US surpasses 5 million cases as Trump's coronavirus relief package draws criticism
Jordan Kelly-Linden
·37-min read
President Donald Trump signs executive orders extending coronavirus economic relief, during a news conference in Bedminster, New Jersey - JIM WATSON / AFP
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..
10:19 PM
What happened today
Here are the big developments from today:
Schools will teach pupils on a "week on-week off" basis if there is a resurgence of coronavirus, the head of a leading teaching union warned Boris Johnson on Sunday night.
The removal of Portugal from the travel quarantine list could be announced this week but would not be enforced until the end of August. It comes amid mounting expectation France will be removed from the Foreign Office’s 'green list' as cases rise.
Scientists working on Britain’s best hope for a coronavirus vaccine are understood to be at odds about whether to deliberately infect healthy patients in order to test it.
US surpasses 5 million cases as Trump's relief package draws criticism
The US has now passed 5m Covid-19 cases, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University, just as criticism of Trump's latest coronavirus relief packages mounts.
America is officially the worst hit country in the world, according to the University, seconded by Brazil which has just over 3 million in total and followed by India, in third, which has recorded just over 2.1 million.
The US also has the highest number of deaths in the world from the virus, with 162,000 fatalities logged by the tally.
The grim milestone comes a day after Presidents Trump signed executive orders to provide coronavirus relief to the virus-struck country, which many have said fall far short of the kinds of economic measures needed to help Americans through the pandemic.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has said the president’s plans would not do enough to address the financial hardship faced by millions of Americans due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also called the directives “faulty”, “unworkable” and “weak”.
While house speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNN that “everything is left out" of Presidents Trump's executive actions and that it is still unclear whether his orders are legally enforceable.
04:32 PM
Today's need to know...
It's been a fairly quiet Sunday. Here's what you need to know from today:
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said there is a "moral duty" to get all children back into schools in England next month and that schools may be the last to shut in any future local lockdowns.
Britain’s confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 1,062 on Sunday, going over 1,000 for the first time since late June.
The US has just passed a grim milestone, with Johns Hopkins University data showing the country has recorded more than five million cases of Covid-19. More than 162,000 people have died.
Australia recorded 404 new cases nationally, with 10 in New South Wales and 394 in Victoria, where 17 people also died in the country’s deadliest day of the pandemic.
New Zealand has marked 100 days of zero community transmission cases.
Saudi Arabia will soon begin Phase III clinical trials on around 5,000 people for a coronavirus vaccine.
Greece has recorded 203 new infections in the 24 hours, its highest daily tally since the start of the outbreak in the country.
Brazil passed 100,000 deaths with the outbreak showing no sign of easing.
In Israel thousands of demonstrators gathered in the streets calling for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, protesting his handling of the country’s coronavirus crisis and saying he should not remain in office while on trial for corruption charges.
That's all from me today, but I'll be back with all the latest coronavirus news on Monday.
Until then you can follow me on Twitter @jkellylindenor the rest of our Global Health Security team at @telglobalhealth.
04:21 PM
Italian teens returning from holiday blamed for spike in cases
As new coronavirus cases are on the rise, Italian authorities have warned citizens against the risk of contracting the virus while on vacation abroad, bringing the infection back home.
The warning comes after scientists connected a recent surge in new Covid-19 cases to Italians – especially youths -- returning from holidays in foreign countries.
The latest case was registered in Rome, where eight teenagers between 17 and 19-years-old tested all positive after a one-week vacation in Malta.
A previous cluster included 21 youths from the northern Veneto and Lombardy regions who were infected while on vacation in Croatia, where they were celebrating their graduation.
New clusters have also emerged from north to south after groups of youths returned home from holidays in Greece and Albania.
Earlier this week Veneto governor Luca Zaia said the new infections were found mostly among residents who had recently returned from Spain, Peru, Malta, Croatia and Greece.
"Vacations are a risk … Everyone must decide where they want to go on vacation, but it's also true that in the last couple of weeks we saw a concentration of patients who were infected while on holiday," Zaia said.ew infections on Friday, against an average of about 200 daily cases in June and July.
