Discharging hospital patients back into care homes was an "important source" of infection, government experts have admitted, as new figures show that more than half of care homes have had a confirmed case of Covid-19
Britain faced a backlash last night from Portugal, one of our most popular tourist destinations, after ditching it from a list of 74 countries and territories that English holidaymakers can visit without quarantine
Papua New Guinea's leading obstetrician tells women not to get pregnant for two years
Papua New Guinea’s leading obstetrician has told women in the country to delay getting pregnant for two years over fears of coronavirus.
Glen Mola, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Papua New Guinea, told ABC news in Australia that women should delay getting pregnant until the pandemic is over because the country’s hospital will not be able to cope if infections run out of control.
Dr Mola said: "It's best not to plan a pregnancy this year or perhaps even next year, because we don't know how the epidemic is going to run.”
Scientists say the risks associated with Covid-19 are not greater for pregnant women, but some in Papua New Guinea are concerned the health system could easily be overloaded - David Jones/PA
According to the latest statistics from the World Health Organization there have been just 11 cases of the disease in the Pacific nation and no deaths as of July 2, although there are fears of underreporting.
The country shares a border with the Indonesia province of West Papua, which has had more than 290 cases, and the threat of importation is high.
The country’s health service has been described as “dysfunctional” by two Papua New Guinean academics and there are just 500 doctors and 4,000 nurses in a country of 8 million people.
09:48 PM
China says investigations into origins of Covid-19 should look beyond its borders
Chinese officials and experts have insisted that any investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic should not be confined to China, pointing to Spain as an alternative source.
The statements appear to be an attempt to dampen expectations ahead of a World Health Organization “scoping mission” to the country next week, which aims to establish a platform to trace the emergence of Sars-Cov-2.
"Knowing the source of the virus is very, very important," Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, said as he announced the trip on Monday. “We can fight the virus better when we know everything about the virus, including how it started.”
China has taken a defensive stance in response.
“It does not matter which country the scientific identification work starts with, as long as it involves all related countries and is fairly conducted,” Zeng Guang, the chief epidemiologist for the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told the state-run Global Times.
Our Global Health Security Reporter, Sarah Newey has the latest here.
09:39 PM
France: Covid-19 death toll rises to 29,893
The number of deaths in France from coronavirus has risen by 18, to 29,893, the country’s health department said on Friday.
Meanwhile, the number of people in intensive care units fell by 13 to 560.
09:28 PM
Pakistani foreign minister tests positive for coronavirus
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Friday he had tested positive for Covid-19, reports Reuters.
“This afternoon I felt a slight fever and immediately quarantined myself at home,” Qureshi said on Twitter.
In the last few days, Mr Qureshi has had contact with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in parliament and in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
09:17 PM
Covid cases were linked to patients moving from hospitals to care homes, Government report admits
Discharging hospital patients back into care homes was an ‘important source' of infection, government experts have admitted, as new figures show that more than half of care homes have had a confirmed case of Covid-19.
A paper by the Care Homes Sub group which was submitted to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) on May 12th, warned that the new disease cases were linked to the connection between care homes and hospitals.
The huge numbers of deaths in care homes is thought to be the reason the government underestimated how many people would die from the virus, with Professor Neil Ferguson recently telling MPs he had assumed residents would be shielded when modelling the pandemic.
A separate report, released in a new tranche of government papers on Thursday showed that Sage believed there would be at most 50,000 UK deaths in the first wave of the pandemic up to September. But that figure was passed at the beginning of June.
Sarah Knapton and Gabriella Swerling have the latest here.
09:07 PM
In pictures: Coronavirus lockdowns lifted across the world
Staff wearing face coverings use brooms and squeegees to clean the lead bottom of the Great Bath at the Roman Baths in Bath, making final preparations ahead of reopening to members of the public on Monday - Ben Birchall/PA A diver cleaning the inside window of the seal tank at Tynemouth Aquarium in North Shields, as it prepares to open on Saturday - Owen Humphreys/PA A woman sunbaths on a pier at the beach in the island of Corfu, as the island welcomes its first tourists after months of closure - ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus take a selfie together before they wait to enter Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu, near Tokyo - Kyodo News
08:45 PM
Evening summary
If you are just joining us, here is a quick summary of the top stories from this evening:
The full list of countries which will be exempt from the quarantine has been published by the UK Government. The long-awaited list of "travel corridor" countries includes Germany, Greece, Italy and Spain, as well as further afield locations including New Zealand, Vietnam and South Korea.
Three of Europe's biggest airlines are to end a legal challenge against the British government after it scrapped its quarantine rule for travellers coming from some of the most popular tourist destinations.
The Government has now published its local lockdown rules for Leicester. The new regulations will come into force on Saturday and state that restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs must remain closed, but exceptions are made for cafes and canteens at hospitals, care homes, prisons and military bases.
Alcohol will be available again in a number of bars and restaurants in Parliament from Monday. A "comprehensive set of measures" to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic will be in place as restrictions are eased, House of Commons officials said.
NHS staff need a pay boost in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Government have developed a five step approach to local outbreaks based on monitoring, engaging, testing, targeted restrictions and as a last resort lockdowns. The PM said: “We need to move away from blanket national measures to targeted local measures”
Downing Street has said eligibility for the flu vaccine will be expanded as the Government increases its stocks during the coronavirus crisis. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "This year it's particularly important as we want to make sure we protect as many people as possible in those risk groups.”
The UK's death toll has risen by 137 in the last 24 hours, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced. This rise takes the total number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for Covid-19 to 44,131.
The European Commission said on Friday that it had given conditional approval for the use of remdesivir, a Covid-19 antiviral drug.
More than 73,000 weddings and civil partnerships in England have been postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to new estimates.
08:29 PM
Gyms to reopen in a 'couple of weeks', says Boris Johnson
Gyms are on track to reopen by mid-July, Boris Johnson has said, as the Government edges closer to easing recreational sporting restrictions from next weekend.
The Prime Minister's promise to open gyms "as soon as we can" comes after Sport England expressed concerns this week that Britons are abandoning lockdown exercise routines.
The exercise leisure sector produced detailed proposals to reopen, including measures to maintain two-metre social distancing, after lobbying the Government to return along with pubs on Saturday.
After July 4 was turned down, the sector is now pinning its hopes on July 11. Whitehall sources have since refused to rule out next weekend.
The Government has now published its local lockdown rules for Leicester.
The new regulations will come into force on Saturday and state that restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs must remain closed, but exceptions are made for cafes and canteens at hospitals, care homes, prisons and military bases.
Anyone who breaks the rules in Leicester could be fined £100, which doubles every time they flout the new law, and could reach up to £3,200 for the sixth and subsequent offences.
Non-essential businesses, such as cinemas, theatres and nightclubs, must remain closed, unless they are hosting blood donations.
Businesses that can stay open include: supermarkets, off-licences, pharmacies, banks, homeware stores, post offices and garden centres.
The rules are to be reviewed every two weeks, with the first review due on July 18.
07:53 PM
Exclusive: 'I had the UK's first covid-secure haircut '
I was the grateful recipient of the very first covid-secure haircut in the UK – and the experience was every inch as thrilling as I expected, writes Sonia Hara.
So what was different? There were obvious changes from a pre-covid haircut from the get-go, at the salon Buller & Rice in Walthamstow, London, run by colourist Anita Rice and hairdresser Stephen Buller. I had to arrive at the salon at my allotted appointment time with very minimal belongings, and I waited outside for a moment before Stephen opened the door for me. I then used their alcohol hand gel immediately, before being offered a cloth face covering to wear (which I kept on throughout my visit).
Daily Telegraph's Sonia Haria pictured getting her hair done at Buller and Rice in Walthamstow - Rii Schroer/Rii Schroer
Although it isn’t a government requirement for clients to wear a face covering throughout their hairdressing service, most salons including Buller & Rice are asking each customer to either bring their own, or wear one supplied by the salon. Both Stephen and Anita were wearing visors, which is a requirement in the government guidelines issued last week.
