An expert has said a new mutation of Covid-19 is helping outbreaks spread faster around world.
Professor Nick Loman, from the University of Birmingham, who is also part of the Covid-19 Genomics Consortium, said the new strand, known as D614G, has become the most dominant across the globe.
In Scotland, deputy first minister John Swinney said “something has gone badly wrong” at a test and trace facility in Motherwell after 19 people tested positive for Covid-19, including 14 staff members and five other people “connected” to the centre.
Good morning and welcome to today's live blog. We'll be bringing you all of the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic from across the globe.
The United States has charged Chinese two hackers accused of attempting to steal Covid-19 vaccine research.
Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi were both charged in an 11-count indictment that alleges the former engineering students hacked computers and attempted to steal terabytes of data surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
The indictment said the two hackers "researched vulnerabilities in the networks of biotech and other firms publicly known for work on Covid-19 vaccines, treatments and testing technology".
US authorities said the Chinese nationals participated in a multiyear cyber-espionage campaign that stole weapons designs, drug information, software source code and more.
Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi were both charged in an 11-count indictment that alleges the former engineering students hacked computers and attempted to steal terabytes of data surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
The indictment said the two hackers "researched vulnerabilities in the networks of biotech and other firms publicly known for work on Covid-19 vaccines, treatments and testing technology".
US authorities said the Chinese nationals participated in a multiyear cyber-espionage campaign that stole weapons designs, drug information, software source code and more.
'True' UK coronavirus death toll passes 56,000
The latest statistics suggest more than 56,000 people have now died with Covid-19 in the UK.
The latest statistics suggest more than 56,000 people have now died with Covid-19 in the UK.
Figures published on Tuesday by the ONS show that 51,096 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred in England and Wales up to July 10, and had been registered by July 18.
Figures published last week by the National Records for Scotland showed that 4,187 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to July 12, while 844 deaths had occurred in Northern Ireland up to July 10 (and had been registered up to July 15) according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
Together these figures mean that so far 56,127 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.
Pandemic 'will get worse before it gets better', Trump admits
Donald Trump has admitted the "nasty horrible"' coronavirus will get worse in the US before it gets better.
Donald Trump has admitted the "nasty horrible"' coronavirus will get worse in the US before it gets better.
The president also professed a newfound respect for the protective face masks he has seldom worn. He pulled one from his pocket in the White House briefing room but didn't put it on.
After a three-month hiatus from his freewheeling daily virus briefings, Mr Trump returned to the podium, keeping the stage to himself without the public health experts who were staples of his previous events but keeping close to scripted remarks prepared by aides.
Besides declaring support for masks as a way to fight the pandemic, he admonished young people against crowding bars and spreading the disease.
It all marked a delayed recognition by the president that the economic reopening he's been championing since April - and, more importantly, his reelection - were imperiled by spiking cases nationwide.
A Florida mother saw two of her adult children die days apart after they contracted coronavirus amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in the state.
Monete Hicks, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, told CNN that two of her six children, Byron and Mychaela, contracted coronavirus days apart in late June.
They both had underlying health issues, but were in their 20s and had mainly stayed inside since the pandemic began.
Monete Hicks, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, told CNN that two of her six children, Byron and Mychaela, contracted coronavirus days apart in late June.
They both had underlying health issues, but were in their 20s and had mainly stayed inside since the pandemic began.
Spain hopes there is no need to close French border
Spain's tourism minister Reyes Maroto has said a resurgence in coronavirus cases in Catalonia is coming under control, adding that she hopes this means there will be no need for neighbouring France to close the border.
"With the latest data we have in Aragon and Catalonia we are a bit more optimistic. Catalonia has already reduced the number of infections over the last three days," Maroto told an event organised by Europa Press news agency.
"Let's hope that with these better data we don't have to close a border that for us is very important for mobility with our European partners."
