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Coronavirus live news: curfew starts for millions in France; restrictions eased in Melbourne Coronavirus live news: curfew starts for millions in France; restrictions eased in Melbourne
(32 minutes later)
Paris and several other French cities face month of restrictions; numbers soar in Europe amid new lockdowns; Melbourne lockdown eased from midnight with travel distance increased to 25km – follow liveParis and several other French cities face month of restrictions; numbers soar in Europe amid new lockdowns; Melbourne lockdown eased from midnight with travel distance increased to 25km – follow live
Hi everyone, Nicola Davis here while Kevin takes a well-deserved break. You can reach me on Twitter where I am NicolaKSDavis.
Here’s a summary of the most recent developments:
Globally, there have been 39.7m confirmed cases of Covid-19, and 1.1m deaths. The US has nearly 8.1m confirmed cases, followed by India 7.4m, and Brazil 5.2m.
England will not go into a two or three-week “circuit-break” lockdown, a senior cabinet minister said. Michael Gove insisted the government was right to ignore its scientific advisers and pursue a plan they have said is insufficient to stop the spread if not enhanced.
It is not too late to introduce an effective national lockdown in England, a senior adviser said. Sir Jeremy Farrar said the worst thing to do would be to wait until November to act.
Europe is the emerging epicentre of the current wave: a third of all new cases worldwide are being detected in western European countries. Europe is recording more new cases than India, Brazil and the US combined.
Global coronavirus cases rose by more than 400,000 for the first time late on Friday, a record one-day increase as much of Europe enacts new restrictions to curb the outbreak.
Italy had a record daily rise in cases of 10,925 and is considering toughening nationwide restrictions in response to the increase. The Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine and Malaysia also recorded their highest daily totals since the pandemic began.
The number of deaths in Iran from Covid-19 now exceeds 30,000, with the country’s health ministry saying the total number of deaths since the start of the pandemic was now 30,123.
A two week “circuit breaker” lockdown is expected to commence in Wales on 23 October that will see all but essential retail outlets close, according to a leaked letter.
Thailand has recorded its first locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 in more than a month.
The foreign ministers of Austria and Belgium have both tested positive for Covid-19.
New Zealand, which has twice eliminated the virus, reported its first local case for 22 days.
The French Collectivity of Wallis and Futuna in the South Pacific recorded its first case for the entire pandemic.
Saudi Arabia allowed its citizens and residents inside the kingdom to perform prayers in one of the most holy religious sites in Islam, Al-Haram mosque in Mecca, for the first time in seven months.
Malaysian health authorities have reported 871 new cases on Sunday; the nation’s worst daily count. It raises its total infections to 20,498. The Southeast Asian country, which imposed targeted lockdowns this month as infections surged, also recorded seven new deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 187.Malaysian health authorities have reported 871 new cases on Sunday; the nation’s worst daily count. It raises its total infections to 20,498. The Southeast Asian country, which imposed targeted lockdowns this month as infections surged, also recorded seven new deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 187.
The health ministry’s director general Noor Hisham Abdullah told reporters the infection rate had dropped since a third wave of infections in the country began four weeks ago.The health ministry’s director general Noor Hisham Abdullah told reporters the infection rate had dropped since a third wave of infections in the country began four weeks ago.
Israel will require incoming travellers from the UK to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival, information on an Israeli government website shows.Israel will require incoming travellers from the UK to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival, information on an Israeli government website shows.
The infection rate in the UK has risen sharply in recent weeks, prompting the UK’s prime minister Boris Johnson to introduce tighter restrictions and local lockdowns.The infection rate in the UK has risen sharply in recent weeks, prompting the UK’s prime minister Boris Johnson to introduce tighter restrictions and local lockdowns.
The UK has been one of 31 “green” countries from which travellers who meet a series of special requirements could enter Israel without a mandatory quarantine period.The UK has been one of 31 “green” countries from which travellers who meet a series of special requirements could enter Israel without a mandatory quarantine period.
The UK’s status will change to “red” on 23 October, Israeli health ministry information shows.The UK’s status will change to “red” on 23 October, Israeli health ministry information shows.
The health ministry identifies some 185 other countries and localities as red, implying high infection rates. Incoming Israeli travellers are also subject to mandatory self-isolation.The health ministry identifies some 185 other countries and localities as red, implying high infection rates. Incoming Israeli travellers are also subject to mandatory self-isolation.
Israel has begun rolling back a second-wave lockdown that has helped reduce new cases. The country has closed its borders to most non-Israelis, with exceptions including foreign workers and Jewish yeshiva students.Israel has begun rolling back a second-wave lockdown that has helped reduce new cases. The country has closed its borders to most non-Israelis, with exceptions including foreign workers and Jewish yeshiva students.
The Philippines’ health ministry has reported 2,379 new confirmed cases and 50 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 356,618 cases and 6,652 deaths. It also said 14,941 more individuals had recovered, bringing total recoveries to 310,158.The Philippines’ health ministry has reported 2,379 new confirmed cases and 50 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 356,618 cases and 6,652 deaths. It also said 14,941 more individuals had recovered, bringing total recoveries to 310,158.
