Summary

  • UK PM 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

  • England at "outer edge" of how much restrictions can be eased, says chief medical officer

  • Millions in northern England face new restrictions after a spike in cases

  • Hong Kong postpones elections after a spike in cases

  • Spain records its biggest daily rise in cases since its lockdown was lifted last month

  • A record 292,527 new cases reported worldwide on Friday - WHO

  • Vietnam reports its first death, months into the pandemic

  • Globally there have been more than 17m cases and nearly 700,000 deaths

  1. Australia's Victoria may impose tougher lockdown as cases risepublished at 09:24 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    Police patrol near the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, AustraliaImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Police were called to an anti-mask protest on Melbourne on Friday

    The Australia state of Victoria may need to tighten coronavirus restrictions further as infections continue to rise despite weeks of lockdown, premier Daniel Andrews has warned.

    A further eight deaths and 627 cases were reported on Friday, a drop from the record daily rise of 723 infections a day earlier.

    Most of Victoria's new cases were detected in Melbourne, Australia's second-biggest city, where a six-week lockdown began on 7 July.

    Andrews told a news conference on Friday that the “these numbers are far too high”.

    He added “we need to take further steps” to bring the outbreak under control, without giving more details.

    Under Melbourne's stay-at-home order, people cannot leave their home except for exercise, food shopping, work and care-giving.

  2. Analysis: Better testing means we can buy timepublished at 09:12 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    James Gallagher
    Health and science correspondent, BBC News

    A woman walking down the street with a face mask and glovesImage source, PA Media

    There is an inescapable fact in the UK – the coronavirus has not gone away and it still thrives on close human contact.

    The more we come together the easier it will spread.

    We have seen this happen as national lockdowns have been lifted from Europe, to the US, to Australia and more.

    Better testing means we can now spot where cases are starting to spike.

    The warning signs are in the data with cases climbing in areas like Manchester, Trafford, Salford and Tameside.

    The hope is the government has acted quickly enough to suppress the virus with “local restrictions” before it becomes a national problem.

    It is now the turn of millions of people in northern England to take the hit, but local lockdowns could happen anywhere.

    This is the "new normal" as we buy time until a vaccine is developed.

  3. Brazil’s president takes antibiotics for infectionpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    Michelle Bolsonaro and Jair BolsonaroImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Michelle Bolsonaro (L) tested positive for the virus on Thursday

    Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has said he is taking antibiotics for an infection that has left him weak, after he fell ill with Covid-19 earlier this month.

    "I just had a blood test. I was a little weak yesterday. I have a bit of an infection and I'm on antibiotics now,” Bolsonaro said in a livestream video on Thursday.

    Bolsonaro said he had “mould in my lungs”, without elaborating, after spending almost a month in quarantine at his presidential residence.

    The president tested positive for coronavirus on 7 July, but has since been given the all clear.

    His wife, First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro, tested positive for the virus on Thursday, the presidential palace said.

    Bolsonaro has previously compared Covid-19 to a "little flu" and complained about lockdown measures and their effect on the economy.

    Brazil is second only to the US in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths.

  4. Hancock defends giving three hours' notice for new rules in Englandpublished at 08:44 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    More now on the tightening of restrictions in parts of northern England.

    Asked why the new measures were announced three hours before they were due to come into force, Health Secretary Matt Hancock says: "We announced the decision as soon as practical, and I think that's what people expect.

    "One of the features of this pandemic is that in government we have had to take decisions swiftly and then announce them swiftly so that people know about them as soon as possible."

    He adds that the government had put together advertising campaigns to communicate changing rules.

    Read more about the changes here.

  5. Vietnam reports its first Covid-19 deathpublished at 08:37 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
    Breaking

    Vietnamese state media has just confirmed a patient has died of coronavirus - the first death from the virus in the country.

    Vietnam had had extraordinary success in keeping the virus out after shutting its borders early and imposing strict quarantine and contact tracing.

    But a new outbreak in Da Nang, a tourist city on the central coast, has caused alarm, as the origin has not yet been identified.

    Cases are also springing up around the country, after three months with none.

  6. UK chancellor 'must protect' jobs of those shieldingpublished at 08:29 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    Chancellor Rishi SunakImage source, Getty Images

    Charities are calling on the UK's chancellor to protect the jobs of workers who have been shielding during the pandemic.

    A total of 15 charities have warned in an open letter that workers will be forced to choose between health and their jobs, when restrictions ease.

    "Some of these workers will find themselves in an impossible position," the letter says.

    From 1 August, extremely clinically vulnerable people who have stayed at home to protect themselves from coronavirus in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are allowed to return to work.

    But charities including Age UK and Macmillan Cancer Support have said that these employees could be at risk of being made redundant, or returning to the workplace when they do not feel it is safe.

    A government spokesperson said that the government had "worked tirelessly" to support the clinically vulnerable.

    Read more here.

  7. Vietnam reports record daily increasepublished at 08:22 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    People who returned from Da Nang city register to have their blood testedImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    The new outbreak in Vietnam started in Danang city

    Vietnam has reported 45 new coronavirus infections in the resort city of Danang, the country's highest daily increase in cases since its outbreak began.

    The outbreak in the city, a popular destination for tourists, saw Vietnam record its first locally transmitted cases for more than three month last week.

    Now authorities are scrambling to stamp out the outbreak, with more than 100 health workers sent to Danang to help out.

    In the capital Hanoi, testing has been increased and gatherings have been banned as part of those efforts.

    The new infections reported in Danang on Friday brought the total number of cases to 509 nationwide. There have been no deaths in Vietnam.

    Vietnam earned plaudits for its initial response to the pandemic, which saw it bring in strict travel restrictions and launch an aggressive test-and-trace programme.

