantine for two weeks.
"If that is the case, and if you do well in the U.S. Open, you can't just arrive on the Sunday before the French Open starts on the Monday. That's not going to work."
07:51 PM
US treasury plans to borrow $947bn to cover coronavirus cost
The US Treasury Department said it plans to borrow $947bn (724.5bn) in the third quarter as it anticipates the government continuing to need to spend heavily in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the economy.
Congress has already allocated about $3tn for coronavirus-related economic aid so far. Republicans and Democrats are currently at odds on a new coronavirus relief bill, after missing a vital deadline to extend relief benefits to tens of millions of jobless Americans.
The Treasury’s estimates “assume $1tn of additional borrowing need in anticipation of additional legislation being passed in response to the Covid-19 outbreak,” the department said in a statement on Monday.
Senior Treasury officials told reporters the estimates were tentative given uncertainty about the price tag of any future bill.
07:39 PM
Antibody tests suggest 1.5m Italians had virus
The results of nationwide antibody tests in Italy suggest that 1.48 million people, or 2.5% of the population, have had coronavirus.
The estimate is six times greater than the number of confirmed cases in the official virus tally.
The tests were conducted on almost 65,000 Italians as part of a campaign to see how widely the virus had spread.
The "provisional analysis" of the results was announced by health officials.
They stressed that the tests were not intended to determine whether Italians with antibodies were now safe from coronavirus.
07:30 PM
Almost 60 per cent of women in football say mental health has been negatively impacted
Megan Rapinoe
Almost 60 per cent of women working in football say that their mental health has been negatively impacted by the coronavirus crisis and more than three-quarters reported differences in how male colleagues have been treated during the pandemic.
The new research, which was commissioned by Women in Football, has been described as a “cry for help” from an indispensable section of the football industry, with some respondents still reporting “institutionalised sexism” and highlighting a “lad” or “machista” culture.
A new 90 minute testing will be rolled out in schools, Matt Hancock confirms
A new 90 minute testing will be rolled out in schools, Matt Hancock has confirmed.
The Health Secretary said the two tests, which can detect coronavirus and flu and promise results in 90 minutes, were "a big step forward in terms of how quickly we're going to be able to get tests”.
It comes as Downing Street confirmed that schools will reopen "for all pupils in all year groups" in England at the start of the autumn term.
Eat Out to Help Out scheme begins but not everyone benefits
The government's month-long incentive for customers to return to restaurants has started. The Eat Out To Help Out scheme will see selected restaurants serve meals at half price for an entire month.
The government is hoping this will boost the struggling hospitality industry after the coronavirus pandemic brought it to a near halt.
But not everyone will benefit. Here's why:
06:46 PM
Hays Travel tells Boris to ‘save summer’ as it cuts 900 jobs
The bosses of Britain’s biggest independent travel agent have called on Boris Johnson to "save summer" by restarting flights to the Spanish islands, as they cut up to a fifth of their 4,500-strong workforce.
Hays Travel owners John and Irene Hays said some of the 878 jobs at risk could be saved if the Government introduces “regional travel corridors” to the Spanish islands.
Ms Hays told The Telegraph:
"We believe that it is retrievable. We also believe that the evidence that we have seen, particularly in relation to the Balearics and the Canaries, is such that they [holidays] could be resumed immediately, as could other parts of mainland Spain. That would repair customer confidence - there is no doubt about that."
What the breakdown of Greater Manchester infection shows
A woman wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sits beneath a sign reading "What you can't see, Can hurt you", as she travels by bus in Manchester, northwest England - OLI SCARFF / AFP
Around 80 per cent of Greater Manchester infections in the last week were in the white community, data analysis has shown, with some suggesting the outbreak should provide 'a warning to complacent white middle class'.
The declaration of a major incident in Greater Manchester should jolt a “complacent white middle class” into realising that Covid-19 is not just spreading in ethnic minority households, one of the region’s health chiefs has said.
Eleanor Roaf, the director of public health in Trafford, said 80% of its infections in the last week were in the white community, and she urged the region’s 2.8 million residents to concentrate “much harder on what we can do to stop the wider spread”.
06:20 PM
Workers who have to go to the office resent those staying at home, experts say
Workers who have continued to come into the office during the coronavirus pandemic resent their colleagues who work from home and some are being offered extra pay or perks, HR professionals have said.
Those who feel that they have taken on extra responsibilities as others work from home or are furloughed have even resorted to launching grievance procedures against their employers, it has emerged.
The anger of their colleagues has even seen some furloughed workers asked to return early, it is understood.
Mexico's school year to begin with classes broadcast over television
Distance learning will begin for more than 30 million Mexican school children August 24, but a return to classrooms will remain an uncertain goal, the country's education secretary said Monday.
Mexico has reported more than 430,000 Covid-19 infections and nearly 48,000 deaths.
However, secretary Esteban Moctezuma Barragan and executives from the country's largest television networks presented in broad strokes a plan to put educational instruction on television.
Moctezuma said that risks to in-person education continue being too high. Officials fear children could become coronavirus carriers, infecting relatives at home.
"We wanted to return to in-person classes, but it is not possible, nor prudent," Moctezuma said.
05:41 PM
Covid-19 survivors suffer higher rates of mental ill-health, study claims
A Covid-19 patient receives treatment at the Esteban Echeverria Bicentennial Hospital, in Buenos Aires, Argentina - Juan Ignacio Roncoroni/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Covid-19 survivors suffer higher rates of psychiatric disorders including post-traumatic stress (PTSD), anxiety, insomnia and depression, according to a study conducted by San Raffaele hospital in Milan.
The survey showed that more than half of the 402 patients monitored after being treated for the virus experienced at least one of these disorders in proportion to the severity of the inflammation during the disease.
The patients - 265 men and 137 women - were examined at a one-month follow-up after hospital treatment.
"It was immediately clear that the inflammation caused by the disease could also have repercussions at the psychiatric level," said professor Francesco Benedetti, group leader of the Research Unit in Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology at San Raffaele, in a statement.
The report was published on Monday in the scientific journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.
Based on clinical interviews and self-assessment questionnaires, physicians found PTSD in 28 per cent of cases, depression in 31 per cent, anxiety in 42 per cent of patients and insomnia in 40 per cent, and finally obsessive-compulsive symptoms in 20 per cent.
The study shows that women in particular suffered the most from anxiety and depression, despite the lower severity of the infection, the statement said.
05:27 PM
Faith in action: the role of religion in the world’s pandemic response
Muslim pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the centre of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, while mask-clad and along specific pre-ordained rings as measures due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic - AFP
In February, when much of the West was blissfully unaware of the damage soon to be reaped by Covid-19, a controversial religious group became the centre of a coronavirus cluster in South Korea.
The ultra-religious Shincheonji Church of Jesus, so secretive that members are allegedly pressured not to reveal they belong to it, became responsible for more than half of the nation’s cases after one of its members attended four services with what she initially thought was “just a cold”.
As authorities scrambled to control the outbreak, it quickly became clear that religious gatherings would become key drivers of the disease, but that's not the only role faith communities were soon to play in the world's pandemic response, experts say.
A Covid-19 testing centre at Bradford University in West Yorkshire - PA
New coronavirus tests that promise to return results in a little as 90 minutes are to be rolled out in hospitals, care homes and laboratories.
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, has hailed the two new tests, both of which can detect the presence of coronavirus and flu viruses in the same sample outside a specialised laboratory, as “a big step forward”.
Almost half a million of the new tests will be available from next week, the Department of Health and Social Care said, with millions more expected to be made available later in the year. The tests will enable clinicians and NHS Test and Trace staff to differentiate between Covid-19, which requires sufferers to undergo specific self-isolation, and other viruses.
Lizzie Roberts and Anne Gulland have the full story here.
04:54 PM
Bolsonaro's chief of staff tests positive for Covid-19
Brazilian Chief of Staff General Walter Souza Braga Netto pictured on the left - Andressa Anholete / Getty
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's chief of staff, Army General Souza Braga Netto, has tested positive for Covid-19, becoming the seventh Brazilian minister to have contracted the disease.
