Coronavirus news: UK records over 12,800 new cases in highest-ever rise, amid hopes for vaccine by Easter
Follow for all the latest Covid-19 news across the UK
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The UK set a new record for daily new cases of coronavirus as Boris Johnson faced widespread criticism for blaming the surging figures on public "complacency".
A further 12,872 cases and 49 deaths were reported on Saturday night and official figures also revealed a rise in the number of patients in hospital and on ventilators.
However the government claimed a backlog of test results dating back more than a week would lead to higher figures “over the coming days”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the government of “serial incompetence" and urged the prime minister to draw up a new “roadmap” for recovery.
Officials are increasingly hopeful that a Covid vaccine could be rolled out as early as Easter. Scientists working on an inoculation at Oxford University are hoping it will be ready and approved by the end of this year, while government officials believe they will be able to get the vaccine to all 53 million British adults in less than six months and potentially as quick as three.
Meanwhile in the US, Donald Trump said he was “feeling much better now” after being taken to hospital for treatment for Covid-19.
BREAKING: Further 42 hospital deaths in England as total doubles compared to last week
A further 42 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 30,138, NHS England said on Saturday.
Patients were aged between 44 and 100 years old. Three patients, aged between 49 and 82, had no underlying health conditions.
The deaths were between August 8 and October 2.
Read more:
Further 42 hospital coronavirus deaths in England as total doubles compared to last week
The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent.
Teachers call on Government to boost coronavirus testing
Teachers have voted to call on the Government to boost coronavirus testing and prepare more detailed contingency plans for possible school closures.
Delegates at the National Education Union's special conference also passed a motion calling for reviews of members' workload and to push for pay progression.
A third motion was passed for 2021 calling for a campaign to replace Sats, a mixed model of GCSE and A-levels including reduced content and moderated teacher assessment, and a suspension of Ofsted inspections.
The conference on Saturday, held virtually, called on the Government and public health authorities to boost the effectiveness of local Test, Track and Isolate (TTI).
Delegates also called for authorities to prepare more detailed contingency plans for possible local or wider school closures by being clear about the infection/R rate thresholds at which schools/colleges in an area should close or move to smaller class sizes, including detailed guidance and resources for blended learning provision.
PA
Donald Trump ‘doing very well’
Here’s the developing story on Donald Trump’s treatment for Covid-19, following a press conference by White House physician Sean Conley a few minutes ago.
Dr Conley said the US president was doing well but prompted confusion when he appeared to dodge the question of whether Mr Trump had received oxygen.
If we accept what the doctors say, Mr Trump is faring much better than Boris Johnson - who was given oxygen and monitored overnight in an intensive care unit.
Trump’s doctors dodge questions about supplemental oxygen and say he’s ‘doing very well’
‘This morning, the president is doing very well’
21 people fined over Liverpool house party
Merseyside Police have condemned the “flagrant” breach of coronavirus laws at a house party in an inner city area of Liverpool.
The area is currently under local lockdown after a surge in cases over recent weeks.
Chief Inspector Karl Baldwin, said: “The Liverpool city region is currently in a really precarious position in relation to the potential spread of Covid-19 and we have seen the numbers of those tested positive rising sharply. As a result the region has been put in special measures by the Government and from 3am further restrictions have been placed on the area. Sadly, some people are not recognising the critical position the region finds itself in and through their ill-thought out actions are inadvertently putting others at risk.
“Unfortunately last night these people did not show any understanding, or respect for others, and flagrantly ignored Government and went against the guidance to only meet indoors with your own family, or bubble."
Thousands of Irish students affected by exam grade errors
More than 6,000 students in Ireland are set to get better exam marks after a review into coding errors in the Leaving Cert grading system.
Education Minister Norma Foley said students could log onto the calculated grades portal from 6pm today to find out whether they were affected.
The minister made the announcement following the completion of the review into the system by US company Education Testing Services (ETS).
It emerged on Wednesday that two computer coding errors had left thousands of students with at least one grade lower than they should have received when they got their results last month.
Prison crackdown after child hugs inmate
A prison in Derbyshire has apparently banned further social visits to an inmate who was hugged by a child in breach of the rules.
Filmmaker Chris Atkins - who served time in jail over a tax fraud - published a picture of the letter from authorities explaining that the prisoner had to be put in isolation for 14 days.
Any future visits will have to be done by “secure video”.
Ireland facing surge in new cases
Ireland could see up to 1,300 new coronavirus cases per day by the end of the month if nothing changes and the spread is allowed to continue, a public health expert has warned.
Professor Philip Nolan said the epidemic has been growing "exponentially" at about 4 per cent per day since late June, and he urged people to reduce their social contacts.
The warning comes as 613 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Saturday.
Ten more people died of the virus bringing the total number of deaths to 1,810.
Liverpool case surge ‘not slowing down’, says Mayor
Local lockdown restrictions came into force in Liverpool, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesborough today in a further attempt to prevent a further surge in new cases.
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said this afternoon that the latest case rate was 322 per 100,000 people - one of the highest in the country. “The figures show extremely worrying increase and is not slowing down in City,” he added.
Here’s our report on how the affected areas of northern England have reacted to the new rules:
New social lockdowns spark confusion and anger in north of England
Businesses fear evaporation of customer base and meagre, if any, financial support
France sets new daily case record
France has reported nearly 17,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, setting a new daily record.
The total rose by 16,972 to a total of 606,625 cases, the health ministry said. It exceeds the previous daily record of 16,096 registered last week.
The number of deaths increased by 49 to 32,198.
Covid case linked to nursery
A member of staff at a nursery in Dundee has tested positive for coronavirus - prompting health officials to reassure parents that “appropriate action is being taken”.
All close contacts of the worker at Jessie Porter Nursery have been identified and advised to self-isolate for 14 days.
Dr Ellie Hothersall, a local public health medicine consultant, said: "NHS Tayside, Dundee City Council and partners have been working closely to investigate the case.
"Jessie Porter Nursery is currently closed due to the holiday period."
Audrey May, Dundee City Council chief education officer, said: "We are working closely with NHS Tayside's health protection team and I would reassure families that appropriate action is being taken."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments