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| UK coronavirus live: secondary school pupils in Scotland should wear face coverings from Monday | UK coronavirus live: secondary school pupils in Scotland should wear face coverings from Monday |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Wearing masks in Scotland will not be mandatory, while in England Alok Sharma, business secretary, says pupils and staff will not be penalised for wearing masks | |
| Coronavirus has led to people switching jobs, research for the Office of National statistics shows. | |
| It published an article that looks at people switching occupation in early 2020, and compared with the same period of 2019, before the pandemic. | |
| In 2002, 6.1% changed occupation in the first half of this year, compared with 5.7% in the same period last year. | |
| Analysis of only those who have changed occupation in the first half of this year shows that associate professional and technical occupations experienced the greatest percentage of occupational outflows (20.9%) and occupational inflows (21.2%); over half (52.5%) also changed major industry. | |
| The Coronavirus pandemic has shone a light on the use of algorithms in decision making among government bodies, after one was used by the exam regulator Ofqual in recent A-level results. | |
| It downgraded almost 40% of grades assessed by teachers, culminating in a humiliating government U-turn and the system being scrapped. | |
| Guardian research shows that other uses of algorithms have been dropped with 20 councils no longer using an algorithm to flag claims as “high risk” for potential welfare fraud. The ones they flagged were pulled out by staff to double-check, potentially slowing down people’s claims without them being aware. | |
| The Home Office recently stopped using an algorithm to help decide visa applications after allegations that it contained “entrenched racism”. The charity the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) and the digital rights group Foxglove launched a legal challenge against the system, which was scrapped before a case went to court. | |
| Here is a look at some global updates around coronavirus. | |
| Gaza reported its first Covid-19 cases outside quarantine areas and declared lockdown. The first cases of coronavirus have been detected outside of quarantine facilities within the Gaza Strip, a potentially disastrous development given the enclave’s fragile health system. | |
| MPs urge Boris Johnson to meet ‘forgotten victims’ of coronavirus. Boris Johnson must meet families whose relatives have been killed by coronavirus and fund research into the longer-term effects, known as “long Covid”, to help the pandemic’s forgotten victims, MPs have said. Their recommendations form part of a fresh set of demands made on the prime minister intended to shape how he prepares for a potential second wave of the illness this autumn. | |
| ‘Very low evidence’ for plasma therapy authorised by Trump, says WHO. In case you missed this in the earlier blog: Donald Trump on Sunday announced the emergency authorisation of convalescent plasma, a method involving taking plasma from people who have recovered from Covid-19, for coronavirus patients. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the WHO, stressed that it was still unproven and that there was “very low evidence” it was safe and effective. | |
| Dr Fauci warns against rushing out a vaccine. Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious diseases expert, warned that distributing a Covid-19 vaccine under special emergency use guidelines before it has been proved safe and effective in large trials is a bad idea that could have a chilling effect on the testing of other vaccines. | |
| Usain Bolt has tested positive for coronavirus. World-record sprinter and eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating at his home in Jamaica after last week celebrating his 34th birthday with a big bash mask-free, Reuters reports. | |
| South Korea orders most Seoul schools to close. South Korea on Tuesday ordered most schools in Seoul and surrounding areas to close and move classes back online, the latest in a series of precautionary measures aimed at heading off a resurgence in coronavirus cases, Reuters reports. | |
| Scotland’s education minister, John Swinney, has announced that all secondary pupils should wear face coverings in corridors and communal areas from next Monday. | |
| The measure applies to all high schools but Swinney added that nobody should be sent home for not wearing a mask. | The measure applies to all high schools but Swinney added that nobody should be sent home for not wearing a mask. |
| Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland: “This is not going to be mandatory. We are recommending this is what should be done and we will encourage schools to pursue that as part of the work to maintain safety within schools. It’s about making sure that everybody is looking out for each other.” | Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland: “This is not going to be mandatory. We are recommending this is what should be done and we will encourage schools to pursue that as part of the work to maintain safety within schools. It’s about making sure that everybody is looking out for each other.” |
| Yesterday, the Scottish government said that it had been consulting councils and teaching organisations about the measure after face coverings were recommended for secondary schools by the World Health Organization at the weekend. | Yesterday, the Scottish government said that it had been consulting councils and teaching organisations about the measure after face coverings were recommended for secondary schools by the World Health Organization at the weekend. |
| WHO said face coverings were useful where physical distancing between adults and pupils aged 12 and over was impossible, or in areas of high transmission. | WHO said face coverings were useful where physical distancing between adults and pupils aged 12 and over was impossible, or in areas of high transmission. |
| Alok Sharma, the business secretary, said school staff or young people would not be penalised for wearing facemasks when schools reopen, although the advice is that they are currently not necessary. | |
| Speaking on the Radio 4 Today programme, Sharma said that the government has followed scientific and medical advice. | |
| “Public Health England does not recommend at the moment [facemasks] in schools... We are always considering the latest advice and evidence but the current advice is that it is not recommended.” | “Public Health England does not recommend at the moment [facemasks] in schools... We are always considering the latest advice and evidence but the current advice is that it is not recommended.” |
| When asked if people would be penalised for wearing them, he said this would not happen. “It’s about what makes sense. We have seen recent surveys from the ONS showing high level of confidence in terms of pupils returning safe settings in schools.” | When asked if people would be penalised for wearing them, he said this would not happen. “It’s about what makes sense. We have seen recent surveys from the ONS showing high level of confidence in terms of pupils returning safe settings in schools.” |
| He said that the focus was opening up the economy in a phased and “cautious manner, getting businesses up and running”. | |
| When asked about whether the government would offer financial support to those who may need to quarantine and therefore lose wages, he said they “look at all suggestions” they receive. | When asked about whether the government would offer financial support to those who may need to quarantine and therefore lose wages, he said they “look at all suggestions” they receive. |
| “The key thing though is the best way we can restart the economy is by opening up in cautious manner,” he repeated. | “The key thing though is the best way we can restart the economy is by opening up in cautious manner,” he repeated. |
| Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has said the first volunteers have now been dosed in its clinical trial of a new drug to help prevent and treat Covid-19. | Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has said the first volunteers have now been dosed in its clinical trial of a new drug to help prevent and treat Covid-19. |
| The group, which is also separately developing a Covid-19 vaccine together with scientists at Oxford University, said the drug - known as AZD7442 - is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies. | The group, which is also separately developing a Covid-19 vaccine together with scientists at Oxford University, said the drug - known as AZD7442 - is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies. |
| AstraZeneca said the trial, which will include up to 48 healthy volunteers in the UK aged 18 to 55, will look at the safety of the treatment, as well as the body’s reaction to the drug and how it processes it. | AstraZeneca said the trial, which will include up to 48 healthy volunteers in the UK aged 18 to 55, will look at the safety of the treatment, as well as the body’s reaction to the drug and how it processes it. |
| The Cambridge-headquartered group said the phase 1 clinical trial is an “important milestone” in the development of the drug, which has the potential to act as a preventative for people exposed to the virus, as well as to treat patients already infected with Covid-19. | The Cambridge-headquartered group said the phase 1 clinical trial is an “important milestone” in the development of the drug, which has the potential to act as a preventative for people exposed to the virus, as well as to treat patients already infected with Covid-19. |
| A so-called monoclonal antibody combination works by mimicking the body’s natural antibodies. The antibodies come from patients infected with coronavirus and were discovered by Vanderbilt University Medical Centre and then licensed to AstraZeneca in June. | |
| Astra then boosts the combined antibodies so that they “afford at least six months of protection from Covid-19”. | Astra then boosts the combined antibodies so that they “afford at least six months of protection from Covid-19”. |
| Mene Pangalos, executive vice-president of biopharmaceuticals research and development at Astra, said: “This trial is an important milestone in the development of our monoclonal antibody combination to prevent or treat Covid-19. | Mene Pangalos, executive vice-president of biopharmaceuticals research and development at Astra, said: “This trial is an important milestone in the development of our monoclonal antibody combination to prevent or treat Covid-19. |
| “This combination of antibodies, coupled to our proprietary half-life extension technology, has the potential to improve both the effectiveness and durability of use, in addition to reducing the likelihood of viral resistance.” | “This combination of antibodies, coupled to our proprietary half-life extension technology, has the potential to improve both the effectiveness and durability of use, in addition to reducing the likelihood of viral resistance.” |
| If the trial is successful, Astra said it would look to move the treatment to late-stage phase 2 and phase 3 trials. The trial is being funded by the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. | |
| It comes after Downing Street said on Monday the UK would be first in line for the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and Astra, once approved. This followed reports that Donald Trump was considering granting emergency authorisation for it to be fast-tracked in the US. | |
| The Guardian has been writing about those who lost their lives from Covid-19. | The Guardian has been writing about those who lost their lives from Covid-19. |
| Hong Kong scientists reported of a healthy man in his 30s who became reinfected with coronavirus after falling sick to it months earlier. | Hong Kong scientists reported of a healthy man in his 30s who became reinfected with coronavirus after falling sick to it months earlier. |
| They say genome sequencing shows the two strains of the virus are “clearly different”, making it the world’s first proven case of reinfection. | They say genome sequencing shows the two strains of the virus are “clearly different”, making it the world’s first proven case of reinfection. |
| But the World Health Organization warned it is important not to jump to conclusions based on the case of one patient. | But the World Health Organization warned it is important not to jump to conclusions based on the case of one patient. |
| Dr Jeffrey Barrett, senior scientific consultant for the Covid-19 genome project at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: “Given the number of global infections to date, seeing one case of reinfection is not that surprising even if it is a very rare occurrence. | Dr Jeffrey Barrett, senior scientific consultant for the Covid-19 genome project at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: “Given the number of global infections to date, seeing one case of reinfection is not that surprising even if it is a very rare occurrence. |
| “It may be that second infections, when they do occur, are not serious - though we don’t know whether this person was infectious during their second episode.” | “It may be that second infections, when they do occur, are not serious - though we don’t know whether this person was infectious during their second episode.” |
| A leading member of the Oxford university team trying to find a vaccine for coronavirus has not ruled it out being ready for this winter. | A leading member of the Oxford university team trying to find a vaccine for coronavirus has not ruled it out being ready for this winter. |
| The trials ongoing around the world hope to involve around 50,000 people and he said if cases accrue rapidly in clinical trials they could present data to regulators this year. | The trials ongoing around the world hope to involve around 50,000 people and he said if cases accrue rapidly in clinical trials they could present data to regulators this year. |
| It comes after the chief medical officer for England, Chris Witty, suggested that a vaccine would most reasonably be ready next winter or in the one after. | |
| Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and immunity at Oxford university, said: “I think Chris Witty is right to be cautious, it could take as long as that to demonstrate that the vaccine works and is safe and then we have to go through a process of regulators looking at that to make sure it is done correctly. But if cases accrue rapidly in clinical trials we could have data to put before regulators this year,” he said. | Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and immunity at Oxford university, said: “I think Chris Witty is right to be cautious, it could take as long as that to demonstrate that the vaccine works and is safe and then we have to go through a process of regulators looking at that to make sure it is done correctly. But if cases accrue rapidly in clinical trials we could have data to put before regulators this year,” he said. |
| Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and immunity at Oxford university – one of the lead researchers on its vaccine trial – has said that if coronavirus cases accrue rapidly at clinical trial stage they could have data to put before regulators this year. | Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and immunity at Oxford university – one of the lead researchers on its vaccine trial – has said that if coronavirus cases accrue rapidly at clinical trial stage they could have data to put before regulators this year. |
| It comes after the chief medical officer for England, Chris Witty, suggested that a vaccine will most reasonably be ready next winter or in the one after. | |
| “I think Chris Witty is right to be cautious, it could take as long as that to demonstrate that the vaccine works and is safe and then we have to go through a process of regulators looking at that to make sure it is done correctly. But if cases accrue rapidly in clinical trials we could have data to put before regulators this year,” he said. | “I think Chris Witty is right to be cautious, it could take as long as that to demonstrate that the vaccine works and is safe and then we have to go through a process of regulators looking at that to make sure it is done correctly. But if cases accrue rapidly in clinical trials we could have data to put before regulators this year,” he said. |
| When asked about the possibility of people being reinfected with the virus after a Hong Kong man caught Covid-19 twice, Pollard said: “I think it is important in all vaccine development to look at changes in the virus, which happens over time, to make sure if the virus does change the vaccine is still effective against it.” | When asked about the possibility of people being reinfected with the virus after a Hong Kong man caught Covid-19 twice, Pollard said: “I think it is important in all vaccine development to look at changes in the virus, which happens over time, to make sure if the virus does change the vaccine is still effective against it.” |
| The chief executive of the Royal Statistical Society has told Ofqual to “cease defending the indefensible” in the latest exchange in a row over the algorithm used to determine this year’s A-level and GCSE results. | The chief executive of the Royal Statistical Society has told Ofqual to “cease defending the indefensible” in the latest exchange in a row over the algorithm used to determine this year’s A-level and GCSE results. |
| The dispute began with comments made by the RSS in which the society said it had offered to help with the algorithm but objected to the proposed confidentiality agreement that experts would be required to sign and claimed it had received no official response to its concerns. | The dispute began with comments made by the RSS in which the society said it had offered to help with the algorithm but objected to the proposed confidentiality agreement that experts would be required to sign and claimed it had received no official response to its concerns. |
| Ofqual’s chair, Roger Taylor, rebuffed the criticisms on Sunday. He said Ofqual had published a copy of the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to dispute the “restrictions you have incorrectly alleged” and denied that the regulator had failed to respond to the issues raised by the RSS. | Ofqual’s chair, Roger Taylor, rebuffed the criticisms on Sunday. He said Ofqual had published a copy of the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to dispute the “restrictions you have incorrectly alleged” and denied that the regulator had failed to respond to the issues raised by the RSS. |