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Coronavirus latest news: France in national lockdown from Friday, Macron announces

French president Emmanuel Macron is set to address the French public - Chesnot/Getty Images Europe 
French president Emmanuel Macron is set to address the French public - Chesnot/Getty Images Europe
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..

France will go back into a national lockdown for almost five weeks from Friday, President Emmanuel Macron has announced.

French residents will not be allowed to leave their home except for essential reasons, such as work, exercise or food shopping. Schools will remain open but travel between regions will now be banned. Bars and restaurants will also close, as will all non-essential businesses.

The new measures will be reviewed on December 1.

Elsewhere, Angela Merkel's government reached a deal with local authorities in all 16 federal states to impose a partial lockdown from November 2.

The lockdown will see all bars and restaurants closed until at least November 30, while shops may remain open provided they meet a new condition of a maximum of one person per ten square metres in order to respect social distancing.

Switzerland, too, has imposed tighter restrictions, ordering dance clubs to be closed from Thursday, halting in-person university classes starting early next month, and placing new limits on sporting and leisure activities. These measures will last indefinitely.

Follow the latest updates below.


07:24 PM

'If the situation improves, we will reopen shops'

Macron says that, if the situation improves in the next 15 days, non-essential shops will be allowed to reopen.

What counts as an 'improved situation' I hear you ask? Well Macron says that daily infection rates must fall to 5,000. They currently stand at around 35,000, with today's count coming in at 36,437.


07:21 PM

New measures in place until December 1

Macron says that the new measures will be in place until at least December 1.

He also says that people will be allowed out to exercise once per day, but they will only be allowed to do so for one hour.


07:18 PM

French bars, restaurants to close

Macron says that all bars and restaurants must close as a result of the new measures.

The president also says that universities will switch to online only teaching and that residents will once again need signed documents to move around and conduct their daily business.

However, visits to care homes will still be permitted, as will funerals. 


07:14 PM

French schools, offices will stay open

Macron says that people will still be able to go to work, if necessary, and children will be able to continue their in-person scooling.

However, inter-regional travel will be banned, and people will not be allowed to leave their homes unless they have an essential reason, such as work or food shopping.


07:12 PM

Macron announces new lockdown

Macron says that France will go back in to lockdown from Friday


07:10 PM

France must protect both economy and healthcare service

Macron has said that you "cannot have an economy without a healthcare service and vice versa", so measures are now required in "order to preserve both".

He has warned that, were France to pursue a 'herd immunity' strategy, then there could be as many as 400,000 excess deaths.


07:06 PM

France 'submerged' by Covid spread

Macron says France has been "submerged by the rapid acceleration of coronavirus" and has warned that "a second wave is likely to be worse than the first".

He says that it is "up to the French people" to meet the challenge of the pandemic head on, as the "exhausted health care workers have done".


07:04 PM

Macron addresses France

French president Emmanuel Macron has begun his address to the French people.

He says that the virus is spreading "faster than anticipated" and that the entire country is "now under high alert for coronavirus".

He says "new measures are now required".


06:52 PM

Algeria's president transferred to Germany for medical checkups

Algeria's president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has been transferred to Germany for medical checkups, state TV reported.

Algeria’s president had been admitted to a specialised treatment unit in an army hospital, his office said on Tuesday, days before a critical referendum on changes he has urged for the constitution.

Mr Tebboune, 75, said on Saturday he was self isolating after several senior aides tested positive for the coronavirus. “I assure you, my brothers and sisters, that I am well and healthy and that I continue my work,” he was quoted as saying then. 


06:51 PM

France posts latest virus figures

Ahead of President Macron's address to the nation, in which he is expected to announce a new nationwide lockdown, the latest coronavirus case and death figures have been released.

They report 244 new deaths, down from 523 on Tuesday. However, hospitalisations rose to 2,821, up from 1,194 on Tuesday.


06:41 PM

Mexican president accuses Europe of 'authoritarianism'

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador blasted European countries for adopting strict lockdowns to stem the spread of coronavirus, suggesting they smacked of authoritarianism.

"What it expresses is an authoritarian urge by the authorities, by the government, with all due respect, on the part of those who opt for this," he said when asked if Mexico could adopt tougher measures to halt rising coronavirus cases.

"Curfews aren't a sign of faith in people. It's putting yourself above as authority and seeing citizens as children, like they don't understand. Not even in its worst moments did Europe have these curfews and all these measures."

Mexico has officially registered over 901,000 coronavirus cases and 89,800 deaths, though authorities admit the number of cases and the death toll are likely significantly higher.


06:26 PM

Covid risk no longer increased by travelling abroad

Going abroad no longer increases the risk of getting Covid-19, the latest formal data reveals.

A survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that the infection rate among those who travelled abroad in the past 30 days is roughly the same as that for people who stayed in the UK.

Previous iterations of the long-term study to track Covid in the population had found that those who travelled abroad had higher positivity rates.

Between September 25 and October 8, just three per cent of participants travelled abroad, and 0.49 per cent of those who had said they had not done so in the last 30 days tested positive compared with 0.58 per cent who had travelled.

Our health correspondent Henry Bodkin has the story.


06:15 PM

Covid vaccine 'might not prevent infection', warns head of UK task force

The first Covid-19 vaccines are "likely to be imperfect" and "might not work for everyone", the chairman of the UK Vaccine Taskforce has said.

Kate Bingham said no vaccine in the history of medicine "has been as eagerly anticipated" and that vaccination is "widely regarded as the only true exit strategy from the pandemic".

However, she cautioned against over-optimism and highlighted that a vaccine might not work for everyone, or for very long.

Kate Bingham, Chair of the Government's Vaccine Taskforce, with a plaster on her arm after starting her Novavax trial - Kirsty O'Connor /PA

"We do not know that we will ever have a vaccine at all," she wrote in The Lancet. "It is important to guard against complacency and over-optimism.

"The first generation of vaccines is likely to be imperfect, and we should be prepared that they might not prevent infection but rather reduce symptoms, and, even then, might not work for everyone or for long."


06:06 PM

Face masks should be washed and tumble dried each day, study finds

Face masks should be washed daily at 60C and tumble dried if possible in order to completely kill off any traces of coronavirus, reports our Science Editor Sarah knapton

A recent study by the University of California found that particles can build up in masks and regular washing is important.

Professor William Ristenpart, a chemical engineer at the university, found that while masks prevent emissions they also store droplets and aerosols and could be a source of infection. 

"Our results suggest that individuals using homemade fabric masks should take care to wash or otherwise sterilise them on a regular basis to minimise the possibility of emission," he wrote in a recent paper published in Nature. 

You can read Sarah's full report here


05:58 PM

Iran declares 'full-scale war' as virus deaths hit record

Iran declared "full-scale war" with coronavirus as it reported a record death toll for a second straight day and surging infections overload a health care system struggling with US sanctions.

The Middle East's worst-hit country recorded 415 deaths in 24 hours.

"This is the result of an unprecedented rise in infections and hospitalisations in recent weeks," health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said in a televised address, visibly moved as she gave the grim figures.

"We are now in a full-scale war with the coronavirus," she said.

The latest fatalities, 69 above Tuesday's toll which was also a daily record, raised the total virus deaths to 33,714 in the country of 80 million.

President Hassan Rouhani warned last week that his country was now faced with "a larger wave of this virus and we have to fight it".


05:51 PM

Public Health England director discusses coronavirus restrictions

Implementing further coronavirus restrictions is "very much a local decision", the medical director of Public Health England (PHE) has said.

Dr Yvonne Doyle told BBC news: "The highest tier alert level is Level 3, where the restrictions are most stringent."

"But that still leaves room for local decision-makers, depending on what the data is telling them, to go further and restrict further access to places where they feel that is important."

