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    Coronavirus - 11th September

    Kitkat
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 11:14

    Summary for Friday, 11th September

    • French authorities are meeting on Friday to decide on toughening measures to combat the virus
    • France's confirmed cases jumped 9,843 on Thursday - the highest single-day count since the start of the outbreak
    • India has registered the world's highest-ever number of daily cases: 96,000
    • The UK economy grew by 6.6% in July, but the country's output remains far below pre-pandemic levels
    • British MPs are urging the government to extend its furlough scheme to support people unable to work
    • The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has topped 28 million, with more than 900,000 deaths


    A round-up from around the globe

    Thank you for joining us. Here’s a round-up of the biggest coronavirus stories from around the world this morning.

    • France has recorded almost 10,000 new cases in 24 hours, marking its highest single-day count since the start of the outbreak
    • French ministers and health experts are meeting on Friday to discuss toughening measures to combat the virus
    • India has recorded the world’s highest number of daily cases at more than 96,000
    • The pandemic has hit poorer countries harder than the rest of the world, sowing inequality globally, a BBC poll has shown
    • A drop in income was reported by 69% of respondents in poorer countries, in comparison to 45% in richer ones, the poll found
    • The United Nations has called for a "quantum leap" in funding for international initiatives to combat the the pandemic and kickstart economic recoveries
    • Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for $15 billion (£11.5 billion) to fund the ACT-Accelerator programme, an international project to find for a vaccine and treatments led by the World Health Organization
    • Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has called rival Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic “almost criminal”. Biden was speaking to CNN about claims the president played down the severity of Covid-19
    • Dr Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the US, has told Americans they will need to “hunker down” through autumn and winter months, adding “it’s not going to be easy”


    France plans tougher measures as cases surge

    France is planning tougher measures to combat coronavirus after experiencing a record number of daily cases.
    The country registered 10,000 new cases in a 24-hour period, according to Thursday's figures.
    A key meeting between ministers and health experts to decide on new measures is happening today.
    The head of the scientific council advising the government on the pandemic, Jean-Francois Delfraissy, has warned that "tough" decisions may be required.
    President Emmanuel Macron said the meeting would give the public a clear idea of what can be expected in the coming weeks.
    "We need to be as transparent and clear as possible," he said on Thursday, according to AFP news agency.
    "We need to be demanding and realistic without giving in to any kind of panic."
    France has the seventh-highest Covid-19 death toll in the world. More than 30,800 people in the country have died with coronavirus.

    What's happening in the UK this morning?

    Good morning - here is the latest coronavirus news from the UK this morning.


    Six months since the pandemic was declared

    Today marks six months since the coronavirus was labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
    On 11 March, WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he said he was "deeply concerned" by "alarming levels of inaction".
    He called on governments to change the course of the outbreak by taking "urgent and aggressive action".
    "Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled," he said.
    Hours later, Italy announced the toughest lockdown seen in Europe at that point. Italy and Iran were the epicentres of the outbreak back then, while China and South Korea were already well past their peak.
    Exactly six months later, cases of the disease are continuing to surge in many countries. Some that had apparent success in suppressing initial outbreaks have seen infections rise again.
    More than 27 million cases have been confirmed globally and the death toll is edging closer to a million. The US has by far the highest death toll at more than 191,000, followed by Brazil, India and Mexico.
    However, the number of confirmed cases during the spring peak is likely to be an underestimate of the true level of infection, as widespread testing was not available in many countries earlier in the year.
    See here for an overview of where we are at six months after the pandemic was declared.

    Wales announces new rules on face coverings and gatherings

    Here's some more about Wales - which has just announced that people will have to wear face coverings in shops and other indoor public spaces from Monday.
    First Minister Mark Drakeford said the change came as 20 people in every 100,000 in Wales now had coronavirus - the threshold used when deciding if people have to quarantine when coming back into the UK from abroad.
    He said: "Lots of people in Wales do choose in any case to wear face coverings when they are out and about, what they will see now is that it will be compulsory for people to do that in shops."
    Wales has also said it is banning indoor meetings of more than six people from an extended household from Monday.
    Since August, up to four households have been allowed to form an extended household to meet up, with no legal limit on how many could be in such a unit. The new rule won't apply to children aged 11 and under.
    Up to 30 people from different households will still be able to meet up outside.
    And all extended household meetings are currently banned indoors in Caerphilly due to the local lockdown in place there.
    The new Welsh measures come as England and Scotland also prepare to make changes after the weekend. In England, the new limit of six people from multiple households will apply to social gatherings from Monday.
    And in Scotland, the limits are being reduced to a maximum of six people from two households from Monday. Unlike England, children under 12 will not be included.
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    India reports world's highest daily case toll

    India has recorded the world's highest-ever daily number of cases, with more than 96,000 reported on Friday.
    The Federal Health Ministry has now reported more than 4.5 million cases in the country.
    The amount of cases is rising faster in India than anywhere else on the planet, but the death rate is lower than some countries.
    Despite this, more than 1,000 deaths have been reported for the last 10 days.
    The current death toll in India sits at more than 76,000 - the world's third highest behind the US and Brazil.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 11:21

    BBC poll shows stark divide between rich and poor countries

    The coronavirus pandemic has hit poorer countries harder than the rest of the world, sowing inequality globally, a BBC poll has shown.
    The survey of nearly 30,000 people shows how different countries have been affected by the pandemic, six months after it was confirmed on 11 March.
    The financial toll was a major issue, after lockdowns damaged economies worldwide.
    A drop in income was reported by 69% of respondents in poorer countries, in comparison to 45% in richer ones, the poll found.
    Overall, the research found that people in Latin America, Asia and Africa were more likely to say the virus had had a considerable impact on them than those living in Europe and North America.
    People in Kenya (91%), Thailand (81%), Nigeria (80%), South Africa (77%), Indonesia (76%), and Vietnam (74%) were most likely to have been affected financially.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 11:32

    Biden calls Trump handling of pandemic 'almost criminal'

    Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has called his rival President Donald Trump's handling of the pandemic "disgusting" and "almost criminal".
    Biden was referring specifically to a newly released recording of Trump, from March, in which the president said he had played down the gravity of the coronavirus.
    Biden told CNN: "It was all about making sure the stock market didn't come down, that his wealthy friends didn't lose any money, and that he could say anything, that in fact anything that happened had nothing to do with him."
    Biden said the president "waved a white flag". "Think about it. Think about what he did not do - it's almost criminal," he added.
    The recording came from an interview with Bob Woodward, who broke the Watergate scandal and is known as one of the nation's most respected journalists. He interviewed Trump 18 times from December to July for a new book.
    Earlier this week, Mr Trump defended his "good and proper answers", and said he had not wanted to create panic.

    Catalan national day scaled down amid Covid surges

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    Catalans are marking La Diada - their national day

    Several European countries are battling surges in infections and coronavirus overshadows an annual Catalan celebration.

    • For the first time since 2012 Catalans are marking their national day, La Diada, in face masks and without huge street demonstrations, because of coronavirus. But ceremonies are going ahead, and Catalonia’s nationalist government says La Diada is just as important this year. Nine Catalan independence leaders were jailed in Spain last year.
    • Spain’s coronavirus surge continues, with more than 10,000 testing positive daily. And the French government is expected to announce further restrictions today after a record number of cases – nearly 10,000 – were announced on Thursday.
    • Surges are being reported elsewhere too: Ukraine hit a record high of 3,144 new infections on Friday, blamed on people defying the new hygiene rules; the figure in the Czech Republic on Thursday was also a record – 1,382.
    • In Belgium, football fans will be let back into stadiums, but only at a fraction of the capacity. Depending on the club, between 400 and 5,000 fans will be allowed in.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 11:42

    Race to return from Portugal and Hungary

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    A busy scene on a beach in Lisbon earlier this summer

    Travellers have less than 24 hours to go before new quarantine rules come into play for people heading to England from Portugal.
    Those coming from the Portuguese mainland - though not the islands of the Azores and Madeira - will have to self-isolate for 14 days if they land after 4am on Saturday.
    It was announced on Thursday evening that the destinations were being added to the quarantine list.
    Wales and Scotland had already imposed the mandatory two weeks of self-isolation earlier this month.
    People travelling to England, Wales and Scotland from Hungary and Reunion will also be required to self-isolate, while England is additionally requiring arrivals from French Polynesia to quarantine.
    World Travel and Tourism Council president and chief executive Gloria Guevara said: "Taking Portugal and Hungary off the exception list has left families in a race against time to find flights and get home to avoid going into 14 days of isolation or cancel their already made plans.
    "This depressingly familiar situation is a major body blow to consumer confidence to travel."
    Meanwhile, England, Wales and Scotland have removed Sweden from their quarantine lists.

    US expert Fauci tells Americans to 'hunker down' for the winter

    Dr Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the US, has told Americans they will need to “hunker down” through autumn and winter months.
    "Don't ever, ever underestimate the potential of the pandemic. And don't try and look at the rosy side of things," Fauci told a panel discussion on Thursday.
    "We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter, because it's not going to be easy."
    The top doctor has been at odds with President Donald Trump at several points during the pandemic.
    Last month, Fauci said his daughters had been harassed due to his public statements about tackling the pandemic, while he had personally received death threats.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 11:53

    'I can't meet up with anyone - because I've got kids'

    When it was announced that indoor and outdoor social gatherings for more than six people were being banned in England, it was a blow for those with larger families.
    One of them is Alison Keen, who has four children - meaning they can no longer meet up with other family members or friends.
    She had been planning a family gathering for her 40th birthday later this month.
    "I can't meet up with anyone just because I've got kids," said Mrs Keen, from Newcastle-under-Lyme.
    "Mum's upset that she can't see me on my birthday and really annoyed that she could have come to see the kids last week, but not next week."
    Mrs Keen said allowing her children, between six and 11, to go back to school but not have family gatherings "seems daft".
    Her parents, who live in Birmingham, will still be able to see Mrs Keen's two sisters, who both have fewer children.
    Read more about the new rules here.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 11:58

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    Coronavirus app for England and Wales launching on 24 September

    The Covid-19 app will be launched across England and Wales on 24 September, the Department of Health and Social Care says.
    It said trials in one of London's boroughs, as well as on the Isle of Wight and with NHS Volunteer Responders, show the app is "highly effective when used alongside traditional contact tracing to identify contacts of those who have tested positive for coronavirus".
    Health Secretary Matt Hancock described the app's launch as "a defining moment" and said it would help to contain the virus "at a critical time".

    App launch is a 'defining moment' - Hancock

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    Here's some more on the breaking news about a new coronavirus app for England and Wales.
    Businesses - including pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas - are being urged to ensure they have NHS QR code posters visible on entry before the app is launched.
    That's so that customers who have downloaded it can then use their smartphones to check-in.
    Matt Hancock said: "The launch of the app later this month across England and Wales is a defining moment and will aid our ability to contain the virus at a critical time."
    He added that it was vital to use the Test and Trace system "to reach as many people as possible to prevent outbreaks and stop this virus in its tracks".
    Wales' health minister Vaughan Gething said the app's launch was "an important part of coronavirus response".
    He said: "Working on a joint England and Wales basis is the most practical option here, as we know there is a lot of movement across our shared border. It makes sense to use the same app, working in exactly the same way, regardless of which country you're in."
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 12:13

    Swiss care-home outbreak sees 90 infected and eight dead

    Ninety people have tested positive for coronavirus in two care homes in Switzerland and eight have died, local officials say.
    The outbreaks in Fribourg canton are believed to be among the worst care home outbreaks in the world, according to AFP news agency.
    A total of 37 residents and 19 staff members have tested positive and seven had died at Siviriez nursing home, local authorities said in a statement.
    In the Maison Bourgeoisiale retirement home, 21 residents and 13 staff have tested positive, while one person has died.
    Civil defence forces have been helping move some residents to hospital as the number of staff in the homes has dropped amid the outbreak, the statement said.
    Switzerland has seen more than 45,000 cases and more than 1,700 have lost their lives to Covid-19.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:14

    Lanarkshire 'causing concern' in Scotland - Sturgeon

    A total of 175 more people have tested positive for coronavirus across Scotland in the past 24 hours, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said in her daily briefing.
    It means 22,214 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up from 22,039 on Thursday.
    These cases are 2.7% of people newly tested, up from 1.9% the previous day.
    Of the new cases, provisional figures indicate 80 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 39 in Lanarkshire and 24 in Lothian.
    Ms Sturgeon said the situation in Lanarkshire was "causing particular concern" and consideration was being given to whether additional restrictions may have to applied.
    No new deaths of people confirmed to have had the virus have been recorded in the past 24 hours, with the toll remaining at 2,499.

    Liverpool added to coronavirus watchlist

    The Liverpool city region has been added to the government's coronavirus watch list due to a rising number of cases, metropolitan mayor Steve Rotheram has said.
    Mr Rotheram said there had been a "rapid increase" in cases in the area over the past week.
    If the region continued on the same trajectory, it would become "a case of when, not if" more restrictions are imposed there, he warned.
    He added: "There is still time to stop that happening - but doing so depends on us and what we choose to do."
    If infection rates rise in an area, the government is likely to put it in one of three groups on its weekly watch list: areas of "concern", "enhanced support" or "intervention" - the highest level.
    Councils in these categories get extra help from the government, such as enhanced testing facilities, depending on their needs.
    Areas of intervention are also likely to face stricter measures around households mixing, among other restrictions.
    If infection rates go down, the government can reclassify an area and restrictions are eased.

    Belgian clubs welcome football fans back

    Bruno Boelpaep - Brussels
    Belgian football fans are set to return to stadiums for top league matches, though numbers will be strictly limited with social distancing.
    It will be the fifth game of the new season for these clubs. The action starts tonight in Eupen, a town near the German border, with the local stadium welcoming up to 1,600 fans. Matches have been behind closed doors since the March lockdown.
    “Bring the passion back,” says a Flemish football website headline.
    On Sunday, more than 6,000 will be allowed into Anderlecht’s stadium - way below its maximum capacity of 22,000.
    Fans are urged to keep one metre apart, separated by empty seats, and they must wear masks all the time.
    Clubs hope gradually to increase the crowd numbers.
    Anderlecht CEO Karel Van Eetvelt says a closed-door match loses the club around €650,000 (£600,000). “This time, with about a third of our fans, we hope to limit the loss to €350,000 to €400,000.”
    Next week some German Bundesliga clubs will allow fans back into stadiums, with strict rules as in Belgium.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:19

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    'Marked increase' in infections in England

    There has been a "marked increase" in coronavirus infections in England in recent weeks, according to new estimates.
    Tests in thousands of households by the Office for National Statistics found a rise in positive tests among young people, but not in those over 50.
    Estimates suggest there were 3,200 new cases a day during the first week of September, compared to 2,000 the week before.
    People are tested whether they have symptoms or not.
    The study does not cover people staying in hospitals or care homes - only in the community.
    Figures from the Covid symptom study app also suggest a growth in new cases since the end of August - the first time since mid-June there has been a significant rise in numbers.
    Katherine Kent, co-head of analysis for the Covid-19 infection survey, said: “These findings highlight how important it is that we continue to monitor Covid-19 infections in the country."
    In Wales, the ONS estimates there was no increase in cases during the first week of September.
    But in England, it estimates that 39,700 people had the virus between 30 August and 5 September - 11,000 more than the previous week's estimate.

    UK lunchtime round-up

    If you're just joining us, here's what is happening in the UK today.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:22

    R number rises above 1 in UK

    The reproduction number - or R value - of coronavirus transmission across the UK has risen above 1.
    Data just released from the government shows it's now estimated to be between 1.0 and 1.2.
    The reproduction number is a way of rating coronavirus or any disease's ability to spread.
    It's the number of people that one infected person will pass a virus on to, on average.
    And the growth rate of coronavirus transmission, which reflects how quickly the number of infections is changing day by day, has increased slightly. It's now between minus 1% and plus 3% per day, a slight change from between minus 1% and plus 2% last week.

    Analysis: Cases are increasing

    James Gallagher - Health and science correspondent, BBC News
    Wherever you look, cases of Covid are on the up.
    As we have reported, four key details have been published today:

    • The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies says the R number for the UK has gone above 1.0, so cases are increasing again
    • The Office for National Statistics study, which tests a random sample of homes, suggests there are currently 39,700 people infected with coronavirus in England. Last week the estimate was 27,100.
    • Meanwhile, The Covid Symptom Study app – in which nearly 4 million people regularly track their health – estimates 35,000 people in the UK have Covid symptoms. That’s a rise of more than 10,000 in the past week
    • A study on more than 150,000 people by Imperial College London suggests cases are doubling every seven to eight days

    The UK is now entering a new stage in the pandemic after consistent falls in coronavirus levels since lockdown.
    However, it is important to remember that cases are nowhere near the level they were at the peak.
    And, back at the start of the pandemic, cases were doubling every three to four days, but the growth is much slower now.
    The situation is changing, but we are not facing an imminent repeat of the events that led to lockdown.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:26

    What are the challenges of mass testing?

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    Boris Johnson described his mass-testing plans as a "moonshot"

    Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken of his ambition to test millions of people every day for coronavirus, using tests that can produce results in as little as 20 minutes.
    He said they "would allow people to lead more normal lives" by giving them the all-clear to go to the theatre or a football match after a negative on-the-day test result.
    It would also raise the prospect of people who are virus-free being able to mix freely together without the need for social distancing.
    Here we explore how realistic these plans are and what some of the obstacles will be.

    Austria expands rules on masks amid surge in infections

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    Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced the new measures in a press conference on Friday

    Austria has expanded its rules on face masks in a bid to tackle an increase in coronavirus infections.
    Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said people will be required to wear face masks in all shops and public buildings from Monday. Under the new rules, face masks will be mandatory in school corridors, but not in classrooms.
    They were already compulsory on public transport and in "essential" shops, such as supermarkets and post offices.
    Mr Kurz also announced new rules on public gatherings. Events without assigned seating, including private parties, will now be limited to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors.
    The limit for spectator events with assigned seating has been reduced to 1,500 people indoors and 3,000 outdoors.
    "It is getting serious again. The numbers have kept rising in recent weeks," the chancellor told a press conference.
    Austria has reported almost 32,000 coronavirus cases and 750 deaths so far.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:30

    Cases doubling every seven to eight days in England

    As we mentioned briefly, coronavirus cases in England were doubling every seven to eight days at the beginning of September, new data suggests.
    It is estimated that between 22 August and 7 September, 13 people per 10,000 were infected, compared with four people per 10,000 between 24 July and 11 August.
    The study was carried out by Imperial College London on more than 150,000 people.
    It also suggested Covid-19 cases are shown as no longer clustering in healthcare or care home settings, as seen in May and June.
    This suggests the virus is now spread more widely in the community, experts say.
    Professor Paul Elliott, director of the programme at Imperial, said: "I think the really important thing here is that this system was set up as an early warning system. And I think it has picked up the signal early. And that's being fed in to government."

    Scores of Senegalese troops test positive for Covid-19

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    The Senegalese army says about 100 of its soldiers from a peacekeeping mission in The Gambia have tested positive for coronavirus.
    The military contingent composed of 600 soldiers was returning home.
    They have been quarantined in Toubacouta, on Senegalese territory near the border with The Gambia, as a precautionary measure.
    Those who tested positive are asymptomatic. More tests are being done.
    The peacekeeping mission in The Gambia, deployed by regional bloc Ecowas in 2012, mainly consists of Senegalese soldiers.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:36

    England records a further 9 Covid deaths

    A further nine people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,648, NHS England said on Friday.
    Patients were aged between 79 and 88 years old and all had known underlying health conditions.
    The dates of the deaths were between 8 and 10 September and seven occurred in the North West region.
    No new deaths were recorded in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

    Analysis: UK enters new phase of pandemic

    James Gallagher - Health and science correspondent, BBC News
    The UK is entering a new stage of the coronavirus pandemic.
    Since lockdown we have been deciding how to react to falling cases. But now the R number has gone above the crucial level of 1 for the first time since March and is backed up by reams of data showing cases are growing again.
    This is not just contained to hotspots like Bolton; one government adviser told me the rise was widespread across the country.
    They said today was a “wake-up call” for the nation. There are already some signs that the number of people being admitted to hospital is starting to rise.
    But this is not a repeat of the build up to lockdown. Cases are at a much lower level and they are growing more slowly.
    Pre-lockdown, the R number was around three and cases were doubling every three to four days. It is around half that now.
    Coronavirus is going to be a major challenge until we have a vaccine.
    So the defining question as we head into a potentially difficult winter is how to balance keeping the virus in check with getting on with our lives.

    More on new Birmingham rules

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    Here's a bit more on those new rules for Birmingham and two neighbouring areas.
    BBC correspondent Phil Mackie says the new rules also mean if you live in Birmingham, you now can't visit another household outside of the city either. There are exemptions in place for those in established support bubbles.
    A number of new testing sites have opened and more will do shortly, said our correspondent. Door-to-door testing has started too - but only in a limited way so far, he added.
    Read more about it here.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:40

    Top stories from around the world

    If you're just joining us, here's a look at some of today's stories from around the world:

    • The reproduction number - or R value - of coronavirus transmission across the UK has risen above 1, and new restrictions are being introduced in the city of Birmingham and surrounding areas amid a surge in cases
    • Officials are meeting in France to discuss new measures after the country reported its highest number of cases in a single day on Thursday
    • India has recorded the world's highest-ever daily number of cases, with more than 96,000 reported on Friday
    • In Belgium, football fans are set to return to stadiums for top league matches, though numbers will be strictly limited with social distancing
    • The top infectious disease expert in the US has told Americans they will need to “hunker down” through autumn and winter months
    • A new Covid-19 contact-tracing app is being launched across England and Wales on 24 September
    • It is six months since the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a pandemic. More than 28 million coronavirus cases and 910,000 deaths have been recorded worldwide, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University


    Trump pushes boundaries for campaign-style rallies

    Tara McKelvey - BBC News, Washington
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    Trump campaign officials are planning rallies in Nevada this weekend.
    But state authorities have been trying to stop them.
    The state has a directive that allows gatherings of up to 50 people, and the president’s rallies would exceed that.
    It is the latest conflict between the president and state officials who are trying to contain the spread of the virus.
    Earlier this week a Republican chairman of a county board in North Carolina said that the president should wear a mask when he visited their state, following a directive ordered by the governor.
    I travelled with the president to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this week and I never saw him with a facial covering.
    Instead he stood mask-less before a crowd of about 15,000 (the number of people at the rally was confirmed by a senior White House official).
    His fans were packed together; some wore masks, but many did not. Regardless of what they wore, they cheered as loudly as they could.
    The president has upset some state officials. But a lot of people who live in North Carolina and in Nevada, too, adore him.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:46

    Coronavirus 'on the rise again in Wales' - Drakeford

    Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has warned that coronavirus is "on the rise again in Wales".
    The new case rate is now 20 per 100,000 people - the rate at which quarantine measures can be introduced for those returning to the country from abroad.
    Mr Drakeford said it "indicates there is a serious risk of the virus spreading more widely once again".
    He added there was a "short window to get ahead of the gathering storm" and avoid "more draconian measures" - especially with schools, colleges and universities returning.
    He urged people to work from home wherever possible. Regarding the messaging in England, to encourage people back to the office, he added: "This is not and never has been our policy in Wales."
    Meeting people indoors has been at the heart of the rise in cases, he said, confirming it will be illegal from Monday to meet more than six people from an extended household indoors.
    People who flout the laws in Wales will face fines if they don't wear masks indoors from Monday as well, he said.
    Read more here.
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    Sixty-one people test positive after charity football match

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    The game was held at Burnside Working Men's Club

    More than 60 people have tested positive for coronavirus following a charity football match, health officials have said.
    A further 33 people have now contracted the virus amid an outbreak linked to the event at Burnside Working Men's Club in Fencehouses, on the border of Sunderland and County Durham.
    About 300 people who attended the game, on 30 August, are having to self-isolate for 14 days.
    Read more
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:51

    US marks 9/11 anniversary amid coronavirus restrictions

    Coronavirus - 11th September 7063d710

    The US is marking the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks amid coronavirus restrictions.
    Like others in attendance, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Vice President Mike Pence and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo all wore masks as they gathered at the site of the destroyed World Trade Center for a memorial ceremony.
    Mr Biden and Mr Pence bumped elbows in greeting.
    Coronavirus - 11th September C95f3910

    A number of 9/11 memorial events across the US were cancelled or modified this year because of the pandemic.
    At the New York event, a longstanding tradition of relatives reading the names of the dead was changed to a recording being played over speakers because of coronavirus safety precautions.
    But a separate 9/11 group organised an event nearby, where they said people would be allowed to recite the names while keeping a safe distance.
    Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks on 11 September 2001. Two hijacked planes slammed into the Twin Towers, a third hit the Pentagon and a fourth was taken down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, when its passengers rose up against the hijackers.
    US President Donald Trump led tributes at an event in Shanksville.
    Coronavirus - 11th September Cafb4c10
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:55

    How have things in China changed over the last six months?

    Kerry Allen - BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst
    Six months since the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic, China seems full of confidence that it’s seen the back of the virus.
    It has been 26 days since any domestic cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the country, and the government says that people don’t need to take any extra precautions ahead of one of the country’s biggest annual migrations next month: Golden Week. This is an annual week-long holiday that begins on 1 October.
    This is the first time Chinese people have been told they can travel safely anywhere in the country. But there is still apprehension, given cases became widespread after Chinese New Year in January - the only other extended period of mass migration.
    When the pandemic was announced in March, China - where the outbreak started - was already over its worst. Since then, many Chinese people have been confident that a second wave can be avoided.
    In the last six months, there have been around 4,300 confirmed cases of Covid-19 within the country's 1.4 billion population.
    These were in major cities, including Beijing, the city of Dalian in northeastern Liaoning, and Urumqi in northwestern Xinjiang. Local governments introduced swift lockdowns as soon as a single case was detected, and citywide testing for symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers appears to have helped bring these outbreaks under control.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 16:58

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    UK cases rise by 3,539

    A further 3,539 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care show.
    It is the sixth day in a row where daily cases have exceeded 2,000.
    It takes the total number of UK cases to 361,677.
    A further six deaths have been recorded in those who had a positive coronavirus test in the last 28 days. This takes the death toll by this criteria to 41,608.

    Why we are watching R numbers?

    Earlier, we reported that the coronavirus infection rate has been growing in the UK in recent weeks, according to new estimates.
    The reproduction number in the UK is now thought to be between 1 and 1.2.
    The R number is a way of rating coronavirus or any disease's ability to spread in the population.
    A number above 1 means the epidemic is growing, while below 1 it declines.
    Read more about how it is calculated and the different R numbers across UK areas here.
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 17:43

    Armenia ends state of emergency but some restrictions to stay until January

    Armenia has lifted its state of emergency but says some of its coronavirus restrictions will remain in place until January.
    The government said it had decided to end the state of emergency, which was introduced in mid-March and extended several times, because coronavirus was spreading less quickly than before.
    But its land borders will remain closed, public gatherings of more than 60 people will be banned, and mask-wearing will continue to be mandatory in enclosed public spaces, AFP news agency reports.
    Armenia - which has a population of about three million people - has recorded 45,503 coronavirus cases and 909 deaths so far.

