Coronavirus - 7th August

Summary for Friday, 7th August

• Data suggests about one person in every 1,900 has had the virus in homes in England in the most recent week- with statisticians saying cases may be levelling off
  
• But an increase in cases in the city of Preston has led to more local lockdown measures in north-west England
  
• Beachgoers in the UK have been urged to maintain social distancing measures as temperatures soar across the country
  
• More than a million cases have been confirmed in Africa, although the true extent of the pandemic there is not known
  
• South Africa accounts for more than half of these cases, but there are concerns about a lack of data from Tanzania
  
• Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam announces free Covid-19 tests for anyone in the city who wants one
  
• UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak says the furlough scheme cannot continue indefinitely
  
• India reaches two million cases in 20 days, much faster than the two countries with the highest number of cases, the US and Brazil
  
• The Australian state of New South Wales announces new restrictions, with mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals from neighbouring Victoria
  

Latest from the UK

If you’re joining us from the UK, here are the latest stories you need to know about this morning:

• People arriving into the UK from Belgium, the Bahamas and Andorra will have to quarantine for 14 days, the transport secretary has announced. The changes start at 04:00 BST on Saturday except in Wales where they came into force at midnight on Thursday
  
• Schools in England can appeal if they can show this year's GCSE and A-level results do not reflect recent improvements, the exams watchdog says. It follows concern that the way grades are calculated after exams were cancelled could penalise some pupils
  
• Thousands of long-serving cabin crew at British Airways are expected to find out whether they will be made redundant, after the airline was hit badly by the lockdown
  
• Pub-goers in Leicester have been warned not to “throw away all the hard work” by ignoring social distancing rules, as the city’s bars prepare for their first Friday and Saturday nights in months
  
• Continuing chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment in cancer patients with Covid-19 is not a risk to their survival, a study suggests
  

Latest from across the globe

Good morning everyone joining us from around the world. Here is a global round-up of the top coronavirus stories:

• Africa's coronavirus cases have passed the one million mark, according to Johns Hopkins University
  
• South Africa - where testing has been widespread - accounts for more than half of all cases
  
• However, experts say a lack of comprehensive testing across Africa means the true extent of the pandemic could be worse than reported
  
• The Australian state of Victoria has reported another 450 cases in the past 24 hours
  
• People who enter New South Wales from Victoria will have to go into mandatory hotel quarantine
  
• More than two million Indians have now tested positive for Covid-19, according to official figures
  
• The country confirmed the last million cases in just 20 days, faster than the US or Brazil which have higher numbers
  
• Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has sparked outrage in some circles once again, for telling Brazilians they should “get on with life”. More than 98,000 people have lost their lives in the country
  

Coronavirus cases pass one million mark in Africa

"Aggressive and bold" action is needed as Africa's coronavirus cases pass the one million mark, according to the African Union (AU) body dealing with the pandemic.
It says South Africa - where testing has been widespread - accounts for more than half of all cases.
Tanzania's lack of data meanwhile is a "concern" for the AU - it has not published figures for weeks.
Experts say a lack of comprehensive testing across Africa means the true extent of the pandemic is not known.
Figures collated by Johns Hopkins University in the US show that more than one million cases have been recorded in Africa.
In the continent overall, more than 21,000 people have died with Covid-19 and almost 674,000 people have recovered, the figures show.
The two countries with the highest numbers of cases are South Africa and Egypt. They accounted for 75% of all the new cases reported by mid-July.
Read more here.

Free Covid test for Hong Kongers who want one

Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, has announced a free Covid-19 test for anyone in the city who wants one.
The mass testing will be done with help from three mainland Chinese firms, and will begin in around two weeks.
Ms Lam said Hong Kongers should not be suspicious about the mainland's support, as it was Hong Kong that asked for help.
After barely any cases in much of May and June, a surge of infections in July led to Hong Kong reintroducing strict rules.
The rolling average of new daily cases has dipped since the start of the month, but is still at 100.

