Summary

  • India overtakes Brazil in the number of infections recorded, and is now second only to the US

  • Spain becomes the first western European nation to reach 500,000 coronavirus cases

  • The UK could see a second wave if young people don't follow social distancing rules, health secretary says, with nearly 3,000 new cases on Monday

  • England to introduce different quarantine rules for those travelling from island or mainland regions of same country

  • Seven Greek islands are being removed from England's travel corridor list from Wednesday morning

  • Australia secures almost 85m doses of a vaccine to be rolled out next year if trials prove successful

  • Globally more than 27 million cases and 883,000 deaths have been confirmed, according to Johns Hopkins University

  1. Football match precautions were 'not strict enough'published at 13:54 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Burnside Working Men's ClubImage source, Google
    Image caption,

    The outbreak is linked to a charity match at Burnside Working Men's Club

    The football club that hosted a charity match linked to a recent coronavirus outbreak has expressed "deep regret and sadness" that it "caused a significant rise" in local cases.

    Up to 300 people who attended the event at Burnside Working Men's Club in Fencehouses on 30 August are being told to self-isolate, after 28 people tested positive for Covid-19.

    "I would hope that people understand that if we knew at the time what we know now, this football match would never have gone ahead. The club would also like people to support each other, instead of issuing out fault," a statement issued by a representative of Burnside Working Men's Club FC says.

    It wishes those affected a "quick recovery" and adds that the club has been working with Public Health England to help tracing efforts.

    "I will admit the precautions set in place were not strict enough. Going forward this will change to ensure any matches played, home or away, by the Burnside WMC will be played in the safest possible way, to make sure something like this never happens again," the statement continues.

    "I’d like to reiterate that this event would never had taken place if we had known back then, what we know now, and the day was planned with the best intentions."

  2. What are the latest global developments?published at 13:36 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Healthcare workers during COVID-19 screening and swab test at Vileparle(E), on September 6, 2020 in Mumbai, IndiaImage source, Getty Images

    Hello and thank you for following our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

    If you're just joining us, here are some of the biggest developments from around the world:

    • More than 27.1 million cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed worldwide, along with 889,000 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University
    • America continues to be the worst affected country, accounting for a fifth of all global cases
    • India has overtaken Brazil and is now reporting the second-highest number of infections. For the last seven days India's caseload has galloped, with over 75,000 new infections per day
    • Meanwhile the Philippines has announced its lowest number of new daily cases in nearly eight weeks. It continues to have the largest number of infections in south-east Asia, however
    • Doctors in Nigeria's state-run hospitals have started strike action to demand a pay rise, better welfare and adequate facilities
    • Israel has introduced overnight curfews in 40 cities and towns with the highest Covid-19 infection rates
    • The postponed Tokyo Olympic Games will go ahead next year "with or without Covid", the vice-president of the International Olympic Committee has said.
  3. Russian teachers petition against vaccinepublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    A vial containing the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, 7 Aug 20Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    A vial containing the Russian Sputnik V vaccine

    In Russia more than 1,450 people have signed an online petition set up by the Uchitel teachers' union against any compulsory vaccination of teachers.

    The government says it wants teachers and health workers to get the new Russian coronavirus vaccine first. Vaccination will be voluntary, it insists, in line with Russian law.

    Uchitel's petition to the government, on the Change.org campaign website, warns that teachers may be pressurised into having the vaccine - either threatened with dismissal or a pay cut. So it urges them to say no.

    The union says Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has not yet had an essential Phase Three clinical trial, involving thousands of volunteers. So mass vaccination is still too risky, it is argued.

    Results published on Friday from two small clinical trials pointed to the vaccine triggering antibodies safely. Russia plans to launch Phase Three trials this week.

  4. Sturgeon: 'Key moment' in pandemicpublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the country is facing a "key moment" in the pandemic.

    During her daily briefing, she announced a further 146 new positive cases. That's down from the 208 reported on Sunday, which was the highest daily increase in positive tests since May.

