Downing Street was unable to provide any evidence to back up Boris Johnson’s claim that the test and trace service is “as good as or better than” any other system in the world.
It came as health secretary Matt Hancock denied the government would recommend people wear face masks in offices after a newspaper report appeared to suggest as such.
VAT was slashed from 20 per cent to five per cent for the hospitality and tourism industry on Wednesday to help boost the sector, which has struggled during the coronavirus lockdown.
Good morning, welcome to today's live blog. We'll be bringing you the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic from around the world.
UK VAT tax cut begins today
Last week Rishi Sunak announced VAT would be slashed from 20 per cent to 5 per cent for hospitality and tourism businesses until January 2021.
An Eat Out to Help Out scheme offering 50 per cent discounts of up to £10 a head for all diners in restaurants, cafes and pubs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August was also announced as part of a package of measures designed to protect jobs and stimulate economic activity.
An Eat Out to Help Out scheme offering 50 per cent discounts of up to £10 a head for all diners in restaurants, cafes and pubs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August was also announced as part of a package of measures designed to protect jobs and stimulate economic activity.
No plans for face masks in offices, says Hancock
Matt Hancock has said the government is not planning to make people wear face coverings in the office.
Matt Hancock has said the government is not planning to make people wear face coverings in the office.
The health secretary told Sky News this morning: "We will not be recommending masks in the office", when asked about proposals to do so in Blackburn.
Mr Hancock denied there was confusion surrounding the new rules requiring people to wear face coverings in shops from July 24, after two of his cabinet colleagues were pictured in a branch of Pret a Manger - one wearing a mask and one not.
"The advice now is that face coverings are recommended in shops but not mandatory. That's been the position for some time and we're tightening that up to say that they're mandatory from July 24," he said.
Mr Hancock said people would need to wear a face covering in Pret from July 24 because it is a "shop", explaining: "In hospitality, so in a restaurant, there needs to be table service.
"If there's table service, it is not necessary to have a mask. But in any shop, you do need a mask. So, if you're going up to the counter in Pret to buy takeaway that is a shop... but if you go to your local pub you can't go to the bar."
Face masks for 'foreseeable future'
Health secretary Matt Hancock has said face coverings will have to be worn "for the foreseeable future".
He told BBC Breakfast: "People will have to wear masks in shops and on public transport and in the NHS for the foreseeable future.
He told BBC Breakfast: "People will have to wear masks in shops and on public transport and in the NHS for the foreseeable future.
"The virus exists only to multiply and without any measures we know that each person infects another two to three people so we do have to have these measures in place, even though the number of cases are really low, to keep a grip on the virus."
Hancock welcomes extra measures in Lancashire town
Matt Hancock has welcomed the extra measures introduced in Blackburn with Darwen to tackle coronavirus in the Lancashire town.
He told BBC Breakfast: "On Blackburn, I think that the council there are doing a fantastic job.
Matt Hancock has welcomed the extra measures introduced in Blackburn with Darwen to tackle coronavirus in the Lancashire town.
He told BBC Breakfast: "On Blackburn, I think that the council there are doing a fantastic job.
"There is a higher rate of Covid in Blackburn than the average across the country; it's not as high as in Leicester.
"We've gone in and are supporting them, working with them, for instance put in much more testing. And then they've taken these steps locally and I applaud that.
"We've gone in and are supporting them, working with them, for instance put in much more testing. And then they've taken these steps locally and I applaud that.
"This is exactly the sort of local action we want to see."
As they will soon be mandatory while shopping, make sure you're informed on how to wear one and where to buy them from with this guide.
With its dramatic landscapes and natural beauty, it’s no surprise Scotland remains a popular destination for visitors.
Here's a guide on travelling in Scotland, what hotels and restaurants are open and what rules are in place.
Here's a guide on travelling in Scotland, what hotels and restaurants are open and what rules are in place.
Restaurant workers shouldn't rely on plastic visors, top Swiss doctor warns
The top doctor in the Swiss mountain region that includes St. Moritz and Davos has warned restaurants not to rely on plastic visors to protect their employees from Covid-19 infections, saying they "create a false sense of security".
