The UK has recorded a further 32,700 Covid cases in the past 24 hours, as well as 100 more deaths within 28 days of a positive test
ONS data from community tests in England show one in every 75 people had Covid in the week to 6 August
While positive tests "continued to be high", ONS estimates suggest "an overall decreasing trend" over the past two weeks
England's R number is estimated at between 0.8 and 1, down slightly from 0.8 and 1.1 last week
Nearly a third of adults aged under 30 in England haven't had a Covid jab, according to NHS England estimates
Analysis of UK hospitals shows that, overall, more than one in 10 people in hospital with Covid caught the virus while they were there
The competition watchdog is investigating the price of PCR Covid tests, after high costs were blamed for putting people off travel
US drug regulators have given approval for immunocompromised Americans to get an additional Covid jab as a booster
We're closing our live page for the day - thanks for joining us.
Today's coverage was written by Becky Morton, Doug Faulkner, Hazel Shearing and Victoria Lindrea. It was edited by Hamish Mackay and Holly Wallis.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe’ll be bringing our live coverage to a close soon. Here’s a reminder of the day's main stories:
Image source, Getty ImagesThe new season will see the return of full capacity crowds
The Premier League is back tonight, with clubs preparing for the return of full capacity crowds for the first time since March 2020.
The easing of Covid restrictions means stadiums will have no social distancing measures in place in the stands.
However, there remains uncertainty over whether so-called "vaccine passports" will be introduced from October.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced last month there was a plan to make proof of full vaccination mandatory from the end of September at venues where "large crowds gather", potentially including sporting venues with capacities of 20,000 or more.
Earlier this week, the Premier League revealed new matchday protocols for the 2021-22 season, stating fans "must be prepared to prove" they are fully vaccinated or have had a negative Covid test in the previous 48 hours.
Fans must also follow a new "supporter code of conduct" which includes wearing masks indoors, avoiding close contact and following one-way systems.
You can check the Covid measures in place for different clubs here.
Image source, Getty ImagesCovax-supplied AstraZeneca vaccines arriving in Madagascar in May
The first Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses donated by the UK to the World Health OrganiZation's Covax scheme are due to arrive in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo today.
The Gavi vaccine alliance, which is co-leading the scheme, says 119,200 doses are arriving in Lusaka and 51,840 doses in Kinshasa.
The UK has pledged to donate more than three million doses to African countries, with Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda among those set to benefit.
More doses are due to arrive in other African countries over the weekend and next week.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says this is the first batch of 80 million doses being donated via Covax, adding: "We know no-one is safe until everyone is safe."
The international Covax scheme was created last year to ensure Covid vaccines were made available around the world, with richer countries subsidising the cost for poorer nations.
Derby Arena's use as a mass Covid vaccination centre is to conclude at the end of this month, health bosses have announced.
More than half a million jabs have been given out at the sports venue since the start of January.
The final vaccinations will be given out on 25 August before the programme moves to the smaller Midland House in Derby.
Leisure activities will then be able to resume at the council-owned arena.
More than 47.2 million people in the UK have now had a first dose of a Covid vaccine – 89.3% of the adult population.
Meanwhile, more than 40.2 million people – 76% of adults – have had two doses, according to the latest government figures, external.
The UK has recorded 32,700 new Covid cases, as well as 100 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.
The number of new cases is slightly lower than yesterday’s figure of 33,074 – but the total number of cases reported in the last seven days is up 7.8% on the previous week.
Image source, PARecordings can be sent alongside a PCR test or lateral flow test (pictured)
People who have recently taken a Covid test are being asked to record a cough on their smartphone or computer, as part of a drive to improve coronavirus detection rates.
The government also wants people to provide samples of their voice and breathing as part of plans to develop an app for wider use.
US researchers have already created an algorithm that detects Covid from coughs with a near-100% accuracy rate.
It is hoped this type of technology will make diagnosis cheaper and easier in the future
The Department of Health and Social Care's research project , externalinvites adults who have taken a Covid test in the last 72 hours to upload the recording when they submit their test barcode.
Researchers then compare the test results - showing an infection or a clean bill of health - with the recordings, as they seek to refine the technology.
Image source, Getty ImagesFrance has recently introduced a new health pass which means proof of vaccination - typically a QR code - is needed to enter many amenities
People in Scotland have spoken of holiday stress and frustration caused by the Scottish government's vaccine certificate system.
Other UK nations use apps which provide a QR code as proof of vaccination, in line with a system used across Europe.
But people in Scotland have to request a paper certificate sent by post, which other countries may not accept.
Travel agents say Scottish travellers have been "blindsided".
Linda Hill, of the West Kilbride travel agent LAH Travel, is "dumbfounded" by the Scottish government's decision to continue posting certificates by mail.
And she warns would-be travellers: "Please check what your regulations are because we are hearing if you don't have the digital certificate you have to quarantine on arrival."
Last month the Scottish government confirmed that a digital scheme would replace the paper vaccination certificates from September - after it awarded a £600,000 contract to a Danish firm to develop the system.
Read how Scottish travellers have been impacted by paper pass.
Image source, PA MediaNewcastle United head coach Steve Bruce is urging people aged under 30 to get themselves vaccinated after seeing the effect Covid has had on goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
The 30-year-old, who was admitted to hospital for almost a week, has been ruled out of Sunday's Premier League opener against West Ham due to the toll the illness has taken on his body - including losing a stone and a half of weight.
Bruce says: "Karl found himself in hospital for the best part of a week, he's dropped over a stone and a half in weight and it's really knocked him around.
"There's a 30-year-old who was hospitalised by this thing - young, fit, healthy and it's left him in a very, very poorly situation.
"He's getting bit by bit a little bit stronger, but it basically wiped him out, so just because you're under the age of 30, you're not immune to it."
A lot of people have been asking this recently. The answer depends on why you're self-isolating and where you live in the UK.
Soon, all double vaccinated adults and under-18s will not have to self isolate if they are identified as a close contact of someone with Covid (as long as they themselves have no symptoms).
These changes have already come into force in Scotland and Wales.
In England and Northern Ireland, the new rules take effect from Monday 16 August.
Fully vaccinated adults and under-18s will be advised to take a PCR test if they are identified as a contact - and can stop self-isolating if the result is negative. If the result is positive, they will need to self-isolate just like anyone else.
In Wales, external and Northern Ireland, people are also advised to take further PCR tests on day two and day eight.
And in England, external, people are advised to take extra measures, such as wearing face coverings in enclosed spaces and limiting contact with others, especially the clinically vulnerable.
However, you will still need to self-isolate for 10 days if you:
Our explainers team has put together a handy guide to the rules here.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's well documented that the coronavirus pandemic has been hard on the travel industry and now the UK's second-largest airport says it is in talks with lenders to avoid defaulting on loans.
Gatwick Airport says Covid travel restrictions and the collapse in demand meant a £204m pre-tax loss in the first half of the year.
Gatwick is urging the government to ease travel rules, warning the UK recovery was lagging behind the rest of Europe.
In a statement, the airport says the government "needs to act now and remove unnecessary and costly PCR testing requirements for passengers, particularly for those double vaccinated".
But the government says its "top priority is to protect public health".
Covid: Record North Wales visitors after challenging 18 months
After a challenging 18 months brought on by the pandemic, north Wales is experiencing record numbers of visitors, tourism bosses say.
And they said it was not just the top draw destinations such as Snowdonia which have been enjoying the boost, with attractions across the region seeing a rise in tourists.
The percentage of people testing positive for Covid-19 is estimated to have decreased in north-east England, north-west England, London and the West Midlands, according to the latest ONS figures.
The trend for all other regions is uncertain.
Yorkshire and The Humber had the highest percentage of people testing positive for Covid in the week to 6 August - around one in 50.
This was followed by north-east England at around one in 55.
Eastern England had the lowest estimate of around one in 110.
Ishaq Khalid
BBC News
The Nigeria High commission in London has been closed after two officials tested positive for Covid-19.
The 10-day closure is likely to affect the mission’s services.
One of the diplomats tested positive during screening at the entrance to the UK's Home Office - where they were due to attend a meeting, a statement from the high commission said.
As a result, all members of the Nigerian diplomatic mission were tested.
During the testing exercise, another official was found to have contracted the virus.
Those who have had contact with them have now gone into mandatory isolation for 10 days.
Officials say the closure of the embassy is in line with Covid-19 protocols and the need to respect the UK’s rules.
The services that will be affected include visa processing and the issuance of passports.
The Covid R value - the rate at which the virus reproduces - has fallen slightly in England, external.
The R number is estimated at between 0.8 and 1, down slightly from an estimate of between 0.8 and 1.1. last week.
A value between 0.8 and 1.0 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 8 and 10 other people.
It means the latest growth rate for coronavirus is between -4% and 0%.
Image source, ReutersEarlier we told you about the decision by US drug regulators to give the go-ahead for booster jabs for immunocompromised Americans.
It comes in the week US students head back to school after the summer holidays, sparking a huge debate among parents about mask-wearing as Covid cases surge across the region.
Here are some of the other key headlines on Friday:
Secondary school pupils and those aged 24 and under are estimated to have the highest percentage of people testing positive for any age group in England, according to the ONS.
Its modelling suggests infection levels have increased for those from school year 12 to those aged 24.
The trend is uncertain for all other age groups.
Around one in 30 people from school years seven to 11, and also from school year 12 to age 24, are estimated to have had Covid in the week to 6 August - the highest positivity rate for any age group.
Image source, City of London PoliceA fraudster who pretended to inject a 92-year-old woman with a fake Covid-19 vaccine in south-west London has been jailed.
On 30 December 2020, David Chambers, 33, entered Kathleen Martin's home in Surbiton after saying he was from her GP surgery.
Once inside her home, Chambers "pressed something against the back of her wrist" and then asked for payment, Judge Hannah Kinch said.
Chambers did not inject Ms Martin with anything and did not break her skin, the court heard.
He charged Ms Martin £140 and returned five days later to ask for a further £100, Kingston Crown Court heard.
Chambers was jailed for 42 months after he admitted two counts of fraud by false representation.
He also admitted one count of battery.
Judge Kinch called his actions "despicable".
Here's what you need to know if you're checking in over lunch: