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| UK coronavirus live: Covid-19 death toll passes 60,000 | UK coronavirus live: Covid-19 death toll passes 60,000 |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Total number of deaths from Covid-19 across UK reaches 61,116; 55 MPs sign letter to PM expressing fears that government’s ‘levelling up’ for the north is being abandoned | Total number of deaths from Covid-19 across UK reaches 61,116; 55 MPs sign letter to PM expressing fears that government’s ‘levelling up’ for the north is being abandoned |
| A non-invasive Covid-19 breath test that delivers results “within one minute” is being developed by UK scientists, PA Media reports. | |
| The technology, which is being worked on as part of a project known as TOXI-Triage, uses “breath signatures” to “rapidly distinguish Covid-19 from other respiratory conditions”. | |
| The researchers said their findings, published in The Lancet’s EclinicalMedicine journal, could dramatically improve the experience of taking a coronavirus test as well as “play a part in restarting the economy”. | |
| Emma Brodrick, systems application manager at the Imspex Group, a diagnostics company based in Wales and collaborating on the research, said the two current leading tests for Covid-19 - antigen detection and PCR - both utilise invasive means of taking samples, which can be uncomfortable for the patient and may discourage somebody from getting a test. | |
| For that reason, developing a minimally invasive test that produces results rapidly was particularly compelling, she said. | |
| Paul Thomas, professor of analytical science from Loughborough University’s department of chemistry, said the team was encouraged by the findings but added more data was required to develop the test. | |
| The researchers recruited 98 patients for the small study, of whom 31 had coronavirus. Their aim was to identify the biomarkers present in the breath of someone affected by Covid-19 and distinguish those signatures from other respiratory tract infections. | |
| Led by Loughborough University, the project was launched four years ago with the aim to determine the most effective ways to give medical and toxic assessments to the casualties of a chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear event. The team involved in the project repurposed some of the existing the technology to design a Covid-19 breath test. | |
| Santi Dominguez, chief executive of the Imspex Group, said: | |
| NHS England said a further 207 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 32,117. The number of deaths of patients with Covid-19 by region are as follows: | NHS England said a further 207 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 32,117. The number of deaths of patients with Covid-19 by region are as follows: |
| East of England - 17 | East of England - 17 |
| London - 17 | London - 17 |
| Midlands - 26 | Midlands - 26 |
| North East & Yorkshire - 44 | North East & Yorkshire - 44 |
| North West - 77 | North West - 77 |
| South East - 13 | South East - 13 |
| South West - 13 | South West - 13 |
| Leeds Teaching hospitals trust, one of the largest hospital trusts in England, is to cancel some elective operations as admissions of patients with Covid-19 rises steeply in Yorkshire, the Health Service Journal understands. | |
| The HSJ, citing a well-placed source, reports that the trust has now entered its “surge” capacity - the repurposing of additional beds - and will cancel some routine surgical lists from Wednesday. The extent of cancellations has not yet been determined. | The HSJ, citing a well-placed source, reports that the trust has now entered its “surge” capacity - the repurposing of additional beds - and will cancel some routine surgical lists from Wednesday. The extent of cancellations has not yet been determined. |
| The trust is believed to be due to make an official announcement later this afternoon. | The trust is believed to be due to make an official announcement later this afternoon. |
| Amid rapid increases in the Yorkshire and North East region of patients in hospital with Covid-19, figures published by NHS England showed the total number in South Yorkshire was set to exceed the spring peak. This has already happened in the North West in Lancashire and Liverpool. | Amid rapid increases in the Yorkshire and North East region of patients in hospital with Covid-19, figures published by NHS England showed the total number in South Yorkshire was set to exceed the spring peak. This has already happened in the North West in Lancashire and Liverpool. |
| The HSJ reported last week that several hospital trusts in the region, including in Rotherham and Bradford, had already suspended non-urgent surgeries. | The HSJ reported last week that several hospital trusts in the region, including in Rotherham and Bradford, had already suspended non-urgent surgeries. |
| Headteachers have called on the UK government to make more laptops available to pupils studying at home as a matter of urgency, as the latest government figures confirmed a further drop in school attendance for Covid-related reasons. | |