The warning, from the Grisons canton bordering Italy and Austria, raises questions about the reopening strategies of some restaurants, hotels and other tourist-dependent businesses.
In Germany, some states allow visors for service workers, while others require face masks. Swiss restaurants don't require all workers to wear protective facial coverings, though some have adopted them.
The Grisons cantonal doctor, Marina Jamnicki, said face masks for restaurant staff who cannot keep 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) distance from others were a better solution than transparent plastic shields secured by a headband.
"An analysis of the cases and the path in which the disease spread shows plastic visors being used in gastronomy don't offer sufficient protection," her office said. "People who wore visors got infected."
Marc Tischhauser, director of the Grisons restaurant industry association, told Reuters the doctor's warning was a reminder that visors play a "complementary role" in protecting against Covid-19 infections, and that proper social distancing and face masks are also necessary to be effective.
The top doctor in the Swiss mountain region that includes St. Moritz and Davos has warned restaurants not to rely on plastic visors to protect their employees from Covid-19 infections, saying they "create a false sense of security".
The warning, from the Grisons canton bordering Italy and Austria, raises questions about the reopening strategies of some restaurants, hotels and other tourist-dependent businesses.
In Germany, some states allow visors for service workers, while others require face masks. Swiss restaurants don't require all workers to wear protective facial coverings, though some have adopted them.
The Grisons cantonal doctor, Marina Jamnicki, said face masks for restaurant staff who cannot keep 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) distance from others were a better solution than transparent plastic shields secured by a headband.
"An analysis of the cases and the path in which the disease spread shows plastic visors being used in gastronomy don't offer sufficient protection," her office said. "People who wore visors got infected."
Marc Tischhauser, director of the Grisons restaurant industry association, told Reuters the doctor's warning was a reminder that visors play a "complementary role" in protecting against Covid-19 infections, and that proper social distancing and face masks are also necessary to be effective.
More than 1 million people in Britain have quit smoking since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to new analysis.
As part of a collaborative study, the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and University College London (UCL) also found that 440,000 smokers had tried to stop over the same period but were unable to do so.
Of those who did manage to stop, 400,000 were aged between 16 and 29 and 240,000 were aged over 50.
As part of a collaborative study, the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and University College London (UCL) also found that 440,000 smokers had tried to stop over the same period but were unable to do so.
Of those who did manage to stop, 400,000 were aged between 16 and 29 and 240,000 were aged over 50.
The largest study so far into the spread of coronavirus across England has found infection rates fell significantly in the month before lockdown restrictions were lifted.
Initials findings from the report, which has not yet been peer reviewed, showed rates of infection halved every eight to nine days during May, placing the overall reproduction rate at 0.57 – which is lower than previously reported.
Initials findings from the report, which has not yet been peer reviewed, showed rates of infection halved every eight to nine days during May, placing the overall reproduction rate at 0.57 – which is lower than previously reported.
ASOS to repay £1.8m furlough claim after lockdown sales boost
Online fashion retailer ASOS will repay the money it claimed under the furlough scheme after a rise in sales during the coronavirus lockdown put it on track to deliver annual profit towards the top end of expectations.
The company, whose fast fashions are particularly popular with shoppers in their twenties, said on Wednesday its sales rose 10% in the four months to June 30, when store-based rivals had to close shops for weeks due to coronavirus restrictions.
In April, ASOS raised 247 million pounds ($311 million) in new equity to shore up its finances. The furlough repayment is expected to be about £1.8 million.
ASOS shares were up 3.4% at 0806 GMT, extending year-on-year gains to 26%.
The group said sales in the four month period reached 1.01 billion pounds, up from 919.8 million pounds a year earlier. While UK sales fell 1%, international sales were up 17%, with sales in EU countries particularly strong.
Online fashion retailer ASOS will repay the money it claimed under the furlough scheme after a rise in sales during the coronavirus lockdown put it on track to deliver annual profit towards the top end of expectations.
The company, whose fast fashions are particularly popular with shoppers in their twenties, said on Wednesday its sales rose 10% in the four months to June 30, when store-based rivals had to close shops for weeks due to coronavirus restrictions.
In April, ASOS raised 247 million pounds ($311 million) in new equity to shore up its finances. The furlough repayment is expected to be about £1.8 million.
ASOS shares were up 3.4% at 0806 GMT, extending year-on-year gains to 26%.
The group said sales in the four month period reached 1.01 billion pounds, up from 919.8 million pounds a year earlier. While UK sales fell 1%, international sales were up 17%, with sales in EU countries particularly strong.
Venezuelan capital sent into strict lockdown
Venezuelan officials say new coronavirus cases have surpassed 10,000 nationwide, with an alarming number of recent illnesses found in the capital of Caracas.
President Nicolas Maduro ordered strict enforcement of quarantine measures in Caracas, where most of the 303 new daily cases were diagnosed.
Venezuela has been in a nationwide quarantine for 121 days starting shortly after the first cases were diagnosed in mid-March. Officials report fewer than 100 deaths.
The South American nation hasn't been overrun by the virus like neighbouring Brazil and Ecuador, which experts attribute to Venezuela's isolation after years of economic and social crisis.
Mr Maduro doesn't consider Caracas a focal point, but he says the recent surge in the capital and neighbouring state of Miranda has "set off an alarm".
Venezuelan officials say new coronavirus cases have surpassed 10,000 nationwide, with an alarming number of recent illnesses found in the capital of Caracas.
President Nicolas Maduro ordered strict enforcement of quarantine measures in Caracas, where most of the 303 new daily cases were diagnosed.
Venezuela has been in a nationwide quarantine for 121 days starting shortly after the first cases were diagnosed in mid-March. Officials report fewer than 100 deaths.
The South American nation hasn't been overrun by the virus like neighbouring Brazil and Ecuador, which experts attribute to Venezuela's isolation after years of economic and social crisis.
Mr Maduro doesn't consider Caracas a focal point, but he says the recent surge in the capital and neighbouring state of Miranda has "set off an alarm".
Tokyo declares coronavirus 'red alert'
Tokyo has today raised its coronavirus alert to the highest "red" level after a spike in daily new cases saw record highs.
Governor Yuriko Koike described the situation in the Japanese capital as "rather severe".
"We are in a situation where we should issue warnings to citizens and businesses," Ms Koike told a press conference, urging residents to refrain from unnecessary travel.
The infection rate in Tokyo is at stage "red", the highest of four levels in the metropolis' system, the governor said, citing the analysis by health experts who cautioned earlier in the day that infections were going up quite a bit and "exceeding peaks".
She also pledged to step up testing for the virus by utilising equipment at universities.
"My understanding is that we're in a rather severe situation now," she said.
Infections among young people and asymptomatic cases are rising in Tokyo, health experts have noted.
Tokyo has today raised its coronavirus alert to the highest "red" level after a spike in daily new cases saw record highs.
Governor Yuriko Koike described the situation in the Japanese capital as "rather severe".
"We are in a situation where we should issue warnings to citizens and businesses," Ms Koike told a press conference, urging residents to refrain from unnecessary travel.
The infection rate in Tokyo is at stage "red", the highest of four levels in the metropolis' system, the governor said, citing the analysis by health experts who cautioned earlier in the day that infections were going up quite a bit and "exceeding peaks".
She also pledged to step up testing for the virus by utilising equipment at universities.
"My understanding is that we're in a rather severe situation now," she said.
Infections among young people and asymptomatic cases are rising in Tokyo, health experts have noted.
Compliance with UK quarantine measures 'incredibly high', says Patel
Home secretary Priti Patel told MPs compliance with coronavirus quarantine measures by people travelling in and out of the UK has been "incredibly high".
She told the Commons Home Affairs Committee 383,000 spot checks were carried out between June 6 and July 12 and the compliance rate was 99.9%.
Home secretary Priti Patel told MPs compliance with coronavirus quarantine measures by people travelling in and out of the UK has been "incredibly high".
She told the Commons Home Affairs Committee 383,000 spot checks were carried out between June 6 and July 12 and the compliance rate was 99.9%.
The majority of the checks were carried out at the border, she said.
Shona Dunn, second permanent secretary to the Home Office, said as of last week around 20% of those were follow-up checks on people who have come into the country. They were carried out by Public Health England.
Next year’s British and Irish Lions Tour will go ahead as planned despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The Lions will tour South Africa next summer with the first of five warm-up matches kicking off on 3 July before a three-Test series against the world champion Springboks from 24 July until 7 August.
The Lions will tour South Africa next summer with the first of five warm-up matches kicking off on 3 July before a three-Test series against the world champion Springboks from 24 July until 7 August.
Captain Sir Tom Moore is to be knighted by the Queen at Windsor Castle on Friday.
The decision to honour the Second World War veteran with a knighthood came about after he raised almost £33m for NHS Charities Together during the coronavirus pandemic by participating in a walking fundraiser in the lead-up to his 100th birthday. His initial target was to raise £1,000.
The decision to honour the Second World War veteran with a knighthood came about after he raised almost £33m for NHS Charities Together during the coronavirus pandemic by participating in a walking fundraiser in the lead-up to his 100th birthday. His initial target was to raise £1,000.
Leicester lockdown 'not justified', says mayor
The mayor of Leicester has said the city-wide lockdown is not "justified" as analysis of new data showed a spike in coronavirus cases was confined to certain areas.
Sir Peter Soulsby told BBC Breakfast only "a couple" of the city's neighbourhoods have a than average transmission of the virus.
"Certainly the way the city's been locked down in its entirety, and even beyond its boundaries, is not justified," he added.
Here's the full story on the Leicester lockdown:
The mayor of Leicester has said the city-wide lockdown is not "justified" as analysis of new data showed a spike in coronavirus cases was confined to certain areas.
Sir Peter Soulsby told BBC Breakfast only "a couple" of the city's neighbourhoods have a than average transmission of the virus.
"Certainly the way the city's been locked down in its entirety, and even beyond its boundaries, is not justified," he added.
Here's the full story on the Leicester lockdown:
The Championship has announced that one player or staff member has tested positive for coronavirus and is now in isolation.
The positive result was returned from the last round of testing over the last seven days, with 2,855 tests carried out across all 24 Championship clubs.
The positive result was returned from the last round of testing over the last seven days, with 2,855 tests carried out across all 24 Championship clubs.
An outbreak of coronavirus in Hillingdon Hospital in north-west London that led to the closure of its accident and emergency unit was reportedly caused by nurses not wearing face masks or social distancing during a training session.
According to The Guardian, a doctor described the training session as a “super-spreading event”, as an inquiry found that a nurse who was infected with Covid-19 had spread the virus to 16 other people.
According to The Guardian, a doctor described the training session as a “super-spreading event”, as an inquiry found that a nurse who was infected with Covid-19 had spread the virus to 16 other people.
Austria lifts travel warning for Italy's Lombardy region
Austria will lift its travel warning for Lombardy, the region at the centre of Italy's coronavirus outbreak, because of a fall in infections, Austria's Foreign Ministry has said.
The relaxation could pave the way for the resumption of flights between Lombardy's capital Milan and Vienna, since such travel warnings come with a ban on direct connections.
It will, however, make little difference for those travelling by land as Austria lifted controls at the shared border a month ago, three months after they were introduced when Italy's outbreak worsened.
"The epidemiological development of the province, which was hit first and particularly hard by the pandemic, now makes this step possible," Austria's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the travel warning would be lifted on Thursday.
The coronavirus has killed about 35,000 people in Italy, the fifth highest number in the world after the United States, Brazil, Britain and Mexico.
Austria, by contrast, has reported just 710 deaths so far.
Austria will lift its travel warning for Lombardy, the region at the centre of Italy's coronavirus outbreak, because of a fall in infections, Austria's Foreign Ministry has said.
The relaxation could pave the way for the resumption of flights between Lombardy's capital Milan and Vienna, since such travel warnings come with a ban on direct connections.
It will, however, make little difference for those travelling by land as Austria lifted controls at the shared border a month ago, three months after they were introduced when Italy's outbreak worsened.
"The epidemiological development of the province, which was hit first and particularly hard by the pandemic, now makes this step possible," Austria's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the travel warning would be lifted on Thursday.
The coronavirus has killed about 35,000 people in Italy, the fifth highest number in the world after the United States, Brazil, Britain and Mexico.
Austria, by contrast, has reported just 710 deaths so far.