Anita and Stephen have made sure there is at least 1.5 to 2 metres between each chair (and they have removed a couple of chairs if the distancing isn’t possible), but everything about the actual experience of having my hair coloured and cut was the same as pre-covid. Everything was reassuringly, brilliantly normal. I was in some sort of post-lockdown heaven.
Scotland: First Minister criticises UK air bridge plans
Nicola Sturgeon has criticised the UK Government's "shambolic" plans to develop air bridges, but said it is likely Scots will be allowed to travel to some low-risk countries without having to quarantine on their return.
The First Minister said she wants to "maximise alignment" with the rest of the UK so travellers do not have to quarantine, but added she needs time to study the British Government's proposals - saying they have regularly changed like "shifting sands".
Speaking at the Scottish Government's coronavirus briefing on Friday, Ms Sturgeon said: "It is likely - very likely - that we will be able to agree the list of countries that the UK has categorised as low risk, although we will need to do appropriate assessment of that.
"But we need to take some particular care in our assessment of the list of countries that are being categorised as medium risk, because that is where there may be some countries that have a higher prevalence of the virus than Scotland does right now."
If Scotland pursues a different policy to England, Ms Sturgeon insisted travellers would need to follow quarantining rules when entering Scotland, even if they arrive from abroad at an English airport.
07:17 PM
Bars in Parliament to reopen
Alcohol will be available again in a number of bars and restaurants in Parliament from Monday.
A "comprehensive set of measures" to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic will be in place as restrictions are eased, House of Commons officials said.
A House of Commons spokesperson said: "As a Covid-secure workplace, we are ensuring that we have a comprehensive set of measures in place to enable Parliament to continue to fulfil its constitutional duties during an unprecedented time.
"Following the latest Government announcement regarding the hospitality sector, we have reviewed our current measures relating to our catering outlets."
"From July 6, the sale of alcohol in certain outlets will resume, with table service and additional seating areas, as per the Government guidelines."
07:08 PM
Watch: Boris Johnson urges UK to 'enjoy summer safely' ahead of pubs reopening
06:50 PM
Report: 'I'm back eating in restaurants for the first time since lockdown – and it's strange but glorious'
Telegraph recipe columnist Eleanor Steafel has lunch at Rick Stein's, as restaurants across the country prepare to reopen.
It is a Thursday afternoon and I am eating lunch that someone else has cooked for me, at a table that is not my own, which someone else has laid and – the real clincher – where someone else is going to do the washing up.
It has been four long months since any of us went to a restaurant. My last visit was on March 10th to Parson’s in Covent Garden with a friend, where we ate grilled mackerel and chips and were too nervous to hug hello or goodbye.
A week later, after the country was plunged into lockdown, she sent me a message: “So, it appears that might have been my last social engagement for… ever?! Very nice to have spent it with you.”
Tomorrow, as restaurants throw open their doors after more than 100 days of lockdown, diners will return to a brave new world of hospitality, where hand sanitiser stations outnumber tables, chefs wear masks and silverware comes in a sterilised pouch.
Finding information about local Covid-19 infections should be as easy as checking the weather, the BMA have said
Finding up-to-date local information about Covid-19 infections should be as easy as checking the weather forecast, the British Medical Association has said.
According to the BMA's public health medicine committee chairman Dr Peter English, current local data is not necessarily easy to find or understand.
Search engines, social media, local media and the inside public buildings could be used to display data on the number of infected people per 100,000 population in a similar way to how local information about weather, traffic or pollen counts is made available, the BMA said.
Dr English said: "People should not have to look hard to find this vital information.In the same way that I can find the temperature or weather forecast in my area, I should just as easily be able to find the current infection rate."
He added: "The pandemic is not over, and as certain restrictions are eased, this easy-to-digest information would serve as an important reminder to people that they should stay vigilant, and continue to practise social distancing and good personal hygiene."
06:18 PM
Quarter of pubs to stay shut on 'Super Saturday' over fears of rowdiness and overcrowding
More than a quarter of England’s pubs will keep their doors firmly shut despite the easing of lockdown restrictions, following concerns over potential disorder on ‘Super Saturday’, writes our senior news reporter Patrick Sawer.
Thousands of pubs will not open until later this month or even August, with many fearing they are not in a position to cope with the anticipated rush of customers this weekend.
Under new Government guidelines customers will have to follow strict rules on how they behave, with no dancing or singing, no drinking at the bar and abiding by a "one-in-one-out" rule in toilets.
Patrons will have to be two metres away from each other where possible or one metre with extra precautions in place such as having tables back to back and not side by side.
But many landlords fear there will be rowdy scenes as thousands of drinkers descend on pubs following the lockdown, with police chiefs having already warned re-opening in a weekend after months of closure will have the impact of several New Year's Eves in one night.
Labour calls for NHS workers to be given a pay raise
NHS staff need a pay boost in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Labour leader made the call during a virtual rally marking the 72 years of the NHS in which he praised health service staff for their efforts during the pandemic.
"The pride and the thanks that we have for the NHS which is always there, is reinforced this year by everything that all the staff in the NHS have done in relation to the Covid crisis.
"That's why it's very important that we don't just say thanks, but recognise in a meaningful way what the NHS has done. And that's why Labour supports those calling on the Government today to make an immediate commitment to talks on a pay rise for NHS workers."
The comments come after unions representing more than 1.3 million nurses, midwives, paramedics and other NHS employees wrote to the Chancellor and the Prime Minister calling for pay talks to start soon.
This weekend marks the anniversary of the launch of the NHS on July 5 1948. The public will be encouraged to observe a minute's silence on Saturday and light a candle in remembrance of people who have died during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Downing Street will be lit-up blue on Saturday night in tribute to the NHS as a candle is lit at the PM's official residence at 9pm.
05:52 PM
Comment: ‘Forget local lockdowns, we should be lifting restrictions in the ‘not spots’’
Now that we know where Covid is striking, we can reopen the places where the virus is nonexistent, writes Fraser Nelson.
We can now forget about the R-number, a useless metric that has been stuck in the same range (between 0.6 and 1) since lockdown began. We now have firm tests to judge Covid the German way: by looking at new weekly infections in local areas, per 100,000 of population.
Germany’s danger zone is 50. The only part of England that fails this test is Leicester, at 130: hence the lockdown. We know all this because, for the first time, we have full figures for the whole country. Next on the list are Bradford at 46 and Barnsley at 35.
We can also draw a map of the Covid not-spots, and it is fascinating. London – still pretty much a ghost town – now scores 3, meaning there are just a few dozen new cases a day. The south-west of England is virtually Covid-free.The reopening of Longleat safari park means that in Wiltshire you are more likely to meet a lion than someone recently diagnosed with the virus. Last week, there was not a single Covid case recorded in Bath, Portsmouth, Rutland or Torbay.
Global coronavirus cases exceeded 11 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally.
The number of cases is more than double the figure for severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to the World Health Organization.
05:15 PM
Here are the key comments from today's briefing
The Downing Street press conference has now concluded for the day. Here's a quick roundup of the key points you need to know:
The Prime Minister warned "we are not out of the woods yet" and urged Britons to "enjoy summer safely". He said: "The virus is still with us and the spike in Leicester has shown that - if it starts running out of control again this Government will not hesitate in putting on the brakes and reimposing restrictions.”
The Government have developed a five step approach to local outbreaks based on monitoring, engaging, testing, targeted restrictions and as a last resort lockdowns. The PM said: “We need to move away from blanket national measures to targeted local measures”
The Prime Minister said the Government would soon be announcing a timetable for the events industry to start opening up in a Covid-secure way. He told the Downing Street press briefing: "We will be doing everything we reasonably can to support the arts and events world."
The Prime Minister said the Government has "all sorts of measures in reserve" in the event of a second wave of Covid-19 infections.But he said another national lockdown would be "the response of last resort".
05:07 PM
Why should the public listen to the Government's advice when those close to the PM do not?
"Boris Johnson's father and Dominic Cummings have both broken lockdown rules, why should the public obey the Government's restrictions anymore?", asks the Guardian.
"I make a practice of not commenting on the movements of my family", Boris Johnson replied, adding that Durham Police decided not to punish Dominic Cummings last month.
He said: "What I can tell you, when you look at what the British public has done - it has been a phenomenal effort to follow the guidance and get the virus under control. People have worked together and done a heroic job."