Braga Netto is doing well and has no symptoms, the office said in a statement. He will remain in isolation until a new examination and medical evaluation is carried out, and will continue to work remotely.
Last week, Bolsonaro's wife and one of his ministers tested positive for Covid-19. Bolsonaro also contracted the disease but his latest test showed he was no longer infected.
Brazil has the second-worst coronavirus outbreak in the world after the United States. The South American country has registered more than 2.73 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 94,104, according to health ministry data.
04:29 PM
UK death toll rises by nine
The Government said 46,210 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Sunday, up by nine from the day before.
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 on Monday, there had been a further 938 lab-confirmed cases. Overall, a total of 305,623 cases have been confirmed.
04:11 PM
Spain reports 968 new coronavirus cases
A boy wearing mask enjoy in a carousel at Tibidabo Amusement Park, Catalonia, Spain - Enric Fontcuberta/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Spain reported 968 new coronavirus infections today, showing a slower pace of contagion than last week when the country reported more than 1,000 new cases for three days in a row.
Cumulative cases, which also include results from antibody tests on people who may have recovered, increased to 297,054 from 288,522, the health ministry said.
The number of active clusters grew to 560 from 483 on Thursday, when they were last disclosed.
03:59 PM
'We thought the days of panic buying were over – but now a new kind of stockpiling is emerging'
As wealthy nations sweep global R&D shelves, the UK must take global lead to save fair global access for Covid-19 vaccines and treatments, says Dr Jeremy Farrar, member of Sage and director of the Wellcome Trust:
At the start of this pandemic, shock and anxiety sparked panic buying. Supermarket shelves were stripped by shocked and worried customers.
Nations stockpiled protective and medical equipment. Now, with the potency of this coronavirus showing little evidence of waning, we see another scramble.
This time by wealthy governments, understandably, concerned to secure access to the most promising potential vaccines and treatments resulting from the breath-taking global research effort.
In the last week alone, news broke of the UK signing its fourth coronavirus vaccine deal, and of the EU securing 30,000 doses of the Covid-19 medicine remdesivir.
Last month, headlines told of the US and China striking multi-billion-dollar deals for their citizens and EU countries partnering to also secure vaccine deals.
Governments have a duty to protect their citizens, but that political reality must be matched against scientific, and economic, truths. The majority of vaccine candidates, for example, will not prove to be sufficiently safe or effective and will fail.
With so much uncertainty, a range of options is vital. Countries do need to look to multiple vaccines, treatment and testing options, but securing a handful of domestic deals will not be enough.
Rapid 90-minute Covid tests to be rolled out for winter
Two tests which can detect coronavirus and flu - and promise results in 90 minutes - are to be rolled out in hospitals, care homes and laboratories.
The swab and DNA tests will help deal with the virus in winter, enabling clinicians and NHS Test and Trace to differentiate between Covid-19, which requires sufferers to undergo specific self-isolation, and other seasonal illnesses, the Department of Health said.
Almost half a million new LamPORE swab tests will be available from next week across adult care settings and laboratories. Millions more of the tests, supplied by Oxford Nanopore, are set to be rolled out later in the year.
Find out more below:
03:34 PM
UK cruises cancelled after coronavirus outbreak on Norwegian ship
A view of the Hurtigruten's vessel MS Roald Amundsen, docked in Tromso, Norway - Terje Pedersen
Round-Britain cruises planned for September have been scrapped by Hurtigruten after at least 40 of the line's passengers and crew tested positive for coronavirus.
Hurtigruten had been the first operator in the world to restart ocean cruises since the pandemic led to an industry-wide pause in sailing.
News of the cancelled trips has delivered another blow to British cruise lovers today, after it was also announced that MSC Cruises, has decided to exclude passengers from Britain and Ireland from its latest plans to welcome European travellers back on board in the Mediterranean.
Commuters walk along a platform at London Waterloo station - Jason Alden / Bloomberg
Working from home guidance has been relaxed from today and the UK government is now leaving it up to employers to decide whether to re-open offices in England.
But have worker seized at the chance to get back to the office?
Alex Clark and Dominic Gilbert took a look at the data. Read up on what they found here.
03:11 PM
Next year's GCSEs and A-levels could face 'further disruption', exams body warns
Next year's GCSE and A-level exams could be delayed or even cancelled if there is "further disruption" caused by the pandemic, Ofqual has warned.
The exams body has set out its plan for the forthcoming academic year, following a consultation that found "general support for a delay to the exams, to allow more time for teaching" although less so "if it meant a potential delay to results".
Ofqual said: "We will continue to work with the DfE, exam boards, regulators in Wales and Northern Ireland, and groups representing schools, colleges and higher education to consider the best approach, and we will confirm our decisions as soon as possible."
The body added: "We are planning for exams and assessments to be taken next year. Nonetheless, we recognise there could be further disruption next year.
"We will continue to develop contingency measures, exploring different options."
02:59 PM
How activists are tackling domestic violence in Kenya's lockdown
When Nereah was told by nurses at a hospital in Kenya that boda boda motorbike drivers were sexually harassing them, her initial response was to speak to the drivers and urge them to be respectful.
Often at hospitals and police stations in order to deal with cases of gender-based violence, Nereah Amondi Oketch, president of the NAO Foundation, a nonprofit that helps women and young people in Kenya, realised that there was an opportunity to be had.
“I noticed that many have loud music playing, so I thought during Covid, when we need to get messages out and get people talking about gender-based violence, we should reach as many people as possible,” she said.
“Motorbike rides are the local transport here – every minute somebody is getting on a bike – so I thought this was a good medium to reach out.”
Nereah now pays bike drivers to tune into a local radio show that discusses gender-based violence every morning. Volume turned up, they blare out the conversations for drivers and passengers alike to hear.
The measure is just one of a number that local activists have adopted in Kenya, which has seen a dramatic increase in reports of violence against women and girls under coronavirus restrictions.
President Donald Trump has lashed out at his coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx today, after she sounded a grim warning about the pandemic's new surge, calling her remarks "pathetic."
Trump, angered by what he sees as overly pessimistic media coverage of his handling of the pandemic, said Dr Birx had given into pressure to sound negative.
So Crazy Nancy Pelosi said horrible things about Dr. Deborah Birx, going after her because she was too positive on the very good job we are doing on combatting the China Virus, including Vaccines & Therapeutics. In order to counter Nancy, Deborah took the bait & hit us. Pathetic!
On Sunday, Birx told CNN that the United States, which has already seen nearly 155,000 deaths from COVID-19, is entering "a new phase" of viral spread. "It is extraordinarily widespread," she said. "To everybody who lives in a rural area, you are not immune or protected from this virus."
Trump said that Birx's warning was issued only after she was attacked by the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. She and other Democrats have gone after Birx, a veteran public health expert, over what they say is her willingness to tailor her messages to win approval from Trump.
"I think the president is spreading disinformation about the virus and she is his appointee, so I don't have confidence there, no," Pelosi said on ABC television.
On Sunday, the White House sprang to Birx's defense. "It is deeply irresponsible of Speaker Pelosi to repeatedly try to undermine & create public distrust in Dr Birx, the top public health professional on the coronavirus task force," Alyssa Farah, director of strategic communications, tweeted.
Trump, however, has clearly changed tack with today's outburst.
02:46 PM
Portugal reports no Covid-19 deaths - for the first time since March
Some good news from Portugal, where no coronavirus-related deaths have been reported today for the first time since mid-March, when lockdown was first put in place. The country has also recorded the lowest number of new infections in almost three months.
"It has been very difficult in recent times - we are very happy this happened," the secretary of state for health, Antonio Sales, said as he teared up during a news conference. "I want to leave this message of hope to the Portuguese but I want to ask them to help us maintain these numbers."
Portugal's total confirmed cases rose by 106 from Sunday to 51,569, with 62 per cent of new infections reported in and around Lisbon, where localised outbreaks on the outskirts have worried authorities for the past two months. The death toll remained unchanged at 1,738.
