Coronavirus news – live: UK adds more countries to 'no-go' list as Covid cases increase 17% over last week in England
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Your support makes all the difference.There has been a 17 per cent increase in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus in England in the past week as officials target testing in virus hot spots.
Officials say the rise corresponds with the targeted testing for areas where there is known outbreaks in cases but that the increase also reflects the overall rise in incidence of the virus.
New figures from Greater Manchester show almost half of all coronavirus contacts across the region are not being reached by the government’s tracing system.
Great Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the failings were now so bad, they were “hampering” efforts to keep the region’s infection spike under control.
Follow the latest updates below:
Cases continuing to rise in the Netherlands
A surge in coronavirus cases in the Netherlands has continued, health authorities said, rising to 601 cases in the past 24 hours from 427 cases a day earlier.
The National Institute for Health reported the newest numbers in a daily update. Prime Minister Mark Rutte has cut short a vacation to address the public later on Thursday about the increase in cases.
The nation has so far seen 56,381 confirmed cases of the virus, leading to 6,153 fatalities.
Johnson urges return to offices as remote work continues
People need to have the confidence to go back to workplaces in order to help the country's economic recovery, Boris Johnson has said.
The government has urged people to return to their workplaces to kickstart local economies - particularly in cities where businesses that cater to the public like cafe's and shops have been struck by a lack of footfall from workers.
However, reports suggest that most employees who can are continuing to work remotely.
During a visit to a housing development in Warrington, the Prime Minister told reporters there were "real signs of strength in the UK economy".
"Unquestionably it will require people to have the confidence to go back to work in a Covid-secure way," he continued.
"It's also very, very important that we get all the schools back in September, on September 1 get all the pupils back into their schools.
"That will be also very, very important for getting our economy overall moving again."
Man alleged to have spat at Belly Mujinga did not have virus - CPS
Prosecutors have ruled out homicide charges over the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga after medical tests confirmed the suspect had not been infected with coronavirus.
The 47-year-old mother died with Covid-19 in April, around two weeks after allegedly being spat at by a man who claimed to have the virus at London's Victoria station.
However British Transport Police (BTP) said there was not enough evidence a crime had taken place, and that there was insufficient evidence of spitting or another action that could lead to infection.
Deputy chief Crown prosecutor Suzanne Llewellyn has since said her death was "a heartbreaking event that shocked the country", but that "CCTV and witness evidence was insufficiently clear and consistent to substantiate allegations of deliberate coughing or spitting, meaning no charges can be brought for assault or public order offences."
She added: "Medical tests confirmed the suspect had not been infected with coronavirus, which together with the lack of other evidence rules out any charges in relation to homicide."
What will it take to make the British public angry about the government’s spectacular mishandling of the Covid-19 crisis? When will we reach the tipping point, writes James Moore in this opinion piece for Indy Voices.
The latest revelation about the government’s shambolic, catastrophic conduct, which has led to tens of thousands of needless British deaths, is a doozy even by its own dismally low standards.
Some 50 million face masks bought in April will now not be used by the NHS because they fail to meet safety standards. They use ear loop rather than head loop fastenings, and so they may not fit snugly enough to properly protect medical personnel who’ve been dying for the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Rising cases in France, Switzerland and Czech Republic prompts traveller quarantine in Norway
Concerns over growing case numbers in France, Switzerland and the Czech Republic has led Norwegian authorities to reimpose a ten-day quarantine on travellers arriving from the european nations, its public health institute said.
It will also reimpose quarantine for people travelling from some regions of neighbouring Sweden, including Skaane, while lifting quarantine rules for those from others, including Vaesterbotten.
The mayor of Los Angeles has authorised the for water and electricity to be shut off at homes where parties are held amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Eric Garcetti told a press briefing he had become concerned by reports of large gatherings in residences in the city, which he said had “essentially become nightclubs in the hills”.
He confirmed that from Friday, the city’s Department of Water and Power (DWP) will be given permission to shut off electricity and water in “egregious” cases where large gatherings have taken place.
Pubs, bars and restaurants 'actively persuading customers to ignore coronavirus rules'
Ahead of another sweltering weekend in the UK, punters have been warned to consider whether social spaces are safe before checking in for a drink or a bite to eat at a hospitality venue.
Sacha Lord, night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, chastised venues that had reportedly broken the rules after new limits were imposed on the region - including a ban on meeting with other households in hospitality settings.
"Over the past week, I have heard of numerous pubs, bars and restaurants who have been squeezing customers in, flouting social distancing rules, ignoring contact tracing and actively persuading mixed groups not to cancel bookings," he said.
"These venues clearly have a disregard for the safety of both their customers and their staff, and I support our Mayor Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester Police in taking action over repeat breaches in these venues.
"It's also crucial that the general public takes responsibility too. We must work together to show venues that we will not stand for those who break the rules.
"If you feel uncomfortable, or that an establishment does not have the right procedures in place, then I urge you to take your booking elsewhere."
Trump drafting order on coronavirus aid actions
Donald Trump, who has threatened to act unilaterally if congress does not agree on further coronavirus aid, has said he is continuing work on an executive order targeting eviction protections and unemployment benefits.
The order would also address student loan repayment options and payroll tax cuts, he said in a tweet as Democratic leaders and Trump administration officials continue negotiations on a possible deal.
Cases linked to Aberdeen outbreak in Scotland rise by 25 says Nicola Sturgeon
Coronavirus cases are once again on the rise in the UK, climbing to their highest level since late June.
Local outbreaks prompted the government to reintroduce restrictions in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire in late July.
And the latest figures from Public Health England reveal that several other areas around the country are also seeing a surge in new cases, according to The Independent‘s analysis.
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