Summary

  • England reopens pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas after a major relaxation of lockdown curbs

  • Two households are now allowed to meet indoors or outside, including overnight stays

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

  • Nine tower blocks in the Australian city of Melbourne go under lockdown after a surge in cases

  • The US recorded its largest single-day rise in infections on Friday, with more than 57,000 recorded

  • America's 4 July Independence Day celebrations are muted this year with cities cancelling parades

  • Worldwide, more than 11 million people have now been infected and more than 525,000 have died

  • Official UK death toll for those who have tested positive for Covid-19 reaches 44,198 - a rise of 67

  1. Northern Ireland: What has changed and what hasn't?published at 18:02 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    A golfer tees off at Masserene Golf Club in AntrimImage source, Pacemaker
    Image caption,

    Golf was one of the first sports allowed to resume in Northern Ireland as lockdown measures were relaxed

    You can go to the pub, you can play a round of golf and you can tie the knot (in a low-key sort of way) - but you still can't get your hair cut.

    So what can and can't you do under the the current set of lockdown guidelines in Northern Ireland?

    For residents and visitors, all your questions are answered here.

  2. Restaurant manager: 'It will be difficult to survive like this'published at 17:50 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Winnie Agbonlahor
    BBC News online reporter

    The Port House manager Laura Sanz
    Image caption,

    Laura Sanz manages The Port House in Covent Garden, London

    The Port House on The Strand in central London is normally a busy tapas bar with customers queuing to get in before or after one of the many matinee theatre shows performed on a Saturday.

    But even though it could finally open again today after months of being closed, the place is not quite back to its usual self.

    Only a handful of tables were occupied for lunch and some people who had booked a table cancelled or simply didn't turn up.

    "I think some people got scared at the last minute," restaurant manager Laura Sanz says.

    "It's a completely different atmosphere in here, compared to usually."

    There is hand sanitiser everywhere, music had to be turned down so that people can hear each other talk from a distance.

    Even the wine menu had to be cut from five pages to one so that staff have less to wipe down after each customer, Ms Sanz explains.

    General menus are printed on paper and discarded after each customer, and candles, candle holders, tables and chairs are all sanitised after people leave.

    But most notably, it is "very quiet," Ms Sanz says.

    The theatre crowd is not the only footfall the Port House is missing out on.

    A lot of its custom used to come from guests at the Savoy Hotel, opposite, the majority of whom were Americans.

    "But they can't travel here because of the quarantine," she says.

    What about the well-to-do people who live in central London? Aren't they excited to eat out again?

    "If you're rich enough to live in the West End, you'll have a second home in the countryside," Ms Sanz says. "So no one is living here anymore."

    The government advice to avoid public transport and increased congestion charge don't help either, she adds.

    "If nothing changes, it's going to be very difficult to survive," she says.

  3. Americans urged to keep Independence Day low keypublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Fireworks flare up in the sky over Mt. Rushmore National Monument in Keystone, South Dakota, USA, 03 July 2020Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Fireworks are a high point of Independence Day celebrations in the US

    Americans have been urged to tone down their 4th of July celebrations, amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

    Beaches have been closed, parades cancelled and fireworks display have been put on hold amid fears that large-scale gatherings could further fuel the spread of the virus.

    On Friday the country registered a record 57,562 new cases, according to Covid Tracking Project data.

    Florida, one of the most popular destinations for getaways, recorded a new single-day high on Saturday with 11,458 new infections. Miami Beach has imposed a weekend curfew and made it mandatory to wear a mask in public.

    Despite safety concerns expressed by Washington's mayor, President Trump is planning to host a large party at the White House. Hundreds of doctors and nurses who have been treating Covid-19 patients are due to attend.

  4. PM's father defends trip to Greece despite ban on non-essential travelpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    File photo of Stanley JohnsonImage source, PA Media

    Earlier this week, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's father was criticised for travelling to Greece during the coronavirus lockdown.

    Stanley Johnson shared a number of pictures on his Instagram account on Wednesday, showing him arriving in Athens and at an airport in a mask. You can read our story here.

    The guidance on air travel from the UK Foreign Office advises against "all but essential international travel" because of the virus.

    Speaking to reporters today, Mr Johnson defended his decision to travel there and then post about it on social media.

    Referring to his time in Greece, Mr Johnson said: "I came here to have a quiet time, to organise the house.

    "I think I'm going to go back on July 10. So, I have just got one week to get everything organised. Got a whole lot of instructions about how to make the place Covid-proof."

    Asked if he had put his son, the PM, in a difficult position by travelling to Greece, Mr Johnson added: "I have read his answers and he is absolutely right to say... that, you know what... and I think... I am not going to talk about private conversations between family members... and, I am absolutely not going to talk about that."

  5. Bride shows wedding ring through windowpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    As lockdown restrictions are eased, many couples are taking the opportunity to tie the knot.

    Most ceremonies are capped to 30 guests, so for Tracie Kenny, the first time her parents knew she was a newly-wed was when she showed them her wedding ring through the window.

    Tracie KennyImage source, PA Media

    Tracie and Neal Arden leave their wedding ceremony at a hotel in Ironbridge, Shropshire as guests throw confetti - from a distance.

    Tracie Kenny and Neal ArdenImage source, PA Media
  6. Roads 'very, very busy' as people head to south-west Englandpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    traffic on the A303 towards Dorset as lockdown restrictions eased on Saturday.Image source, Nina Parker/PA Media
    Image caption,

    Traffic on the A303 towards Dorset on Saturday

    Roads in south-west England were "very, very busy" on Saturday, as lockdown restrictions were lifted, allowing holiday accommodation to reopen.

    Traffic cameras and pictures on social media showed busy motorways and service station car parks.

    Andrew Green, from Cornwall, recorded footage , externalof cars queuing on the A303 near Stonehenge on their way to the South West, at 07:45 BST on Saturday.

    Meanwhile, Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police's roads policing teams tweeted: "The roads are wet and very, very busy heading in to Devon and Cornwall.

    "We're out in force trying to keep things moving but please keep a safe distance, use your headlights and ensure you check your caravan before your journey as many have been laid up for a long time."

    Read the full story here.

  7. How widespread is coronavirus now in Scotland?published at 16:53 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Woman leaving shop in maskImage source, Getty Images

    On Saturday, Scotland once again recorded no Covid-related deaths.

    A total of 2,488 patients in Scotland have died after testing positive - although the actual number of fatalities is believed to be far higher.

    The first coronavirus case in Scotland was detected on 1 March and there are now 18,287 confirmed cases.

    However, the prevalence of the virus in the community is decreasing.

    At its peak, there were 430 new cases confirmed on 31 March; on Saturday, there were just 11 new cases.

    Similarly, the number of patients in intensive care appears to have peaked on 12 April and has been mainly declining since then.

    Read on for all the key figures and trends relating to coronavirus in Scotland.

  8. Peru cuts number of bank holidays to boost economypublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra speaking during a televised announcement on June 30, 2020Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Peru's president wants the economy to restart after more than three months of lockdown

    Peruvians will this year only be given one day off work on 28 July to celebrate Peru's independence from Spain, rather than the traditional three days.

    President Martín Vizcarra said the measure would deliver a boost to the economy, which has been badly battered by the pandemic.

    Peru was one of the first countries in Latin America to go into lockdown in mid-March and most shops only started reopening on 1 July.

    Despite its early lockdown and strict measures, Peru is the country with the second-highest number of cases in Latin America.

    Read more about why.

  9. Nigel Farage, a pub and quarantinepublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Chris Mason
    Political Correspondent

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    The acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, has written to Kent Police , externalasking them to investigate whether the Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has broken quarantine rules.

    Mr Farage tweeted a picture of himself , externalat lunchtime today having a pint in a pub.

    Exactly a fortnight ago, Mr Farage tweeted, external from a trip to America, where he was a guest at a rally for President Donald Trump.

    So how has he managed to quarantine back in the UK for 14 days, if he was in the States two weeks ago?

    Mr Farage insists , externalhe has "been back from the USA for two weeks".

    His spokesman told me he flew straight back to Britain on the same day and claimed a negative coronavirus test after he got back had allowed him to head back out and about again.

    But the Department of Health has told me getting a test does not get you out of quarantining - self isolating at home - because a test could amount to a false negative; you could be harbouring the virus but not yet be symptomatic.

  10. What are UK travel rules and which countries can you visit?published at 16:20 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    A girl looking at her phone in an airport. File photoImage source, Getty Images

    Passengers entering England from dozens of countries will no longer have to quarantine from 10 July.

    The government has issued a list of 59 countries and territories, external - including many popular holiday spots - which now pose ''a reduced risk'' from coronavirus.

    However, not all of them have ended restrictions for UK tourists when they arrive there.

    So, read our full story about where UK nationals can go without quarantining when they get back?

  11. What progress are we making on coronavirus treatment?published at 16:11 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Medics wearing PPEImage source, Getty Images

    There's a lot of research under way to understand more about the coronavirus and ways it can be treated.

    More than 150 drugs are being trialled around the world. Most are existing medicines that are being tested against the virus.

    From dexamethasone to remdesivir - what does it all mean?

  12. 'It's not the drink, it's the banter with everyone'published at 15:58 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Bar staff in PPE pour drinks at the reopening The Toll Gate, a Wetherspoons pub in Hornsey, north London, as coronavirus lockdown restrictions are eased across EnglandImage source, PA Media

    In Chester in England - just a few miles away from the border with Wales, where pubs are still shut - pub-goers have been enjoying their first pints.