    Coronavirus - 11th September Breaki12

    Lockdown restrictions extended to Scotland's Lanarkshire

    People living in the Scottish region of Lanarkshire will not be able to meet other households indoors from midnight on Friday.
    Similar measures are already in place in Glasgow, East and West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.
    The extension to North and South Lanarkshire means the restrictions now cover more than 1.75 million people in the west of Scotland.
    Read more here

    Leicester's Diwali lights switch-on event cancelled

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    Leicester's Diwali celebrations - believed to be among the biggest outside of India - have been cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.
    Thousands of people usually gather to watch traditional dance and music events in the city throughout October.
    However, while the lights along the Golden Mile will still be switched on, Leicester City Council said large gatherings have to be prevented.
    Christmas events are also cancelled but decorations will still go up.
    Read more
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 20:33

    France aims to avoid nationwide lockdown as cases surge

    French Prime Minister Jean Castex says coronavirus is "circulating more and more" in the country, but that officials want to avoid any new nationwide lockdown.
    In a televised statement, Mr Castex announced several changes to Covid-19 testing and confinement policies.
    These include fast-tracking testing for priority cases, recruiting extra testers, and asking patients who have tested positive for Covid-19 to confine themselves for seven days, instead of 14.
    Mr Castex said the situation in Marseille, Bordeaux and Guadeloupe was "worrying", and that local authorities would be given more powers to tackle specific outbreaks.
    He said it was particularly concerning that the number of hospital admissions for coronavirus has gone up for the first time in weeks.
    The French government is under pressure to curb the spread of the virus amid a surge in cases.
    On Thursday, the country recorded almost 10,000 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, marking its highest single-day count since the start of the outbreak.

    Spain records 4,708 coronavirus cases in 24 hours

    Spain has recorded 4,708 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 566,326.
    In total, it reported a record increase of 12,183 new cases in its figures on Friday, but a lag in reporting means that cases can take several days to appear on the central government's data.
    Spain is the first country in the European Union to reach half a million coronavirus cases. It has recorded 29,747 deaths.
    Like other countries, Spain has ramped up testing for the virus.
    A strict three-month national lockdown was lifted in the country at the end of June, but authorities have imposed fresh restrictions - such as making face masks mandatory in public - amid a rise in infections.

    What is a Covid marshal and what powers will they have?

    Covid-secure marshals will be introduced in towns and city centres in England to help ensure social distancing rules are followed, Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced.
    Marshals have already been used in Leeds and Cornwall during the coronavirus pandemic.
    However, plans to roll them out more widely have been criticised, with Conservative MP Steve Baker saying it would "turn every public space in Britain into the equivalent of going through airport security".
    So what is a Covid-secure marshal and what powers will they have?
    Read more
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    Post by Kitkat Fri 11 Sep 2020, 20:40

    NI Covid-19 restrictions: Your questions answered

    New Covid-19 restrictions for parts of Northern Ireland, including Belfast and Ballymena, come into force on Monday.
    There are new social restrictions and guidance about travel and leisure.
    Here, BBC News NI answers some of the many readers' questions it has received about the changes, and what they mean for you

    'Worrying signs' of infection in UK elderly

    There are "worrying signs" of infections among the elderly, Public Health England's medical director Prof Yvonne Doyle has said.
    Her warning came as daily cases in the UK rose to the highest level since 17 May.
    A total of 3,539 new Covid-19 cases were recorded on Friday, the Department of Health said, up from 2,919 the previous day.
    Prof Doyle said: "Although younger people continue to make up the greatest share of new cases, we're now starting to see worrying signs of infections occurring in the elderly, who are at far higher risk of getting seriously ill.
    "This is a reminder of the ongoing risk as the virus spreads throughout the UK.
    "People should continue to follow social distancing rules, wash their hands regularly and wear a face covering in enclosed spaces.
    "You should not mix with others when unwell."

    Evening round-up

    We're about to bring our live page to a pause for today, but before we do, here is a recap of the main stories from today:


    That's it from us for today

    That's it from us for today - thanks for joining us.

    The writers for the live page today were:
    George Wright, Lauren Turner, Alice Cuddy and Alex Therrien.
    The page was edited by Vicky Baker and Holly Wallis.

      Current date/time is Fri 29 Mar 2024, 05:40