05:01 PM
Should the public be splurging to save the hospitality sector?
"What is your judgement, what do you want people to do when pubs reopen tomorrow?", ITV have asked. "Should people be having one or two drinks or spending more to help businesses?"
The PM said that he wanted the public to "enjoy summer safely" and be sensible. "It has got to be done in a responsible way - by observing social distancing and washing hands frequently", he added.
04:55 PM
Are scientists comfortable with the pace of reopening?
The BBC have asked whether the Government is confident that it has struck the right balance between the health of the nation and the economy and asks whether scientists are comfortable with the pace of reopening.
In response the PM said: "Our priority is the health of the British public. We look at where we are with the prevalence of the disease and look at the efforts that the public we made - we think this is the moment to reopen cautiously."
Sir Chris Whitty added: "Either side of the path - there are risks. We are going to have health problems and economic problems for sure. We are trying to walk a narrow path, there is no perfect time and no perfect exact way of doing this."
"What this is, is an attempt to balance as best we can the multiple risks in a way that makes it possible for society to be as close as possible to normal whilst living alongside this virus."
"This is not a risk free next step."
04:45 PM
What plans are in place if the UK experiences a second wave?
A woman from Leeds has asked how what contingency plans have been put in place to respond to a second wave of Covid-19.
"We will keep all sorts of measures in reserve", the PM responded, adding that another national lockdown was an absolute last resort.
Sir Chris Whitty added: "A second wave is something that everybody realises is a possibility and we are beginning to see the possibility of second waves elsewhere in the world."
"We have to prepare for this and there are a lot of preparations going on."
"But all of us need to stick to social distancing rules and continue doing all of the other things that have been recommended - ranging from washing your hands to using face masks on public transport - all of these things are absolutely essential. If families or workplaces do not take these measures seriously, the probability of a second wave goes up very sharply. "
"There are also other factors - such as winter - which may work to the virus' advantage even if all of us are following guidelines."
His sentiments were shared by Sir Patrick Vallance, who stressed that the virus had not gone away but had been "suppressed", but local outbreaks were still likely to occur in coming months.
04:38 PM
What support can the Government offer to the arts and events industry?
The PM has now begun taking questions from members of the public and journalists. David from Milton Keynes has asked what help the Government will offer to the events and arts industry which has been "decimated" by the pandemic.
In response Boris Johnson said: "The industry has had an incredibly tough time - we have tried to support every sector of the economy to the tune of £120 billion so far. I know that particularly within the events and arts industry people are anxious about when it will be their turn to reopen."
"That is why I have announced that next week, we will set out a timetable so we can get you all preparing to reopen and get Covid secure."
04:33 PM
The Government will reintroduce restrictions if need be, Boris Johnson warns
If the public fail to sensibly adhere to social distancing guidelines, the Government will reintroduce strict measures again, the PM warned.
"If it starts running out of control again - this Government will not hesitate in putting on the breaks and reimposing restrictions", he said.
"Anyone who flouts social distancing is not only putting us all at risk but letting down businesses and workers."
"As we take this next step - our biggest step on our road to recovery - I urge the British people to do so safely."
04:30 PM
PM: 'It is our responsibility to act sensibly as restrictions are lifted'
Boris Johnson has urged the public to act responsibility as lockdown restrictions are lifted over the weekend.
"I know everyone will be looking forward to the relaxation of national restrictions," the PM said. "Businesses have put in a heroic effect to prepare their venues for this reopening, to work out a way to trade which keeps customers safe. "
"The success of these businesses and economic health of the country is dependent on every single one of us acting responsibly. We must not let them down. Lockdown only succeeded in controlling the virus because everyone worked together. We will only succeed in reopening if everyone works together again."
"We are not out of the woods yet."
04:24 PM
Five strand approach to local lockdowns being introduced
The Government has developed a five strand strategy for containing local outbreaks, the PM said.
These consist of: monitoring, engaging, testing, targeted restrictions and as a last resort- lockdown.
Monitoring: Public Health England working with the joint bio-security centre will examine carefully data on the spread of the disease, people's behaviour across the country. They will look out for emerging trends and take into account local factors.
Engagement: NHS test and trace and PHE will work with local authorities to develop a deeper understanding of the issue and identify solutions. The local community will be informed at every stage.
Testing: We have the ability to target testing capacity on local areas, the PM said. Scaled up testing and contact tracing will be able to control the virus
Target restrictions: If the virus continues to spread the government will restrict activities and close individual premises.
Local lockdown: If the previous measures have not proven to be enough, local lockdowns will be introduced.
04:15 PM
PM: We are now moving towards a localised targeted strategy
We need to move away from "blanket" national measures and create a more focused approach, the PM said.
"Instead of closing down non-essential retail and hospitality nationwide, we will only shut establishments locally as required."
"Instead of shutting all schools, from September we will only shut those schools where it is absolutely necessary to control an outbreak."
"Instead of quarantining arrivals from the whole world we will only quarantine arrivals from those countries where the virus is sadly not yet under control."
"With each local outbreak we see what works well and what didn't go well so we can do better next time."
04:11 PM
Timeline for the reopening of nail salons and other businesses to be set up next week
The government will set up a timetable for the reopening of businesses that remain closed such as nail salons and indoor swimming pools.
"Lockdown has saved many hundreds of thousands of lives but has had a devastating impact on our way of life and our economy", the PM said.
"Taskforces have been introduced to work with the sectors that remain closed - I am pleased with the progress being made."
04:07 PM
PM: 'We expected local outbreaks'
"There are areas such as Leicester where the virus is more prevalent than we could like", the PM continues.
"We always said that there would be local outbreaks requiring local action - this is to be expected and will be a feature of our lives for some time to come."
"This should not take away from the great progress we have made together as a country against this vicious disease. This progress is the reason that we have been able to ease the national lockdown."
04:05 PM
Boris Johnson: R rate between 0.7 and 0.9 nationwide
Boris Johnson has kicked off today's press conference and is accompanied by Prof Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance.
"We have continued to make progress", the PM begins. "We are reporting regularly fewer than 1,000 cases each day."
"SAGE assesses that the R rate remains between 0.7 and 0.9 across the UK", he added. "The number of new infections is shrinking between 2 and 5 per cent everyday."
03:56 PM
5pm: Downing Street press conference
We are expecting the Government press briefing to begin in roughly 5 minutes. We'll be posting all the latest updates, or you can watch live via the stream at the top of the blog.
Today the press conference will be led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Until then, here are three big stories to be aware of so far today:
The full list of countries which will be exempt from the quarantine has been published by the UK Government. The long-awaited list of "travel corridor" countries includes Germany, Greece, Italy and Spain, as well as further afield locations including New Zealand, Vietnam and South Korea.
Downing Street has said eligibility for the flu vaccine will be expanded as the Government increases its stocks during the coronavirus crisis. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "This year it's particularly important as we want to make sure we protect as many people as possible in those risk groups.
The European Commission said on Friday that it had given conditional approval for the use of remdesivir, a Covid-19 antiviral drug.
03:52 PM
Analysis: Where the jobs axe is falling across the UK
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on jobs is starting to bite, with several businesses announcing cuts, reports Sophie Smith.
Companies across Britain have seen their revenues decimated by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic – and many have begun to announce job cuts ahead of the closure of the Government’s job retention scheme in October.
Here are some of the the companies that have axed jobs in the UK since the coronavirus crisis. In total, 108,987 jobs have been lost or are at risk. This does not include a number of companies that have warned of redundancies but have yet to put a figure on them.
Luggage retailer Antler fell into administration in May, cutting 164 jobs of a 199-strong workforce. Administrators said Antler had been “profoundly impacted” by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cruise giant Carnival UK has announced plans to make a “large number of redundancies” in Southampton as it grapples with the havoc the coronavirus outbreak is wreaking on the travel industry. The company employs approximately 1,100 people in and around Southampton. Although Carnival declined to reveal the number of people who may lose their jobs, local media have reported that 450 roles are under scrutiny.
