Hospital deaths have risen by 15 in the UK amid fears Scotland will be hit by a second wave of the invisible killer disease, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today confirming she was closing pubs, bars and restaurants in Aberdeen. The overall number of new positive cases in the UK was 892, compared with with 670 yesterday. Health bosses said 13 deaths had been reported in hospitals across England, while two had been reported.
While Wales and Northern Ireland reported new deaths from COVID-19. It comes after Aberdeen was placed on lockdown today amid a cluster of coronavirus cases in the Scottish city.
Meanwhile, councils have been handed the power to demolish buildings and even homes at the centre of coronavirus outbreaks under new measures to prevent a second wave of the killer virus.
Local authorities will be given the power to bulldoze trains, cars, buses and aeroplanes if approved by the magistrates. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has handed local councils a broad range of powers to contain COVID-190 outbreaks as soon as they are detected in his bid to stop the nation being shutdown for a second time.
Under the Government’s COVID-19 Contain Framework, councils will be given the authority to draw on six separate Acts of Parliament to ban events, order mass coronavirus testing and enforce the lightning closure of public buildings.
They will also have the power to limit travel to key workers only and limit school openings.
Extra police patrols will enforce lockdown restrictions in Aberdeen (Image: GETTY)
The document, published by the Department of Health and Social Care, tells councils, under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, they can apply to a magistrate “to impose restrictions or requirements to close contaminated premises; close public spaces in the area of the local authority; detain a conveyance or movable structure; disinfect or decontaminate premises; or order that a building, conveyance or structure be destroyed”.
This means offices, factories, care homes and even private care homes could be destroyed as a last resort if it is deemed to be at the centre of a surge in coronavirus cases.
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10.28pm update: Brazil’s dead toll closing in on 100,000
Brazil reported 57,152 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 1,437 deaths from the disease caused by the virus in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
Brazil has registered 2,859,073 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 97,256, according to ministry data, in the world’s worst coronavirus outbreak after the United States.
9.48pm update: France second wave panic as nation ‘could lose control at any time’ after COVID cases rise
Coronavirus second wave fears are spreading throughout France following a huge spike in new cases, with the Health Ministry warning the country could easily quickly lose control of the dangerous situation.
France has recorded more than 30,000 coronavirus deaths, with the number of infections from the pandemic quickly approaching 200,000.
The Health Ministry has published a worrying report, warning that while COVID-19 is is under control, for now, it “could at any moment tip into a scenario that is less under control”.
The report from the country’s top scientific committee comes after a huge spike in new coronavirus cases, with more than 7,000 new infections officially recorded over the last week
9.30pm update: Tens of millions of doses of vaccine by early 2021, says Fauci
Drug manufacturers will likely have tens of millions of doses of a coronavirus vaccine in the early part of next year, with production ramping up so that it hits a billion doses by the end of 2021, Anthony Fauci, the top US government official on infectious diseases, said in a Reuters interview on Wednesday.
Fauci said he has not seen any pressure from the White House to announce a vaccine close to the November 3 election, in the hopes of boosting President Donald Trump’s re-election chances.
He added that regulators have promised “they are not going to let political considerations interfere” with the approval of a COVID-19 vaccine and “safety and efficacy” will be primary considerations.
8.25pm update: Sturgeon confirms Aberdeen pub closures
Bars, cafes and restaurants have been ordered to close as lockdown restrictions are reimposed in Aberdeen over a coronavirus cluster in the area.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said 54 cases have now been reported in the outbreak.
She said the rise in cases heightens fears the Scottish Government is “dealing with a significant outbreak in Aberdeen that may include some community transmission”.
A five-mile travel rule has been put in place and residents are being told not to enter each other’s houses.
All indoor and outdoor hospitality venues have been told to close by 5pm on Wednesday.
7.53am update: Don’t go to Belgium, says Germany
Germany’s Foreign Ministry revised its travel guidance for Belgium on Thursday, warning against all non-essential travel to the province of Antwerp because of the high incidence of the coronavirus epidemic in the region.
