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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
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| UK coronavirus live: R number rises to between 1.2 and 1.5; new restrictions for Cardiff, Swansea and Llanelli | UK coronavirus live: R number rises to between 1.2 and 1.5; new restrictions for Cardiff, Swansea and Llanelli |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| New infections in UK growing by 4% to 8% every day; measures to come into force in three areas in Wales this weekend; London placed on watchlist | New infections in UK growing by 4% to 8% every day; measures to come into force in three areas in Wales this weekend; London placed on watchlist |
| Andrew RT Davies, shadow health minister for the Welsh Conservatives, has called for “clarity and consistency” following the news of three further local lockdowns in Wales. | |
| He said: | |
| The chief medical officers on both sides of the Irish border have appealed for people to avoid all but necessary cross-border travel. | |
| Irish acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn and the chief medical officer of Northern Ireland, Dr Michael McBride, met on Friday to review the pandemic, the Press Association reports. | |
| In a joint statement Glynn and McBride said: | |
| The pair called on people across the island to continue to follow public health advice to keep themselves and others safe. | |
| They said they were concerned about the significant proportion of cases in young people in Donegal and Derry, and appealed to teenagers and those in their 20s and 30s in particular to reduce their social contacts. | |
| A further 33 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 29,871, NHS England said on Friday. | |
| The patients were aged between 56 and 93 and all except two, aged 84 and 88, had known underlying health conditions. | |
| The deaths occurred between 21 April and 24 September. | |
| Two other deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result. | |
| The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has called for financial support from the government for areas under extra restrictions. | |
| At his weekly press conference, he told reporters: | |
| Wales has recorded a further 320 confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the total in the country to 22,215. | Wales has recorded a further 320 confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the total in the country to 22,215. |
| Public Health Wales said three further deaths had been reported, with the total since the beginning of the pandemic increasing to 1,609. | Public Health Wales said three further deaths had been reported, with the total since the beginning of the pandemic increasing to 1,609. |
| Lisa Nandy, the Labour MP for Wigan, said additional restrictions on mixing between households would be reimposed on the borough in line with most of Greater Manchester. | Lisa Nandy, the Labour MP for Wigan, said additional restrictions on mixing between households would be reimposed on the borough in line with most of Greater Manchester. |
| Local restrictions were previously lifted in Wigan on 26 August as infection rates were low, but latest seven-day rolling figures show 106.2 positive cases per 100,000 population, according to PA Media. | Local restrictions were previously lifted in Wigan on 26 August as infection rates were low, but latest seven-day rolling figures show 106.2 positive cases per 100,000 population, according to PA Media. |
| Students are able to travel into Cardiff and Swansea to attend university, the Welsh health minister, Vaughan Gething, has confirmed. | Students are able to travel into Cardiff and Swansea to attend university, the Welsh health minister, Vaughan Gething, has confirmed. |
| “Coming for work or education is a reasonable excuse for travel and so students will be arriving, many of them are here already of course in their chosen university towns or cities,” Gething said. | “Coming for work or education is a reasonable excuse for travel and so students will be arriving, many of them are here already of course in their chosen university towns or cities,” Gething said. |
| “The message to students is to be responsible, to familiarise themselves with the local rules.” | “The message to students is to be responsible, to familiarise themselves with the local rules.” |
| Gething said it would be “an interruption” in the normal university experience, where people would expect to go out and want to meet many other people. | Gething said it would be “an interruption” in the normal university experience, where people would expect to go out and want to meet many other people. |
| “We’re asking people to restrict the length and nature and level of those contacts, but it’s about keeping them safe as well as the towns or cities that they’ve chosen to come and live and study in,” he added. | “We’re asking people to restrict the length and nature and level of those contacts, but it’s about keeping them safe as well as the towns or cities that they’ve chosen to come and live and study in,” he added. |
| People are however not allowed to travel into areas of Wales subjected to a local lockdown for holidays, Gething stressed. | People are however not allowed to travel into areas of Wales subjected to a local lockdown for holidays, Gething stressed. |
| “We’ve been really clear that travel for holiday to stay within a local area isn’t a reasonable excuse,” he said, adding he had written to holiday providers and insurance companies asking them to provide refunds and support for those no longer able to travel. | “We’ve been really clear that travel for holiday to stay within a local area isn’t a reasonable excuse,” he said, adding he had written to holiday providers and insurance companies asking them to provide refunds and support for those no longer able to travel. |
| The government has updated the latest R number range for the UK to between 1.2 and 1.5, which puts the latest growth rate for coronavirus at +4% to +8%, meaning the number of new infections is growing by 4% to 8% every day. | The government has updated the latest R number range for the UK to between 1.2 and 1.5, which puts the latest growth rate for coronavirus at +4% to +8%, meaning the number of new infections is growing by 4% to 8% every day. |
