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Around 4.5 million people could be told to self-isolate due to a surge in Coronavirus cases, according to a new report.
For the second day in a row, confirmed Covid-19 cases rose above 3,000 yesterday with the Government confirming that children will not be exempt from the “rule of six” restriction measures starting on Monday.
A Whitehall source told the Sunday Telegraph that millions of the people including those with underlying health conditions, the old and the overweight could be contacted after a “risk model’ was discussed at a virus meeting.
It comes as the Government sent an alert to care providers urging them to “take the necessary action to prevent and limit outbreaks” after an increase in infections.
Live Updates
Wales’ updates are in ….
There have been a further 162 cases of Covid-19 in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 19,390.
Public Health Wales said no further deaths had been reported, with the total number since the beginning of the pandemic remaining at 1,597.
Air travel returns ‘to normal’ in Wuhan as 64,700 passengers board flights on Friday
Domestic air travel in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the global coronavirus outbreak, has returned to pre-pandemic levels, authorities say.
The virus was first detected in Wuhan late last year and the city underwent a draconian 76-day lockdown as its hospitals struggled to deal with a tidal wave of cases that required the rapid construction of field hospitals to handle the overflow.
Since re-opening in early April, life has gradually returned to normal and numbers of domestic flights serving the city, as well as the number of passengers, had both fully recovered, according to the operator of Wuhan Tianhe International airport.
It said 64,700 passengers were transported aboard 500 domestic flights on Friday.
Coronavirus Nightingale hospital wards could reopen within weeks as doctors prepare for second wave
Medics are reportedly preparing to reopen coronavirus wards following a surge in cases in the UK.
Doctors are said to have been told emergency measures are likely to be necessary from October 2.
Read the full story here
Five more people who tested positive for Covid die in English hospitals
A further five people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospitals in England.
This brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in this setting to 29,661, NHS England said on Sunday.
Patients were aged between 67 and 86 and all had known underlying health conditions. The dates of the deaths were September 11 and September 12.
No deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
Some 244 people test positive for coronavirus in Scotland
A total of 244 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland in the past 24 hours, the latest Scottish Government figures show
This is the highest daily figure since May 6.
The statistics show that 22,679 people have now tested positive in Scotland, up from 22,435 the day before.
No deaths of confirmed Covid-19 patients have been recorded in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities remains at 2,499.
There are 259 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, down by two in 24 hours. Of these patients, seven were in intensive care, down one.
Ireland plans to join EU travel restriction system
Ireland plans to replace its current system of travel quarantines with the European Union’s proposed coordinated system as soon as it is ready, Prime Minister Micheal Martin told RTE television on Saturday.
The European Commission earlier this month proposed a common traffic light system for EU member states to coordinate border controls and remedy the current, confusing patchwork of coronavirus restrictions on travellers across Europe.
Ryanair, Ireland’s dominant airline, on Friday called on Martin’s government to commit to implementing the EU plan.
France reaches record-breaking 10,000 new Covid cases in 24 hours
France has confirmed 10,561 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, according to health authorities.
This is the first time the country has passed the 10,000 mark in a single day, prompting concerns about a resurgence of the disease in the region.
Authorities confirmed in the last week 2,432 people were admitted to hospital with 417 patients being treated in intensive care.
Read the full story here
UK ‘must act fast to stop Covid-19 cases growing exponentially’ with country facing ‘hard lockdown’
The UK needs to act fast to stop coronavirus cases growing out of control, with a delay of even a few days potentially “dangerous”, an academic who advises the Government has said.
Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine, Imperial College London, said a “trickle” of cases can turn into a “cascade”, adding that if people do not abide by the “rule of six” now then the country faces going back into “hard lockdown”.
Read the full story here
More than 70 arrested and 170 fined at anti-lockdown protests
Police arrested 74 people and fined 176 for breaching public health orders during protests against a week-long coronavirus lockdown in Melbourne, Australia.
A riot squad marched through fruit and vegetable stalls at Queen Victoria Market, Victoria, before the scuffling with protesters erupted, with some people throwing fruit at the police, television footage showed.
Victoria Police said in a statement that there were between 200 and 250 people involved in the protests, but there were no immediately known injuries to the police.
“It was extremely disappointing to see people not just protesting but putting the lives of other Victorians at risk despite all the warnings,” the police said in an e-mailed statement.
People who ignore ‘rule of six’ tomorrow to be fined up to £3,200
The “rule of six”, which bans social gatherings of more than six people in England, comes in force tomorrow.
This means if you meet up with more than five other family members or friends either indoors or outside, police have the right to disperse the group.
Participants will also face a fine of £100 which can be increased in increments up to £3,200 for repeat offences.
The count includes babies and children although there are exceptions to the rule in place for settings such as the workplace, schools and places of worship.
Shadow chancellor urges Government to “get Brexit done” to control Covid and says test and trace “on the verge of collapse”
Labour’s Rachel Reeves urged the Government to “get Brexit done” and get control of coronavirus.
The shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that the Government should have “used the summer to get a grip and get control” of the strain.
She said: “Our testing regime, our tracing regime are on the verge of collapse.
“The Government need to put all of its efforts into that, and that’s why we’re saying get Brexit done, get a deal and concentrate, please, on getting control of this virus.”
National lockdown remains ‘nuclear option’
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday:
“As the Prime Minister said, going to a national lockdown would indeed be a nuclear option.
“I think here in autumn 2020, knowing much more as we do now about the nature of Covid, but still without a vaccine, we have to take a range of measures which, of course, include enhanced testing, localised measures and indeed the rule of six coming in tomorrow.
“I think the British public now know by taking a combination of different measures we can get through this period.”
Young people are ‘enjoying themselves sometimes a bit too much’
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said there is an issue with young people forgetting the rules when asked if the Government could introduce curfews.
He told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “I think that as you’ve seen we’ve been very prepared to move quickly where necessary and where the evidence points us.
“I think there’s an issue about social occasions and social events and particularly young people getting together and enjoying themselves sometimes a bit too much and forgetting the importance of the rules.
“I think it would be idle of me to speculate as to what measures we might have to bring in as we approach the winter.”
Boris Johnson considering bringing in pub and restaurant curfews
The Prime Minister is considering implementing a 10pm or 11pm curfew on restaurants, bars and pubs it has been reported.
The Sunday Telegraph said Boris Johnson is thinking about introducing the measure if local lockdowns are unable to bring the spread of the virus under control.
The move stems from a concern that adherence to social distancing measures diminishes the more people consume alcohol.
France records more than 10,000 new Covid cases in the past 24 hours
France has confirmed 10,561 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, health authorities said on Saturday.
This is the first time the country has passed the 10,000 mark in a single day prompting concerns about a resurgence of the disease in the region.
Revellers pack streets of central London ahead of new ‘rule of six’ coronavirus restrictions
Party-goers have been making the most of the final weekend before the “rule of six” coronavirus restrictions come into force, with people pictured flocking to London’s West End.
Hordes of drinkers were seen singing and dancing as a busker performed in Leicester Square, while hundreds packed the streets outside Soho’s bars and restaurants.
Pictures show very few paying attention to the government’s social distancing measures.
Read the full story here
Teenager fined £10,000 after hosting more than 50 guests at a house party
A teenager faces a £10,000 fine for hosting a house party with dozens of guests, just days before the “rule of six” coronavirus restriction comes into force.
The 19-year-old man was issued with the hefty fine after he allowed more than 50 people to attend a party at his home in Lenton, on Friday evening, Nottinghamshire Police said.
The force said if the party host fails to pay or contests the fine he will appear before a court.
Read more here
Coronavirus testing should be expanded to those without symptoms, says Tony Blair
People without Covid symptoms should be tested, even if the results are not “fully accurate”, Tony Blair has insisted.
The former prime minister said that as the “largest part” of those who contract Covid-19 do not display symptoms of the virus, it was “sensible” for testing to be made more widely available.
Back in June, the ex-Labour leader had called for a mass coronavirus testing regime to be adopted, arguing this could help keep the disease in check.
He has now called on the UK to ensure it is using all its available capacity to test people not displaying symptoms.
Concerns over rise in Covid care home cases
Concerns about an increase in Covid-19 cases in care homes prompted the Government to send an alert to care providers to highlight the rising rates and to call for action.
The letter, which was sent on Friday, urges care bosses to “take the necessary action to prevent and limit outbreaks”, pointing out that in the last three days there had been an increase in notifications of coronavirus cases in care homes.
At the moment it is the workforce that is most affected, but the letter says that “clearly” there is a risk that the virus will spread to residents and in some cases already has.
The letter, which was written by Stuart Miller, director of adult social care delivery at the Department of Health and Social Care, said:
“You will know already that we are experiencing a rise in confirmed Covid-19 cases, across the UK population.I need to alert you to the first signs this rise is being reflected in care homes too.Over the past three days, Public Health England (PHE) has reported an increase in notifications of Covid-19 cases in care homes. Testing data has also shown an increase in the number of positive results. Currently, the infections are mainly affecting the workforce but clearly there is a risk the virus will spread to care home residents, or to other parts of the care sector.
“Unfortunately, in some care homes with recent outbreaks, this does appear to have occurred, with residents also becoming infected.”
