Coronavirus news – live: Cases pass 25m worldwide, amid warning government ‘cock-up’ may lead to 50,000 unnecessary UK deaths
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK is facing up to 50,000 unnecessary deaths because Boris Johnson’s government “consciously allowed” coronavirus to spread, a former chief scientific adviser has said.
Sir David King, who founded the Independent Sage group, described the official response to the pandemic as a “complete cock-up by government”, driven in part by a desire to maintain secrecy around the scientific advice it was receiving.
This come as the Conservative's Charles Walker, deputy chair of the 1922 Committee, warned that the prime minister’s U-turns are creating a “climate of uncertainty”, making it “increasingly difficult” for Tory MPs to defend government policy.
Follow the latest updates live:
Schools to reopen in Lagos as cases decline
Schools will reopen in Nigeria's commercial hub of Lagos next month as part of plans to revive the economy as Covid-19 cases decline, the state governor said on Saturday.
Lagos, the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria, plans to reopen colleges on 14 September, and primary and secondary school schools on 21 September, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said.
"The gradual easing doesn't mean the pandemic is over," he said in a tweet. "It is not an invitation to carelessness or nonchalance."
The Lagos governor said restaurants, social clubs and recreational centres would also be allowed to reopen as long as they followed safety rules.
Nigeria has reported 53,727 infections in total - including 18,104 in Lagos - and 1,011 deaths.
Passengers on Wales flight told to self-isolate
All passengers on a flight from the Greek island of Zante to Cardiff in Wales have been ordered to self-isolate after seven coronavirus cases were confirmed.
Those on TUI flight 6215 on Tuesday are being considered “close contacts” of those who tested positive for Covid-19.
UK records highest number of new cases since June
A further 1,715 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported by the UK government today - the highest daily figure since 4 June.
One further person has died within 28 days of testing positive for the disease, bringing the official total to 41,499.
Bingo night outbreak in Staffordshire
More than 1,000 people have been tested for Covid-19 following an outbreak being linked to a bingo night in Staffordshire.
There are 16 known cases linked to the event at Silverdale Working Men's Club on August 16, according to Staffordshire County Council.
It said anyone who tests positive is being told to self-isolate, while the contacts of those who test positive are being traced.
As part of the council's test and trace efforts, it is urging anyone who visited certain venues in Silverdale or Newcastle on specific dates to get tested as soon as possible.
The venues are:
- Silverdale Working Men's Club between August 16 and 21
- The Bush pub between August 20 and 22
- The Vine pub between August 20 and 23
- The George and Dragon pub between August 20 and 22
- Newcastle (King Street) Working Men's Club on August 22
- The Kiln on August 22
- The Crown on August 22
- Yates in Newcastle on August 22
- The Roebuck pub on August 23
- The Bilash restaurant on August 24
- The Arnold Machin between August 26 and 27
- The Westbury Tavern in Clayton between August 26 and 27
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Love Island stars paid to promote NHS Test and Trace
The government paid social media influencers and reality TV stars to promote the NHS Test and Trace system, which failed to reach its 80 per cent target for the ninth week in a row.
A spokesperson said the government had a responsibility to “use every means possible” to keep the public informed during the pandemic.
Opinion: The happy side of the pandemic is that it has exposed the weaker links and shone a light on the people who really do make an effort, and with whom you want to reciprocate, writes Voices commissioning editor Rachael Revesz.
£10,000 fine after Trafalgar Square protest
A 73-year-old man arrested in central London on Saturday on suspicion of breaking newly introduced coronavirus laws has been handed a £10,000 fine.
The Metropolitan Police said the man was arrested in Trafalgar Square at 3.25pm on suspicion of breaking the new Health Protection Regulations 2020.
He was informed on Sunday that a fixed penalty notice would be issued for £10,000 for the offence of holding a gathering of more than 30 people in an outdoor place, according to the force.
Police did not identify the man, who has now been released from custody.
US coronavirus cases near 6 million
US cases of coronavirus were approaching 6 million on Sunday as many states in the Midwest reported increasing infections, according to a Reuters tally.
Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota have recently reported record one-day increases in new cases while Montana and Idaho are seeing record numbers of currently hospitalised Covid-19 patients.
Nationally, metrics on new cases, deaths, hospitalisations and the positivity rates of tests are all declining, but there are emerging hotspots in the Midwest.
Many of the new cases in Iowa are in the counties that are home to the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, which are holding some in-person classes.
Colleges and universities around the country have seen outbreaks after students returned to campus, forcing some to switch to online-only learning.
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