Gove has defended police in the UK being given data from the NHS’s test and trace system, saying that officers are operating in a “very proportionate way”.Gove has defended police in the UK being given data from the NHS’s test and trace system, saying that officers are operating in a “very proportionate way”.
Reacting to news, the director of the Open Rights Group, Jim Killock, said:Reacting to news, the director of the Open Rights Group, Jim Killock, said:
Doctors’ haste to mechanically ventilate patients at the start of the pandemic might have contributed to the higher rate of death in spring compared to now, a senior medic has said.Doctors’ haste to mechanically ventilate patients at the start of the pandemic might have contributed to the higher rate of death in spring compared to now, a senior medic has said.
Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine in London, said doctors’ evolving understanding of the virus had dramatically upped the survival rate.Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine in London, said doctors’ evolving understanding of the virus had dramatically upped the survival rate.
At the start of the pandemic, just 66% of people in hospital with the virus survived, compared to 84% in August. Dr Pittard told Sky News:At the start of the pandemic, just 66% of people in hospital with the virus survived, compared to 84% in August. Dr Pittard told Sky News:
She said intensive care teams now use a variety of interventions to help patients breathe, and full mechanical ventilation is a last resort.She said intensive care teams now use a variety of interventions to help patients breathe, and full mechanical ventilation is a last resort.
Pittard said there’s no evidence to suggest Covid-19 has become less dangerous despite falling death rates in the UK. She said that, although treatment is improving, social distancing is also having an impact on transmission and viral load.Pittard said there’s no evidence to suggest Covid-19 has become less dangerous despite falling death rates in the UK. She said that, although treatment is improving, social distancing is also having an impact on transmission and viral load.
Keeping critical care facilities open to non-Covid patients will be vital to minimising the collateral damage of the next wave of the pandemic, Pittard added.Keeping critical care facilities open to non-Covid patients will be vital to minimising the collateral damage of the next wave of the pandemic, Pittard added.
She said that minimising transmission within the community was the best way to prevent urgent care units becoming overburdened. Pittard said the focus of the next wave of the pandemic “isn’t going to be on Covid patients getting access to healthcare, it is going to be for those patients that don’t have Covid”.She said that minimising transmission within the community was the best way to prevent urgent care units becoming overburdened. Pittard said the focus of the next wave of the pandemic “isn’t going to be on Covid patients getting access to healthcare, it is going to be for those patients that don’t have Covid”.
The UK government’s cabinet office minister Michael Gove has defended the £7,000 day rates paid to some executives from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) who are helping the government set up and run its testing system.The UK government’s cabinet office minister Michael Gove has defended the £7,000 day rates paid to some executives from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) who are helping the government set up and run its testing system.
He insisted the spend was a good use of public money, adding:He insisted the spend was a good use of public money, adding:
Here’s a little more from Prof Jeremy Farrer, who has been laying bare the scale of the national crisis. The “worst-case scenario” of 50,000 cases per day across the UK is “almost exactly where we are at”, he has told Sky News.Here’s a little more from Prof Jeremy Farrer, who has been laying bare the scale of the national crisis. The “worst-case scenario” of 50,000 cases per day across the UK is “almost exactly where we are at”, he has told Sky News.
Burnham called for MPs in Westminster to intervene and ensure tier 3 restrictions come with an adequate financial package.Burnham called for MPs in Westminster to intervene and ensure tier 3 restrictions come with an adequate financial package.
He reiterated his call for the 80% furlough scheme to be reintroduced to support workers in firms that are forced to close.He reiterated his call for the 80% furlough scheme to be reintroduced to support workers in firms that are forced to close.
And Burnham criticised a letter from 20 Tory MPs who called on him to work with the government’s approach to regional lockdowns.And Burnham criticised a letter from 20 Tory MPs who called on him to work with the government’s approach to regional lockdowns.
The mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said he will be having a call with the UK prime minister’s chief strategic adviser Sir Edward Lister over lockdown restrictions on Sunday.The mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said he will be having a call with the UK prime minister’s chief strategic adviser Sir Edward Lister over lockdown restrictions on Sunday.
Asked if he was going to be speaking with Boris Johnson, Burnham told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show:Asked if he was going to be speaking with Boris Johnson, Burnham told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show:
Burnham, who is resisting the highest level of controls without more financial support for workers and businesses, accused Johnson of having exaggerated the severity of the situation in the region.Burnham, who is resisting the highest level of controls without more financial support for workers and businesses, accused Johnson of having exaggerated the severity of the situation in the region.
Here’s a little more detail on those comments from Prof Jeremy Farrer, the member of the UK government scientific advisory group who is still recommending a short national lockdown in England. He told Sky News:Here’s a little more detail on those comments from Prof Jeremy Farrer, the member of the UK government scientific advisory group who is still recommending a short national lockdown in England. He told Sky News: