Holidays to Portugal are back on after the Iberian nation was added to the Government's "green list" on Thursday, but Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago were struck from quarantine-free travel
Lebanon has experienced a 180 per cent increase in Covid-19 cases since the Beirut explosion, with a new record being hit most days, according to the International Research Committee.
On Wednesday 589 new cases were recorded in the country - the highest daily number since the pandemic began.
While coronavirus cases were at more than 3,300 on August 4, the day of the explosion, they have since surged to more than 10,000.
It follows the news that Lebanon will impose a two-week lockdown to contain the outbreak, while the health minister Hamad Hassan warned that hospitals are rapidly running out of space for new patients.
"The situation is unbearable," he told a local radio station on Monday.
Matias Meier, Country Director for the International Rescue Committee in Lebanon, said: “People are still trying to recover from the devastation that the explosion caused – they’re still trying to process what happened. And none of the worries that they had before the explosion have gone away.
"People still can’t afford food, people are still out of work – and 70,000 more have now reportedly been left unemployed. For Lebanon to have a chance at getting back on its feet, we need to stop the coronavirus from spreading any further. With a nationwide lockdown slated to start tomorrow in an attempt to control local transmission, people’s livelihoods are likely to further deteriorate.
"Without support, vulnerable communities will continue to struggle in silence putting lives at risk amidst a faltering health system, collapsing economy, and a rampant dangerous disease."
09:57 PM
Today's key events
That's all from me this evening. Here's a round up of everything you need to know from today...
More than a quarter of GCSEs were awarded top grades today, up from around a fifth last year as students across the country collected their results.
The Conservative chair of the Liaison Committee has said he is "concerned" that a pattern is forming in which "it is never the Government's fault" when something goes wrong.
Professor Sir John Bell, said a bumpy winter is on the way, especially with the additional risk of flu: "My bet is that we will get a second wave, and the vaccines won't get here in time to stop the second wave".
The Government has urged holidaymakers to "keep an eye out" for changes to the travel quarantine list,after Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago was added to the list today after a rise in coronavirus cases.
Pupils may have to wear face coverings in schools in the "near future", Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Almost two thirds of workers who were put on furlough are back on the job, indicating that the economy is recovering and that the scheme succeeded in protecting their employment.
There has been a 180 per cent increase in cases in Lebanon since the explosion in Beirut, according to the International Research Committee, with record of new case tolls is being hit almost daily.
South Korea's infections are "in full swing" and spreading nationwide after members of a church attended a political demonstration, authorities said, announcing 288 new cases.
Movie-goers boarded boats floating on the shimmering waters of a Tel Aviv lake on Thursday for a test screening at Israel's first "sail-in" cinema.
The mayor of Los Angeles says he authorised shutting off utility services at a home in the Hollywood Hills that has been the site of raucous parties despite a ban on large gatherings during the pandemic.
Nigeria will bar entry to citizens of countries that do not allow in Nigerians due to coronavirus restrictions, aviation minister Hadi Sirika said.
09:46 PM
Indigenous protesters block roads in Brazil
Indigenous protesters on Thursday blocked a key Brazilian grain highway in the Amazon state of Para, the federal highway police said, resuming a protest that halted trucks carrying corn earlier in the week.
The Kayapó tribe say the federal government has failed to protect them from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed four of their elders, and has not consulted them on a plan to build a railway next to their land.
The Kayapó returned to the BR-163 highway in the region of Novo Progresso at 7 a.m. local time on Thursday, police said.
The BR-163 highway links towns in the nation’s biggest farm state Mato Grosso to the port of Miritituba, an important export river gateway in Para state. With the soy season almost over, the main grain transported on the road at present is corn.
Edeon Vaz Ferreira, executive director of Pro-Logistics Movement, a group linked to the Mato Grosso Aprosoja farmers association, said corn is still being shipped, but the situation is becoming increasingly complex.
“Any stoppage complicates the flow, and the programming of barges and ships,” Ferreira said, without giving further details on how the port has been affected by the protests.
A member of the Kayapo tribe sits after they blocked highway BR163 during a protest on the outskirts of Novo Progresso in Para State, Brazil, - JOAO LAET / AFP
09:42 PM
Canada extends pandemic emergency aid
Canada has announced a four-week extension of emergency aid for people who lost work due to the pandemic, and an easing of rules on qualifying for unemployment benefits when that expires.
Officials estimated the cost of the measures at Can$37 billion (US$28 billion) over one year.
About 4.5 million Canadians, or 12 percent of the population, are currently receiving $2,000 a month in emergency support. That's due to end this month.
Canada's unemployment rate hit a record high of 13.7 percent in May before falling to 10.9 percent in July.
The easing of a nationwide lockdown has seen most businesses reopen and millions back on the job in recent months.
But many are still stuck at home, without work.
"By supporting Canadians who are out of work because of the pandemic, we are making it possible for our country to continue to practice social distancing and to do the right things in the fight against the coronavirus," newly tapped Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland told a news conference.
"As we shift from our initial emergency response to a safe and prudent restart, as we shift to living with COVID-19, our approach also needs to evolve," she said.
09:36 PM
Coronavirus hospital admissions inflated at height of pandemic, investigation finds
Hospital admissions for Covid-19 could have been over-reported at the peak of the pandemic, with patients who were taken in for other illnesses being included in outbreak statistics, it has emerged.
An investigation for the Government's Science Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) found that people were being counted as Covid hospital admissions if they had ever had the virus, and were added to those being admitted directly due to it.
Government figures show that, at the peak of the pandemic in early April, nearly 20,000 people a week were being admitted to hospital with coronavirus, but the true figure is unknown because of the problem with over-counting.
Sarah Knapton has more on this interesting development here.
09:16 PM
US adjusts intelligence assessment of China's role in Covid-19 outbreak
How a Telegraph interview with one of the first foreign officials to get to Wuhan helped Washington to think again
A man being tested for the Covid-19 reacts as a medical worker takes a swab sample in Wuhan - HECTOR RETAMAL /: AFP
08:46 PM
1 in 5 US nursing homes still short on PPE
One in five US nursing homes faced severe shortages of protective gear like N95 masks this summer even as the Trump administration pledged to help, according to a study released Thursday that finds facilities in areas hard-hit by COVID 19 also struggled to keep staff.
Significantly, there was no improvement from May to July in the shortages of personal protective equipment, known as PPE, or in the staffing shortfalls, according to the analysis of federal data by academic researchers. The summer has seen the coronavirus surge across the South, and much of the West and Midwest.
People living in long-term care facilities represent less than 1 per cent of the U.S. population, but account for 43 per cent of coronavirus deaths, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Similar glaring disparities have been seen with nursing home residents in other countries, but in the United States the issue has become politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to hang on to support from older voters in his reelection bid.
"A study that shows that 1 in 5 nursing homes has a severe shortage of PPE and a shortage of staff, and that it did not change from May to July, should be a massive read flag," said Terry Fulmer, president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, a nonprofit that works to improve care for older adults.
"We have had no coherent federal response," added Fulmer, who was not involved in the research.
Reacting to the study, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a statement that the Trump administration "has provided nursing homes the tools they need to stop the virus' spread and, ultimately, each nursing home is responsible for its residents' safety." CMS sets nursing home standards and pays for much of the care.
08:32 PM
Israel opens floating cinema for coronavirus-safe viewing
Movie-goers boarded boats floating on the shimmering waters of a Tel Aviv lake on Thursday for a test screening at Israel's first "sail-in" cinema.
With indoor film theatres shut because of coronavirus restrictions, Tel Aviv municipality launched the floating cinema to allow residents to catch a movie in the open air while still keeping a safe distance from each other.
The floating cinema provided seating aboard 70 pedal and rowing boats set in the Yarkon Park lake, two metres apart to maintain social distancing, Tel Aviv municipality said.
Israeli moviegoers sit in distanced pedal boats at the Sail-in floating cinema in Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park - JACK GUEZ / AFP
08:20 PM
Morocco enforces restrictions across Casablanca and Marrakesh
Moroccan authorities have slapped tight controls on movement in Casablanca and Marrakesh, the country’s economic and tourist capitals, following a rise in coronavirus cases, AFP reports.
Several districts of the two cities were to be sealed off, and opening hours shortened for restaurants, coffeehouses, businesses and public parks.
Several beaches were closed in Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city with 3.3 million inhabitants, following similar measures imposed on Tuesday near the capital Rabat.
Partial lockdowns were ordered in Rabat and the port city of Tangiers, with armoured vehicles deployed on the streets and police manning checkpoints.
Covid-19 infections have been on the rise since the start of August and now exceed 1,000 new cases per day in the country of 35 million.
Moroccans gather in the "Ouled Ziane" bus station in Casablanca - FADEL SENNA / AFP
08:11 PM
900 staff at food processing plants and their families ordered to isolate
All 900 workers at a food processing plant in Scotland and their families have been ordered to isolate until the end of this month after a Covid-19 outbreak.
Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the new measures at the 2 Sisters plant in Coupar Angus in Perth and Kinross after the number of positive cases connected to the plant rose to 43. Of those affected, 37 were factory workers and six their contacts.
The new guidance, issued after a meeting of the incident management team working with the Scottish Government, applied to all staff and anyone living with them. This included children and anyone who had a negative test.
UK public 'believe coronavirus death toll 100 times higher than it really is'
The average person thinks the UK's coronavirus death rate is 100 times worse than it is, a new survey has suggested.
Research by strategic communications company KEKST CNC showed people believe the virus is more widespread and deadly than official figures show.
In a report entitled "Covid-19 Opinion Tracker" which covers the period from July 10-15, researchers surveyed 1,000 people in the UK and the same number in Japan, Sweden, the USA, Germany and France.
Among the key findings were that "people significantly overestimate the spread and fatality rate of the disease". In the UK and Sweden, the public think six to seven per cent of people have died from coronavirus – around one hundred times the actual death rate, based on official figures.
07:41 PM
US Senator Cassidy tests positive
US Senator Bill Cassidy tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, has decided to self-quarantine for 14 days and is contacting those with whom he may have had contact, according to a statement released by his office.
"I am strictly following the direction of our medical experts and strongly encourage others to do the same," the Louisiana Republican, himself a physician, said in the statement.
At least 15 other members of the US House of Representatives and Senate - eight Republicans and seven Democrats - have tested positive or are presumed to have had Covid-19 since the novel coronavirus pandemic began earlier this year.
Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, is the only other senator to have tested positive for the virus, back in March. Two other senators, Democrats Tim Kaine and Bob Casey, said in May that they had tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.
Neither chamber is in session at the moment. In July, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a mask mandate for the House floor after Representative Louie Gohmert, who often refused to wear a mask, tested positive. Elsewhere in the Capitol, mask wearing is encouraged for lawmakers, but not mandated.
Sen. Bill Cassidy - Gerald Herbert / AP
07:30 PM
Four Vietnamese arrested for coronavirus PPE scam targeting US buyers
Vietnamese police have arrested four men accused of defrauding more than 5,000 Americans trying to buy Covid-19 protective equipment online out of nearly $1 million (£757,035), the Ministry of Public Security said on Thursday.
The arrests of the four, aged between 22 and 36, were made following a joint investigation by the ministry and US Department of Homeland Security's Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
In March, the four began operating 110 websites that offered personal protection equipment (PPE), including hand sanitizers, masks and disinfectant wipes, and received money from the Americans via their Paypal accounts, the ministry said.
The four never had the products offered on the websites and their victims never received what they paid for, the ministry said.
"This investigation resulted in significant financial losses to people who were already facing enormous challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic," U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink said in a statement on the embassy's website.
Speaking at a regular press briefing on Thursday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Vietnam was determined to "prevent and strictly deal with any trade fraud" and highly appreciated the coordination from the United States.
The ministry said the four had been charged with "appropriation of property using a computer network, telecommunications network or electronic device", a crime that carries a prison term of up to 20 years.
07:21 PM
End of eviction ban could lead to rise in infections
Failing to prevent a homelessness crisis by lifting the eviction ban next week could "significantly contribute to a rise in coronavirus infections", experts are warning.
A surge in homelessness could have "serious consequences" on emergency departments as they head into a busy winter period, public health organisations believe.
Homeless people are more likely to access and be admitted to emergency departments compared to the general population.
They are also more likely to have chronic, complex health problems which increase their vulnerability to the virus.
And those sleeping rough will struggle to self-isolate if they develop symptoms, and lack access to hygiene measures that slow the spread of the virus.
The 19 organisations, including seven royal colleges, MedAct and Pathway, have written jointly to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick about the health risks associated with lifting the ban.
They write: "As public health organisations, we are deeply concerned that failure to prevent an evictions and homelessness crisis could significantly contribute to an increase of Covid-19 infections."
07:10 PM
Madagascar sacks health minister after virus squabble
Madagascar has said it had fired its health minister as part of a government reshuffle, a move that came a month after he butted heads with the president for seeking outside help for coronavirus.
The Indian Ocean island-nation saw Covid-19 cases surge in July despite an official campaign to promote a controversial herbal drink touted as a remedy for the virus.
As hospitals raised concern about lack of beds, Health Minister Ahmad Ahmad wrote a letter in July asking international agencies to send medical equipment.
His appeal sparked anger in President Andry Rajoelina's administration, which said Ahmad had acted "without consulting" either the government or head of state.
Ahmad's cabinet exit was revealed on Thursday in the announcement of a new list of ministers following a reshuffle.
"Jean Louis Hanitrala Rakotovao has been named new health minister," cabinet secretary Valery Ramonjavelo told a press conference, without giving details about the change.
Rajoelina has been promoting an infusion derived from artemisia, a plant with proven anti-malarial properties, as a homegrown cure for Covid-19.
The drink, named Covid-Organics, has been widely distributed in Madagascar and sold to several other countries, mainly in Africa.
The UN's World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that there have been no published scientific studies to validate claims for the drink, and mainstream scientists have pointed to potential risks from untested concoctions.
Rajoelina has ignored the warnings and blamed a jump in cases last month on "increased testing capacity".
Madagascar's coronavirus outbreak seems to have slowed since then, with new daily confirmed cases dropping from peaks of over 400 in July to an average of around 80 since Monday.
To date the country has recorded more than 14,000 infections, of which 177 deaths have been fatal.
07:00 PM
Macron and Merkel meet to discuss Covid-19 and Belarus
French President Emmanuel Macron received German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his Mediterranean holiday retreat on Thursday to discuss a long list of burning issues including the coronavirus pandemic, post-election unrest in Belarus and growing tensions with Turkey.
The pair have a packed agenda for their meeting at the Fort de Bregancon, with challenges raised by Britain's departure from the European Union, climate change, the coup d'etat in Mali, and the consequences of the devastating blast in Lebanon also set to loom large.
Macron welcomed Merkel for her first-ever visit to the presidential summer residence with a Namaste-style greeting, palms pressed together and bending at the waist, in observance of social-distancing guidelines against coronavirus spread.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel wears a face mask as she arrives with French president Emmanuel Macron for a press conference after a meeting at Fort de Bregancon - CHRISTOPHE SIMON/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
According to the Elysee Palace, a priority of the talks will be to push ahead with a coronavirus recovery fund for Europe which the pair had piloted and was agreed at an EU summit last month.
"The international agenda is particularly full," the French presidency said ahead of the talks which are to be followed by a news conference and a working dinner.
It added that Paris and Berlin shared "a high level of convergence" on the issues.
The allies will look to coordinate policy on the mass protests in Belarus following President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election win which the opposition had denounced as a fraud.
06:48 PM
Humans overshoot 2020 planetary 'budget' on August 22
Humanity will have burned through all the natural resources that the planet can replenish for 2020 by Saturday, according to researchers who said the grim milestone is slightly later than last year after the pandemic slowed runaway overconsumption.
So-called Earth Overshoot Day - the date when humanity has used all the biological resources that Earth can renew annually - has crept steadily earlier since the 1970s, according to the Global Footprint Network.
The group calculates the point will be reached on August 22, compared to July 29 in 2019, marking a rare reversal after lockdowns to slow the new coronavirus caused a temporary decline in emissions and wood harvesting.
This reduced humanity's footprint by 9.3 percent compared to last year, they said.
But that is "not something to celebrate", said Mathis Wackernagel, president of Global Footprint Network, in an online presentation on Thursday.
"It's not done by design, it's done by disaster," he added.
Firefighter David Widaman directs water onto a tree that had exploded in flame as a fire crew defends a house northwest of Santa Cruz, California - Shmuel Thler / The Santa Cruz Sentinel
06:31 PM
Italy reports highest number of new cases since end of lockdown in May
Italy reported 845 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Thursday, marking the highest daily increase since May, when the government eased its rigid lockdown measures.
Italy, one of Europe's worst-hit countries, managed to contain the outbreak after a peak in deaths and cases between March and April. However, it has seen a steady increase in infections over the last month, with experts blaming gatherings of people associated with holidays and nightlife.
Last time the country recorded a higher figure was May 16, with 875 cases, two days before restaurants, bars and shops were allowed to reopen after a 10-week lockdown.
Despite the rise in infections, daily death tallies remain low and are often in single figures. Thursday saw six fatalities compared to seven on Wednesday, health ministry data showed.
The numbers of new infections remain considerably lower than those recently registered in other large European countries, with Spain and France both close to 4,000 new cases a day.
Italian cases are still mainly concentrated in the northern regions at the epicentre of the outbreak discovered in late February, with Lombardy and Veneto both above 150 on Thursday.
Lazio, around Rome, registered 115 cases of which 73 per cent were due to people returning from other Italian regions or from abroad, the regional government said.
06:19 PM
How New York City is preparing to reopen schools in September
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that the city is releasing a back-to-school pledge — a detailed list of everything that’s being done to get schools prepared to reopen safely next month.
Preparations include...
Disinfecting schools every day and night, including using electrostatic cleaning technology, which every school building will be equipped with Providing face coverings to kids who do not have one Making sure every building will have at least one certified nurse on site Education Chancellor Richard Carranza, who joined de Blasio on Thursday, added that PPE deliveries are happening “every day” to schools across the city.
“We are going to make sure these schools are safe and ready, and if we don’t think they’re safe and ready, they won’t open,” de Blasio said.
De Blasio stressed that the reopening is moving ahead as scheduled. NYC schools are scheduled to reopen on Sept. 10, although various groups have called for that opening to be delayed.
New York City’s Covid-19 indicators remain below all the thresholds, and the city again reported a positivity rate below 1 per cent on Thursday.
NYC Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza tour New Bridges Elementary School ahead of schools reopening - REUTERS
06:10 PM
Nigeria bans travelers from countries that ban, err, Nigeria
Nigeria will bar entry to citizens of countries that do not allow in Nigerians due to coronavirus restrictions, aviation minister Hadi Sirika said.
Sirika told reporters that "the principle of reciprocity will be applied. If you ban us from coming to your country, the same will apply the other way."
Nigeria earlier this week announced plans to resume international flights on 29 August. All but essential international flights were halted in late March in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus.
The resumption will begin with four flights daily to both Lagos and Abuja, but Sirika said that initially the number of passengers would be limited to 1,280 a day.
Nigeria has 50,488 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and has recorded 985 deaths.
06:04 PM
Nightclubs reopen as pubs to win back customers
Nightclubs are reopening as pubs by putting tables on the dancefloor in a bid to regain customers, a trade body has said.
The Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA), which represents clubs, bars and live music venues, warned that an estimated 754,000 jobs are at risk in the sector which is one of the few which is yet to be given a roadmap for reopening.
A survey of venues which have been able to repurpose themselves to reopen found that just under 70 per cent had revamped as a pub or bar.
Michael Kill, of the NTIA, said they had either put tables on the dancefloor or utilised outdoor space to turn into a bar.
However, he warned that the industry faces a “dangerous cliff edge”. He added: “This is the darkest of days for the night-time economy. Without immediate additional help and clear indication of when we can re-open we are facing financial armageddon.”
Nicola Sturgeon gives police sweeping new powers to break up house parties
Nicola Sturgeon has handed police sweeping new powers to break up house parties after Scotland recorded its highest daily number of Covid-19 cases for almost three months.
The First Minister announced that from a week on Friday officers will be able to disperse large gatherings in homes, which have been blamed for a spike in cases north of the Border.
Councils will also be handed new powers to shut down pubs and cafes that flout Covid-19 regulations after an outbreak in Aberdeen was linked to revellers enjoying the city's nightlife.
Nicola Sturgeon wearing a tartan facemask - Jeff J Mitchell / PA
05:47 PM
Covid-19 has triggered a rapid surge in hunger and women are worst hit, report reveals
The number of people around the world going hungry is increasing at the fastest rate seen for decades, as the Covid-19 pandemic ravages livelihoods. But while women and girls are among the worst hit they are often overlooked by response efforts, a new report has revealed.