    There have been no new deaths in Scotland in the past 24 hours, but Ms Sturgeon said hospital admissions were now rising.

    More than half of the new cases (78) were in the Greater Glasgow area, where renewed restrictions on family visiting in three local authority areas were put in place last week.

    The first minister said those restrictions were being reviewed today - along with the possibility of extending them to other council areas within the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area.

    The review of national Scottish restrictions takes place later this week, and Ms Sturgeon said in the light of the new figures the government may have to "put the brakes on" easing them further.

  5. Pope: Gossip is worse than Covidpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Pope Francis has told told believers that gossiping "is a worse plague than Covid".

    In his weekly address at the Vatican on Sunday, the Pope said: "Please, brothers and sisters, let's make an effort not to gossip. The devil is the great gossip. He is always saying bad things about others because he is the liar who tries to split the Church."

    Pope Francis during the Angelus prayer from the window of his office at Saint Peter"s Square in Vatican City, 06 September 2020Image source, EPA
  6. When will we have a vaccine?published at 12:35 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    James Gallagher
    Health and science correspondent, BBC News

    VaccineImage source, Reuters

    Coronavirus still poses a significant threat, but there are no vaccines proven to protect the body against the disease it causes - Covid-19.

    By the end of the year, there could be at least half a dozen different coronavirus vaccines in clinical trials, including one being developed by University of Oxford that is already in an advanced stage of testing.

    Research is happening at breakneck speed. About 140 vaccines are in early development, and around two dozen are now being tested on people in clinical trials.

    However, no-one knows how effective any of these vaccines will be.

    A vaccine would normally take years, if not decades, to develop. Researchers hope to achieve the same amount of work in only a few months.

    Most experts think a vaccine is likely to become widely available by mid-2021, about 12-18 months after the new virus, known officially as Sars-CoV-2, first emerged.

    That would be a huge scientific feat and there are no guarantees it will work.

  7. Welsh county could see lockdown 'if necessary'published at 12:19 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Bargoed's St Gwladys Primary SchoolImage source, Google
    Image caption,

    Caerphilly could face a local lockdown after some children at Bargoed's St Gwladys Primary School were told to self-isolate

    A local lockdown could be put in place in Caerphilly county if "necessary", the leader of the council has warned.

    Phillipa Marsden told BBC Radio Wales any decision would be made after advice was taken from Public Health Wales.

    She was speaking after a class of 21 pupils was told to self-isolate for two weeks after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

    While one class at St Gwladys Primary School in Bargoed must stay at home, the school remains open.

    Public Health Wales will "inform us of what we will need to do," she said.

    Read the full story here.

  8. Rising cases - the three at the toppublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    We have been reporting today how India has overtaken Brazil to have the second-highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world.

    India's reported 90,000 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing its tally to more than 4.2 million, according to Johns Hopkins University in the US.

    Brazil meanwhile is reporting over 4.1 million infections, but still has the second-highest number of deaths in the world - currently 126,650.

    The US continues to be the worst-hit country in the world, with over 6.2 million cases and 188,000 deaths. Areas of California, Illinois, Florida and Arizona have reported some of the highest numbers of infections in the US. And while hospitalisation rates are showing signs of abating, US officials are urging caution as Americans celebrate the public holiday of Labor Day today.

    Graph of countries with the top-three highest number of cases
  9. Israel imposes overnight curfews as death toll passes 1,000published at 11:54 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    A woman is tested for Covid-19 at a Magen David Adom position in Jerusalem (6 September 2020)Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Israel has experienced a resurgence of Covid-19 since May

    Israel’s government has announced that overnight curfews will be imposed in 40 “red” cities and towns with the highest Covid-19 infection rates, after the country’s death toll from coronavirus passed 1,000.

    From tonight, curfews will last from 19:00 until 05:00 (16:00-02:00 GMT). Non-essential businesses will have to close during the curfews, while schools will be closed at all times.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision was “well considered, responsible and committed to reality”.

