Coronavirus news you may have missed overnight:’Unforgivable’ missing tests caused by outdated software as Northern pubs and restaurants could close next week

Covid-19 continues to spread as government considers further restrictions

The UK recorded 14,162 new positive coronavirus cases and a further 70 deaths on Wednesday, with infection rates continuing to rise in parts of the country.

As ministers mull over new restrictions and a three-tier lockdown is expected to be introduced on Monday in an effort to simplify the rules, the Covid-19 pandemic is showing no signs of slowing.

Here is your daily round-up of coronavirus news you may have missed overnight.

Missing tests blunder caused by software ’13 years out of date’

Experts believe that the blunder that saw 16,000 positive coronavirus tests go missing was caused by failing to replace software that was 13 years out of date.

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Public Health England still deploys a version of MicrosoftE Excel, known as XLS, that was superseded back in 2007. This version can only handle around 65,000 rows of data, instead of the million-plus the newer software XLSX is capable of, which meant any additional test results were lopped off.

Christina Pagel, a research professor at University College London, said although it was understandable that the system was hastily put together when the pandemic hit in spring, she added: “For that still to be the case in September seems a little unforgivable to me.”

Pubs and restaurants could close again in parts of England from Monday

Pubs and restaurants could face closure again in parts of England under new coronavirus measures being considered by the government, it has been reported.

The new changes, which would come in from Monday, would see a three-tier system introduced for local lockdowns in a bid to simplify the rules across the UK.

New rules introduced in central Scotland on Wednesday have forced the closure of pubs and restaurants there from Friday, but no final decision has been made on the extent of the closures or how long they would last.

NHS England chief warns of ‘disturbing’ coronavirus signs as hospital admissions surge

The chief executive of NHS England has warned of the strain facing the health service after a “disturbing” increase in hospital admissions and infections rates across the country.

On Wednesday, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital in England had risen by nearly 1,000 in a single week. 14,162 new positive cases of coronavirus and a further 70 deaths were recorded.

Sir Simon Stevens told NHS leaders at a virtual conference that an “agile” local response would be needed, adding: “Speaking frankly there are disturbing signs that infections rates from coronavirus are, again, rising.

“They are clearly headed in the wrong direction, not just nationally, but particularly in some regions and local areas across the country.”

Donald Trump hails drug as coronavirus ‘cure’

The US president claimed to have found a “cure” for coronavirus in a new video on Wednesday, although he was talking about a drug he was given to lessen the severity of the disease.

He urged those watching to ask for Regeneron, an antibody cocktail, by name if “you’re in the hospital and you feel really bad”.

He also appeared to say he is prepared to fast-track the experimental medication, saying: “I have emergency authorisation all set.”

“The FDA is acting as quickly as they’ve ever acted in history,” he said. “No president has ever pushed them like this.”

Exasperation reigns in England’s new coronavirus capital

Manchester, home to the University of Manchester with its 4,000-strong student population, is suffering the worst Covid-19 infection rates in the UK, at 551.9 cases per 100,000 people as of Tuesday evening.

The high figures persist despite two months of enhanced restrictions, and has caused no small amount of frustration among the city’s residents. The arrival of around 80,000 students appears to have caused Manchester and Fallowfield’s sudden Covid surge.

“Why on earth weren’t we better prepared?” is the question on everyone’s lips.