Summary

  • Updates on Friday 31 July

  • Visiting people at home banned in parts of northern England

  • Boris Johnson halts plans to ease restrictions in England due to start on Saturday

  • Rules on face coverings are extended to more indoor settings, including museums and places of worship

  • Evidence suggests a slight increase in the number of people in England testing positive for coronavirus

  • Hancock: 'Households not abiding by social distancing'

  • Burnham: 'Protect each other' by following the rules

  • Pubs and restaurants to reopen in Leicester

Live Reporting

Rob England and Kate Darlington

  1. Visiting people at home banned in northern England

    People meeting at homeGetty Images

    Separate households have been banned from meeting each other indoors in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire following a spike in coronavirus cases.

    The health secretary said the increase in transmission was "largely due" to people not observing social distancing.

    More than four million people will be affected by the tighter restrictions.

    Labour criticised the government for a lack of clarity over the measures and for announcing them "late at night".

  2. Good morning

    Rob England
    BBC News

    Welcome to our coronavirus live page, bringing you all the latest news and updates on the pandemic from across England.

    Today we'll be focusing on the restrictions imposed across parts of the north of England, where separate households have been banned from meeting.

    If you live in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire and are affected, please get in touch with us via email and share your thoughts.