The country, heavily dependent on tourism, began lifting restrictions imposed during a six-week lockdown on May 4 and was initially hailed as a success story in its fight against the disease.
But the outbreaks around Lisbon forced the government to reinstate some measures in affected areas, and led several European nations, including Ireland, Belgium and Finland, to impose travel restrictions on Portugal.
Here's a look at the trajectory of the country's outbreak:
02:37 PM
Modi appears set to visit temple - despite contact with Covid-positive minister
Earlier today we reported that India's Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, tested positive for Covid-19 - sparking fears he could have infected Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the pair attended the same cabinet meeting on Wednesday (see 11:24am).
But now it has emerged that Modi will still attend a foundation-laying ceremony for a Hindu temple that is being built in honour of Hindu god-king Ram in the northern town of Ayodhya.
Modi's office did not respond to an email seeking comment, but the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a group involved in the temple's construction at a site long disputed with Muslims, said the Prime Minister would make the visit.
Sources familiar with the situation said an official announcement on the visit to the temple was expected on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
The sources dismissed undue concern about others falling ill after Shah, saying social distancing rules had been followed at last week's cabinet meeting, which was held at Modi's residence. It was not immediately clear whether Modi and others who attended had subsequently been tested for Covid-19.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Amit Shah (R) back in May 2019 - MONEY SHARMA/AFP
02:27 PM
Everything we know about the disease that has swept the world
Last week marked six months since the World Health Organization declared that Covid-19 was an global health emergency, the highest alert under international law.
Our understanding of the virus has skyrocketed since - in this articleSarah Knapton looks back at everything we've learned about the disease that has now infected more than 18 million people.
02:12 PM
Russia reveals plans to produce 'millions' of virus doses by 2021
Russia has said today that it aims to mass produce a coronavirus vaccine next month and turn out "several million" doses per month by next year.
The country is pushing ahead with several vaccine prototypes and one trialled by the Gamaleya institute in Moscow has reached advanced stages of development and is about to pass state registration, officials said.
"We are very much counting on starting mass production in September," Industry Minister Denis Manturov said in an interview published by state news agency TASS.
"We will be able to ensure production volumes of several hundred thousand a month, with an eventual increase to several million by the start of next year," he said, adding that one developer is preparing production technology at three locations in central Russia.
But the news has prompted concerns that Russia is pushing ahead too quickly - experts have cautioned that steps to ensure a vaccine is safe and effective cannot be skipped and could do lasting damage in trust in public health (as Daniel Capurro explores in this brilliant piece).
Over the Atlantic in the US, the New York Times has reported that scientists are concerned that safety might also be compromised in vaccine development. Donald Trump has proposed an October deadline for a vaccine - leading many to suspect a political motivation ahead of the November election.
Analysis: Bars reopening 'could make entire tower fall over'
As the debate around what should and shouldn't reopen persists Devi Sridhar, professor and chair of Global Public Health at Edinburgh University, has this useful analogy:
Outbreaks linked to indoor pubs/bars/clubs all over the world. Indoor, crowded settings w/ limited ventilation & alcohol (=very high risk). Easing lockdown like building a tower of blocks- open bars might be the piece teetering at the top which could make entire tower fall over.
Belgium: Undercover cops on buses and trams enforce face mask restrictions
Plain clothes policemen must be deployed on public transport to make sure passengers are wearing coronavirus masks, trade unions in Belgium said today.
The ACV Public Services union said that drivers’ safety could be at risk if they confronted passengers ignoring the mask order, which is punishable by a €250 fine (about £225), James Crisp reports.
Drivers on the De Lijn company’s buses and trams frequently spot maskless passengers, despite rising infection rates and masks being compulsory since May 4. Jo Van der Herten, from ACV, told the Brussels Times that undercover officers in civilian clothes would be more effective than uniformed police.
“When people see a police uniform, they are naturally inclined to put on that face mask immediately, just as you drive slower when you see police on the road,” he said. Plain clothes policemen would be able to report offenders on the spot, he added.
01:50 PM
WHO lays the foundations for a probe of Covid-19's origins
The World Health Organization has revealed than an 'scoping team' looking into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak has concluded its mission in China and agreed the details of a larger investigation - including a visit to the suspected outbreak zone.
Speaking at a virtual press conference in Geneva today, WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that an "international team" will head to Wuhan, the city where the Covid-19 pandemic was first identified at the end of last year. Dr Tedros said "terms of reference" have been drawn up by the WHO and China, but he did not specify exactly what there were.
Dr Mike Ryan, the WHO's emergencies chief, noted "gaps in the epidemiological landscape" and said the proper studies and data to collect would be assessed.
"The real trick is to go to the human clusters that occurred first and then to work your way back systematically looking for that first signal at which the animal human species barrier was crossed," Dr Ryan said. "Once you understand where that the barrier was breached, then you move into the studies in a more systematic way on the animal side."
Speaking at the same press conference, Dr Tedros warned that there may not be a single silver bullet to solve the coronavirus crisis:
01:40 PM
France: Sun, sea - and face masks
Beach resorts along France's Atlantic coast, picturesque promenades on the Loire River, farmers markets in the Alps - they're among scores of spots around France where everyone is now required to wear a mask outdoors.
The outdoor mask rules taking effect today are on top of a nationwide decree last month requiring people to wear masks in all stores and other indoor public places. Pressure is growing on the government to mandate outdoor mask use on a national level, too.
France is seeing an uptick in coronavirus infections, with hundreds of new clusters in recent weeks, notably as young people gather at waterside cafes or dance parties and families get together for summer vacation.
Several sites around France have started requiring masks outdoors in recent days. Starting today, 69 towns in the Mayenne region of western France imposed outdoor mask rules, as did parts of the northern city of Lille and coastal city of Biarritz in French Basque country.
France has reported 7,000 new cases in the last week, after bringing the virus nearly under control with a strict two-month nationwide lockdown, and has confirmed 30,265 virus-related deaths since the pandemic began.
01:30 PM
Death toll jumps by five in England
The four nations have the latest coronavirus numbers in the last hour:
In England a further five people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,352, NHS England said. Patients were aged between 66 and 95 years old, and all had known underlying health conditions.
In Wales 24 new infections, but no new fatalities, have been detected.
Scotland has reported 18 new cases and no new deaths.
It's a similar story in Northern Ireland - where there have also been no new deaths, but 40 new infections have been confirmed.
01:25 PM
Interview: Top WHO disease detective warns against return to national lockdowns
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, who helps lead the WHO’s pandemic response team as the head of the emerging diseases unit, has spoken to our Global Health Security team about the last six months. Here are some of her most interesting comments - you can read the piece in full here.
Dr Van Kerkhove urged countries not to return to the “blunt, sheer force instrument” of national lockdowns due to the “massive” economic, social and health repercussions. Instead she advocated for localised outbreak.
She added that there will not be a vaccine in the next six months - and it's unlikely to be a silver bullet to bring the pandemic under control, even when we do have one. More optimistically, she insisted that we do have the tools needed to control Covid-19 now - including social distancing and contact tracing.
Dr Ven Kerkhove said she pushed China for more information when she first heard about the ‘pneumonia of unknown origin’, but that this is not unusual. "We always push countries for more information, China is not unique to that."
She also discussed the controversy around her comments that appeared to suggest asymptomatic spread is rare, which provoked a fierce reaction in June. “I watched videos of myself making a statement, and then some newscaster saying, ‘WHO says asymptomatic transmission doesn't happen’, which I've never said, which WHO has never said.”
What's got her through the last seven months? “My nine year old drew rainbows for everybody at the office because he wanted everyone to know that we were doing a good job,” she said. “I’m inspired by acts of kindness.”
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove - WHO / Christopher Black
01:10 PM
The latest global developments
Here's a quick summary of the news to be aware of from across the world today - for a UK update, head to our 12:19pm post:
The World Health Organization has said that there might never be a "silver bullet" answer to Covid-19, despite the rush to discover effective vaccines and treatments.
Australia's second city, Melbourne, has started a six-week curfew today and officials have ordered non-essential businesses to close from midnight Wednesday as they struggle to control a resurgence of cases.
The Philippines capital Manila and four surrounding provinces will go back into lockdown tomorrow, affecting 27 million people, under measures announced by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The German government has condemned "unacceptable" violations of coronavirus restrictions after tens of thousands - many with no masks - take to the streets of Berlin to protest the measures over the weekend.
Beach resorts along France's Atlantic coast, picturesque promenades on the Loire River and farmers markets in the Alps are all among scores of spots around France where everyone is now required to wear a mask outdoors.
Meanwhile n Greece, passengers on the decks of ferries will have to wear masks from tomorrow, the government has decreed.
Police have launched an investigation after a video emerged of a DJ spitting beer onto dancers at a beach club in a Spanish resort as the country battled to reduce a spike in coronavirus cases.
Russia says it aims to launch mass production of a coronavirus vaccine next month and turn out "several million" doses per month by next year. The country is pushing ahead with several vaccine prototypes and one prepared at the Gamaleya institute in Moscow has reached advanced stages of development.
12:58 PM
The one place planning a 'feminist economic recovery' from Covid-19
Meanwhile in Hawaii, a small collection of islands made history last month. In a vote at its local government office on a Friday afternoon, Maui County became the first place in the world to explicitly commit to involving and prioritising women and gender equality in its Covid-19 recovery plan.
"I've never heard the word feminist over and over again - in such a positive way - at this level before," says Khara Jabola-Carolus, executive director of Hawaii's State Commission on the Status of Women. "It was surreal."
There have been calls across the world, often at the highest levels, for a gender responsive approach to the pandemic.
Two weeks ago, philanthropist Melinda Gates warned that ignoring the effects of Covid-19 on women could cost the world $5trn. "We get recovery if we get equality," she said.
However, so far at least, finding these calls translated into action has been more difficult - find out how Hawaii has adopted a 'feminist economic recovery' plan in this piece by Jennifer Rigby.
12:50 PM
Screen schoolchildren using 90 minute test to keep them safe
Two tests which can detect coronavirus and flu - and promise results in 90 minutes - are to be rolled out in hospitals, care homes and laboratories.
The swab and DNA tests will help deal with the virus in winter, enabling clinicians and NHS Test and Trace to differentiate between Covid-19, which requires sufferers to undergo specific self-isolation, and other seasonal illnesses, the Department of Health said.
ButSir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University , who is leading the government’s ongoing search for a reliable antibody test, has said that the new quick turnaround tests should be used at schools.
The leading immunologist told BBC Radio 4’s The Today Programme that tests need to be used "more extensively by the private sector" as he said there was a "huge unmet need by schools, by airports and airlines" who could screen their workplaces as well as people before they entered the premises.
“If you look at schools there’s going to be a huge interest in keeping them safe the best way to do that is to screen the children at some level," he said.
When asked how frequently children should be tested he added: “I think some people have said once a week should be okay but others have said less frequently.
"For example, in boarding schools you could screen the kids when they came back from home and probably not screen them very often until they went home again and then screen them when they reentered the school because it acts as a large bubble.”
12:35 PM
Lobby updates: Pubs may have to shut to keep schools open
Pubs may have to be closed in order for schools to stay open during local surges of coronavirus, Downing Street has hinted at today's Lobby meeting with journalists.
The Government is "planning for all people to return to school full time from the beginning of the autumn term", although a "specific localised lockdown" might halt that temporarily, the Prime Minister's spokesman said.
The Government is taking a "localised" approach "where you would assess the situation on the ground and take whatever steps were required to slow the spread of the virus", he added. But the Government is "committed to supporting the hospitality industry which has had a very tough time" during coronavirus.
Here are the other key coronavirus updates from the briefing:
Number 10 said that schools will reopen "for all pupils in all year groups" in England at the start of the autumn term but local lockdowns could force some closures, Downing Street has said.
Downing Street appears to be reversing plans to ask over-50s to shield, following a major backlash at the weekend. Although it was briefed out by senior figures within the Government, today the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the story is “inaccurate”.
The spokesman also urged people to stick to the social distancing rules in areas that are not affected by a spike in cases.
Downing Street also rejected criticism from scientist Sir Paul Nurse that the Government's coronavirus responses have been "shrouded with secrecy".
And Number 10 insisted that testing of care home residents and staff "has not stopped" but has also admitted that not all care homes have yet been reached "due to rising demand".
Spain: Investigation launched after DJ filmed spitting beer in to a crowd
Police have launched an investigation after a video emerged of a DJ spitting beer onto dancers at a beach club in a Spanish resort as the country battled to reduce a spike in coronavirus cases.
Video film showed a man spraying the crowd with beer then offering some dancers drinks from the same bottle at the club in Torremolinos, a destination popular with British tourists near Malaga in southern Spain.
Many people dancing do not appear to be wearing masks according to the images which were shared widely on social media.
One member of the Spanish DJ duo called Les Castizos was said to be the person who spat the beer at the crowd during part of their act.
Police said they were investigating the pair for alleged “behaviour which does not abide by the measures of protection and security against coronavirus”.
Graham Keeley has more details on this story - while the chart below shows the trajectory of Spain's coronavirus outbreak:
12:23 PM
Boris Johnson 'risking industrial unrest' over office working shift, warns union
Civil service unions have warned that Boris Johnson is "risking industrial unrest" by encouraging people back into offices at a point when coronavirus is starting to resurface in the community.
The Prime Minister name-checked the profession as one he expected to see returning to the workplace when he announced a change to the default situation last month.
But the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has accused the Government of "playing fast and loose" with workers' safety.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Current scientific advice is that people should work from home where they can. Boris Johnson is risking industrial unrest by pursuing this policy and our union will support members who believe their workplace is unsafe to return to."
Italy: Iconic destinations will lose billions as result of coronavirus downturn
In more bad news for the tourism industry, Italy’s most iconic tourism destinations - from Venice to Florence and Rome - are set to lose €7.6 billion (£6.8 bn) in revenue this year as a result of the lack of foreign visitors caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
There will be 34 million fewer tourist “presences” - or overnight stays - this year compared with normal years, according to figures released by a leading business association, Confesercenti. Tens of thousands of businesses are at risk of going bust, the association warned.
The statistics reveal the devastating impact that the virus is having on some of Italy’s best-known destinations, which are still largely devoid of overseas tourists. Five cities – Rome, Venice, Florence, Turin and Milan – make up more than a third of tourism revenue.
Confersercenti wants the government to bring in tax breaks for hotels, restaurants, bars and other businesses reliant on tourism so that they can survive the sharp downturn, which could last for months, even years.
Cyclists ride past the Colosseum during Italy's lockdown - ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP
11:59 AM
Matt Hancock: 90 minute tests a 'big step forward'.
There's been a lot of interest this morning in the news that, starting next week, on-the-spot tests that give results in just 90 minutes. will be routinely used to check hospital and care home staff and patients (more detail on this here).
Matt Hancock has hailed the diagnostics as a "big step forward" and said the tests could be rolled out in schools. Here's what the Health Secretary told the BBC:
"This is a big step forward in terms of how quickly we're going to be able to get tests turned around and also how widespread we can make the tests.
"We're on track to deliver half a million tests a day by the end of October, but new technologies, like these two, will help us to accelerate that. What that means in real life is that more people are going to be able to get tested more quickly so we can find out where the virus is and tackle it and keep those rates of infection down.
"These technologies which deliver these rapid turnaround tests will mean that we can expand testing capacity further and in into settings where, for instance... in schools, currently we have survey testing, so we have some testing, that would be able to be expanded.
"But also looking across the community where we want to test people who don't have symptoms to find out where the virus is."