Rolls-Royce has launched a wave of job cuts in a bid to slash costs. Around 1,500 roles will be shed at the company’s Derby base roles this year, along with at least 700 redundancies at its site in Inchinnan, Scotland. Further, smaller job cuts will be made around the company’s UK operations as part of a plan to shed 3,000 British jobs this year.
Consultancy firm Accenture is planning to axe up to 900 jobs in the UK as the firm tries to cut costs to deal with the fallout from coronavirus. Accenture is a US firm headquartered in New York, but it employs more than 10,000 people in the UK.
Heathrow Airport chief John Holland-Kaye said that a third of the 76,000 people employed at the airport could be made redundant as it battles to stem losses following a huge collapse in air travel.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) July 3, 2020
03:40 PM
Wales: First Minister calls on the Government to invest in the UK arts sector
The First Minister of Wales has called on the Government to step in and help the UK arts industry.
Speaking at the daily Welsh Government briefing, Mark Drakeford accused the Government of "trialing but not delivering" a package of support for the sector.
He said the Welsh Government lacked the resources to support the whole arts sector in Wales but would be able to offer assistance on top of a UK Government scheme.
"I fear a lot for the art sector in Wales because it has been so very much affected by coronavirus and the prospects for it reopening are not anything that we can reliably provide to them".
"The UK Government has trialled but never delivered a package of support for cultural industries and we need to see that package of support."
"It needs to continue to offer a targeted furlough scheme, it needs to continue to offer help to people who are self-employed."
03:33 PM
Airlines to drop UK quarantine legal challenge
Three of Europe's biggest airlines are to end a legal challenge against the British government after it scrapped its quarantine rule for travellers coming from some of the most popular tourist destinations.
British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair announced the legal action in June, arguing that the policy was "flawed" and would have a "devastating impact on British tourism and the wider economy".
The airlines had opened their case earlier today, however Tom Hickman, the lawyer representing the airlines said that the case would be dropped on that assumption that a full list of exempted countries would be published later today.
"On the premise it materialises, we have agreed everything else which needs to be agreed," Tom Hickman, told the High Court in London.
The full list of countries detailing where English holidaymakers can travel to without having to quarantine was published earlier today and includes countries such as Spain, France and Italy.
03:12 PM
Covid-19 antiviral drug receives conditional clearance from the EU
The European Commission said on Friday that it had given conditional approval for the use of remdesivir, a Covid-19 antiviral drug.
The EU executive said the drug, produced by Gilead Sciences Inc, was the first medicine authorised in the European Union for treating Covid-19 following a "rolling review" begun by the European Medicines Agency at the end of April.
03:01 PM
School transport may hinder Government's 'bubbles' plan
A lack of alternative transport arrangements for pupils could jeopardise the Government's plan of maintaining year-group "bubbles" in England's schools in September, a think tank suggests.
The Government set out its plans to keep children in class or year-sized "bubbles" when all pupils return to school full-time in an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus.
But an analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) says the plan is likely to prove "unworkable" because of limited transport options available to pupils.
A "significant number of pupils" are likely to mix with students from other year groups - and even other schools - on their journeys to and from school from September, EPI has warned.
Researchers found that as many as one in three of all pupils at secondary school in England - approximately 1.1 million - use either a school bus or public transport to get to school.
The vast majority of pupils travelling on school buses or using public transport have no alternative, unless they have access to a private car.
The EPI said secondary schools typically attract pupils from up to three miles away - and in rural areas it can be significantly further.
02:51 PM
"I love pubs, but I won't be going anywhere near one on Super Saturday"
You might think we've made enough progress in our fight against coronavirus to allow ourselves a treat. But for me it's still far too soon. Tom Ough explains exactly why he won't be joining the queue at the bar this weekend:
Congratulations. You have been appointed Head of Pandemic Growth by the Illuminati. Your job is to create a social institution through which coronavirus can sweep the UK as quickly, stealthily and brutally as possible.
“Don’t you worry,” you tell your new lizard overlords, twirling your moustachios. “I have just the plan.”
And here it is. You know that coronavirus transmission is much more likely to take place indoors. You know that the virus spreads quickly when people raise their voices and when they’re clustered together. You know that people have to take their facemasks off to drink and that alcohol makes people less likely to follow social distancing guidelines.
Bring all those tendencies under one roof, hire someone to pull the pints, and you’ve created the perfect venue for another round of outbreaks. Call it a Plague Unleashing Building: “Pub” for short.
This is why I will not be entering a pub on what is being billed as “Super Saturday”, as if Sky Sports were televising a thrilling contest between our love of a drink and our wish to preserve the lives of our fellow citizens.
Investigations into a cross-border coronavirus outbreak have identified an 11th case of the infection linked to a Carlisle hospital, Scotland's national clinical director has said.
All the cases are believed to be linked and have been discovered around the Dumfries and Galloway border with England, with the area put into what is effectively a local lockdown.
Professor Jason Leitch announced on Wednesday that nine cases had been identified around Gretna and Annan, and that figure has now risen to 11 confirmed cases of the infection.
Staff who work at the hospital and live in Dumfries and Galloway have been offered "anything they need", including testing, Mr Leitch told the Scottish Government's daily briefing on Friday.
Prof Leitch praised public health officials for doing a "fantastic job in controlling this outbreak", with all 23 known contacts of people with the infection believed to be self-isolating.
02:21 PM
Quarantine-free list of countries published by Government
The full list of countries which will be exempt from the quarantine has been published by the UK Government.
The long-awaited list of "travel corridor" countries includes Germany, Greece, Italy and Spain, as well as further afield locations including New Zealand, Vietnam and South Korea.
However, the US and China are among those not to appear. Portugal is also not on the list.
Ireland is already exempt as part of the common travel area, as are the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
In addition, the Government will be exempting the 14 British Overseas Territories.
Public Health Wales said a further two people have died in Wales after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths to 1,525.
The total number of positive tests has increased by 26 to 15,841.
01:46 PM
Northern Ireland deaths rise by two
Two more deaths with Covid-19 have been reported in Northern Ireland, bringing the overall total to 554.
Another four people tested positive, official figures show, with the number of confirmed cases of the virus now 5,747.
01:45 PM
England deaths up by 38
A further 38 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 28,832, NHS England said.
Patients were aged between 33 and 96 years old. Two patients, aged 50 and 69, had no known underlying health conditions
01:30 PM
Spain's economy minister Calvino says all EU Covid-19 debt will be repaid
pain's Economy Minister Nadia Calvino said all the debt issued by the European Union to help its member states deal with the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis will eventually be paid back.
The debt will be sustainable as it will finance projects to help the EU resume the economic growth that was interrupted by the coronavirus crisis, she said in a virtual panel held by French think tank Cercle des Economistes.
01:18 PM
Rival Sage expert attacks air bridge plans
Mediterranean destinations which people may flock to after England scraps quarantine for arrivals from low-risk countries could become "melting pots" for coronavirus, an expert has said.
The combination of people flying in from other parts of the world and alcohol being consumed could lead to a flare-up of cases, according to Dr Gabriel Scally, a former NHS doctor and professor of public health at the University of Bristol.
He also said that one of the main issues lies in how people travel to and from airports, and not necessarily the flight itself.
The Independent Sage team was set up by former Government chief scientific adviser Sir David King after the official Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) faced criticism over not being transparent.
Prof Scally said: "As Europe loosens up and people do go for their Mediterranean holiday, I really worry about some of the places they are going on holiday becoming melting pots for the virus, as people fly in from all sorts of different places and enjoy themselves.
"And alcohol will undoubtedly feature, so I wouldn't at all be surprised if over the next month or two, we did see some really big flare-ups in some holiday destinations."
01:02 PM
German scientists start nationwide antibody study
German scientists have begun a nationwide study to gain a better overview of the actual prevalence of the new coronavirus in the country's population and test how well measures to prevent its spread are working.
The study by the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) will start by testing around 3,000 blood samples from residents in the southern German town of Reutlingen for antibodies created when immune system fights the coronavirus.
Scientists will conduct five different antibody tests on each sample. The study will take place over a period of one year, with additional blood samples being collected and tested again in selected districts across Germany four and eight months after the first survey.
Antibody studies, also known as seroprevalence research, are considered critical to understanding where an outbreak is spreading and can help guide decisions on restrictions needed to contain it.