In parallel, Germany’s public health agency declared the region centered on Belgium’s largest port and second city as a high-risk area, meaning returnees from there can be forced to enter 14 days of quarantine.
The Foreign Ministry wrote: “Numbers of new infections and deaths have been rising since the end of July, especially in Antwerp province, where the number of new cases currently exceeds 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over seven days.”
Coronavirus cases by area (Image: Express)
7.27pm update: France reports almost 1,700 new infections in 24 hours
France reported 1,695 new COVID-19 infections over 24 hours, at 194,029, the highest daily increase since May 30, when they were up by 1,828, health ministry data showed on Wednesday.
In a statement, the ministry also said the number patients in intensive care units in French hospitals for the disease went down by four, at 384, after increasing for two days in a row.
6.56pm update: No new deaths in Ireland
No further deaths with coronavirus have been reported in Ireland by the National Public Health Emergency Team, leaving the national total at 1,763.
However, 50 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been notified, bringing the total number of Irish infections to 26,303.
Of these new cases, 81 percent are aged under 45, and 42 are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case.
Visitors to the Canary Islands will have their coronavirus expense paid (Image: GETTY)
6.43pm update: COVID rate increase across the country
The number of new COVID-19 case went up from 15.5 to 33.8 per 100,000 people in Preston, new figures have showed.
In Swindon, in Wiltshire,the figure rose from 19.8 to 48.6, while in Melton in Leicestershire, it went up from 15.5 to 33 and in Carlisle in Cumbria, it increased from 12.9 to 23.1.
6.11pm update: Tourists visiting Canaries to have coronavirus costs covered
All Spanish and foreign tourists visiting the Canary Islands will have any potential coronavirus-related costs covered by the regional government, it said on Wednesday, in an attempt to rescue the tourist season after a new spike in infections in Spain.
Such costs include health expenses or the extension of holidays in case of a compulsory quarantine while on the islands.
The move will take effect this week and is the first of its kind in Spain as the tourism-dependent nation seeks to reassure visitors after Britain dealt a blow to the sector by imposing a compulsory quarantine for anyone coming from Spain.
The travel policy will be managed by French insurer AXA and will include health-related repatriations, the Canary Islands regional government said in a statement. It will last for one year and will exclude health conditions that were known of before the traveller concerned came to the islands.
Yaiza Castilla, the regional official in charge of tourism, said in a video published on Twitter: “It will help the economic recovery of the archipelago.”
6.03pm update: Weekend car use back at pre-coronarvirus levels
Weekend car use has returned to pre-pandemic levels but demand for public transport remains low, new figures show.
The amount of cars on Britain’s roads compared with equivalent days in early February was 97 percent on Saturday and 100 percent on Sunday, according to Department for Transport (DfT) data.
Car use on Monday – the latest day for which data is available – was at 88 percent, partly due to many people continuing to work from home.
Passenger numbers on buses outside London were at 37 percent of pre-pandemic levels on Monday, while the latest confirmed figures for train use show it is at 28 percent.
Cycling is the mode of transport that has seen the biggest increase, at 126 percent of what it was before the crisis began.
Weekend car use has returned to pre-pandemic levels, the report revealed (Image: GETTY)
5.40pm update: Record post-lockdown hike prompts fears of second wave in Spain
Spain reported 1,772 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, marking the biggest jump since a national lockdown was lifted in June and beating the previous day’s record rise.
The rate of increase in new cases, which does not include data from two regions, sharply rose from the previous day, while one more death was registered, bringing the total to 28,499.
Cumulative cases, which include results from antibody tests on people who may have recovered, increased to 305,767 from 302,814, the health ministry said in a statement.
5.33pm update: Preston to face local lockdown ‘within days’ as infection rate doubles in a week
Preston could be ordered back into lockdown “within days” after the coronavirus infection rate more than doubled in a week, health officials have warned.
In the week ending July 30 more than 34 people per 100,000 were diagnosed with COVID-19 compared to just over 13 per 100,000 the previous week, Government data shows.
People living in the Lancashire city, which has a population of 123,000, could be forced to obey a raft of strict new measures “within days”, the county’s director of public health Dr Sakthi Karunanithi said.
Since mid-June, Preston has jumped from 50th place to 10th place on the list of areas in England reporting the highest transmission rates.
5pm update: “Pubs must be taking reasonable measures”
Sir Richard added: “The test for pubs and restaurants is whether they are taking the reasonable measures they are expected to. So if it’s restaurants – do they have disposable menus, are they only putting cutlery out when they are serving people, do they have sanitisers, are their tables two metres apart?
“Do we expect them to interrogate their customers to make sure they are all in the same houeshold or the same bubble? Well no, not really, as individuals do need to take some responsibility.”
He said that in some cases the authorities would also ensure the owners of outlets – such as breweries – were also taking responsibility for what was happening on their premises.
Mr Burnham said: “The priority will be targeted enforcement of repeat offenders. It builds on an approach we took when there was concern about house parties.
“Greater Manchester Police worked very effectively with our councils in identifying addresses that were repeat offenders and action was taken.”
4.55pm update: Greater Manchester vows crackdown on pubs
Authorities in Greater Manchester have vowed to crack down on repeated flouting of COVID-19 regulations in pubs, restaurants and supermarkets.
Targeted enforcement will take place at establishments where social distancing is not taking place and customers are not wearing face coverings.
New lockdown restrictions were introduced in the region from midnight on July 31, as well as other parts of northern England, following a spike in Covid-19 cases.
It led to Greater Manchester Police’s busiest weekend for coronavirus-related calls in nine weeks with reports of more than 750 illegal gatherings.
Among the new rules is a ban on people from different households meeting in a private home or garden.
Sir Richard Leese, the leader of Manchester City Council, and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham conceded on Wednesday it would be difficult for police to enforce households not mixing but promised action would be taken over repeat breaches in pubs, restaurants and supermarkets.
Sir Richard said: “We will be looking over the coming days to have targeted enforcement – high-profile so it’s visible – and we will be looking in particular at pubs and supermarkets.
“We see quite often that collection of contact details isn’t being done in pubs and social distancing isn’t being respected, while customers are not wearing coverings and face masks in large numbers of supermarkets and other shop settings.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (Image: Facebook)
4.25pm update: Deaths rise by 65
Coronavirus deaths throughout the UK have risen by 65 – with the number of cases increasing by 892, according to the latest Government figures.
4.10pm update: New York plans quarantine checkpoints to ensure visitors comply
New York City will put up COVID-19 quarantine checkpoints at key entry points to ensure that travelers from 35 states on New York state’s travel advisory comply with the state’s 14-day quarantine mandate, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Wednesday.
He told a news briefing: “Travelers coming in from those states will be given information about the quarantine and will be reminded that it is required, not optional.”
Mr de Blasio added that, under certain circumstances, fines for not observing the quarantine order could be as high as $10,000.
The Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, will begin deploying checkpoints at major bridge and tunnel crossings into New York City on Wednesday.
Mr de Blasio said: “This is serious stuff and it’s time for everyone to realize that if we’re going to hold at this level of health and safety in this city, and get better, we have to deal with the fact that the quarantine must be applied consistently to anyone who’s traveled.”
3.44pm update: Government cannot prioritise schools over pubs, says minister
The Government cannot “decree” that keeping schools open must be prioritised over pubs during local lockdowns to combat spikes in coronavirus cases, the schools minister has said.
Nick Gibb insisted on Wednesday that all children will return to school in England in September but said the decisions to enforce closures to prevent new outbreaks will be made locally.
Experts have made it increasingly clear that some restrictions will need to return in order to fulfil the Government’s commitment on schools while preventing the rapid spread of Covid-19 from resuming.