    "Heaven," said Bert Lockley, a regular at the Shropshire Arms, which served its first drinkers at 11:00.

    "I've missed this more than my missus when she left. You can drink at home but you can't get this feeling anywhere else."

    "I was looking forward to getting my hair cut and coming here," he told the PA news agency. "But I couldn't get my hair cut - they were queuing down the street, and I came straight here."

    Another customer, Frank Green, said: "It's not the drink, it's the banter with everyone else.

    "I felt a bit anxious coming in for the first time today. I think it will be fine, the landlord is very good, he doesn't stand for any nonsense."

    Mr Green's wife, Christine, added: "We will just see how it goes. If you get people in not playing by the rules you can just leave."

  13. What changes will await you in the pub?published at 15:39 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    A customer reacts as he walks with two pints of beer past an information board giving advice on new anti-covid measures inside the Wetherspoon pub, Goldengrove in Stratford in east LondonImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The Goldengrove in Stratford, east London, has put up signs about the guidelines

    Many pubs in England have already welcomed their first customers from this morning - and business is expected to pick up later for their first Saturday night post-lockdown. In Northern Ireland, pubs have been open since Friday.

    There are various measures in place to improve safety, including:

    • Music will be kept at a low volume so people don't shout
    • Bottles of ketchup and mayonnaise will be replaced by individual sachets
    • Contact details - a name and phone number - will be taken from one person per group and the times they arrived and left should be noted down
    • Access to toilets will be controlled

    Read more about the rules to keep pubs safe here.

  14. Clockwise walking on York's historic city wallspublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Grace Parnell
    BBC News, Yorkshire

    York's historic wallsImage source, LDRS

    York's Roman city walls are reopening with a clockwise one-way system to help social distancing.

    A York City Council spokesperson said there would be signs at all entry and exit points along the two-mile-long walls, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

    The council said it meant residents and visitors could enjoy the beauty of the walls once again safely.

    The city's original walls were built by Romans in 71 AD.

    Council leader Keith Aspden said: "York's city walls are the most complete and finest in England, making them one of our most treasured historical assets.

    "We're delighted to be able to reopen them again to residents and visitors."

    York Minster will also introduce distancing measures, including a register of worshippers for contact tracing.

  15. Shops in Mexico City close again as cases surgepublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    People wait to enter a store in Mexico City on 1 July 2020Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    People in Mexico City were keen to hit the shops but some didn't abide by the rules

    Shops in the historic centre of Mexico City have been ordered to close for the weekend, only three days after they reopened as part of an easing of lockdown measures.

    The move comes after Mexico recorded its second-highest number of new infections nationwide on Friday, just one below the record of 6,741.

    Shops in the centre of the capital were too overcrowded to be safe, local authorities said.

    City officials have warned shopkeepers that if they don't impose social distancing measures, their shops could be closed down for two weeks. They also threatened to close down entire shopping streets if more than 30% of businesses don't enforce the rules.

  16. How to keep your guests safe from the viruspublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Having people over this weekend?

    Under the changes to the rules in England, one household can spend time with another one indoors so long as they follow social distancing guidelines.

    So what should you do to keep people safe? Think about how you position chairs, bring your own food and cutlery and make sure guests wipe the bathroom down are among the tips. Here's more:

    Media caption,

    Lockdown rules when people come to my house

  17. City of Leicester deserted as lockdown continuespublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Police patrol by a clock tower

    While pubs, cinemas and hair salons are opening across the rest of England, in Leicester the lockdown continues.

    Restaurants, shops and pubs remain closed, and police patrol the streets.

    You can read more about what's happening in Leicester here.

    Police in Leicester
  18. 'It's like starting a new job', say returning hairdresserspublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Lauren Hirst
    BBC News

    Abbie Denton
    Image caption,

    Abbie Denton at Rush hair salon in Manchester

    When Rush Hair opened its doors at 09:00 BST it was "like starting a new job", according to salon manager Abbie Denton.

    The salon, on Deansgate in Manchester city centre, is fully booked for the next few days.

    Ms Denton said: "We had a full training day yesterday where we went through everything about the PPE and health and safety and we had a Zoom call with the CEO this morning, which was all about team building and got everything raring to go. It’s exciting to be back."

    Over in the city's Northern Quarter, Jake Bird rushed to get his haircut at Maclure Barbers and was one of the first customers through the door, saying it felt amazing.

    Manager Jason Mellows said there had been a couple of glitches with the booking system but it was a relief to finally reopen.

    Barber cutting hair in Maclure
    Image caption,

    A barber at Maclure cuts hair while wearing a visor

  19. Further 39 virus deaths among patients in Englandpublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    A further 39 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died in hospitals across England, NHS England has said.

    Patients were aged between 45 and 99 years old. All patients had known underlying health conditions.

    It brings the total number of deaths in hospitals in England to 28,871.

    Figures for the whole of the UK will be released later.