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Coronavirus in UK

From this thursday, all Bars/Pubs/restaurant across UK should have table service only with mandatory closure by 10pm.
 
Key points:

Boris Johnson addressing the Commons - announcing new restrictions in England

Measures include: £200 fines for not wearing masks or breaking rule of six, curfews for pubs and restaurants, work from home where possible, no return of fans to stadiums - read more

Restrictions may last for six months after we reached 'perilous turning point'

Analysis throughout statement by deputy political editor Sam Coates

PM will make a televised statement to nation at 8pm

The UK has moved up to alert level 4 - highest since mid-June

UK reported 4,368 new COVID-19 cases yesterday

Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance warn UK could see 49,000 cases a day by mid-October if surge continues
 
Under the new measures announced by PM Boris Johnson:

Penalties for not wearing a mask or gathering in groups of more than six will increase to £200 on the first offence

From Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants will be restricted to table service only. Takeaways can continue

Hospitality venues must close at 22:00 - which means shutting then, not calling for last orders"

Office workers are being told to work from home if possible

The planned return of spectators to sports venues will now not go ahead from October 1

Face coverings must be worn by shop staff, taxi drivers and passengers

Customers in indoor hospitality venues will also have to wear masks, except when seated at a table to eat or drink

Exemptions to the "rule of six" will be cut back, meaning indoor team sports such as five-a-side football matches will end.
 
Official figures show the UK has recorded 37 new COVID-19 related deaths and 4,926 new cases
 
This virus must be the most enhanced I have ever known. It can tell the time AND distinguish between friends and family.
 
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Britons to "summon the discipline and the resolve" to avoid a second national lockdown after warning there have been "too many breaches" of coronavirus rules.

In a televised address to the nation, Mr Johnson called on the public to "get through this winter together" as he set out a series of new COVID-19 restrictions.

He admitted that the disease had "started to spread again in an exponential way" and sent a stark warning of "many more deaths" if action was not taken now.

Describing coronavirus as "the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime", Mr Johnson said that he knew the UK could succeed in pushing back the virus "because we have succeeded before".

However, faced with a second wave of infections, the prime minister acknowledged that "while the vast majority have complied with the rules there have been too many breaches - too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected".

He said that his government would continue to work "night and day" to fight to protect the public, but stressed the "single greatest weapon we bring to this fight is the common sense of the people themselves - the joint resolve of this country to work together to suppress COVID now".

The prime minister dismissed suggestions that people should be allowed to take their own risks with coronavirus, adding: "The tragic reality of having COVID is that your mild cough can be someone else's death knell."

He also rejected the idea that only the elderly might isolate themselves from the risk of the disease.

"If you let the virus rip through the rest of the population it would inevitably find its way through to the elderly as well, and in much greater numbers," Mr Johnson said.

The prime minister admitted he was "reluctant" to impose the further restrictions he had set out earlier in the day and warned that a new national lockdown would "threaten not just jobs and livelihoods but the loving human contact on which we all depend".

But he stressed that "if people don't follow the rules we have set out, then we must reserve the right to go further".

"Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour," he said.

"If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together. There are unquestionably difficult months to come.

"And the fight against COVID is by no means over. I have no doubt, however, that there are great days ahead.

"But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline, and the resolve, and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through."

The prime minister's TV address was his third to the nation since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis.

It came on the same day that another 4,926 people were confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK - the highest daily figure since 7 May.

A further 37 people have also died within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19 - the highest number reported in one day since 14 July.

Boris Johnson speaks to parliament

PM: New restrictions could last 'six months'
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Johnson had announced the new COVID-19 restrictions for England in a statement to the House of Commons.

These include:

Asking office workers to work from home again where possible - although those in key public services and in all professions where this is not possible, such as construction and retail, should continue to attend their workplaces
From Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants must offer table service only and close at 10pm - but delivery services can remain open
The requirement to wear a face covering has been extended to staff in retail, people in taxis and everyone using hospitality services, except when sitting down to eat or drink
Fines for not wearing a face covering will now double to £200 for a first offence
COVID-secure guidelines will become a legal obligation for retail, leisure and tourism firms, with those who do not comply running the risk of fines of £10,000 or closure
From Monday, a maximum of only 15 people will be allowed to attend weddings, but 30 can still go to a funeral
The "rule of six" has been extended to indoor sports, such as five-a-side football games
The phased reopening of stadiums for sporting events from 1 October has been scrapped.
Speaking to MPs, the prime minister warned the new measures could last six months.

But he stressed it was "by no means a return to the full lockdown of March" and that the government was committed to keeping schools, colleges and universities open.

With the UK's coronavirus alert level having moved back to its second-highest mark, Mr Johnson said the country had now reached "a perilous turning point" in the face of a second wave of COVID-19 cases.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told the prime minister that families were worried that "the government doesn't have a strategy" and "this is a time of national crisis but we need clear leadership".

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon went further than Mr Johnson by announcing a ban on people visiting other households inside their homes in Scotland.

She also revealed the Scottish government is keeping the possibility of a time-limited "circuit breaker" lockdown under review.

In her own TV address on Tuesday night, Ms Sturgeon stressed that, without a COVID-19 vaccine, "we simply can't have 100% normality - no country can".

She said the challenge of coronavirus "is once again getting harder" and acknowledged that the announcement of new Scotland-wide measures "must feel like a step backwards".

But she added: "I know it doesn't feel like it now, but this virus will pass.

"It won't last forever and one day, hopefully soon, we will be looking back on it, not living through it."

Northern Ireland had already banned the mixing of households indoors.

In Wales, hospitality businesses will also have to provide table service only and close at 10pm, while all off-licences and supermarkets will have to stop selling alcohol at 10pm.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "Once again, we are facing rising cases of coronavirus infections in different parts of Wales and once again we are seeing people being admitted to our hospitals with serious illnesses because of this virus.

"In the weeks and months ahead of us, there is a very real possibility we could see coronavirus regain a foothold in our local communities, towns and cities.

"None of us wants to see that happen again."

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...-discipline-to-avoid-second-lockdown-12078947
 
Covid: Boris Johnson calls for 'resolve' to fight coronavirus over winter

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called on the public to "summon the discipline and the resolve" to follow the new coronavirus rules announced on Tuesday.

In a television broadcast to the country he warned the government may go further if people do not stick to them.

Mr Johnson said while the vast majority have complied with the measures so far, "there have been too many breaches".

New restrictions were announced across the UK earlier, with Mr Johnson warning rules could last for up to six months.

In England, rules on face coverings have been expanded and the number of people allowed at weddings has been halved.

Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues will have to close by 22:00 BST, while the fines for breaking the rules will also increase to £200 on the first offence.

Hospitality venues will also have to close early in Scotland and Wales - but Scotland has gone further, banning people from visiting other people's homes. Northern Ireland has also already banned households mixing indoors.

It comes as the number of UK cases rose by 4,926 on Tuesday, government figures showed, with deaths increasing by 37.

'Can't just lock up elderly'
Speaking on Tuesday evening, Mr Johnson explained the new measures, saying they were "robust but proportionate".

"And to those who say we don't need this stuff, and we should leave people to take their own risks, I say these risks are not our own," he said.

"The tragic reality of having Covid is that your mild cough can be someone else's death knell.

"And as for the suggestion that we should simply lock up the elderly and the vulnerable - with all the suffering that would entail - I must tell you that this is just not realistic, because if you let the virus rip through the rest of the population it would inevitably find its way through to the elderly as well, and in much greater numbers."

Mr Johnson said he was "deeply, spiritually reluctant" to infringe on anyone's freedom, but added: "Unless we take action the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later."

"If people don't follow the rules we have set out, then we must reserve the right to go further," he added.

More police will be put on the streets and the Army will be used as back-up if need be, he said.

"If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together," he added. "There are unquestionably difficult months to come.

"And the fight against Covid is by no means over. I have no doubt, however, that there are great days ahead.

"But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline, and the resolve, and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through."

In her statement on Tuesday evening, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "In a global pandemic of a virus with as yet no vaccine, we simply can't have 100% normality. No country can. So we must choose our priorities."

She said that although "today must feel like a step backwards", the country is "in a much stronger position than in the spring".

"It won't last forever and one day, hopefully soon, we will be looking back on it, not living through it," she said.

And she added: "I will never find the words to thank all of you enough for the enormous sacrifices you have made so far. And I am sorry to be asking for more."

Meanwhile, Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "In the weeks and months ahead of us, there is a very real possibility we could see coronavirus regain a foothold in our local communities, towns and cities. None of us wants to see that happen again".

And Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster has said tougher restrictions being imposed in the nation do not represent a second lockdown but should act as a "wake-up call".

A televised address from the prime minister is not the rarity it once was, but it's still a big moment.

The coronavirus pandemic has required Boris Johnson to appeal directly to the public on more than one occasion.

The gravity of the situation is such that, his argument goes, a renewed national effort is required to bring the virus back under control.

Behind the echoes of wartime rhetoric and Johnsonian linguistic flourishes was a simple message; stick with it for six months and we'll get through this.

But as he acknowledged, there are some who say he's taking the wrong decisions and the public's patience for further restrictions may not be what it was six months ago.

There was optimism that better days lay ahead but a vaccine and mass testing were "hopes and dreams" not the reality, not now.

Scotland's First Minister had gone further so comparisons will be inevitable; which tactics will work?

While England and the UK's nerve is being tested again, so too is the prime minister and the government's leadership and its strategy.

Earlier, Mr Johnson told MPs that the new rules were "carefully judged" to achieve the maximum reduction in the R number - which measures how quickly the virus is spreading - while causing "the minimum damage to lives and livelihoods".

If these restrictions fail to bring the R number below one - the point where the epidemic is no longer growing - "then we reserve the right to deploy greater fire power with significantly greater restrictions" he said.

Mr Johnson said that unless progress was made, people should assume the restrictions would remain in place "for perhaps six months".

But Ms Sturgeon said the rules in Scotland would "not necessarily" be in place for as long as six months - and would be reviewed every three weeks.

Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth told the BBC the new restrictions could have been avoided if the government "fixed testing and tracing".

Mr Ashworth said Labour supported the new measures but that "we shouldn't have been here".

"So what we need to do now is drive infections down, we all need to follow the rules, but the government in return have really got to fix this testing system and this tracing system, and give people the support when they need to isolate."

What are the new rules?
In England:

Office workers are being told to work from home again if possible
Penalties for not wearing a mask or gathering in groups of more than six will increase to £200 on the first offence
From Thursday 24 September, all pubs, bars and restaurants will be restricted to table service only. Takeaways can continue
Also from Thursday, hospitality venues must close at 22:00 - which means shutting then, not calling for last orders (in Scotland the same curfew rule comes into force on Friday)
Face coverings must be worn by all taxi passengers from Wednesday
Retail staff and customers in indoor hospitality venues will also have to wear masks from Thursday, except when seated at a table to eat or drink
From Monday 28 September, only 15 people will be able to attend weddings and civil partnerships, in groups of six. Funerals can still take place with up to 30 people
Also from 28 September, you can only play adult indoor sports in groups of less than six
The planned return of spectators to sports venues will now not go ahead from 1 October
In Scotland:

People across Scotland are being advised not to visit other households indoors from Wednesday 23 September onwards. This will become law from Friday
There will be exceptions for those living alone, or alone with children, who form extended households. The rules will also not apply to couples who do not live together, or to tradespeople or for the provision of informal childcare - such as by grandparents
From Friday, pubs and restaurants will have to close by 22:00
The first minister urged people not to book overseas travel for the October school holiday
In Wales:

Pubs, cafes and restaurants in Wales will have to close by 22:00 from Thursday - and sales of alcohol from off-licences and supermarkets will also be stopped after that time
Pubs will also be required to provide table service only
In Northern Ireland:

From now, people cannot meet anyone who they don't live with inside their home
There are only limited exceptions.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54257868.
 
Exeter University: 'Hundreds' breach social distancing at cinema event

A university has cancelled the third evening of a cinema event after students were seen crowding together, breaching social distancing guidelines.
A "huge crowd" watched an outdoor screening of Mamma Mia organised by the University of Exeter on Saturday, students told The Exeter Tab.
The university said the Sunday outdoor cinema night "worked well" after changes were implemented.
However, in light of what happened it cancelled Monday's event.
Only groups of six are allowed to meet under the latest government guidance.
'Flocked there'
Student Michael Rudling, 20, said photographs had been shared by students who had been disappointed at the handling of the event.
"People flocked there. I haven't got exact numbers - it will be in the hundreds and a lot of them aren't social distancing," he said.
"I think the university has to take quite a lot of blame for this because they know how many freshers there are and how popular freshers' events can be.
"If you say people can turn up it is hard to control numbers."

A University of Exeter spokesman said on Monday: "Unfortunately, some of our students did not socially distance as required at an outdoor cinema event on Saturday night and although the Sunday outdoor cinema night event worked well after we made some changes, we have decided to cancel this evening's film showing".
"We apologise to any students who were following the Covid-19 rules and anyone who was concerned by the lack of social distancing."
"We are trying to find the right balance between supporting student activities and the government guidance on Covid-19 but we will always prioritise the safety of our community," the spokesman added.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-54246576.
 
Boris Johnson is facing demands from Labour to explain his proposal to use the Army to help support police amid the new coronavirus lockdown rules.

He faces Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions just hours after his TV broadcast in which he warned of a tough crackdown if people continue to break the rules.

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And ahead of PMQs, Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to Home Secretary Priti Patel demanding answers about Mr Johnson's announcement about using the Army.
 
UK 'about to repeat' the mistakes of March - scientist

Prof John Edmunds, a member of the UK's Sage scientific advisory group but speaking to BBC Radio 4 in a personal capacity, said "we haven’t learned from our mistake" in delaying action in March and "we’re unfortunately about to repeat it".

The scientist from the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene told the Today programme: "I don’t think the measures have gone anywhere near far enough."

"I suspect we will see very stringent measures coming in place throughout the UK at some point, but it will be too late again," he said.

He said that we will have let the epidemic "double and double and double again" before stricter measures are introduced, which will mean "the worst of both worlds" because it will mean "putting the brakes on the epidemic for a very long time, very hard".
 
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said claims that the prime minister's announcement yesterday could mean the military patrolling the streets were "scaremongering from the Labour Party".

He said if the military is used, their role would be in "backfilling" for the police, to free up officers to enforce coronavirus rules.

"The suggestion from Jon Ashworth and others that they’re going to be out patrolling the streets - frankly I don’t think that’s a particularly responsible message to be sending," Mr Raab told BBC Breakfast.

He said if everyone complies with the new rules, there is a good chance England will avoid a second national lockdown.

"Increasingly there has been a small minority where the compliance has frayed," he said.

"We need everyone to comply, everyone to follow the guidance. That’s how we’ll get through the difficult winter months, come through it beyond Christmas and really have light at the end of the tunnel in getting properly back to normal."
 
Scotland records highest number of new virus cases

Scotland has recorded 486 new positive cases of coronavirus - the highest daily total since the outbreak began.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the figures were concerning, and underlined why new restrictions had been imposed.

But she said it was important to remember that many more people are being tested now than at the peak of the outbreak earlier in the year.

Ms Sturgeon said 224 of the new cases were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, including a "significant" outbreak at Glasgow University.

People across Scotland have been banned from visiting other people's homes from today, with Ms Sturgeon warning that the virus risks "spiralling out of control" unless urgent action was taken.
 
Anyone who objects to the response from the government recently, stop complaining and provide alternatives.

Prove you are not a sheep repeating a sound bite.

Don't like the new plan, what is the alternative? Full blown lock down?

Speak up.
 
The UK has recorded a further 6,178 daily cases of COVID-19 up from 4,926 cases yesterday and 37 new coronavirus-related deaths
 
The Metropolitan Police has said it will be increasing its enforcement of coronavirus regulations after Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out new rules for England.

Police said they will be patrolling busy public spaces and each London borough will also have officers responsible for responding quickly to reports of serious breaches.

Fines, which are rising to £200 for a first offence, will be used as a "last resort".

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said officers will help people understand and follow the regulations but "they will also be firm and take appropriate action against those that simply refuse to follow the law and who are deliberately placing communities at risk".
 
The UK has reported 6,178 new coronavirus cases - the highest daily total in four months.

There have only been two days since the pandemic began which have exceeded this total - 1 May, when there were 6,201 confirmed cases and 5 April, when there were 6,199.

However, cases may have appeared lower at the start of the crisis as testing has since increased.

The country reported 4,926 daily confirmed cases on Tuesday.

A further 37 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday, bringing the UK's total death toll to 41,862.
 
Manunited18 said:
Come on bro media don't half make things up, there's no chance of a normal Christmas this year, by December U.K will be under heavy heavy restrictions, it's all down to the inept Trac and trace which the government labelled as world beating lol
Click to expand...

Thats just one of many inpetness. Its the goverment who are saying Xmas day is ok not me.

Another example.

How does this make sense?

You are not allowed to visit any other households but can meet up with another 5 people from 5 different households?
 
Technics 1210 said:
Anyone who objects to the response from the government recently, stop complaining and provide alternatives.

Prove you are not a sheep repeating a sound bite.

Don't like the new plan, what is the alternative? Full blown lock down?

Speak up.
Click to expand...

People firstly want some clarity and not confusion. You cant provide an alternative when you dont know what the heck this government is even saying !

Perhaps you can explain on their behalf first and we can then provide an alternative once understanding the mind of Bojo and his fraggle rock mates?
 
KingKhanWC said:
Thats just one of many inpetness. Its the goverment who are saying Xmas day is ok not me.

Another example.

How does this make sense?

You are not allowed to visit any other households but can meet up with another 5 people from 5 different households?
Click to expand...

I do agree everyone deserves better clarity? I do feel the chancellor is in a better position to lead the country, seems to be cool calm collective
 
Technics 1210 said:
Anyone who objects to the response from the government recently, stop complaining and provide alternatives.

Prove you are not a sheep repeating a sound bite.

Don't like the new plan, what is the alternative? Full blown lock down?

Speak up.
Click to expand...

Without a proper functioning Trac and trace, a full lockdown is on the cards, Israel were in a similar position where there Trac and trace system failed them twice, conclusion a second national
 
Manunited18 said:
I do agree everyone deserves better clarity? I do feel the chancellor is in a better position to lead the country, seems to be cool calm collective
Click to expand...

Isnt it interesting, UK will quickly spend billions when 'saving' lives in Iraq, Syria, Libya etc against oppressors but wont spend anything when saving its own people.

Boris and his cronies have been an aboslute disaster for the UK. 3rd world nations are doing better!

I think they just want to scare scare until 70% willingly take the vaccine.

Will you be taking this new not really tested vaccine if your government tells you to?
 
KingKhanWC said:
People firstly want some clarity and not confusion. You cant provide an alternative when you dont know what the heck this government is even saying !

Perhaps you can explain on their behalf first and we can then provide an alternative once understanding the mind of Bojo and his fraggle rock mates?
Click to expand...

The other alternative is a full blown lockdown.

Your turn.
 
Manunited18 said:
Without a proper functioning Trac and trace, a full lockdown is on the cards, Israel were in a similar position where there Trac and trace system failed them twice, conclusion a second national
Click to expand...

There is a proper trac n trace, it's called the smartphone. Anyone who has tested positive can easily be tracked via GPS, no need for an app.

This is precisly how travels in quarantine are bing tracked.
 
Technics 1210 said:
The other alternative is a full blown lockdown.

Your turn.
Click to expand...

There are many alternatives.

Explain what Boris and his co meant by this.

You cannot go to another household but you can meet people from another 5 households in a group of six. Please explain the logic and reasoning behind this.
 
KingKhanWC said:
There are many alternatives.

Explain what Boris and his co meant by this.

You cannot go to another household but you can meet people from another 5 households in a group of six. Please explain the logic and reasoning behind this.
Click to expand...

Simple. Controlled herd immunity -which is working in Sweden.
 
Technics 1210 said:
Simple. Controlled herd immunity -which is working in Sweden.
Click to expand...

I agreed with Swedens approach but this isnt what the UK is doing.

In Sweden the vunerable were helped, secured and given what they needed while the rest went out but of course remained cautious.

UK is not the same at all, one reason being face masks, Sweden never advised their public to wear masks. Another is they kept bars open throughout and other public venues. Here they forced people to stay in , weaking their immune system for the winter which will see a second wave now.

Out of interest, will you be taking the vaccine this government introduces in months to come?
 
KingKhanWC said:
I agreed with Swedens approach but this isnt what the UK is doing.

In Sweden the vunerable were helped, secured and given what they needed while the rest went out but of course remained cautious.

UK is not the same at all, one reason being face masks, Sweden never advised their public to wear masks. Another is they kept bars open throughout and other public venues. Here they forced people to stay in , weaking their immune system for the winter which will see a second wave now.

Out of interest, will you be taking the vaccine this government introduces in months to come?
Click to expand...

The UK's generic immunity in terms of health is practically nonexistent. Small cough, rush to the NHS. Small cut, AE department. Feeling dizzy, take a week off.

No way I'm taking any vaccine. I rather my body fight the virus naturally than rely on 3rd party substance for strength.

The reliance on prescription drugs is the real danger, not the virus.
 
Technics 1210 said:
The UK's generic immunity in terms of health is practically nonexistent. Small cough, rush to the NHS. Small cut, AE department. Feeling dizzy, take a week off.

No way I'm taking any vaccine. I rather my body fight the virus naturally than rely on 3rd party substance for strength.

The reliance on prescription drugs is the real danger, not the virus.
Click to expand...

Imo you are making a wise choice. The vaccine is untested, will be rushed and could include a digitial tattoo in the future.

Also I urge you to check out this interview with the man who discovered aids and not that it means much now but won a noble prize because of it. He is clear and detailed as to why the virus is man made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZN...xRvxV8zuamXP2MdTDnWTmhRlxhXRSmChnFZi31TW6c2bI
 
KingKhanWC said:
Imo you are making a wise choice. The vaccine is untested, will be rushed and could include a digitial tattoo in the future.

Also I urge you to check out this interview with the man who discovered aids and not that it means much now but won a noble prize because of it. He is clear and detailed as to why the virus is man made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZN...xRvxV8zuamXP2MdTDnWTmhRlxhXRSmChnFZi31TW6c2bI
Click to expand...

Will check out but I am convinced the entire situation with C19 is fully orchestrated from top to bottom. It's scaremongering, electioneering, and redistribution of wealth at its finest.
 
KingKhanWC said:
Isnt it interesting, UK will quickly spend billions when 'saving' lives in Iraq, Syria, Libya etc against oppressors but wont spend anything when saving its own people.

Boris and his cronies have been an aboslute disaster for the UK. 3rd world nations are doing better!

I think they just want to scare scare until 70% willingly take the vaccine.

Will you be taking this new not really tested vaccine if your government tells you to?
Click to expand...

Regarding the vaccine , no way in a million years il be taking the vaccine and I'm definitely not a Tory, then again kier starman is a Zionist puppet so won't be voting for anyone.
 
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Rishi Sunak's post-furlough plan: At-a-glance

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has delivered a statement setting out plans to help workers and businesses hit by new coronavirus restrictions.

It includes plans for a jobs support scheme to replace furlough, help for the self employed, business loans and VAT cuts.

Here is a summary of the main points:


Job Support Scheme

Under the scheme, the government will subsidise the pay of employees who are working fewer than normal hours due to lower demand

Workers must do at least a third of their normal hours

Employers will pay staff for the hours they work

The government and the employer will pay a third each for the hours they can't work

It means someone working a third of their hours would receive 77% of their pay

The grant will be capped at £697.92 per month

All small and medium sized businesses will be eligible for the scheme

Larger business will be eligible if their turnover has fallen during the crisis

It will be open to employers across the UK even if they have not previously used the furlough scheme

The scheme will run for six months starting in November and replaces the "furlough" scheme

It means the government will pay a maximum of 22% of someone's wages, down from 80% at the start of the furlough policy


How could the new Jobs Support Scheme work?

If an employee works reduced hours the employer pays for that. And in addition the employer and government pay one third of the lost pay each (up to the cap).

So for someone on £2,000 a month working 50% hours, they would get £1,000 normal pay plus £333 extra from their employer and £333 from the government.


Support for the self-employed

The chancellor is extending the self-employed grant on similar terms to the Jobs Support Scheme

A grant will be available to those eligible for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme Grant

The grant will cover three months' worth of profits for the period from November to the end of January

It will cover 20% of average monthly profits up to a total of £1,875

A further grant may be available to the self-employed to cover February 2021 to the end of April, depending on circumstances


Business loans

Bounce Back Loans will be extended from six years to 10, cutting monthly repayments by nearly half

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme lenders will also be able to extend the length of loans from the current maximum of six years to 10 years

The chancellor is also extending the deadline for the government's coronavirus loan schemes to the end of November

Businesses struggling can choose to make interest only payments for six months and those "in real trouble" can apply to suspend repayments altogether for six months

Businesses will not see their credit rating fall as a result, the chancellor says


Taxes

The 15% emergency VAT cut for the tourism and hospitality industries will be extended from January 2021 to 31 March

Businesses who deferred their VAT bills will be able to pay back their taxes in 11 smaller interest-free instalments

Self-assessment income taxpayers will be given more time to pay

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54277943
 
Sunak: Difficult decisions await, but priority is to protect jobs

Ruth Sutherland from the Daily Mail asks Sunak how he will "pay the bill in the long term" for all of the government's economic interventions.

Sunak says the government can't continue to provide the same level support as it did at the beginning of the pandemic and that is why the measures announced today are more targeted.

But he says the situation would have been worse if the government hadn't acted in the way it had.

"But you're right, over time and as the economy recovers, we absolutely need to have an eye on our public finances and make sure we're in a strong and sustainable position."

He goes on to say he will have to make "difficult decisions in the future".

"But right now the priority is supporting the economy, throwing everything we've got at protecting people's job and that's what I will continue to do."
 
Technics 1210 said:
Simple. Controlled herd immunity -which is working in Sweden.
Click to expand...

I would have preferred that as well. What I don't understand is the half hearted approach where you are doing neither one thing or the other. For example, what difference is it going to make shutting pubs and restaurants at 10pm instead of 11? Does the Covid bug stay in bed watching Netflix until later on at night then set the alarm for 10pm to start hitting pub drinkers?
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
I would have preferred that as well. What I don't understand is the half hearted approach where you are doing neither one thing or the other. For example, what difference is it going to make shutting pubs and restaurants at 10pm instead of 11? Does the Covid bug stay in bed watching Netflix until later on at night then set the alarm for 10pm to start hitting pub drinkers?
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The UK is drowning in debt. The government needs to find the balance between proping up the economy and the public health.

I'm with you, these half hearted approaches are nonsense, either either full on lock down or no lockdown of any sort.

Unfortunately had it not been for the looney liberals the UK would've imposed stricter measures earlier on, such as ban flights from China (considered racist). Liberals will never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

Now the situation is far worse. C19 has done more damage to the West than East, exposing the weakness of an economy that relies on foriegn manufacturing and finance servicing.

The government's choice now is to save lives, or save the economy, cannot do both as it's too late.

Scrooge is going to have a field day this Christmas.
 
Firebat said:
Rishi Sunak's post-furlough plan: At-a-glance

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has delivered a statement setting out plans to help workers and businesses hit by new coronavirus restrictions.

It includes plans for a jobs support scheme to replace furlough, help for the self employed, business loans and VAT cuts.

Here is a summary of the main points:


Job Support Scheme

Under the scheme, the government will subsidise the pay of employees who are working fewer than normal hours due to lower demand

Workers must do at least a third of their normal hours

Employers will pay staff for the hours they work

The government and the employer will pay a third each for the hours they can't work

It means someone working a third of their hours would receive 77% of their pay

The grant will be capped at £697.92 per month

All small and medium sized businesses will be eligible for the scheme

Larger business will be eligible if their turnover has fallen during the crisis

It will be open to employers across the UK even if they have not previously used the furlough scheme

The scheme will run for six months starting in November and replaces the "furlough" scheme

It means the government will pay a maximum of 22% of someone's wages, down from 80% at the start of the furlough policy


How could the new Jobs Support Scheme work?

If an employee works reduced hours the employer pays for that. And in addition the employer and government pay one third of the lost pay each (up to the cap).

So for someone on £2,000 a month working 50% hours, they would get £1,000 normal pay plus £333 extra from their employer and £333 from the government.


Support for the self-employed

The chancellor is extending the self-employed grant on similar terms to the Jobs Support Scheme

A grant will be available to those eligible for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme Grant

The grant will cover three months' worth of profits for the period from November to the end of January

It will cover 20% of average monthly profits up to a total of £1,875

A further grant may be available to the self-employed to cover February 2021 to the end of April, depending on circumstances


Business loans

Bounce Back Loans will be extended from six years to 10, cutting monthly repayments by nearly half

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme lenders will also be able to extend the length of loans from the current maximum of six years to 10 years

The chancellor is also extending the deadline for the government's coronavirus loan schemes to the end of November

Businesses struggling can choose to make interest only payments for six months and those "in real trouble" can apply to suspend repayments altogether for six months

Businesses will not see their credit rating fall as a result, the chancellor says


Taxes

The 15% emergency VAT cut for the tourism and hospitality industries will be extended from January 2021 to 31 March

Businesses who deferred their VAT bills will be able to pay back their taxes in 11 smaller interest-free instalments

Self-assessment income taxpayers will be given more time to pay

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54277943
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Kicking the can down the road.

There is only one way to stimulate the economy - cut taxes and undermine the EU.

UK needs to attract money and the only way is to lower taxes and devalue the GBP.

Emergency VAT cuts on tourism and hospitality is riddiculous given people are losing jobs and have next to zero money to spend.

Cut VAT across the entire economic spectrum to 5% and watch people spend, oh wait, can't, need EU approval.

More QE (it's the only answer now); but spend on infrastructure, civil services, housing etc. Pants, cannot do that either because EU rules forbid high GDP/Debt ratios.

Sunak is chained to EU rules. He cannot do anything of any significance devoid of EU financial rules/approval.

1st Jan 2021 cannot come sooner.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The COVID-19 dashboard is currently experiencing technical difficulties. We can confirm that:<br> <br>6,634 new positive cases have been recorded on Thursday 24 September, giving a total of 416,363.<br><br>40 new deaths have been reported across the UK, giving a total of 41,902.</p>— Public Health England (@PHE_uk) <a href="https://twitter.com/PHE_uk/status/1309165912579362816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
UK borrowing soars in August as Covid costs mount

We have just learned that the UK government borrowed £35.9bn in August as tackling the economic fallout of the pandemic took its toll on the public finances.

This figure is the difference between spending and tax income. To give you some perspective, this was £30.5bn more than the amount borrowed by the government last August.

This increase meant that the borrowing figure hit its highest level for August since records began in 1993, according to the Office for National Statistics.
 
New COVID-19 cases in England accelerating sharply: ONS survey

LONDON (Reuters) - The number of people in England with COVID-19 jumped by 73% in the week to Sept. 19, according to an official estimate that underscored the resurgence of the pandemic in Britain.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reintroduced some restrictions in a bid to subdue a second wave of infections ahead of winter.

Britain recorded its highest number of daily cases of COVID-19 on Thursday at 6,634, according to government data, reflecting that second wave but also a much higher level of testing than during the first wave.

The Office for National Statistics looks to estimate infection numbers in the community beyond those who have been tested.

The modelled estimate, based on samples of the population, suggests new cases of COVID-19 in England shot up to around 9,600 per day in the week to Sept. 19, the ONS said, up from around 6,000 per day the previous week.

The ONS said around 103,600 people in England had the disease during that week - equivalent to 1 in 500 people and far above the 59,800 in its estimate for the previous week.

“The estimate shows that the incidence rate for England has increased in recent weeks,” the ONS said, highlighting the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, London and North East as areas where infection rates were rising.

London has been added to a national COVID-19 watchlist, London Councils, which represents the city’s 32 boroughs and the City of London, said.

That means further localised restrictions, such as a ban on household mixing, could follow, although no additional measures have been introduced yet.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...accelerating-sharply-ons-survey-idUSKCN26G1NY
 
Over 80% of Britons not heeding COVID-19 self-isolation rules, study finds

LONDON (Reuters) - Over 80% of people in Britain are not adhering to self-isolation guidelines when they have COVID-19 symptoms or had contact with someone who has tested positive, a study has found.

A majority were also unable to identify the symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The research raises major questions about the effectiveness of England’s Test and Trace programme as Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeks to keep a lid on rising infection numbers with new restrictions.

The research, led by King’s College London, found that only 18.2% of people who reported having symptoms of COVID-19 in the last seven days had not left home since the symptoms developed, and only 11.9% requested a COVID-19 test.

It also found that only 10.9% of people told by the NHS Test and Trace scheme to self-isolate after close contact with a COVID-19 case had done so for 14 days as required.

The government last week introduced fines of up to 10,000 pounds ($12,780.00) for breaking self-isolation rules, and are offering a 500-pound support payment to low-paid workers who lose income from quarantining.

The researchers said that financial support for self-isolating could encourage adherence.

“Our results suggest that financial constraints and caring responsibilities impeded adherence to self-isolation, intending to share details of close contacts, and quarantining of contacts,” they wrote.

Johnson promised a “world-beating” test and trace system, but it has been dogged with problems, regularly failing to meet a target of reaching 80% of contacts. A tracing app finally launched on Thursday after four months of delays.

Reasons for non-compliance ranged from not knowing government guidance to being unable to identify the symptoms, the study found.

Just under half the participants were able to identify the key symptoms of COVID-19 of cough, a fever and a loss of sense of taste or smell.

The study used data collected between March 2 and Aug. 5, and was based on 42,127 responses from 31,787 participants aged over 16.

As of Thursday, Britain had the highest death toll from COVID-19 in Europe, at 41,902.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...solation-rules-study-finds-idUSKCN26G14F?il=0
 
BREAKING: Coronavirus R number rises again in UK - to between 1.2 and 1.5

The coronavirus 'R number' for the UK is estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.5, say government advisers.

Last week, it was between 1.1 to 1.4 (from 1.0 and 1.2), according to science advisory body SAGE.

It now believes there is "widespread growth of the epidemic across the country", with new infections rising by between 4% and 8% every day.

The R number indicates the average number of people each person with coronavirus goes on to infect and needs to remain below 1.0 to keep the pandemic under control.

A number between 1.2 and 1.5 means every 10 people infected will - on average - infect between 12 and 15 others.

There figure represents transmission over the last few weeks due to the delay between someone being infected, having symptoms and needing healthcare.

SAGE says the "true" R number is likely to lie within the range it provides.

England's latest R number is estimated to be the same as the UK's, while Scotland raised its range to between 1.2 and 1.6 on Thursday.

Wales also raised its number this week to between 0.7 and 1.2.

Northern Ireland now just gives a single figure, and on Thursday raised it from 1.2 to 1.5.

The R number and growth rate estimates are put together using data such as tests, hospital and intensive care admissions, and deaths.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...ain-across-uk-to-between-1-2-and-1-5-12081330
 
The UK has recorded a further 6,874 daily cases of COVID-19 which is highest daily number since the outbreak began
 
MenInG said:
UK borrowing soars in August as Covid costs mount

We have just learned that the UK government borrowed £35.9bn in August as tackling the economic fallout of the pandemic took its toll on the public finances.

This figure is the difference between spending and tax income. To give you some perspective, this was £30.5bn more than the amount borrowed by the government last August.

This increase meant that the borrowing figure hit its highest level for August since records began in 1993, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Click to expand...

Brilliant! More debt please!

Can't wait for Brexit; the debt will explode!
 
Coronavirus: More than a quarter of UK under stricter rules

More than a quarter of the UK population is set to be under coronavirus lockdown rules, as new measures come into force this weekend.

From Saturday in England, households in Leeds, Wigan, Stockport and Blackpool will be banned from mixing in each other's homes or gardens.

In Wales, Llanelli will be subject to new rules from 18:00 BST, with Cardiff and Swansea following 24 hours later.

It comes as the rate at which the virus is spreading appears to be speeding up.

The R number - which indicates how many people someone with coronavirus infects - has risen in the last week and now stands at 1.2 to 1.5. A number above 1 means the virus is spreading within the community.

Meanwhile, the daily number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK reached a record high of 6,874, government figures on Friday showed.

In England, the "rule of six" and a 22:00 closing time for pubs and restaurants applies nationally.

But extra restrictions are also in place in large parts of north-east and north-west England, West Yorkshire and the Midlands where the infection rate is higher.

The latest rules for Leeds, Wigan, Stockport and Blackpool came into force at midnight and ban different households from mixing inside private homes or gardens.

Support bubbles are not affected and friends and family can still provide informal childcare for children under 14.

People are also advised not to socialise with people they do not live with in any other settings, including bars, shops and parks.

Later on Saturday, Wales - where the R number is between 0.7 and 1.2 - will see its first town-only lockdown, with people in Llanelli in Carmarthenshire banned from leaving town or mixing indoors with anyone outside of their household.

The same rules will then be brought in for Wales' two biggest cities - Cardiff and Swansea - at 18:00 on Sunday. People will not be able to enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse, the Welsh Government has said.

It means by the end of the weekend, about half of Wales' population will be under lockdown - 1.5 million people.

And the total number of people across the UK living under stricter rules will stand at 17 million.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he recognised "the burden and impact these additional measures have on our daily lives but we must act collectively and quickly to bring down infections".

It comes as London was added to the government's Covid-19 watch-list - with all boroughs classed as areas of concern.

Meanwhile, up to 1,700 students at Manchester Metropolitan University have been told to self-isolate for two weeks in their student halls, after a spate of positive tests for Covid-19.

Students said they saw security and police officers outside their accommodation and were "told we are not allowed to leave".

And students in Scotland have been told not to socialise with anyone outside of their accommodation or go to pubs, parties or restaurants this weekend in a bid to stop outbreaks.

In Scotland, new rules ban people from visiting other people's homes, while in Northern Ireland people are not allowed to mix indoors.

In other developments:

The UK is to give £500m to a new global vaccine-sharing scheme designed to ensure treatments for Covid-19 are distributed fairly
Demand for coronavirus tests has almost trebled among young children in England this month - but only 1% were found to have the virus, figures show
The World Health Organization has warned that a global coronavirus death toll could hit two million before an effective vaccine is widely used
Fewer than 0.1% of people stopped by police for not wearing masks on trains received a fine, figures have revealed.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54304659.
 
More than a quarter of UK under stricter coronavirus rules

More than a quarter of the UK population is set to be under coronavirus lockdown rules, as new measures come into force this weekend.

From Saturday in England, households in Leeds, Wigan, Stockport and Blackpool will be banned from mixing in each other's homes or gardens.

In Wales, Llanelli will be subject to new rules from 18:00 BST, with Cardiff and Swansea following 24 hours later.

It comes as the rate at which the virus is spreading appears to be speeding up.

Meeting another household indoors was banned across the whole of Scotland on Wednesday.

The R number - which indicates how many people someone with coronavirus infects - has risen in the last week and now stands at 1.2 to 1.5. A number above 1 means the virus is spreading within the community.

Meanwhile, the daily number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK reached a record high of 6,874, government figures on Friday showed.

In England, the "rule of six" and a 22:00 closing time for pubs and restaurants applies nationally.

But extra restrictions are also in place in large parts of north-east and north-west England, West Yorkshire and the Midlands where the infection rate is higher.

The latest rules for Leeds, Wigan, Stockport and Blackpool came into force at midnight and ban different households from mixing inside private homes or gardens.

Support bubbles are not affected and friends and family can still provide informal childcare for children under 14.

People are also advised not to socialise with people they do not live with in any other settings, including bars, shops and parks.

Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was clear people had not been self-isolating if they had symptoms.

"What we have got to do is make it reasonable for people," she said.

"We are very conscious of the emotional toll on people and mental health issues that will follow. And of course, it is a very different prospect going into winter, going into spring with light nights and good weather was one thing, going into winter I think is going to be very tough for people."

She added she was concerned about the situation at the universities in the city. "We have put a testing site into Leeds University, on the campus," she said. "We keep saying to the government we have not got enough community testing."

Later on Saturday, Wales - where the R number is between 0.7 and 1.2 - will see its first town-only lockdown, with people in Llanelli in Carmarthenshire banned from leaving town or mixing indoors with anyone outside of their household.

The same rules will then be brought in for Wales' two biggest cities - Cardiff and Swansea - at 18:00 on Sunday. People will not be able to enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse, the Welsh Government has said.

It means by the end of the weekend, about half of Wales' population will be under lockdown - 1.5 million people.

And the total number of people across the UK living under stricter rules will stand at 17 million.

Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford urged people in Cardiff to behave as if the new restrictions are in place until they come into force on Sunday. "My experience is people are wanting to do the right thing," he told LBC.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething told Today restrictions were more focused on transmission in the home than the pub.

"These are not the severity of the restrictions we imposed in March but they are real and they are serious," he said. "I think the more significant restrictions are taking apart the extended households, and the travel restrictions.

"We have good evidence it is contact in people's homes that is driving it primarily. That is then leaking into other areas where people have contact, including licensed premises."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he recognised "the burden and impact these additional measures have on our daily lives but we must act collectively and quickly to bring down infections".

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54304659
 
Government data confirms 6,042 new daily confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK compared with 6,874 the day before.

Government data shows a further 34 people have died after testing positive with Covid-19 in the UK.
 
Police have clashed with demonstrators at a protest in central London against coronavirus restrictions.

Officers used batons to control the crowd, after bottles and water were thrown by demonstrators massed in Trafalgar Square.

At least three protesters and four officers were injured, while 10 people were arrested.

The Met Police said the protest was being shut down because the crowd was not social distancing.

Thousands had gathered in central London to protest against the latest government rules, with very few wearing masks.

Protests are exempt from the rule-of-six restrictions, but demonstrators must social distance; organisers must also submit a risk assessment.

Rules in England limit indoor and outdoor gatherings to six people, with some exceptions.

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-54309603?__twitter_impression=true
 
Shadow justice secretary David Lammy has said that the introduction of a 22:00 curfew for pubs in England has led to people "bubbling out of pubs" at the same time.

The Labour MP said that drinkers were "hanging around towns and they're potentially spreading the virus".

Mr Lammy questioned the "science" behind the new restrictions, saying: "It's not clear where that came from."

But the culture secretary said: "There is definitely science behind it."

Oliver Dowden, speaking to BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, insisted: "That's why we're requiring people to be seated in pubs and restaurants, so that stops the flow of them to and from the bar.

"We are reducing the closing times to stop people staying later and drinking."

"And the point about all of this is that everyone has their part to play. If we all play by the rules, we can ensure that there are not further, more draconian restrictions," the culture secretary added.

Under the new restrictions, which came into force on Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants in England are to shut no later than 22:00 each night. They are also restricted to table service only.

But concerns have been raised by both businesses and community groups that the new curfew encourages customers to all leave at once and to carry on drinking together at one person's home.

Brewer and pub chain Greene King told the BBC: "Without the usual slow 'wind-down' time that pubs would see with a gradual closure, customers were all leaving at once which presented more of a challenge for the pub teams managing people's safety on exiting the premises.

"We have also seen examples of people leaving our pubs to buy alcohol in shops to drink elsewhere," its statement said.

It is calling on the government to reconsider many of the measures - which were introduced since the number of Covid-19 infections started to increase again.

They urged additional help for the hospitality industry: "The measures have not been well thought through and the combined impact of [the curfew], the challenges of table service-only and the fact that the government are unfairly targeting the hospitality sector has had a cumulative negative impact."

Pub chain operator Mitchells & Butlers, which runs brands like All Bar One, said it was too early to tell what impact the curfew might have on trade, although "it creates an additional challenge as it forces customers to leave all at once rather than dispersing gradually".

A spokesman said it presented an extra hurdle "in what are already very challenging and uncertain times for our industry".

The boss of the Wetherspoon pub chain has also questioned the introduction of the 22:00 curfew.

Tim Martin said on Tuesday: "The main problem with the 22:00 curfew is that it's another random and arbitrary move by the government, which lacks logic or scientific credibility."

He said that it would reduce sales for "hard-pressed" pubs and restaurants, while also increasing "the level of unsupervised socialising" at home and elsewhere.

Speaking on the Marr show, Prof Mark Woolhouse, who sits on the government's advisory body that models pandemics, said that modelling of the effect of the new curfew had not been carried out to his knowledge.

He explained: "The models do not have the sort of granularity that you can explore in detail for closing times for pubs, or even different versions of the rule of six that we now have around the country.

"So those sorts of things have to be judgement calls based on the public health evidence."

A spokeswoman for the Department for Business said: "These measures strike a balance between saving lives by protecting our NHS and the most vulnerable and minimising the wider impact on the economy and schools.

She said the government had taken "immediate action" as the latest data suggested a "considerable rise" in the infection rate from within the hospitality sector in recent weeks."

"We've acted decisively to support the hospitality sector throughout the coronavirus outbreak, and will keep all measures under constant review," she added.

After falling from their April peak, confirmed new coronavirus cases in the UK have been rising again since early August.

On Saturday, the country recorded 6,042 new cases. It was the fourth day in a row that new infections across the UK have topped 6,000.
 
UK reports 5,693 further cases

There have been a further 5,693 lab-confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK, according to government data.

A total of 429,277 cases have been confirmed.

Government figures show a further 17 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus as of Sunday. This brings the UK death toll to 41,988.
 
Crackdown on Covid rule-breakers in England

From Monday people in England who fail to self-isolate when they have Covid-19 symptoms or who do not seclude themselves when told to do so by NHS Test and Trace will face fines of £1,000 for first time offences. These could rise to £10,000 for repeat breaches.

Ministers hope Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will bring in similar penalties - although there is growing disquiet among MPs about how they have come about and there is a possible Commons rebellion looming later this week.

The crackdown comes after research found voluntary compliance with the rules was very low.

The government says Test and Trace is crucial to fighting the pandemic, but NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, is warning the system is not ready for the enormous demands of winter and capacity must be greatly increased.

NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson told BBC Breakfast that NHS Test and Trace "has now become as important in a sense as catching criminals, fighting fires and treating heart attacks". He added: "It's a key public service and when it doesn't work, then we all suffer."
 
Govt facing calls for 10pm pub curfew to be urgently reviewed

Tighter social restrictions could be imposed if coronavirus infections continue to rise, a minister has suggested.

Helen Whately said "we don't want to" bring in measures taking the UK back towards a second national lockdown but cautioned the government is keeping a "constant eye" on COVID-19 cases.

It comes amid a warning the new 10pm curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants could be "doing more harm than good".

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, called for an "urgent review" of the policy brought in last week because it "creates an incentive for people to gather in the street or more probably to gather in the home".

"I don't think this has been fully thought through," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Ms Whately called scenes of people partying and not distancing after leaving pubs at 10pm "worrying" and when asked if further changes were on the way, pointed to the rules banning household mixing in parts of northwest and northeast England.

It follows a report in The Times that a "total social lockdown" could be enforced across much of northern Britain and London - with all pubs and restaurants ordered to shut for two weeks.

Households would also be banned from meeting each in other in any indoor location, but schools, shops and offices would remain open.

The newspaper quoted a senior government source as saying the nation and Conservative MPs weren't "ready" for such action but it "will have to come".

Ms Whately did not deny the plan is being considered.

"We have an opportunity - a choice - as a country to get this back under control again," she said.

"This is our moment in time to make sure we're doing social distancing and the rule of six. That's how we control it."

The latest figures released on Sunday show there were 5,693 new coronavirus cases in the UK and a further 17 people who died within 28 days of testing positive.

Higher daily infections were reported earlier in the week - including the highest on record across the country.

Experts warn case numbers will be higher given testing capacity has been dramatically increased compared with the spring.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...s-could-be-imposed-minister-suggests-12084127
 
Household mixing in any setting is to be made illegal in the north east of England as the number of coronavirus cases "continues to rise sharply".

Addressing MPs in the Commons, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the existing COVID-19 measures were being tightened at the request of local councils.
 
Covid: Adults without A-levels to be offered free college courses

Adults in England without an A-level or equivalent qualification will be offered a fully funded college course, the government has announced.

The offer will be available from April and applies to courses offering "skills valued by employers".

In a speech on Tuesday, the PM will say that, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the government cannot "save every job" but wants to help people find new work.

Labour said the plans would not reverse the impact of "a decade of cuts".

The government decision comes amid fears that unemployment is set to grow sharply.

The Office for Budget Responsibility has said the unemployment rate could peak at between 9.7% to 13.2% in the next few years. The most recent rate - for May to July - is 4.1%.

In his speech, Boris Johnson will say: "As the chancellor has said, we cannot, alas, save every job - what we can do is give people the skills to find and create new and better jobs.

"We're transforming the foundations of the skills system so that everyone has the chance to train and retrain."

The offer of courses to adults without an A-level will be paid for through the National Skills Fund topped up with £2.5bn, the government said.

A full list of available courses will be announced next month.

The government added it wants to make higher education loans more flexible, with the aim of letting people "space out" their learning throughout their life rather than in three or four year blocks, enabling more part-time study.

It said the changes will be backed by investment in college buildings and facilities, including over £1.5bn in capital funding.

Further details will be set out in an education white paper later in the year.

In other plans, small businesses will be offered financial incentives to take on apprentices and £8m will be spent on skills "boot camps" in West Yorkshire, south-west England, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to cover sectors like construction and engineering.

This follows pilots in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands that focused on digital skills.

And the government's online Skills *******, currently providing training in digital and numeracy skills, will be expanded to include 62 additional courses.

Responding to the government's measures, Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green said: "A week ago Labour called for a National Retraining Strategy fit for the crisis Britain faces, but what the government proposes is simply a mix of reheated old policies and funding that won't be available until April.

"By then many workers could have been out of work for nearly a year, and the Tories still think that they will need to take out loans to get the training they will need to get back in work."

She added the plans would not give workers "the skills and support they need in the months ahead".

CBI director general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said: "The significant unemployment coronavirus is leaving in its wake only accelerates the need for people to develop new skills and adapt to new ways of working.

"The lifetime skills guarantee and flexible loans to support bitesize learning are a strong start but to really shift gears, this must be backed up by meaningful progress on evolving the apprenticeship levy into a flexible skills levy."

The apprenticeship levy - introduced in 2017 - takes 0.5% of the salary bill from major employers that have an annual pay bill over £3m, with the intention of using the money to improve skills and provide training.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54330880.
 
Covid-19 mentioned in 1.5% of deaths in England and Wales

The number of weekly deaths where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate has risen to more than 100, official figures for England and Wales show.

Some 139 deaths were registered in the week ending 18 September where "novel coronavirus" was mentioned - accounting for 1.5% of all deaths, the Office for National Statistics said.

It is the second consecutive weekly rise in such deaths.

The latest figures for each of the UK nations show 57,860 deaths have been registered where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.
 
Boris Johnson says he "misspoke" and apologises after failing to clarify coronavirus restrictions in north-east England
 
PM Johnson sows confusion as UK tightens COVID curbs

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson corrected himself on Tuesday after appearing uncertain about basic social distancing rules that will apply in a large swathe of England.

The government announced on Monday a tightening of restrictions on socialising in northeast England from Wednesday, in response to high and increasing COVID-19 infection rates in the region - the latest in a series of local measures.

In the affected areas, which include large urban centres such as Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and Durham, people will face fines if they are caught meeting people from other households indoors, including in homes, pubs and restaurants.

After a junior minister said on morning radio that she did not know what the new rules were, Johnson was asked hours later whether people from different households would be able to meet outdoors in pub gardens in the northeast.

“Outside the areas such as the northeast where extra measures have been brought in, it’s six inside, six outside,” he responded, referring to the government’s “rule of six” which applies in areas not subject to specific local restrictions.

“In the northeast and other areas where extra tight measures have been brought in, you should follow the guidance of local authorities, but it’s six in a home or six in hospitality, but as I understand it not six outside,” he said.

Critics said the response was unclear and appeared to contradict the information released by the health ministry on Monday.

“For the prime minister to not understand his own rules is grossly incompetent,” said Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the main opposition Labour Party. “These new restrictions are due to come into force across huge parts of the country tonight. The government needs to get a grip.”

Johnson corrected himself soon afterwards on Twitter.

“Apologies, I misspoke today,” he said. “In the North East, new rules mean you cannot meet people from different households in social settings indoors, including in pubs, restaurants and your home. You should also avoid socialising with other households outside.”

With infection numbers rising again in different parts of the country, the government has said it wants to avoid a second national lockdown and instead is taking targeted local measures to try to slow the spread of the virus.

But the proliferation of different rules in different places has led to widespread complaints that citizens can no longer be sure what they can and cannot do, even as they face possible fines for breaching the guidance.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...sion-as-uk-tightens-covid-curbs-idUSKBN26K28A
 
Official figures show the UK has recorded 7,143 daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 compared with 4,044 yesterday
 
50cc2c3d-d4b1-46e0-aaa0-31a4c3c08641.png
 
UK records highest coronavirus death toll since July

The United Kingdom recorded 7,143 new cases and 71 new deaths from coronavirus Tuesday, the most deaths since July 1.

That brings the U.K.'s total to 446,156 total cases and 42,072 deaths, according to the U.K.'s coronavirus dashboard.

There was some confusion Tuesday as the U.K. announced new restrictions on social gatherings for the northeast.

Politico reports that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the rule of six -- no more than six people can gather in one place -- does not apply to gatherings outside. He later corrected himself on Twitter, saying he misspoke.

"This is vital to control the spread of coronavirus and keep everyone safe," Johnson later tweeted. "If you are in a high-risk area, please continue to follow the guidelines from local authorities."

The U.K.'s guidelines are clear that when meeting friends and family apart from your home or support bubble, you must not meet in a group of more than six, indoors or outdoors.

People who break this rule can be fined up to 200 pounds, (roughly $250), with the fine doubling for each additional infraction up to 6,400 pounds (roughly $8,200).

The U.K. has the fifth most deaths of any country worldwide, it is surpassed by the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico.

Coronavirus deaths globally hit the grisly milestone of 1 million on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There are 33,477,825 confirmed cases worldwide.
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Source: https://www.foxnews.com/us/uk-highest-coronavirus-death-toll-july.
 
'Importance of proper scrutiny' of Covid-19 measures
Matt Hancock's move follows concern from Tory MPs over a lack of parliamentary scrutiny.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle warned the government against treating Parliament with "contempt".

Mr Hancock told MPs there would be regular statements and debates "and the ability for members to question the government's scientific advisers more regularly, gain access to data about their constituencies and join daily calls with the paymaster general".

Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee of backbench Conservative MPs, had been pushing for MPs to have more of a say over restrictions introduced to tackle the virus.

He said Mr Hancock had "understood the importance of proper scrutiny in this place and the benefits that can bring to better government as well".

MPs are debating a motion that will extend the Coronavirus Act, the emergency legislation passed in March, which grants extensive powers to the authorities to tackle Covid, such as closing schools and stopping mass gatherings.
 
Another 7,108 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the UK and 71 more deaths, according to the latest daily figures.

The figure is slightly down on yesterday, when 7,143 were recorded. The deaths figure is the same.

The number of infections is still far fewer than the peak of the pandemic in spring - when testing wasn't taking place in the community - and when some estimates suggest there were 100,000 new cases each day.
 
Boris Johnson has warned Britons that the "only way" to avoid a new national lockdown is to follow the latest coronavirus rules.

England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said there had been a significant uptick in the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care.

"The direction of travel for both hospitals and intensive care is going in the wrong direction, particularly in the areas that have seen rapid increases in cases," Prof Whitty said.

Speaking at the 100th coronavirus briefing from Downing Street since the beginning of the pandemic, the prime minister made repeated pleas for the public to follow both national and local restrictions.

And he refused to rule out further measures to slow the spread of transmission.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, also warned: "This is headed in the wrong direction, there is no cause for complacency."

Mr Johnson said ministers and scientists would have to "watch what's happening" with their aim to avoid another national lockdown, as was enforced in the spring.

Government wants 'strong' BBC chair - amid reports Boris Johnson's old boss Charles Moore will get role
"What we are not doing at the moment is going back to the situation we were in in March," Mr Johnson said.

"And, I really don't want to do this.

"I don't want to go back to a national lockdown where the overall guidance is stay at home, that is not what we are saying.

"We want to keep the economy moving. We want to keep young people, pupils in education.

"But the only way we can do that is if we all follow the guidance and depress the virus."

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...s-follow-rules-to-avoid-new-lockdown-12086146
 
U.K. experts warn coronavirus is out of control

LONDON -- British health experts admitted Wednesday that the coronavirus was out of control as case numbers and hospital admissions rise despite a slew of new restrictions on social gatherings.

"Things are definitely heading in the wrong direction," U.K. chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance told a government press conference, as a further 7,108 cases and 71 deaths were reported.

As England's chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, warned that hospitalizations and admissions to intensive care were also rising, Vallance added: "We don't have this under control at the moment."

More than 42,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Britain, the worst toll in Europe, despite a nationwide stay-at-home imposed in late March.

The lockdown was eased in June but authorities have in recent weeks reimposed restrictions on social gatherings, including a ban on groups of more than six and early closing for pubs.

Standing alongside Vallance and Whitty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was "still too early to tell" if these would have an effect and urged people to follow the rules.

"If we put in the work together now then we give ourselves the best possible chance of avoiding that outcome and avoiding further measures," he said.

CONTEMPT FOR PARLIAMENT

Despite the warnings about rising case numbers, many of Johnson's Conservative lawmakers are increasingly angry at the limits imposed on personal freedom.

More than 50 MPs had earlier threatened to support a motion in parliament demanding more scrutiny of future regulations, accusing ministers of governing "by decree."

House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle refused to put the amendment to a vote for procedural reasons, sparing Johnson a rebellion.

But then he himself launched a scathing attack on Johnson's "contempt" for parliament.

Hoyle has repeatedly admonished ministers for announcing virus restrictions to the media before parliament and for not allowing time for debate before they come into force.

Many MPs are still seething after Johnson shut down parliament last year at a crucial point in Britain's tortuous exit from the European Union -- a move later declared unlawful by the Supreme Court.

"I now look to the government to rebuild trust with this House and not treat it with the contempt that it has shown," the speaker said.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock later offered to consult parliament and "wherever possible" hold votes before any new national coronavirus measures came into effect.

However, critics note this does not apply to localized measures, which are now thought to affect some 16 million people, many of them in the north of England.

Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said that if the restrictions continued, and without further support for business, the whole region would suffer.

"If you look back in years to come you'll think COVID-19 did more harm to the north of England than Margaret Thatcher and whatever she did in the 1980s," he said.

The former Conservative prime minister is accused of wiping out Britain's industrial base with her free-market reforms, although supporters say she revived the wider economy.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/u-k-experts-warn-coronavirus-is-out-of-control-1.5127005.
 
The growth of coronavirus infections may be falling, early results from the largest COVID-19 study in England suggest.

Research by Imperial College London and Ipsos Mori showed the R number, a key indicator which shows the coronavirus reproduction rate, fell from 1.7 to 1.1 since the beginning of the month.
 
A ban on households meeting indoors has been announced as part of further restrictions for the north of England after a spike in coronavirus cases.

It will be illegal to meet in settings, such as pubs and restaurants, in the Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs he wanted the rules to stay in place for "as short a time as possible".
He also "recommended against all social mixing between households".
People should also:

Not attend amateur sports events as spectators

Only visit care homes in exceptional circumstances

Adhere to guidance against all but essential travel

Mr Hancock told the House of Commons: "Earlier this week we brought in further measures in the north-east, however in parts of Teesside and the north-west of England cases continue to rise fast."
 
Local politicians challenge government over Covid rules

With rules becoming more complicated, the government’s biggest challenge is to explain and persuade why they are necessary.

We’ve seen some problems with that this week with the prime minister struggling to explain rules in the north east of England.

There are issues today too. The mayor of Middlesbrough has rejected the new rules and said there needed to be more work with local politicians. To be clear, these rules still come into force on Saturday. The mayor cannot veto them. But it shows not everyone is on the same page.

In Liverpool, local leaders have backed the measures. But they too want to see more of the evidence behind how decisions are being made. They’ve suggested more measures may be needed.

At this crucial and complicated part of the pandemic response – public disagreements are becoming more common.
 
MP Margaret Ferrier's Covid Parliament trip 'indefensible'

Scotland's first minister says the actions of an SNP MP who travelled to Westminster despite experiencing Covid symptoms are "utterly indefensible".

Margaret Ferrier said she made the journey because she was feeling "much better" - but also returned home after getting a positive test result.

The MP, who has been suspended by her party, said there was "no excuse for my actions".

Nicola Sturgeon tweeted her support for the decision to suspend the MP.

She said: "This is utterly indefensible. It's hard to express just how angry I feel on behalf of people across the country making hard sacrifices every day to help beat Covid.

"The rules apply to everyone and they're in place to keep people safe. @Ianblackford_MP is right to suspend the whip."

One of Ms Ferrier's former SNP colleagues, Glasgow East MP David Linden, has also said she "should resign" as an MP.

He was speaking during the recording of Thursday night's BBC Question Time programme.

Ms Ferrier said she took a test on Saturday after experiencing "mild symptoms", but travelled to London on Monday as she felt better.

The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West spoke in the coronavirus debate in the House of Commons on Monday, and said she received her positive test result that evening.

She then took a train back to Scotland on Tuesday.

Ms Ferrier said she had informed the police and that she deeply regretted her actions.

"I travelled home by train on Tuesday morning without seeking advice. This was also wrong and I am sorry," she said.

"I have been self-isolating at home ever since."

Police Scotland confirmed they had been contacted by Ms Ferrier, saying officers were "looking into the circumstances" and liaising with the Metropolitan Police Service.

The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said he had spoken to Ms Ferrier, who accepted that what she had done was wrong.

He said: "Margaret will be referring herself to the parliamentary standards commissioner as well as the police. I am tonight suspending the whip from Margaret."

When someone tests positive for coronavirus they normally attract sympathy and concern.

But that's in extremely short supply for Margaret Ferrier after she admitted breaking Covid self-isolation rules.

She may have apologised for attending parliament and making lengthy journeys by public transport with coronavirus but she has not offered an explanation.

Her behaviour is far more serious than the lockdown travel breach that cost Catherine Calderwood her job as Scotland's chief medical officer.

It is also more serious than the lockdown travels of the prime minister's advisor, Dominic Cummings, who Mrs Ferrier called on to resign.

It is no surprise then that the Conservatives are demanding the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West stands down from Parliament.

She has already been suspended by the SNP and the party leader, Nicola Sturgeon, has described her behaviour as "utterly indefensible".

House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle wrote to MPs on Thursday evening to say he was informed after Ms Ferrier told the SNP whip on Wednesday afternoon that she had tested positive for Covid-19.

"The House authorities immediately took all necessary steps in line with their legal obligations and PHE [Public Health England] Guidance," he wrote.

"On the basis of the information supplied to the contact tracing system, only one individual has been identified as a close contact in relation to this case and is now self-isolating."

A House of Commons spokesperson said the House's priority was to ensure the safety of those working on the estate.

The statement added: "We have closely followed public health guidance on the action to take following a confirmed case of Covid on site.

"Parliament has a dedicated team to support the test and trace teams across the UK, acting as a central point of contact in the event of any suspected or confirmed cases, where an individual has been working on the estate."

'Reckless endangerment'
Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservatives' Holyrood leader, told BBC Newsnight that Ms Ferrier should resign.

"She shouldn't be an MP at all. That's on her and if she had a shred of decency she would [resign]," she said.

Taking public transport after testing positive amounted to an "absolutely reckless endangerment of person and of life", she added.

Labour MP Ian Murray said Ms Ferrier had shown "astonishing recklessness".

"She has put passengers, rail staff, fellow MPs, Commons staff and many others at unacceptable risk," he said.

"To breach the rules twice is simply unforgivable, and has undermined all the sacrifices made by her constituents."

Train drivers union Aslef described her actions as "both dangerous and disgraceful".

Ms Ferrier was one of the MPs who called on the prime minister's adviser Dominic Cummings to resign in the wake of the controversy over his visit to the north east of England during lockdown.

At the time, she said his actions had "undermined the sacrifices that we have all been making" and described his position as "untenable".
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-54379026.
 
Official Government figures show the UK's COVID-19 'R' number has risen to 1.3-1.6 up from the previous estimate of 1.2-1.5
 
BREAKING: Northumbria University has announced major Covid outbreak- 770 students tested positive for the disease, 78 are symptomatic.
 
Across the UK, students are self-isolating in their accommodation after outbreaks at university, with the 770 confirmed cases at Northumbria University among the largest clusters of infections.

It's prompted protests from many students, including at Edinburgh University's Pollock Halls, a complex which holds 1,880 people. Social media accounts called pollockprisoner have dubbed it "the UK's most expensive prison".

A student, Eve, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that one block was "completely locked down" and students were only allowed to leave their rooms once during the self-isolation period to take out their bins and do washing.

She said meals were delivered haphazardly, sometimes with breakfast, lunch and dinner all arriving at 21:00, while pastoral care was "really quite shocking" as students faced waiting days for a response from the university.

Edinburgh vice-chancellor Prof Peter Mathieson said: "We’re very keen to listen to our students and to respond to their concerns."

