Here are the coronavirus morning headlines for Wednesday, November 3, as a leading Covid adviser quits with a final warning about the UK's virus levels.
One of the Government's leading scientific advisers on coronavirus has quit as he warned coronavirus infection rates across the country were "concerning".
Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, left the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) at the end of October, he has confirmed in a statement.
He said that Sage had provided scientific advice to the Government often under "huge pressure".
His warning comes as the global death toll from Covid-19 topped five million on Tuesday, November 2.
The latest figures from Public Health Wales (PHW) published on Tuesday, November 2, covering the 24 hours up to 9am on November 1, showed the total number of Covid-related deaths in Wales now stands at 6,177.
There were also 2,210 new positive cases recorded in today's update, bringing the total number since the pandemic began to 445,163.
Additionally, latest seven-day infection rate across Wales based on the cases for every 100,000 people (for the seven days up to October 28) now stands at 548.2 . In positive news, this a fall from the 558.9 reported on Monday and a sixth consecutive day where rates have fallen.
Leading Covid adviser quits Sage amid warning of 'concerning' virus levels
A Government Office for Science spokesperson said: "We can confirm that Sir Jeremy has stood down from the Covid Sage activation, and thank him for his contribution from the very start of the activation.
"Sage continues to provide Government with independent expert scientific and technical advice."
But Labour said the move was a "serious blow that reveals the level of concern about the Government's mishandling of the pandemic".
In a statement, Sir Jeremy stressed that he was stepping down to focus on his work at health research foundation the Wellcome Trust.
However, he said: "The Covid-19 crisis is a long way from over, with the global situation deeply troubling.
"The high levels of transmission seen in the UK remain concerning, but I stepped down as a participant of Sage knowing ministers had been provided with most of the key science advice needed over the winter months.
MP to introduce bill calling for 'triple lock' to prevent school closures
MPs must have a vote in Parliament to approve any further school closures following the "disaster" of Covid-19 lockdowns, a senior Tory has said.
Robert Halfon, chairman of the Commons Education Committee, said closures during the coronavirus pandemic "wielded a hammer blow for students' education and wellbeing".
The MP for Harlow added that their "apocalyptic" effect has threatened the futures of millions of pupils across the country.
Mr Halfon's Bill aims to redefine schools and education settings as "essential infrastructure", alongside power stations, hospitals and food retailers, to protect millions of pupils from future shutdowns.
NSPCC raises concerns about newborns missing health checks during the pandemic
The children's charity's worry comes from data that one in five babies (20%) in England in 2020-21 missed their health and development check due between ages six to eight weeks.
Additionally, almost a quarter (24%) missed their one-year check.
This was an increase from the year previous, where 15% of babies missed their six to eight-week review, and 16% of babies missed their 12-month review. The charity believes the lack of health visitors is partially causing the fall.
Vicky Nevin of the NSPCC, speaking after the release of official figures for the health visitor service delivery, said: "We know that the first 1,001 days from pregnancy to age two is a crucial stage for healthy child development.
"All families in England are entitled to at least five health visiting checks. But even before the pandemic, many checks were being missed and health visiting workforce numbers have seen a drastic decline since 2015."
She added: "Many new parents experiencing mental health problems can find it difficult to seek help. Without consistent home visits across the country, there is a risk that significant needs will be missed."
Ms Nevin said that public health funding was needed to train and recruit 3,000 health visitors over three years.
Unpaid carers being pushed into poverty
Three in 10 unpaid carers are struggling to make ends meet, while more than half are worried about their finances, research suggests.
Providing unpaid care is pushing thousands of families into poverty and will have a lasting impact on their finances and quality of life, Carers UK has warned.
More than half (52%) of unpaid carers surveyed by the charity said they feel anxious or stressed about their finances, while 31% are struggling to make ends meet, and 24% report not having enough to cover their monthly expenses.
Worryingly, more than a third (36%) of carers said their financial situation has deteriorated during the coronavirus pandemic.
One respondent told the charity: "One of my biggest caring tasks is endlessly juggling money, bills and moving stuff around so we can get by."
Another said: "I don't have luxuries, can't afford life, car insurance or house insurance.
"At 60 I shouldn't be using food banks and made to feel inadequate because I can't afford petrol."
The report said: "Carers across all income brackets are worried about the impact of caring on their finances and the impact of caring on their ability to save.
It comes as unpaid carers have taken on increased hours during the pandemic as services were restricted and remain reduced.
Carers UK chief executive Helen Walker said unpaid carers have propped up the health and care system for years "at a huge cost" to their own health and finances and now "desperately" need support.
Dutch government continues to increase Covid-19 measures
The Dutch government is reinstituting an order to wear face masks in public places such as shops and libraries and mandating an extension for the use of Covid-19 passes amid sharply rising coronavirus cases.
Covid-19 cases have increased rapidly in the Netherlands for weeks and the country's public health institute reported on Tuesday that confirmed infections rose 39% compared with the week before and hospital admissions were up 31%.
The upward trend began soon after the government ended most remaining lockdown restrictions in late September.
"It won't surprise anybody that we again have a tough message this evening," Dutch caretaker prime minister Mark Rutte said during a nationally televised press conference.
"Tough because we, unfortunately, have to ask more of people now that the infection numbers and hospital numbers are rising quickly."
Mr Rutte also urged people to socially distance themselves, work from home at least half the time, and to avoid travel to busy places and during the morning and evening rush hours.
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