Image source, PA Media

If you’re gearing up for a happy return to England’s reopening pubs tomorrow, spare a thought for the doctors.

A&E departments have been told to prepare for scenes similar to New Year’s Eve, when drunk patients pack emergency wards after injuring themselves (or each other).

One regional NHS England director has written to hospital trust leaders, urging them to lay on extra senior staff and beds, “should we also see a rise in admitted patients”.

Police Federation leaders have raised fears of a spike in drunken violence and disorder. Steve Kent, chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, warned “we’re going to have a couple of weeks of New Year's Eves” from 4 July onwards.

And Dr Felix Brewer, a committee member of Doctors' Association UK, told the BBC: "I think everyone working in the NHS is apprehensive about the easing of restrictions on 4 July.

"Social distancing in hospitals is incredibly difficult, especially in busy A&E departments. A surge in demand for services following the reopening of bars and pubs could make this task almost impossible, putting both patients and staff at risk."

He said a New Year's Eve scenario would be "incredibly difficult" to deal with.

Guy Delauney
BBC News, Belgrade

State of emergency sounds alarming. But Belgrade is hardly back in full lockdown mode - yet.

The city's famous "splav" floating nightclubs may keep the party going for up to 500 people on their open air decks. But a 23:00 curfew will certainly come as a relief to the long-suffering old town residents who often endure sleepless summer nights.

Masks are mandatory indoors - as is social distancing. But as many as 100 people may still gather in enclosed spaces.

Belgrade's mayor says it is not necessary to quarantine the city. But Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has warned that he would have locked down the capital for a week if the decision had been his. He pointed out that Belgrade accounted for more that four fifths of new cases of Covid-19.

Serbia has been reporting a steadily rising number of new infections in recent weeks. More than 350 new cases were confirmed yesterday.

The spate of cases has led many EU countries to decide against admitting arrivals from Serbia - even though the country is one of 15 on the bloc's "safe list".

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Bateman
BBC Middle East correspondent

Image source, EPA

Cases in Israel have surged to their highest peak since April, while Palestinian officials have reimposed a full lockdown in the West Bank.

In the West Bank movement between cities is to be heavily restricted, while most shops will close for five days. Nearly 70 new coronavirus cases were recorded on Thursday. With 11 people in intensive care - fears are returning that the creaking health system would be overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, Israel’s dramatic resurgence has seen more than 1,100 new cases in 24 hours. On top of new restrictions on indoor gatherings there are localised lockdowns in parts of the cities of Lod and Ashdod.

Image source, PA Media

Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said he had been given only 30 minutes to look at a list of countries under consideration for relaxing quarantine rules before being asked to make a decision on Wednesday night.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the Scottish government asked for more time to examine the public health impact before making a "swift decision".

"It's quite disappointing that we haven't been given the courtesy of working together on that four nations approach," he said.

As a result, quarantine rules will be relaxed in England, but not in the UK's other three nations, despite the ease of travel between them.

England has an infection rate five times higher than Scotland, Mr Yousaf said, meaning travel from countries such as France, Italy and Spain could have a greater potential impact.

But UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he hoped the Scottish government, and the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland, will agree to the rules before the 10 July implementation date.

"I very much hope we can do this as four nations at the same time I think that would very much simplify it for people but they will need to make that decision themselves," he said.

Image source, Reuters

Many people in England are making big plans for the weekend as the nation takes one of its biggest steps in relaxing lockdown yet. But which businesses are allowed to reopen?

• Restaurants, pubs and cafes in England can reopen from Saturday, providing they follow safety guidelines
• Holiday accommodation - including hotels, B&Bs, cottages, campsites and caravan parks - can also reopen from Saturday, with households in England allowed to stay away from home overnight
• Hairdressers can reopen, as long as they take precautions
• Libraries, community centres, bingo halls, cinemas, museums and galleries can open, along with funfairs and theme parks, amusement arcades, outdoor skating rinks, social clubs and model villages

• Outdoor gyms, children's playgrounds and other outdoor spaces can reopen, if they can do so safely

• Places of worship can open for prayers and services, including weddings with up to 30 guests - subject to social distancing

In Northern Ireland, hotels, pubs and restaurants opened today.

Decisions on hospitality and holidays in Wales are expected in early July.

In Scotland, the hope is that from 15 July all holiday accommodation can open up, along with indoor areas of pubs and restaurants and hairdressers and barbers. Beer gardens should be able to reopen from 6 July.

Read about all the changing UK coronavirus measures here

Image source, AFP

The prospect of a summer holiday abroad has moved a big step closer for people in England, as the government eases quarantine rules.

From Saturday, the Foreign Office's warning against all but essential international travel will be lifted for some countries. And from 10 July, people returning to England from certain countries will not need to self-isolate.

But which countries will still have restrictions in place when you arrive? And what can you see and do when you get there?

We're rounding up all the information on key destinations such as Spain, Italy, France, Portugal and Greece. You can read the full guide here.

Image source, Cool Cottages Scotland

A tourism campaign has gathered hundreds of scenic views taken from windows of homes, attractions and businesses across Scotland.

VisitScotland's #AWindowOnScotland hashtag has been used 2,500 times on social media since it was launched three weeks ago.

It says the photos are reminder of what awaits once it is safe to relax restrictions. See more here.

India's capital, Delhi, is betting big on plasma therapry to treat coronavirus patients. On Thursday, the city unveiled its first plasma bank, which is meant to help patients get easier access to plasma.

Plasma therapy involves transfusing antibody-rich blood into Covid-19 patients.

"People were finding it really difficult to get plasma and the situation in Delhi was turning chaotic. To have a systematic approach, the plasma bank has been set up for treatment of corona patients. The bank will only be successful if people come forward," Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told local media, external. "I urge everyone who is eligible to donate," he added.

Plasma therapy is still in a trial stage in Delhi with only a handful of hospitals being allowed to administer it. The hope is that the antibodies in plasma from one patient could help to clear the virus in others.

In the past 24 hours, Delhi has reported more than 2,000 fresh cases, taking the total tally to over 90,000.

India has the fourth-highest number of cases in the world with more than 625,000 cases, including 18,213 deaths.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa is easing its lockdown, but the coronavirus is still devastating impoverished townships in the country.

In one township in Cape Town, Khayelitsha, doctors and residents have told the BBC's Andrew Harding that they're struggling to cope.

"Already this is spreading like wildfire," Eric Groemaere, a Belgian MSF doctor, says. "The hospitals in this region cannot cope."

Because of this, he says, the most severe cases are left in a palliative care section in a corner of the make-shift healthcare centre, where they are almost certain to die.

Read more about how the virus is continuing to affect townships in South Africa here

Hair salons in England are getting ready to reopen tomorrow, and many are overwhelmed with bookings. One salon reported getting 50,000 calls to their appointment line in just one hour.

But not everyone is rushing back. Some people have told the BBC that they prefer the DIY approach.

From a 12-year-old cutting her grandmother's hair to a mum giving her seven-year-old a new style, these are their stories.

Image source, PA Media

There were 29,000 more deaths in care homes in England and Wales during this year's coronavirus crisis compared with the same period last year, new figures reveal.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures give the clearest picture yet of the toll of the epidemic in care homes because they include the deaths of all residents, not just those who died in their home, said BBC head of statistics Robert Cuffe.

A quarter of care home residents died in hospital.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 19,394 of the 29,000 excess deaths, leaving almost 10,000 that were registered to other causes.

Coronavirus was the leading cause of death for men in care homes, accounting for a third of all deaths, and the second leading cause of death for women, after dementia and Alzheimer's disease, which accounted for a quarter of deaths.

Analysis by the ONS has previously suggested that many of the non-Covid deaths include undiagnosed coronavirus.

The week up to 12 June was the first point since early March when the number of death fell below last year's figures.

Across the UK, the number of newly confirmed cases each day has been falling since a peak in April.

But the virus is spreading more quickly in some areas than others, causing localised hotspots. Find out how many cases there are in your area here.

Boris Johnson was also asked by LBC about the trip to Greece that his father, Stanley, took on Wednesday, despite the country having blocked direct flights from the UK until at least mid-July.

Mr Johnson said: “I think you really ought to raise that with him. I am not going to get into details of family conversations.

“I think the overwhelming majority of the British people have understood what needs to be done and have been very prudent, and that is the right thing to do.”

The trip appeared to contradict Foreign Office advise against "all but essential travel".

But Stanley Johnson told the Daily Mail that he was travelling "on essential business" to make sure a holiday rental home was "Covid-proof".

Image source, EPA

Boris Johnson has been speaking on LBC radio this morning, where he was asked what would happen to people on the furlough scheme when it ends in October.

"You'll be hearing more about what we're going to do to support people next week from the Chancellor Rishi Sunak," he said.

Mr Sunak is due to make a statement on the economy then, and Labour shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds is calling for him to deliver a "back to work budget".

The prime minister also spoke to the Evening Standard yesterday, external, telling the paper that furlough was "keeping people in suspended animation" and "stopping them from actually working".

He also said he had a haircut booked for tomorrow and he would be having a night out with fiancée Carrie Symonds.

The virus has brought previously unimaginable changes to people's lives all over the world. And in difficult times, it's important to know that what you're seeing online is legitimate.

But sadly, there is a massive amount of misleading information out there.

In the video below, members of the BBC's anti-disinformation team offer insider tips on how to verify photos and videos online - so that you can be sure that what you're seeing is reliable.

Bethany Bell
BBC News, Vienna

Image source, AFP

There has been a rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Austria, after relatively stable figures through most of June.

The total number of active cases in Austria is now around 787, compared to 470 before the weekend.

A number of schools have been closed in several districts in the province of Upper Austria and almost 1,400 people are in quarantine there, after new outbreaks of coronavirus, including a cluster at a church. There are currently 229 active cases in the province, 99 of them connected to the church.

Zoe Kleinman
Technology reporter, BBC News

Of all the roles life has carved out for me, this one has to be one of the most unexpected.

But sharing my DIY lockdown kettlebell regime on social media, primarily for the purposes of self-motivation, has resulted in an avalanche of requests for help and support for others - mainly women - wanting to do the same.

My most recent picture, shared after eight weeks of almost (ahem) daily 20-minute workouts, had nearly 100,000 views and resulted in a very funny pitch from a fitness company wanting this 40-something BBC tech reporter to become a brand ambassador.

I'm not about to give up the day job, but it was a flattering - though undoubtedly misguided - gesture.

• Click here to read the full story

Image source, Getty Images

Quarantine rules in England are being abolished for travel from dozens of countries - including France, Spain, Italy and Germany. That means people arriving from these countries, including UK travellers coming home, will not have to spend 14 days in isolation.

But the other UK nations have not yet decided whether to relax their rules.

Travellers from England may also still face restrictions at their intended destinations.

Greece, a popular holiday destination with a low number of coronavirus deaths, says it will not accept direct UK flights until at least mid-July.

Austria requires Britons to self-isolate unless they have a recent medical certificate or test negative for coronavirus on arrival.

New Zealand has barred almost all foreign travellers from visiting, while those entering Australia require a special exemption visa and face a mandatory quarantine.

Read more about the rules

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning to our readers in the UK and Europe - and if you're joining us in Asia, good afternoon.

Here are some of the main headlines from around the world, to help you catch up.

• The US has reported its largest single-day jump in new cases since the start of the pandemic, with more than 53,000 reported on Thursday
• One US state seeing a surge in cases is Texas, where people have now been ordered to wear face coverings in public. Texas marked a record number of infections this week, with 8,000 new confirmed cases on Wednesday alone
• The Palestinian Authority is imposing a full five-day lockdown in the West Bank, starting from today, as cases of the virus continue to rise. Previous local restrictions in "red areas", including hard-hit cities Bethlehem and Hebron, failed to stop the spread of the virus
• South Korea has recorded its highest daily increase in cases in two weeks. In the past day the country reported 63 new infections, bringing the total to just under 13,000
• The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Tokyo have topped 100 for the second day in a row. The Japanese capital reported 124 cases today - the highest daily number since a national state of emergency was lifted in late May
• Melbourne is at a "critical stage" after an outbreak of the virus, despite Australia generally being a success story. Although the numbers are still below March's peak, most cases are now being spread locally instead of from people arriving from abroad
• North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised his country's handling of the virus as a "shining success". The country maintains that it has had zero cases, but most analysts say this is unlikely

There are a significant number of studies under way into potential treatments for Covid-19.

And some progress has been made in the search for effective medicines. But what everyone really wants to know is - how close are we to finding a cure?

For now, it's too soon to know when we might have a drug that can treat the virus, although we should start to get the results of trials in the next few months.

As for vaccines - research is happening at breakneck speed. About 80 groups around the world are researching vaccines and some are now entering clinical trials.

Read more about this and other questions here.

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