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| UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson urges parents to send children back to school in September | UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson urges parents to send children back to school in September |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Prime minister tries to reassert his grip over education after days of chaos, saying risk of contracting virus in schools is ‘very small’ | Prime minister tries to reassert his grip over education after days of chaos, saying risk of contracting virus in schools is ‘very small’ |
| The education secretary Gavin Williamson has been speaking to the media during a trip to a school. | |
| He said schools should only fine parents as a “last resort” if they refuse to send their children back to school when they reopen next month: | |
| Free Covid-19 insurance is to be provided to customers of Virgin Atlantic, offering financial cover should they or a companion fall ill with coronavirus while travelling. | |
| PA Media reports that the airline’s new policy includes emergency medical costs as well as associated transport, accommodation and repatriation expenses up to a value of £500,000 per customer. | |
| It will also cover up to £3,000 of expenses if a customer is denied boarding a plane or held in quarantine due to a suspected or positive case of coronavirus during a trip. | |
| All existing and new bookings for travel from August 24 until March 31 next year will have the “Virgin Atlantic Covid-19 Cover” automatically applied | |
| England and Scotland ran out of coronavirus home testing kits within hours on Monday, amid a backlog in laboratories. | |
| People were advised to travel long distances to test centres after being told that the daily allowance of home tests had run out. | |
| Callers to the NHS 119 number for Covid-19 were told: “We’re very sorry – the available allocation has already been issued at this time.” | |
| The reason behind the apparent shortage is unclear, but laboratories have been struggling to clear a backlog of tests since the end of July. The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for a comment. | |
| Full story: | |
| This isn’t explicitly coronavirus-related but campers staying on the coast of Wales and west England – many who will be on Covid-enforced staycations – have been told to batten down the hatches as Storm Francis heads their way. | |
| Forecasters are predicting gales of up to 70mph and about a month’s worth of rain when the 36-hour weather front hits overnight. It doesn’t rain but it pours, etc. You can read the full story here: | |
| The president of the European commission has requested further details about her trade commissioner’s attendance at a controversial golf dinner in Ireland. | The president of the European commission has requested further details about her trade commissioner’s attendance at a controversial golf dinner in Ireland. |
| The trade commissioner, Phil Hogan, has been under pressure to step down from his EU role after attending last week’s function with more than 80 people present. | The trade commissioner, Phil Hogan, has been under pressure to step down from his EU role after attending last week’s function with more than 80 people present. |
| He has apologised but refused to resign over the matter. Our latest story on this is here, from yesterday. | He has apologised but refused to resign over the matter. Our latest story on this is here, from yesterday. |
| A spokeswoman for Hogan’s boss, the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said today that his actions were under investigation and that, having received initial information from Hogan about his trip, Von der Leyen had now requested further details. | A spokeswoman for Hogan’s boss, the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said today that his actions were under investigation and that, having received initial information from Hogan about his trip, Von der Leyen had now requested further details. |
| She said: “The president has requested further clarifications because details are important and she wishes to have them.” | She said: “The president has requested further clarifications because details are important and she wishes to have them.” |
| Afternoon all. It’s Josh Halliday here, taking over from Caroline for a short while. | Afternoon all. It’s Josh Halliday here, taking over from Caroline for a short while. |
| The NHS test and trace system has faced fresh criticism for a flaw in its online booking system which tries to direct people to test centres more than 100 miles away. | The NHS test and trace system has faced fresh criticism for a flaw in its online booking system which tries to direct people to test centres more than 100 miles away. |
| Some people with coronavirus symptoms who try to book a test online are directed to centres which would take them more than three hours to reach by car, PA Media reports. | Some people with coronavirus symptoms who try to book a test online are directed to centres which would take them more than three hours to reach by car, PA Media reports. |
| A person from Ilfracombe in Devon who has symptoms of Covid-19 is directed to a test centre in Swansea when they try to book a test online. | A person from Ilfracombe in Devon who has symptoms of Covid-19 is directed to a test centre in Swansea when they try to book a test online. |
| This would see them drive past centres in Taunton, Bristol and Cardiff on their six-and-a-half hour round trip, driving 175 miles in each direction. | This would see them drive past centres in Taunton, Bristol and Cardiff on their six-and-a-half hour round trip, driving 175 miles in each direction. |