    However, the cabinet reportedly backed away from a recommendation by the country’s coronavirus tsar, external to impose full lockdowns on 10 areas with the worst outbreaks.

    Religious parties in Mr Netanyahu’s governing coalition opposed such a move, which would have affected four predominantly ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities.

    The mayors of those four areas warned Mr Netanyahu that they would stop co-operation with authorities if the full lockdowns were imposed, while Interior Minister Arye Dery told the prime minister to impose a nationwide lockdown instead, external.

    Israel has experienced a resurgence of Covid-19 since the government began easing restrictions in May. Last week, the country reported the highest rate of new infections per capita in the world, external, according to data from Johns Hopkins University in the US.

  10. Delhi metro opens five months after being shutpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    The metro in the Indian capital, Delhi, has reopened more than five months after it was shut down to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

    It's India's largest rapid transport system - it carried 2.7 million passengers a day before the lockdown.

    Masks, social distancing and temperature checks are mandatory according to the new rules.

    The metro is opening on the day that India recorded more than 90,000 new cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours, taking its total above that of Brazil.

    The country now has the second-largest number of confirmed cases in the world, 4,204,613. It has reported 71,642 deaths, the third-highest in the world.

    Security guards wearing face masks and shields stand on a Delhi metro train platform, on the first day of the restart of their operations, amidst the spread of coronavirus diseaseImage source, Reuters
  11. 'Concern' over crowd scenes at bar in Walespublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    crowd outside barImage source, Ian Cottrell

    Health officials in Wales are "concerned" about a video which has emerged showing crowds of clubbers appearing to ignore social distancing guidelines.

    It shows crowds outside the Coyote Ugly bar in Cardiff at about 00:30 BST on Saturday. The venue said it adhered to coronavirus rules and turned away large crowds.

    Cardiff council said it could close the venueunless there were improvements.

    Dr Giri Shankar, from Public Health Wales, said people needed to be responsible.

    "I saw the videos and I was really concerned," he told BBC Radio Wales.

  12. Doctors in Nigeria's state-run hospitals go on strikepublished at 11:21 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Chris Ewokor
    BBC News, Abuja

    Doctor holds a stethoscopeImage source, Getty Images

    Doctors in Nigeria's state-run hospitals have embarked on a strike to demand a pay rise, better welfare and adequate facilities.

    The strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (Nard) is the latest in a string of strikes by medics in Africa’s most populous nation.

    More than a third of Nigeria's 42,000 practising doctors will take part in the indefinite strike as the country struggles to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

    Doctors' union leader Aliyu Sokomba told the BBC that 14 doctors had died from Covid-19 since the country reported its first coronavirus cases in March.

    So far Nigeria has recorded more than 55,000 cases of the virus.

  13. School in England closes as staff test positive for Covid-19published at 11:01 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Samuel Ward Academy, HaverhillImage source, Google
    Image caption,

    Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill has closed for deep cleaning

    A school in England has closed after five members of teaching staff tested positive for Covid-19.

    Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, Suffolk, said a further two members of staff were waiting to hear the results of their tests.

    Unity Schools Partnership, Suffolk County Council and Public Health England said the closure was a "precautionary measure" and the school will undergo a deep clean.

    It is hoped it will reopen on Tuesday.

  14. Packed beaches in Brazil and other Latin American newspublished at 10:44 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Sunbathers spend a sunny day, without keeping the social distance to prevent the spread of coronavirus, at the Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 06 September 2020.Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    There was little room at Ipanema beach as temperatures soared

    Hot weather and a long weekend to mark independence day drew large crowds to Brazil's beaches on the weekend. The famous beaches in Rio de Janeiro were packed with the coastline near São Paulo and resorts in the north of the country also reporting high numbers of visitors. Brazil has slipped to the third place in the list of countries with the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases but there is concern a recent downward trend in daily new cases could be reversed if social distancing rules are not followed.

    Chile, too, will soon be marking its independence day. But unlike Brazil, where lockdown measures have been eased considerably, the government there has urged extreme caution ahead of the holiday on 18 September. In a U-turn, the government has banned even small gatherings of people from different households in the 46 areas with the highest infection rates. It had earlier said there would be a temporary lift on the ban to allow small groups of friends and relatives to gather for up to six hours. But local governors and mayors had criticised the move saying it was "incoherent and contradictory" and would lead to spike in new cases.

    Some good news out of Bolivia, where the number of daily reported cases has been below 1,000 for the past week. Health officials hope the lower numbers indicate that the worst may be over. The peak of the pandemic had been forecast for September.

  15. Special educational needs families' fight for education in UKpublished at 10:24 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Media caption,

    Special educational needs families and the fight for education

    Sofia is one of more than one million young people in the UK with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

    She’s among one-fifth of young people with SEND who have the most complex needs.

    During lockdown, while schools closed to the majority of children, the government said that the most vulnerable, including those with complex special educational needs could still attend.

    Families speaking to BBC One's Panorama say they have found accessing support difficult and that it was an example of the long-term struggles they have faced getting educational support for their children during lockdown.

    UK viewers can watch Panorama: Fighting for an Education on BBC One on 7 September, or later on iPlayer.

  16. Sardinia becomes a focal point of Italy's outbreakpublished at 10:09 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    The view of a beach in Sardinia where tour operators try in every way to respect the rules of social distancing for the spread of COVID-19 on August 19, 2020 in Porto Cervo, Italy.Image source, Getty Images

    Costa Smeralda, a stretch of coast along the island of Sardinia, is known as a tourist hotspot for the wealthy and famous.

    But it has been drawing attention for different reasons - as a source of outbreaks in other parts of Italy. During recent weeks, around 800 infections in Lazio have been traced back to Costa Smeralda, particularly its nightclubs.

    Last week the area gained more publicity after former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi tested positive for coronavirus after returning from his villa on Costa Smeralda.

  17. 75-mile travel limit imposed on UK test systempublished at 09:49 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    The coronavirus test and trace system has been updated to ensure people who need tests won't have to travel further than 75 miles away, the UK health secretary has said.

    Matt Hancock told LBC radio the new system had been put in place in the last few days.

    He added that the "vast majority" of people "get a test, get offered a test".

    "There have been operational issues, but all I can do is keeping driving the capacity higher and higher," he said.

    On testing at airports, the health secretary said the measure had not been enforced because "it doesn't work".

    "This virus can incubate for a period inside your body without a test being able to pick it up," he said.

    Hancock told the broadcaster he was working towards reducing the travel quarantine period - currently 14 days.

  18. Trend downwards in the Philippines?published at 09:38 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    The health ministry in the Philippines reported 1,383 new coronavirus infections on Monday - the lowest number of new daily cases in nearly eight weeks.

    A total of 3,890 people have died in the country with Covid-19.

    It has the largest number of coronavirus infections in south-east Asia, with 238,727 confirmed cases.

    A man wears a face mask and face shield while riding his bicycle in Makati, south of Manila, Philippines, 01 September 2020Image source, EPA
  19. UK has seen issues with social distancing - Hancockpublished at 09:33 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    There have been problems with social distancing in the UK, according to the country's health secretary.

    When asked if people were not following the rules, Matt Hancock told LBC: "We certainly see cases where they are not, and then we take action."

    He said that many cases in Bolton were linked to a single pub which has been asked to close.

    Hancock highlighted recent rises in cases in France, Spain and in some other countries across Europe.

    "Nobody wants to see a second wave here," he said.

  20. UK cases rise among people aged 17-21published at 09:20 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the rise in coronavirus cases across the country has largely been among young people aged 17 to 21, as he urged everyone to take social distancing seriously.

    Speaking to LBC, he said: "The message to all your younger listeners is even though you're at a lower risk from dying, you can still have serious symptoms."

    The health secretary said the record number of cases reported on Sunday was "concerning" and said it reinforced the point that people must following social distancing rules.

    He insisted the government had not lost control of the coronavirus response.