Before the pandemic, global hunger was already on the rise. Around 820 million people did not have enough to eat and 149 million faced crisis-level hunger. More than two billion were lacking regular access to safe and nutritious food.
Now, these numbers are soaring higher and faster. By the end of 2020, some 270 million people – almost double the pre-Covid rate – could be suffering from severe hunger and an extra 132 million could become undernourished.
A trader carrying goods on her head walks to Rood Wokos great market in Ouagadougou - OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AP
05:35 PM
Belgium extends mask rules to include over 12s
All children above 12 years old and all teachers will have to wear masks when schools reopen on Sept 1, Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said on Thursday.
"The goal is to avoid a second wave, we see today that the situation is stabilising and improving," she told a news conference. "It is very important that children go to school."
Belgium has seen a downward trend in daily new cases in the past days, though Brussels, home to EU institutions and Nato, has reported increases although on a declining level.
With 9,959 deaths linked to the coronavirus so far, the country of 11 million has one of the world's highest death rates from Covid-19 per head. The number of cases stands at 78,897.
Ms Wilmes eased restrictions on the number of people allowed to attend public events, doubling it to 200 for inside events and 400 for outside.
Shoppers will be allowed in pairs while a Belgian family or those living together will only be able to meet five other people, a restriction introduced last month that will now be extended until the end of September.
05:25 PM
Early coronavirus survivors may already be at risk again, says expert
People who caught coronavirus in March may already have lost all their protective antibodies, a senior government adviser has said, as he predicted seasonal vaccines for the virus.
Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at the University of Oxford, said the latest research indicated that antibodies – which may protect against reinfection – deplete by between 10 per cent to 30 per cent each month.
It means that those who came down with Covid-19 during the height of the outbreak in the UK could already be vulnerable to falling ill again.
It also means that any future vaccines which work by prompting the body to produce antibodies could be protective for only a few months.
The Government's rough sleeping adviser has unexpectedly stepped down as the country teeters on the brink of what charities are calling a potential homelessness crisis.
Dame Louise Casey, who was appointed to lead the rough sleeping taskforce in May, told housing groups on Wednesday she will be stepping back from the role.
With the ban on evictions due to end next week, potentially putting hundreds of thousands of renters at risk of losing their homes, ministers have been urged against a "leadership vacuum".
The charity Crisis said it was concerned by the news, which comes as the economic fall-out of the coronavirus pandemic starts to bite.
Chief executive Jon Sparkes said Dame Louise had made "extraordinary progress", adding: "We urge minsters not to leave a leadership vacuum.
"With the economic impact of the pandemic pushing more people into homelessness, we must redouble our efforts, otherwise we risk rates of rough sleeping rising with all the human misery this entails."
rough sleepers - Victoria Jones / PA
05:00 PM
Markets slide as US jobless claims jump back above 1m
US jobless claims rose by 135,000 last week, lifting the total above 1m once more.
Although the moving average continues to descend, the figures came in higher than economists’ expectations, and show the pain for the US labour market is continuing.
US stocks fell in response at the open after the surprise increase in US jobless claims added to concern that the recovery from the pandemic-induced recession could be prolonged.
Our business live blog has recapped the events of today here.
04:52 PM
Disabled people suffering with increased feelings of loneliness in the pandemic, says ONS report
Disabled people suffered most in the coronavirus pandemic as they reported highest levels of loneliness, official figures have suggested.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published data on Thursday that shows in July 2020, roughly three-quarters of disabled people reported they were "very worried" or "somewhat worried" about the effect that the coronavirus pandemic was having on their life compared with 66 per cent for non-disabled people.
France, Spain and Germany record highest number of cases since leaving lockdown
Concern is growing over the resurgence of the coronavirus in Europe, as infection rates continue to rise sharply across much of the continent.
France, Germany and Italy all saw their biggest daily rise in cases since the spring this week, while Spain is in the grip of a major outbreak, with 3,715 new cases on Wednesday alone.
Countries which largely escaped the first wave such have recorded their highest ever daily rises in infections this week, with 2,134 in Ukraine and 219 in Croatia.
BREAKING: Grant Shapps announces new travel restrictions
Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago have been removed from the UK's travel corridors list.
Data shows we need to remove Croatia, Austria and Trinidad & Tobago from our list of #coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN. If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
He said that Portugal has now been added to the travel corridors list, meaning travellers from the country will no longer have to quarantine on arrival in the UK.
However, he added that the situation could change quickly, and people should only travel “if you are content to unexpectedly 14-day quarantine if required”.
04:28 PM
Sing your heart out (but quietly)
Singing is no more risky than talking when its comes to the possibility of coronavirus transmission but it all depends on how loud a person is, scientists have said.
In a new study which is yet to be peer-reviewed, researchers at the University of Bristol have found that speaking and singing generate similar amounts of aerosol droplets when the sound volumes are same.
They found that higher volume was associated with an increase in aerosol mass in both speaking and singing, with the loudest level generating up to 30 times more aerosol mass than the lowest volume.
However, they said there were no significant differences in aerosol production between genders or among different genres of music such as choral, musical theatre, opera, jazz, gospel rock or pop.
Members of the Kingdom Choir sing at Fresh Ground Church in Battersea, London - Simon Dawson / Reuters
Aerosols are the tiny particles of liquid and material that float around in the environment and can carry anything from smoke and dust particles to water and saliva.
Recent research has suggested that Covid-19 can be transmitted through aerosol particles, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) saying it could not rule out airborne transmission.
Singing was initially identified as a high-risk activity during the Covid-19 pandemic, with performing arts venues remaining closed even lockdown measures were eased.
But last week, the Government changed its guidance to say both professionals and non-professionals could engage in singing as of August 15, provided the performers and audiences were following the guidelines on hygiene and social distancing - a decision that was informed by the study.
04:20 PM
Young people feel 'invincible' and are ignoring coronavirus rules, WHO chief warns
Young people are starting to believe they are "invincible" in the face of coronavirus and are no longer following the rules, a leading World Health Organisation (WHO) official has suggested.
Dr Hans Kluge, the organisation's regional Director for Europe, said on Thursday he was "very concerned" that under-24s are regularly appearing among new cases.
His comments followed reports from across Europe of young people attending crowded parties after months of lockdown restrictions.
"Young people are at the forefront of the Covid-19 response and they have a very powerful message to convey through their behaviour and their communication," said Dr Kluge.
"Low risk does not mean no risk – no one is invincible, and if you do not die from Covid it may stick to your body like a tornado with a long tail. While young people are less likely to die than older people (see graphic below), they can still be very seriously affected. This virus affects organs throughout the body."
Johnson & Johnson to test vaccine on 60,000 volunteers
Johnson & Johnson aims to test its experimental coronavirus vaccine in up to 60,000 volunteers in a late-stage trial scheduled to start in September, according to a US government database of clinical trials.
Shares of the company rose marginally on Thursday, paring their earlier losses, after the Wall Street Journal first reported the news.
Rival coronavirus vaccine makers such as Moderna and Pfizer are targeting recruiting up to 30,000 volunteers for their late-stage studies.
03:59 PM
Five more die in England
A further five people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,485, NHS England said on Thursday.
The patients were aged between 33 and 86, and all had known underlying health conditions except the 33-year-old.
Another four deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
03:49 PM
Ryanair issues 20-percent pay cut to Spanish pilots
Irish no-frills airline Ryanair, which has slashed its flight capacity as a result of the pandemic, said Thursday its pilots in Spain had accepted a 20-percent pay cut to minimise job losses
Under the four-year agreement reached with Spanish pilots union SEPLA, pilots also accepted "flexible working patterns" which will allow the airline to improve its productivity, Ryanair said in a statement.
At the same time, the company said it had failed to strike a deal with Spanish cabin crew unions USO and SITCPLA, which means "job losses are now more likely" among their members.
Ryanair announced Monday that it would cut is September and October timetable by 20 percent due to weaker-than-expected demand following renewed virus-linked travel restrictions in some European countries.
The airline booked a net loss of 185 million euros ($216 million) in the three months to the end of June, the first quarter of its financial year.
In response to the coronavirus-induced downturn, Ryanair is seeking to axe 3,000 jobs and has not ruled out further cutbacks.
Passengers board a Ryanair airplane, in Palermo, Italy - Andrew Medichini / AP
03:41 PM
California burns as coronavirus rages
Tens of thousands of people evacuated their homes yesterday as wildfires again swept across swathes of California, and others have been warned to “be ready to go” at any moment, The Mercury News has reported.
Lightning strikes over the weekend triggered hundreds of blazes, and 250,000+ acres were actively burning Wednesday.
The virus has only added to the concern around this year's fire season. The flames have caused “unhealthy” air quality, which can exacerbate respiratory infections like Covid-19, and now evacuees face the added fear of crowded shelters amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
To combat the duel crisis, disaster response teams are now establishing health checks and sending people to larger outdoor staging areas rather than directly to shelters, The Washington Post reports.
A home continues to burn as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fire spread in Vacaville, California on August 19 - JOSH EDELSON / AFP
03:27 PM
Brazilian Congress makes masks mandatory, despite president's veto
The Brazilian Congress has decided that the use of masks is mandatory in closed places like restaurants, many workplaces, religious temples and schools. In a joint session of both houses — Senate and Deputies Chamber — the legislature overturned President Jair Bolsonaro's vet.
Senators and deputies also upheld the right of mayors and governors to fine those who disobeyed the requirement.
Congress also overturned Bolsonaro's vetoes of a law that sets out the federal government's duties to protect indigenous people during the pandemic. The legislators upheld aspects of the law assuring universal access to drinkable water, emergency access to beds in hospitals, the acquisition of ventilators and the delivery of free food to indigenous people and communities of slaves' descendants.
On her Twitter account, Joenia Wapichana — the first indigenous woman to occupy a federal deputy seat in Brazil — celebrated the Congress' action.
Agora sim, vetos derrubados também no Senado!
Com a Lei Federal nº 14.021 restaurada, o Governo @jairbolsonaro está OBRIGADO, por lei e por decisão do STF, a dar a devida atenção urgente e emergencial para evitar um novo genocídio nos povos indígenas, em função da pandemia. pic.twitter.com/Er3XUiE8TS
Britain recorded 1,182 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the second-highest daily total since June 21, government figures showed.