Passengers look at their arrival from the deck of a passenger ship arriving from Greece to port on August 7, 2020 in Ancona, Italy - Getty
04:17 PM
Britain's most popular beaches swamped amid heatwave
It was always going to be an almighty squash today on Britain's most popular beaches amid the heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 32C in some regions, and so it was.
In Bournemouth, council workers were busy at dawn clearing the beach of huge quantities of rubbish left behind from the previous day. Many tourists pitched tents overnight in order to secure their space on the sand today.
There was several miles of traffic leading into Camber Sands in East Sussex, where police were turning cars away at 10am this morning. In Devon and Cornwall, the RNLI and HM Coastguard responded to "dozens" of emergencies.
But there were pockets of calm to be found. Our writer Emily Luxton said that while Bournemouth appeared 'overwhelmed', elsewhere in Dorset 'plenty of other beaches all along the coast are still fairly empty.'
In Devon, our expert Tracey Davies was surprised to find Torquay entirely manageable, reporting: "Down on Torre Abbey sands, the main beach, it was pleasantly busy, but not packed at all; largely families, but it felt more like a good day in May rather than peak August."
For more updates like this, check out our travel live blog here.
Groups of people relax on the beach in the sun on August 9, 2020 in St Ives, Cornwal - Hugh Hastings / Getty
04:02 PM
Cases rise by more than 1,000 in 24 hours as eight more die in UK
The Government said 46,574 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, as of 5pm on Saturday, up by eight from the day before.
Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 56,600 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The Government also said that in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Sunday, there had been a further 1,062 lab-confirmed cases. Overall, a total of 310,825 cases have been confirmed.
This is the first time cases have surpassed 1,000 since late June.
03:38 PM
Scotland's education secretary under fire to address exam results chaos
Scotland's education secretary is to address anger over exam results chaos, as he faces a no-confidence vote in the Scottish Parliament.
John Swinney said he will set out a series of steps to address the concerns on Tuesday, amid mounting criticism over the downgrading of pupils' results.
With no exams sat this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Qualifications Authority applied a methodology that saw grades estimated by teachers downgraded.
Pass rates for pupils in the most deprived data zones were reduced by 15.2% in comparison with 6.9% for pupils from the most affluent backgrounds.
Scottish Labour will this week table a motion of no confidence in Mr Swinney, who is also the Deputy First Minister, which will be supported by the Scottish Conservatives.
Ahead of the vote, Mr Swinney said he had "heard the anger of students who feel their hard work has been taken away" and said he was "determined to address it".
Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills John Swinney - REUTERS
03:15 PM
Saudi Arabia vaccine moves into Phrase III trials
Saudi Arabia will soon begin Phase III clinical trials on around 5,000 people for a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's CanSino Biologics Inc, a Saudi health ministry spokesman said on Sunday.
Last month, CanSino's co-founder said the company was in talks with Russia, Brazil, Chile and Saudi Arabia to launch a Phase III trial of the vaccine candidate, Ad5-nCOV.
The vaccine uses a harmless cold virus known as adenovirus type-5 (Ad5) to carry genetic material from the coronavirus into the body.
Researchers said last month that CanSino's vaccine, co-developed with China's military research unit, appeared to be safe and induced immune responses in most subjects.
Saudi Arabia plans to test the vaccine alongside a placebo on 5,000 volunteers and is currently preparing trials in the cities of Riyadh, Dammam and Mecca, Saudi state news agency SPA said on Saturday.
No COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for commercial use.
CanSino's candidate became the first in China to move into human testing in March but other potential vaccines developed by Sinovac Biotech and a unit of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) have already been approved for Phase III trials overseas.
02:57 PM
UK pledges £20m to Beirut crisis at global summit
The UK has pledged a further £20m in aid to Lebanon following Tuesday's deadly explosion in Beirut.
The country’s most vulnerable will benefit from the cash injection which is intended to address the existing economic uncertainty, Covid-19 crisis and additional suffering caused by the explosion by going directly to those families most at risk to cover essential survival needs, including access to food and medicine.
The donation was made at the ‘International conference on assistance and support to Beirut and the Lebanese people’, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
Speaking ahead of the global conference International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:
"The devastation we have seen in Lebanon this week has left people without homes, medical care and wondering how long it will be until the country’s food supplies run out.
"Today the world is coming together to stand by the Lebanese people, and as one of the biggest donors to this crisis so far, the UK is pledging more urgent support to help all those affected by this terrible disaster."
The UK has already made £5 million available to the response, £3 million of which will go to the British Red Cross for the emergency relief effort following Tuesday’s devastating explosion, which has left more than 250,000 people homeless.
02:39 PM
Fix contact tracing or shut pubs, Mayor Andy Burnham says
Pubs may have to shut to allow schools to safely reopen if the NHS Test and Trace system is not "fixed urgently", the Greater Manchester mayor has said.
Only 53% of people in contact with a coronavirus carrier have been traced in the area, according to data.
Mayor Andy Burnham said: "There is a growing amount of evidence that pubs are one of the main places where this virus spreads."
Following a rise in infections, residents in parts of northern England including Greater Manchester have been banned from mixing with other households - apart from those in their support bubbles - in areas such as homes, pubs and private gardens.
Pubs are allowed to remain open, however, with different support bubbles banned from mixing.
Mr Burnham joined calls for the government to improve the contact-tracing system, saying its tracing rate in Greater Manchester was "nowhere near good enough".
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "You can't safely open schools with pubs open as well, with that level of performance."
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, sanitises his hands before a memorial service for the victims of coronavirus at Manchester Cathedral on July 16 - WPA Pool
02:25 PM
Scientists in spat over whether to infect people in coronavirus vaccine trials
Scientists working on Britain’s best hope for a coronavirus vaccine are understood to be at odds about whether to deliberately infect healthy patients in order to test it.
Professor Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University, wants to recruit young volunteers for such tests in the hope it will speed up the race for a successful jab.
He is among hundreds of scientists advocating the use of “human challenge trials” which would see healthy people under the age of 30 deliberately infected in order to test the jab.
But Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the institute, is understood to have clashed with him over his intentions, believing the risk to volunteers is too high.
Their dilemma is whether to expose volunteers to the virus, which could mean a successful vaccine becomes available more quickly – or wait until any potential long-term effects are better understood.
Our health editor Laura Donnelly has more on this here.
01:56 PM
Quarter of a million over-50s ‘will never work again’ after coronavirus
A quarter of a million over-50s could fall permanently out of work after being made redundant during the coronavirus pandemic because job schemes and recruitment are skewed in favour of younger workers, a study has found.
One in four (2.5 million) workers aged 50 and above has been furloughed and 377,000 of them could lose their jobs, according to a report seen exclusively by this newspaper. This is based on forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility, the fiscal watchdog, that 15pc of workers currently on furlough will be made unemployed when the Chancellor’s scheme ends.
The Centre for Ageing Better, a charity, and the Learning and Work Institute, a research centre, found that older staff were far less likely to return to work after a redundancy.
One in four workers aged 50 and above has been furloughed and 377,000 of them could lose their jobs - Mark Magnaye for the Telegraph
01:39 PM
No deaths reported in Wales but cases rise by 26
There have been no further deaths recorded where people died after testing positive for Covid-19 in Wales, Public Health Wales said.
This means the total death toll remains at 1,579.
The number of cases in Wales increased by 26, bringing the total confirmed to 17,451.
01:38 PM
Ten more die in England from Covid-19
A further 10 people who have died in hospital in England, having either tested positive for coronavirus, or in cases where a positive test was not returned, but coronavirus was mentioned on their death certificate.
This brings the total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals to 29,411, NHS England said on Sunday.
The region with the highest number of deaths was the Midlands with four.
There were three deaths in the North East & Yorkshire, two in the East of England and one in London.
The patients were aged between 45 and 89 and all had known underlying health condition
In two of the cases, the deceased had not tested positive for Covid-19, but Covid-19 was mentioned on their death certificate.
All deaths are recorded against the date of death rather than the day the deaths were announced, NHS England said.
01:37 PM
Isreali protests continue as calls for PM to resign grow
Thousands of demonstrators thronged the streets near the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in central Jerusalem on Saturday night, to protest the handling of the pandemic and his corruption trial.
Throughout the summer, thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to call on Netanyahu to resign, protesting his handling of the country's coronavirus crisis and saying he should not remain in office while on trial for corruption charges. Self-employed workers whose businesses have been hurt by the economic crisis also joined Saturday's march.
Though Mr Netanyahu has tried to downplay the protests, the gatherings only appear to be getting stronger.
The demonstrators accuse Mr Netanyahu of corruption and say that he and the country's bloated coalition government have failed to recognize the suffering of its citizens.
Israeli media estimated some 15,000 people at the Jerusalem demonstration. An estimated 1,000 also protested at an intersection near Mr Netanyahu's beach house in the upscale coastal town of Caesaria, and smaller gatherings took place on bridges and at intersections across the country.
There was a heavy police presence at the demonstrations but no reports of violence in the loud but orderly protests.
Israelis protest against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his residence in Jerusalem - ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
01:18 PM
Indonesia cases rise by almost 2,000
Indonesia reported 1,893 more coronavirus infections on Sunday, taking the total tally to 125,396 infections, the country's Covid-19 taskforce website showed.
The number of death rose 65 on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths to 5,723.
01:00 PM
Malawi cracks down on 'alarming' virus surge
Malawi has shut bars and churches in new restrictions to limit the "alarming" spread of coronavirus, three months after a court blocked the government from imposing a full lockdown.
Since the first positive case was detected on April 2, confirmed cases have nearly doubled over the past four weeks to hit over 4,624, including 143 deaths as of Saturday.
Malawi had not been placed under a lockdown after a court in April blocked the government from enforcing a full lockdown because it had failed to announce any measures to cushion the vulnerable.
Attorney general Chikosa Silungwe on Sunday unveiled newly-gazetted regulations to curb the spread of the virus:
Wearing of face masks will now be mandatory.
All public gatherings, including at bars and religious centres have been banned.
Bars will only be allowed to sell take-out alcohol.
No groups of more than 10 people are allowed, except for funerals with a maximum of 50 people.
Mr Silungwe also said an "army of enforcement officers" had been hired to ensure the regulations were followed.
12:41 PM
UK poised to suffer the biggest Covid blow of any major economy
The UK will suffer the heaviest Covid-19 impact of any major country this week as signs of faltering spending raise fears that the recovery is already running out of steam.
City forecasters predict official figures will show a 21.3pc collapse in output between April and June, when the economy languished in lockdown.
The slump will wipe 23pc off the UK’s £2.2 trillion economy in the first half of 2020, after a 2.2pc hit in the first quarter.
The damage to the UK is expected to be twice as severe as the 10.6pc blow taken by the US economy.
Russell Lynch and Tom Rees have more on this story here.
12:24 PM
PM to head for Scotland for family stay-cation
Boris Johnson is reportedly heading to Scotland for a summer holiday as quarantine rules during the coronavirus pandemic jeopardise trips abroad.
The Prime Minister has spoken about allowing a "brief staycation to creep into the agenda, if that's possible" when quizzed about his plans for a getaway.
But The Sunday Times has now reported that Mr Johnson, fiancee Carrie Symonds and their son Wilfred will travel north of the border next weekend.
A No 10 source declined to comment but did not deny the report, and there suggestions any trip would be closer to a week in duration than the fortnight reported.
Their last known holiday was a luxury winter break to the private Caribbean island of Mustique.
The reported trip north of the border would come at a time Cabinet ministers are ramping up visits to Scotland amid concerns the Covid-19 crisis has strengthened the demand for independence in the nation.
12:01 PM
North Korea delivers aid to border town in lockdown
North Korea’s ruling party has delivered aid packages of food and medical supplies to residents of Kaesong, close to the border with the South, after imposing a lockdown there due to coronavirus concerns, state media reports.
Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared an emergency and imposed a lockdown on the small border town after a 24 year old, who defected to South Korea in 2017, returned to Kaesong across the highly fortified border showing coronavirus symptoms.
Seoul officials said the individual returned to the North after facing a sexual assault investigation in the South. South Korean health officials said there was no sign he was infected before he crossed the border, and at least two people who were in close contact with him have tested negative.
Pyongyang has not confirmed any coronavirus infections but has been taking strict quarantine measures and screening the town, while providing food, test kits and other medical equipment, according to state media.
State television on Sunday showed a train arriving at the Kaesong station and trucks delivering supplies to residents.
Kaesong city is seen across the demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating North Korea from South Korea - Lee Jae Won / Reuters
11:42 AM
Southend beach packed with sun-seekers as heatwave continues
Thousands flocked to Southend beach over the weekend to enjoy the hot weather in the south of England. On Friday, the UK saw its hottest August day in 17 years with a high of 36.4C.
11:20 AM
Tesco Swindon store staff test positive
Tesco says a number of staff at one of its supermarkets have tested positive for coronavirus.
The cases were found among workers at its Extra store on Ocotal Way in Swindon.
The town is on the government's coronavirus watchlist after a recent rise in cases centred around an Iceland supermarket distribution centre.
Tesco says the affected staff are now self isolating.
Confirming the cases at the Ocotal Way Extra store, a Tesco spokesperson said: "We have introduced extensive measures across all of our stores to help keep everyone safe, including protective screens at every checkout, social distancing signage and regular deep cleaning."
11:04 AM
Improve Test and Trace to help schools, Shadow Education Sec says
Shadow education secretary Kate Green urged the Government to improve Test and Trace and help teachers make schools safe for a return in September.
The Labour MP told Times Radio:
"I think it's essential that schools open in September and that all pupils are expected to be back in the classrooms.
"I do think the Government could be doing more to support them (teachers) particularly, for example, making sure we've got a really robust Test and Trace system in place.
"The work is being done to make schools safe but more is needed to support those schools, they may need extra resources for example for extra clearing or to stagger the school day or to make sure children can travel to and fro safely.
"The Government has a window between now and the beginning of September to get that right and it absolutely must do so.
"It's really, really important that we don't write off a generation of Covid children - they need to be back in class, the whole of our futures depend on this."
10:41 AM
Schools not reopening would spell 'absolute disaster', says Children's commissioner
10:24 AM
Drakeford calls for caution ahead of reopening in Wales
Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford has urged people to “continue to keep 2m from others and wash your hands often”, ahead of further reopening in Wales tomorrow.
Swimming pools, indoor fitness studios, gyms and leisure centres are set to reopen in Wales tomorrow. Children’s indoor play areas are also allowed to open, but should keep areas which are difficult to clean closed.
Swimming pools, indoor fitness studios, gyms and leisure centres can reopen tomorrow.
Children’s indoor play areas can also open but areas that can't be easily cleaned should remain closed.
Covid-19 cases have emerged in a second mine in Papua New Guinea, after an employee at the Lihir Mine owned by Newcrest Mining Ltd tested positive for the disease.
The 30-year-old male, who flew in from Port Moresby at the end of July, is among 26 confirmed cases reported on Sunday by the National Pandemic Control Centre in the capital Port Moresby.
The island nation has now reported a total of 214 coronavirus cases and three deaths.
The Lihir mine case was detected during a routine screening process for all incoming workers who have to observe a mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon arrival on the mine site.
It comes after PNG's Ok Tedi copper and gold mine suspended operations for at least 14 days from Wednesday, after seven workers tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
While the number of cases in PNG are still low compared with many other countries, they have jumped sharply over the past few weeks.
"This is a critical time for all of us," National Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Paison Dakulala said in a statement.
10:00 AM
US health chief arrives in Taiwan on trip condemned by China
US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar arrived in Taiwan on Sunday as the highest-level US official to visit in four decades, a trip condemned by China which claims the island as its own, further irritating Sino-US relations.
Washington broke off official ties with Taipei in 1979 in favour of Beijing. The Trump administration has made strengthening its support for the democratic island a priority, and boosted arms sales.
Beijing, already arguing with Washington over everything from human rights and trade to the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, has threatened unspecified countermeasures to Mr Azar's visit. China considers Taiwan a wayward province, to be brought under its control by force if needed.
Mr Azar arrived at Taipei's downtown Songshan airport on a U.S. government aircraft late in the afternoon, and was met by Brent Christensen, the de facto US ambassador to Taiwan, and by Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang.
The trip aims to strengthen economic and public-health cooperation with Taiwan and support Taiwan's international role in fighting the pandemic.
On Monday Mr Azar will sign a health cooperation memorandum of understanding with Taiwan's government and visit Taiwan's Centres for Disease Control.He is also scheduled to meet President Tsai Ing-wen during his visit.
US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar
09:43 AM
Hong Kong reports 72 new coronavirus cases
Hong Kong reported 72 new coronavirus cases today, of which 63 were locally transmitted, as authorities continued efforts to contain a resurgence of infections in the global financial hub over the past month.
More than 4,000 people have been infected in Hong Kong since January, 51 of whom have died. Sunday's figure was slightly up from Saturday's 69 cases.
09:20 AM
Europe doubles down on anti-virus efforts
Countries across Europe are doubling down on their efforts to curb a second wave of Covid-19.
Spanish police last night sent special units to nightclubs in the beach resort of Fuengirola near Malaga to enforce health regulations on partygoers, including the wearing of masks and the practise of social distancing.
“The police pressure that is carried out is essential so that people who are resistant to the law end up complying with it,” police officer Jorge Moreno told The Associated Press, stating that since June 15, officers have issued 2,000 sanctions for rule-breakers.
Since lockdown was lifted in Spain, most new recorded cases of the virus fall within the 15-to-29 age bracket, according to a recent report by the Carlos III Health Institute. Northeast Catalonia has ordered all nightclubs to be shut down altogether.
Meanwhile in France, face masks will be mandatory in busy outdoor areas in Paris from Monday, including open-air markets and along the banks of the River Seine; but not including tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees boulevard.
A man and a woman wearing face masks walk on Trocadero Plaza as a French national flag flies on the Eiffel Tower - AFP
09:01 AM
Brazil passes 100,000 deaths as outbreak shows no sign of easing
Brazil has had 100,477 virus-related deaths and 3 million cases, according to the health ministry, though the numbers are believed to be much higher because of insufficient testing. Only the United States has higher figures.
There are fears the disease is spreading faster in deprived neighbourhoods and remote areas, such as indigenous communities, where access to adequate health care is difficult.
"We should be living in despair, because this is a tragedy like a world war. But Brazil is under collective anaesthesia," Dr José Davi Urbaez, a senior member of the Infectious Diseases Society, told Reuters news agency.
"The government's message today is: 'Catch your coronavirus and if it's serious, there is intensive care.' That sums up our policy today."
Brazil accounts for nearly half of all coronavirus-related deaths recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean, where more than five million cases have been confirmed, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the disease globally.
08:41 AM
How the Covid takeaway boom helped turn Deliveroo profitable
Deliveroo swung to a profit earlier this year just months after warning Britain's competition regulator it could go bankrupt, after the lockdown saw families splurge on takeaways.
During both May and June, Deliveroo had "both profitable and had a positive cash flow", a report by the UK's competition watchdog last week revealed.
It came thanks to a "significant increase" in order volumes, the Competition & Markets Authority said.
Russia has reported a further 5,189 new cases of coronavirus, bringing its nationwide tally to 887,536.
This is the fourth highest number of cases in the world, after the US, Brazil and India respectively.
Russia’s coronavirus taskforce said a further 77 people had died over the last 24 hours, putting the official death toll at 14,931.
08:09 AM
US approaches five million infections
The United States' failure to contain the spread of the coronavirus has been met with astonishment and alarm in Europe, as the world's most powerful country edges closer to a global record of five million confirmed infections.
Much of the incredulity in Europe stems from the fact that America had the benefit of time, European experience and medical know-how to treat the virus that the continent itself didn't have when the first Covid patients started filling intensive care units.
Yet, more than four months into a sustained outbreak, the US is about to hit an astonishing milestone of five million confirmed infections, easily the highest in the world.
Health officials believe the actual number is closer to 50 million, given testing limitations and the fact that as many as 40 per cent of all cases are asymptomatic.
Moral duty to get all children back in school - PM
There is a "moral duty" to get all children back into schools in England next month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said it was the "national priority" after months without in-person education during the coronavirus pandemic.
Schools across the UK closed on 20 March, except to children of key workers or vulnerable children. On 1 June, they began a limited reopening for early years pupils, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.
The current plan is for most children across the country to be back in class by next month.
Guidance on reopening has been published for England. There are also separate plans for Wales, Northern Ireland and also Scotland, where schools are scheduled to return from Tuesday.
In his article, Mr Johnson said: "This pandemic isn't over, and the last thing any of us can afford to do is become complacent.
"But now that we know enough to reopen schools to all pupils safely, we have a moral duty to do so."
The prime minister also warned of the "spiralling economic costs" of parents and carers being unable to work.
He added: "Keeping our schools closed a moment longer than absolutely necessary is socially intolerable, economically unsustainable and morally indefensible."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson - AP
06:32 AM
New Zealand experts fear complacency
New Zealand marked 100 days without a domestic transmission of coronavirus on Sunday, but warned against complacency as countries like Vietnam and Australia - which once had the virus under control - battle a resurgence in infections.
New Zealand's successful fight against Covid has made the Pacific island nation of five million people one of the safest places in the world.
New Zealanders have returned to normal life, but authorities are concerned that people are now refusing testing, not using the government's contact-tracing apps, and even ignoring basic hygiene rules.
New Zealand has 23 active cases in managed isolation facilities, and a total of 1,219 cases.
Vietnam, which went for three months without detecting any domestic transmission, is now racing to control a new outbreak in Danang.
Neighbouring Australia's second-biggest city, Melbourne, has gone into a six week lockdown due to a surge in cases. The second wave of cases in Melbourne has been largely a result of lapses in quarantining.
There have been cases of returning New Zealanders sneaking out of quarantine, and other security slip ups.
05:42 AM
Sources of many cases in Australian state untraceable
The premier of the Australian state of Victoria said more than 2,700 active cases had no known source and remained the primary concern of health authorities.
Victoria on Sunday saw a welcome drop in its new cases with 394, but had a record 17 deaths.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said confirmed cases also included almost 1,000 health care workers.
The city of Melbourne has been under tough restrictions since a week ago, including an overnight curfew and mandatory masks. The results of these efforts will not be seen for another one to two weeks.
Almost 270 Victorian residents have been fined over the past 24 hours for breaching restrictions.
A woman is detained during an anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne - ERIK ANDERSON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
05:26 AM
In pictures: The Amazing Tuk Tuk Festival
Bangkok’s music scene is slowly coming back to life with the first drive-in music festival at Asiatique the Riverfront.
Concertgoers brought their own private tuk tuk to a 16sqm spot to maintain social distancing.
Music fans enjoy a performance in Bangkok during the first-ever new normal Thai-style concert - AFP The event, organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, is aimed at promoting tourism and stimulating the economy - AFP The festival respects social distancing to avoid the spread of coronavirus - AFP
05:03 AM
Patients killed in fire at Indian Covid facility
At least 11 people died after a massive fire broke out at a hotel that was being used as a Covid-19 facility in India's southern Andhra Pradesh state early on Sunday, police said.
"Several people who were trapped and injured have been rescued and moved to a government hospital. Fire is under control but rescue and firefighting operations are still underway," said Lakshmi, a constable at the police control room.
Eight Covid patients died in a fire that broke out in the intensive care ward of a private hospital in India's western city of Ahmedabad last week.
03:57 AM
MotoGP records positive case ahead of grand prix
MotoGP said one person from its world championship paddock tested positive for coronavirus and was in isolation ahead of the Czech Republic Grand Prix in Brno on Sunday.
The person is a member of promoter Dorna Sports' team and was asymptomatic, said MotoGP, the premier motorcycle racing championship.
The person tested positive twice, and all close contacts were put in isolation.
"Local health authorities will now decide on the duration of self-isolation they are required to undertake," MotoGP said.
03:18 AM
Obese may be told to stay home if virus rebounds
Obese people could be told to stay home in coronavirus hotspots as part of a targeted approach to tackling a feared second wave of Covid-19 this autumn.
The Government is understood to be examining plans for a "more sophisticated model" for shielding to avoid mass lockdown if Covid-19 returns over the next few months.
One Cabinet minister described the plan as a "stiletto not a sledgehammer" approach to tackling outbreaks, with people who are especially vulnerable told to remain indoors.
China has reported 23 new coronavirus cases on the mainland.
Among the new cases, 15 were locally transmitted and eight were imported infections, the National Health Commission said on Sunday.
China claims its total number of infections is 84,619, with the death toll unchanged at 4,634.
02:07 AM
North Korea sends aid to locked-down city
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the distribution of aid to the border city of Kaesong after the area was locked down last month to fight coronavirus, state media said on Sunday.
A train carrying goods arrived in the "totally blocked" city of Kaesong on Friday, the official KCNA news agency reported.
"The Supreme Leader has made sure that emergency measures were taken for supplying food and medicines right after the city was totally blocked and this time he saw to it that lots of rice and subsidy were sent to the city," it said.
Kim had been concerned "day and night" about people in Kaesong as they continue their "campaign for checking the spread of the malignant virus".
Meat giant Danish Crown announced on Saturday that it had closed a large slaughterhouse in Denmark after nearly 150 employees tested positive for coronavirus.
The abattoir in Ringsted, about 30 miles from the capital Copenhagen, employs nearly 900 people and slaughters tens of thousands of pigs every week.
Danish Crown said 120 employees tested positive in a first round of tests of 600 employees.
It retested all the negative cases and detected 22 additional infections.
"For this reason, we are closing the abattoir for at least a week to try to break the chain of transmission among employees on site," Danish Crown said.
All the employees must quarantine.
The company is one of Denmark's biggest exporters and the biggest pork-product producer in Europe.
Several European slaughterhouses have been hit with the virus in recent months, particularly in Germany.
The virus cluster at Ringsted is the main active one in Denmark, where the number of cases has increased sharply in recent days.
The resurgence has forced the government to abandon plans to ease restrictions at concert halls and nightclubs, and instead prepare new curbs.
Several dozen infections have been registered in Aarhus, the country's second-biggest city.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Friday that Denmark intends to make masks compulsory on public transport.
01:37 AM
Global fatalities soar past 722,000
Brazil has became the second country to pass the grim milestone of 100,000 coronavirus deaths.
Just a day after Latin America and the Caribbean became the hardest-hit region in the global pandemic, Brazil reported a total of 100,477 fatalities, joining the United States as the only two countries to surpass the six-digit death mark.
Tolls continue to rise across the world, with global fatalities having now soared past 722,000.
India has more than two million infections - its caseload doubling in three weeks - and has recorded 42,518 deaths.
And more than 10,000 people have died from coronavirus in South Africa.
01:27 AM
Mexico's death tally trails behind US and Brazil
On the outskirts of Mexico City, workers dig fresh graves in a section of the municipal cemetery of Valle de Chalco, which opened three months ago to accommodate the surge in deaths during the pandemic - Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Mexico's health ministry has reported 6,495 new confirmed coronavirus infections and 695 fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 475,902 cases and 52,006 deaths.
Officials say the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.
Mexico has the third-highest coronavirus death tally globally, behind the United States and Brazil.
01:00 AM
Beachgoers reminded of Covid risk
As temperatures soared across western Europe, holidaymakers crowded beaches despite warnings about the risk of infection.
On Saturday, a day after Britain recorded its hottest August day in 17 years at 36.4 degrees Celsius (97.5 Fahrenheit), much of its southern coastline was packed with tourists.
Local authorities in Germany warned that some beaches and lakes would be closed if there were too many people.
Belgian police arrested several people on Saturday after a brawl broke out on a beach at the Blankenberge resort between officers and youths they had told to leave for refusing to respect virus safety measures.
12:56 AM
Paris police to enforce masks as infection numbers rise
Growing infections in and around Paris have prompted officials to make masks compulsory outdoors in crowded areas and tourist hotspots in the city and surrounding areas from Monday.
Police said masks would be obligatory for all those aged 11 and over "in certain very crowded zones", including the banks of the Seine River and more than 100 streets in the French capital.
Huge numbers of travellers are still refusing to wear masks on public transport, The Telegraph can reveal, after figures showed that police were forced to stop almost 30,000 people in less than a fortnight
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