Children’s Commissioner for England Anne Longfield has said the reopening of schools “should be prioritised”, insisting they must be first to reopen and last to close during any local lockdowns.
3.36pm update: People from ethnic groups “more exposed to coronavirus”, says study
People from black and minority ethnic groups are more exposed to coronavirus and face “greater barriers” trying to protect themselves from it, a new report has found.
The Runnymede Trust report, published on Wednesday, said that this was due to the type of work they do, having to use public transport more often, living in overcrowded and multi-generational households and not being given appropriate protective equipment at work.
Based on a survey of 2,585 adults the report said that black and minority groups were over-represented in key workers’ roles and were more likely to be “over-exposed and under-protected” compared to their white counterparts.
It added: “Our findings suggest that one of the main reasons BME (black and minority ethnic) groups are more at risk of dying with Covid-19 compared with white groups is that they are more exposed to the coronavirus.
“BME groups are more over-exposed because they are more likely to be working outside their home, more likely to have jobs on the front line – 40 percent of BME people were working in health and social care compared to 30% of white British people – and less likely to be protected with PPE.”
3.23pm update: “Important to follow advice”
Mr Kerr added: “Our approach to these local restrictions will reflect the consistent approach taken by Police Scotland since the outset of this pandemic, and our officers will continue to engage, educate and encourage people to comply, as we all support the public health efforts to stop the spread of the virus
“As a national service, Police Scotland is able to quickly flex capacity to support local communities across the country and we will provide whatever additional resources are necessary to protect and support the communities affected.”
He reiterated comments from Chief Constable Iain Livingstone that everyone should take personal responsibility to prevent the virus spreading.
Mr Kerr added: “Throughout the response to the pandemic, the majority of the public followed the law and Scottish Government advice.
“I realise that this situation will be frustrating for people in the affected area but it’s really important that we all continue to do so.
“Our officers will continue to explain the legislation and guidance but, for the minority who may choose to breach the regulations and risk the health of others, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action where appropriate.”
UK coronavirus cases mapped (Image: EXPRESS)
3.21pm update: Extra police deployed in Aberdeen to enforce lockdown
Extra police officers will be on the streets in Aberdeen to ensure residents comply with the reintroduced lockdown rules.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the tightening of restrictions across the Aberdeen City Council area over a coronavirus cluster in the city.
Residents should not enter each other’s homes or travel more than five miles and bars, cafes and restaurants must close from 5pm on Wednesday.
Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr said: “It’s really important that people follow the instructions and guidance from the Scottish Government.
“To support that, we will have additional patrols in Aberdeen, where local restrictions have been reintroduced.”
2.20pm: England’s death toll
There were 13 deaths from coronavirus in hospitals across England.
2.16pm update: Wales and Northern Ireland COVID-19 toll
Public Health Wales said a further two people have died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths in the country to 1,568.
The number of cases in Wales increased by 14, bringing the total number confirmed to 17,374.
While no new deaths were recorded in Northern Ireland, leaving the total in the region at 556, according to official figures.
However ten more positive cases of coronavirus have been detected in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said. The total number of people who have been infected is now 6,006.
1.17pm update: UK factory could help produce vaccines
A factory in West Lothian is expanding as part of a deal to secure 60 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by the French firm Valneva.
The UK Government and the drugs firm are investing in the Livingston plant, with 75 new jobs expected to be created.
The Government had struck a deal for early access to Valneva’s “promising” vaccine candidate.
If clinical trials are successful, the site could provide up to 100 million doses of the vaccine across the UK and internationally.
READ MORE: UK lockdown for North of England: Police can issue £3,200 fines
UK coronavirus cases by area (Image: EXPRESS)
Nicola Sturgeon tweeted about the situation in Aberdeen earlier this week (Image: Twitter)
12.33am update: Aberdeen placed on lockdown
Restrictions will be reimposed in the Aberdeen City Council area after a cluster of coronavirus cases.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, speaking at the coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh, said 54 cases have been reported as of Wednesday.
She said 191 contacts have been traced in relation to the cluster and a rise in cases has contributed to a greater fear their was a “significant outbreak” in the city.
According to the First Minister, more than 20 other pubs and restaurants are involved in the cluster.
As a result, restrictions will be reimposed in the Aberdeen City Council area.
The five-mile travel rule has been put in place and residents are being told not to enter each other’s houses. All indoor and outdoor hospitality has also been told to close by 5pm on Wednesday.
The closure will be backed by governmental regulations, the First Minister said, and will be enforced if the rules are not followed. The First Minister added that the changes will be reviewed next Wednesday, when she hoped that they could be removed if they could, either in entirety or in part.
However, if necessary, Ms Sturgeon has said that they could be extended beyond that seven-day period.
12.31am update: No coronavirus deaths in Scotland
There have been no coronavirus deaths in Scotland for the 20th day in a row, Nicola Sturgeon said.
The First Minister gave the latest figures at the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh.
A total of 2,491 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for COVID-19. Ms Sturgeon said 18,781 people have tested positive for the virus, up by 64 from 18,717 the day before. There were 267 people in hospital with confirmed Covid-19, down by three.
Of these, three were in intensive care, no change.
11.20am update: One in 20 people not planning to return to work
Around one in 20 people in England who had been shielding because of coronavirus are not planning on returning to work over the next few months, new figures suggest.
Some 6 percent of those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, who had normally worked before receiving shielding advice, said they were not intending to go back to work in the near future.
A further 21 percent said they planned to continue working from home, while 35% indicated they would return to their previous place of work.
The figures are from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and are based on a survey conducted between July 9 and 16.
A member of the public has his temperature taken (Image: PA)
People are being urged to wear face masks inside shops (Image: PA)
11.11am update: North Korea’s first coronavirus test inconclusive
North Korea’s test results for a man suspected of being the country’s first coronavirus case were inconclusive, though authorities have quarantined over 3,635 primary and secondary contacts, a World Health Organization has said.
On July 26 North Korea said it had declared a state of emergency and locked down the border city of Kaesong after a person who defected to South Korea three years ago returned across the fortified border with what state media said were symptoms of COVID-19.
At the time, state media was unclear over whether the man had been tested, saying “uncertain result was made from several medical check-ups”.
But leader Kim Jong-un declared that “the vicious virus could be said to have entered the country.”
If confirmed, the case would have been the first officially acknowledged by North Korean authorities, but since then, state media have continued to say no cases have been reported.
Dr Edwin Salvador, WHO representative for North Korea, said: “The person was tested for COVID-19, but test results were inconclusive.”
9.47am update: WHSmith to axe 1,500k jobs
WHSmith has warned it could axe up to 1,500 jobs after it was crippled by the coronavirus pandemic.
The stationery retailer said the COVID-19 crisis has pushed down the number of customers going into its stores. It is the latest British high street store to fall victim to the pandemic. WHSmith said its restructuring plans will see 1,500 jobs go across the business, with proposals expected to cost the company between £15 million and £19 million.
9.37am update: Sadiq Khan calls for ‘game plan’
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said local leaders “desperately need to know what the game plan is” from the Government if they are to prepare to take effective action should the number of infections increase.
He predicted they would have “more difficulty” in closing down geographical areas – such as if the virus was spreading between several boroughs – rather than shutting down an institution.
He told Good Morning Britain: “I think we would be ready to have a lockdown of institutions – so if we had, God forbid, an increase to do with a factory or at a school or an individual place of worship – we think we would have good plans with the councils to close buildings.
“We are served by four airports and the Eurostar, so if they (the Government) talked to me and talked to London leaders, we could explain some of the complexities and work through them.
“None of this insurmountable. but let’s work together.”