| Weekly attendance statistics published by the Department for Education revealed that more than half of secondary schools (55%) had one or more pupils who were self-isolating last week, up from 46% the week before. Overall, pupil attendance dropped to 86%, down from 89% a week earlier. | Weekly attendance statistics published by the Department for Education revealed that more than half of secondary schools (55%) had one or more pupils who were self-isolating last week, up from 46% the week before. Overall, pupil attendance dropped to 86%, down from 89% a week earlier. |
| Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the latest figures painted “a grim picture” of the increasingly challenging situation facing schools with attendance falling amid rising infection rates. | Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the latest figures painted “a grim picture” of the increasingly challenging situation facing schools with attendance falling amid rising infection rates. |
| He also criticised the government for suddenly and dramatically reducing the allocation of laptops last week, just as the majority of schools broke up for half term. Head teachers were told their allocation was being cut by up to 80% in order to prioritise devices for areas of highest need. | He also criticised the government for suddenly and dramatically reducing the allocation of laptops last week, just as the majority of schools broke up for half term. Head teachers were told their allocation was being cut by up to 80% in order to prioritise devices for areas of highest need. |
| According to the DfE, last Thursday between six and seven per cent of all pupils in England did not attend classes for Covid-related reasons, up from four to five per cent a week earlier. | According to the DfE, last Thursday between six and seven per cent of all pupils in England did not attend classes for Covid-related reasons, up from four to five per cent a week earlier. |
| More than a quarter (26%) of all state schools in England, excluding those on half term last week, had one or more pupils self-isolating due to potential contact with a positive Covid case, compared to 21% the week before. | More than a quarter (26%) of all state schools in England, excluding those on half term last week, had one or more pupils self-isolating due to potential contact with a positive Covid case, compared to 21% the week before. |
| And about 82% of secondary school pupils were in class last week, compared with 86% the week before, while in primaries attendance dropped from 92% to 90%. | And about 82% of secondary school pupils were in class last week, compared with 86% the week before, while in primaries attendance dropped from 92% to 90%. |
| The sound of the phone ringing once filled 49-year-old Rivka Gottlieb with dread. Her father was admitted to hospital in late March after contracting coronavirus but, unable to be with him because of lockdown, she nervously awaited every piece of news on his condition. | |
| In mid-April, the phone rang and the news she feared came. She was devastated – but even then she couldn’t say goodbye in the way she wanted. | In mid-April, the phone rang and the news she feared came. She was devastated – but even then she couldn’t say goodbye in the way she wanted. |
| Gottlieb’s father is one of more than 60,000 people across the UK to have died from or with the deadly virus, the vast majority of them elderly, with partners, sons, daughters and other loved ones. | Gottlieb’s father is one of more than 60,000 people across the UK to have died from or with the deadly virus, the vast majority of them elderly, with partners, sons, daughters and other loved ones. |
| For many touched by these deaths, the strangeness of life in lockdown is made stranger and more isolating still by the numbness of grief. And by the knowledge that they were unable to say farewell in the way they would have imagined and wished. This is one of the reasons the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group is calling for pandemic bereavement support. | For many touched by these deaths, the strangeness of life in lockdown is made stranger and more isolating still by the numbness of grief. And by the knowledge that they were unable to say farewell in the way they would have imagined and wished. This is one of the reasons the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group is calling for pandemic bereavement support. |
| Here my colleague Aamna Mohdin tells the stories behind six of the more than 60,000 lives lost to Covid-19 – and the difficult goodbyes their relatives had to make. | Here my colleague Aamna Mohdin tells the stories behind six of the more than 60,000 lives lost to Covid-19 – and the difficult goodbyes their relatives had to make. |
| There have been a further 1,207 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 45,046. Public Health Wales said seven further deaths had been reported, with the total rising to 1,790. | There have been a further 1,207 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 45,046. Public Health Wales said seven further deaths had been reported, with the total rising to 1,790. |
| The Rushcliffe Borough council leader, Simon Robinson, told the PA Media news agency he believes the new tier 3 measures in Nottinghamshire are supported by a “majority” of residents. He said people were showing “a lot of resilience because people understand we need to get on top of the virus”. Detailed control measures for areas like the hospitality industry are expected to be announced by the government sometime after 5pm, he added, following days of negotiations with councils. Robinson said: “The restrictions are currently being detailed now with government. Then there will be an announcement this evening - I’m not quite sure how that will be done because parliament is in recess.” | |
| One of the world’s leading Covid-19 experimental vaccines produces an immune response in older adults as well as the young, its developers say, raising hopes of protection for those most vulnerable to the coronavirus that has caused social and economic chaos around the world. | One of the world’s leading Covid-19 experimental vaccines produces an immune response in older adults as well as the young, its developers say, raising hopes of protection for those most vulnerable to the coronavirus that has caused social and economic chaos around the world. |
| The Guardian’s health editor, Sarah Boseley, reports. | |
| A peer told of the “mounting panic” his family had faced ahead of school holidays when he was a child as he shared his experiences of receiving free meals. | A peer told of the “mounting panic” his family had faced ahead of school holidays when he was a child as he shared his experiences of receiving free meals. |
| Labour’s Lord Griffiths of Burry Port told the House of Lords: “I was in receipt of free meals throughout my entire school career. My mother, a single woman, her only income was the contributions of the National Assistance, we lived in one room. | Labour’s Lord Griffiths of Burry Port told the House of Lords: “I was in receipt of free meals throughout my entire school career. My mother, a single woman, her only income was the contributions of the National Assistance, we lived in one room. |
| “I remember very clearly, I can still taste and smell it, the mounting panic ahead of school holidays because the income we had could not stretch to feeding two boys and a mother in that day. | “I remember very clearly, I can still taste and smell it, the mounting panic ahead of school holidays because the income we had could not stretch to feeding two boys and a mother in that day. |
| “Marcus Rashford and I have this, and probably only this, in common. We remember not in our heads but in our whole bodies. An old Etonian, of course, can’t be expected to have had the same experience.” | “Marcus Rashford and I have this, and probably only this, in common. We remember not in our heads but in our whole bodies. An old Etonian, of course, can’t be expected to have had the same experience.” |
| Griffiths said children faced a “postcode lottery” given different councils and communities would act in different ways, to which education minister Baroness Berridge replied: “Many noble lords of all parties and none can recall circumstances in which their own needs - whether that be housing or food - were not met through the circumstances of their family. | Griffiths said children faced a “postcode lottery” given different councils and communities would act in different ways, to which education minister Baroness Berridge replied: “Many noble lords of all parties and none can recall circumstances in which their own needs - whether that be housing or food - were not met through the circumstances of their family. |
| “It’s not a postcode lottery - 1.4 million children in England are entitled to free school meals, saving their families over £400 a year, and in addition to that, particularly through the soft drinks levy, the government has in nearly 2,500 schools been funding breakfast clubs to provide children with healthy food. | “It’s not a postcode lottery - 1.4 million children in England are entitled to free school meals, saving their families over £400 a year, and in addition to that, particularly through the soft drinks levy, the government has in nearly 2,500 schools been funding breakfast clubs to provide children with healthy food. |
| Hi everyone. I am a news reporter from the Guardian, taking over the live feed for the UK coronavirus blog. Please do get in touch to share any thoughts, comments or news tips with me as I work. Thanks so much. | Hi everyone. I am a news reporter from the Guardian, taking over the live feed for the UK coronavirus blog. Please do get in touch to share any thoughts, comments or news tips with me as I work. Thanks so much. |
| Twitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com | Twitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com |
| Supermarkets have issued a statement calling on the Welsh government to relax a ban on selling non-essential items during the 17-day firebreak lockdown. | Supermarkets have issued a statement calling on the Welsh government to relax a ban on selling non-essential items during the 17-day firebreak lockdown. |
| Groups representing supermarkets made a series of recommendations to Welsh ministers on Tuesday following confusion over what can and cannot be sold during the 17-day firebreak period. | Groups representing supermarkets made a series of recommendations to Welsh ministers on Tuesday following confusion over what can and cannot be sold during the 17-day firebreak period. |
| The joint statement by CBI Wales, the Welsh Retail Consortium, and the Association of Convenience Stores called on the Welsh government to “resolve the confusion”. | The joint statement by CBI Wales, the Welsh Retail Consortium, and the Association of Convenience Stores called on the Welsh government to “resolve the confusion”. |
| Here’s part of the statement: | Here’s part of the statement: |
| I’m handing over to my colleague Sarah Marsh now. | I’m handing over to my colleague Sarah Marsh now. |
| On a day when the UK Covid death toll passed 60,000, there is a glimmer of good news. The chance of surviving the virus for those admitted to critical care units rose during the first wave of the pandemic, researchers have revealed. | On a day when the UK Covid death toll passed 60,000, there is a glimmer of good news. The chance of surviving the virus for those admitted to critical care units rose during the first wave of the pandemic, researchers have revealed. |
| Writing in the journal Critical Care Medicine, researchers at the University of Exeter report how they analysed the outcomes for over 21,000 adults with Covid-19 admitted to 108 critical care units in England from March to the end of June this year. | Writing in the journal Critical Care Medicine, researchers at the University of Exeter report how they analysed the outcomes for over 21,000 adults with Covid-19 admitted to 108 critical care units in England from March to the end of June this year. |
| The results, based on survival at 30 days after admission, reveal that at the end of March 72% of patients in high dependency units survived, compared with 58% for those in intensive care. By the end of June there had been a “substantial improvement”, with survival at 93% and 80% respectively. | The results, based on survival at 30 days after admission, reveal that at the end of March 72% of patients in high dependency units survived, compared with 58% for those in intensive care. By the end of June there had been a “substantial improvement”, with survival at 93% and 80% respectively. |
| Crucially, the team said, the improvement in survival was still seen even when the team took into account factors such as age, ethnicity and sex of the patients, suggesting the change is not simply down to a shift in the demographics of people being admitted to critical care units as the months have gone by. | Crucially, the team said, the improvement in survival was still seen even when the team took into account factors such as age, ethnicity and sex of the patients, suggesting the change is not simply down to a shift in the demographics of people being admitted to critical care units as the months have gone by. |
| Indeed even taking such factors into account, the team found that compared with the situation at the end of March, survival improved by almost 13% per week for those in high dependency units and 9% in intensive care by the end of June. That said, there was no clear improvement in survival in some particular groups, including black people in intensive care. | Indeed even taking such factors into account, the team found that compared with the situation at the end of March, survival improved by almost 13% per week for those in high dependency units and 9% in intensive care by the end of June. That said, there was no clear improvement in survival in some particular groups, including black people in intensive care. |
| Among other reasons for the overall improvements, the team suggest growing experience of the disease among healthcare professionals could play a role, as could a reduction in the numbers of people being admitted to critical care units, reducing the number of patients being cared for. However, they also suggest other reasons, including the use of drugs such as dexamethasone to tackle Covid. | Among other reasons for the overall improvements, the team suggest growing experience of the disease among healthcare professionals could play a role, as could a reduction in the numbers of people being admitted to critical care units, reducing the number of patients being cared for. However, they also suggest other reasons, including the use of drugs such as dexamethasone to tackle Covid. |
| “Temporal changes in Covid-19 disease severity at admission, patient selection for critical care management, critical care treatment, hospital capacity, and Covid-19 testing all offer potential explanations for our findings,” the team write. | “Temporal changes in Covid-19 disease severity at admission, patient selection for critical care management, critical care treatment, hospital capacity, and Covid-19 testing all offer potential explanations for our findings,” the team write. |