She added: "What PHE England has provided is guidance as to what should happen in various locations in workplaces, business, schools and so on."

"And that guidance gives people the confidence that they can be doing things consistently across the country.

"But the decision as to whether to restrict further is very much a local decision and there are a number of those that can come into play."


05:41 PM

Indian teenager takes his own life after accidentally smashing family smartphone

A distraught 16-year-old boy in southern India has killed himself after accidentally smashing the screen of the smartphone he and his three siblings relied on for remote school learning, Joe Wallen reports

Rohit Varak’s parents could not pay to get the phone fixed because his father’s work as a bus driver had dried up during the Covid-19 crisis, with India struggling to contain the world's second largest caseload.

The Indian government closed its schools in March with only three out of its 36 states and union territories gradually reopening classrooms - Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim and the Punjab - with all lessons switched to online.

Rohit and his siblings, who live in Goa, considered themselves fortunate to share one smartphone, local media reported.

READ MORE:  Indian teenager takes his own life after accidentally smashing family smartphone ​


05:29 PM

Belgian ambulance crews say they risk being overwhelmed by Covid

Belgian ambulance crews say they are at risk of being overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients, running out of capacity to handle other calls.

One ambulance company, NAAB Ambulance Services, said Covid cases now make up more than 70 per cent of its callouts, having risen from just 10 per cent at the start of October.

Dressed in a full white hazmat suit and wearing a protective face mask, one of its paramedics, Jessy Friant, said it was becoming difficult to cope with the workload.

"The number of Covid-19 patients transported every day is around 30 to 40, it's a 70% increase of our activity," Ms Friant told Reuters in Peronnes-lez-Binche near the French border.

In a statement, the company's CEO, Arnaud Franchini, called for stronger nationwide measures to curb the spread of the virus.

"Without much stronger measures than those currently in place, we are going straight into a wall," Mr Franchini said.


05:20 PM

How might travel change after the pandemic

It may seem odd to think so far ahead, but what will travel look like in the post Covid age?

It’s tempting fate to make predictions about travel at the moment. Covid-19 presents so many imponderables. On the negative side, we don’t know if an effective vaccine will be developed; we don’t know if we will find a cure; and we are even unsure how long any immunity will last for those who do catch coronavirus.

We also don’t know how badly the world’s economy will be hit and how that will affect people’s ability to afford their holidays.

On the upside, if any of these uncertainties are suddenly resolved, we might find that a sudden surge in confidence and pent-up demand transforms our appetite to get back out into the world.

Our reporter Nick Trend has taken a look at what travelling might look like. You can read his views here.


05:12 PM

Celebrating Halloween in lockdown

Despite the doom and gloom sweeping the country - and indeed the continent - it's Halloween on Saturday! 

There are ways to celebrate without exposing yourself to something sinister – it just requires a bit of adjustment.

We’ve pulled off Covid-safe birthday celebrations, orchestrated pared-down weddings and replaced close-contact dinner parties with zero-contact Zoom chats already this year. So we’re getting pretty darn good at pandemic-appropriate fun.

A home in Warrington is decorated for Halloween with face masks and synthetic cobwebs as the borough enters Tier 3 - Christopher Furlong /Getty Images Europe 

This weekend, however, we face the conundrum of how to mark Halloween without picking up (or passing on) something more sinister than sweets.

Rosa Silverman imparts her wisdom on how to enjoy the day, which you can read here.


04:56 PM

Marcus Rashford petition reaches 1 million signatures

The Marcus Rashford Petition calling on government to commit funding to the 3 recommendations in the National Food Strategy hits 1 million signatures.

The Manchester United striker has led the campaign to get the government to provide free school meals for children, even while schools are closed.

The Parliamentary Petitions office confirmed that it is only the fifth petition to have reached 1 million signatures on the website and it is the first time since the general election that the government have been presented with a petition reaching 1 million. 

This follows a week of intense response from the General Public in support of Marcus Rashford’s #endchildfoodpoverty campaign. 


04:50 PM

Don’t panic; it’s not all over for Covid immunity – here’s why

Our special correspondent Harry de Quetteville is here to explain why Imperial's new study showing waning immunity is not all doom and gloom.

READ MORE:  Don’t panic; it’s not all over for Covid immunity – here’s why


04:42 PM

Italians flock to mountain enclave where restaurants are still allowed to serve supper

Speaking of Italy, food-loving Italians are flocking to a mountainous region in the north which remains the only part of the country not to have ordered the closure of restaurants at 6pm, reports Nick Squires.

The German-speaking South Tyrol and the neighbouring province of Trento have a high degree of autonomy and their local governments have decided to exempt trattorias from the laws that were applied to the rest of the country on Sunday.

Chefs and restaurant owners gather to participate in a protest at Campo Santo Stefano against the recent tightening of government nationwide coronavirus restrictions in Venice - Luca Zanon/Awakening /Getty Images Europe 

That has lured Italians from neighbouring regions, with some driving several hours to sample the delights of regional specialities such as canederli bread dumplings, goulash, apple strudel and bottles of crisp Muller Thurgau white wine.

Local restaurant owners say they are grateful to be allowed to remain open until 10pm.

READ MORE:  Italians flock to mountain enclave where restaurants are still allowed to serve supper


04:33 PM

Italy's daily coronavirus cases hit new record, infections in Lombardy soar

Italy has registered 24,991 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, the health ministry said, a record high and up from 21,994 on Tuesday as cases in the northern region of Lombardy surged.

The ministry also reported 205 Covid-related deaths compared with 221 the day before.

A total 37,905 people have now died in Italy because of coronavirus, while 589,766 cases of the disease have been registered to date.

The northern region of Lombardy, centred on Italy's financial capital Milan, remained the hardest hit area, reporting 7,558 new cases on Wednesday against 5,035 on Tuesday. The neighbouring Piedmont region was the second-worst affected, chalking up 2,827 cases.


04:28 PM

Bristol implementing 'Tier 1 Plus' measures, mayor announces

Bristol is implementing a series of measures it describes as 'Tier 1 plus' to reduce the spread of coronavirus, the city's mayor has said.

Marvin Rees described the situation in Bristol as "challenging", with 1,579 cases reported over the past seven days and a rate of 340.7 cases per 100,000 people in the city.

Mr Rees told a press conference that the area's rate had historically been below the England average, which is currently 222.8 cases per 100,000 people.

He said the city was taking a "Tier 1 plus" approach, which meant remaining in Tier 1 - the medium Covid-19 alert level - but taking targeted actions to "stem the spread" of coronavirus.

As part of this, eight Covid marshals will be introduced and deeper analytic work will take place to identify "rising tides of cases", Mr Rees said.

The city council will also take on "further powers" of its local test and trace service.


04:15 PM

Just one in six people who should be self-isolating told to do so

Only one in six people who should be self-isolating are being told to, according to new analysis which also found a tripling of refusals to hand over contact details, reports Henry Bodkin.

A fresh analysis of Test and Trace data showed that only 16 per cent of those who need to stay at home are reached.

It came as a group of scientists launched a rival Covid-19 "dashboard" in an effort to improve on what they called the "sparse" and "sporadic" data released by the Government.

This follows a new low in the performance of NHS Test and Trace last week, when it was announced that tracers had only successfully reached 59.5 per cent of identified close contacts.

READ MORE:  Just one in six people who should be self-isolating told to do so


04:09 PM

Latest UK figures released

The UK recorded 24,701 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday, an increase of nearly 2,000 from Tuesday, when the total was 22,885.

However, the number of deaths recorded fell considerably when compared to Tuesday's figures. 310 new deaths have been recorded, a decrease of 57 on yesterday's total.

Meanwhile, the number of patients with Covid-19 at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust has jumped 27% in five days.

Analysis of data from the trust, which runs three hospitals across the West Midlands, showed 294 patients who had tested positive for the disease were being treated on Wednesday.

That compares with 231 patients on October 23. Over the same period, the number of Covid-positive patients in ITU increased to 34, from 30.


03:57 PM

Some hospitals treating more Covid patients than during first wave

Hospitals in some parts of the country, including Liverpool, Lancashire and Nottingham, are now treating more Covid patients than at the peak of the first wave of the pandemic in April, the NHS in England said.

Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS in England, said: "Coronavirus cases and hospitalised patients are rising sharply and in some parts of the country including Liverpool, Lancashire and Nottingham hospitals are now treating more Covid patients than at the peak of the pandemic in April. "


03:46 PM

Government 'unflinching' in its desire to place West Yorkshire into Tier 3, says council leader

Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said discussions about West Yorkshire were ongoing but it appeared the Government was "unflinching in their resolve" to place the region into Tier 3.

She said it was unclear what support would be offered to businesses in the event of a move to the higher tier but the Government had told council leaders it would be a "template package" with no room for negotiation - although ministers had promised to clarify the support package in a further meeting.

The councillor said she was concerned about rising infection rates, hospitals reaching capacity, vulnerable people contracting the virus, rising mental health issues and people's jobs.

Ms Hinchcliffe said: "It is clear from our conversations so far that Government are unflinching in their resolve to put Bradford and West Yorkshire into Tier 3."

"Our local residents and our local businesses need certainty about whether we are going into Tier 3 or not."

"Whilst Government only called us in for a meeting about Tier 3 at the beginning of this week, I know that continued national media stories have led residents and businesses to speculate for some time about whether West Yorkshire would be next after seeing neighbouring regions go into Tier 3."


03:40 PM

Kim Kardashian faces backlash over 40th

Reality star Kim Kardashian West is facing criticism after sharing pictures of her lavish 40th birthday party on a private island, reports Josie Ensor.

When the reality TV star shared photographs of her salubrious  celebrations on a private island online, she imagined others “less privileged” would share in her joy.

But with coronavirus cases soaring to an all-time high back home in America and strict restrictions in place preventing people from travelling, her followers were not all too amused.

Ms Kardashian said all attendees quarantined and went through regular health checks for two weeks prior to the party - -/-

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star posted to her social media a string of “‘tone deaf” glitzy photos of herself with family and friends sipping cocktails in a mansion and by a pool to “pretend things were normal just for a brief moment in time.”

She explained how guests were asked to undergo two weeks of quarantine and “multiple health screenings” before being “surprised” by the trip to an undisclosed private island, where she tried to reassure her tens of millions of fans that she was being careful.

READ MORE:  Kim Kardashian West cricitised for 'cruel' 40th birthday on private island boasts as US hit with new Covid-19 wave


03:27 PM

Switzerland imposes fresh restrictions

The dominoes keep falling across Europe.

Switzerland will tighten nationwide restrictions to contain the country's rising wave of Covid-19 cases, ordering dance clubs to be closed from Thursday, halting in-person university classes starting early next month, and placing new limits on sporting and leisure activities.

The duration of the new measures, which include the requirement to wear masks in all offices and secondary schools as well as outdoors where social distancing is difficult, is indefinite, the government in Bern said.


03:20 PM

Germany set for new national lockdown

Some breaking news coming out of Germany and it's what we've been expecting.

Sources have told Reuters that Angela Merkel's government have reached a deal with local authorities in all 16 federal states to impose a partial lockdown from November 2.

The lockdown will see all bars and restaurants closed until at least November 30, while shops may remain open provided they meet a new condition of a maximum of one person per ten square metres in order to respect social distancing.


03:12 PM

Two-thirds of lockdown fines given to under-35s

Around two-thirds of coronavirus fines have been handed to those under the age of 35, police figures show.

Data released by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) on Wednesday shows 20,223 fines for breaching coronavirus restrictions were issued by police in England and Wales between March 27 and October 19 - 17,451 in England and 2,772 in Wales.

These include 980 for breaches of local lockdown laws - with the majority issued by the Greater Manchester (374) and Northumbria (366) forces.

Around eight in 10 of the enforcement notices were issued to men, 78%, while 35% went to 18 to 24-year-olds, 18% to those aged 25-29 and 14% to people aged 30-34.

Where the person fined self-identified their ethnicity, 80% went to a white person, 12% to an Asian person and 5% to someone who is black.


03:05 PM

Royal Caribbean to test new Covid-19 protocols on ‘cruises to nowhere’

Cruise giant Royal Caribbean is gearing up for its return to the water with a raft of safety measures that will change the way that passengers enjoy a holiday afloat, reports Kaye Holland.

Singaporean residents boarding Quantum of the Seas for three-and four-night ‘Ocean Getaways’ – also known as 'cruises to nowhere' – in December will find that many things will be different.

For starters, all passengers booked on Quantum must take a Covid-19 test 48 to 72 hours before boarding, and be able to prove a negative result.

Royal Caribbean will cover the cost of tests for sailings departing on or before January 30, 2021, and this may be extended depending on the Covid-19 situation.

READ MORE: Royal Caribbean to test new Covid-19 protocols on ‘cruises to nowhere’


02:52 PM

Seasonal spend set to rise despite Covid concerns

Christmas spending is forecast to increase by more than £1 billion in the six weeks leading up to Christmas despite coronavirus concerns, writes Dominic Penna.

A report by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) and VoucherCodes.co.uk shows that while further restrictions could yet hamper seasonal spend, Britons are still set to spend 1.6 per cent more than last year, taking total festive retail sales to £84.46 billion.

Amid the ongoing pandemic online spending will make up almost a third (£27.8 billion) of all retail sales, which will grow by £5.59bn compared to 2019’s less socially distant shopping spree.

However the pandemic insecurities of the public are seen in the fact that offline shopping is predicted to drop by about seven per cent on last year, largely due to tiered travel restrictions and people feeling less comfortable visiting their local shopping hotspots.


02:46 PM

More than 100 discharged in to Scottish care homes after positive test

More than 100 people who had tested positive for Covid-19 were discharged from hospitals into care homes without first receiving a negative test, according to a new report.

A total of 113 people were moved between between March 1 and May 31 although they had not received a negative test before they were transferred, the Public Health Scotland study shows. A further 243 who had tested positive were discharged after at least one negative follow-up test.

The report found between March 1 and April 21 there were 3,599 discharges from hospitals to care homes, with the majority (81.9 per cent) not tested for coronavirus.

Of the 650 who were tested, 78 received a positive result while in hospital and of these patients, ten tested negative before they were discharged while the remainder did not.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the report concludes that allowing for other factors, such as the size of a care home, "hospital discharges were not found to have contributed to a significantly higher risk of an outbreak".

She added: "Nothing in it detracts from the tragedy of the deaths that have occurred in care homes over the course of the pandemic and nothing ever will detract from the heartbreak of those bereaved."


02:34 PM

No quarantine for Santa, says government

The government has indicated that Santa Claus may not need to quarantine when delivering presents on Christmas Day.

A petition lodged on the official Government website asked that Covid-19 rules be relaxed for Santa and give him an exemption from the rule of six.

It reads: "This petition calls on the government to exempt Father Christmas (Santa) from any quarantine periods that apply to people arriving in the UK from overseas AND to grant him an exemption from the "rule of six" or similar restrictions that may apply on visiting homes for the period covering Christmas."

Santa might look a little different this year - sdominick/iStockphoto 

However, the petition - which was submitted at the end of September - was rejected. The rejection for the petition said: "It's not clear what the petition is asking the UK Government or Parliament to do. Under current coronavirus guidance, deliveries to the home are still possible."