| People in Felixstowe, Suffolk have been directed to Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, with the government coronavirus test booking website saying it is just 13.8 miles away. | People in Felixstowe, Suffolk have been directed to Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, with the government coronavirus test booking website saying it is just 13.8 miles away. |
| However, the journey is 40 miles by car, taking almost an hour to get from one place to another. | However, the journey is 40 miles by car, taking almost an hour to get from one place to another. |
| And people in the region with symptoms of Covid-19 would be forced to drive past their closest test centre in Ipswich on their way to Clacton. | And people in the region with symptoms of Covid-19 would be forced to drive past their closest test centre in Ipswich on their way to Clacton. |
| Labour said problems with the booking system should be resolved as a “matter of urgency” and it was “hugely disappointing” that the issues were still occurring. | Labour said problems with the booking system should be resolved as a “matter of urgency” and it was “hugely disappointing” that the issues were still occurring. |
| More on the potential vaccine being developed by scientists at Oxford University in conjunction with pharmaceutical giants AstraZeneca, which Downing Street has insisted the UK would be first in line for [see 13.18 post]. | More on the potential vaccine being developed by scientists at Oxford University in conjunction with pharmaceutical giants AstraZeneca, which Downing Street has insisted the UK would be first in line for [see 13.18 post]. |
| The company manufacturing the vaccine has denied it is in talks with the Trump administration about fast-tracking its vaccine for emergency use ahead of November’s presidential elections, Peter Beaumont and Sarah Boseley report | The company manufacturing the vaccine has denied it is in talks with the Trump administration about fast-tracking its vaccine for emergency use ahead of November’s presidential elections, Peter Beaumont and Sarah Boseley report |
| In a statement released following a report in the Financial Times, the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca insisted it had “not discussed emergency use authorisation with the US government and it would be premature to speculate on that possibility”. | In a statement released following a report in the Financial Times, the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca insisted it had “not discussed emergency use authorisation with the US government and it would be premature to speculate on that possibility”. |
| It added that “late stage phase 2/3 trials for [the vaccine] are ongoing in the UK and other markets globally, and we do not anticipate efficacy results until later this year”. The team at Oxford University developing the vaccine directed queries to AstraZeneca. | It added that “late stage phase 2/3 trials for [the vaccine] are ongoing in the UK and other markets globally, and we do not anticipate efficacy results until later this year”. The team at Oxford University developing the vaccine directed queries to AstraZeneca. |
| You can read the full report here: | You can read the full report here: |
| KFC is to pause the use of its classic Finger Lickin’ Good slogan after 64 years as it admitted that the message “doesn’t quite fit” following the coronavirus outbreak. | KFC is to pause the use of its classic Finger Lickin’ Good slogan after 64 years as it admitted that the message “doesn’t quite fit” following the coronavirus outbreak. |
| The company has released new images of advertising posters and packaging with the well-known slogan blurred and pixelated. It said the slogan will return “when the time is right” but it will shift its messaging in the meantime. | The company has released new images of advertising posters and packaging with the well-known slogan blurred and pixelated. It said the slogan will return “when the time is right” but it will shift its messaging in the meantime. |
| Good news for Strictly Come Dancing fans. Kate Phillips, entertainment controller at the BBC, told the Edinburgh TV festival Strictly was the “hardest” show to film under current circumstances, but the professionals were already rehearsing the group numbers for when it returns later this year, with altered sets and changes to hair, make-up and costuming. | Good news for Strictly Come Dancing fans. Kate Phillips, entertainment controller at the BBC, told the Edinburgh TV festival Strictly was the “hardest” show to film under current circumstances, but the professionals were already rehearsing the group numbers for when it returns later this year, with altered sets and changes to hair, make-up and costuming. |
| Phillips said: | Phillips said: |
| Volunteers in Cambridge have used lockdown to create an organic market garden near the city centre, which is now helping to stock local community food hubs. Mattha Busby has been speaking to them. You can read his full report here: | Volunteers in Cambridge have used lockdown to create an organic market garden near the city centre, which is now helping to stock local community food hubs. Mattha Busby has been speaking to them. You can read his full report here: |
| Cases of Covid-19 have nearly doubled in a week in Stoke-on-Trent, days after the council pleaded with residents to comply with distancing measures. Figures published by Public Health England today show 79 cases were detected in the city in the week to 20 August. The infection rate has now risen from 15.6 to 30.8 cases per 100,000 people. | Cases of Covid-19 have nearly doubled in a week in Stoke-on-Trent, days after the council pleaded with residents to comply with distancing measures. Figures published by Public Health England today show 79 cases were detected in the city in the week to 20 August. The infection rate has now risen from 15.6 to 30.8 cases per 100,000 people. |
| On Friday, 12 cases were confirmed in Stoke-on-Trent on one day, with the majority concentrated in the Normacot area of the city. | On Friday, 12 cases were confirmed in Stoke-on-Trent on one day, with the majority concentrated in the Normacot area of the city. |
| Gillani Noor mosque and Al Hafiz academy have voluntarily closed for two weeks in response to the surge, while hundreds of people were tested for the virus over the weekend at a temporary testing facility set up at Alexandra infants school on Melville Road. | Gillani Noor mosque and Al Hafiz academy have voluntarily closed for two weeks in response to the surge, while hundreds of people were tested for the virus over the weekend at a temporary testing facility set up at Alexandra infants school on Melville Road. |
| On Friday, Stoke-on-Trent city council’s leader, Abi Brown, pleaded with communities to abide by public health guidance in order to avoid a local lockdown. “While cases have up until now predominantly been concentrated on a small area of the community in Normacot, coronavirus does not care who it targets,” she said. | On Friday, Stoke-on-Trent city council’s leader, Abi Brown, pleaded with communities to abide by public health guidance in order to avoid a local lockdown. “While cases have up until now predominantly been concentrated on a small area of the community in Normacot, coronavirus does not care who it targets,” she said. |
| “It affects each and every community regardless of race, class or religion. We need to contain the virus. That is why with 12 new cases recorded in one day across the city, we’re urging everyone to play their part.” | “It affects each and every community regardless of race, class or religion. We need to contain the virus. That is why with 12 new cases recorded in one day across the city, we’re urging everyone to play their part.” |
| Switzerland could become the next European country to be subject to quarantine measures by all four nations of the UK, according to latest figures. | Switzerland could become the next European country to be subject to quarantine measures by all four nations of the UK, according to latest figures. |
| A seven-day rate of 20 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people is the threshold above which the UK government considers triggering quarantine conditions. Switzerland is currently recording a seven-day rate of 20.7 cases per 100,000. | A seven-day rate of 20 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people is the threshold above which the UK government considers triggering quarantine conditions. Switzerland is currently recording a seven-day rate of 20.7 cases per 100,000. |
| Scotland has already taken Switzerland off its list of countries from which people do not need to self-isolate on arrival. The rest of the UK could follow later this week. | Scotland has already taken Switzerland off its list of countries from which people do not need to self-isolate on arrival. The rest of the UK could follow later this week. |
| The Czech Republic and Greece are also likely to have their Covid-19 figures scrutinised closely by the UK government this week. In the Czech Republic the seven-day rate is currently 17.9, up from 15.6 a week ago. In Greece the rate is 14.8, up from 13.5. | The Czech Republic and Greece are also likely to have their Covid-19 figures scrutinised closely by the UK government this week. In the Czech Republic the seven-day rate is currently 17.9, up from 15.6 a week ago. In Greece the rate is 14.8, up from 13.5. |
| Neither country has breached the threshold of 20 cases per 100,000, but both appear to be heading in that direction. The latest seven-day rates have been calculated by the PA news agency based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. | Neither country has breached the threshold of 20 cases per 100,000, but both appear to be heading in that direction. The latest seven-day rates have been calculated by the PA news agency based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. |
| Iceland is currently reporting the same seven-day rate as Greece - 14.8 - but while in Greece there have been 1,589 new cases recorded in the past week, in Iceland there have been only 53. | Iceland is currently reporting the same seven-day rate as Greece - 14.8 - but while in Greece there have been 1,589 new cases recorded in the past week, in Iceland there have been only 53. |
| The rate in Iceland is also unchanged on last week. These factors should keep Iceland on the list of countries from which people do not need to self-isolate on arrival in the UK. Meanwhile in Ireland, the seven-day rate has ticked upwards from 11.4 to 14.9 - the highest it has been since late May. | The rate in Iceland is also unchanged on last week. These factors should keep Iceland on the list of countries from which people do not need to self-isolate on arrival in the UK. Meanwhile in Ireland, the seven-day rate has ticked upwards from 11.4 to 14.9 - the highest it has been since late May. |
| By contrast the seven-day rate in the UK is currently 10.7. | By contrast the seven-day rate in the UK is currently 10.7. |