11:51 AM
In photos - Covid-19 across the globe
Our picture desk have pulled together a selection of the most striking photos of the pandemic from across the globe:
Gwangju, South Korea
Ward officials take part in a campaign encoraging people to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic - YONHAP/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Belgrade, Serbia:
Serbian lawmakers wearing face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus, take part in the inaugural parliament session. - AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic
Hyderabad, India:
Health workers wearing PPE suit sit inside a mobile testing bus as they collect swab samples from residents for a free Covid-19 coronavirus tes - NOAH SEELAM/AFP via Getty Images
Cuernavaca, Mexico:
A dog peaks out of the window of a vehicle, as parishioners attend a Sunday Mass - they can listen to the Mass from the safety of their own car by just tuning to FM 88.1 on their radios - AP Photo/Marco Ugarte
11:40 AM
Greece makes masks mandatory on ferry decks
In Greece, passengers on the decks of ferries will have to wear masks from tomorrow, the government has decreed.
Amid a rise in Covid-19 cases, Athens says the regulation no longer just applies to passengers in the interior spaces of ships, Nick Squires reports. The new measure will go into effect from Tuesday until August 18, covering the peak of the holiday season.
It comes after the Greek government made mask-wearing compulsory in all indoor public spaces and also in outdoor spaces where social distancing cannot be maintained last week.
Greece reported 75 new coronavirus cases on Sunday and 110 on Saturday - the highest number for weeks.
"Compliance with this measure is crucial to avoid more drastic measures that would reduce passenger load limits on ships," said government spokesman Stelios Petsas.
11:33 AM
Vietnam: 21 new cases detected
Vietnam has today announced 21 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections reported to 642.
All of the new cases are linked to the city Danang, the country's new coronavirus epicentre. Just over a week ago Vietnam detected its first locally transmitted infections in more than three months in the city - there have since been close to 200 cases detected in the country in at least 10 locations.
On Saturday that it planned to test Danang's entire population of 1.1 million people, part of "unprecedented measures" to fight the outbreak. The city imposed a lockdown last week, banning movement in and out of the city and closing entertainment venues.
"We have to deploy full force to curb all known epicentres, especially those in Danang," the official broadcaster Vietnam Television quoted Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc telling government officials today. "Early August will be the decisive time within which to stop the virus from spreading on a large scale." (See more at 10:29am).
11:19 AM
Morning news summary
Just joining us? Here's an overview of the key UK developments to be aware of this morning:
Millions of tests able to detect the coronavirus within 90 minutes will be rolled out in Britain, the health minister said on Monday, after criticism there has not been enough testing, especially in nursing homes.
Indian drugmaker Wockhardt Ltd will supply millions of doses of multiple coronavirus vaccines to Britain, including the one being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.
Sadiq Khan has written to the Prime Minister attacking plans for a London-wide lockdown without involving City Hall as "totally unacceptable".
Junior minister Nadhim Zahawi has claimed reports that the Government is looking at plans to shield some over-50s this winter is "speculation" and "inaccurate", amid a growing backlash.
Local initiatives to tackle rising coronavirus cases will have more success than national measures because of a lack of trust in the top-down approach, Liverpool's public health chief has said this morning.
Sir Paul Nurse, the director of the Francis Crick Institute, has claimed that the Government's decision making process is "shrouded in secrecy" - "treat the public as adults", he added.
And finally, the Government's 'eat out to help out' scheme has launched today, which offers a maximum discount of £10 per person in participating restaurants in August.
Scroll down for more of the latest news - and for a global update, head to 9:25am.
11:06 AM
WHO: There might never be a 'silver bullet'
At a virtual press conference this morning the World Health Organization warned that while there were strong hopes for a Covid-19 vaccine, there might never be a "silver bullet" for the coronavirus. It comes as global infections topped 18 million.
Here's what Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news briefing from the UN agency's HQ in Geneva today:
"We learn every day about this virus and I'm pleased that the world has made progress in identifying treatments that can help people with the most serious forms of Covid-19 recover.
"A number of vaccines are now in phase three clinical trials and we all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection.
"However, there's no silver bullet at the moment and there might never be. For now, stopping outbreaks comes down to the basics of public health and disease control."
Dr Tedros also added that mothers should breastfeed their babies even if they have contracted Covid-19, as the benefits outweigh the risks of infection.
Antibody tests do not pick up people who had mild coronavirus, study suggests
Antibody tests may be missing large numbers of people who contracted Covid-19 because they don't work for people who had a mild infection, new research from Oxford University suggests.
A study of more than 9,000 healthcare workers suggested significant numbers of people were getting 'negative' test results, despite probably having had the virus.
The work has major implications for government health policy, and scientists said it might also mean reviewing where the threshold between negative and positive results lies.
"You can see that below the cut-off, there is a rising proportion of people who report a loss of their sense of smell or taste, and this suggests that the test threshold is missing people with mild disease," said Dr Tim Walker, one of the study's authors.
"Of course there will be plenty of people, too, who will have had no symptoms whatsoever and will still have antibodies."
Is there such a thing as a free lunch? No, but you might be able to score a big discount from today.
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has offered the country discounts on meals out as part of his "eat out to help out" scheme to support the hospitality industry, and the scheme begins for a month from today.
So, how does it work, to which restaurants does it apply – and how much could you save on a meal out with your family, all while supporting the country’s eateries? Find out all the details here.
⬆️ More than 72,000 individual restaurants registered 🔍 Over 3.3m searches on the restaurant finder 💷 50% off all day and night, £10 per person 😋 Unlimited Mon-Wed, no vouchers needed.
Malaysian students struggle to cross Singapore border
Malaysian students returning to their universities in neighbouring Singapore are preparing to make the long border crossing by foot because of strict coronavirus rules that only allow trucks and no other vehicles to traverse the 1km causeway between the two nations, Nicola Smith reports.
Students are heading earlier than normal to Singapore to meet a two-week quarantine requirement before the start of the new term.
"This will be my first semester at the university. Instead of having my parents around, I will have to go there on my own and carry my own luggage across the Causeway,” said Eugene Chong, 19, who has a place at National University of Singapore.
"It may not be ideal, but I have no other choice," Mr Chong told the Straits Times, revealing that he had paid $1,500 for his two-week quarantine before starting classes again.
Others have decided to continue their studies online and return when the border reopens, the paper reported.
10:36 AM
Portugal: Tourism sector devastated by Covid-19
Portugal's once-booming tourism sector has reported another month of disastrous numbers in June - as fears of Covid-19 and travel restrictions continued to keep visitors away, according to data released this morning.
In its flash estimate, the National Statistics Institute (INE) said:
The number of overnight stays by foreign tourists in dropped 96 per cent to around 201,000 last month from a year ago.
The total number of guests, including domestic travellers, fell nearly 82 per cent in June to just over 500,000 people, a slight improvement from a drop of over 94 per cent in May
In June around 45 per cent of tourist accommodation establishments were shut or had no guests.
Overnight stays by Britons, one of the country's biggest foreign markets, fell over 98 per cent in June compared to the same period in 2019, followed by a massive drop in the German and Spanish markets, decreasing 95.1 per cent and 93.3 per cent respectively.
Follow all the latest travel news over on our travel liveblog
10:24 AM
Who is Amit Shah - the powerful Indian Minister diagnosed with Covid-19?
In India the Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, has tested positive for Covid-19, sparking fears he could have infected Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the pair attended the same cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Joe Wallen reports.
Mr Shah is one of the most powerful, yet divisive figures, in Indian politics and he led the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from 2014 until January 2020.
A long-term political ally of Mr Modi, Mr Shah acts as the Prime Minister’s spokesman, campaign strategist, and has been behind a string of recent and controversial Hindu nationalist policies.
Mr. Shah announced that he was Covid-19 positive on Twitter last night. “After developing the initial symptoms of corona, I got the test done and the results came back positive,” he wrote. “My health is fine but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors.
“I request that all of you who have come into contact with me in the last few days, please isolate yourself and get the test done”.
Mr. Shah did not reveal any details as to how he may have contracted Covid-19 but he has taken a hands-on approach as India struggles to contain the world’s third-largest and fastest-growing epidemic, with over 1.8 million cases.
He has inspected a number of Covid-19 facilities in New Delhi after residents took to social media to complain about the densely-populated city’s public hospitals were turning away Covid-19 patients because they had already reached capacity (more here).