| An R number between 1.2 and 1.5 means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 12 and 15 other people. | An R number between 1.2 and 1.5 means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 12 and 15 other people. |
| However, the estimates are time delayed and represent the situation over the past few weeks rather than today, as data from a variety of sources is used for the calculations of R and growth rate. | |
| “Epidemiological data, such as hospital admissions, ICU admissions and deaths, usually takes up to 3 weeks to reflect changes in the spread of disease. This is due to the time delay between initial infection, having symptoms and the need for hospital care,” a government website states. | |
| London, North East and Yorkshire, and the North West have shown the highest growth rates over the past week, according to NHS England. | London, North East and Yorkshire, and the North West have shown the highest growth rates over the past week, according to NHS England. |
| As reported earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published its latest coronavirus infection survey, which for the first time also includes figures for Northern Ireland. | As reported earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published its latest coronavirus infection survey, which for the first time also includes figures for Northern Ireland. |
| According to the report, an estimated 103,600 people in England were infected with coronavirus during the week from 13 to 19 September 2020, equating to about 1 in 500 people. | According to the report, an estimated 103,600 people in England were infected with coronavirus during the week from 13 to 19 September 2020, equating to about 1 in 500 people. |
| The report states: | The report states: |
| Commenting on the findings, Prof Kevin McConway, an emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, said: | Commenting on the findings, Prof Kevin McConway, an emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, said: |
| I’m taking back over from my colleague Haroon now, who has kindly covered for me in the past hour. | I’m taking back over from my colleague Haroon now, who has kindly covered for me in the past hour. |
| If you have anything you would like to flag, you can contact me on Twitter @JedySays or via email. | If you have anything you would like to flag, you can contact me on Twitter @JedySays or via email. |
| The new lockdown restrictions, which will apply to everyone living in Llanelli, Cardiff and Swansea, are: | The new lockdown restrictions, which will apply to everyone living in Llanelli, Cardiff and Swansea, are: |
| People will not be allowed to enter or leave these areas without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education; | People will not be allowed to enter or leave these areas without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education; |
| People will only be able to meet people they don’t live with outdoors for the time being. They will not be able to form, or be in, extended households (sometimes known as ‘bubbles’). This means meeting indoors (in people’s houses, in a pub or elsewhere) with anyone you don’t live with is not allowed at the moment unless you have a good reason, such as providing care to a vulnerable person. | People will only be able to meet people they don’t live with outdoors for the time being. They will not be able to form, or be in, extended households (sometimes known as ‘bubbles’). This means meeting indoors (in people’s houses, in a pub or elsewhere) with anyone you don’t live with is not allowed at the moment unless you have a good reason, such as providing care to a vulnerable person. |
| The lockdowns for Cardiff and Swansea means that around 50% of the Welsh population will be subject to local lockdowns by the end of the weekend. | The lockdowns for Cardiff and Swansea means that around 50% of the Welsh population will be subject to local lockdowns by the end of the weekend. |
| Asked why the whole country was not going into a national lockdown, the health minister, Vaughan Gething, said: “We have a different pattern in south Wales to north Wales.” | Asked why the whole country was not going into a national lockdown, the health minister, Vaughan Gething, said: “We have a different pattern in south Wales to north Wales.” |
| Gething said there were “challenges” in north Wales but the rates of infection were more significant in the south. | Gething said there were “challenges” in north Wales but the rates of infection were more significant in the south. |
| On reports of panic buying taking place, Gething asked people to stay calm, adding: “There isn’t a need to buy large additional amounts of items.” | On reports of panic buying taking place, Gething asked people to stay calm, adding: “There isn’t a need to buy large additional amounts of items.” |
| Gething said action was being taken now at an earlier point in the outbreak than in March to try to prevent a stricter lockdown. | Gething said action was being taken now at an earlier point in the outbreak than in March to try to prevent a stricter lockdown. |
| Only parts of Llanelli will be under local lockdown. The situation in other areas of south Wales including the Vale of Glamorgan, where Cardiff airport is sited, are being closely monitored. | Only parts of Llanelli will be under local lockdown. The situation in other areas of south Wales including the Vale of Glamorgan, where Cardiff airport is sited, are being closely monitored. |
| Nicola Sturgeon addressed students directly at her daily briefing, as she confirmed 558 new coronavirus cases overnight, telling them: | Nicola Sturgeon addressed students directly at her daily briefing, as she confirmed 558 new coronavirus cases overnight, telling them: |
| She said that she had spoken personally to university principals today to stress their duty of care to students, in terms of both practical and emotional support. | She said that she had spoken personally to university principals today to stress their duty of care to students, in terms of both practical and emotional support. |
