Coronavirus news – live: Australia commits to free vaccine for all citizens as data shows depression rates double in UK
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the coronavirus is being spread largely by young people in their 20s, 30s and 40s who are unaware they have been infected.
Takeshi Kasai, regional director for WHO Western Pacific, told a virtual briefing on Tuesday that young people driving the spread pose a risk to more vulnerable groups.
Meanwhile, Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison has announced it will manufacture a coronavirus vaccine and give it to its citizens free.
AstraZeneca’s experimental jab is considered a leader in the global race for an effective vaccine.
A major state-owned Chinese pharmaceutical company has claimed its coronavirus vaccine will be commercially available by the end of the year.
SinoPharm has two vaccines in trial and an annual manufacturing capacity of 220 million doses, said its chairman, Liu Jingzhen.
World nowhere near immunity levels to stop coronavirus transmission, warns WHO
British Museum undergoes biggest deep clean in decades to remove lockdown dust
The British Museum is undergoing its most extensive deep clean in decades to remove dust that has accumulated during coronavirus lockdown.
Teams of experts have been tasked with cleaning the surfaces of the museum’s exhibits to prevent damage by potentially dangerous dust particles.
Over 30 members of staff have been dusting the museum’s many collections for roughly three weeks straight.
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Pizza Express to shutter 73 restaurants
Pizza Express is to shut 73 of its restaurants across the UK with the potential loss of 1,100 jobs in a bid to stay afloat in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown, the chain has announced.
The company, which currently has around 454 restaurants in the UK, said on Tuesday it has finalised a proposal to reduce its restaurant and rental costs via a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).
It said that although the majority of its restaurants were profitable before lockdown was imposed, earnings had been declining across the Pizza Express estate for the last three years.
It added that the reduction in revenue caused by the enforced closure of all restaurants, the cost of reopening and the UK's uncertain economic future meant its rental costs were no longer sustainable.
Pizza Express, which is majority owned by Chinese firm Hony Capital, also confirmed it had hired advisers from Lazard to lead a sale process for the business.
Angela Merkel rules out further lockdown easing in Germany amid case spike
Angela Merkel has ruled out easing coronavirus restrictions any further after a spike in infections in Germany.
The chancellor warned that the recent rise in cases had been caused by greater mobility and more personal contact.
And she warned there were people returning from high-risk holiday areas and clusters of private celebrations at which people were gathering in groups.
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Australia signs coronavirus vaccine deal and says it will be free for all its citizens
Australia‘s prime minister Scott Morrison says the country has signed a deal with drugmaker AstraZeneca to secure and manufacture a potential coronavirus vaccine, and that it will be made available for free to all citizens if successful.
The University of Oxford jab is considered a leader in the global race to deliver an effective vaccine against Covid-19.
With several countries moving to secure supplies that some fear may lead to a global shortage, Australia said it had signed a letter of intent with AstraZeneca to produce and distribute enough doses of the Oxford vaccine for its population.
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England and Wales record fewest weekly coronavirus deaths since lockdown began
England and Wales have recorded the lowest weekly number of deaths from coronavirus since lockdown was imposed towards the end of March, the latest figures show.
There were 152 fatalities from Covid-19 in the week up to 7 August, according to the Office for National Statistics.
It marks the lowest number of deaths from the disease since the week ending 20 March saw 103 fatalities – just before Boris Johnson brought in strict lockdown measures.
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Rise in pupils catching Covid-19 'inevitable' - Sturgeon
A rise in the number of pupils contracting Covid-19 is inevitable, Scotland's Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister spoke about the clusters of the virus across the country, including those affecting schools, at the Scottish Government's coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh.
She stressed the importance of keeping schools open as the harms of children losing out in an education are "considerable".
"But we will inevitably I think see more cases which involve school pupils in the weeks and months ahead," she said.
"In those cases, as has happened in the ones that I've mentioned today, contact tracers will identify if other students or staff at schools need to isolate and will let them and their parents know."
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