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah - HARISH TYAGI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
10:13 AM
Wales enters next phase of easing lockdown
Up to 30 people can now meet outside in Wales while maintaining social distancing, with pubs and restaurants in the country able to open indoors.
Children under the age of 11 no longer need to keep two metres from each other or adults, following scientific evidence that the risk of transmission is lower among that age group.
Changes to coronavirus regulations in Wales on Monday also include pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes being able to reopen indoors as well as bowling alleys, auction houses and bingo halls.
Licensed wedding venues will be able to reopen to provide wedding ceremonies - though indoor receptions are still banned.
On Sunday, Public Health Wales said that a further three deaths had been reported, taking its total for Wales to 1,565 deaths. A further 37 positive cases were recorded, bringing the total figure in Wales to 17,315.
10:08 AM
People 'do not trust national system' of restrictions, claims public health chief
Local initiatives to tackle rising coronavirus cases will have more success than national measures because of a lack of trust in the top-down approach, Liverpool's public health chief has said this morning.
An "enhanced outbreak control action plan" was set up for Princes Park after almost half of the increase in confirmed cases across Liverpool last week were in the ward, which includes campaigns to drive up testing while some easements have been paused.
There has also been a suspension of forthcoming gatherings and events in the area, the continued closure of community buildings, and those shielding being advised to continue doing so for another fortnight.
Explaining the initiatives to BBC Radio Four this morning, Matt Ashton, director of public health for Liverpool, said the response from the community has been "phenomenal". He added:
"This is a locally-led imposure of measures to try and control the virus at an earlier stage and therefore avoid the need for a national lockdown.
"I think trust is a massive issue here. I just don't think we have trust in the national system for people to tell us what we need to do.
"Therefore we are much more likely to have success if we lead this locally, if we use our community champions and leaders, our faith leaders and our volunteers, and use people who actually understand the area, live and work in the area and get the message across that way."
Lebanon | Hospitals caught between economic crisis and Covid
Vietnam | Miracle escape may be down to 'natural immunity'
Thailand | Tourism workers brace for £37bn economic hit
Brazil | You will probably all get coronavirus, says Bolsonaro
09:52 AM
Vaccine news: UK signs deal to boost manufacturing process
An snippet of vaccine news here - the UK has partnered with Indian drugmaker Wockhardt to boost Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing, including for the one being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. There are hopes the firm's could start work as soon as next month.
The agreement would see Wockhardt carry out the ‘fill and finish’ stage of the manufacturing process, which involves dispensing the manufactured vaccine substance into vials ready for it to be distributed.
Business minister Alok Sharma said in a statement: "Today we have secured additional capacity to manufacture millions of doses of multiple Covid-19 candidates, guaranteeing the supply of vaccines we need to protect people across the UK rapidly and in large numbers."
Mental health toll on NHS workers in lockdown revealed
Here's an important story from yesterday that you might have missed: the NHS lost a further 165,000 working days during the height of the pandemic due to mental health-related staff absences, first figures show, as staff struggled to cope with unprecedented pressure.
NHS employees have reported 29 per cent more absences from work due to poor mental health compared to the UK average between April and June, data from absence management system FirstCare has found, and there has been an overall increase of 22 per cent in mental health absences in the NHS since this time last year.
The rise equates to an increase of around 165,000 working days during the three month period - the equivalent of a full year’s work for 723 full-time employees.
Singapore to track international arrivals via monitoring devices
Here's the latest on Singapore via my colleague, Nicola Smith:
Singapore is to introduce an electronic monitoring device for some arrivals to the city-state to ensure they comply with quarantine rules.
From August 11 the compulsory devices will be given to incoming travellers, including citizens and residents, from a select group of countries who are allowed to isolate at home rather than in a government facility as the country of 6 million slowly opens its borders.
Similar measures using electronic wristbands have already been in operation in Hong Kong and South Korea.
The Singapore device, which will use GPS and Bluetooth, will send notifications that the user must acknowledge and any attempt to leave home or tamper with the tracker will alert the authorities.
The government has indicated that no personal data will be stored and that that device does not have a voice or video recording function.
09:29 AM
The view from Vietnam: Early August will be "decisive" in containing Covid-19
Vietnam is in the midst of a "decisive" fight against the novel coronavirus, the prime minister said today, with the focus on Danang city where infections have appeared in four factories with a combined workforce of about 3,700 people.
Widely praised for its mitigation efforts since the coronavirus appeared in late January, Vietnam is is battling several new clusters of infection linked to Danang after going more than three months without detecting any domestic transmission.
"We have to deploy full force to curb all known epicentres, especially those in Danang," the official broadcaster Vietnam Television quoted Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc telling government officials. "Early August will be the decisive time within which to stop the virus from spreading on a large scale."
The country of 96 million has confirmed at least 621 infections, with six deaths.
But authorities today reported one new case linked to the central city of Danang, a tourism hot spot where Vietnam's first domestically transmitted case in 100 days was detected on July 24.
It comes after the government said on Saturday that it planned to test Danang's entire population of 1.1 million people, part of "unprecedented measures" to fight the outbreak. The city imposed a lockdown last week, banning movement in and out of the city and closing entertainment venues.
In pictures: Philippines and Australia introduce new restrictions
In the Philippines authorities have reimposed curbs after infections surged past 100,000, forcing more than 27 million people - including in the capital Manila - back into lockdown tomorrow for two weeks:
Wearing protective suits, Philippine police who are also registered nurses collect swab samples from citizens for SARS-CoV-2 testing - ROLEX DELA PENA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock A city worker wearing a protective suit (R) goes around to handout free medicine and vitamins at a village under quarantine protocols in Caloocan City, Metro Manila, Philippines - ROLEX DELA PENA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Meanwhile in Australia the second-largest city, Melbourne, started a six-week curfew today, with the city ordering non-essential businesses to close, and a ban on weddings:
People line up to enter a supermarket hours before a citywide curfew is introduced in Melbourne - Erik Anderson/AAP Image via AP A man walks past a large face mask pinned to a tree in Melbourne today - WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images
09:11 AM
An unhappy London Mayor responds to the idea of a M25 exclusion zone
Over the weekend there were reports that the Government has talked about plans to seal of London around the M25 in a scenario where infections rise in the capital.
But London's Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has written a letter to the Government complaining that neither he, nor London's 32 borough council leaders, were involved in the planning process. It is also signed by Peter John, chair of London Councils.
"This is clearly totally unacceptable and an affront to London and Londoners," they wrote.
"Time and again throughout the crisis, the Government has been slow to take decisions or has taken the wrong decisions... this must stop. Rising roughshod over democratically elected representatives who understand their communities better than central government will lead to worse outcomes for Londoners, and the country as a whole."
You can read the letter in full here:
Government planning to prevent travel to and from London in the event of a second wave of Coronavirus in the capital did not include the @MayorofLondon nor the leaders of 32 borough councils.
Over-50s shielding report 'speculation' and 'inaccurate', minister claims
A minister has claimed reports that the Government is looking at plans to shield some over-50s this winter is "speculation" and "inaccurate", amid growing backlash.
Anyone over 50 who is obese, overweight or in ill health is likely to receive an individually tailored letter in the autumn warning them they are at increased risk and advising them of steps to take to protect themselves under plans being readied on Whitehall.
But Tory MPs and business leaders have argued that telling over-50s to stay at home risks damaging the economy and runs contrary to Boris Johnson’s plea to get workers back to the office.
This morning, Nadhim Zahawi claimed that was not the Government's current thinking on how to stop the spread of the virus. Here's waht he told the BBC's Today programme:
"Infection rates are spiking because of people entering other people's homes... That story is speculation, it's inaccurate
"We are responding... is through our local responses "It's working, it worked in Leicester, I am absolutely confident it will work in Manchester if people follow the guidelines.
"That is the correct way to do this, is to follow how the virus is behaving and react accordingly. That story is speculation and is inaccurate."
08:53 AM
Norway's Hurtigruten halts cruises after Covid-19 outbreak
In the early stages of the pandemic headlines were dominated by the news of coronavirus outbreaks on cruise ships - including the Diamond Princess off the coast of Japan.
