A leading child health expert has assured parents and students that one of the most detailed studies yet will show it is safe for schools to fully reopen next month.
Professor Russell Viner said the research would confirm “there is very little evidence” of coronavirus transmission where pupils have returned.
Boris Johnson spoke of a “moral duty” to get all children back in school amid indications he would force pubs, restaurants and shops to close in the event of severe coronavirus flare-ups.
The prime minister is understood to favour only closing schools as a last resort after scientific advisers warned more restrictions may be needed to reopen classrooms in England next month.
He is reportedly heading to Scotland for a summer holiday as quarantine rules make trips abroad less appealing.
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Obese people could be told to stay home in second wave
Obese people could reportedly be told to stay at home in the event of a second coronavirus wave.
Over 50s would also be included in a “more sophisticated model” of lockdown, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
A Cabinet minister told the paper the plan was to have a “stiletto not a sledgehammer” approach to any future lockdowns.
Referring to the government, they said: “They are understanding that age does come into it.
“The shielding cohort is way too broad – you can’t say that every fat person has to shield. It will be more subtle.”
Schools to stay open as long as possible
Boris Johnson has spoken of "a moral duty" to get all children back in class amid indications he would force pubs, restaurants and shops to close ahead of schools in the event of severe coronavirus flare-ups.
The prime minister is understood to favour only closing schools as the last resort, the Press Association reported, after scientific advisers warned more restrictions may be needed to reopen classrooms in England next month.
Children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield had said the reopening of schools "should be prioritised", insisting they must be first to reopen and last to close during any reintroduction of restrictions.
But schools minister Nick Gibb said this week that the government cannot "decree" that classroom education would be prioritised, instead saying decisions would be made by local health chiefs.
Only just over half of Britons are committed to taking coronavirus vaccine, study finds
Only just over half of Britons are committed to taking a coronavirus vaccine, according to new research described as “deeply concerning”, Rob Merrick reports.
People opposed to mask-wearing, those who distrust scientists, and people who believe “too much fuss is being made about the pandemic” are most likely to refuse, it finds.
More young people will also reject the jab – with 22 per cent of under-34s saying they definitely will, or are likely to, compared with only 11 per cent of those aged between 55 and 75.
The author of the study, by King’s College London (KCL), warned that “conspiracy theories and mistrust of government, authority and science” could undermine the best chance of defeating Covid-19.
Boris Johnson ‘heading to Scotland’ for two-week staycation
Boris Johnson is reportedly heading to Scotland for a two-week summer holiday.
The prime minister previously spoke about allowing a "brief staycation to creep into the agenda, if that's possible" when quizzed about his summer plans.
The Sunday Times reported the Mr Johnson, fiancee Carrie Symonds and their son Wilfred would travel north of the border next weekend.
Nearly 1,800 companies told government of plans to cut 20 or more jobs
Nearly 1,800 UK companies told the government of plans to cut 20 or more jobs in June as the coronavirus wreaked havoc on the country's economy, figures suggest.
Royal Mail, Centrica and The Restaurant Group - which owns Frankie and Benny's - were among those announcing four-digit job losses.
Figures obtained by the BBC in a Freedom of Information request showed 1,778 companies informed the Insolvency Service of their intention to cut more than 139,000 jobs in England, Scotland and Wales.
This compares to 345 companies announcing a total of 24,000 job losses in June 2019, the broadcaster said.
Businesses are required by law to give the Insolvency Service advance notification of potential redundancies where more than 20 staff are to be dismissed in a "single establishment".
However, companies may not end up making the same number of redundancies as initially suggested and these figures will not contain information of job losses from smaller firms.
Boris Johnson urged to help out travellers stuck in quarantine
The prime minister has been urged to provide compensation for travellers who have been put into the difficult situation of having to quarantine for 14 days when they return from their holiday abroad, amid concerns that France may be added to the quarantine list, Kate Ng reports.
People who are already on holiday in a country that has abruptly been added to the travel quarantine list should be given statutory sick pay for the isolation period, a cross-party group of MPs, scientists and trade unions have said.
It comes after Belgium, Andorra and the Bahamas were added to the quarantine list, joining Spain and Luxembourg. All announcements of countries being added to the list were made within just hours before the quarantine rules became effective, giving travellers little time to prepare.
Former Tory cabinet minister David Davis said: “If the government changes the rules while you’re away, and it costs you two weeks’ work, then it’s the government’s responsibility.
“Truth be told, if they don’t do it voluntarily, a smart trade union will take them to court anyway.”
New Zealand celebrates 100 days without domestic transmission of virus
New Zealand marked 100 days without a domestic transmission of the coronavirus on Sunday, but warned against complacency as countries like Vietnam and Australia which once had the virus under control now battle a resurgence in infections.
New Zealand's successful fight against Covid-19 has made the Pacific island nation of 5 million one of the safest places in the world right now.
New Zealanders have returned to normal life, but authorities are concerned that people were now refusing testing, not using the government contact tracing apps, and even ignoring basic hygiene rules.
"Achieving 100 days without community transmission is a significant milestone, however, as we all know, we can't afford to be complacent," director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said.
"We have seen overseas how quickly the virus can re-emerge and spread in places where it was previously under control, and we need to be prepared to quickly stamp out any future cases in New Zealand," he said.
Mexico reports nearly 6,500 new cases
Mexico's health ministry on Saturday reported 6,495 new confirmed coronavirus infections and 695 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 475,902 cases and 52,006 deaths.
Officials have said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.
