Coronavirus news: UK cases hit highest daily total as chancellor denies Eat Out scheme led to second wave
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK has seen its highest total of daily coronavirus cases recorded, with public health officials warning the figure represents “a stark warning for us all”.
It comes as the NHS contact tracing app has finally been rolled out in England and Wales today following months of delays and questions about its effectiveness.
The app relies on smartphone Bluetooth to keep an anonymous log of others also using the service, automatically informing people if someone that has been within close proximity later tests positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Downing Street has confirmed Boris Johnson received a coronavirus briefing from the controversial Swedish epidemiologist Anders Tegnell over the weekend - days before new measures for England were announced.
R number in Scotland
Nicola Sturgeon said the R number in Scotland - the average number of other people infected with the virus by each person with Covid-19 - could now possibly be as high as 1.6.
Speaking at the start of First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, she said the latest figures showed why the Scottish government had announced further "tough measures" aimed at curbing coronavirus.
The new restrictions include a ban on household mixing indoors.
Additional reporting by Press Association
‘I’ve learned not to rule things out’
Students may be asked to remain on university campuses over the Christmas holidays due to the risk of infecting family members, the health secretary has said.
After being pressed on the question of students returning to their family homes during the winter break, Mr Hancock admitted he’s "learned not to rule things out”.
You can watch this part of his Today programme interview here:
His comments follows news of a major Covid-19 outbreak in a university’s student halls.
Clea Skopeliti reports:
Students may be asked to stay on campus at Christmas, government says
It follows outbreaks at several universities across UK
Ryanair forward bookings slump
The boss of Europe’s biggest budget airline says it has seen forward bookings collapse by 90 per cent because of a lack of confidence among passengers.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said the airline had “never seen such awful forward bookings”.
Travel correspondent Simon Calder has more details:
Ryanair bookings slump by 90 per cent for November and December
‘We have never seen such awful forward bookings,’ said the boss of Europe’s biggest budget airline
False positives
Experts have warned users of the new long-awaited NHS coronavirus app who receive a ‘false positive’ message will still be at a higher risk of contracting the disease, reports Whitehall editor Kate Devlin.
Scientists who worked on the new system also played down reports that one in three warnings that a close contact has tested positive for Covid-19 would be wrong.
NHS app users who receive a ‘false positive’ message still at higher risk of getting coronavirus
Follows reports of problems with the new technology
‘Things will be tough’
Boris Johnson has warned the public “things will be tough” as the chancellor unveiled a less generous replacement for the coronavirus furlough scheme that has supported jobs throughout the pandemic, political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports.
As Rishi Sunak presented the government’s economic plan for the winter to MPs amid a resurgences in cases of Covid-19, the prime minister also appealled to the country “to work together” and reduce the R rate of the virus.
The new Job Support Scheme, the chancellor said, will top up employees’ wages who are unable to work full-time – replacing the furlough policy brought in as Britain went into lockdown in March.
Boris Johnson warns ‘things will be tough’ as furlough scheme replaced
PM’s comments come as chancellor warns: ‘I can’t save every business, I can’t save every job. No chancellor could’
Israel tightens second nationwide lockdown
Israel has moved to further tighten its second nationwide lockdown as coronavirus cases continue to soar.
All non-essential businesses have been ordered to close and people will be required to stay within 1,000 metres of their homes.
Prayers during the ongoing Jewish High Holidays, as well as political demonstrations, will be limited to open spaces and no more than 20 people.
Participants will have to remain within the restricted distance from their homes.
The measures are set to go into force on Friday afternoon as the country shuts down for the weekly Sabbath ahead of Yom Kippur on Sunday and Monday.
Even during normal times, Israel completely shuts down for the holiday, with businesses and airports closed, roads empty and even radio and television stations silent.
The restrictions on demonstrations are subject to approval by the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and the limits on both prayers and protests could spark a backlash.
An anti-lockdown demonstration is planned for later in the day in front of the Knesset.
Job Support Scheme explained
Rishi Sunak delivered a statement to the House of Commons about the government’s furlough scheme, which is coming to an end in October.
Here is everything you need to know about the new Job Support Scheme unveiled by the government:
What will Rishi Sunak's new Job Support Scheme look like?
‘There has been no harder choice than the decision to end the furlough scheme,’ Rishi Sunak tells MPs
Covid rising in Sweden amid return of ‘hugs and parties’
Sweden’s prime minister has said some parts of the country are seeing a worrying resurgence of coronavirus infections because many people seem to have set aside months of caution in favour of a full-on social life.
Unlike most countries, Sweden eschewed a mandatory national lockdown against the pandemic, instead calling for personal responsibility, social distancing and good hygiene to slow rather than eradicate a disease seen as here to stay.
Though still with a Covid-19 caseload much lower than in many other European countries, Sweden has recorded a gradual rise in new infections in recent weeks. Today, 533 new cases were reported, the highest daily number since early July.
PM Stefan Lofven said Swedes had recently become too relaxed about heeding anti-Covid guidelines.
"The caution that existed in the spring has more and more been replaced by hugs and parties, bus trips in rush-hour traffic, and an everyday life that, for many, seems to return to normal,” he told a press conference.
He urged Swedes to adhere to social distancing and good hygiene standards, warning the government was ready to introduce stricter measures if needed to curb the spread of the virus.
Rishi Sunak’s statement in full
Here is Chancellor Rishi Sunak's statement to MPs on the Winter Economy Plan in full, as provided by the Treasury:
Rishi Sunak’s full statement on the Winter Economy Plan
There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic, he told the House of Commons
Chancellor defends Eat Out to Help Out scheme
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has defended his Eat Out To Help Out scheme after suggestions it could have contributed to the spread of coronavirus.
He told a Downing Street press conference: "In terms of the spread of the virus, if you see what's happening in our country, as you've heard from our scientific advisers, we're following similar paths to other countries in Europe.
"So I think it's probably simplistic to look at any one thing. What's happening here is similar to what's happening in many other countries.
"There are lots of things going on at the same time towards the last few weeks and as we get into a season for respiratory illnesses so there's going to be lots of different factors at play as to why the virus is acting in the way it is.
"But more broadly I don't think it's the wrong thing for the Government or indeed people to want to try and get their lives back to normal."
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