He said that when they delivered over a thousand meals, they only received a handful of complaints. "The majority are satisfied," he said.

Mathieson said the university had no plans to refund tuition fees, which are over £9,000 ($11,600) a year for students from parts of the UK other than Scotland. "An Edinburgh degree will still be a fantastic investment for these students," he said.
 
New Covid-19 restrictions for swathes of northern England

Tighter restrictions have come into force in parts of northern England after a spike in coronavirus cases.

It is now illegal to meet people indoors from other households in the Liverpool City Region, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Warrington.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was "necessary" to bring the new measures, which includes places like pubs and restaurants, into force.

More than a third of the UK are now under heightened restrictions.

The new rules come as hundreds of Northumbria University students are self-isolating after testing positive for Covid.

After a steady decline since the first peak in April, confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK have been rising again since July, with the rate of growth increasing sharply from the end of August.

On Friday, another 6,968 people tested positive, slightly down from more than 7,000 a day earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, Germany has issued a warning to its citizens against travelling to Scotland and northern England because of increases in infections.

They were also tightened up this week in Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham, as well as four areas of north Wales.

Announcing the latest restrictions, Mr Hancock told the House of Commons "cases continue to rise fast" in Teesside and the north-west of England.

Knowsley, an area in the Liverpool City Region, had the second highest infection rate in the country at 262 per 100,000 on 27 September. Liverpool's weekly infection rate rose to 258, Warrington's was 163 and Hartlepool and Middlesbrough both had 121 cases per 100,000 people.

Burnley, where no further restrictions are yet to be imposed beyond the Lancashire-wide ones already introduced, has the highest infection rate in England at 327 per 100,000.

Mr Hancock also "recommended against all social mixing between households", but said he wanted the restrictions to stay in place for "as short a time as possible".

People in those areas should also:

- Not attend professional or amateur sports events as spectators
- Only visit care homes in exceptional circumstances
- People should not travel unless it is essential - for example to school and work

The independent mayor of Middlesbrough said the changes would damage the local economy and people's mental health.

But people in Liverpool had been expecting the tighter measures.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Matt Ashton, director of public health for Liverpool, acknowledged there were "so many different rules, so many different regulations, it is confusing for people to understand".

He added: "We need to move the conversation now to people really understanding the risk of Covid in our communities... to do the right thing and just to minimise their contact with other people as much as possible."

Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough, said it was "imperative" people "accept and abide by" the new measures but called for "improvement in communication" between the government and local councils.

He said: "These restrictions have been imposed without due consideration or dialogue. We have no idea of what exit strategy is planned or what achievements have to be attained in order to see these restrictions lifted. It is simply not good enough."

Alice Wiseman, director of public health for Gateshead, said introducing new restrictions was a "tricky balance" but was about putting a "package of measures together that enable us to keep as much of the economy open while reducing the transmission of the virus".

A spokesman for Northumbria University, in Newcastle, confirmed 770 students had tested positive for coronavirus, 78 of whom are symptomatic. All infected students, and their close contacts, are self-isolating for 14 days in line with government guidance.

It comes as people arriving in the UK from Turkey and Poland now have to quarantine for two weeks. The new rules - which also apply to the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba - came into force at 04:00 BST on Saturday.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-54399271
 
Covid: UK announces more than 10,000 daily cases for first time

The UK has announced more than 10,000 daily coronavirus cases for the first time since mass testing began.

There were 12,872 new cases, while a further 49 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

However, the government said a technical issue meant some cases this week were not recorded at the time so these were included in Saturday's data.

It comes after data released this week suggested infections may be increasing more slowly than in previous weeks.

This data was based on weekly testing among a sample of people in the community to get an idea of how many people in England have the virus at any time.

The government also closely watches the daily number of positive cases, as it provides the most up-to-date snapshot.

However, it published a cautionary message on its "data dashboard", explaining that the totals reported over the coming days would include some cases from the previous week, "increasing the number of cases reported".

A Department of Health spokesman said the issue did not affect people receiving test results, and all those who tested positive have been informed in the normal way.

The announcement of the apparent glitch in the daily count comes "at an awkward moment", according to BBC health editor Hugh Pym, "when there is intense scrutiny of daily Covid-19 data as ministers and health chiefs try to assess the rate of spread of the virus".

He added: "After criticism in recent months over the way total tests are counted, ministers and officials will now face more questions over the compilation of daily case data."

The daily total saw a significant rise from 4,044 on Monday to a then-high of 7,143 on Tuesday. However, over the next four days the daily total remained stable - varying between 6,914 and 7,108 - at a time when continued increases might have been expected.

And then came the big leap in numbers announced on Saturday, a far bigger day-on-day increase than at any time in the entire pandemic, which were announced five hours later than the usual time and were accompanied by the government explanation.

The figures announced on Saturday would also have been partially inflated by the fact that 264,979 tests were processed the previous day, the third highest there has been so far in a single 24-hour period.

Saturday's figure brings the total number of recorded cases in the UK to 480,017.

The increase in the UK is largely reflected across Europe.

On the same day, France recorded 16,972 new cases - a new daily high for the country
The Netherlands and Belgium respectively announced 3,967 and 3,175 new positive results, also new highs in both countries
Meanwhile, Russia, which has the biggest population in Europe, recorded 9,859 cases - its highest level since May

On Saturday tighter restrictions came into force in parts of northern England after a spike in coronavirus cases.

It is now illegal to meet people indoors from other households in the Liverpool City Region, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Warrington.

It means than a third of the UK is now under heightened restrictions.

They were also tightened up this week in Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham, as well as four areas of north Wales.

The new rules come as hundreds of Northumbria University students are self-isolating after testing positive for Covid.

Elsewhere, people arriving in the UK from Turkey and Poland now have to quarantine for two weeks.

The new rules - which also apply to the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba - came into force at 04:00 BST on Saturday.

After a steady decline since the first peak in April, confirmed coronavirus daily cases in the UK have been rising again since July, with the rate of growth increasing sharply from the end of August.

Sage, the body which advises the UK government, say it is still "highly likely" the epidemic is growing exponentially across the country.

Their latest R number estimate - indicating how fast the epidemic is growing or falling - rose to between 1.3 and 1.6.

But an Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey estimates there were 8,400 new cases per day in England in the week to 24 September - slightly down on the previous week's estimate of 9,600 daily cases.

The ONS's estimates of how much of the population is currently infected are based on testing a representative sample of people in households with or without symptoms.

It is different to the number published daily by the Department of Health. That records positive cases in people with potential Covid symptoms who request tests.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54404561.
 
Coronavirus: 'Lockdown was madness but saved us financially'

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the global economy hard, but some people's personal finances have never looked better.

Since the US shut down en masse in March, mum-of-three Paula, who lives in New Hampshire, has paid off some $20,000 (£15,270) in credit card debt the family had racked up in the aftermath of an unexpectedly expensive work relocation.

The 35-year-old's job as an analyst ended in June, but her husband is still working and she benefited from a temporary $600 boost to weekly unemployment payments Congress approved in response to the crisis.

She put coronavirus stimulus cheques from the government towards the credit card payments, as well as thousands of dollars the family has saved since their children are not attending day care, preschool or summer camp. Already frugal when it came to eating out, the family has become even more so, she says. Their one big splurge has been bicycles.

"The quarantine has been very helpful to save money for us," she says. "We were at home, which was madness, pure madness but… I think it saved us financially."

Savings surge
The personal saving rate in the US - an average that reflects the share of income people have put away after spending and tax payments - nearly quadrupled between February and April, when it hit an all-time record of 33.6%.

Though lockdowns have eased since then, savings remain unusually high, boosted by government coronavirus assistance. In August, the personal saving rate in the US was 14.1% - greater than any pre-pandemic time since 1975.

The rise helped Americans' household wealth rebound to a record high in the three months to July, while overall debt declined for the first time in 2014.

"What's unique about this situation is that government programmes have supported household incomes but business closures limited their spending opportunities and so we've seen... record personal saving rates," says Sara Johnson, executive director of global economics at IHS Markit.

Rich-poor divide
Those circumstances are poised to change, however, as government aid runs out.

In the US, the $600 expansion to weekly unemployment payments expired at the end of July - and politicians in Washington remain at an impasse when it comes to further relief.

At a hearing in Washington this month, the head of America's central bank outlined the risks ahead.

"Savings are very high," Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said, citing government aid. "But 11 million people are out of work and the risk is that over time, they go through those savings and so their spending will decline, their ability to stay in their homes will decline and the economy will feel those negative effects."

Government support had helped mask sharp differences in how much individual families have managed to put away, but research has found the richest households, who are also less likely to have lost jobs or income, have driven much of the increased saving.

As financial support from the government winds down, the divide between rich and poor is expected to grow, as people who have lost jobs are forced to dig into savings to cover their expenses.

"People with higher incomes are doing more of the saving and people with very low incomes have been saving a little bit... but there's an open question about whether that will continue," says Olivia White, partner at McKinsey & Co, which has surveyed households in 30 countries about pandemic finances.

'Emergency fund'
Meanwhile, economists warn richer households are likely to continue to limit their spending until health concerns are more clearly resolved and the economy is in better shape.

In Tennessee, 35-year-old John Kennedy and his wife, who both work in education, have been putting away an extra $2,000 to $4,000 a month since March, thanks to reduced childcare costs, fewer work lunches and coffees, and the elimination of date nights and other entertainment.

Some of those expenses, like childcare, will return. But he says he has no plans to start spending more significantly, given the wider economic uncertainty.

"We're saving more than we've ever saved and part of it is just because we can, but then the other part is we almost feel like we need to," he says. "Depending on how things shake out in the next six to 12 months, ideally we're both employed still but if not then that emergency slash savings fund is just the emergency fund."

The potential for prolonged pullback bodes ill for the rebound in the US, where consumer spending drives more than two-thirds of the economy.

"The pandemic has delivered a major hit to consumer spending and it's really the sector of the economy to watch which signals how the recovery will unfold," says IHS Markit's Sara Johnson.

Consumer spending started to rebound over the summer, fuelling hopes that the level of savings might power a rapid recovery. But the rate of increase has since slowed.

Even if spending were to recover overall, ongoing restrictions in many sectors such as travel, mean those hurt most financially due to the virus won't be well-positioned to benefit, warns Michaela Pagel, a professor at Columbia Business School.

"People cannot spend in those areas where people lost their jobs," she says. "They cannot generate income for people who really need it."
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53731404.
 
Covid: NME owner says pandemic impact wasn't all negative

As an already reeling music industry is hit by the coronavirus, the owner of UK publication NME says the pandemic has brought challenges and opportunities.

Singapore-based BandLab also owns music brands ranging from guitar-making to retail and digital platforms.

The virus came at a time of already seismic change for the industry as firms seek new ways to make profits.

In recent years, the recording industry has been revolutionised, while instrument and magazine sales fell.

The last two decades have seen the business model of traditional record labels massively disrupted by digital downloads, while the market for musical instruments and magazines has been hit by radical changes in consumer behaviour.

As the coronavirus pandemic compounded this already hostile business environment, many companies in the music industry have seen their businesses hit hard.

BandLab's chief executive, Meng Ru Kuok, says that while parts of his music-focused firm have faced coronavirus-related disruptions, other areas of the business have thrived.

He says that during the pandemic, his music equipment retail business has seen its best performance since he bought it in 2012, as social distancing measures mean people have had more free time.

"We've seen a 300% rise in monthly sales at our South East Asia music instrument retailer, Swee Lee," he said.

Print vs digital
Some of BandLab's most high-profile investments have been in music journalism, an industry that has been turned upside down by internet-driven changes in how people consume news.

Although the live entertainment and publishing industries have been hit hard by the coronavirus, NME - which BandLab bought in 2019 - was launched in South East Asia last month.

That announcement came after NME entered the Australian market at the end of last year.

Even as plummeting advertising revenues and circulation numbers force increasing numbers of publications to abandon print, NME has recently restarted physical publishing with a monthly magazine in Australia, its only current regular print edition.

Mr Kuok says he has a sense of duty to protect the NME's legacy: "We feel there is a responsibility not just to the brand, but also there is a responsibility of being a credible brand."

And he hinted at new NME-related launches both in the UK and internationally, with announcements expected later this year and in early 2021.

The company bought a 49% stake in US rock magazine Rolling Stone in 2016, but sold that holding less three years later after failing to buy the rest of the business.

Mark Mulligan from MIDiA Research sees potential for NME as a digital brand: "When NME went fully digital, it was seen by many as the demise of the brand. But of course, in the digital era, print can actually be a hindrance, reducing your ability to reach truly global audiences.

"BandLab has an opportunity to entirely re-imagine the brand for a new generation of music fans, with a global reach it previously lacked," he added.

Digital growth
At the same time as BandLab is continuing to expand NME, it is also seeing significant growth in users of its digital music production platform, Cakewalk.

"Today we have more than 22 million people who are using our product around the world. More than eight million songs are being recorded and released a month on the platform," he said.

In another sign of how the music industry as a whole is having to adapt to the new normal of social distancing, BandLab is this weekend holding a virtual guitar show.

Guitar.com Live is a three-day event combining a trade show with interviews, panels, workshops and performances by world-famous guitarists.

Jamie MacEwan from Enders Analysis said: "A music business like BandLab that connects people with digital production tools and live streaming is well placed to grow its user base under lockdown.

"Using the NME brand to reach enthusiasts around the world is a solid strategy. My question would be, how does BandLab intend to monetise and build on its business from here?"

Coronavirus disruptions
The pandemic has also caused significant disruptions in BandLab's group of businesses.

Uncut, another UK-based music magazine owned by BandLab and the firm's only newsstand-focused product, saw its sales take a hit as people stayed at home because of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the firm's US-based guitar manufacturers, Heritage and Harmony, were forced to suspend production for eight weeks owing to lockdown measures.

Production has now restarted and the company says it has seen a surge in orders, which it is now working to meet.

As the son of Kuok Khoon Hong, the chairman and chief executive of Asia's leading agricultural production group Wilmar International, he is often asked about his billionaire father.

While the younger Mr Kuok is quick to point out that his company is separate from the family business, he is also keen to highlight the debt he owes for the guidance he has received over the years.

A key piece of advice he says he always keeps in mind is: "When things are going well, don't be too happy. When things are going badly, don't be too sad."

From Muse to the blues
So which artists does a music entrepreneur like Mr Kuok listen to when he's not working?

He nods to his parents encouraging him to learn the violin and piano as a child, but credits his time at one of Britain's top public schools, Winchester College, and then Cambridge University for his love of guitar music.

Growing up listening to British indie bands such as Radiohead and the Libertines, he says his favourite band in his youth was alternative rock group Muse.

But now his tastes have matured to include one of the great American bluesmen: "My favourite artist is BB King."

"He is someone who has a personality, had trouble in his life and he played to his very last day. Incredibly hard working and had the respect of the entire industry."
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54138180.
 
Boris Johnson has warned it may be "bumpy through to Christmas" and beyond as the UK deals with coronavirus.

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr, the PM said there was "hope" in beating Covid, but called on the public to "act fearlessly but with common sense".

He said the government was taking a "balanced" approach between saving lives and protecting the economy.

His comments come as the UK announced more than 10,000 new cases for the first time since mass testing began.

There were 12,872 new cases announced on Saturday. However, the government said a technical issue meant some cases earlier in the week were not recorded at the time so had been included in Saturday's data.
 
Covid: 16,000 coronavirus cases missed in daily figures after IT error

Nearly 16,000 cases of coronavirus were not entered into the national computer system used for official figures because of a technical glitch, Public Health England has said.

Some of the unreported cases were then added to Saturday's figure of 12,872 new cases and Sunday's 22,961 figure.

PHE said all of the cases "received their Covid-19 test result as normal".

But it means there has been a delay in tracing their contacts, who may have been exposed to the virus.

The BBC's health editor Hugh Pym said daily figures for the end of the week were "actually nearer 11,000", rather than the around 7,000 reported.

According to PHE, the cases were missed off daily reports between 25 September and 2 October.

However, it has insisted the IT problem has been resolved and all cases have now been handed over to the test and trace system.

Labour has described the glitch as "shambolic".

Meanwhile, the head of the government's vaccine taskforce, Kate Bingham, has told the Financial Times that less than half of the UK population could be vaccinated against coronavirus.

"There is going to be no vaccination of people under 18," she said. "It's an adult-only vaccine for people over 50, focusing on health workers, care home workers and the vulnerable."

Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned it could be "bumpy through to Christmas" and beyond as the UK deals with coronavirus.

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr, the PM said there was "hope" in beating Covid, and called on the public to "act fearlessly but with common sense".
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54412581.
 
The UK recorded 22,961 cases of coronavirus on Sunday as Public Health England completed recording a backlog of cases between 25 September and 2 October. BBC health editor Hugh Pym said the adjustment meant daily cases at the end of last week were nearer 11,000 than the 7,000 previously reported.

Jobseekers will be offered coaching and advice about moving into “growing sectors” as part of a £238m government employment programme. Unemployment figures have hit their highest level for two years in the pandemic, with young people hit hardest

Nearly three-quarters of firms say they plan on maintaining their increased levels of home working after the pandemic. In a survey of 1,000 firms by the Institute of Directors, half also said they planned to reduce their long-term use of office space.

Northern Ireland is considering new interventions after a surge of infections in recent days put hospitals under growing pressure. But Health Minister Robin Swann said he did not want a return to “long-term or indefinite lockdown”.

The Scottish government needs to do more to meet child poverty targets, after the pandemic swept a million people living “precarious lives” deeper into poverty, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said.

A study in Wales found that 30% of new mothers stopped breastfeeding before they wanted to during lockdown because of a lack of face-to-face support.
 
Last edited:
What’s the latest in the UK?

Boris Johnson has said the UK's coronavirus figures are more "realistic" following the addition of 16,000 confirmed cases which had been missing last week due to a technical glitch. He said NHS Test and Trace is in the process of finding the contacts of these cases.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said he will "always balance the books" despite the mounting costs of the coronavirus crisis. But he also said he would use the "overwhelming might of the British state" to help people find new work.

Thousands of jobs are at risk after Cineworld said it was closing all 127 of its UK cinemas, including the Picturehouse venues. The prime minister said the government was helping industries such as cinema and urged people to go out and support movie theatres.

The Welsh government is considering imposing quarantine on people from Covid hotspots in other parts of the UK. But Welsh Conservatives said it was a "dangerous slope" for the government to go down.

Scotland is considering new restrictions to tackle the rise in infections, with national clinical director Jason Leitch saying a two-week "circuit-breaker" of tougher rules could buy a month's time in the epidemic.

Outdoor education centres have written to the Prime Minister saying they face an "existential threat" if residential school trips are not allowed to resume.
 
Infection rate more than doubles in some parts of England after inclusion of 16,000 missed cases

The weekly rate of new COVID-19 cases have soared in dozens of areas of England following the addition of nearly 16,000 unreported cases, new figures show.

A technical glitch meant cases were missed off official figures last week after people who tested positive were not recorded once a master Excel spreadsheet reached its maximum size.

The updated figures show the coronavirus infection rate has more than doubled in some areas of England.

London's COVID-19 cases made the biggest jump of 4,824 in the week from 24 September to 1 October, compared to a rise of 3,363 in the previous week, and 1,875 a week earlier, figures from the Press Association show.

However, that figure is equivalent to 51.8 cases per 100,000 people making the capital one of the areas with the lowest infection rates.

Outside of the capital, Manchester has the highest infection rate with a rise of 2,740 cases - the equivalent of 495.6 instances per 100,000 people.

It means the city's infection rate has more than doubled in seven days from a rate of 223.2 cases per 100,000 people in the previous week.

Liverpool has the second highest infection rate, up from 287.1 to 456.4 cases per 100,000. A total of 2,273 new cases were recorded in seven days.

Knowsley is in third place, up from 300.3 to 452.1, with 682 new cases.

The analysis, based on Public Health England data published on Sunday night, also shows sharp rises in Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Leeds and Sheffield.

Nottingham saw its infection rate more than quadruple from 52.0 to 283.9, with 945 new cases, and Sheffield's more than doubled from 91.8 to 233.1, with 1,363 new cases in the time period.

In the capital, east London is the major hotspot with 249 confirmed cases in Redbridge, 1,234 in Newham, and 207 in Tower Hamlets.

There were significant rises in other areas like Richmond-upon-Thames where cases jumped by 142.

However, the rise in confirmed infections in London may be down to the extra testing which was introduced when it was declared an area of COVID-19 concern on 25 September.

It comes as scientists raised concerns that potentially thousands of people, who are contacts of those with COVID-19 who were left off the government's list, may have spread the virus in the last week.

Public Health England (PHE) said the technical issue resulted in 15,841 cases between 25 September and 2 October being left out of the reported daily coronavirus cases.

The technical problem has also led to a delay in efforts by NHS Test and Trace to find the contacts of those who tested positive for the virus, in some cases by around a week.

PHE said the outstanding cases were transferred to NHS Test and Trace "immediately" after the issue was noted and all cases were passed on to tracers by 1am on Saturday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was unable to say on Monday morning how many contacts of people who were COVID-positive had been missed.

Asked on Monday how many contacts of positive coronavirus cases had been missed as a result of the error, Mr Johnson said: "I can't give you those figures. What I can say is all those people are obviously being contacted and the key thing is that everybody, whether in this group or generally, should self-isolate."

He said the updated figures meant that the prevalence of the virus was where experts had expected it to be and it would soon be apparent if extra restrictions were having the intended impact.

"The incidence that we are seeing in the cases corresponds to pretty much where we thought we were," he added.

"And, to be frank, I think that the slightly lower numbers that we'd seen, you know, didn't really reflect where we thought the disease was likely to go, so I think these numbers are realistic."

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the error was "shambolic", adding that "people across the country will be understandably alarmed".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to make a Commons statement on Monday afternoon about the issue.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...ter-inclusion-of-16-000-missed-cases-12090774
 
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