It then provided advice to Father Christmas, recommending he minimise contact wherever possible and have single workers load and unload his vehicle. It said: "We know that Father Christmas is already very good at both of these things, but we're sure he will continue to follow the guidance."

The Foreign Office's current guidance does not require that visitors from Finland, including Lapland, are required to quarantine.


02:25 PM

Latest figures for Wales released

There have been a further 1,414 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 46,459.

Public Health Wales said a further 37 deaths had been reported, with the total rising to 1,827.

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has said the number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is the highest daily figure in more than six months.

"I am deeply saddened the number of coronavirus deaths in Wales reported over the past 24 hours is 37 - the highest number in more than 6 months," Mr Drakeford tweeted.

"My thoughts are with the families and friends who are mourning the loss of a loved one."


02:16 PM

Angela Merkel plans circuit-break lockdown as German virus cases surge

Chancellor Angela Merkel will press regional leaders to agree to a partial lockdown in Germany which would see restaurants and bars closed but keep schools open, a draft document seen by Reuters said.

To compensate firms hit by the new measures, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz wants to make available up to 10 billion euros in aid, three people familiar with the matter said. 

The drastic steps, which top-selling Bild daily said will take effect from November 2, are aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus in Europe's biggest economy as the number of new cases hit a record high.

Under the new planned restrictions, people would be able to go out with members only of their own and one other household. Fitness studios, discos and cinemas would close, as would theatres, opera houses and concert venues. Restaurants would offer only takeaways. Shops could stay open if they impose hygiene measures and limit customer numbers.

Cases rose by 14,964 to 464,239 in the last 24 hours, Germany's infections diseases agency, the Robert Koch Institute, said on Wednesday. Deaths jumped by 85 to 10,183, fuelling fears about the health system after Merkel warned it could hit breaking point if infections continue to spiral.


02:07 PM

'I had to be pushy to get my cancer diagnosis'

An analysis by Cancer Research UK has found that more than 350,000 people have not been urgently referred for a cancer check who should have been, and that one in three people living with cancer have faced delays to diagnosis or treatment.

Toria Pickering, 31, from Worcestershire, discovered a lump in her abdomen just before the country went into its first lockdown. Despite the doctors believing at the time it was a benign tumour, Toria soon started feeling so much pain that she was admitted into A&E for emergency surgery to remove it.

Having heard nothing from the hospital for another five weeks, she decided to telephone the hospital only to be told she had cancer. With no more immediate information on what type of cancer she was living with or which treatment would be available amid a pandemic, the mother-of-two feared she would never see her children go to school.


01:55 PM

Life in Greenland during Covid

As a new exhibition salutes the resilience of ice-dwelling people, Sarah Marshall sees how Greenlanders have adapted to their surrounds that include melting ice caps and now Covid-19. 

Evidence of change caused by melting ice is everywhere: fishermen are hauling different species in their nets; boats have largely replaced sleds; and glaciers are receding at a rapid rate.

In the short term, greater threats have been posed by the pandemic. No amount of ice can freeze out concerns from the rest of the world.

Although there have been only 16 cases of the virus recorded and the country has since been declared Covid-free, it remains vulnerable. There are only a handful of ventilators and many settlements don’t have a doctor. 

READ MORE:  Melting ice caps and now Covid – life in the far reaches of Greenland


01:46 PM

Exclusive: The impact of Covid-19 on people living with bipolar disorder

The Covid-19 crisis is causing a “marked deterioration in people’s mental health” with those suffering from bipolar disorder being especially hard hit, according to new research the charity Bipolar UK.

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterised by significant mood swings, including hypomanic or manic highs and depressive lows. There are approximately 1.3 million people currently living with bipolar in the UK and it is one of the most common long-term conditions, but despite this it is often heavily stigmatised and misrepresented

The charity, which has been supporting people with bipolar since the early 1980s, surveyed over 1,750 people during the UK lockdown period and found that more than a third of respondents said they had an increase in suicidal thoughts. 

The survey also revealed that 65 per cent of people living with bipolar reported experiencing depressive symptoms since the onset of the crisis, while the number of people saying that their mood was stable has more than halved, from 35 per cent to just 16 per cent. The number of people reporting being in a “balanced” mood range also fell, from 69 per cent to 42. 

Georgina Hayes has more here


01:35 PM

Europe braces for wave of lockdowns

Europe has once again become the epicentre of the world's coronavirus outbreak, with cases and hospitalisations rising.

Our correspondents from around Europe have the latest from France, Germany and Italy, including all the build-up to Emmanuel Macron's 7pm announcement.

READ MORE: The Covid continent


01:26 PM

Manchester's Nightingale hospital to start receiving non-Covid patients today

The Nightingale hospital in Manchester will start receiving patients who do not have Covid-19 from today, the NHS has confirmed.

Nightingale hospitals in northern England were put on standby earlier this month as a result of rising Covid-19 cases.

A spokesperson for the NHS in the North West said: "The NHS Nightingale Hospital North West will accept patients from today to provide care for those who do not have Covid-19, but do need further support before they are able to go home, such as therapy and social care assessments."


01:18 PM

'The Government needs to provide a long-term solution that does not rely on shutting the economy'

The government has no lockdown exit strategy, and this will cause severe economic misery, writes Jeremy Warner.

It was reasonable to think that by now Western governments might have got Covid largely under control, allowing a semblance of normality to return to our beleaguered economies.

That was the working assumption ten months ago when all this began, and if you believe Donald Trump, we are indeed nearly there. “Even without a vaccine, we’re rounding the turn. It’s going to be over”, he told a rally at the weekend. He’s been saying it from the start, but who knows, maybe he’s finally right.

Yet, with infection rates at record levels, and hospitalisations in both the US and Europe rapidly following them upwards, if mercifully not yet the mortality rate, the evidence suggests otherwise.

READ MORE:  Where’s the lockdown exit strategy? Er... there isn’t one


01:10 PM

Melbourne emerges from lockdown

There were joyous scenes today in Melbourne, as Australia's second-largest city emerged from a gruelling four-month lockdown.

According to the Victoria state government, the lockdown changes will allow 6,200 retail stores, 5,800 cafes and restaurants, 1,000 beauty salons and 800 pubs to reopen, impacting 180,000 jobs.

Crowds on the city's streets - where mask wearing remains compulsory - were still thin Wednesday since Melbourne residents are still restricted to traveling no more than 25 kilometers (16 miles) from home and most of the city’s office blocks remain empty as work-from-home orders continue.


01:01 PM

Israel 'slowly' emerges from second national lockdown

Israel is cautiously emerging from a second national lockdown as hair salons and primary schools partially open.

What lessons have been learned from the previous attempts at reopening? Our Middle East correspondent James Rothwell examines life on the ground, talking to locals about their sense of how their country is coping.

A group of Orthodox Jewish men wearing protective face masks and keeping a safe distance from each other, hold a noon prayer in a street in the coastal city of Tel Aviv - MENAHEM KAHANA /AFP

READ MORE:  Take two: Israel tests slow, cautious exit from lockdown to avoid another wave of coronavirus


12:54 PM

14 out of every 1,000 Covid patients suffer a stroke

Fourteen out of every 1,000 Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital have a stroke, a study suggests.

A team of researchers from Cambridge University's Stroke Research Group analysed 61 published studies that covered more than 100,000 patients who had been admitted to hospital with the virus.

The rate of Covid-19 patients experiencing a stroke is higher in older people, according to the analysis published in the International Journal of Stroke. It is also higher in those with severe infection and pre-existing vascular conditions, the research suggested.

The study's first author Dr Stefania Nannoni, from the department of clinical neurosciences at the University of Cambridge, said: "The picture is complicated. For example, a number of Covid-19 patients are already likely to be at increased risk of stroke. And other factors such as the mental stress of Covid-19 may contribute to stroke risk.

"On the other hand, we see evidence that Covid-19 may trigger - or at least be a risk factor for - stroke, in some cases. SARS--CoV-2 more so than other coronaviruses - and significantly more so than seasonal flu - appears to be associated with stroke." 


12:46 PM

Five ways to boost your immunity against Covid-19

Despite the grim news this week from an Imperial College study that immunity from coronavirus wanes "quite rapidly", there are things you can do to boost your immunity.

Luke Mintz takes a look at five ways you can stay healthy in the bleak winter to come.

READ MORE:  Five ways to boost your immunity against Covid-19


12:37 PM

EU sets aside 100 million euros for rapid virus tests

Brussels has set aside 100 million euros for quicker tests for coronavirus as Europe faces a second wave of the epidemic, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said.

"Rapid antigen tests are now coming to the market. This can play a significant role, but we will propose an EU approach to approval," the president of the European Commission said.

A day before an emergency videoconference of EU leaders, Ms von der Leyen said the European Commission would push for better coordinated action on tracking and tracing virus cases across the bloc. 

The antigen test for the coronavirus is not seen as being as reliable as the so-called "PCR test", in which a sample taken from a nasal swab is sent to a lab for testing.

But it is much quicker, with results available at the testing point within 15 minutes, and European experts think the virus is now moving too quickly to rely on tests that can take days.


12:30 PM

Environment Minister warns of possible Christmas restrictions

Per our post from 9:45 this morning, the Environment Minister has warned that Christmas will look very different this year.

 "I am sure we will be able to have a good Christmas. Families will be able to meet but may not be able to get together in the larger groups that they normally would."

Watch George Eustice, MP, speak to the BBC


12:22 PM

German infectious disease agency hit by hackers days before arson attack

Germany's Robert Koch Institute for infectious disease control was hit by a cyber attack days before its headquarters was the target of an arson attempt, Der Spiegel has reported.

The news weekly, citing the Federal Centre for Information Technology, said the website was knocked out for two hours on October 22 by a distributed denial of service attack. No sensitive data was lost. 

The red-brick headquarters in Berlin of the institute, which coordinates public health measures to stem the coronavirus pandemic, was the target of a firebomb attack at the weekend that caused superficial damage. Nobody was hurt.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional leaders are due to decide whether to reimpose a national lockdown in response to a steep acceleration in infections.

Although most Germans support efforts to curb the pandemic, a sceptical minority including anti-vaccination activists, conspiracy theorists and the political far right, has staged protests.

The Robert Koch Institute declined to comment on the Spiegel report. The Federal Office for Information Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


12:04 PM

'European airports have taken advantage the UK’s thoughtless approach to aviation'

Heathrow's collapse in passenger numbers highlights our government's inept approach to aviation during this pandemic, says John Grant.

If you remember our post from 8am this morning, Paris Charles de Gaulle has overtaken Heathrow as the busiest airport in Europe.

The aviation industry has been rocked by global travel restrictions in the last nine months, with billions of dollars wiped from airline balance sheets and no expectation of a return to pre-Covid demand before 2024 at the earliest. This year alone the industry will lose an estimate $84.3bn (£67.4bn) on revenues that have collapsed by some $419bn (£323bn). 

Western Europe has been hard hit in recent weeks with the second spike of Covid-19 leading to a fresh round of capacity cuts from airlines that hoped to see a modest recovery in the last quarter of the year.

As an island economy the UK was always vulnerable to a pandemic, but it is the mismanagement of an anti-aviation government that has really been devastating, and the latest data from Heathrow Airport confirmed the scale of the havoc this morning.

READ MORE:  Heathrow's slump is testament to our government's inept travel strategy


11:47 AM

What will a coronavirus Christmas look like?

It may be too early to put up the tree, but that doesn't mean Christmas isn't on the minds of many Britons. Whilst we're all hoping to celebrate Christmas traditions as normal this year, the 2020 festive season is bound to look very different in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said on Wednesday, "we want people to be able to celebrate Christmas as normal as possible, but it is too early to say exactly what situation will be come Christmas, and to say what different parts of the country will or will not be able to do."

The three-tier system the Government announced on October 12, which categorises local areas dependent on the rates of Covid infections, means Christmas this year will be unlike any other.

Yolanthe Fawehinmi explains why Christmas 2020 will be unlike any other.

READ MORE:  Will we be in lockdown for Christmas? What celebrations will look like during Covid-19


11:41 AM

Coronavirus around the world

Police control in Granada (Spain) to restrict the movement of citizens due to the large increase in coronavirus cases - Álex Cámara /NurPhoto
A woman wearing a protective mask walks past a new mural by Italian street artist TvBoy, entitled "Supper for six", inspired by "The last supper" - MIGUEL MEDINA /AFP
A woman walks in a street at Chualluma neighborhood in La Paz - RONALDO SCHEMIDT /AFP
Police officers stand guard as protesters set fire to public property during an anti government demonstration in Turin - Diego Puletto /Getty Images Europe 

11:25 AM

Where you can still go for some winter sun

With the long nights drawing in and a rising sense of gloom around the virus situation, more than a few people are dreaming of escaping for some winter sun.

Thankfully, there are still a few places you can go. Our Digital Travel Editor Oliver Smith has found the 20 countries where it is still feasible to head to for a winter escape.

READ MORE:  The 20 countries you can (feasibly) visit right now


11:18 AM

France set to enter full national lockdown

President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce a national lockdown of at least a month from midnight on Thursday, our France correspondent David Chazan reports.

523 people died of Covid-19 on Tuesday, France’s highest toll since April.

Intensive care units are overstretched or close to saturation in many different parts of the country as infections continue to rise. Hospitals will need extra staff as more patients arrive in hospitals, senior doctors warned.

The lockdown is likely to be more unpopular than the first one in the spring. Retailers are anxious that it will hinder sales ahead of Christmas, but the French government is hoping restrictions can be eased in time for the festive season.

President Macron has faced stiff resistance to local measures he has brought in over the autumn - ERIC GAILLARD /REUTERS

Mr Macron has not yet made a final decision, according to government sources, but French media are widely reporting that he favours a national lockdown as advocated by his scientific advisors and leading doctors. One option would be to confine people to their homes at weekends.

Another might be to extend the 9pm curfew already in force for two-thirds of the population, possibly starting it earlier, from 7pm.

France’s second lockdown is expected to be less stringent than its first, with primary schools remaining open to allow parents to continue to work. Mr Macron is also said to be pondering whether non-essential shops should have to close, as they did in April, or whether they might be allowed to stay open, perhaps with restricted hours.

READ MORE:  Emmanuel Macron set to announce month-long  lockdown for France 


11:11 AM

Komodo dragon's blood may help combat antimicrobial resistance

Komodo dragon blood may hold the key to tackling the “looming crisis” of antimicrobial resistance, reports Sarah Harvey.

According to scientists at George Mason University in the United States, the potential new synthetic antibiotic, DRGN-6, was created by combining two genes found in Komodo dragon blood - an endangered species found on five Indonesian islands. 

The promising research comes amid growing concerns that the coronavirus pandemic has diverted attention and resources away from antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 

Antimicrobial resistance is a looming crisis for humankind, but new research suggests Komodo dragons may hold the answer - Henning Gloystein /REUTERS

Speaking at the World Health Summit this week, Dr Timothy Jinks, Head of Drug Resistant Infections Priority Program at the Wellcome Trust, said that while billions have been poured into the development of vaccines and treatments against Covid-19, the same sense of urgency has not seen with AMR.

“The ecosystem to support antibiotic research and development is in crisis,” he said. “The fact is that we do not have a system that is sustainable for supporting the discovery, invention, and development of the new antibiotics that we need as drug resistant infections are expanding throughout the world.”

Despite the looming crisis, AMR is seen as less of a priority because it is a “silent killer”, added Thomas Cueni, Director-General of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations.

READ MORE:  Scientists develop a potential antibiotic from Komodo dragon blood ​


11:02 AM

Half a million Americans caught Covid last week

Nearly half a million people have contracted Covid-19 in the United States over the last seven days, according to a Reuters tally, as new cases and hospitalisations set records in the Midwest.

Coronavirus hot spots include Illinois, which reported 31,000 new infections over the past week, and two states expected to be key in the US presidential election on November 3: Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

"We must take significant and collective actions," Andrea Palm of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services told a news conference, adding that contact tracers were overwhelmed and hospitals may face staffing shortages. "This is going to get worse before it gets better."

Wisconsin broke one-day state records in both cases and deaths; state officials told residents to stay home, wear masks and cancel social gatherings.

Alaska set a statewide record for single-day positive tests over the weekend, and some of the hardest-hit parts of the state were rural communities with mostly Native populations.

Nationwide more than 5,600 people died from the virus nationwide in the last week, with hospitalisations rising 13 per cent, a Reuters analysis showed.

President Donald Trump, facing a tough re-election battle on November 3, on Tuesday reiterated his claim that the country is "rounding the turn" in the pandemic that has killed more than 226,000 people since erupting in March.

"We did the ventilators and now we're doing all of the equipment and now we're doing vaccines, we're doing therapeutics. We've done a great job, and people are starting to see," Mr Trump told reporters at the White House.


11:00 AM

Pope said Covid is taskmaster to be obeyed - then didn't wear mask

Pope Francis has described the Covid-19 pandemic as a tough “lady” taskmaster who must be obeyed, but he and most close aides did not wear masks at his general audience.

At the start of the indoor audience Francis apologised to people for not coming down from the marble stage.

“I will stay up here. I would very much like to come down and greet each of you but we have to keep our distances,” he said to the crowd of several hundred, nearly all wearing masks.

“If I come down, immediately people will form groups ... and this is against the care, the precautions, we must have in the face of this lady named Covid, who is doing us much harm."

The pope and most aides and translators on the stage did not wear masks.

Swiss Guards and official photographers on the stage wore masks but bishops and priests who greeted the pope close up removed their masks as they approached him.


10:46 AM

30% rise in drug offences during lockdown

Drug offences rose by 30% during lockdown while most other types of crime recorded plummeted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, official figures show.

Police-recorded drug crimes in England and Wales rose from 44,064 in April to June 2019 to 57,132 during the same period this year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Between January and March 2020, 46,826 drug offences were recorded.

The figures are an exception to the general trend, which shows the levels of most other types of crime falling as the pandemic took hold, according to an ONS report published on Wednesday.

Overall, the total number of crimes recorded by police in England and Wales fell by 4% to around 5.8 million in the year to June.


10:35 AM

'Professor Lockdown' says Tier 2 and 3 measures 'unlikely' to work

Prof Neil Ferguson, the scientist whose modelling prompted the UK-wide lockdown in March, told the PA news agency that measures in Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas are "unlikely to cause daily cases and deaths to fall rapidly".

He said that modelling suggests that this could leave the country with "high levels" of Covid cases, demand on health care and deaths "until spring 2021".

Prof Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said: "The concern at the moment is that even if the measures adopted in Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas slow spread in the next few weeks, they are unlikely to cause daily cases and deaths to fall rapidly.

"Modelling from all the academic groups informing Sage suggests that this could leave the country with high levels of Covid circulation, healthcare demand and mortality for several months, at least until spring 2021."


10:27 AM

Nottingham hospital bosses cancel some cancer operations due to 'pressure on intensive care units'

The city and neighbouring boroughs had been preparing for Tier 3 restrictions to come into force on Thursday - and a surge in cases has meant the rest of Nottinghamshire looks set to follow.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust medical director Keith Girling said the trust had taken the "extremely difficult decision" to postpone four cancer operations this week.

The head of the NHS trust, which runs Nottingham's two main hospitals, previously said some non-urgent surgery and appointments would have to be cancelled because of a spike in Covid-19 admissions.

It is understood the trust has not implemented a blanket cancellation of cancer operations.

Confirming the cancellation of some operations, Dr Girling said: "We've had to make the extremely difficult decision to postpone operations for four of our cancer/pre-cancer patients this week due to pressure on our intensive care units from both Covid-19 and non-Covid related emergencies.

"We expect to treat one of the postponed patients next week, and we're in contact with the others to arrange a new date, which will be imminent."


10:01 AM

Crimes fall by 4% due to social restrictions

The total number of crimes recorded by police in England and Wales fell by 4% to around 5.8 million in the year to June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A report published on Wednesday said: "Police-reported crime levels were relatively stable from July 2019 to March 2020 and the annual decrease was mainly driven by substantial falls during the April to June 2020 period, particularly in theft offences."

Billy Gazard, from the ONS centre for crime and justice, said the drop in crime levels was "mainly driven by changes in society after coronavirus lockdown restrictions were put in place".

He added: "The most substantial reductions were seen in theft and robbery offences during the April to June quarter.

"There are indications that crime levels in June were moving back towards pre-lockdown levels."


09:46 AM

Environment Secretary: It's 'far too early' to set out guidelines about Christmas

George Eustice told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This is a rapidly developing situation and we are making judgments all the time about what restrictions might be needed and what's appropriate to have as restrictions in a particular area.

"It's far too early to say exactly where things will be by Christmas, but the Prime Minister's made clear he wants people to be able to have a Christmas that's as close to possible as normal."

He added: "We should set our guidelines, not as the Lib Dems say based on Christmas is coming, we should set our guidelines based on the epidemiology of this virus and follow the science and respond to emerging situations in a proportionate way.

"And that's what we're doing, and it's too early I'm afraid to say exactly what the situation will be by Christmas, but we do understand people want to have a Christmas that's as close as possible to normal and to meet family and to come together.

"It's an important family occasion and we understand that and the PM's clear he wants to try to support that."


09:29 AM

Vitamins could help curb Covid, say scientists

High intakes of vitamins A, E, and D are linked to fewer respiratory illnesses, experts have suggested, as they called for further research into their effect on coronavirus.

A new long-term study involving 6,115 adults starting in 2008 suggests that taking the vitamins either through food or as a supplement may reduce the number of respiratory complaints.

It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock ordered a review into the use of vitamin D for preventing coronavirus after previously saying it did not appear to have any effect.

Those taking part in the latest study self-reported their vitamin intake and any respiratory issues, rather than them being diagnosed by a doctor.

Complaints included chesty coughs, as well as other long-term conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

Overall, there were 33 cases of respiratory complaints and researchers found that vitamin A and E intake from both diet and supplements was associated with a lower likelihood of them being reported.

Vitamin D intake from supplements, but not from diet, was also associated with fewer respiratory complaints.


09:14 AM

Satellites reveal true Covid death toll in Yemen

A first-of-its-kind study using satellite images to count fresh graves and analyse burial activity in Yemen has estimated the death toll there from Covid-19 or related causes is far higher than official government figures suggest.

Using high-resolution satellite imagery, researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine analysed burial activity at all identifiable cemeteries in Yemen's Aden region and calculated an estimated 2,100 "excess deaths" during the outbreak between April and September.

"This total is best interpreted as the net sum of deaths due to Covid-19 infection and deaths indirectly attributable to the pandemic," they said.

The indirect deaths would be those caused by disruptions to health services or by measures which may have caused problems accessing food, they added.

Mourners bury a man believed to have died from Covid-19 in Yemen - Anes Mahyoub/Reuters

“The health system has been devastated, only half of the health facilities are fully functioning - and those which remain open usually lack qualified staff, essential medicines and medical equipment, such as masks and gloves, oxygen and other essential supplies," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told a briefing in Geneva.

Yemen reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case on April 10. It has recorded only 2,064 infections with 600 deaths from the disease.


09:01 AM

Hospital suspends non-urgent surgery

Airedale Hospital, near Keighley in West Yorkshire, said it is suspending non-urgent surgery for two weeks.

It said in a statement: "We are seeing increasing demand on the hospital which is in turn meaning that our inpatient beds are at capacity.

"As a result, and as per our escalation plans, we have taken the decision to postpone any elective surgery that needs an overnight stay. This comes into effect immediately, for the next two weeks.

"Urgent and emergency cases and cancer surgery will be carrying on as normal."

The hospital added: "We know many people waiting for treatment will be disappointed or worried, and each speciality will be contacting anyone who is affected.

"This is not a decision we take lightly, but is necessary to ensure that we can continue to care for the patients who need us most."


08:58 AM

Danny Dyer: Old Etonians have proved they aren't fit to run the country

The EastEnders actor said the "little group" who attended the independent boarding school, near Windsor in Berkshire, have had their chance in power.

The 43-year-old said it is now time for "working-class people" who have "lived a real life" to be given responsibility for how the UK is run.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast alongside his daughter Dani, Dyer was asked how easy he was finding it to obey Covid-19 restrictions.

He said: "It's very confusing. It's almost perfect to break rules really because it is hard to understand what the rules are. Just keep them simple and then people will abide by it.

"We want to get out of this as quickly as possible but as confusing as it is, it just makes it so difficult."


08:19 AM

Shut bars and restaurants, urges Angela Merkel

German Chancellor wants state premiers to agree to close all restaurants and bars from Nov. 4 in a bid to curb coronavirus infections but keep schools and nurseries open, according to a draft resolution.

Under the new restrictions people would only be able to go out in public with members of their own household and one other household. The resolution said people would be punished if they broke the rule, but did not give further details.

It said an exponential increase in infections in almost all regions of Germany meant that many local health authorities could not track and trace all infections so it was necessary to significantly reduce contact between people now in the hope that extensive restrictions are not required over Christmas.

Berlin, Germany - Anadolu

If the leaders of Germany's 16 states agree to the draft during a telephone conference on Oct 28, fitness studios, discos and cinemas will close along with theatres, opera houses and concert venues.

Shops would be allowed to remain open if they implement hygiene measures and limit customer numbers, while restaurants would only be allowed to offer takeaways.


08:05 AM

Heathrow loses crown as Europe's busiest airport

Passenger numbers between July and September were down by more than 84% compared with the same period in 2019. 

The west London hub has now been overtaken by Paris Charles de Gaulle as the busiest in Europe.

Heathrow Airport recorded a loss of £1.5 billion in the first nine months of the year due to the pandemic.

Passengers arrive at Heathrow Airport - Yui Mok /PA

Chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: "Paris has overtaken Heathrow as Europe's largest airport for the first time ever, and Frankfurt and Amsterdam are quickly gaining ground.

"Let's make Britain a winner again.

"Bringing in pre-departure Covid tests and partnering with our US allies to open a pilot air bridge to America will kickstart our economic recovery and put the UK back ahead of our European rivals."


07:53 AM

25,000 people may be in hospital by end of November, claims Sage member

Professor Sir Mark Walport, a member of Sage and the Government's former chief scientific adviser, said: "There's evidence that there's not as much social distancing as when we clamped down on the first wave, so we know the risk is significant that cases will continue to grow."

He said it was plausible that 25,000 people might be in hospital with Covid-19 by the end of November.

However, he noted that fatalities would hopefully be far lower than during the first wave because doctors are now better equipped to treat patients effectively.

"Vulnerability goes with age and the presence of chronic diseases - and there are still an awful lot of people out there who are vulnerable," he added.


07:29 AM

Shoppers told cash is 'thing of the past'

People have been left unable to buy basics such as groceries and medicine as a concerning problem with cash acceptance in the UK grows, according to Which?

Shoppers have reported being told that cash is "a thing of the past" and some believe the coronavirus crisis is being used as an excuse to ditch physical money, the consumer group found.

It warned the viability of the cash system is being threatened as some shops have declined payments using banknotes and coins during the crisis.

A customer pays with a contactless card - Philippe Wojazer /Reuters

Which? is asking businesses to show understanding and flexibility to customers who may only be able to pay in cash.

Richard Piggin, head of external affairs and campaigns at Which? said: "We're alarmed at the reports of people leaving food and medicine behind because they can't pay with cash and it underlines how important it is to have a co-ordinated approach to protecting the fragile cash system."


07:12 AM

Covid risks UK brain drain of scientists, charities claim

The coronavirus pandemic is threatening the future of research as early career scientists look to leave the profession, charities have warned.

Medical research charities say there is a risk of a UK brain drain as the Covid-19 funding crisis plunges the sector into uncertainty.

Four in 10 charity-funded early career scientists have considered leaving research due to funding concerns since the virus hit the country, according to a survey by the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC).

The survey of 523 scientists funded by 72 charities also found that 28% have considered leaving due to a lack of career prospects, while 19% had considered leaving research due to Brexit.

The AMRC says the pandemic has had a devastating financial impact on medical research charities, which face cuts to their research investment of 41% over the next year.

This is a predicted £310 million shortfall in support for life-saving discoveries, it adds.


07:02 AM

Christmas guidance for whole of UK must be devised, urge political leaders

Uniform guidance for family gatherings at Christmas must be devised between all four nations of the UK, political leaders have been urged.

Boris Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon, Mark Drakeford and Arlene Foster were warned that their governments must "accept the inevitability" that people will travel over the festive period.

The call came in a letter from the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, Wales and England - together with the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland.

They said guidance cannot be made in isolation given the "interlinked" nature of life in the UK, and called for a "four nations summit" to agree a plan.

The letter states: "It therefore falls on you and your counterparts to work across governments to explore workable solutions that can enable travel to happen safely.

"To manage the implications for public health, we are urging you to hold a four nations summit to co-operate on students' return, to agree uniform guidance on the number of people who can gather, and to explore how best to expand travel options to allow social distancing."


06:51 AM

Test and trace data gaps make assessing it 'impossible'

"Significant" gaps in our data makes it impossible to know whether the Government's test and trace programme is reducing the spread of Covid-19, researchers have said.

Led by University College London (UCL), scientists have developed a new public health data dashboard for Covid-19 which is being launched on Wednesday.

The team said that while developing the Covid Response Evaluation Dashboard (Covid Red) they found "significant gaps" in the availability and quality of data.

This includes the fact that it is unknown how many people are currently isolating with Covid-19 symptoms in England. Moreover, no routine data is collected on whether people actually isolate for the full 14 days.

This makes it impossible to assess how effective NHS Test and Trace is in reducing Covid-19 transmission, they said.


06:38 AM

Pressure on Prime Minister to tighten restrictions

Boris Johnson is under growing pressure to impose heightened coronavirus restrictions as the UK recorded its highest daily Covid-19 death toll since May.

It comes as fears were raised of the second wave being more deadly than the first.

With total deaths involving the virus reaching 61,000 across the nation, Downing Street did not deny a projection provided by Government scientists which suggested the toll could remain high throughout the winter and result in more fatalities than in the spring.

The Telegraph reported the analysis shared by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has lead to intense lobbying from experts including chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Valance to take more drastic action.

A Government spokeswoman said ministers were receiving advice from a "wide range of scientific and medical experts" and that the latest figures are "concerning".


06:19 AM

Charity's legal action against Government over care home visits

A charity fighting for the rights of dementia patients to have family support during the pandemic is taking urgent legal action against the Government over its guidance on care home visits.

John's Campaign claims safety measures set out by the Department of Health and Social Care amount to a blanket ban on family visits to residential care in high-risk areas of the country.

It believes that limiting family visits to dementia and Alzheimer's patients has contributed to the 79% rise in deaths between March and September recently reported by the Office for National Statistics.

It is the largest increase in non-Covid mortalities compared with any other health condition.

The campaign paused the process of bringing a judicial review this summer when the DHSC promised impending updates to shielding guidelines would clarify the situation.

But it claims the tier system introduced on October 15 has made the situation significantly worse in Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas.


06:00 AM

Italy records highest one-day total in pandemic

Italy on Tuesday registered nearly 22,000 coronavirus cases since Monday, its highest one-day total in the pandemic. The Health Ministry reported 221 more deaths.

The last several nights have seen protests in Italian cities, reflecting anger about overnight curfews in some of Italy's regions.

Nationwide restrictions began this week; closing gyms, pools, cinemas and theates. Restaurants are required to close before dinner hour.

Northern Lombardy and southern Campania regions have experienced the highest daily caseloads in recent days.

Italy's total confirmed cases rose to 564,778 and the death toll reached 37,700.


05:50 AM

PM urged to cut quarantine

Quarantine should be slashed to five days through coronavirus testing that would catch nearly nine in 10 cases, senior Tory MPs have told Boris Johnson in a letter ahead of next week's Government taskforce report to the Prime Minister.

The letter said the Government's current proposal for testing at seven days is too long, citing evidence that tests on the fifth day could catch at least 88 per cent of cases.

READ MORE: Cut quarantine to five days with new testing regime, Boris Johnson told


05:32 AM

Beijing tracks import routes of frozen food

A woman shops in Beijing - REUTERS/Thomas Peter

The Telegraph's China correspondent Sophia Yan explains that the city of Beijing is rolling out a digital platform to track import routes of frozen meat and seafood:

Authorities say recent outbreaks in the country were linked to such products, even though there is no evidence that coronavirus can be transmitted through food or packaging.

Companies transporting and storing imported frozen food items will be required from November 11 to record details about the supply chain, including place of origin.

Authorities have been quick to seize on threads that hint coronavirus may have originated outside of China and brought into the country in efforts to deflect public anger over its cover-up in the early days of the pandemic – including links to imported food products.

The Chinese government has gone so far as to seed conspiracy theories, including that the US military brought coronavirus in to harm the Chinese people. 

In June, Beijing had a cluster outbreak linked to one of Asia’s largest markets, where authorities said traces of coronavirus were found on a chopping board used for imported salmon. 

More recently, in Qingdao, port workers who handled frozen seafood products tested positive for the virus.

Coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan, ground zero of the pandemic, with a number of cases linked to the city’s seafood market.


05:16 AM

Breath test could diagnose Covid 'within one minute'

A non-invasive Covid-19 breath test that could deliver results "within one minute" is being developed by UK scientists.

The technology, which was originally developed as part of a project known as TOXI-Triage, would use "breath signatures" to "rapidly distinguish Covid-19 from other respiratory conditions".

The researchers said their findings, published in The Lancet's EclinicalMedicine journal, could dramatically improve the experience of taking a coronavirus test as well as "play a part in restarting the economy".

Led by Loughborough University, the project was launched four years ago with the aim of determining the most effective ways to give medical and toxic assessments to the casualties of a chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear event.

The team involved in the project repurposed some of the existing technology to design a Covid breath test.

Paul Thomas, professor of analytical science from Loughborough University's Department of Chemistry, said the team was encouraged by the findings but added more data was required to develop the test.

Emma Brodrick, systems application manager at the Imspex Group, a diagnostics company based in Wales and collaborating on the research, said: "Currently the two leading tests for Covid-19 - antigen detection and PCR - both utilise invasive means of taking samples, which can be uncomfortable for the patient and may discourage some from going to get a test they desperately need.

"We are excited to be working with NHS trusts in Scotland, Klinikum Dortmund in Germany and Loughborough University to develop a minimally invasive test that produces results rapidly - indeed in TOXI-Triage, our results were within one minute."


04:32 AM

'Grow up and stop going out there and giving people Covid'

More than 80 Candians were fined this week for attending a house party in French-speaking Quebec, while in the province of Manitoba authorities publicly admonished citizens who ignored pandemic precautions.

Their actions have led to thousands of people being exposed to Covid-19 at shopping centres, offices and elderly care homes.

One person was singled out for not alerting doctors of their Covid diagnosis ahead of surgery. As a result, the entire surgical team was placed under quarantine for two weeks.

Another person went to work with symptoms and, when told to go home, went shopping instead, according to authorities.

"Thoughtful Manitobans are making sacrifices and staying away from loved ones, while other people are doing dumb things endangering all of us," a visibly upset Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said as the number of per capita cases topped all other Canadian regions.

"Get with the program, grow up and stop going out there and giving people Covid."


03:07 AM

Death toll tops 10,000 as PM says pandemic 'really sucks'

Justin Trudeau - REUTERS/Blair Gable

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has told Canadians exhausted by coronavirus that the pandemic "really sucks" on the same day the nation's death toll was reported to have topped 10,000.

With fatigue setting in as the pandemic enters its 10th month, Canada has seen an uptick in people flouting public health rules on social distancing and mask-wearing.

"We're in an unprecedented global pandemic. That really sucks," Mr Trudeau said.

The prime minister acknowledged growing frustration, including over the lockdown of businesses once again amid a second wave of infections.

Figures released by several television news channels revealed Tuesday's grim milestone, with a case count of 220,670 and a death toll of 10,001.

Most of the deaths are concentrated in the two largest provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

"It's going to be a tough winter ahead," Trudeau said, noting that most Halloween trick-or-treating this weekend had been banned and "there may not be the kinds of family gatherings we want to have a Christmas".

But he said that Canada would "get through this".


02:36 AM

Wales rethinks rules on essential shopping

Sanitary products and baby clothes are now classed as essential items in Wales, amid ongoing chaos over the country’s lockdown rules.

Products for washing clothes and cleaning are also officially exempt from the ban, as well as items used to maintain the home such as batteries and light bulbs.

The Welsh Government revised its list of items allowed to be sold in supermarkets on Tuesday and told retailers that a “sensible system” should be introduced in which customers can ask to buy non-essential items.

READ MORE: Welsh Government revises its list of items allowed to be sold in lockdown


02:21 AM

China records highest toll in more than two months

Mainland China reported 42 new Covid cases on Wednesday, the highest daily toll in more than two months due to a rise in infections in the northwestern Xinjiang region.

Of the new cases, 22 in the city of Kashgar in Xinjiang were previously asymptomatic patients.

The region's health authorities also reported another 19 symptomless infections - which China does not recognise as confirmed cases - which accounted for half the new asymptomatic cases reported.

The daily toll marks the highest since 44 confirmed infections were reported on August 10, though it remains far off the peaks in February at the height of the outbreak in mainland China that forced the country into a virtual standstill.

The total number of confirmed infections in mainland China now stands at 85,868, while the death toll is unchanged at 4,634. 


02:00 AM

South Korea's latest cluster linked to golf gathering

A visitor checks out robots measuring body temperature at AI Expo Korea at COEX in Seoul - YONHAP/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

South Korea has reported 103 new cases of coronavirus infections, continuing a steady spread as people increasingly venture out in public amid eased social distancing measures.

The figures released by the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday brought the national caseload to 26,146, including 461 deaths.

Sixty-six of the new cases were reported in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan region.

At least 31 patients have been linked to a golf gathering in Yongin, which emerged as the country's latest cluster of infections.

Officials have also been testing thousands of workers at hospitals and nursing homes in the capital area following outbreaks that sickened hundreds.


01:41 AM

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