Summary for Sunday, 16th August
We’re starting our coronavirus coverage for the day. Here is a round-up of the world’s most biggest new developments:
Religious groups were part of anti-government protests
South Korea has reported its biggest Covid-19 outbreak in five months and officials are pointing fingers at the leader of a religious sect for flouting restrictions.
A total of 279 new cases have been reported, more than double the 103 reported on Friday. Most of the new cases are in and around the capital Seoul.
The Sarang Jeil Church led by Reverend Jun Kwang-hoon, a controversial pastor and an outspoken government critic, accounts for 107 of the new cases.
The health ministry has accused Jun of violating restrictions by holding a rally on Saturday and failing to provide a full list of his congregation to allow tracking and testing.
More than 10,000 people took part in anti-government protests in the capital on Saturday.
President Moon Jae-in said there would be a stern response to members of the sect.
"It is a very senseless act that hampers efforts of the whole people to contain the spread of the new coronavirus," Moon wrote on Facebook.
"It is a clear challenge to the national disease control and prevention system, and an unforgivable act that threatens the lives of the people."
The government will take "very stern and strong measures,” he added.
More than 21 million people are known to have been infected with the virus globally, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
More than 771,000 people have lost their lives.
The highest death toll is far the United States at almost 170,000, out of more than 5 million cases.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said nearly all restrictions on the country's economy will be eased from Monday.
A controversial ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco will be lifted.
Domestic travel, small family gatherings and the reopening of businesses will be allowed.
In a TV address on Saturday, Ramaphosa said the easing of restrictions will help to revive the country's flagging economy after a period of great hardship for the country.
However, he called on South Africans not to let their guard down against Covid-19 despite "signs of hope", warning of difficult times ahead.
The country has recorded more than half of Africa's coronavirus infections, with more than 570,000 cases and 11,500 deaths to date.
Read more here.
Winston Peters, who heads a junior coalition party, said the outbreak compromises the holding of a free and fair poll.
His intervention puts additional pressure on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. She is expected to make an annoucement on the election plans on Monday morning.
The opposition National Party has said it would back a postponement.
A second lockdown was declared last week after four new cases were discovered in the city of Auckland, just after New Zealand had celebrated 100 days of being Covid free.
Thirteen new cases were reported on Sunday, bringing the total number to 69.
Critics have blamed problems in border controls and security at quarantine hotels, where people are alleged to have escaped regularly, paying visits to supermarkets and liquor stores.
Arden has said the new outbreak is being dealt with in “an urgent but calm and methodical way".
Neither A-level nor GCSE students were able to sit public exams this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This year's grades are being awarded using a controversial modelling system, with the key factors being the ranking order of pupils and the previous exam results of schools and colleges.
Almost 40% of A-level grades were marked down from teachers' predictions - with pupils, parents and schools expressing anger and dismay at the outcome. GCSE results are out this week.
On Saturday Ofqual set out what constituted a "valid" mock exam for students appealing against the results. But the regulator has now suspended that criteria, and further information will be published "in due course".
- The WHO says 294,237 cases have been recorded in 24 hours
- New Zealand's deputy prime minister calls for an election delay as Covid-19 reappears in the country
- South Korea records its biggest outbreak of new cases in five months
- The UK exams regulator reviews guidance on how to appeal against exam grades issued after public exams were cancelled
- South Africa's president says infections appear to have peaked in the country
- More than 21.4 million cases and over 771,000 deaths are registered globally - latest Johns Hopkins University tally
We’re starting our coronavirus coverage for the day. Here is a round-up of the world’s most biggest new developments:
- The World Health Organization has reported that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world has increased by more than 294,000 in 24 hours - the biggest figure so far
- New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters called for a delay to the September general election due to the reappearance of coronavirus in the country
- The country - which saw an outbreak this week after no new infections for 102 days - now has 69 active cases
- South Korea has reported 279 new cases, its biggest outbreak of new cases in five months and more than double the 103 reported on Friday
- The country’s health ministry has accused the leader of the Sarang Jeil Church religious sect of violating self-isolation rules and obstructing investigations
- South Africa's president has said coronavirus infections appear to have peaked in the country, as he announced a sweeping relaxation of lockdown measures
- President Cyril Ramaphosa said nearly all restrictions on the country's economy will be eased from Monday, including a controversial ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco
- The UK exams regulator is reviewing its guidance on how to appeal against A-level and GCSE grades using mock exam results - hours after publishing it. Neither A-level nor GCSE students were able to sit public exams this year because of the coronavirus pandemic
South Korea points finger at religious sect amid new outbreak
Religious groups were part of anti-government protests
South Korea has reported its biggest Covid-19 outbreak in five months and officials are pointing fingers at the leader of a religious sect for flouting restrictions.
A total of 279 new cases have been reported, more than double the 103 reported on Friday. Most of the new cases are in and around the capital Seoul.
The Sarang Jeil Church led by Reverend Jun Kwang-hoon, a controversial pastor and an outspoken government critic, accounts for 107 of the new cases.
The health ministry has accused Jun of violating restrictions by holding a rally on Saturday and failing to provide a full list of his congregation to allow tracking and testing.
More than 10,000 people took part in anti-government protests in the capital on Saturday.
President Moon Jae-in said there would be a stern response to members of the sect.
"It is a very senseless act that hampers efforts of the whole people to contain the spread of the new coronavirus," Moon wrote on Facebook.
"It is a clear challenge to the national disease control and prevention system, and an unforgivable act that threatens the lives of the people."
The government will take "very stern and strong measures,” he added.
Highest global increase in cases so far, WHO says
The World Health Organization has reported that the number of confirmed global coronavirus cases has increased by more than 294,000 in 24 hours - the highest figure so far.More than 21 million people are known to have been infected with the virus globally, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
More than 771,000 people have lost their lives.
The highest death toll is far the United States at almost 170,000, out of more than 5 million cases.
South Africa eases lockdown as 'outbreak reaches peak'
South Africa's president has said coronavirus infections appear to have peaked in the country, as he announced a sweeping relaxation of lockdown measures.President Cyril Ramaphosa said nearly all restrictions on the country's economy will be eased from Monday.
A controversial ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco will be lifted.
Domestic travel, small family gatherings and the reopening of businesses will be allowed.
In a TV address on Saturday, Ramaphosa said the easing of restrictions will help to revive the country's flagging economy after a period of great hardship for the country.
However, he called on South Africans not to let their guard down against Covid-19 despite "signs of hope", warning of difficult times ahead.
The country has recorded more than half of Africa's coronavirus infections, with more than 570,000 cases and 11,500 deaths to date.
Read more here.
NZ Deputy PM calls for election to be postponed due to new cases
The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand has said next month’s general election should be postponed because of the country’s new outbreak of coronavirus.Winston Peters, who heads a junior coalition party, said the outbreak compromises the holding of a free and fair poll.
His intervention puts additional pressure on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. She is expected to make an annoucement on the election plans on Monday morning.
The opposition National Party has said it would back a postponement.
A second lockdown was declared last week after four new cases were discovered in the city of Auckland, just after New Zealand had celebrated 100 days of being Covid free.
Thirteen new cases were reported on Sunday, bringing the total number to 69.
Critics have blamed problems in border controls and security at quarantine hotels, where people are alleged to have escaped regularly, paying visits to supermarkets and liquor stores.
Arden has said the new outbreak is being dealt with in “an urgent but calm and methodical way".
England's exam board reviewing appeal guidance
England's exams regulator is reviewing its guidance on how to appeal against grades using mock exam results - hours after publishing it.Neither A-level nor GCSE students were able to sit public exams this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This year's grades are being awarded using a controversial modelling system, with the key factors being the ranking order of pupils and the previous exam results of schools and colleges.
Almost 40% of A-level grades were marked down from teachers' predictions - with pupils, parents and schools expressing anger and dismay at the outcome. GCSE results are out this week.
On Saturday Ofqual set out what constituted a "valid" mock exam for students appealing against the results. But the regulator has now suspended that criteria, and further information will be published "in due course".