Kerry Allen
BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst

Image source, Reuters

From Monday, people in China will be able to visit the cinema again – but a visit won’t be like it was before.

The China Film Administration has issued strict guidelines to staff and visitors about what they can expect from 20 July, when cinemas reopen their doors in low-risk areas. That means pretty much everywhere, with the exception of some areas of Beijing.

Cinemas must not exceed 30% capacity, and everyone visiting must undergo temperature checks, before sitting in alternate seats, at least one metre apart. There are no exceptions for family members, or dates.

There won’t be any food or drink allowed, and cinema-goers must wear masks at all time. They must buy their tickets online beforehand.

And they won’t be watching any slow-burning epics. The official body says that the films shown must not exceed two hours, and that there should be extended intervals for cleaning and disinfecting.

This might mean some swift last minute scene-cutting for a number of box offices flicks, which China has been no stranger to doing previously.

Image source, Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Amid ongoing discussions about mask use across the UK, cabinet minister Michael Gove has been out wearing one this morning.

Gove said last weekend that there was no need for face coverings to become mandatory in England, and that he trusted people's common sense about when to wear one.

Two days later the government announced the rule for England, which will be enforced on 24 July - with fines for those who do not comply.

After Gove was criticised for not wearing a mask in a Pret a Manger store, the government suggested there would be an exemption on the shops rule in England for people takeaway food.

Opposition parties said the "days of ministerial muddle" demonstrated the government's indecision throughout the pandemic.

But back to today - Gove has been sporting an NHS-themed face covering, complete with rainbows, on a trip out for coffee and a sandwich.

But it seems he needs to finesse the system as his glasses appear to be steamed up. We kindly point him towards our excellent video on how to deal with this problem - here's the link in case you missed it too.

Image source, Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Image source, EPA

The White House said President Trump followed Center for Disease Control guidelines during a visit to Atlanta on Wednesday.

It comes after Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms claimed the president broke the law by not wearing a mask at the city’s airport.

The airport is owned by the City of Atlanta, which is currently under an order requiring the wearing of masks.

Trump was there to deliver a speech about infrastructure projects. He did not leave the airport.

Speaking on CNN,, external Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said: "So by not having on a mask, President Trump did violate law in the city of Atlanta, but I am somehow not surprised that he disregarded our rules and regulations in the city," she said.

Later on Wednesday, the White House did not directly address the Mayor’s claims but said the president followed Center for Disease Control guidelines.

A spokesperson for the White House said: “When preparing for and carrying out any travel, White House House Operations collaborates with the Physician to the President and the White House Military Office, to ensure plans incorporate current CDC guidance and best practices for limiting COVID-19 exposure to the greatest extent possible."

Image source, EPA

With India recording an increasing number of cases, local authorities across the country are reimposing lockdowns, not long after they were lifted.

Nearly a dozen states have imposed restrictions as the number of infections surpassed 900,000. About 30,000 cases were confirmed on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Bihar state went back into lockdown. About 100 million people live in the northern state, which borders Nepal.

The restrictions are expected to last 15 days with all schools, temples and non-essential businesses ordered to close.

Public transport has also shut down however people are reporting near-normal traffic loads there, according to AFP news agency.

People who are "shielding" in Scotland are to be allowed to stay in holiday accommodation and visit outdoor markets and gardens, in a change to advice.

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said virus restrictions for the most vulnerable group are to be eased from Friday.

This will allow these people to go out more, and for couples who do not live together to meet up without distancing.

And the first minister said it was hoped the need for shielding could be paused entirely at the end of July.

Image source, IDIL SUKAN

Here are the biggest coronavirus-related stories across the UK this lunchtime:

• The number of workers on UK company payrolls fell by 649,000 between March and June, official figures indicate - with young people hit particularly hard

• In Scotland, restrictions for those shielding are to be eased from tomorrow, and guidance has also been issued for schools - all of whom expect to return next month
• In Leicester, which is subject to a local lockdown, the mayor has called for 90% of the city's restrictions to be lifted and said residents will be "very angry" if measures are extended further
• Oxford University scientists working on a major programme for a vaccine are among those calling forvolunteers to be exposed to the virusafter receiving a vaccine, to test it out

• Meanwhile, a major tour of the hit musical Six, which had sold out several drive-in venues in the UK, has been cancelled due to uncertainties over local lockdowns

• And England fast bowler Jofra Archer has been excluded from the second Test against West Indies after breaching bio-secure protocols designed to curb the spread of the virus

Image source, Getty Images

The pandemic in the US has had huge economic implications, with millions losing their jobs and fearing they cannot make mortgage payments or pay rent. A number of states introduced evictions bans earlier this year to prevent people being forced onto the streets.

Now campaigners are calling on Arizona Governor Doug Ducey to extend the ban in his state, which is due to expire on 23 July.

Arizona is now a hotspot for coronavirus, with 3,257 new infections and 97 more deaths reported on Wednesday.

It also experiences scorching summer temperatures, raising concerns about the health of anyone evicted.

“It’s so hot in Arizona, you cannot live outside if you lose your home,” said Meghan Heddings, executive director of Family Housing Resources in Tucson, told ABC News.

One think tank, the Aspen Institute, predicts 20% of US renters will be at risk of eviction, external by the end of September.

Image source, Reuters

The number of coronavirus-related deaths has exceeded 150,000 in Latin America, according to the World Health Organization. Here's some more news from the region:

• Argentina has suspended exports from eight meat processing plants to China after employees tested positive for coronavirus. Meat processing plants have been hot spots for contagions across the world. Read more about why here.
• Argentina also registered its highest daily number of cases on Wednesday when 4,250 people tested positive and the biggest number of fatalities in 24 hours with 82 deaths.
• The Chamber of Deputies in Chile has passed a bill which would allow people to withdraw up to 10% from their privately held pension funds early to ease their financial problems during the pandemic. Its approval is big defeat for the government, which argued that the measure would create problems further down the line. Opposition lawmaker Pamela Jiles, who says it will save poor Chileans from going hungry, did a little victory dance to celebrate.

Image source, Getty Images

The government of the Spanish region of Aragon announced Thursday the slaughter of 92,700 mink after a number of the animals tested positive for coronavirus.

In May authorities closed the mink farm in La Puebla de Valverde when seven employees tested positive for the virus. Since then they have been monitoring the animals.

Although the mink have not been behaving strangely and there has been no rise in mortality among them, Monday’s test showed 78 of 90 mink sampled had the virus. As a result, officials ordered the cull to prevent the spread among other animals.

Aragon’s Department of Agriculture added that it “cannot determine if there is transmission from humans to animals or vice versa,” and that this decision was taken “as a preventive measure”.

You can read more about mink, coronavirus and the fur trade here

Image source, Getty Images

Pupils will not have to physically distance when Scotland's schools return in August, but teachers will, new advice to ministers has suggested.

Ministers have set a target for schools to reopen in full from 11 August.

A new report , externalfrom advisers said "no distancing" should be required between pupils in primary or secondary schools.

But it said staff should stay 2m (6ft 6in) apart from each other and put on face coverings when coming into closer contact with children.

It is also recommended that "higher risk" group activities like assemblies, choirs and gym and drama classes should not be reintroduced immediately.

Read more here.

Image source, PA Media

More than 100 prominent figures including Nobel laureates have signed an open letter calling for volunteers to be exposed to the coronavirus after receiving a vaccine.

The letter, addressed to the US National Institutes of Health, says these “challenge trials” could accelerate vaccine development.

It says the trial would involve young, healthy volunteers.

Oxford University’s Covid-19 vaccine programme director said such studies should be “feasible and informative”.

There are now 23 vaccines in clinical trials around the world.

The only way we will know if any of them works, is if enough volunteers are subsequently exposed to coronavirus in their daily life and do not get infected.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Counselling sessions for under-12s in the UK with mental health concerns have risen a third over the lockdown, charity figures show.

Childline held 21,827 counselling sessions about mental health concerns from 23 March to 28 June, of which almost 2,000 were for 11-year-olds and under, the NSPCC said.

This is a 37% rise in the average number of weekly counselling sessions about mental health - with 133 held per week, up from 97 pre-lockdown.

One eight year-old-girl told Childline: "I live with just my mum and don't see dad much.

"We live in a tiny flat and sometimes we get so angry with each other we end up fighting.

"After we have had a fight I hurt myself because I feel like I am not good enough."

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: "There is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has had a direct impact on the mental health of many of our children and young people across the country.

"It is concerning that we have seen an increase in children under 11 reaching out to us for support, emphasising that the impact of this pandemic is being felt by our youngest children too."

Image source, Getty Images

Racing at the Del Mar track in California has been suspended after 15 jockeys tested positive for coronavirus.

The season began on 10 July but without spectators at the races.

The jockeys are all asymptomatic and are self-isolating at home, officials said.

Racing should resume on 24 July, they confirmed.

Guy Hedgecoe
Freelance journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The tribute to Spain's victims of coronavirus is a reminder of what a tragedy the pandemic has been for the country, taking over 28,000 lives and pushing the healthcare system to its limit in March and April.

The brother of one of those killed by the virus addressed those present at the ceremony, underlining the importance of compassion during crises such as this one.

A healthcare worker from Catalonia spoke of the challenges she and colleagues faced as the impact of Covid-19 mounted.

Although this tribute comes several weeks after Spain lifted its strict lockdown, the country remains wary.

There have been several new, relatively small outbreaks across Spain. Larger outbreaks in the northeastern Catalonia region have led to the area of Segrià having a new lockdown introduced and recommended restrictions have been implemented in the city of L´Hospitalet de Llobregat as local healthcare services are again coming under pressure.

Image source, REUTERS

Leicester's mayor says his residents will be "very angry indeed" if a lockdown in the city is extended further.

Leicester became the first city in the UK to have tight restrictions reimposed following a rise in infections last month.

Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby is now urging the government to lift the measures in 90% of the city.

He said he hopes Health Secretary Matt Hancock "will allow us and trust us at a local level to work with the people of the city".

The most recent official data shows the number of new cases of coronavirus per 100,000 population in Leicester dropped from 127.2 in the seven days to 5 July to 104.4 in the week to 12 July.

It was 143.6 in the period before the local lockdown was imposed at the end of June.

Mr Hancock is to make an "important statement" to MPs about the virus at 17:00 BST - and we think this will be about Leicester.

Image source, Getty Images

The Balkan state of Bosnia-Herzegovina came into being in the 1990s after the bloody collapse of Yugoslavia.

Divided down ethnic lines, the country was split into two entities – the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Republika Srpska – which have separate constitutions and separate prime ministers.

But the two now have something in common: the prime ministers of both entities have been diagnosed with coronavirus.

Fadil Novalic, leader of Bosnia’s Federation entity, started to feel unwell at events to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. He’s now been hospitalised and is in a coronavirus ward in Sarajevo.

His counterpart Radovan Viskovic, Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, tested positive for the virus on Wednesday.

Many Balkan nations have seen a record rise in cases in the last week, including Bosnia. According to Johns Hopkins University, the country has confirmed 7,411 cases and has a recorded death toll of 235.

Image source, Getty Images

Zindzi Mandela, the youngest daughter of South Africa's first democratically elected president Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, died in Johannesburg earlier this week at the age of 59.

It's now been found that she tested positive for Covid-19.

Her son Zondwa Mandela told public broadcaster SABC that it was unclear if the disease caused her death, and the family is waiting for the autopsy report.

He said his mother will be buried on Friday morning.

Image source, GETTY IMAGES

Jobs are being cut around the UK because of the impact of coronavirus, but the unemployment rate has remained unchanged.

However, the number of people claiming unemployment benefits surged to 2.6 million between March and June, according to official figures.

So what is going on in the UK's labour market, and how bad is the unemployment rate?

Find out in this explainer from our business reporter, Ben King.

Image source, Getty Images

It will be compulsory to wear a face mask in enclosed indoor spaces from next week, French Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced.

Yesterday President Emmanuel Macron has said it would become mandatory from 1 August.

Castex told the Senate earlier today that the deadline was moved forwards, external after suggestions that August was too late.

In Mayenne region, in north-west France, the order will come into force on Thursday , externaldue to concern over a rise in cases.

Until now it has been obligatory to wear masks on public transport and where social distancing is not possible.

Mark Savage
Music reporter, BBC News

Image source, IDIL SUKAN

A major tour of the hit musical Six, which had sold out several drive-in venues in the UK, has been cancelled due to uncertainties over local coronavirus lockdowns.

The concert series, organised by Live Nation, was expected to feature performances by Kaiser Chiefs, Dizzee Rascal, Sigala and others.

Promoters said the "latest developments over local lockdowns" meant they couldn't proceed "with any confidence".

Ticket-holders will get full refunds.

Six's producer, Kenny Wax, said: "We are so very disappointed to have received the news of the cancellation.

"We know that ultimately there is nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of our company and the Six Queendom [the show's fans]. We look forward to better times."

Image source, LIVE NATION