Britain also reported a further six deaths of people who died within 28 days of receiving a positive coronavirus test result, taking the total number of fatalities on this measure to 41,403.
03:11 PM
Race home from Croatia begins, as Portugal prepares for travel corridor
The Government is due to announce the latest updates to its list of countries with "travel corridors".
Croatia is set to be dropped from the list of quarantine-free countries this afternoon, a move which could give 20,000 Britons a matter of hours to return to the UK. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, is due to add the Balkan holiday hotspot to the UK’s “red list” of nations after a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. It is expected holidaymakers would be given until 4am on Saturday to return.
The number of cases in Croatia is now at a seven-day average of 27.4 cases per 100,000, considerably higher than the Government’s threshold of 20 cases per 100,000. This time last week, Croatia’s number was at 7.8 per 100,000.
People, mostly foreign tourists, sunbath and swim in Crikvenica on the northern Adriatic coast - DENIS LOVROVIC / AFP
Last week, more than 150,000 British holidaymakers had to race back from France by land, air and sea to beat the 4am deadline. The Netherlands and Malta were also added to the quarantine list last week.
This afternoon's announcement could, however, bring good news for anyone hoping to travel to Portugal. The number of cases per 100,000 on a seven-day average is 14.9 – lower than the threshold of 20 set by the Government.
Exempting arrivals from Portugal from a UK quarantine, and giving the country the FCO ‘green light’, would bring an end to months of turmoil for the Portuguese tourist economy, which has suffered under the absence of British holidaymakers this summer.
Philippine medics struggle to cope in overwhelmed hospitals as lockdown eases
Desperate Filipino health workers have spoken of their fears of going to work as colleagues are struck down with Covid-19 in hospitals that are buckling under the pressure of thousands of new cases every day.
The Philippines, which has 107 million citizens, is now the worst affected nation in Southeast Asia by the global pandemic, with 169, 213 cases and 2,687 deaths.
On Tuesday, the health ministry confirmed 4,836 new infections, the seventh straight day of more than 3,000 cases, but a lockdown in the capital region will be eased from today, despite warnings from health experts that it is coming too soon.
“We are psychologically exhausted and emotionally tortured, but Filipino resiliency is unbreakable, that’s why we are still fighting this battle with smiles on our faces and a ton of sweat under our Hazmat suit,” said Roma, a nurse in a public hospital in the capital, Manila.
Eswatini unveils stimulus plan for virus-hit economy
Eswatini will roll out an ambitious post-coronavirus economic recovery plan, the Government said today, as it hit back at claims that King Mswati III was draining state coffers to fund a luxury lifestyle.
The $1.7-billion (1.44-billion-euro), 18-month scheme aims to revive the long-ailing economy of Africa's last absolute monarchy with the help of the private sector.
"Eswatini is open for business," Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini of the small southern African country of 1.2 million, formerly known as Swaziland, told AFP.
"We are giving assurances to potential investors that if they bring their money into the country, the kingdom of eSwatini is a stable country politically," he said in an online interview.
The economy is projected to shrink 6.7 per cent this year, battered by the impact of the pandemic. The virus has so far caused 4,058 infections and 79 deaths, according to an official tally.
02:48 PM
US refuses emergency licence for blood plasma treatment of Covid-19 citing lack of data
The United States withheld an emergency authorisation on Tuesday for the use of blood plasma as a treatment for severe Covid-19 patients, but UK scientists say they are still optimistic that it can help people fighting the coronavirus.
Plasma infusions have long been used to help treat other infectious diseases and the US was on the brink of approving emergency use of the treatment after a series of Covid-19 studies, including one carried out by the Mayo Clinic, suggested that plasma administered within three days of a diagnosis reduced mortality rates.
But a number of top disease experts, including White House coronavirus advisor Dr Anthony Fauci, expressed concern that the data was not strong enough after it emerged that the Mayo Clinic’s program, which has infused more than 66,000 people, did not compare its results against a control group.
Jordan Kelly-Linden spoke to the UK scientists who are still confident that blood plasma may be used to treat the most severely ill coronavirus patients. Read more here.
02:38 PM
Second wave of coronavirus and 'really bumpy' winter ahead, warns top academic
Professor Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at the University of Oxford, said he thinks there is a "really bumpy" winter on the way, especially with the additional risk of flu.
The expert also pointed out the importance of easy-to-access tests which are non-invasive, particularly for schools and universities.
Speaking on a Royal Society of Medicine webinar, Prof Bell said: "My bet is that we will get a second wave, and the vaccines won't get here in time to stop the second wave.
"And I'm not sure the new home testing is going to get there in time either, but it perhaps will take the edge off it.
"But then I suspect by Christmas or early in the new year, there may be more than one option for vaccines.
"My suspicion is the vaccines will work a bit, they won't sterilise people, but they'll take the edge off the disease, and they'll definitely be worth using in a population.
"But they won't... they're not going to solve this problem. And by the way, the rest of the world is still going to have Covid going through the winter."
He added: "But just to be crystal clear, it's going to be a bumpy winter. There's nothing I can see that's going to make this an easy winter."
02:24 PM
Cases in Beirut surge by 180pc following explosion
There has been a 180 per cent increase in Covid-19 cases in Lebanon since the explosion in Beirut, according to the International Research Committee, as a daily record of new cases is being hit almost every day.
589 new cases were recorded in the country on Wednesday - the highest daily number since the pandemic began.
While coronavirus cases were at just over 3,300 on August 4, the day of the explosion, they have since surged to over 10,000.
It follows the news that Lebanon will impose a two-week lockdown to contain the outbreak, while the health minister Hamad Hassan warned that hospitals are rapidly running out of space for new patients.
Matias Meier, Country Director for the International Rescue Committee in Lebanon, said:
“People are still trying to recover from the devastation that the explosion caused – they’re still trying to process what happened. And none of the worries that they had before the explosion have gone away.
"People still can’t afford food, people are still out of work – and 70,000 more have now reportedly been left unemployed. For Lebanon to have a chance at getting back on its feet, we need to stop the coronavirus from spreading any further. With a nationwide lockdown slated to start tomorrow in an attempt to control local transmission, people’s livelihoods are likely to further deteriorate.
"Without support, vulnerable communities will continue to struggle in silence putting lives at risk amidst a faltering health system, collapsing economy, and a rampant dangerous disease."
02:12 PM
Comment: Young people have not escaped the pandemic unscathed, but they’re the key to our recovery
While the picture for many children and teens has been bleak there’s also a silver lining: Covid is also providing opportunities to show leadership, writes Gogontlejang Phaladi and David Imbago Jácome.
The picture being painted here may seem bleak, and the obstacles insurmountable; yet Covid-19 is also providing opportunities for many to contribute to efforts to contain the virus and show leadership.
Across the world, governments are increasingly taking young people more seriously and recognising the value and transformational impact they can have in many areas, particularly in the health and development sector.
Young people are innovators, problem-solvers, entrepreneurs - precisely what’s needed to take on the challenge of Covid-19. Many are pursuing educational qualifications in the sciences and public health with a view to careers in public service.
Increasingly in low and middle income countries, a new reality is dawning. Governments can no longer rely on support from the Western powers, because right now every country worldwide - including the mightiest superpowers, which have been among the hardest hit so far - is focused on managing its own Covid-19 outbreak. Many of the innovations and solutions being offered up are coming from young people - and governments are listening.
Number of close contacts reached by Test and Trace continues to fall
Since the launch of Test and Trace, 227,577 close contacts of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 have been reached through the tracing system and asked to self-isolate.
This is 81 per cent out of a total of 281,118 people identified as close contacts. The remaining 53,541 people (19 per cent) were not reached.
The weekly figures show that 71.3 per cent of close contacts were reached in the week ending August 12, down from 74.2 per cent in the previous week, and down on the 91.1 per cent reached in the first week of Test and Trace (week ending June 3).
The figures also show that, for cases handled by local health protection teams, 97.7 per cent of close contacts of people who tested positive for Covid-19 have been reached and asked to self-isolate.
By contrast, for those cases handled either online or by call centres, 56.9 per cent of close contacts have been reached and asked to self-isolate.
These figures cover the whole 11-week period of Test and Trace.
01:54 PM
Over 20pc of positive Covid cases not reached by Test and Trace
A total of 57,457 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in England have had their cases transferred to the NHS Test and Trace contact tracing system since its launch, according to figures from the Department of Health and Social Care.
Of this total, 45,037 (78 per cent) were reached and asked to provide details of recent contacts, while 10,827 were not reached.
A further 1,593 could not be reached because their communication details had not been provided.
The figures cover the period May 28 to August 12.
01:45 PM
Belgian schools to reopen in September with masks compulsory for older children
Belgian schools will reopen on September 1 when the academic year starts, with children above 12 years old and teachers required to wear masks, Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said today.
“The goal is to avoid a second wave, we see today that the situation is stabilising and improving,” she told a news conference. “It is very important that children go to school.”
Belgium has seen a downward trend in daily new cases in the past days, though Brussels, home to EU institutions and NATO, has reported increases although on a declining level.
With 9,959 deaths linked to the coronavirus so far, the country of 11 million has one of the world’s highest death rates from Covid-19 per head. The number of cases stands at 78,897.
01:34 PM
51 new cases in Northern Ireland
Another 51 people in Northern Ireland have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Department of Health.
Some 298 people have tested positive for the virus in the last seven days, bringing the total in the region to 6,556 and prompting fears that some restrictions may need to be reimposed as they were in the Republic of Ireland.
No further deaths with Covid-19 have been reported leaving the tally in the region, according to the department, at 559.
01:30 PM
Airbnb bans parties at sites listed on its platform in Covid-19 fight
Short-term home rental company Airbnb has imposed an indefinite global ban on all parties and events at places listed on its platform as it tries to enforce social-distancing norms due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Instituting a global ban on parties and events is in the best interest of public health,” Airbnb said in a statement, adding that the party ban applies to all future bookings.
The new rules include a cap on occupancy at 16.
01:27 PM
Mass testing of Russia's first potential vaccine will involve more than 40,000 people
Mass testing of Russia’s first potential Covid-19 vaccine to get domestic regulatory approval will involve more than 40,000 people, the TASS news agency cited the vaccine’s developer as saying.
The vaccine, called Sputnik V in homage to the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union, has been hailed as safe and effective by Russian authorities and scientists following two months of small-scale human trials, the results of which have not been made public yet.
01:21 PM
Revealed: The 2020 GCSE and A-Level grades inflated the most by teacher assessments
Grades for GCSEs and A-levels have hit record highs this year with the switch to teacher predictions, but not all subjects have reaped the benefits to the same extent.
GCSE subjects with smaller entries including Astronomy, Performing and Expressive Arts, Engineering and Drama have seen teachers predict relatively more top grades this year than with larger cohorts, such as Maths and English, after the Government ditched the use of an algorithm to assign results.
The share of grades achieved by GCSE students of all ages that were at least grade 7 - equivalent to an A or higher before recent reforms - has increased from a fifth (20.7 per cent) to a quarter (25.9 per cent), the highest since 2002, and not a single subject saw a decrease in its pass rate year-on-year.
Over 9 in 10 subjects (90.6 per cent) have seen their biggest share ever of top marks, while 96.9 per cent have seen their biggest rise in top marks year-on-year.
Police Scotland given powers to break up house parties
Police in Scotland will be given powers to break up and disperse house parties, the First Minister has announced.
The move comes amid concerns about links between large indoor gatherings and the spread of Covid-19 cases.
Ms Sturgeon said large house parties posed "a real and significant risk of causing clusters and outbreaks".
She said the new powers would be used as a "last resort" where there was a "flagrant" breach of the rules.
It is hoped that the new regulations will come into force onFriday August 28.
Ms Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that house parties posed a "very significant transmission risk".
01:06 PM
China faces questions over "vaccinated" workers sent overseas
China is facing demands to explain why a state-backed firm claimed it had vaccinated dozens of staff against the coronavirus before sending them back to work at a mine in Papua New Guinea.
The China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) - which controls a major nickel mine in the country - warned local authorities that 48 staff who returned from China this month may test positive for the virus because they had received a vaccine.
In response, Papua New Guinea authorities called for “immediate clarification” from Beijing and blocked a charter flight full of Chinese workers that was due to land today.
The pandemic has disrupted operations at several lucrative mines in Papua New Guinea, one of the Pacific’s poorest nations.
While moving its staff into place, MMC’s subsidiary firm Ramu NiCo told Papua New Guinea authorities that any positive coronavirus test results were “the normal reaction of the vaccination and not due to infection”, according to a Chinese and English-language statement obtained by AFP.
The 48 members of staff at its multi-billion-dollar mine had “been vaccinated with SARS-COV-2 vaccine” before their return, it said.
Papua New Guinea’s pandemic tsar David Manning told AFP he wanted answers and had blocked the arrival of a flight with around 150 Chinese workers on board due in Port Moresby today.
“I am demanding an explanation from the Chinese ambassador as to how this has happened,” he said.
12:59 PM
Gyms and swimming pools in Scotland to reopen on Aug 31, ahead of schedule
Gyms, swimming pools and indoor sports courts will be able to reopen from 31 August, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
The First Minister told Holyrood she was bringing forward the reopening of the facilities, which were previously expected to open in mid-September.
She said it meant people aged 12 and over could take part in non-contact activity in places such as dance and gymnastics studios.
More restrictions could be lifted on September 14, she added.
12:48 PM
Europe can fight virus without lockdowns, says WHO
Europe can combat the coronavirus without full lockdowns now that authorities are better prepared and have gained knowledge about how to fight the virus in recent months, the World Health Organization said today.
"With the basic nationwide and additional targeted measures, we are in a much better position to stamp out these localised virus flare-ups," the head of the WHO's European branch, Hans Kluge, told reporters.
"We can manage the virus and keep the economy running and an education system in operation," he added.
Although Europe has seen a steady rise in the number of cases in the past two months, “we are not in February”, he said, and “we can manage the virus differently now” than when it first emerged.
In addition to calling for good hand hygiene, social distancing measures and national testing and tracing programmes, the WHO recommended that additional measures be adopted locally when clusters arise.
12:42 PM
Wetherspoons customer uses Eat Out To Help Out to help homeless
A Wetherspoons customer has used the Eat Out To Help Out scheme to help feed the homeless in Manchester.
Dominic Dietrich, a freelance sports reporter, used the Government scheme to buy discounted food, which he then distributed to people living on the streets in the area.
"On the first day of Eat Out To Help Out I was having food with mates in a restaurant for a fiver. I had a bit of a weird feeling thinking this could be used to help someone much more than me," Mr Dietrich, 25, told the PA news agency.
"If you thought your 2020 was hard, imagine what it's like for these people who have nowhere to go."
He said he hopes the viral video "encourages other people to do the same".
In the clip, filmed and shared by Mr Dietrich's friend Rob Adcock, the pair can be seen going into a Wetherspoons and encouraging friends to send food via the chain's Table App.
The two then transferred the discounted food into plastic containers and took it to several people living on the streets of Manchester.
The reporter said he himself has lost out on work due to the ongoing pandemic - PA
12:31 PM
Two weeks on, blast-hit Beirut’s hospitals are still reeling as coronavirus cases surge
Antoine Hoilu was standing in his kitchen when the shockwave of Beirut’s explosion shattered his house; the glass of the windows piercing his skin, smashing his left eye, reports Stefanie Glinski in Beirut.
The 64-year-old ran to his neighbourhood’s hospital moments later, only to find it completely destroyed, with health staff busy evacuating hundreds of patients while dozens of injured - many lying on the floor bleeding - tried to seek medical care in a situation that he described as carnage.
Hoilu’s eye has since been treated and patched up temporarily, but he is awaiting an eye surgery that he isn’t sure will happen anytime soon. He stands in his house, a beautiful historical building that has been largely cleaned up but is still without windows. Looking at photos of his family, he says he is lucky that all of them are alive and largely unharmed.
“Besides killing and injuring thousands, the blast has destroyed an already poor healthcare system,” he told The Telegraph. “At the same time, coronavirus cases are rising; at this point I am not even sure anymore want still to set foot into a clinic.”
Antoile Hoilu, 64, lost his eye in the blast and is awaiting further surgery - Stefanie Glinksi Mobile clinics have been set up by the roadside across the Lebanese capital, with nurses and doctors treating patients - Stefanie Glinksi
12:17 PM
Government urges holidaymakers to 'keep eye out' for changes to quarantine list
The Government has urged holidaymakers to "keep an eye out" for changes to the travel quarantine list, amid increasing speculation Croatia could be included after a rise in coronavirus cases.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said an announcement could be made this week about changes to the UK's list of safe travel corridors, with people returning from countries not included required to self-isolate for 14 days.
A significant increase in Covid-19 infections across Croatia in recent days means it may follow France in being removed from the safe travel list.
The number of cases per 100,000 people in Croatia has reportedly risen above 20, which is seen as a key benchmark.
A DfT spokesman declined to comment on Croatia, but told the PA news agency travellers should be aware the safe travel list could change this week.
The Balkans region is considered a "hotspot" for coronavirus by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Africa reports 'hopeful' daily drop in coronavirus cases
Average daily cases of Covid-19 in Africa fell last week, a “hopeful sign” for the continent’s fight against the disease, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.
The continent-wide daily average was 10,300 last week, down from 11,000 the week before, Dr John Nkengasong said, adding that officials were greeting the news with “cautious optimism”.
"We have begun to bend the curve slowly," he said.
"It is very, very early. We are dealing with a very delicate virus that spreads very quickly, but it’s important to recognise those slight tendencies that are positive."
Africa had recorded 1,147,369 cases as of this morning, about half of which were in South Africa, which has the fifth-highest total globally.
South Africa has seen its number of daily confirmed cases fall from a peak of over 12,000 to an average of 5,000, driving the drop in the continent-wide average.
But Nkengasong noted that countries in West and Central Africa were showing “similar trends”.
12:03 PM
Scientists mull mystery of Pakistan's falling Covid-19 death rates
Two months after Pakistan appeared headed for a sky-rocketing Covid-19 outbreak, case numbers and death tolls have fallen in what doctors say is a welcome, but puzzling drop in the disease.
While neighbouring India has raced up the world ranking for countries badly hit by the new coronavirus, Pakistan is heading in the other direction.
A young population, robust immune systems and a system of localised “smart” lockdowns have all been touted as reasons for the fall, but health officials admit the reasons remain unclear.
Ben Farmer, reporting from Islamabad, has more here.
11:56 AM
Infections in Vietnam pass 1,000 mark
Vietnam’s tally of coronavirus infections has passed the 1,000 mark, after 14 new cases were reported.
More than half of the total confirmed cases are linked to a new outbreak that began late last month in the central coastal city of Danang, the health ministry said.
Vietnam’s tally now stands at 1,007 infections and 25 deaths, among the lowest in the region, having successfully contained earlier outbreaks.
The ministry said 86,644 people are currently undergoing quarantine, most in their homes.
11:50 AM
R number in Scotland 'could currently be above one'
Nicola Sturgeon said the most recent estimate was that the R number in Scotland - the number of people infected on average by each person with he disease - "could currently be above one".
Local lockdown restrictions are in place in Aberdeen, and with the authorities dealing with a "significant cluster in Coupar Angus" linked to the Two Sisters food plant, the First Minister said ministers were "considering carefully and urgently whether further restrictions are necessary".
Despite concerns about coronavirus clusters, she said reopenings pencilled in for August 24 could proceed.
As a result she said that some outdoor live events - with physical distancing, enhanced hygiene and restricted numbers in place - could go ahead from this date.
Ms Sturgeon added: "Organised outdoor contact sports will also resume for people of all ages. However for outdoor coaching sessions, there will be a cap of 30 on the total number of people who can be coached at any one time.
"Driving lessons will resume. And indoor face to face advice services - for example Citizens Advice - can also open to provide financial advice when necessary."
11:47 AM
Working from home remains default in Scotland
Sturgeon said she was not yet able to announce a date when workers could return to non-essential offices and call centres.
"For now, working from home will remain the default position," she told MSPs.
She added: "I am acutely aware of the impact of home working on services - such as cafes and restaurants - which are based in areas with lots of office workers.
"However a full return to office working - given the numbers involved - would significantly increase the risk of indoor transmission.
"It would also make buses and trains significantly busier and increase transmission risks there too.
"Our conclusion therefore is that a return to working in offices - unless that work is essential and cannot be completed at home - presents too great a risk at this time."
11:39 AM
Scotland remains in phase three of four-part plan for lockdown easing
Nicola Sturgeon also confirmed that Scotland would remain in phase three of her four-part plan for easing lockdown restrictions.
The First Minister told MSPs: "I am not able to indicate, today, a move from phase three of our route map out of lockdown to phase four.
"We will remain, for now, in phase three and I must give notice today that this may well be the case beyond the next review point too."
For Scotland to move into phase four she said ministers would have to be satisfied that "the virus is no longer considered a significant threat to public health".
And she said the latest figures showed that "this is definitely not the case".
11:33 AM
Scotland records highest daily case number in three months
Scotland has recorded the highest number of daily coronavirus cases in almost three months, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Speaking during the Scottish Government's daily briefing, the First Minister said 19,534 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 77 from 19,457 the day before.
No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, she said.
A total of 2,492 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19.
There are 249 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, an increase of one in 24 hours.
Of these patients, two were in intensive care, no change from the previous day.
11:30 AM
Royal College of Physicians welcomes lift on medicine places cap
On the Government's announcement that it will lift the cap on medicine places for students, Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians said:
"Today's decision is really welcome news for many hardworking A Level students who could see their dream of medical school fading away through no fault of their own. In tandem it is vital that universities and the NHS receive the resources they need to ensure that these students receive the full experience they deserve.
“This situation also acts as a reminder that we need to plan for a large phased expansion of places which will help place the NHS workforce on a more sustainable footing. If we don't we are setting ourselves up for another decade of workforce shortages which is totally avoidable.
“Ahead of the comprehensive spending review, we urge the Government to make clear its commitment to double the number of medical school places. We will soon be publishing a new report which we hope will act as a catalyst for significant expansion.”
11:23 AM
We must find right balance between schools and virus, says WHO's Africa chief
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, has said that the right balance must be struck between opening schools and battling the pandemic, reports Jordan Kelly-Linden.
Speaking today at a press briefing, she said: "Children are our future and education is a pathway out of poverty, towards prosperity and better health for the african continent and the world. The decision to open schools or not amid the pandemic is a difficult one. But we must find the right balance to avoid trading one adversity for another.
"The longer, the greater the risk that they may not return to school. School closures are potentially exacerbating risk of teenage pregnancies, violence against children, of substance abuse, of anxiety, loneliness and isolation.
"At least 18 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa benefit from school meals and in households that are struggling to make ends meet, children being out of school contributes to increased food insecurity.
"Modelling by the world bank, indicates that school closures in Sub-Saharan Africa could lead to losses in lifetime earnings of 4,000 USD per child. This is something that we cannot afford. So the WHO advice is to weigh the risks, to use the data on Covid-19 cases in the locality and to guide decisions on reopening and to put in place measures to enable physical distancing - like spacing desks, moving classes outside and staggering start and finishing times, as well as ensuring children wear masks and are able to wash their hands."
Dr Moeti added that there are "substantial challenges" to overcome, as only around one in five schools in Sub-Saharan Africa has soap and water for students, and fewer than one in five households have internet access, making online learning difficult.
Cases rise in Italy as nightclubs close and schools reopening put in jeopardy
There is growing alarm in Italy about a resurgence of the coronavirus, reports Nick Squires in Rome, with 642 new cases reported on Wednesday - the highest number since May 23. It was a big increase on Tuesday’s total of 403.
Saturday also saw a sharp spike in numbers, with 629 new cases reported nationwide.
In part, the figures reflect how many swabs were carried out – on Wednesday there was a particularly high number, more than 71,000 compared to 54,000 the day before.
But since Italy’s draconian three-month lockdown ended, people have become less vigilant and more relaxed, particularly in terms of mask-wearing and social distancing.
Young people are coming together in large gatherings in bars and at the beach, as the summer holidays hit their peak.
In response, the Government on Sunday ordered all nightclubs and discos to shut down, saying they had become the focus of new infections.
Many of the new cases are people returning from holiday, particularly from countries such as Greece, Spain and Croatia, but also places closer to home such as Sardinia, where an entire hotel has been placed in quarantine on the island of Santo Stefano in the La Maddalena archipelago.
In its decree on Sunday, the Government also made it obligatory to wear masks inside and outside nightspots and at gatherings in streets and piazzas from 6pm until 6am. Roberto Speranza, the health minister, said that if infections continue to grow, then the reopening of the country’s schools on September 14 could be placed in jeopardy.
11:05 AM
WHO: Europe reporting 26,000 new coronavirus cases every day
European countries are registering an average 26,000 new cases of Covid-19 every day, the director general of the World Health Organization’s Europe office has said, as he warned of a potential resurgence of the pandemic.
In a briefing this morning, Hans Kluge said that while the “epicentre” of the pandemic had moved to the Americas, the European region still accounted for 17 per cent of the global total of coronavirus cases. He said:
The risk of resurgence has never been far away. In the last two months, new cases have been steadily increasing every week in the Region. There were 40,000 more cases in the first week of August, compared to the first week of June, when cases were at their lowest.
Every day now the European Region reports an average of over 26,000 new [coronavirus] cases. This is due in part to the relaxation of public health and social measures, where authorities have been easing some of the restrictions and people have been dropping their guard.
11:03 AM
Lockdown proved that more of us want to buy British
A growing interest in local produce and concerns for animal welfare have been highlighted in a report by Waitrose, writes Tomé Morrissy-Swan.
In a relatively short space of time, the coronavirus pandemic has drastically altered the way we eat and shop for food. And no wonder, considering millions of Britons were largely confined to their homes for two months before restrictions slowly began to ease.
There have been several well-documented shifts in our eating patterns and preferences. An interest in baking shot up; comfort foods became more appealing. Home-cooked lunches replaced the sandwich-on-the-go. And a significant uptake of online shopping among older members of the public has naturally emerged, as fears of contracting the virus still keep many away from shops.
But perhaps the sharpest spike has been a keenness to buy British, and in particular, British meat. In a report released today by Waitrose, the supermarket registers a 289 per cent year-on-year rise in searches for “British chicken” on Waitrose.com; “British beef” soared by 889 per cent.
Pandemic results crisis like that of post-Second World War education system, says headmaster
One headmaster likened the handling of the current results crisis to that of the post-Second World War education system.
Gavin Horgan, of Millfield School in Somerset, said: "It is wonderful that in GCSEs today, and at A-level, students will now gain the best grades possible in the circumstances.
"They absolutely deserve that, and they never deserved the shameful approach that was taken to get to this point by the Government and exam boards.
"However, bigger hurdles are ahead. The results received by students and the hiatus in education for many across the country, means that we will have legacy issues which will, in all likelihood, last a generation.
"The pressure on the university system, the threat to post-92 universities, which are a vital element of our further education tapestry, and the knock-on implications of grade inflation for Year 11 students going into A-level studies this year and for those same students next year when they look to apply to university, cannot simply be written off in the same way that results have been this year.
"Sadly, we are just at the very start of the problem."
10:51 AM
Covid infects global trade with 'excuse culture', claims Saudi WTO candidate
Covid-19 has ushered in an “excuse culture” in global trade, according to Saudi Arabia’s candidate to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, one of eight nominees to replace Roberto Azevedo as the Geneva-based body’s director-general, told The Telegraph: “People want to protect their citizens, to protect their economies. [The pandemic] can be used as an excuse to put protectionism on the table to basically do things outside the WTO.
"We can change that if we ... use Covid-19 as an opportunity to reassess how the organisation will work in the future.”
Russell Group responds to decision to lift cap on medicine
Dr Tim Bradshaw, CEO of the prestigious Russell Group of top universities, said: "The Government's decision today to provide additional funding for high cost courses, such and chemistry and physics, and to lift the number caps on specialist courses, including medicine and dentistry, is a very positive step, which will allow us to increase capacity and help more students to benefit from a high quality education.
"Russell Group universities are working with Government and will do everything they can to accommodate as many students as possible on their preferred courses this year and will continue to do so wherever this is practically possible. Where this isn't possible, our universities will look to offer deferred places or explore places on alternative courses where the student meets the entry requirements."
10:46 AM
Government agrees to lift cap on medicine, dentistry, veterinary and teaching courses
The Government has agreed to lift the cap on medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and teaching courses following the U-turn on A-level grades.
The Department for Education (DfE) has also announced additional funding to increase capacity in medical, nursing, STEM and other high-cost subjects.
Universities minister Michelle Donelan said: "I am delighted that the Government and the higher education sector have agreed that all students who achieved the required grades will be offered a place at their first choice university.
"I want universities to do all they can to take them on this year or offer alternative courses or deferred places where required."
She added: "This pandemic has highlighted more than ever the importance of our fantastic healthcare services and the need to invest in them.
"So I am pleased we are removing the cap on these courses and providing additional funding so more students can take up their places now and become our future doctors and healthcare professionals."
10:41 AM
Balkans a 'hotspot' for coronavirus, says World Health Organization
The Balkans region is a "hotspot" for coronavirus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said, as speculation mounts that Croatia could be added to the UK Government's quarantine list.
Dr Catherine Smallwood told a WHO press conference:"The situation in the Balkans has been a concern of ours since early June when we started to see cases increase and it's been very much a sub-regional hotspot over the summer period."
She added: "We really need communities to take this on board, take the adequate steps both at a country level, in terms of the basic contact tracing, case identification and isolation and testing the systems that need to be in place.
"And then where there are hotspots and increased transmission, additional, targeted measures need to be brought in place, very quickly, to nip transmission in the bud, stop it from spreading and keep the level of transmission at controllable levels."
10:37 AM
Germany declares Croatian counties of Sibenik-Knin and Split-Dalmatia high risk regions
Germany’s public health agency has declared the Croatian counties of Sibenik-Knin and Split-Dalmatia, which are popular with tourists, coronavirus risk regions, according to Reuters.
Croatia is the country with the third-highest number of infections among people returning to Germany, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), after Kosovo and Turkey.
Concerns are growing in Germany about rising infections. The RKI today published data showing the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany climbed by 1,707 to 228,621, marking their biggest daily increase since April 26.
The RKI also added the Valcea region of Romanian to its coronavirus risk list, having previously designated several other parts of Romania as high-risk.
10:19 AM
Toyko reports 339 cases in new surge
Health authorities in Tokyo reported 339 new cases of coronavirus today, the first time in five days that the figure has risen above 300, according to the Japan Times.
So far 18,607 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Japanese capital, 347 of whom have died. 32 people remain in a serious condition.
The latest surge in new cases has raised fears of a new wave of infections following the end of the summer holidays in Japan.
Tokyo local government has raised its pandemic alert to the highest level, forcing karaoke clubs and venues that serve alcohol to close at 10pm until the end of the month.
10:16 AM
GCSE results in Wales 'substantially higher' than previous years
In Wales, exam regulator Qualifications Wales has published the provisional results for this summer's GCSEs.
It said the revised results for GCSE and the Key Stage 4 Skills Challenge Certificate are "substantially higher than results in recent years".
Qualifications Wales estimated that 25.9 per cent of students received cumulative A* or A grade GCSE - compared to 18.4 per cent in 2019.
It also said 74.5 per cent of students received cumulative A* to C grade GCSE - compared to 62.8 per cent in 2019.
The provisional cumulative A* to A-grade results of the Key Stage 4 Skills Challenge Certificate have risen from 14 per cent last year to 20.1% this year.
More than 5,000 Aberdeen jobs 'at risk' after Nicola Sturgeon extends local lockdown
More than 5,000 workers in Aberdeen are at risk of losing their jobs after Nicola Sturgeon extended a local lockdown despite a Covid-19 outbreak being under control, furious city council leaders have said.
The First Minister announced £1 million is being made available to help businesses affected, as she insisted it is not yet safe to ease restrictions in the city following a Covid-19 outbreak.
It means restaurants, pubs and cafes will remain closed for a third week, while indoor gatherings between households and non-essential travel of more than five miles are also restricted.
But the leaders of Aberdeen City Council - which is run by a coalition of Conservative, Labour and Independent councillors - attacked the move and said the restrictions should be lifted from Saturday.
Congratulations to everyone receiving their GCSE results today.
I know the last few months have been tough and this isn't how you imagined you would be finishing Year 11, but you can be proud of how you helped to keep the virus under control. (1/2)
WHO's Europe director 'very concerned' as cases rise among under-24s
Younger people should not feel “invincible” as coronavirus restrictions are lifted, a World Health Organisation (WHO) official has said.
Dr Hans Kluge, the WHO’s regional director for Europe, told a press briefing he is “very concerned” that under-24s are regularly appearing among new cases.
"Young people are at the forefront of the Covid-19 response and they have a very powerful message to convey through their behaviour and their communication.
"Low risk does not mean no risk, no one is invincible and if you do not die from Covid it may stick to your body like a tornado with a long tail. While young people are less likely to die than older people they can still be very seriously affected, this virus affects organs throughout the body."
09:49 AM
Indonesia reports over 2,000 new cases
Indonesia reported 2,266 new coronavirus infections today, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 147,211.
Data from the health ministry showed an additional 72 deaths, taking total fatalities to 6,418.
09:42 AM
Pandemic could trigger a ‘baby boom’ as millions of women lose access to contraception and abortion
Close to two million women and girls have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services during the coronavirus pandemic, with experts predicting the disruption could trigger a “baby boom” in parts of the globe.
Marie Stopes International (MSI) has revealed that 1.9 million fewer women accessed their services between January and June compared to the same period last year. The organisation is one of the largest providers of reproductive health services in the world and operates across 37 countries.
The MSI report predicts that this will cause 900,000 unintended pregnancies, 1.5 million unsafe abortions and more than 3,000 maternal deaths.
As teenagers across the country receive GCSE results without having sat exams due to the coronavirus pandemic, here are some key figures from England:
The proportion of entries receiving the top grades (7 or above, equivalent to an A or above) has jumped to 25.9 per cent, up by 5.2 percentage points from 20.7 per cent in 2019 and a record high.
76.0 per cent of entries received a grade 4 or above (equivalent to a C or above), up 8.9 points from 67.1 per cent in 2019. This is also a record high.
The overall pass rate was 99.6 per cent, up from 98.3 per cent in 2019. Again, this is a record high.
The proportion of entries receiving top grades (7 or above) in mathematics rose from 15.9 per cent to 19 per cent, while in English it jumped from 13.9 per cent to 18.7 per cent.
NHS sickness absence during pandemic peak highest rate in over a decade
The overall NHS sickness absence rate for England was 6.2 per cent during the peak period of coronavirus in April; the highest monthly rate in more than a decade.
New data from NHS Digital published today shows that London reported the highest sickness absence rate at 7.2 per cent while the South West reported the lowest at 4.5 per cent. The figures show that every region of England except the South West reported their highest sickness absence rates since April 2009.
Ambulance trusts had the highest sickness absence rate at 7.3 per cent followed by acute trusts, which provide services such as A&E departments, at 6.5 per cent.
Hundreds of restaurants pull out of Eat Out to Help Out as staff suffer 'physical and mental stress'
Hundreds of restaurants are pulling out of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, the Telegraph has learnt, as staff complain the rush for discounted meals has made their lives intolerable.
A combination of hot temperatures and the promise of half-price restaurant bills on Mondays to Wednesday in August saw venues across the country besieged by customers hunting a bargain.
Businesses are allowed to deregister from the government-funded scheme and several based in areas particularly popular with tourists found themselves doing so within days.
Nearly 700 businesses have already contacted the Government to request they are removed from the scheme, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Ukraine has registered 2,134 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, a new daily record for infections in the country, according to health minister Maksym Stepanov.
Stepanov said the new data surpassed the previous single-day record of 1,967 reported the previous day.
The number of new cases increased sharply in August despite the country reimposing some restrictions recently.
The total number of cases has reached 98,537, including 2,184 deaths.
08:56 AM
One in eight still on furlough
Around one in eight of the UK workforce remain on furlough ahead of the winding down of the job retention programme, according to new figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said that its latest fortnightly survey into the impact of coronavirus on UK firms revealed that 12 per cent of the workforce is still furloughed.
It also said that 10 per cent of surveyed businesses warned they have a "moderate" risk of insolvency, with 1 per cent of firms saying the risk was "severe".
08:52 AM
Philippines reports 4,339 new cases
The Philippines has reported 4,339 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the total so far in the country to more than 178,000.
In a Facebook post, the department of health also reported 88 more deaths, taking the total death toll from the outbreak to 2,883.
So far, 114,114 people in the country have recovered from their coronavirus infections.
08:44 AM
Death toll in Russia passes 16,000
The coronavirus death toll in Russia passed 16,000 today, with 110 new deaths reported in the past 24 hours, according to Reuters.
The country’s coronavirus crisis response centre registered 4,785 new cases, bringing its nationwide tally of infections to 942,106, the world’s fourth highest caseload.
The death toll now stands at 16,099.
08:31 AM
Coronavirus around the world, in pictures
A student checks his GCSE results at Crossley Heath Grammar School, as students receive grades without exams and BTEC results delayed - Reuters A man rides a bicycle past a coffin-shaped Covid-19 awareness sign displayed on a sidewalk in Jakarta, Indonesia - Shutterstock A policeman speaks through a megaphone to raise awareness on the first day of a complete lockdown in Kathmandu, Nepal, after a surge in cases - Shutterstock Residents receive free Covid-19 test kits at the Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices building in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong amid a new wave of coronavirus infections - Shutterstock
08:23 AM
Labour calls for Gavin Williamson to publish all correspondence regarding grade algorithm
Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green has called for her opposite number to publish all his correspondence about the use of a controversial grading algorithm.
In a statement, she said: "Gavin Williamson was warned again and again about the problems with the grading algorithm, and each time, he did nothing.
"This endless pattern of incompetence is no way to run a country. His failure to listen to warnings and to act on them risked thousands of young people being robbed of their futures.
"It is time for full transparency. The Department for Education must now publish all correspondence to and from the Secretary of State in which concerns about this algorithm were discussed, as a matter of urgency.
"Young people deserve to know how they came to be let down so badly."
08:16 AM
Scottish Tory leader refuses to back Gavin Williamson
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has refused to give his backing to UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson and said he should "reflect on what happened".
Mr Ross, who had called for Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney to lose his job after the exams U-turn there, suggested the English minister should have taken action quicker once the problems in Scotland became apparent.
"I think Gavin Williamson and the Government and the Department for Education will be reflecting on why did they not see the problem that the SNP had to deal with as a result of their actions in Scotland," he told BBC Radio Scotland.
Asked whether Mr Williamson should quit, Mr Ross said: "That is a decision for Gavin Williamson. It's a decision for the Prime Minister, if he continues to have the trust of the Prime Minister.
"I'm not here to say in your report that I think Gavin Williamson has done a great job and he should continue.
"I think he has to reflect on what happened to so many pupils in England, students who were concerned for four days, because we had the exact same up here in Scotland for a week."
Schools minister was warned about concerns that grades algorithm could impact poorer pupils
Nick Gibb also said he was warned about concerns that the algorithm used to determine grades could impact poorer pupils.
He was asked about reports in The Times which suggested Sir Jon Coles, a former director-general at the Department for Education, wrote to Mr Williamson early last month to express concerns about the algorithm used by Ofqual.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Gibb said: "He (Sir John) spoke to me about it and he was concerned about the model and he was concerned that it would disadvantage particularly children from poorer backgrounds.
"And so I called a meeting therefore with the independent regulator, with Ofqual, to discuss in detail those very concerns."
Mr Gibb added that it "certainly was foreseen" that private school pupils could benefit from the use of the algorithm.
He said: "That certainly was foreseen because we knew that small cohorts had to rely more on the teacher-assessed grade than on the standardisation process, but that applied to the state sector as much as to the independent sector."
Model use to assess grades 'fair', says schools minister
Nick Gibb has defended the model used to assess grades as "fair" but said it was implemented incorrectly.
The education minister told the BBC's Today programme: "What was always at the forefront of my mind was that no young person from a disadvantaged background would see their grades standardised to a greater extent than other young people.
"There was about a 2 per cent difference, that's broadly what we saw in the national results last week, in contrast to what we saw in Scotland, where there was a big gap between disadvantaged pupils.
"And that's because in this country we had more data about the prior attainment of young people that was built into the model.
"So the model itself was fair, it was very popular, it was widely consulted upon - the problem arose in the way in which the three phases of the application of that model - the historic data of the school, the prior attainment of the cohort of pupils at the school, and then the national standard correction - it's that element of the application of the model that I think there is a concern."
'The shows must go on': Las Vegas Strip demonstrators show support for entertainment industry
Demonstrators on the Las Vegas Strip - Ethan Miller /Getty Images North America
06:33 AM
Britain’s oldest Covid-19 survivor: Keep calm and eat an orange a day
Angela Hutor has lived through both World Wars and five respiratory pandemics including the 1918 Spanish Flu. She caught Covid-19 in April and nearly died but has lived to tell the tale.
Celebrating her 107th birthday with a glass of champagne last week, she was asked for the secret of a long life.
“Count your blessings. That’s important”, she said, “and a fresh orange every day – cut into quarters, not juiced.”
Almost half of UK shoppers believe pandemic will permanently impact their habits
Research by O2 Business and Retail Economics revealed that 44% think they will see permanent changes to the way they shop, with many saying they expect to shop online more regularly.
The survey showed that 47% of people think the number of times they shop online will definitely increase.
This is the latest concerning sign for high street retailers who have seen footfall decrease after people were told to stay at home at the start of the outbreak.
Richard Lim, chief executive officer of Retail Economics, said: "The impact of Covid-19 has re-wired the customer journey, leaving many retailers scrambling to assess the impact as they attempt to realign their proposition to meet a new normal.
"We've already witnessed a significant shift towards online and it's inevitable that some of these behaviours will become permanent, with digital playing a much more important role.
"Many of these consumers are shopping for goods online for the first time, overcoming the barriers of setting up online accounts, entering payment details and gaining trust.
"The new normal will involve a step-change in the integration of digital technologies and retailers are assessing what this means for the number of stores, where they should invest and the potential partnerships that could be formed."
06:05 AM
NHS staff trial to see if dogs can sniff out Covid-19
Scientists are seeking "odour samples" to see whether dogs can accurately pick up the scent of Covid-19, even in people who are asymptomatic.
There could be huge implications if the dogs can successfully smell out the virus, with researchers estimating the animals could potentially screen up to 250 people an hour.
As part of the trial, led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), volunteers will provide samples of breath and body odour by wearing a mask for three hours and socks for 12 hours.
Kettering General Hospital has seen 92 staff sign up to the trial.
It is hoped that if the trial is successful the dogs can be used at UK airports to screen people arriving from abroad.
06:01 AM
Medical jargon on masks puts people off using them, Oxford academics find
An analysis by academics from the University of Oxford, published in The BMJ, said: "Protracted debates about face coverings as a medical intervention have delayed implementation of a valuable preventive tool.
"Now that most countries have shifted to support face coverings to prevent transmission of Covid-19, we must also shift the focus to implementation.
"Instead of continuing to debate technical specifications and efficacy, socio-cultural framing should be explored to encourage their use.
"This can be done by emphasising underlying values such as solidarity and communal safety. Such measures are likely to enhance the uptake of face coverings and help curb the devastating impact of the pandemic."
05:42 AM
Britain could see 'exodus of talent' unless actors and musicians are supported
A warning has been issued that Britain could experience an "exodus of highly skilled talent" unless support for freelance creatives dealing with the coronavirus fallout is extended.
The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) and actors' union Equity have written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak asking for the "lifeline" of Self-Employed Income Support Scheme to be extended into spring 2021 from its current end date in October.
The letter, signed by more than 120 organisations, said: "With a return to full live indoor performances unlikely to happen in the near future, the earnings potential for creatives across the sector will be severely curtailed for at least the rest of this year.
"We need a new scheme for our sector in its unique circumstance which covers all of its freelance artists, no matter what their career or background."
04:23 AM
Children may play a larger role in community spread, study suggests
Children may carry much coronavirus in their system than previously thought, a new study suggests.
Infected children were shown to have a significantly higher level of virus in their airways than hospitalised adults in ICUs for Covid-19 treatment, researchers say.
As schools plan to reopen, understanding the potential role children play in the spread of the disease and the factors that drive severe illness in children is critical, experts say.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Mass General Hospital for Children (MGHfC) in the US, suggest their findings indicate children may play a larger role in the community spread of the virus than previously thought.
In a study of 192 children aged 0-22, 49 children tested positive, and an additional 18 had late-onset, Covid-19-related illness.
Lael Yonker, director of the MGH Cystic Fibrosis Centre, and lead author of the study, said: "I was surprised by the high levels of virus we found in children of all ages, especially in the first two days of infection.
"I was not expecting the viral load to be so high.
"You think of a hospital, and of all of the precautions taken to treat severely ill adults, but the viral loads of these hospitalised patients are significantly lower than a 'healthy child' who is walking around with a high Sars-CoV-2 viral load."
Children play in a large mirrored object at the Science Museum on it's official re-opening day on in London - Getty
Japanese museum captures life in the time of Covid
Takeout menus. Directions for attending a funeral. A leaflet from a local shrine, announcing the cancellation of summer festivals.
These humble, everyday artifacts of life in the pandemic have found a home in the Historical Museum of Urahoro, in Hokkaido, northern Japan.
Thanks to the museum's curator, Makoto Mochida, it has a repository of the dross of the moment, stuff that may tell future generations what it was like to live in the time of Covid-19 - how life was profoundly changed with social distancing and growing fears over the outbreak.
"I am fascinated by how things connect with people," Mr Mochida said.
So there are documents that show how children were taught to shift to online schooling. And instructions, complete with diagrams, on how to make a mask from a handkerchief.
Several hundred objects have been collected so far, after a call went out to residents.
Hand-made masks are exhibited at the Historical Museum of Urahoro in Urahoro, Hokkaido - Kyodo News
The government needs to extend its Eat Out to Help Out scheme to help London and other struggling cities recover from the pandemic, according to the boss of pub chain Greene King.
Chief executive Nick Mackenzie told the Evening Standard that its trade in the capital had been “significantly worse” than expected since lock-down restrictions eased, with weekly sales about 60pc lower than one year ago.
His comments will fuel concerns about the damage being done to London’s once-thriving bars and restaurants as workers continue to stay away from offices.
LA mayor authorises utilities to be shut off at party house
The mayor of Los Angeles says he authorised shutting off utility services at a home in the Hollywood Hills that has been the site of raucous parties despite a ban on large gatherings during the pandemic.
Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Wednesday that "this house has turned into a nightclub in the hills, hosting large gatherings in flagrant violation of our public health orders".
The city has not identified the home's address or the owner.
Mr Garcetti warned earlier that such action would be taken against houses and businesses for hosting parties. He says big parties can be "superspreaders" of the coronavirus.
02:03 AM
South Korea fights to get control of new outbreak
South Korean health officials are struggling to contain an outbreak of the coronavirus centred in the capital Seoul, as new cases levelled off but remained in triple digits on Thursday.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 288 new cases as of midnight Wednesday, marking at least a week of triple digit daily increases.
Overall, South Korea has reported 16,346 cases with 307 deaths.
The latest outbreak has been driven by hundreds of cases in a church, and has been centred in Seoul and the surrounding areas. The government this week banned in-person church meetings in the area, and also ordered closed other "high-risk" locations including nightclubs, karaoke bars, buffets and cyber cafes.
The country used intensive tracing and testing to beat back previous spikes, but the recent surge in cases is raising concerns there could be a broader outbreak in the Seoul metropolitan area, which is home to more than 25 million people.
South Korea is ramping up testing to stem the outbreak - GETTY IMAGES
01:30 AM
Beijing backs Wuhan park after pool party row
Chinese state newspapers threw their support behind an amusement park in the central city of Wuhan on Thursday after pictures of a densely packed pool party at the park went viral overseas amid concerns about the spread of Covid-19.
Videos and photos of an electronic music festival at the Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park on July 11 raised eyebrows overseas, but reflected life returning to normal in the city where the virus causing Covid-19 was first detected, the official English-language China Daily newspaper said in a front-page story.
Another story in the Global Times, a tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily, cited Wuhan residents as saying the pool party reflected the city's success in its virus-control efforts.
While the coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan, strict lockdown measures that paralysed the Chinese economy earlier this year have kept its spread in check.
China on Thursday reported its fourth straight day of zero locally transmitted coronavirus infections.
Pictures of the densely-packed pool party caused anger on social media - GETTY IMAGES Hundreds of people attended the party in Wuhan - GETTY IMAGES
12:37 AM
Trump says university closures 'cost lives'
President Donald Trump has attacked universities that have canceled in-person classes amid coronavirus outbreaks, claiming the move could cost lives.
Mr Trump said the virus is akin to the seasonal flu for college students and that students pose a greater safety threat at home with older family members than on college campuses. He cited no evidence to support either contention, and the White House did not respond to a request for information about on what Mr Trump based his remarks.
Health experts have said the novel coronavirus appears to be deadlier than the seasonal flu and more easily transmitted. In addition, most college students are 18 and older and thus considered adults, who are more susceptible to coronavirus illnesses than children.
"It's significantly safer for students to live with other young people than to go home and spread the virus to older Americans," Mr Trump said.
Trump wants US colleges to reopen - REUTERS
11:31 PM
Students won't get grades today amid new chaos
Close to half a million pupils face fresh exam chaos on Thursday after an eleventh hour decision to withhold their results.
On Wednesday night, with less than 24 hours to go until results day, the exam board Pearson told schools not to publish BTEC results, saying they needed more time to recalculate the grades.
It is the latest results exams fiasco and follows the A-level results chaos last week which led to the Government’s U-turn on teachers’ predicted grades.
The development will heap further pressure on the education secretary, who was accused of “forgetting” about the 450,000 students who take vocational qualifications.
Students are being assessed by predicted grades this year due to school closures following the coronavirus pandemic.
Gavin Williamson is resisting calls to resign over the fiasco - JAMIE LORRIMAN
"Long Covid" is genuine and leaves patients suffering debilitating symptoms for many months after their recovery from coronavirus, experts have confirmed
Toulouse on Wednesday became the first major city in France to make face masks compulsory outdoors as the country grapples with rising infection rates and fears of a second wave.
Former NBA guard Darius Morris has died at the age of 33. He played for five teams during his four NBA seasons. Morris played college basketball at Michigan.
Affluent Americans may want to double-check how much of their bank deposits are protected by government-backed insurance. The rules governing trust accounts just changed.
Miami Heat president Pat Riley rebuked comments Jimmy Butler made about the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, while also implying that his star needs to play more.
Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss the Padres-Marlins trade that sent Luis Arraez to San Diego, as well as recap all the action from this weekend in baseball and send birthday wishes to hall-of-famer Willie Mays.
An annual government report offered a glimmer of good news for Social Security and a jolt of good news for Medicare even as both programs continue to be on pace to run dry next decade.
The 2023-024 NBA season isn't yet over. A number of teams are still dreaming of championship glory. But for those that have been bounced from the playoffs, it's time to reassess and re-evaluate for next season.