| Following concerns raised particularly by parents about their self-isolating or sick children not being allowed to return home if they are not coping in their halls of residence, she said that the Scottish government was “looking at what might be possible” and aimed to publish further guidance over the weekend. | Following concerns raised particularly by parents about their self-isolating or sick children not being allowed to return home if they are not coping in their halls of residence, she said that the Scottish government was “looking at what might be possible” and aimed to publish further guidance over the weekend. |
| Meanwhile Scotland’s chief constable, Iain Livingstone, was definitive about student socialising: | Meanwhile Scotland’s chief constable, Iain Livingstone, was definitive about student socialising: |
| Universities Scotland confirmed to the Guardian on Friday morning that no student representatives or organisations had been involved in the drafting of last night’s rules. | Universities Scotland confirmed to the Guardian on Friday morning that no student representatives or organisations had been involved in the drafting of last night’s rules. |
| But a spokesperson insisted: | But a spokesperson insisted: |
| They added that they had been in regular touch with NUS Scotland throughout the summer. | They added that they had been in regular touch with NUS Scotland throughout the summer. |
| Meanwhile, Louise Macdonald of Young Scot said she was “concerned” about freshers, especially those away from home for the first time. She pointed out: | Meanwhile, Louise Macdonald of Young Scot said she was “concerned” about freshers, especially those away from home for the first time. She pointed out: |
| Macdonald called for students to be treated as equal partners in the formulation of regulations such as this: | Macdonald called for students to be treated as equal partners in the formulation of regulations such as this: |
| Cardiff and Swansea will be subject to local lockdowns from Sunday evening, the Welsh government has announced. | Cardiff and Swansea will be subject to local lockdowns from Sunday evening, the Welsh government has announced. |
| From 6pm on Sunday residents will not be able to travel in or out without reasonable excuse. Nor will they be able to meet indoors with anyone they do not live with. | From 6pm on Sunday residents will not be able to travel in or out without reasonable excuse. Nor will they be able to meet indoors with anyone they do not live with. |
| Some parts of Llanelli in south Wales will also be under a local lockdown from Saturday evening. | Some parts of Llanelli in south Wales will also be under a local lockdown from Saturday evening. |
| The new restrictions will affect around 800,000 people. | The new restrictions will affect around 800,000 people. |
| Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething called on the people of Cardiff and Swansea not to treat the weekend as a “big blow-out” ahead of the lockdowns on Sunday evening. | Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething called on the people of Cardiff and Swansea not to treat the weekend as a “big blow-out” ahead of the lockdowns on Sunday evening. |
| The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, pointed to a lack of testing capacity in the capital as the reason why it had become an area of concern (see previous update). He said: | The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, pointed to a lack of testing capacity in the capital as the reason why it had become an area of concern (see previous update). He said: |
| London is being placed on the national Covid-19 watchlist, London Councils, a cross-party organisation which represents all 32 boroughs and the City of London, announced a short while ago. | London is being placed on the national Covid-19 watchlist, London Councils, a cross-party organisation which represents all 32 boroughs and the City of London, announced a short while ago. |
| The list is divided between areas where intervention is required via local lockdown restrictions and areas of concern that are closely monitored. | The list is divided between areas where intervention is required via local lockdown restrictions and areas of concern that are closely monitored. |
| London Councils said no additional measures were being taken in the city but that its entry on the list was a “stark reminder that now is time for all Londoners to pull together and take action to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe, and to ensure that London’s economy is protected”. | London Councils said no additional measures were being taken in the city but that its entry on the list was a “stark reminder that now is time for all Londoners to pull together and take action to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe, and to ensure that London’s economy is protected”. |
| A statement said: | A statement said: |
| The former rector of Glasgow University, Aamer Anwar, whose three-year term ended earlier this year, has posted this highly critical thread describing the treatment of students as a “shambles” and alleging that they are regarded as “cash cows” by accommodation providers. | The former rector of Glasgow University, Aamer Anwar, whose three-year term ended earlier this year, has posted this highly critical thread describing the treatment of students as a “shambles” and alleging that they are regarded as “cash cows” by accommodation providers. |
| Anwar is also critical of reporting of the guidance not to attend pubs as a ban - in fairness to the media, this may have stemmed from lack of clarity in the original Universities Scotland press release which didn’t make it clear that this only applied to the coming weekend, not indefinitely. | Anwar is also critical of reporting of the guidance not to attend pubs as a ban - in fairness to the media, this may have stemmed from lack of clarity in the original Universities Scotland press release which didn’t make it clear that this only applied to the coming weekend, not indefinitely. |
| He also points out that many students themselves work in pubs and bars to support their studies, and that “patronising diatribe against students, thinking this is about getting a pint, fails to recognise how many struggle financially”. | He also points out that many students themselves work in pubs and bars to support their studies, and that “patronising diatribe against students, thinking this is about getting a pint, fails to recognise how many struggle financially”. |