Now a Norwegian cruise line, Hurtigruten, has announced that it is halting its so-called expedition cruises until further notice following an outbreak of Covid-19 on one of its vessels last week.
At least 40 passengers and crew from the MS Roald Amundsen cruise liner have so far tested positive for the virus, public health officials said yesterday (see here).
"A preliminary evaluation shows a breakdown in several of our internal procedures," Chief Executive Daniel Skjeldam said in statement this morning. "Our own failure, as well as the recent rise in infections internationally, have led us to halt all expedition cruises in Norwegian and international waters."
Hurtigruten's separate business of ferrying goods and people between ports in Norway will continue, the company added.
The MS Roald Amundsen had been scheduled to sail around the British Isles in September, docking at ports in England and Scotland.
MS Roald Amundsen at quay in Tromso, Norway, - TERJE PEDERSEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
08:44 AM
Watch: Melbourne begins six-week night curfew
08:33 AM
'Treat the public as adults', says top UK scientist
The Government should "treat the public as adults" in its communications over Covid-19, according to Sir Paul Nurse - the the director of the Francis Crick Institute.
This morning he told BBC's Today programme that there should be greater openness in the decision making process - "it sometimes seems somewhat shrouded in secrecy", he said.
Here's a little more of his analysis:
"And not only that, but better communication of what's happening. Treat the public as adults.
"I'll give one example. At the height of the infection I was at a select committee in April and a public health person I think it was - they may have been from the Department for Health and Social Care - was saying all the testing needed for the NHS was in place.
"Yet we showed at the Francis Crick, at that time, 45 per cent of frontline healthcare were infected and they were not being tested because capacity was inadequate.
"Now, that isn't a way to earn trust from the public. We need openness, transparency, scrutiny, and a leadership of people taking responsibility for the decision-making, and we need it now."
08:25 AM
Coronavirus infections top 18 million worldwide
Another grim milestone was met overnight - global coronavirus infections topped 18 million, while deaths are nearing 700,000.
Here's a quick overview of international news to be aware of this morning:
Australia's second-largest city, Melbourne, has started a six-week curfew today, with the city ordering non-essential businesses to close, and a ban on weddings.
Authorities in the Philippines have reimposed curbs after infections surged past 100,000, forcing more than 27 million people - including in the capital Manila - back into lockdown tomorrow for two weeks.
The World Health Organization has warned that the effects of the crisis "will be felt for decades to come", and that the pandemic is likely to be protracted.
Iran - fighting the Middle East's deadliest outbreak - reported its highest single-day infection count in nearly a month, warning that most of its provinces are facing a resurgence.
In the United States infections have now hit 4.6 million, including nearly 155,000 deaths. "It is extraordinarily widespread," Deborah Birx, head of the White House coronavirus task force, told CNN, adding that the country had entered a "new phase" of the pandemic.
The Hong Kong government's decision to postpone an early election for the city's legislature by a year, by invoking emergency legislation after a spike in cases, may be unlawful, according to the city's bar association.
Indian Interior Minister, Amit Shah, has been admitted to hospital after catching Covid-19 - becoming the most senior politician in the country to test positive for the virus.
08:15 AM
Reopening of a Lancashire nightclub prompts outrage
There's been a furious response to the reopening of a nightclub in Lancashire, believed to be the first to resume business since the lockdown came into effect in the UK in March.
Local authorities gave Switch in Preston the green light to throw open its doors on Saturday despite the Government's nationwide ban, the Evening Standard reports. Footage shows revellers packed into a queue, leaving little room for social distancing.
It comes just days after nearby Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire were hit with new lockdown rules. And earlier this month, Boris Johnson said nightclubs must remain shut despite coronavirus restrictions easing.
Peter Moss, a local councillor, said that the council "sought expert external legal advice" on Switch's reopening. "This advice has just come back to inform us that Switch is legally able to repurpose and reopen accordingly," he said.
But the decision has sparked outrage on social media - with one local suggesting the move is "utterly ridiculous particularly when we are at risk of lockdown again." Another complained that "I’ve had to cancel my wedding with a weeks notice yet you’re allowing a nightclub to open!! Appalled by this!!"
08:06 AM
Gambia's government ravaged by Covid-19
In Gambia, three ministers have tested positive for the coronavirus - days after the West African nation's president went into self-isolation.
President Adama Barrow said last week he would self-isolate for two weeks after the Vice President, Isatou Touray, tested positive.
Since then the finance minister, petroleum and energy minister and agriculture minister have also tested positive for Covid-19, the presidency said in a tweet last night.
Health authorities in the former British colony of some two million people have recorded 498 coronavirus cases to date, with nine fatalities since its first case was reported in March.
The Gambia closed air and land borders in March. It has also restricted public transport, shut schools and markets, and made face masks compulsory.
But as with other poor countries in the region, there are fears that the tiny nation is ill-equipped for a large outbreak.
07:57 AM
Brow bar had to cancel 2,600 appointments due to Government postponing reopening
Brow bar was fully booked for more than 2,600 appointments before the Government postponed reopening, as business owner warns jobs could now be lost.
Vanita Parti, the founder of eyebrow threading salon Blink Brow Bar, told BBC Radio 4’s The Today Programme: “This is our third false start, we had expected to open twice in July and then on the 1st of August. So we’ve had to repeatedly bring our team back to prepare, create rotas, make sure our appointment schedules are up.
“We were fully booked for the first few weeks. When we expected to open on the 1st August we had 2,600 appointments that we’ve had to cancel.
“So we believe we can bounce back and if we can we won’t have to make those redundancies but we need to open our doors, the demand is there customers have got the appetite for our business so we are pleading with the Government to let us do so.”
She added that the company's cash reserves were being “fast depleted” and that having to make contributions to furlough staff from September made her feel “quite sick”.
“I do worry that our business is going to be destroyed and it doesn’t have to be that way. As I keep expressing, we’re very hygienic, we feel safe and if we can’t open our doors it's due to poor decisions by the Government rather than the virus,” she said.
07:42 AM
Staycations fuel rise in restaurant bookings says San Carlo group
Healthy restaurant bookings are due to people having spare money from staycations rather than the launch of 'Eat Out to Help Out', the San Carlo group has said.
Managing Director Marcello Distefano has said that people who would have spent money going abroad are instead using the extra cash to eat out at restaurants.
Discussing the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme he told BBC Radio 4’s The Today Programme: “We had a positive response to our social media last week. We started advertising throughout Thursday and Friday and the bookings are looking quite healthy for this week.
“But we are also putting it down to the fact that we believe there’s a lot of people who are not going on holiday, everyone is calling it a staycation at the moment.”
He added that the rise in bookings was not “purely to do with” the Government scheme but instead “people still have some money to spend, they’re not going away but they still want to eat out”.
Discussing challenges still faced by the industry he said: “At the moment we haven’t been passing on the VAT cut but it’s something we’ve been reviewing every week.
“Although all these things have been put in place, we still have huge difficulties in our industry, we’re running at reduced capacities, we have a major issue with no shows and we still have the major question over rents which will come to fruition at the end of September.”
07:19 AM
Screening school children using the new 90-minute test is the 'best way' to keep pupils safe
Regular screening of school children using the new 90-minute test is the 'best way' to keep pupils safe, Sir John Bell has said.
Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, who is leading the government’s ongoing search for a reliable antibody test, has said that the new quick turnaround tests should be used at schools.
The leading immunologist told BBC Radio 4’s The Today Programme that people would be able to “test close to their work or school” once the tests are rolled out.
Sir John believes there needs to be a focus on screening children at schools in order to keep them safe.
Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at University of Oxford - La Roche
He said: “The Department of Health is focused on making sure that hospitals and care homes have adequate testing facilities.
"My view about this is that we do need tests that get used more extensively by the private sector because there’s a huge unmet need by schools, by airports and airlines, by hairdressers who are operating in the private sector.
“Who, If you have a short turnaround test, might well use it for screening people, either in the workplace to make sure the workplace was safe or before they enter the premises.
“If you look at schools there’s going to be a huge interest in keeping them safe the best way to do that is to screen the children at some level.
When asked how frequently children should be tested he said: “I think some people have said once a week should be okay but others have said less frequently.
“For example, in boarding schools you could screen the kids when they came back from home and probably not screen them very often until they went home again and then screen them when they reentered the school because it acts as a large bubble.”
06:34 AM
New restrictions for Melbourne
Non-essential businesses in Australia's second-biggest city were ordered on Monday to close as officials struggle to control a growing coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne.
Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said most retail outlets in Melbourne would be required to shut down from midnight Wednesday into Thursday, while sectors including meat production and construction would be ordered to scale down operations from Friday.
The announcement came as the state recorded 429 new infections and 13 deaths from the virus Monday.
Major incident declared in Greater Manchester over rising Covid-19 infections
A major incident has been declared in Greater Manchester over rising Covid-19 infections just as the Chancellor's meal-deal scheme - aimed at encouraging Brits to go out more - gets under way.
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, urged residents to stay calm after public service leaders decided to increase their readiness as they grapple with the escalating coronavirus transmission rates in the region.
"People should not be alarmed that a major incident has been declared," Sir Richard said.
A woman wearing a protective mask walks past a warning sign in Manchester - PHIL NOBLE/REUTERS
The Labour politician called the move "standard practice for complex situations" and said it would allow a "central command structure" to be created to enable agencies to "draw on extra resources".
The decision to declare a major incident was taken by the Strategic Coordination Group on the weekend after they met to discuss the increased lockdown restrictions announced last week across parts of the North West.
The new measures forbid people from different households from meeting each other inside their homes or in gardens, while also banning separate households from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues.
05:48 AM
Government announces two new tests for coronavirus and flu
Two tests which can detect coronavirus and flu - and promise results in 90 minutes - are to be rolled out in hospitals, care homes and laboratories.
The swab and DNA tests will help deal with the virus in winter, enabling clinicians and NHS Test and Trace to differentiate between Covid-19, which requires sufferers to undergo specific self-isolation, and other seasonal illnesses, the Department of Health said.
Almost half a million new LamPORE swab tests will be available from next week across adult care settings and laboratories.
Millions more of the tests, supplied by Oxford Nanopore, are set to be rolled out later in the year.
Meanwhile, thousands of DNA test machines, which have already been used in eight London hospitals and can analyse nose swabs, will be rolled out across NHS hospitals from September.
Some 5,000 machines, supplied by DnaNudge, will provide 5.8 million tests in the coming months, the department said.
Urgent appeal for coronavirus survivors to donate blood plasma
An urgent appeal has been issued for recovered coronavirus patients to donate their blood plasma in a bid to help the NHS treat people who fall ill during a potential second wave.
The number of appointments booked each week as part of the ongoing NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) convalescent plasma collection has dropped by almost half in the past month, with fewer eligible donors as the number of new infections fell in lockdown.
While about 13,000 donations had been made so far, more were urgently needed to help in the event of a second wave, NHSBT's chief medical officer Gail Miflin said.
A major trial is ongoing, looking at how convalescent plasma can be transfused into patients who are struggling to develop their own immune response, but the appeal for donations is now being described as urgent.
Males especially are being encouraged to help, after analysis reported in June showed that men produce more coronavirus antibodies than women, making them better plasma donors.
NHS Grampian said it launched an investigation after it identified 13 Covid-19 cases associated with The Hawthorn bar in the city centre, with some customers who visited on Sunday, July 26, testing positive.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - AFP
The cluster was confirmed days after Nicola Sturgeon said she was concerned that a large proportion of new cases were in people aged 20 to 39, which experts believe could be linked to the reopening of bars and restaurants.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed that 31 new cases north of the border had been identified on Sunday, the highest daily tally since June 4.
04:00 AM
People returning to work urged to support pets during transition
Lonely dog - Getty Images Contributor
Half of adults are worried about leaving their pets at home if they go back to work, new research suggests.
As more offices re-open this week after months of lockdown, a study by the Co-op Insurance revealed how many people had grown closer to their pets.
Two fifths of 2,000 people surveyed said they had spent more time with their pets recently than ever before; often being with them all day.
Philippines President orders virus lockdown in Manila
A man takes time out in Quezon City, Manila - REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is reimposing a moderate lockdown in the capital and outlying provinces after medical groups appealed for the move as coronavirus infections surge alarmingly.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Monday that metropolitan Manila, the capital region of more than 12 million people, and five densely populated provinces would revert to stricter quarantine restrictions for two weeks starting on Tuesday.
Mass public transport will be barred and only essential travel will be allowed.
Leaders of nearly 100 medical organisations held a rare online news conference on Saturday and warned that the health system had been overwhelmed by infection spikes and might collapse as health workers fall ill or resign from exhaustion and fear.
They asked Mr Duterte to reimpose a tight lockdown in the capital to allow health workers "a time out" and for the government to recalibrate its response to the pandemic.
The number of cases in the Philippines surged past 103,000 on Sunday and is second in Southeast Asia.
01:02 AM
Latin America heads towards five million cases
Argentina broke past 200,000 Covid-19 cases on Sunday and Colombia set a daily record as grim milestones topple in Latin America, pushing the world's worst-affected region towards a combined five million cases.
The region, which topped 200,000 deaths on Saturday, has struggled to stall the spread of the virus, with infections picking up pace.
Latin America, which has about eight per cent of the world's population, accounts for nearly 30 per cent of global cases and fatalities, with infections still spreading fast and hitting regional leaders.
Colombia has passed 300,000 cases and 10,000 fatalities.
Argentina, which had early success slowing the spread of the virus, has seen a recent spike in infections.
Brazil, the worst-hit country in the region and the second-worst worldwide, has more than 2.73 million cases and about 94,000 deaths.
Mexico logged more than 9,000 new infections on Saturday and is now the country with the third-most deaths worldwide.
Peru, which recently exceeded 400,000 cases, has seen a dangerous resurgence in infections after relaxing quarantine restrictions in a bid to revive a collapsed economy. It posted 7,448 cases on Saturday, the highest since late May.
12:30 AM
Lockdown in north of England a 'rash decision' not backed up by data
Imposing a widespread regional lockdown in the north west was a "rash" decision that is not backed up by the data, an Oxford professor has claimed.
People in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire were banned from meeting different households indoors, in a move that Matt Hancock, the health secretary said was absolutely necessary.
But Professor Carl Henegehan, director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at Oxford, said the figures were skewed by delayed test results and, when plotted by the date the test was taken, showed no overall alarming rise.
“The northern lockdown was a rash decision,” he said.
Supermarket workers are facing a worrying rise of "mask rage" with The Co-op reporting that staff had suffered historic levels of abuse since the new regulations were enacted.
The retailer said it recorded 990 incidents of anti-social behaviour and verbal abuse between Monday, July 20, and Sunday, July 26 - two days after masks were made compulsory in shops.
Almost all confrontations were related to the wearing of face masks with "flashpoints" occurring when people were asked to follow the guidance and when young consumers were asked to remove masks to check ID when buying alcohol.
Whole cities and towns to be tested in case of local Covid outbreak
Entire cities will be tested for Covid to contain local outbreaks using on-the-spot tests that give results in just 90 minutes.
Starting next week, the tests will be routinely used to check hospital and care home staff and patients, but there are plans for more than a million tests a day by the time winter arrives.
Ministers believe the revolutionary new tests, which can be processed by portable machines, will see off the danger of another national lockdown by enabling them to test everyone living in towns or cities where there is an outbreak, swiftly isolating those who have the virus.
Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.
The first electric vehicle I ever drove was a Tesla Roadster in 2011. It was with great anticipation that I slid behind the wheel of the 2025 Acura ZDX Type S. Sure, it's a midsize SUV, but it wears the Type S moniker, a name reserved only for the most fun-to-drive in the Acura stable. On launch, the ZDX will be available in A-Spec and Type S trims -- both of which come equipped with a 102 kWh battery.
The NFL will allow players to wear protective Guardian Caps during games beginning with the 2024 season. The caps were previously mandated for practices.
