Coronavirus news you may have missed: Confusion spreads after Boris Johnson exit strategy speech and lockdown fines rise to £100 under new rules

Over 4 million people test positive for the virus, with over 282,000 deaths globally

The UK is entering a new phase of the coronavirus lockdown, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the nation’s new emphasis on staying “alert” instead of “stay home”.

Countries throughout the world continue to battle with Covid-19 and its unprecedented impact on people and industries. Globally, over 4 million people have tested positive for the virus, with over 282,000 deaths.

This is your daily briefing of coronavirus news you may have missed overnight.

Confusion around first steps out of coronavirus lockdown

The prime minister announced on Sunday evening new lockdown advice and phases on how the nation will take its first few steps towards normality.

But Boris Johnson’s televised speech caused confusion and anger among the British public as the government’s new “stay alert” messaging creates tension.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland rejected the decision to get rid of the initial “stay home” advice and replace it with new guidance to “stay alert, control the virus, save lives”.

Workers in industries such as construction and manufacturing, who cannot work from home, were encouraged to return to work on Monday if they can do so safely, avoiding public transport wherever possible.

Under the new rules this week, people will be allowed to sunbathe in parks, play sports with members of their own households, drive and use destinations such as golf courses and tennis courts, and take unlimited amount of exercise as long as they maintain two-metre social distancing rules.

In the next phase, starting in June, non-essential shops, nurseries and some primary schools could begin to reopen. In July at the earliest, some parts of the hospitality sector could reopen.

The easing of restrictions are dependent on how control of the coronavirus progresses and is subject to close monitoring, said Mr Johnson.

Coronavirus fines to rise to £100 under new lockdown rules

Fines for breaking coronavirus lockdown rules will rise from £60 to £100 for first offenders under new plans set out by Boris Johnson.

Payment of the fixed penalty notice within 14 days will reduce the sum to £50, up from the present £30. The maximum fine for repeat offenders will more than triple from £960 to £3,200.

Mr Johnson said on Sunday: “You must obey the rules on social distancing and to enforce those rules, we will increase the fines for the small minority who break them.”

Police issued over 9,000 fines in England and Wales in the first month after the lockdown was imposed and the Health Protection Regulations came into force on 26 March.

Under the current law, people can be fined for being outside without “reasonable excuse”. Pubs, cafes and restaurants can be penalised for selling food and drink for consumption on the premises instead of to takeaway.

Syrian asylum seeker dies in hotel assigned by Home Office as part of Covid-19 response

A 30-year-old Syrian asylum seeker has died in a hotel he was moved into as part of the Home Office’s response to the pandemic.

The man, who cannot be named at this stage, was one of dozens of asylum seekers who were moved from their asylum housing in Glasgow to a hotel in the city.

Emergency services were called to the hotel just after 1pm on Tuesday, police confirmed. His death is currently being treated as “unexplained”.

A friend of the his, who had been living in the same hotel, told The Independent the man had been suffering from mental health problems that rapidly deteriorated since they were moved to the facility.

The Home Office directed Mears, a government-contracted company that manages asylum housing, to move hundreds of asylum seekers in Scotland from their shared houses to hotels since the outbreak began.

They have also had their financial support withdrawn, reportedly because the hotels provide three meals a day, basic toiletries and a laundry service.

The man’s friend, Depp Maatouck, said: “I saw it coming. He was failed too many times. I saw that no one did anything to help him. It got worse and worse. He told Mears and the Home Office, but nothing happened.

“They left 90 people in one hotel without support. You have to eat whatever they give you. They stopped our money. Since we came here, his condition for much, much worse. It’s been very tough. He was waiting for a final decision on his claim, but the Home Office is pausing everything and no one will explain what will happen.”

Turkey hopes to revive tourism with health and hygiene certificates

Turkey has announced a plan to revive tourism with a certification scheme that will grant travellers, resorts, and employees seals of approval.

Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkey’s minister of Culture and Tourism, said in a press release that the certificates will be granted by “international certification institutions” to mark “a high level of health and hygiene requirements”.

“Our certification program shall ensure that our guests in Turkey are going to make their holidays safely and hygienically and feel more comfortable during their visit,” he said.

“Our programme covers preventive and protective steps including air, marine and land transportation, arrival ports, all facilities providing a holiday experience, health condition of employees in the industry, and tourists themselves.”

Under the programme, passengers must wear masks to enter airports “from the time of check-in until their check-out” and will have temperature checks before boarding planes.

Employees in the travel and tourism industry will be given hygiene training and equipment, as well as be subject to regular temperature screenings. Hotels and restaurants will be required to implement social distancing measures inside facilities.

France rejects ‘lovers’ amendment’ and rule out easing long-distance travel restrictions for couples

French ministers have rejected a proposed change to the law which would have allowed couples to travel long distances to see one another for “love”.

Mireille Clapot, of the ruling centrist party LREM, proposed that love should be added to a list of acceptable reasons for people to travel over 100km (60 miles) from home when lockdown restrictions are eased on Monday.

She referred to her proposal as a “lover’s amendment”. It was rejected during a debate on legislation in the French parliament this week.

The MP warned: “The law has restricted public liberties so much that it is very close to banishing love.

Couples who live far away from one another have not been allowed to see each other in person since 17 March, when the nationwide lockdown was imposed.

From Monday, trips up to 100km from home will be allowed, but longer journeys need to be justified for work or “compelling” family reasons using a signed form.

The legislation extended the country’s state of emergency until 23 July, with new restrictions set to be reviewed in three weeks so long as there has not been widespread increase in new cases.

South Korean president calls for calm after spike in coronavirus cases linked to nightclubs

South Korea’s president has called for calm after a surge in new Covid-19 cases linked to nightclubs sparked fears of a second wave of infections.

The country recently relaxed its coronavirus restrictions, but health officials reported 34 new coronavirus cases on Sunday – the first time the daily tally reached above 30 in about a month.

President Moon Jae-in said there was “no reason to stand still out of fear” but stressed the need for caution.

Most of the cases have been linked to nightclubs in Seoul’s Itaewon entertainment neighbourhood after a 29-year-old man visited three clubs before testing positive for the virus last week.

The mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon, ordered the closure of over 2,100 nightclubs, hostess bars and discos and urged others to enforce restrictions in response to the spike.

Mr Moon said: “The infection cluster, which recently occurred in entertainment facilities, has raised awareness that even during the stabilisation phase, similar situations can arise again, anytime, anywhere in an enclosed, crowded space.

“We must never lower our guard regarding epidemic prevention.”

Trump claims he is ‘getting great marks’ for coronavirus response as US death toll nears 80,000

The US president has boasted he was “getting great marks” for his handling of the coronavirus crisis despite the US having the highest death toll in the world.

Donald Trump tweeted the claim on Sunday morning, while also criticising his predecessor Barack Obama for his administrations response to Swine Flu.

He also took a jab at China, calling the country “the infectious source” as the virus first emerged in the city of Wuhan in December.

“We are getting great marks for the handling of the CoronaVirus pandemic, especially the very early BAN of people from China, the infectious source, entering the USA,” he wrote.

“Compare that to the Obama/Sleepy Joe disaster known as H1N1 Swine Flu. Poor marks, bad polls – didn’t have a clue!”

The president’s claim contradicts recent polls which have suggested that a majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of the pandemic.

Some 51.1 per cent of Americans disapprove, while 43.5 per cent approve, according to an aggregate of polls by FiveThirtyEight.

More than 78,000 people have died in the US so far of the virus, the highest death toll in the world.