Spain's tourism minister Reyes Maroto has said a resurgence in coronavirus cases in Catalonia is coming under control, adding that she hopes this means there will be no need for neighbouring France to close the border.
"With the latest data we have in Aragon and Catalonia we are a bit more optimistic. Catalonia has already reduced the number of infections over the last three days," Maroto told an event organised by Europa Press news agency.
"Let's hope that with these better data we don't have to close a border that for us is very important for mobility with our European partners."
After months stuck in the same place, the pandemic has put quality of life outside the workplace into focus, Brandon Hollihan writes.
It hasn't caused remote working or the flight from the big cities, but it's accelerating those trends.
It hasn't caused remote working or the flight from the big cities, but it's accelerating those trends.
UK international travel announcement to come
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the government would be making "more announcements" on international travel, following an upcoming review on Monday.
He told Sky News: "I will be talking more about the way forward on things like international travel corridors then.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the government would be making "more announcements" on international travel, following an upcoming review on Monday.
He told Sky News: "I will be talking more about the way forward on things like international travel corridors then.
"But now, each week actually, we are reviewing and, where required, updating the list of countries it's safe to travel to."
PA
PA
UK lockdown was not delayed, says Shapps
Grant Shapps has defended the government, saying the introduction of the Covid-19 lockdown in the UK was not "delayed".
Wellcome Trust director and Sage member Professor Sir Jeremy Farrar yesterday criticised the timing of the shutdown, saying it should have come earlier.
Grant Shapps has defended the government, saying the introduction of the Covid-19 lockdown in the UK was not "delayed".
Wellcome Trust director and Sage member Professor Sir Jeremy Farrar yesterday criticised the timing of the shutdown, saying it should have come earlier.
But speaking on Sky News, Mr Shapps said the government had "followed the advice very clearly" from experts during Cobra meetings early on in the pandemic.
The transport secretary added: "If the accusation is somehow it was delayed that's not the case. I was in those meetings and we moved as soon as the information was being presented to us.
"The progressive lockdown started as soon as that information was clear."
Ireland may tighten travel restrictions for Covid-19 hotspots
Ireland may introduce further travel restrictions for countries with a very high instance of Covid-19, foreign minister Simon Coveney said after the government lifted its 14-day quarantine requirement for 15 European countries.
"We're looking at countries that may effectively become hot spots for Covid-19 in the months ahead, or indeed regions within countries, and looking at ways in which we can deal with that risk," Mr Coveney told national broadcaster RTE.
He said the government will examine over the coming weeks whether it should introduce steps beyond the current 14-day quarantine, including a potential requirement to take a coronavirus test before departing for Ireland.
Ireland released its "green list" of countries for safe travel - with Italy and Greece included but the UK a notable omission.
People arriving from Malta, Finland, Norway, Italy, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Slovakia, Greece, Greenland, Gibraltar, Monaco and San Marino will not be required to isolate for two weeks.
Ireland may introduce further travel restrictions for countries with a very high instance of Covid-19, foreign minister Simon Coveney said after the government lifted its 14-day quarantine requirement for 15 European countries.
"We're looking at countries that may effectively become hot spots for Covid-19 in the months ahead, or indeed regions within countries, and looking at ways in which we can deal with that risk," Mr Coveney told national broadcaster RTE.
He said the government will examine over the coming weeks whether it should introduce steps beyond the current 14-day quarantine, including a potential requirement to take a coronavirus test before departing for Ireland.
Ireland released its "green list" of countries for safe travel - with Italy and Greece included but the UK a notable omission.
People arriving from Malta, Finland, Norway, Italy, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Slovakia, Greece, Greenland, Gibraltar, Monaco and San Marino will not be required to isolate for two weeks.
Japan's travel ban has 'hit 85% of European businesses in the country'
Japan's travel ban to stop the spread of the coronavirus has hit a majority of European firms in the country and could prompt those businesses to rethink their future in the world's third-largest economy, a European business lobby has said.
Many countries have imposed travel curbs amid the pandemic but Japan's are among the strictest, effectively banning entry of tourists and visa holders coming from 129 countries.
Even permanent residents are restricted entry unless they are granted an exception under humanitarian grounds, while in the United States and Europe, non-citizen residents are allowed to return.
A recent survey by the European Business Council of 376 members in Japan showed that 85% had been negatively impacted by the ban, with 44% reporting financial losses. The EBC said the travel restrictions run counter to international treaties.
"This situation may also trigger some investment disputes against Japan," EBC president Michael Mroczek told reporters.
The way the ban was handled creates an air of unpredictability that may cause CEOs to "rethink their policy regarding Japan," he said.
Japan allows its citizens to return to the country if they take a coronavirus test at the port of entry and observe a period of self-quarantine.
Foreigners living in Japan face much higher hurdles for re-entry, such as demonstrating the need to visit dying relatives or be reunited with family in the country.
The EBC's remarks echoed those of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), which has decried the country's "double standard" in reentry requirements.
Reuters
Japan's travel ban to stop the spread of the coronavirus has hit a majority of European firms in the country and could prompt those businesses to rethink their future in the world's third-largest economy, a European business lobby has said.
Many countries have imposed travel curbs amid the pandemic but Japan's are among the strictest, effectively banning entry of tourists and visa holders coming from 129 countries.
Even permanent residents are restricted entry unless they are granted an exception under humanitarian grounds, while in the United States and Europe, non-citizen residents are allowed to return.
A recent survey by the European Business Council of 376 members in Japan showed that 85% had been negatively impacted by the ban, with 44% reporting financial losses. The EBC said the travel restrictions run counter to international treaties.
"This situation may also trigger some investment disputes against Japan," EBC president Michael Mroczek told reporters.
The way the ban was handled creates an air of unpredictability that may cause CEOs to "rethink their policy regarding Japan," he said.
Japan allows its citizens to return to the country if they take a coronavirus test at the port of entry and observe a period of self-quarantine.
Foreigners living in Japan face much higher hurdles for re-entry, such as demonstrating the need to visit dying relatives or be reunited with family in the country.
The EBC's remarks echoed those of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), which has decried the country's "double standard" in reentry requirements.
Reuters
The number of people infected with the coronavirus in different parts of the United States was anywhere from two to 13 times higher than the reported rates for those regions, according to data released by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The findings suggest that large numbers of people who did not have symptoms or did not seek medical care may have kept the virus circulating in their communities.
The findings suggest that large numbers of people who did not have symptoms or did not seek medical care may have kept the virus circulating in their communities.
New guidance on visiting care homes to be issued
The government will issue new guidance covering visiting care homes "this week", the transport secretary has said.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Grant Shapps said it was "heartbreaking" for families not to be able to visit relatives in care homes.
The government will issue new guidance covering visiting care homes "this week", the transport secretary has said.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Grant Shapps said it was "heartbreaking" for families not to be able to visit relatives in care homes.
Mr Shapps explained that, because new guidance had to "balance" the safety of care homes against "the human desire" for families wanting to meet up again, it had "taken a little while to get right".
Asked when the guidance would arrive, he said: "It will be this week."
Indonesia reports highest daily rise in coronavirus-related deaths
Indonesia has reported 139 new coronavirus-related deaths, the country's highest daily increase.
The country's death toll now stands at 4,459, data from the health ministry website shows.
The number of infections rose by 1,882 to bring the total number to 91,751 in Indonesia, which has the most confirmed cases in East Asia.
Indonesia has reported 139 new coronavirus-related deaths, the country's highest daily increase.
The country's death toll now stands at 4,459, data from the health ministry website shows.
The number of infections rose by 1,882 to bring the total number to 91,751 in Indonesia, which has the most confirmed cases in East Asia.
The United States says it has ordered the closure of China's consulate in Houston.
It comes after two Chinese hackers were accused of attempting to steal Covid-19 vaccine research.
New coronavirus mutation helping outbreaks 'spread faster around world'
An expert has said a new mutation of Covid-19 is helping outbreaks spread faster around world.
An expert has said a new mutation of Covid-19 is helping outbreaks spread faster around world.
Professor Nick Loman, from the University of Birmingham, who is also part of the Covid-19 Genomics Consortium, said the new strand, known as D614G, has become the most dominant across the globe.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are tracking the genomes of these cases and thousands of mutations, but there's one particular mutation that's been noteworthy for a while, which is called D614G.
"It exists in the spike protein which is a very important way the virus can enter human cells and we have been noticing in the UK and worldwide that this mutation has been increasing in frequency."
He added: "This mutation was predicted first by computer modelling to have some impact on the structure of that protein and the ability of the virus to bind and enter cells and then quite recently was shown in laboratory experiments to increase the infectivity of cells."
Professor Loman said the real test if whether this affects the human population.
"It does seem to have an impact, particularly on transmissibility," he said. "It's a small impact we think, we are not completely confident about that, but we found that, by testing what happened in the UK, the viruses that contain the G-type of mutation seemed to form clusters of cases faster which ended up being bigger than the viruses with the D mutation."
"We didn't see any significant association with survival or the lengths of hospital stays with this mutation, so we don't think this mutation is important in changing virulence. The effect seems to be on transmissibility."
Professor Loman said he did not think the new mutation would affect the production of a Covid-19 vaccine.
He said: "I think the jury's out on that. I expect it will not. Any vaccine trial will include patients that will encounter this mutation because this is actually the most dominant mutation, it's about 75 per cent of cases. I don't think this will have an impact on the vaccine."
He added: "This increase in this mutation is a worldwide phenomenon, the original virus out of Wuhan had the D-type, but the G-type has become much more dominant across the world, including the UK."
Pubs, coffee shops and retailers linked to a coronavirus outbreak at an NHS test and trace call centre in Lanarkshire have been forced to close over fears the disease has spread more widely, the Scottish government has confirmed.
Deputy first minister John Swinney said five businesses had been shut for deep cleaning and staff advised to self-isolate after coming into contact with staff at the test and trace facility in Motherwell.
Mr Swinny said “something has clearly gone badly wrong” at the offices of private outsourcing firm Sitel, after concerns were raised about the lack of social distancing inside the call centre.
Deputy first minister John Swinney said five businesses had been shut for deep cleaning and staff advised to self-isolate after coming into contact with staff at the test and trace facility in Motherwell.
Mr Swinny said “something has clearly gone badly wrong” at the offices of private outsourcing firm Sitel, after concerns were raised about the lack of social distancing inside the call centre.
Australia marks worst day for new coronavirus infections
Australians have been warned they must self-isolate when they become sick as the country marked its worst day for new coronavirus infections.
Deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd said the nation's tally of 502 new Covid-19 cases today was its largest ever. The fact Australia recorded only two new cases on 9 June demonstrates how quickly outbreaks can spread, he said.
All but 18 of the new cases were in Victoria state, where Australia's second-largest city, Melbourne, has now been in lockdown for two weeks.
Authorities had hoped the infection rate would begin to plateau, but Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton said: "We can't necessarily expect numbers to go down."
He added: "I think that will be an even greater challenge in days ahead. That means that we're going to look at 500-600 cases per day. I absolutely don't want us to go there."
Victoria premier Daniel Andrews said people must self-isolate when they become sick.
He said nine out of 10 people did not self-isolate between having symptoms and being tested.
More than half did not self-isolate between when they were tested and when they got the results.
From Thursday, face masks will become compulsory for residents in lockdown regions when they leave their homes.
Australians have been warned they must self-isolate when they become sick as the country marked its worst day for new coronavirus infections.
Deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd said the nation's tally of 502 new Covid-19 cases today was its largest ever. The fact Australia recorded only two new cases on 9 June demonstrates how quickly outbreaks can spread, he said.