• Why Hong Kong's 'third wave' is a warning
  

World's remotest Irish bar: 'We will survive Covid'

Owen Amos - BBC News, Singapore

The Irish Bar in Namche Bazar, Nepal

It has been closed since April, you can’t reach it by car, and the nearest airport is a two-day hike away – but the world's remotest Irish bar is optimistic business will pick up soon.
The Irish Pub in Namche Bazar, Nepal, is 3,450 metres above sea level, en route to Mount Everest.
It has been shut since 10 April, after the pandemic forced Nepal's government to close the mountains to climbers.
But owner Dawa Sherpa thinks the reopening of the Himalayas to tourists – and a new road to the area – mean better days are ahead.

• Read the full story on the remotest Irish Pub here
  

Leave cancelled for doctors in Bosnian capital as cases surge

Authorities in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, have cancelled leave for all medical staff following a surge in Covid-19 cases in the city.
Those who are currently on holiday have been ordered to “return to work immediately”.
More than 260 new cases were reported in Bosnia on Thursday, with more than a quarter of those in Sarajevo.
The city currently has more than 1,400 active cases, with an infection rate of more than 300 per 100,000.
A total of 384 people are reported to have died of Covid-19 in Bosnia.

How to stay cool in a face mask as hot UK weather forecast

It is going to be sweltering.
You don't really need the TV weather maps turning red to realise that much of the UK is going to be roasting in temperatures above 30C. But as you slip on your favourite summer top and shorts, you may break out in a hot sweat... as you realise you are also likely to be enduring part of your day in a face mask.
Keeping cool while wearing a facial covering might be more difficult, but we've gathered some tips.
Choose the right mask
Dr Adil Sheraz, who works at a London NHS hospital, says to choose a mask made from a breathable material, such as cotton or even bamboo. He says although surgical masks provide protection from spreading the virus, "they are not the best to use for keeping cool".
Change what you put on your skin
"The other thing you want to do is try and avoid make-up," says Dr Sheraz, as it can mix with sweat and clog pores. "Use sun block and a water based moisturiser." The Met Office forecasts high UV levels in some areas.
Above all, stay hydrated
It's all well and good having the handy bottle of water to hand but if you're steadfastly not taking any liquid on board because you are keeping your mouth covered, you may end up in danger from dehydration.
There is no problem removing your mask to have a refreshing glug of cool water - just remember to gel your hands before touching your mask and aim to remove it when you are at a safe distance from others.
See here for more advice staying on cool.

South Korea allows travellers from Hubei

For the first time since February, South Korea will allow travellers from Hubei province in China, where the coronavirus originated, to enter the country.
The Covid-19 outbreak emerged in Wuhan in Hubei province at the end of last year, and no-one with a recent travel history to the province has been allowed into South Korea since 4 February.
The relaxation follows China announcing on Wednesday that it would accept visa applications from South Korean workers and students for the first time since March.
South Korea’s new rules will apply from Monday.

UK 'will not hesitate' to add more countries to quarantine list

The UK "will not hesitate" to add more countries to its travel quarantine list in order to protect public health, the chancellor has said.
Rishi Sunak told Sky News "there is always the risk of disruption" to holidays during the pandemic.
It comes amid a surge in cases in France, with reports suggesting it could be the next country to see quarantine restrictions imposed.
On Thursday, arrivals to the UK from Belgium, the Bahamas and Andorra were told they will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
Read more on this story here

One coronavirus-related death in Northern Ireland last week

There was just one coronavirus-related death registered in Northern Ireland last week for the first time since lockdown began, official figures show.
That is six fewer than the previous week, which showed a rise in the weekly number of deaths in NI for the first time since mid-June.
The virus was mentioned on the death certificates of 855 people in NI by 31 July, according to weekly statistics released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
Yesterday, the NI Executive announced all pupils would return to school full-time from the end of August, but the reopening of indoor pubs which don't serve food has been pushed back to 31 August at the earliest.

Why have Malaysia and Brunei been added to England's 'safe list'?

Travellers arriving in England and Wales from Malaysia and Brunei will no longer have to self-isolate for 14 days, the UK government announced on Thursday.
Malaysia – with a population of 31 million – has had just over 9,000 confirmed cases and 125 deaths.
But its daily number of new cases has been low for some time. The rolling seven-day average has been below 20 since mid-June.
Brunei also seems to have the virus under control. The tiny South East Asian country, with a population under 500,000, hasn’t confirmed a case since May.

