This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/sep/25/coronavirus-uk-live-rishi-sunak-students-cases-covid-crisis-scotland-updates
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| UK coronavirus live: record new cases for second day; new restrictions in Blackpool, Stockport and Wales | UK coronavirus live: record new cases for second day; new restrictions in Blackpool, Stockport and Wales |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Restrictions for Stockport, Blackpool and in Wales; R number rises to between 1.2 and 1.5; London placed on watchlist with Leeds facing new measures | Restrictions for Stockport, Blackpool and in Wales; R number rises to between 1.2 and 1.5; London placed on watchlist with Leeds facing new measures |
| I am Nadeem Badshah and will be taking over the UK blog now from my colleague Jedidajah Otte. | |
| Friday’s update of the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 for every local authority area in England confirmed that Bolton continues to record the highest rate in England, up from 197.5 in the seven days to 15 September. | |
| 696 new cases were recorded in the seven days to 22 September 22 - the equivalent of 242.0 per 100,000 people. | |
| Burnley has the second highest rate, up from 113.6 to 233.9 with 208 new cases. | |
| Knowsley is in third place, where the rate has risen from 125.3 to 230.7, with 348 new cases. | |
| Other areas recording sharp increases in their seven-day rates include: - Newcastle upon Tyne (up from 74.0 to 208.7, with 632 new cases) - Halton (up from 100.5 to 206.3, with 267 new cases) - Liverpool (up from 124.5 to 227.3 with 1,132 new cases) - Pendle (up from 91.2 to 192.2 with 177 new cases) - Sunderland (up from 75.6 to 173.9, with 483 new cases) | |
| Lucy Mair, 49, from Manchester, is everything but impressed with the way her daughter’s university has handled the coronavirus outbreak on campus. | Lucy Mair, 49, from Manchester, is everything but impressed with the way her daughter’s university has handled the coronavirus outbreak on campus. |
| Her daughter is a first year at Glasgow University, having arrived 12 days ago and living in Murano, the largest student village and epicentre of the current outbreak at the university. | Her daughter is a first year at Glasgow University, having arrived 12 days ago and living in Murano, the largest student village and epicentre of the current outbreak at the university. |
| “Every single flat around her has positive cases, only her flat of 12 so far has not tested positive but they are in self-isolation anyway for 14 days due to having had contacts with others who have now tested positive in other flats,” Mair told the Guardian. | “Every single flat around her has positive cases, only her flat of 12 so far has not tested positive but they are in self-isolation anyway for 14 days due to having had contacts with others who have now tested positive in other flats,” Mair told the Guardian. |
| “The lack of support from the university is mind-boggling. Despite purporting on their website, Twitter and Facebook accounts that they are supporting students who are self-isolating and positive this could not be further from the truth.” | |
| Mair said her daughter and many others in halls had not received any communications from the university, “apart from a sign that was slapped on their flat door telling them to self-isolate”. | |
| “When they had to ring and ask what they should do about food and laundry they were told to wash their clothes in their bathtub and that they would have to sort their own supermarket food delivery, it took them three days to get a slot. There is no welfare support, mental health support, daily check-in to see if they are OK and need anything, even though they have two 17-year-olds amongst them for whom the university has an extra duty of care,” Mair said. | |
| “Meanwhile the flat above had played music from their flat yesterday, including Queen’s I Want to Break Free”. They have received an official warning from the university. For what? Playing music while under lockdown? Since when is that banned?” | |
| Mair added the university had provided “zero assistance” in getting students tested for coronavirus. | Mair added the university had provided “zero assistance” in getting students tested for coronavirus. |
| “The kids were arranging the tests themselves,” she said. “I and other angry parents suggested the uni should get a mobile testing unit in, and lo and behold they finally did yesterday, a week after the first positive test. Even now they are not testing all the students in the Covid-riddled buildings - only those who have symptoms. It’s a shambles beyond shambles.” | |
| Historically, medical research has often lumped women and men together despite growing evidence that the sexes differ in how they catch and fight disease. | Historically, medical research has often lumped women and men together despite growing evidence that the sexes differ in how they catch and fight disease. |
| Covid-19 seems to be a case in point when it comes to differences between the sexes, with men thought to be up to twice as likely as women to die from the virus. | Covid-19 seems to be a case in point when it comes to differences between the sexes, with men thought to be up to twice as likely as women to die from the virus. |
| But a new analysis suggests that scientists involved in the race to develop medical interventions for the coronavirus have paid little attention to these disparities. | But a new analysis suggests that scientists involved in the race to develop medical interventions for the coronavirus have paid little attention to these disparities. |
| In a still to be peer-reviewed study, researchers found that only 416 of the 2,484 Covid-19 clinical trials mention sex/gender as a recruitment criterion on the ClinicalTrials.gov database, which could have fatal consequences. | In a still to be peer-reviewed study, researchers found that only 416 of the 2,484 Covid-19 clinical trials mention sex/gender as a recruitment criterion on the ClinicalTrials.gov database, which could have fatal consequences. |
| My colleague Natalie Grover reports. | My colleague Natalie Grover reports. |
| Friday’s daily government figures on coronavirus did not include deaths in Scotland, with a message on the dashboard reading: | Friday’s daily government figures on coronavirus did not include deaths in Scotland, with a message on the dashboard reading: |
| “Due to a power outage at National Records of Scotland we have not been able to update the deaths figures for Scotland.” | “Due to a power outage at National Records of Scotland we have not been able to update the deaths figures for Scotland.” |
| Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been 57,600 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, PA reports. | Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been 57,600 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, PA reports. |
| Commenting on the latest infection figures from the Office for National Statistics and the government’s latest readjustment of the R figures, Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, said cases were rising at an alarming rate. “In particular we are worried about places like London and other major cities like Manchester, Belfast and Glasgow where cases are surging and the R value is around 1.4,” he said. | Commenting on the latest infection figures from the Office for National Statistics and the government’s latest readjustment of the R figures, Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, said cases were rising at an alarming rate. “In particular we are worried about places like London and other major cities like Manchester, Belfast and Glasgow where cases are surging and the R value is around 1.4,” he said. |
| The ONS data confirms what other data sources have recently revealed: while the uptick in infections was, at first, largely among younger people, a rise is now being seen in all age groups – although rates are highest among 17-24-year-olds. | The ONS data confirms what other data sources have recently revealed: while the uptick in infections was, at first, largely among younger people, a rise is now being seen in all age groups – although rates are highest among 17-24-year-olds. |
| Last Friday it was reported about 1 in 900 people in the community in England had Covid the preceding week, with about 6,000 new cases a day. | Last Friday it was reported about 1 in 900 people in the community in England had Covid the preceding week, with about 6,000 new cases a day. |
| Today’s data suggests in the recent week there were 9,600 new cases a day. | Today’s data suggests in the recent week there were 9,600 new cases a day. |
| Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said that while cases were not rising as quickly as they did in March the new findings were of concern, and extra pressure on hospitals and a rise in deaths were to be expected. | Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said that while cases were not rising as quickly as they did in March the new findings were of concern, and extra pressure on hospitals and a rise in deaths were to be expected. |
| “These data indicate that the ONS believes the number of daily coronavirus infections has tripled in a fortnight. It’s a worrying increase and is occurring across all age groups, particularly in the north of England and London,” he said. | “These data indicate that the ONS believes the number of daily coronavirus infections has tripled in a fortnight. It’s a worrying increase and is occurring across all age groups, particularly in the north of England and London,” he said. |
| A further 6,874 people in the UK have tested positive for coronavirus in the 24 hours to Friday, a new record, bringing the total number of infections to 423,236. | A further 6,874 people in the UK have tested positive for coronavirus in the 24 hours to Friday, a new record, bringing the total number of infections to 423,236. |
| The UK had recorded 6,634 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, then the highest reported figure during the course of the pandemic. | The UK had recorded 6,634 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, then the highest reported figure during the course of the pandemic. |
| Additional restrictions are also to be reimposed in Stockport, Greater Manchester from midnight, after mixing between households had been allowed since 2 September. | Additional restrictions are also to be reimposed in Stockport, Greater Manchester from midnight, after mixing between households had been allowed since 2 September. |
| Writing on Facebook, David Meller, the council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said: | Writing on Facebook, David Meller, the council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said: |
| Among the new restrictions would be a ban on households inviting others to their homes or gardens and on socialising with other households in public venues or places, he said. | Among the new restrictions would be a ban on households inviting others to their homes or gardens and on socialising with other households in public venues or places, he said. |
| Blackpool is to have extra Covid-19 restrictions imposed from Saturday, a local MP has said. | Blackpool is to have extra Covid-19 restrictions imposed from Saturday, a local MP has said. |
| Scott Benton, the Conservative MP for Blackpool South, said the town’s council and the government had decided to impose additional restrictions on the resort, which will bring it into line with the rest of Lancashire where extra restrictions were imposed last week. | Scott Benton, the Conservative MP for Blackpool South, said the town’s council and the government had decided to impose additional restrictions on the resort, which will bring it into line with the rest of Lancashire where extra restrictions were imposed last week. |
| Blackpool was controversially exempt from the last round of restrictions on the county, but saw a huge surge in visitors last weekend. | Blackpool was controversially exempt from the last round of restrictions on the county, but saw a huge surge in visitors last weekend. |
| Benton, writing on his Facebook page, said when the decision was made to impose additional restrictions on the rest of Lancashire at the beginning of last week, the Blackpool infection rate was 23 cases per 100,000 people, significantly below the average for the rest of Lancashire. | Benton, writing on his Facebook page, said when the decision was made to impose additional restrictions on the rest of Lancashire at the beginning of last week, the Blackpool infection rate was 23 cases per 100,000 people, significantly below the average for the rest of Lancashire. |
| But by Wednesday the town’s rate had increased to 63 cases per 100,000, still below the average for the whole of Lancashire but a significant rise over the last week, PA reports. | But by Wednesday the town’s rate had increased to 63 cases per 100,000, still below the average for the whole of Lancashire but a significant rise over the last week, PA reports. |
| More than 20 million people face enhanced lockdown restrictions across the UK after the announcement that extra curbs will apply to Blackpool (140,000 people) and Stockport (293,000). | |
| That, following on from the news that stricter lockdown measures are being extended to three more parts of Wales imminently brings to 20.2 million people living under enhanced curbs, 30% of the population. | |
| The announcement that people will not be allowed to travel into or out of Cardiff, Swansea and Llaneli other than work or education affects 670,000 people. | |
| This brings to 1.5 million people the number of people under more stringent lockdown rules in Wales, almost one-in-two.All people living in the UK are now restricted from meeting in groups of six or more (the exact definition differs between the four nations). | |
| London mayor Sadiq Khan has called on Boris Johnson to ban household mixing for London’s 9 million residents, warning that a 43% fall in testing in the capital risks masking the severity of the virus’s spread. | London mayor Sadiq Khan has called on Boris Johnson to ban household mixing for London’s 9 million residents, warning that a 43% fall in testing in the capital risks masking the severity of the virus’s spread. |
| My colleague Heather Stewart reports. | My colleague Heather Stewart reports. |
| As my colleague Libby Brooks reported earlier, Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has backed disciplinary action being taken as a “last resort” against students who breach new rules aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 on university campuses. | As my colleague Libby Brooks reported earlier, Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has backed disciplinary action being taken as a “last resort” against students who breach new rules aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 on university campuses. |
| Speaking as the daily increase in cases reached a record high, with 558 Scots testing positive in the past 24 hours, the first minister said that for those who are “flagrantly breaching rules, then of course discipline and enforcement has to be part of the answer”. | Speaking as the daily increase in cases reached a record high, with 558 Scots testing positive in the past 24 hours, the first minister said that for those who are “flagrantly breaching rules, then of course discipline and enforcement has to be part of the answer”. |
| University principals - backed by the Scottish Government - have made it “absolutely clear” to students that they must not take part in house parties. | University principals - backed by the Scottish Government - have made it “absolutely clear” to students that they must not take part in house parties. |
| As part of efforts to prevent outbreaks in university campuses from spreading into the wider population, all students are being asked to avoid pubs this weekend. | As part of efforts to prevent outbreaks in university campuses from spreading into the wider population, all students are being asked to avoid pubs this weekend. |
| In addition, universities will adopt a “yellow card/red card” approach to breaches of discipline, with students warned the consequences could include “potential discontinuation of study”. | In addition, universities will adopt a “yellow card/red card” approach to breaches of discipline, with students warned the consequences could include “potential discontinuation of study”. |
| Asked if she supports such a tough stance, Sturgeon said: | Asked if she supports such a tough stance, Sturgeon said: |
| The National Union of Students has claimed students are being “unfairly” blamed for spreading the disease, and it condemned the “unjustified step of applying different rules to students over and above the rest of the adult population”. | The National Union of Students has claimed students are being “unfairly” blamed for spreading the disease, and it condemned the “unjustified step of applying different rules to students over and above the rest of the adult population”. |
| But hundreds of students are currently self-isolating after outbreaks of the virus at Glasgow, Edinburgh Napier and other universities. | But hundreds of students are currently self-isolating after outbreaks of the virus at Glasgow, Edinburgh Napier and other universities. |
| The latest daily coronavirus figures also show a rise in positivity rates - with almost one in 10 (9.5%) of those tested confirmed as having Covid-19. | The latest daily coronavirus figures also show a rise in positivity rates - with almost one in 10 (9.5%) of those tested confirmed as having Covid-19. |