All but 18 of the new cases were in Victoria state, where Australia's second-largest city, Melbourne, has now been in lockdown for two weeks.
Authorities had hoped the infection rate would begin to plateau, but Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton said: "We can't necessarily expect numbers to go down."
He added: "I think that will be an even greater challenge in days ahead. That means that we're going to look at 500-600 cases per day. I absolutely don't want us to go there."
Victoria premier Daniel Andrews said people must self-isolate when they become sick.
He said nine out of 10 people did not self-isolate between having symptoms and being tested.
More than half did not self-isolate between when they were tested and when they got the results.
From Thursday, face masks will become compulsory for residents in lockdown regions when they leave their homes.
Japan has been criticised for launching a national travel campaign amid a jump in new coronavirus cases.
“Go To Travel” – dubbed “Go To Trouble” by some local media – offers subsidies of up to 50 per cent on trips to and from prefectures excluding Tokyo, which was removed from the programme last week after infections surged to new highs.
“Go To Travel” – dubbed “Go To Trouble” by some local media – offers subsidies of up to 50 per cent on trips to and from prefectures excluding Tokyo, which was removed from the programme last week after infections surged to new highs.
But many of Japan’s governors wanted the campaign delayed or amended out of fear it would spread the virus to rural areas with low infection numbers, while a Mainichi newspaper poll this week showed 69 per cent of the public wanted the programme scrapped entirely.
Antibodies isolated from Covid-19 patients may suppress virus, study suggests
Researchers have isolated antibodies from Covid-19 patients which they say are among the most potent in neutralising coronavirus.
These antibodies could be produced in large quantities by pharmaceutical companies to treat patients, especially early in the course of infection.
They can also be used to prevent infection, particularly in the elderly, the scientists say.
The study, published in Nature, reports that researchers have confirmed the purified, strongly neutralising antibodies provide significant protection from Covid-19 infection in hamsters.
David Ho, scientific director of the Aaron Diamond Aids Research Centre and professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, directed the study.
He said: "We now have a collection of antibodies that's more potent and diverse compared to other antibodies that have been found so far, and they are ready to be developed into treatments."
The immune system's response to infection is to produce antibodies when it identifies substances in the body as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood.
While a number of drugs and vaccines in development for Covid-19 are in clinical trials, they may not be ready for several months.
So the researchers say that in the meantime, SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies produced by Covid-19 patients could be used to treat other patients or even prevent infection in people exposed to the virus.
The development and approval of antibodies for use as a treatment usually takes less time than conventional drugs.
The study found that in the patients they studied, those with severe disease requiring mechanical ventilation produced the most potently neutralising antibodies.
PA
Researchers have isolated antibodies from Covid-19 patients which they say are among the most potent in neutralising coronavirus.
These antibodies could be produced in large quantities by pharmaceutical companies to treat patients, especially early in the course of infection.
They can also be used to prevent infection, particularly in the elderly, the scientists say.
The study, published in Nature, reports that researchers have confirmed the purified, strongly neutralising antibodies provide significant protection from Covid-19 infection in hamsters.
David Ho, scientific director of the Aaron Diamond Aids Research Centre and professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, directed the study.
He said: "We now have a collection of antibodies that's more potent and diverse compared to other antibodies that have been found so far, and they are ready to be developed into treatments."
The immune system's response to infection is to produce antibodies when it identifies substances in the body as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood.
While a number of drugs and vaccines in development for Covid-19 are in clinical trials, they may not be ready for several months.
So the researchers say that in the meantime, SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies produced by Covid-19 patients could be used to treat other patients or even prevent infection in people exposed to the virus.
The development and approval of antibodies for use as a treatment usually takes less time than conventional drugs.
The study found that in the patients they studied, those with severe disease requiring mechanical ventilation produced the most potently neutralising antibodies.
PA
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