  8. Hancock: Test and trace data shows virus spreading through home visitspublished at 08:11 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    BBC Breakfast

    Matt HancockImage source, Reuters

    Explaining his decision to ban separate households from meeting indoors in many parts of northern England, Health Secretary Matt Hancock says test and trace data given during contact tracing has shown "most of the transmission is happening between households" and between people visiting family and friends.

    "Whenever anybody tests positive, the vast majority of them we manage to speak to, and we ask which contacts they've had.

    "That's shown that the vast majority of contact of people who have the virus, other than people in their own household... is from households visiting and then visiting friends and relatives."

    He says the data has allowed for the more targeted measures, rather than more blanket rules seen previously.

    "In a way, one of the terrible things about this virus is it thrives on the sort of social contact that makes life worth living," he says.

  9. India death toll rises to fifth-highestpublished at 08:04 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    Nearly 800 deaths were reported from India on Thursday, taking the total to more than 35,500, and surpassing Italy to become the country with the fifth-highest number of fatalities.

    Another new record of daily infections - over 54,000 - has meant that the infections in India have crossed 1.6 million, the third highest anywhere in the world.

    India locked down in late March and started to open up in June in phases. On Wednesday, the home ministry announced a new round of "unlock" measures, including re-opening gyms from 5 August and hotels.

    On Friday, the capital Delhi said it would start to reopen hotels - but keep gyms closed for now.

    A care ward in New DelhiImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    A care ward in New Delhi

  10. How long should I self-isolate?published at 07:52 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    The BBC’s Laura Foster explains how you can recognise the symptoms of coronavirus.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus symptoms: What are they and how long should I self-isolate?

  11. Not a lockdown but modest steps - Manchester's mayorpublished at 07:38 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    Andy Burnham

    Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, says the tightening of restrictions announced late last night are "modest steps".

    "This isn't a lockdown," he says. "This is asking people to take extra precautions, particularly with regard to who visits their home.

    "The aim of course is to prevent a lockdown."

    Burnham said the prospect of Muslims gathering in each other's houses to celebrate the festival of Eid this weekend had been a concern, adding that there was "no doubt" that asking people not to do so was a big ask.

    "Everybody feels for people who had their plans and those plans have now been disrupted. The reality is people still can hold gatherings... within their household, but not by having visitors into their homes."

    "Though it's a difficult reality for people to wake up to today, the truth is we're going to have to get used to this."

    "This will be a more regular feature of life in Britain as we live with Covid," he says.

  12. Tokyo governor considers state of emergencypublished at 07:33 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    People wearing masks ride an escalator at Roppongi district in Tokyo, JapanImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Bars and restaurants have been asked to close early in Tokyo

    Tokyo’s governor has said a state of emergency may need to be declared in the Japanese capital if coronavirus cases continue to rise.

    Yuriko Koike said there were 463 new coronavirus infections on Friday, the biggest daily increase yet.

    On Thursday Tokyo's government asked restaurants and karaoke bars to limit their operating hours amid worries over the recent spike in infections.

    Coronavirus cases are on the rise in Japan, which reported 1,305 new infections on Thursday, a daily record for the second straight day.

    Despite this Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said on Friday it was not necessary for the government to reimpose a nationwide state of emergency at this point.

  13. Home visits banned in parts of northern Englandpublished at 07:20 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    Media caption,

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock explains why restrictions are being tightened

    Separate households have been banned from meeting each other indoors in Greater Manchester and parts of east Lancashire and 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.

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

    More than four million residents of Greater Manchester, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale, Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees will be affected by the tightening of restrictions.

    Read more about the new restrictions here.

  14. Global headlines: Japan sees record daily casespublished at 07:18 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    A young woman wearing a protective mask walks through the underground in Roppongi district in TokyoImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Japan has recorded a record daily rise in cases for the second day in a row

    Here are some of the key updates from around the world:

    • Japan says it recorded at least 1,305 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, a record daily increase for the second consecutive day
    • Vietnam reported 45 new coronavirus infections in the city of Danang, the single biggest rise in cases since the start of its outbreak
    • Mexico has posted 639 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the country's toll to 46,000, almost equalling that of the UK’s
    • The president of the Philippines has extended lockdown restrictions in the capital Manila, saying they will remain in place until mid-August
    • Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has said he was taking antibiotics for an infection after testing positive for coronavirus earlier this month
    • US President Donald Trump has been rebuked by Republicans for suggesting a delay to November’s presidential election, over concerns about mail-in voting during the pandemic
    • Herman Cain, the Republican pizza chain boss who ran for president in 2012, has died after contracting Covid-19.
  15. The latest headlines in the UKpublished at 07:15 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    There have been big changes overnight for more than four million people in the UK after the health secretary announced a tightening of lockdown in parts of northern England.

    • Separate households have been banned from meeting each other indoors in Greater Manchester and parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire following a spike in coronavirus cases.
    • A number of care homes in England are having to delay the resumption of visits because of a lack of coronavirus testing for staff and residents. A leading care home group told the BBC many of its facilities would not be able to host family members for weeks.
    • Charities are calling on the chancellor to protect the jobs of workers who have been shielding during the pandemic, warning that workers will be forced to choose between health and their jobs, when restrictions ease.
    • The rules on how many people can meet outdoors in Wales will be eased next week, the Welsh Government has announced. Since early June outdoor meetings have been restricted to just two households.
  16. Live coverage beginspublished at 07:13 British Summer Time 31 July 2020

    Thom, Josh and Dulcie here, bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic from around the world.

    Worldwide the total number of cases has passed 17.2 million, while deaths are closing in on 700,000, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University.

    In the UK, people in large parts of northern England face new restrictions after a spike in cases.

    Follow us for updates throughout the day.