12:49 PM
Don't be tempted to nip over the border for a swift pint, warns Welsh First Minister
Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford, when asked about people travelling into England over the weekend to go to pubs, said:
"I certainly do say to people who are thinking of going across the border, that the five-mile advice, the stay local regulations, remain in place in Wales this weekend.
"So while there are populations very closed to the border who may choose to travel, for most of us that will not be a possibility."
Mr Drakeford highlighted the need for people in Wales to "behave in ways that allow us all to continue to be safe".
"So please, wherever you are in Wales, this weekend is not a reason or an excuse to abandon all the things that you have worked so hard to achieve," he said.
12:47 PM
Early signs of support from Sturgeon on travel list
On the issue of quarantining visitors, Nicola Sturgeon said: "I think I can say now it is likely, very likely, that we will be able to agree the list of countries the UK has categorised as low-risk, although we will need to do a proper assessment of that.
"But we need to take some particular care in our assessment of the risk categorised as medium-risk, because that is where there may be some countries that have a higher prevalence of the virus than Scotland does right now."
She said she hoped a decision could be made "quickly".
Ms Sturgeon also suggested Scots who are "desperate" to book a summer holiday could take a break in Scotland this year, supporting the local tourism sector at "a time when they have probably never needed that support more".
12:36 PM
Most people won’t be going back to the pub, claims survey
Pubs and restaurants to face subdued trading as businesses blast Government over late release of track and trace guidance. Tom Rees has more on the surprising news:
Pubs and restaurants could face months of dire trading with less than a fifth of Britons planning to immediately return when they reopen.
Consumers ranked eating and drinking out as their highest priority activity after lockdown, but only two in five planned to return before August and less than a fifth immediately, according to new polling by RBC Capital Markets.
The bank’s survey also found that more than half of drinkers and diners expected to go less often than they did before Covid-19 struck, piling pressure on the struggling industry.
The majority of consumers are “desperate” to eat and drink out but there “is still a significant undertone of caution”, said Christine Zhou, an RBC analyst.
“Don’t expect a stampede: less than 20pc of our respondents intend to visit immediately upon reopening and 30pc have no plan to return before the end of the year.”
Tens of thousands of weddings postponed by lockdown
More than 73,000 weddings and civil partnerships in England have been postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to new estimates.
Couples in England will be able to tie the knot for the first time in more than three months this weekend, but new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests that around 73,600 ceremonies have been postponed since coronavirus lockdown measures were implemented in March.
The data suggests that approximately 73,400 marriages in England will have been put on hold, including around 71,600 opposite-sex weddings and some 1,800 same-sex.
The figure was calculated using the average number of weddings that took place between March 23 and July 3 in 2014 to 2017.
12:09 PM
Portugal passes supplementary budget for Covid-19 crisis
Portugal's parliament has approved in its final reading a supplementary budget that boosts spending by 4.3 billion euros to help the economy through the coronavirus crisis, with major opposition parties abstaining.
The minority Socialist government's plan includes 1.6 billion euros for jobs, employment training and a new furlough scheme, tax discounts and delays for companies pursuing investments or particularly hard-hit by the crisis, as well as 500 million euros for the national health service.
Only the 108-strong Socialist bench voted for the plan in the 230-seat house, but as most other benches abstained that was enough to approve it.
12:02 PM
30-person limit on gatherings
Downing Street said the new coronavirus regulations will put a 30-person limit on gatherings at home and in outdoor spaces that are not deemed Covid-secure.
Health protection regulations were signed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning and will be laid before Parliament and published later today, No 10 said.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "What they do is put in place the 30-person limit on gatherings in private dwellings and outdoor spaces where not in a Covid 19-secure environment.
"The regulations also keep in place a list of premises that must remain closed and that includes nightclubs, nail bars and salons, indoor play areas, gyms, conference centres and exhibition halls.
"Those regulations mostly come into force at 12.01am on Saturday July 4."
11:55 AM
More people to be given flu vaccine ahead of winter
Downing Street has said eligibility for the flu vaccine will be expanded as the Government increases its stocks during the coronavirus crisis.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "This year it's particularly important as we want to make sure we protect as many people as possible in those risk groups.
"As part of that planning, the Government has been working to secure a significant additional supply of vaccines.
"We will use these vaccines to increase uptake in existing at-risk groups as a priority. We also intend to expand the groups of people that are eligible and we will be setting out more details shortly."
11:44 AM
Scottish deaths rise by one
A total of 2,488 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by one from 2,487 on Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon said.
Speaking during the Scottish Government's daily coronavirus briefing, Ms Sturgeon said 18,276 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 12 from 18,264 the previous day.
There are 670 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of 115 on Thursday.
Of these patients, 12 were in intensive care, an increase of three.
11:30 AM
Thailand's main airport offers rapid coronavirus test for international arrivals
Thailand's main international airport unveiled rapid coronavirus tests for some overseas arrivals after a three-month ban on foreign visitors was partially lifted this month.
All foreigners, except those with work permits, have been barred since March, but after more than five weeks with no recorded community transmission of the virus, Thailand is allowing in some groups of foreigners.
Business travellers, diplomats and government guests staying for less than 14 days are considered "fast track travellers" who will be swab tested for the disease at Suvarnabhumi airport to make ensure they are infection-free before entry.
11:14 AM
Beijing lifts most travel restrictions, says city's outbreak contained
Beijing has contained transmission of a new coronavirus outbreak and will lift travel restrictions on most residents at midnight, city authorities said, weeks after a new wave of infections broke out in the Chinese capital.
All people living in areas of the city considered "low risk" may leave Beijing without a negative virus test result starting Saturday, the municipal public security bureau's spokesman said at a press conference.
The city's massive track and trace campaign has "effectively cut off virus transmission channels" with fewer than three cases discovered each day in recent days, spokesman Pan Xuhong said.
"The risk factor has been greatly reduced," he said, adding that there had been no sign of wider community spread of the virus, with most cases discovered through monitoring of high-risk communities.
The announcement comes after Beijing lifted several localized lockdowns imposed after hundreds of new cases linked to a sprawling wholesale market were discovered in June, prompting fears of a virus resurgence.
The capital tested more than 10 million people between June 11 and July 3, nearly half the city's population, Beijing official Zhang Qiang said Friday.
A man wears a protective mask as he sits on his suitcase at the Beijing West Railway Station, after an outbreak of coronavirus - THOMAS PETER /REUTERS
11:10 AM
Macron names France's lockdown easing mastermind as new PM
President Emmanuel Macron has named senior French civil servant Jean Castex, who drew up the policy for easing the coronavirus lockdown, as his new prime minister as part of a government reshuffle.
11:08 AM
France: EU authorises use of remdesivir to treat coronavirus
The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, has authorised the use of anti-viral drug remdesivir to treat the new coronavirus.
"Today's authorisation of a first medicine to treat Covid-19 is an important step forward in the fight against this virus," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said in a statement.
11:05 AM
Army veterans return to fight pandemic
More than 700 military veterans have returned to the front line to fight coronavirus - by manning Covid-19 testing centres.
Former servicemen from the Army, Navy and RAF, have been deployed to 28 testing centres dotted around the country.
Many of them have struggled to find new careers since leaving the military or have lost their civilian jobs due to the impact of coronavirus.
Former Military Police Officer David Stubbs, who now runs Swindon-based security firm SSGC, has supplied more than 700 staff to the centres.
He said: "It's hugely important to us to support veterans, many of whom have lost jobs or positions they have worked hard to achieve since leaving the forces.
"They are doing a truly excellent job as part of this huge national effort and we're delighted to be able to provide such trusted and experienced personnel."
11:02 AM
Stella Art-ois
A world-famous street artist is behind a pioneering piece of work to get pub-goers drinking again from a safe distance.
Shepard Fairey's Studio Number One teamed up with Stella Artois for the piece of art that is designed to maintain social distancing.
But rather than use stark signs and barriers, the artwork will subtly guide drinkers to colour-contrasted circles that will allow individuals from different households to meet safely to share a beer together.
The 28x14 metre artwork, was unveiled at London's Truman Brewery.
Stella Artois reveals Together Apart Street Art project to help pubs reopen safely, Truman Brewery, London - SWNS.COM Stella Artois reveals Together Apart Street Art project to help pubs reopen safely, Truman Brewery, London. - SWNS.COM
10:44 AM
Iran reports 154 new virus deaths
Iran has reported 154 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, with fatalities picking up again days after hitting a record high.
Health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said in a televised interview that the latest deaths had taken the overall toll in Iran's outbreak to 11,260.
She said another 2,566 people had tested positive for the virus, bringing to 235,429 the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak emerged in February.
Fatalities had dropped slightly after hitting the highest single-day toll of 162 on Monday but resumed a rising trajectory in the past two days.
10:38 AM
Spain readies 150 billion euro coronavirus investment plan, PM says
Spain is preparing a 150 billion euro (£135 billion) investment plan to be financed by European Union funds that will help the country's economy recover from the coronavirus, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday.
"It will be a public investment plan that will also mobilize private resources," he said during a speech at the Moncloa Palace government headquarters.
According to an EU plan, Spain would receive about 140 billion euros from a special recovery fund.
10:20 AM
More shops needed before bike vouchers can be issued, says Government
Up to half a million £50 Government-issued vouchers for bike repairs will be available only when maintenance shops can handle the spike in demand, the Department for Transport has said.
The £25 million initiative to encourage the public to "drag bikes out of retirement" was due to be introduced in June, with the Government trying to promote more two-wheeled journeys as lockdown eases.
It forms part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plans for a "new golden age for cycling", with a £250 million "emergency active travel fund" for England going toward wider pavements, more bike lanes with protected cycle space, and safer junctions, the DfT said.
10:03 AM
Southampton theatre to close its doors for good following lockdown
A city theatre will not be reopening following the lockdown after administrators failed to find viable buyers for its two venues.
Nuffield Southampton Theatres (NST) was forced to close its sites because of lockdown, causing severe cash flow problems and leading to its staff being furloughed and the company to go into administration.
Greg Palfrey, national head of restructuring and recovery, said: "This is a sad day for the theatre industry in the UK, bringing the final curtain down on nearly 60 years of history of NST as a venerable performing arts institution in Southampton.
"Regrettably, we have no choice but to make all 86 staff redundant, bar a handful retained in the short term to help with us with the administration, as NST can no longer be sold as a going concern."
09:58 AM
Learner drivers back on the roads from tomorrow
Driving instructors and learners are eager to get back on the road as lessons and theory tests are permitted in England from Saturday.
RED Driving School have said that not only are the majority of its instructors are returning to work, but the number of people visiting its website is at an all-time high and double normal levels.
"Pre-Covid, 4,000 driving tests were held per day, so it is easy to imagine the huge backlog which has now built up," chief executive Ian MacIntosh told PA news.
"The Government is telling people to avoid public transport - in fact, the use of a private car is now being encouraged, so the news that driving schools can reopen will be welcomed by thousands of learner drivers up and down the country."
The AA Driving School has received five times more bookings this week than during the previous seven days.
09:39 AM
Watch: Grant Shapps announces air bridges from July 10
09:29 AM
Almost 20,000 care home residents have died with coronavirus
Almost 20,000 care home residents in England and Wales have died with coronavirus, either at their care home or in hospital, official figures show.
Death certificates for 19,394 residents mentioned "novel coronavirus" between March 2 and June 12, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Covid-19 accounted for 29 per cent of the deaths of care home residents over this period, and a fifth of all deaths of care home residents this year.
09:16 AM
One-third of Newcastle pubs, bars and restaurants to reopen
Just one in three pubs, bars and restaurants in Newcastle city centre will reopen for business on Saturday, a council spokesman has said.
A number of pubs on Tyneside have already stated they do not want to join the rush to reopen on Super Saturday, fearing that there will be "total chaos" as drinkers enjoy their first poured pint in months.
Council figures show around 30 per cent of licensees in the city centre have stated they will definitely welcome patrons once again on Saturday, with a further 10 per cent planning to reopen later on in July.
09:05 AM
Second surge fears as South Africa returns to work
Now experts fear that a combination of poor planning on the government’s part and public distrust of authority will see a huge rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the coming weeks, Peta Thornycroft reports.
Residents queue to receive parcels of food aid at a distribution point at the Zenzele Counselling Project in Finetown, south of Johannesburg, on Thursday, May 7, 2020. - Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg
On Monday, thousands of people clambered aboard South Africa’s massive fleet of commuter ‘taxis’ for the first time in nearly 100 days as the country further eased lockdown, prompting fears of a spike in coronavirus cases.
Most of the Toyota combis were carrying a full load of passengers, many of whom were not wearing masks, despite a government recommendation that the minivans should travel at only 70 per cent capacity.
The UK services sector showed signs of a quick turnaround in June as the decline in activity significantly slowed on the easing of lockdown measures.
The closely watched IHS Markit/CIPS Services purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 47.1 last month from 29 in May, which had followed an all-time low of 13.4 in April.
A score above 50 means that the sector is growing, but anything below 50 means it is shrinking.
08:37 AM
Johnson: 'Let's not blow it now'
As his interview with Nick Ferrari came to an end, Mr Johnson urged listeners to act "sensibly" ahead of the third phase of the coronavirus response coming into place tomorrow.
Tomorrow, we come to step three of the plan that I set out on May 10 that everybody, I think, has understood - or huge numbers of people have understood - and followed very carefully.
It’s because people stuck to that plan that we’re now able, carefully and cautiously, to open up hospitality tomorrow.
My message is to enjoy summer sensibly, and make sure it all works. Let’s not blow it now folks. We need to realise that there is always a risk.
08:30 AM
Boris Johnson: Care home outbreaks will be looked at in 'great detail'
Asked about coronavirus outbreaks in care homes, Boris Johnson said that the Government will have to look at the issue in "great, great detail".
"I think what happened was absolutely tragic and there’s no question that we saw far too many lives lost in care homes," he said. "I think that a lot of different things came together with the governance of care homes, getting the messages across and people understanding what they had to do."
Mr Johnson rejected the charge that people were “shunted” into care homes in order to make space in the NHS, and said that every decision to move people out of care homes was taken on a "clinical basis".
He added that the Government will also "look at" whether an earlier lockdown would have made a difference in saving more lives.
Prime Minister: Government 'learning lessons' from coronavirus outbreak
Appearing on Nick Ferrari's LBC radio show, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was asked what lessons would be taken by the Government from the coronavirus outbreak.
The Prime Minister responded:
What I can say is that we’re learning lessons the whole time about how to handle this disease.
It’s obviously a new disease, something that’s affected the whole world, and really thanks to the hard work of the British people we are now very much through the worst of the disease so far.
There’s no question that the numbers have come down, the numbers of admission to hospital are down, the deaths are down.
08:01 AM
Croatia to hold election amid pandemic
Croatia is to hold a parliamentary election this Sunday amid the coronavirus outbreak in what is expected to be a tightly contested poll.
The country has now lifted quarantine restrictions and since July 1 has allowed EU and EEA residents to enter the freely.
There has, however, been a spike in reported coronavirus cases following the reopening of borders and the easing of lockdown rules.
The country's current conservative government, which initially handled the public health crisis successfully, has sought continued support from voters, but opinion polls suggest that a liberal coalition has a slight lead over the ruling Croatian Democratic Union party.
07:45 AM
Grant Shapps confirms US will be on 'red list' of countries
The US will be on the red list of countries where quarantine will still apply, the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed, owing to the high number of coronavirus cases in the country.
Mr Shapps told the Today programme: "We know that although you've seen the story here, we've got things under control, but it's still raging in other parts of the world."
Asked if the US would be on that red list, he added: "I'm afraid it will be."
"The US from a very early stage banned flights from the UK and Europe, so there isn't a reciprocal relationship in place there in any case."
There have now been 2,739,879 known coronavirus infections and 128,743 deaths in the US, the highest recorded tallies in the world.
07:21 AM
Passengers already in quarantine will not have to self-isolate
Air passengers who are already in quarantine following their return to England will no longer need to self-isolate from July 10, Grant Shapps said.