Mexico has the third highest coronavirus death tally globally, behind the United States and Brazil.
'Very low' risks to children mean school reopenings are safe, expert says
One of the most detailed studies yet will show it is safe for schools to fully reopen next month, a leading child health expert has assured parents and students, deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports.
The research, carried out in 100 institutions in the UK, will confirm “there is very little evidence” of coronavirus transmission where pupils have returned, Professor Russell Viner said.
“The risks to children from Covid are very low and the risks of school closures we know are very serious,” said the president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
He revealed the study, by Public Health England, as Boris Johnson beefed up his pledge to bring back all pupils in September, calling continued closures “morally indefensible”.
The prime minister cited growing fears about obesity, depression and abuse, as well as diminished education – with many children having not seen a classroom since the lockdown in March.
China reports 23 new cases
China reported 23 new coronavirus cases in the mainland yesterday, down from 31 a day earlier, the country's health authority said.
Among the new cases, 15 were locally transmitted and eight were imported infections, the National Health Commission said in a statement published on its website.
Some 45 people were discharged on Saturday and there are still 817 active cases in the country, including 43 severe cases.
The total number of infections in mainland China now stands at 84,619, with the death toll unchanged at 4,634.
Obese people may be told to stay home if second coronavirus wave hits
As warnings of a second wave of coronavirus loom, obese people are among vulnerable groups who may be instructed to stay at home and self-isolate this autumn, it has been reported.
The government is said to be mulling over a “more sophisticated model” for shielding in preparation for winter and to avoid another national lockdown. Part of the plan is to employ a “stiletto not a sledgehammer” approach by pinpointing people who are especially vulnerable to the virus and telling them to remain indoors, a Cabinet minister told The Sunday Telegraph.
The newspaper revealed that officials are analysing NHS data to target vulnerable groups, such as those who are obese and over the age of 50, in the event of a second wave.
A Cabinet minister was quoted as saying: “They are understanding that age does come into it. The shielding cohort is way too broad – you can’t say that every fat person has to shield. It will be more subtle.”
At the start of August, millions of people who were told to shield at the start of the lockdown were able to leave their homes for the first time in four months.
Russia reports over 5,000 new cases
Russia reported 5,189 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing its nationwide tally to 887,536, the fourth largest caseload in the world.
Russia's coronavirus taskforce said 77 people had died over the last 24 hours, pushing its official death toll to 14,931.
New Zealand marks 100 days without domestic coronavirus case
Meat plant in Ireland suspends work after surge in cases
A meat processing plant in Kildare will remain closed for two weeks after dozens of workers tested positive for coronavirus.
O’Brien’s Fine Foods at Timahoe, west of Dublin, halted production last week following the confirmation of at least 87 infections.
The company said those who tested positive have been advised to isolate and all close contacts of those infected “are being notified, advised to self-isolate and to contact their GP”.
People living in the counties of Kildare, Laois and Offaly have been warned they will face further lockdown restrictions for the next 14 days as cases in those areas rose.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he believes meat plants affected by the outbreak should stay closed on Monday.
Boris Johnson urged to boost Covid-19 testing to safely reopen schools
The prime minister has been urged to boost coronavirus testing and tracing to fulfil his promise of reopening schools as a “moral duty” without imposing more restrictions on businesses or people’s social lives.
Boris Johnson said it is the “national priority” to get children in England back in schools in September.
However, scientific advisers have warned that “trade-offs” may have to be made to keep the rate of transmission down, including suggestions to close pubs again.
He is understood to be in favour of shutting down pubs, restaurants and shops again so schools can stay open if severe outbreaks occur locally.
But government advisors, opposition politicians, teachers and the children’s commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, all called for improvements to testing before pupils return to the classroom.
Ms Longfield told Times Radio: “I think it [testing] needs to be as regular as it needs to be, to ensure that the infection is caught and identified as quickly as possible, and then the tracking system can move on from that.”
Indonesia reports 1,893 new cases
Indonesia reported 1,893 more novel coronavirus infections on Sunday, taking the total tally to 125,396 infections, the country's Covid-19 taskforce website showed.
The number of death rose 65 on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths to 5,723.
Boris Johnson ‘to travel to Scotland’ for two-week family staycation
Boris Johnson is reportedly travelling to Scotland for a two-week ‘staycation’ next weekend.
The prime minister will head north for a holiday with his fiancée Carrie Symonds and their son Wilfred, according to The Sunday Times.
A Downing Street source declined to comment but did not deny the report, the Press Association reported.
The prime minister has previously spoken about allowing a “brief staycation to creep into the agenda, if possible” when asked about his own plans.
Last month, the prime minister encouraged people to consider “wonderful staycations here in the UK”.
Hong Kong reports 72 new cases
Hong Kong reported 72 new coronavirus cases, of which 63 were locally transmitted, as authorities continued efforts to contain a resurgence of infections in the global financial hub over the past month.
More than 4,000 people have been infected in Hong Kong since January, 51 of whom have died.
Sunday's figure was slightly up from Saturday's 69 cases.
Schools minister says he does not support regular testing for pupils and teachers
Schools minister Nick Gibb has said he did not support a call for pupils and teachers to receive regular testing even if they do not have coronavirus symptoms.
After children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield called for the move, Mr Gibb told Times Radio: "The priority for the new 90-minute tests has to be the hospitals, the care homes, the laboratories.
"All the advice we've had is the measures that we're putting place, the hierarchy of controls about hygiene and so on and bubbles within schools, is the most effective method of reducing the risk of transmission of the virus."