What are the UK's travel quarantine rules?

People arriving in the UK from Belgium, the Bahamas and Andorra will soon have to self-isolate for 14 days.
The changes have already come into force in Wales, and will start for the rest of the UK at 04:00 BST on Saturday.
So what exactly are the rules and what other countries are affected?
Our explainer tells you everything you need to know

British Museum to reopen on 27 August

The British Museum in London will reopen on 27 August for the first time since lockdown, the organisation has announced.
Visitors will need to book in advance to limit numbers and a one-way route will be in place to enable social distancing.
The majority of the ground floor galleries will be open, with highlights including the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon Sculptures.
The museum plans to reopen more galleries and exhibitions from 21 September.
Museums and galleries in England have been allowed to reopen since 4 July, but many of their doors have remained shut.

How India breached the two million mark

India has reported 62,170 new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, and with that it became only the third country to cross the two million mark.
It has added one million cases in just 20 days - faster than the US or Brazil, both of which have a higher case load.
Given India's dense population, the numbers are unsurprising. But experts say the virus could have been slowed.
They blame a hasty lockdown, patchy test and trace and ineffective safety protocols.
The BBC's Aparna Alluri has been finding out more

Lockdown has 'negligible' effect on temperatures

The global restrictions saw roads and motorways hardly used for several months

The dramatic drop in greenhouse gases and air pollutants seen during the global coronavirus lockdown will have little impact on our warming planet, scientists have said.
New analysis, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, suggests that by 2030, global temperatures will only be 0.01C lower than expected.
But the authors stress that the nature of the recovery could significantly alter the longer-term outlook.
A strong green stimulus could keep the world from exceeding 1.5C of warming by the middle of this century, the study says.
Read more here

England virus cases up since June 'but may be levelling off'

Approximately 28,300 people in homes in England have coronavirus – about one person in every 1,900 - according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
It estimates that last week approximately 27,600 people had the virus.
This is up from the low point at the end of June (23,100), but the ONS doesn’t see evidence of continued rise.
It says the “number of people in England testing positive for Covid-19 has increased since the low point at the end of June, but may be levelling off".
The ONS estimates there are about 3,700 new infections per day in homes in England.
For the first time, it has included data on infections in Wales: approximately 1,400 people infected (or one person in every 2,200).

The latest headlines from around the world

If you're just joining us here's a quick recap of the main stories so far today:

• More than one million cases have been confirmed in Africa, although lack of comprehensive testing across the continent means the true extent of the pandemic there is not known
  
• The UK "will not hesitate" to add more countries to its travel quarantine list, the chancellor has said. It comes after arrivals to the UK from Belgium, the Bahamas and Andorra were told they would need to self-isolate for 14 days
  
• Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has announced free Covid-19 tests for anyone in the city who wants one
  
• India has reached two million cases in 20 days - much faster than the two countries with the highest number of cases, the US and Brazil
  
• New restrictions have come into effect in the Australian state of New South Wales, with mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals from neighbouring Victoria
  
• And in the last few minutes, new data suggests virus cases in England may be "levelling off"
  

Analysis: Africa cases milestone is a mystery

Andrew Harding - BBC News, Johannesburg
Africa's coronavirus cases have officially passed the one-million mark.
This is a significant milestone and an alarming one. But it is also a mystery.
More than 500,000 cases of Covid-19 have already been confirmed in South Africa alone. The country has good data and - compared with most of Africa - a huge testing operation under way.
So, is it really possible that there are only another half a million cases across rest of the entire continent?
The short answer is no.
Experts here agree that, given the minimal amount of testing it is almost certain that Africa has already sailed far past the one million mark.
But doctors also point out that hospitals in many countries are not yet overloaded with suspected Covid-19 cases.
There are many possible explanations: fear of going to clinics, early lockdowns in many countries and sparser populations.
And because there is still so much to learn about Covid-19, it is possible that some populations may enjoy some extra protection against the virus, perhaps because of immune systems already bolstered by previous battles against malaria, cholera and other diseases.

Mandatory hotel quarantine begins for NSW arrivals from Victoria

Queues of traffic were seen at a checkpoint on the border between Queensland and New South Wales, ahead of restrictions being introduced

From today, people who enter the Australian state of New South Wales from neighbouring Victoria will have to go into mandatory hotel quarantine.
The new measures have been introduced due to rise in coronavirus infections being reported in Victoria - which has been seen record rates despite four weeks of lockdown measures.
Visitors will need to remain at a hotel for 14 days at their own expense.
All returning New South Wales residents, unless they live within the state's border regions, will only be allowed to return via Sydney Airport.
Meanwhile, Queensland is imposing restrictions on travellers from New South Wales from Saturday

I'm A Celebrity to swap Australian jungle for UK castle

Last year's I'm a Celebrity show was won by Jacqueline Jossa (fifth from right)

Reality TV show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! will relocate from the Australian jungle to a ruined British castle for this year's series, ITV has announced.
This means bush tucker trials are out but the broadcaster promised contestants would still face similarly "gruelling trials" to see one of them crowned King or Queen of the castle.
Richard Cowles, director of entertainment at ITV Studios, said the team had "pulled out all the stops" to try and make the series happen in Australia but due to the pandemic "it just wasn’t possible for us to travel and make the show there".
“Our celebrities will probably have to swap shorts for thermals but they can still look forward to a basic diet of rice and beans and plenty of thrills and surprises along the way," he said.
ITV hasn't yet set out details of whether the contestants will have to quarantine and have coronavirus tests beforehand.

Tighter measures in Scotland after Aberdeen cluster

People in Scotland will have to wear face coverings in museums, places of worship and libraries from Saturday, Scotland’s first minister has said.
It will also be mandatory - rather than just guidance - for hospitality venues in Scotland to collect customers' information from next week, Nicola Sturgeon said.
She also told people to “think very carefully” about booking foreign holidays after more countries were removed from the air corridors list.
Aberdeen’s football match this weekend has been postponed after two players tested positive at the club. Ms Sturgeon said some players had clearly broken the rules around football bubbles by attending a bar in the city - which was "completely unacceptable".
A total of 101 cases have been confirmed in the Aberdeen cluster - which is linked to bars and restaurants in the city - which was an increase of 22 on Thursday, she said.
Bars and restaurants in the city were ordered to close this week because of the outbreak.
Ms Sturgeon added in her daily briefing that the Scottish government was not convinced that face visors provided sufficient protection.
So from Saturday if a visor is worn it must be accompanied by another type of face covering.

Mexico death toll surges past 50,000

Mexico's coronavirus death toll has passed 50,000, the government has announced.
It comes just days after it became the country with the third-highest number of fatalities in the world - only the US and Brazil have recorded greater numbers.
The health ministry announced 819 more deaths in its daily update, taking the total to 50,517 since its first case was detected in February.
Registered positive cases in Mexico now stand at 462,690 in a population of more than 128 million.
The number of fatalities exceeds the range of between 6,000 and 30,000 that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador projected at the end of February.
His government, which began easing lockdown measures at the start of June, has faced scrutiny over its handling of the crisis.

Social distancing warnings as crowds hit UK beaches

The UK is set for one of the hottest days of the year, with forecasters predicting temperatures of up to 36C in south-east England.
Councils are urging visitors to maintain social distancing, as crowds flock to the coast.
For more on how you can enjoy the warm weather while sticking to the latest coronavirus guidelines, read our explainer

Scottish pupils protest over exam results

About 100 school pupils demonstrated in Glasgow over their exam results earlier, with more protests planned in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh, later today.
The group gathered at George Square to protest about how the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) calculated their grades this year.
It comes after thousands of students received worse results than they were expecting on Tuesday.
All exams were cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and preliminary exams and teacher estimates were used to grade pupils instead.
But the SQA lowered about 125,000 estimated grades, and many students believe they were penalised during the moderation process because their schools have historically not performed as well as others.

UK 'must change mindset' to stop virus spreading - expert

Some reaction now to the news we brought you earlier about a slight increase in the UK's R number - that is, the rate at which the virus is being transmitted.
We "should be concerned" about a rise in the R number, says the expert who led the World Health Organization's global response to the Sars epidemic in 2003.
Prof David Heyman, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said while the R number is an estimate based on the "transmissibility" of the virus itself, it also depends on the behaviour and proximity of people together - as well as the immune status of those people.
"So what an increase in the R number says is that people aren’t taking the messages to heart," he said.
"We’ve got to learn to live with this virus," he urged, adding: "We are putting everyone at risk – no matter who it is – if we are not wearing a mask when we’re in a closed space such as public transport.
"But you can’t sanction these measures, really it's about changing our mindset to want to protect others."

Mosquito nets 'could halve' malaria deaths during Covid-19

Mosquito net distribution in Africa could help to halve the number of deaths from malaria during the coronavirus outbreak, researchers have claimed.
There are concerns that activities to control malaria, such as distributing insecticidal nets, are suffering as a result of the pandemic.
About 228 million long-lasting insecticidal nets were due to be delivered across sub-Saharan Africa this year.
But Imperial College London's Covid-19 Response Team estimates that malaria deaths could more than double in 2020 compared with 2019 if activities are disrupted.
The researchers say that if mosquito nets are not deployed and preventative chemotherapy and case management is reduced by half for six months, there could be 779,000 malaria deaths in the area over 12 months.

Final patient in Beijing outbreak leaves hospital

Kerry Allen - BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst
The final patient in a localised outbreak at Beijing's largest wholesale market, Xinfadi, has been discharged from hospital after being successfully treated for coronavirus.
On 11 June, a 52-year-old man tested positive for Covid-19. It led to a further 335 people testing positive.
China’s capital city brought the virus under control with swift lockdown measures and aggressive testing and local media are lauding the 100% success rate in treating all patients.
The official Xinhua News Agency said five had been critically ill and 21 had been in a severe condition.
However, Beijing is not completely free of Covid-19 - a new case has been confirmed in the city today, reportedly a close contact of an earlier patient who tested positive after visiting the city of Dalian, in the north-eastern Liaoning province. This person had already been quarantined.
Beijing also occasionally reports import cases from overseas, but there are strict 14-day quarantine procedures for all international arrivals to the capital city.

Another northern England city reports cluster

A rise in coronavirus cases in Leeds has led to the introduction of new testing units in the city.
It recorded 129 positive tests in the week to 2 August compared with 41 the week before.
There has been a cluster of cases within Kirkstall, Harehills and surrounding areas, according to Leeds City Council.
The government is due to make an announcement today on restrictions in north-west England.
The current measures include banning mixing between households for residents in Greater Manchester, parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire, as well as Leicester.

• How Leicester coped with local lockdown
  

Leicester's council said it is not expecting any changes to its current restrictions in the government announcement, adding it was "at a loss" as to why they had been "tagged on" to the review of restrictions in north-west England.
Meanwhile, in Aberdeen, the number of confirmed cases in a Covid-19 cluster which led to a local lockdown has risen to 101 – 22 new cases in the last day.

Crowds of UK beachgoers told to 'head home'

In Sandbanks car parks were already full by around 10:30 BST

Beachgoers in Dorset, south-west England, are being urged to "head home" as crowds flocked to resorts to enjoy the warm weather - with some already full.
A mobile app to aid social distancing is showing red along four areas of the coast - including at Sandbanks and Bournemouth West - meaning "avoid".
Police and the county's councils have urged people to use common sense and leave if somewhere becomes too busy to social distance.
In Kent, south-east England, Thanet District Council has asked visitors to look for less crowded areas, with forecasters predicting temperatures of up to 36C.
If you're struggling with the heat, we've got some tips on how to stay cool in a face mask here.

Bournemouth beach in Dorset was busy with sunbathers on Friday

The latest headlines from around the world

In the UK, people have been urged to maintain social distancing, as crowds flocked to the coast

If you're just joining us here's a quick recap of the main stories in the UK and around the world so far today:

• The number of people in England testing positive for coronavirus may be levelling off, according to a household survey by the Office for National Statistics
  
• Beachgoers in the south of England have been urged to "head home" from busy resorts, following warnings it may be difficult to maintain social distancing as temperatures soar
  
• Meanwhile, the government is expected to make an announcement on the status of local lockdown measures in north-west England and Leicester
  
• The UK "will not hesitate" to add more countries to its travel quarantine list, the chancellor has said. It comes after arrivals to the UK from Belgium, the Bahamas and Andorra were told they would need to self-isolate for 14 days
  
• Meanwhile, more than one million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Africa, although lack of comprehensive testing across the continent means the true spread of the virus is not known
  
• Mexico's death toll has passed 50,000, days after it became the country with the third-highest toll, after the US and Brazil
  
• India has reached two million cases in 20 days - much faster than the US and Brazil
  
• And Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has announced free Covid-19 tests for anyone in the city who wants one
  

46,511 coronavirus deaths in the UK

A total of 46,511 people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus - up 98 on yesterday - according to the latest government figures.
The figures only include people who had been tested for Covid-19 and the actual death toll is estimated to be higher.

London Marathon runners 'gutted' as race goes virtual

"I kind of figured it was going to be cancelled," Victoria Hart says

Victoria Hart has clocked up more than 300 miles training for this year's London Marathon.
But yesterday she found out that because of the pandemic, it won't be going ahead for 45,000 people this year. Only elite runners will be able to take part and there will be no spectators allowed either.
Instead, runners are being asked to do their marathon "virtually".
Organisers want those who were supposed to run to complete the 26.2 miles on 4 October from home or on a course of their choice.
"I kind of figured it was going to be cancelled but it was still gutting after putting in so many miles in training so I'm quite disappointed still," Victoria tells BBC Newsbeat.
Read more reaction from runners here.

The latest headlines from the US

Here's a quick look at some of the biggest coronavirus headlines from the US:

• Hiring in the US slowed sharply last month as the country struggled to control the coronavirus pandemic. In total, the US economy added 1.8 million jobs in July, down from a record 4.8 million in June
  
• The US death toll from the pandemic surpassed 160,000, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University. In total, the country has recorded more than 4.8 million cases of coronavirus
  
• The White House said more talks are expected on Friday over further coronavirus relief aid
  
• Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens have become the latest tennis players to pull out of the US Open
  
• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine tested negative for coronavirus, hours after a positive result prevented him from welcoming US President Donald Trump to the state
  
• Hawaiian authorities are moving to tighten social distancing restrictions amid a spike in cases
  

New restrictions to be introduced in Preston from midnight

Restrictions banning households from mixing indoors or in gardens are to be brought in for Preston from midnight tonight, the Department of Health has said.
Current rules on gatherings in Greater Manchester, Leicester, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire remain in place.
Wider restrictions in Leicester, Blackburn and Bradford will also continue.

Why lockdown measures are returning to Preston

Lockdown measures will return to Preston at midnight after data from Public Health England indicated a rise in Covid-19 cases in the Lancashire city.
It recorded 49 new cases of coronavirus in the week to 31 July, more than double the week before when there were 22 - this meant almost 35 cases per 100,000 population.
There were 18 cases recorded on the 29 July alone. Numbers have fallen since but data from recent days are subject to revision.

Analysis: The picture in Preston

Daniel Wainwright - BBC England Data Unit


As we mentioned earlier, lockdown measures are returning to the Lancashire city of Preston. This is what the numbers show us:
New cases of Covid-19 in Preston increased substantially with 43 (30 per 100,000 population) in the week to 2 August, compared with 30 (21 per 100,000) the week before.
Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle recorded higher rates in the same week - both of which are subject to the current tightened lockdown in east Lancashire.
Preston's figure is likely to rise over the next few days as early figures for 4 August show 16 cases recorded so far that day, but data for the past few days is always subject to revision.
Read the full story.

Leicester's pubs limber up for the weekend

Leicester's pubs, bars and restaurants are preparing for their first Friday and Saturday nights in months.
The businesses were allowed to reopen on Monday for the first time since March.
Pubs reopened across the rest of England on 4 July but were stopped from doing so in Leicester when a local lockdown was imposed after a rise in coronavirus cases in the city.
Some landlords told the BBC they were ready and excited to welcome customers back, but authorities have urged people to remember to be "responsible" and not to "throw away all the hard work" by ignoring rules on social distancing and hygiene measures.
The city council plans to open up its event control room in City Hall to monitor events over the weekend, something that would usually be done for big occasions such as New Year's Eve or Diwali.

NY schools allowed to reopen as infection rate drops

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said all schools in the state can reopen for in-person learning after the summer break.
Earlier this year, New York was at the forefront of the global coronavirus crisis - at one point in April it had more diagnosed cases than any single country. But infection rates have dropped in recent months.
"If you look at our infection rate we are probably in the best situation in the country right now," Mr Cuomo told reporters. "If anybody can open schools, we can open schools."
He warned that if the infection rate spikes, the guidance will "change accordingly".
In the latest daily figures, Mr Cuomo said five more people had died of coronavirus in New York and 714 had tested positive.

Hawaii reimposes restrictions amid 'alarming' virus surge

Most of the new cases reported in Hawaii are concentrated on O'ahu, home to Honolulu

Hawaiian authorities are moving to tighten social distancing restrictions throughout the state amid a jump in coronavirus infections and people needing hospital treatment.
Governor David Ige announced that Hawaii would be reinstating its inter-island travel quarantine on 11 August for travelers arriving to Kauai, Hawaii, Maui and Kalawao.
"There is no question the virus is surging," Ige said as the state reported 152 new cases - the majority on O'ahu island, home to the state capital of Honolulu. Until mid-July, daily case totals throughout the state had not stayed around the 35 mark.
"We must protect our neighbour island residents in light of the alarming increase in Covid-19 cases on O'ahu," Ige said.
In Honolulu, until 4 September, all city parks, campgrounds and botantical gardens will be closed and organised team sports are suspended. All beaches will be closed, though residents will be allowed to walk on the beach to get to the water for surfing, fishing, paddling and diving.

Ireland announces restrictions on Kildare, Offaly and Laois

Ireland has announced regional restrictions on the counties of Kildare, Offaly and Laois because of a spike in coronavirus cases.
The measures will come into force at midnight and be in place for two weeks.
In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Health said 226 cases of Covid-19 had arisen in the three counties in the past 14 days - representing nearly half of all cases detected in the country during that period.

More on new restrictions in Ireland counties

As we told you a few minutes ago, Ireland is imposing new restrictions on the counties of Kildare, Offaly and Laois from midnight because of a surge in coronavirus cases.
The measures will be in place for two weeks.
Under the new rules:

• Residents can only travel outside of their counties in limited circumstances, such as work, attending medical appointments, or caring for an elderly relative
  
• Public transport should not be used "unless it is absolutely necessary" and private vehicles should not be shared with people from other households where possible
  
• Cinemas, swimming pools and gyms will all be closed
  
• Restaurants, cafes and bars should only offer takeaways or outdoor dining for a maximum of 15 people with strict social distancing
  
• No sporting events will take place
  
• Hotels can remain open but must limit occupancy to "essential non-social and non-tourist reasons". Existing guests are allowed to stay for the duration of their booking.
  
• Childcare facilities will remain open and preparations for the reopening of schools will continue
  

The Department of Health said the measures were being put in place to “protect the vulnerable in these counties as well as to stop the spread of the virus".
It comes after 226 cases of Covid-19 were reported in the three counties in the past 14 days - representing nearly half of all cases detected in the country during that period.
You can read the measures in full here

Almost half of new Preston cases are aged under 30 - health chief

Following the announcement earlier that lockdown measures will return to Preston at midnight after a rise in Covid-19 cases, the director of public health for Lancashire has said almost half of the cases reported were among people aged 30 and younger.
Speaking at a media briefing, Sakthi Karunanithi said: "I want to pay extra attention to indoor spaces, particularly pubs, where high numbers of people are mixing between households.
"That's a worrying pattern that we really must avoid."
He added the spike in cases in Preston was affecting people from south Asian and white ethnic backgrounds - particularly those living in poor socio-economic conditions.
Adrian Phillips, chief executive at Preston City Council, said while some wards have recorded a higher level of cases, it remains a "city-wide issue".
He added: "The number of cases in Preston have increased rapidly in recent days leading to government categorising the city as an area of intervention.
"It is also alarming to see that the under-30s are contracting it at a significant rate."

Do I have to quarantine if I drive through Belgium?

Reality Check


Following on from the news about the UK government's updated quarantine list, a reader asked us whether they would need to self-isolate when they returned to England if they had driven through Belgium.
For example, you might be on holiday in the Netherlands and need to drive through Belgium to get to Calais on your way home.
If all the passengers remained in the car, and nobody new got into the car throughout your journey through Belgium, then nobody would need to self-isolate.
It’s also fine if you just stopped to drop off a passenger, so if somebody got out of the car but then did not get back in again.
But if somebody got out of the car and mixed with other people – at a service station, for example – and then got back into the car, then all the passengers would need to self-isolate on their return.
As for train travel, rail passengers arriving to the UK on journeys which include a stop in Belgium will also need to quarantine unless no new passengers boarded the train and no-one left it before getting back on.
This means Eurostar passengers travelling from Amsterdam to London will need to self-isolate, as the journey involves a change of trains in Brussels.
Here we look at which other countries are affected by the quarantine rules - and how could that change

Republican candidate sells masks blaming China for virus

A Republican congressional candidate has drawn criticism for selling promotional face masks that appear to blame China for the Covid-19 outbreak.
Bright red masks adorned with the words "Covid-19 Made in China" are currently for sale on the campaign website of Virginia delegate Nick Freitas, who is seeking a seat in the US House of Representatives. A photo of a mask was tweeted out last week by Frietas' fellow Virginia delegate Mark Cole, who tagged the Freitas campaign's account.
Now, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) Action fund is calling on Freitas to discontinue to the sale of the masks.
"We are highly disturbed that Delegate Nick Freitas has decided to bankroll his campaign using a narrative that identifies Covid-19 with China," the organisation said in a statement.
When asked for comment, the Freitas campaign blamed China for the pandemic.
US President Donald Trump, a Republican, has frequently blamed China for the global spread of the coronavirus, which he frequently refers to as the "China virus". His comments have been criticised for stoking anti-Asian racism in the US.

France's daily virus cases up by 40% on previous 24 hours

France has recorded another 2,288 new confirmed cases of coronavirus over the past 24 hours up to Friday - an increase of more than 40% on the previous day.
From Wednesday to Thursday, an additional 1,604 people tested positive for the virus.
Since Thursday, 12 people have died of Covid-19, taking the country's total coronavirus death toll to 30,324.
Here's our guide to lockdown curbs country by country across Europe.

Thanks for joining us

We'll soon be pausing our live coverage of the biggest coronavirus stories across the world.

Today's coverage was brought to you by George Wright, Becky Morton, , Holly Honderich, Jenny Matthews, Jo Couzens and Alice Cuddy, and edited by Robert Greenall, Alice Evans and Deirdre Finnerty.

Recap of some of today's biggest stories

We're wrapping up our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, brought to you by our team of reporters in London and around the world.
Here's a recap of some of the top headlines from today:

• Africa has now surpassed one million confirmed coronavirus cases
  
• In England, virus cases are up since June but may be levelling off, according to the Office for National Statistics
  
• But lockdown measures are being reintroduced in the Lancashire city of Preston, north-west England, from midnight after a rise in cases
  
• Local restrictions are also being imposed on the counties of Kildare, Offaly and Laois in Ireland from midnight
  
• New figures show that hiring in the US slowed sharply in July as the country struggled to control the coronavirus pandemic
  
• India has become the third country to record more than two million cases
  
• The death toll in Mexico has passed 50,000, days after it became the country with the third-highest toll
  
• In Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has announced free Covid-19 tests for anyone in the city who wants one
  
• And in the past few minutes, the daily number of new cases in France has jumped to 2,288
  

Thanks for joining us and we'll see you next time.