The Transport Secretary told BBC Breakfast that passengers who are currently isolating for 14 days will be able to break the restrictions legally from next Friday.
He said while "nothing could happen" before July 10, "from that point onward you will be legal not to quarantine yourself".
"It's very important to stress the quarantine does exist until July 10," Mr Shapps said.
07:10 AM
Weekly tests at care homes from next week
Staff and residents in care homes for people over 65 or with dementia will be regularly tested for coronavirus from next week, the Government has announced.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said on Friday that staff will be tested weekly, while residents will receive a test every 28 days as part of a new social care testing strategy.
This is in addition to intensive testing in any care home facing an outbreak or at increased risk of a flare-up, it added.
The repeat testing programme will be rolled out to all care homes for the over 65s and those with dementia which have registered to receive retesting over the next four weeks before expanding to the entire care home sector from August.
06:53 AM
'You can have an edit button when everybody wears a mask', Twitter says
Twitter has waded into the coronavirus debate, teasing users with the highly sought-after option to edit messages.
You can have an edit button when everyone wears a mask
Air bridges 'disappointing' before four-nation agreement, says Scotland
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The UK Government's latest plans for air bridges, released overnight, include countries which present differing levels of risk.
"Scottish ministers are actively considering the public health impact of these proposals, as well as the data and evidence underpinning them. Once they have done that they will announce any changes in relation to Scotland.
"The public health measures relating to international travel are an important part of the wider response to this pandemic - to protect people and ensure that we limit the introduction of new chains of transmission of the virus when our own infection rates are falling.
"We will take decisions based on scientific advice to protect communities in Scotland. Of course the prospect of cases coming in from elsewhere poses a risk, not just to health but also to our economy.
"It is important to stress that, at any point, changing prevalence of the virus could lead to quarantine requirements on travel from different countries being put in place.
"It is disappointing that the UK Government have chosen to make an announcement on the countries they intend to exempt before a four-nations agreement has been reached.
"We would still like to reach a four-nations approach if possible but that is difficult when the UK Government change proposals and give us last-minute sight of them."
06:38 AM
Transport Secretary reveals France and Spain are on no-quarantine list
Grant Shapps has said travellers to England from around 60 countries and overseas territories will no longer have to quarantine when they arrive in the UK.
The Transport Secretary said the Government will be publishing a full list of countries that will be exempt later on Friday.
"There will be a list of 50-plus countries. If you add in the overseas territories (there will be) 60-something-or-other that will be announced later today," he told Sky News.
"France, Germany, Italy and Spain will be on that list. It is really important that we have done this in a very careful and cautious way. The most important thing is to maintain the gains that we have had."
06:37 AM
England's Sam Curran tested for Covid-19 after falling ill during match
England all-rounder Sam Curran is awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test after being placed in self-isolation at the Ageas Bowl, casting a shadow over the second day of the intra-squad clash.
Curran batted on the first evening in Southampton, making 15 not out from 25 balls, but experienced sickness and diarrhoea during the night.
In line with strict medical protocols he has remained in his room at the on-site hotel and played no part in Thursday's play.
Ordinarily the left-armer would have been expected to feature with the ball but his conspicuous absence from the field was explained midway through the final session.
"Sam Curran has had sickness and diarrhoea overnight. He is feeling better this afternoon, and has been self-isolating in his room at the Ageas Bowl," read a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"He will play no further part in the practice match. He has been monitored by the team doctor throughout and was tested for Covid-19 earlier today."
06:21 AM
Sixty countries exempt from UK quarantine to be announced
It is going to be a big day for holidaymakers today with 60 countries exempt from UK quarantine expected to be announced.
Police ready for 'New Year's Eve-style' operation as pubs re-open
Police chiefs say they are ready for New Year's Eve-style celebrations on Saturday as pubs and bars are allowed to open their doors for the first time in months.
Suffolk Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Kearton said forces will have enough officers in place when Covid-19 lockdown measures are further eased this weekend.
The National Police Chiefs' lead for alcohol harm said enforcement will be a last resort but she warned that those who break the law will be prosecuted and said police have powers to close down licensed premises in some circumstances.
"Police will prepare for the unexpected all the time. But we also prepare for instances like New Year's Eve, like Saturday's release of lockdown," she said.
"This isn't a highly unusual occasion for us, so we'll use similar plans that we use for those occasions of other national celebrations like sporting events and New Year's Eve.
"We are ready. The planning has been done, the training is in place and we have also been working very closely with our partners, the licensees, the local community and our blue light colleagues to make sure we're ready for the weekend."
05:55 AM
Holiday hope as travel quarantine to be dropped next week
Here's the take from our Home Affairs Editor Charles Hymas:
English holidaymakers will be free to travel to France, Spain, Italy and Germany without facing 14-day quarantine from next week, Grant Shapps announced on Thursday night.
The Transport Secretary will publish a list of more than 60 countries on Friday where the Government proposes to abandon its quarantine policy and open up the borders to free travel.
They will be rated under a traffic light system with travellers to the lowest coronavirus risk “green” countries facing no quarantine on their return to the UK, although they may face restrictions in those nations.
They include countries like Australia and New Zealand which have closed their borders after bringing Covid-19 under control.
In a second group of “amber” rated countries including France and Spain, the Government has negotiated reciprocal arrangements so that English holidaymakers are not required to quarantine on either leg of their journey.
A legal challenge by airlines against the Government's 14-day quarantine rule for passengers arriving in the UK has reached the High Court.
British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair announced the legal action in June, saying the policy is "flawed" and will have a "devastating impact on British tourism and the wider economy".
The airlines are seeking a judicial review of the rules and are bringing the case against Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
The claim will be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice over two days, starting on Friday and continuing on Monday.
05:31 AM
Unveiled: The Covid-19 Recovery Commission
Leading business figures have come together to develop proposals to ensure the UK emerges from the coronavirus crisis with a "stronger and fairer" economy.
The Covid-19 Recovery Commission will aim to produce "bold and practical policy ideas" to support higher productivity and to encourage business investment across the country.
The move comes as a series of major employers have been announcing heavy job losses with the Government's furlough scheme starting to unwind from the beginning of August.
The commission - which has been put together by the WPI Strategy consultancy - will be chaired by John Allan, chairman of Tesco, Barratt Developments and the Council of Imperial College London.
05:02 AM
Thailand reports 1 new coronavirus case, imported from abroad
Authorities in Thailand today reported one new coronavirus infection in a quarantined Thai national returning from the Middle East, stretching to 39 days its record of no local transmissions.
The coronavirus has killed 58 people in Thailand, among 3,180 infections, of which 3,066 patients have recovered.
04:25 AM
India approves human trials for second vaccine candidate
Zydus has received approval from Indian regulators to begin human studies for its Covid-19 vaccine contender, as infections continue to surge in the world's fourth worst-hit nation.
The potential vaccine showed a "strong immune response" in animal studies, and the antibodies produced were able to completely neutralize the wild type virus, Zydus, part of Cadila Healthcare Ltd, said in a statement to Indian stock exchanges.
India's approval for Zydus comes days after privately held Bharat Biotech got a similar green light for human studies for its vaccine candidate.
Human trials to begin in India for second vaccine candidate - Reuters
Zydus will begin human trials this month in over 1,000 subjects in multiple sites in India, it said.
There were no safety concerns for the vaccine candidate in repeat dose toxicology studies, Zydus said. In rabbits, up to three times the intended human dose was found to be safe, well tolerated and immunogenic.
No vaccine has yet been approved for commercial use against Covid-19, but more than a dozen from over 100 candidates globally are currently being tested in humans, and some have shown potential in early-stage trials.
The number of infections in India surpassed 600,000 yesterday, resulting in 17,834 deaths as authorities battled to contain the pandemic while easing lockdown rules.
Only the United States, Brazil and Russia have reported more cases than India.
03:02 AM
Mexican state eyes closing US border as Arizona cases rise
Reacting to a spike in virus cases reported in Arizona, the top health official in the neighbouring Mexican state of Sonora is asking Mexico's federal government to temporarily close the border to non-essential visits from the US.
The United States and Mexico previously agreed to limiting non-essential border crossings into the US during the pandemic, but Mexico has not moved to block entry into its territory and it seemed unlikely the Foreign Relations Department would grant the request. The agency did announce it would screen incoming visitors from the United States over the July 4th weekend, checking temperatures and asking about symptoms as a preventative measure.
Several towns in Sonora are popular with US visitors because they offer lower-cost health, vision and dental services.
Mexico's outbreak rose by a record 6,741 confirmed cases and 679 deaths yesterday, putting the country's toll of 29,189 deaths higher than Spain's, though the milestone was overshadowed by the resurgence in the United States.
02:44 AM
Kim Jong Un is urging officials to maintain "maximum alert"
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un - AFP
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged officials to maintain "maximum alert" against the coronavirus pandemic, criticising unspecified complacencies in the country's anti-virus campaign that he said risked "unimaginable and irretrievable crisis."
Despite the warnings, state media said that Kim reaffirmed government claims that there hasn't been a single case of Covid-19 in North Korea. Kim told a ruling party meeting that the country has "thoroughly prevented the inroad of the malignant virus and maintained stable anti-epidemic situation despite the worldwide health crisis."
The North's claim of being Covid-19 free has been questioned by outside experts, who say a major outbreak in the country could possibly have dire consequences because of its chronic lack of medical supplies and poor health care infrastructure.
Describing its anti-virus efforts as a "matter of national existence," the country has shut down nearly all cross-border traffic, banned tourists, intensified screening at entry points and mobilized tens of thousands of health workers to monitor residents and isolate those with symptoms. Experts say the country's self-imposed lockdown is also hurting an economy already battered by stringent US-led sanctions over its nuclear weapons and missile program.
02:00 AM
Self-isolation lifted for lower risk countries
Passengers returning or visiting from certain destinations which pose a reduced risk to the public health of UK citizens, including Spain and Italy, will no longer need to self-isolate when arriving in England, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will set out today (3 July 2020).
The new measures will come into force from 10 July 2020, meaning that people arriving from selected destinations will be able to enter England without needing to self-isolate, unless they have been in or transited through non-exempt countries in the preceding 14 days.
A risk assessment has been conducted by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, in close consultation with Public Health England and the Chief Medical Officer. The assessment draws on a range of factors including the prevalence of coronavirus, the numbers of new cases and potential trajectory of the disease in that destination.
01:38 AM
Coventry's year as City of Culture postponed
Coventry's year as the UK City of Culture will be pushed back to May 2021 due to Covid-19.
The pandemic has had a "major impact on preparations" and the five-month delay will allow for a "fuller programme of public events", organisers said.
The West Midlands city was announced as the winner of the title in 2017, following Londonderry and Hull, having beaten bids from Paisley, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland and Swansea.
Leader of Coventry City Council George Duggins said: "Coventry has been preparing for its role as UK City of Culture since our name was announced in 2017.
"It is a fantastic opportunity, but we only have one chance to hold this wonderful title and it is vitally important that we are completely prepared when our time comes."
Cities which have expressed interest in bidding for the City of Culture in 2025 include Bradford, Chelmsford, Luton, Medway, Tees Valley, Northampton and Southampton.
01:08 AM
Regular retesting rolled out for care home staff and residents
Regular coronavirus testing to start next week for care home staff and residents - Getty Images Europe
Care home staff to be given coronavirus tests every week and residents monthly from Monday to identify anyone with the virus and reduce transmission.
Repeat testing will be initially prioritised for care homes primarily looking after over 65s or those with dementia before being rolled out to all adult care homes. The government’s Vivaldi 1 care home study highlights the importance of regular staff testing while there is a higher prevalence in care homes
Staff will be tested for coronavirus weekly, while residents will receive a test every 28 days to prevent the spread of coronavirus in social care. This is in addition to intensive testing in any care home facing an outbreak, or at increased risk of an outbreak.
12:54 AM
Monkeys infected with coronavirus developed a short-term immunity
Six monkeys infected with coronavirus were protected from re-infection for 28 days - EPA-EFE
Test monkeys infected with the novel coronavirus were protected from reinfection for up to 28 days later, a Chinese study in the journal Science revealed.
While the monkeys displayed initial immunity, it's unclear how long such immunity will last in humans - it will be necessary to wait months, or even years, to know if the millions of people infected at the start of the pandemic are protected from re-infection.
Scientists from Peking Union Medical College performed an experiment on six rhesus macaques where they were infected in their trachea with a dose of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They developed mild to moderate symptoms, and took about two weeks to recover.
Twenty-eight days after the first infection, four of the six monkeys received another dose of virus, but this time, despite a brief rise in temperature, they showed no sign of reinfection, the study authors wrote.
By taking frequent samples the researchers discovered that the peak viral load was reached three days after the monkeys were infected.
The monkeys showed a stronger immune response after the first infection, producing more so-called neutralizing antibodies which may have protected them against short-term reinfection.
More experiments are needed to see how long this immune defense remains, the authors said.
12:36 AM
US cases rise by over 50,000, setting a record for third day in a row
New cases in America cases rose by over 50,000 yesterday, setting a record for a third consecutive day, according to a Reuters tally.
New infections rose in 37 out of 50 US states in the past 14 days compared with the two weeks prior in early June.
Florida, with 21 million residents, reported the biggest increase of any state so far yesterday, recording over 10,000 new cases in a single day. This is more new daily cases than any European country had at the height of their outbreaks.
In the first week of June, the United States was adding about 22,000 new cases each day.
Over the last seven days of June, daily new infections had almost doubled to 42,000 nationally.
Brazil is the only other country to report more than 50,000 new cases in one day.
11:44 PM
Only 9pc of Brazil's cases are asymptomatic, study shows
Less than 10 per cent of people infected with the novel coronavirus in Brazil were asymptomatic and the majority of those who tested positive for the Covid-19 respiratory disease had mild symptoms, a survey of almost 90,000 people from all regions showed this week.
According to the epidemiological research funded by Brazil's Health Ministry and carried out by the Federal University of Pelotas in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, people who tested positive for the virus showed five main symptoms: fever, cough, alteration of smell/taste, body pain and headache.
A total of 2,064 of 89,387 people surveyed between May 14 and June 24 in three phases tested positive for antibodies, of whom 91 per cent showed symptoms of Covid-19.
"The literature has become accustomed to saying that most patients are asymptomatic. Our study suggests that most patients have mild symptoms, but are not asymptomatic," Pedro Hallal, professor at the Federal University of Pelotas and coordinator of the research, said at a news conference.
The research also showed the pace of transmission slowing over the course of the three phases of the study. After growing 53 per cent from late May to early June, the transmission rate slowed to 23 per cent from early June to the end of the same month, Hallal said.
The survey also corroborates some experts' claims that the outbreak in Brazil is much larger than the official figures suggest, with the difference between the number of confirmed cases and the percentage of the population with antibodies as much as six times in the areas surveyed.
11:28 PM
Behave yourselves, Boris Johnson warns as pub reopening nears
The Hard Rock Cafe's European flagship restaurant in Piccadilly Circus, London prepares to reopen to the public - Victoria Jones/PA
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Britons to act responsibly when pubs reopen this weekend, warning that businesses, livelihoods and the future of the whole economy depends on it.
The latest phase in a gradual reopening of the British economy tomorrow will see pubs in England open their doors for the first time since mid March, as well as the reopening of restaurants, museums, hotels and other businesses.
The much-awaited event has been dubbed "Super Saturday", sparking worries that after months cooped up indoors, some could get carried away and risk spreading Covid-19.
Venues will have to keep a record of customers in case of a virus outbreak and there will be no crowds, no standing at the bar and no live music.
Mr Johnson has previously said he is looking forward to visiting a pub himself, but has warned that patrons will have to stick to new rules.
Air travel is safest form of public transport during coronavirus crisis, says adviser, with a disciplined environment, enhanced cleanliness and face masks all helping limit spread of the virus
Samantha Davis, the wife of Star Wars and Harry Potter actor Warwick Davis, has died aged 53. Samantha co-founded the dwarfism charity Little People UK and featured in the final Harry Potter film, alongside Warwick. Warwick announced the news in a statement shared to the BBC, revealing she had died on 24 March.
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