Coronavirus news: Boris Johnson ‘blind’ to risk of lifting lockdown as more cities being monitored for spikes ahead of ‘Super Saturday’

Follow all the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic from around the world

Starmer calls on PM to extend furlough scheme

Labour has urged Boris Johnson to extend the government’s furlough scheme, telling the prime minister it could be the “last chance to save millions of jobs".

It comes as more towns and cities are monitored for coronavirus spikes that could see them placed under local lockdowns. Ministers have faced criticism for the handling of the surge in cases in Leicester, which was put into the UK’s first local lockdown on Tuesday.

Australian authorities, meanwhile, will lock down about 300,000 people in suburbs north of Melbourne for one month from today after two weeks of double-digit rises in new Covid-19 cases.

Key Points

• UK coronavirus death toll rises by 176 to 43,906
• More UK cities and towns being monitored for fresh virus spikes
• PM 'blind to risks' of lifting lockdown, says Starmer
• Government urged to extend furlough scheme 'to save millions of jobs'
• Leading doctors say local authorities must be given better Covid-19 data
• Australia locks down 300,000 in Melbourne to contain outbreak

[2 July 2020 00:02 · Peter Stubley]

That's all for our live coronavirus coverage for today. Thanks for reading.