Parts of England face new coronavirus laws (Image: PA)
People are being urged to wear face masks (Image: PA)
8.54am update: Russia’s coronavirus cases exceed 800k
Russia reported 5,204 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing its nationwide tally to 866,627, the fourth largest caseload in the world.
Russia’s coronavirus taskforce said 139 people had died over the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll to 14,490.
8.31am update: Globath death toll exceeds 700k
The global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 700,000 on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, with the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico leading the rise in fatalities.
Nearly 5,900 people are dying every 24 hours from COVID-19 on average. This equates to 247 people per hour, or one person every 15 seconds.
8.14am update: Tightening of restrictions to open schools
Professor Neil Ferguson said there will have to be “some tightening up” of restrictions if opening schools raises the ‘R’ number.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Whether, in high schools, FE colleges, it is necessary for children to go back 100% or whether we can have other alternative means of provision, children being in one week and out the other week, therefore reducing contacts in school and outside school, or whether we row back on the relaxation of restrictions in the rest of society to allow schools to be fully opened, for instance social venues, leisure venues, more working from home – those things.
“I mean that really is a policy decision, but I’m just saying, in my view, it is likely that some form of those measures will be necessary to maintain control of transmission.”
On whether the virus can be controlled in winter, he added: “Things could get quite difficult. I mean, I’m reasonably confident that as long as there is the political will in place to maintain control of transmission that we can do it, we’ve have good enough surveillance now to know what is going on.”
People are urged to wear masks and follow restrictions (Image: PA)
Holidaymakers travel during the coronavirus crisis (Image: PA)
7.50am update: Lockdown laws come into force in 16 UK towns and cities
Laws enforcing lockdown restrictions in areas of the north of England including Manchester, parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire have come into force.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions on Gatherings) (North of England) Regulations 2020 were finally published on Tuesday afternoon.
Ministers had said the rules – which ban people from different households meeting in a private home or garden following a spike in coronavirus cases – would apply from midnight on July 31.
Officials refused to comment when asked why there had been a delay in introducing the laws and on what legal basis they had been enforced for the first five days of the measures.
Human rights barrister Adam Wagner, commenting on the legislation on Twitter, said: “They come into force and do not (cannot) apply to anything which happened before that.”
The legislation imposes restrictions on metropolitan, city and borough council areas in: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale, Calderdale and Kirklees.
7.47am update: Ukraine reports record jump in cases
Ukraine recorded a record daily jump of 1,271 coronavirus cases on Tuesday.
The number of infections has increased sharply in Ukraine in the past two months as authorities have eased some restrictions, allowing cafes, churches and public transport to reopen.
Health minister Maksym Stepanov urged people to obey broader restrictions that are still in place.
He said: “Ukrainians, the fight against coronavirus is impossible without you. The rules are very simple – the use of masks, antiseptics and a distance of 1.5 metres. Following these simple rules significantly reduces the risk of disease.”
The total number of cases rose to 75,490, including 1,788 deaths and 41,527 recovered as of August 5.
7.40am update: Schools will return in September
Schools minister Nick Gibb has confirmed the Government’s position that all children will return to school in September.
He told Sky News: “We’re very clear that all children will be returning to school in September, including in areas of local lockdown such as Greater Manchester.
“It is hugely important for children’s education, for their wellbeing, that they do return to school and schools are working enormously hard in preparation for September to make sure that the risk of transmitting the virus within the school environment is kept to an absolute minimum.
“We have issued very detailed guidance to schools about hygiene, about keeping children in these bubbles – class-sized bubbles in primary schools, year-group bubbles in secondary schools – making sure children aren’t unnecessarily mixing with other children in the school, staggered lunch breaks, staggered play times, doing everything that we can to minimise contact – one-way systems through schools and so on – so that children are safe in school.”
Asked whether the Government would consider closing pubs and restaurants to ensure all children can return to school safely in September, Mr Gibb replied: “Our priority is to make sure that children are back in school with their friends.”
