That's the end of our live Covid coverage for today.

These updates were written by Alex Therrien, Douglas Faulkner, and Jennifer Meierhans.

The page was edited by Hamish Mackay and Lauren Turner.

From all of us, have a good evening

We're going to be pausing our live coverage of the pandemic shortly. Here's a recap of what's been happening in the UK and around the world today:

• Austria has announced a national lockdown from Monday and vaccinations will become mandatory from 1 February, amid record Covid cases.
• Meanwhile, neighbouring Germany is facing a "national emergency", the country's health minister says, as a fourth wave of the pandemic grips the country.
• The UK was not fully prepared for the wide-ranging impacts of Covid-19 on society, a major new report by the National Audit Office has found.
• Northern Ireland's health minister says the decision to relax guidance around working from home should be reversed.
• And travellers who have had a booster or a third dose are now able to demonstrate their vaccine status through the NHS Covid Pass

Image source, Reuters

We've been reporting rising coronavirus cases in many European countries today but Italy's daily figures show a slight drop in new infections and deaths.

Italy reported 48 coronavirus-related deaths today, against 69 yesterday, while the daily tally of new infections has fallen to 10,544 from 10,638.

Italy has registered 133,082 deaths linked to Covid-19 since its outbreak emerged in February last year, the second-highest toll in Europe after the UK, and the ninth-highest in the world.

The country has reported 4.9 million cases to date.

Image source, Getty Images

Children aged five to 11 in Canada will be able to receive a coronavirus vaccine after the country authorised the use of the Pfizer jab for the age group.

Trials of the vaccine among children show similar safety and efficacy results to those recorded in trials among people 16 to 25, according to Pfizer.

Health Canada previously said it would only approve the vaccine for children if its analysis demonstrated benefits outweighed any possible risks.

It is the first Covid-19 vaccine approved for this age group in Canada.

Dr Supriya Sharma, a senior medical advisor with Health Canada, says the move is good news for adults and children alike.

"It provides another tool to protect Canadians, and to the relief of many parents, will help bring back a degree of normality to children's lives."

Nearly 75% of all Canadians are fully vaccinated, according to Health Canada's most recent data, including 84% of those 12 and older.

The widow of a Scottish government official who died after contracting Covid is calling on the first minister to take immediate action against the hospital where he was being treated.

Andrew Slorance, 49, went into Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for cancer treatment a year ago but died nearly six weeks into his stay - with the cause of death listed as Covid pneumonia.

His wife Louise believes he caught Covid and another infection there but that the details were concealed.

She says she does not accept that the health board has been honest with her and has called on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to step in to "stop these type of events happening in the future".

Father-of-five Andrew was head of the Scottish government's response and communication unit, which was responsible for its handling of the Covid pandemic.

After requesting a copy of his medical notes, Louise discovered her husband had also been treated for an infection caused by a fungus called aspergillus, which had not been discussed with either of them during his hospital stay.

On Thursday, the first minister paid tribute to Andrew Slorance in the Scottish parliament and pledged to ensure his family would get the answers they are seeking.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde says infection control procedures at QEUH are "rigorous and of the highest standard" and they are providing support to the Scottish hospitals public inquiry.

Image source, Getty Images

In the world of football, Manchester City playmaker Kevin de Bruyne will miss two games after testing positive for Covid-19 on his return from international duty.

The 30-year-old will isolate for 10 days, meaning he will miss Sunday's Premier League match at home to Everton and Wednesday's Champions League game against Paris St-Germain.

De Bruyne, who is vaccinated, scored for Belgium in their World Cup qualifying draw with Wales on Tuesday.

"The symptoms will be minor hopefully," says City manager Pep Guardiola.

"As soon as possible, he can come back. We do not worry about what we are going to miss. The person is more important. We have to help him and hope it goes well while he's isolated."

The UK has given a total of 111,082,929 Covid vaccinations, according to the latest government data.

That's 50,707,953 first doses, 46,108,608 second doses and 14,266,368 booster or third doses.

That means 88.2% of the popualtion aged over 12 have had their first jab, 80.2% have had their second and 24.8% their third.

There have been a further 44,242 coronavirus cases reported in the UK, the latest government figures show., external

There have also been another 157 deaths reported within 28 days of a positive test.

As we reported earlier, a cinema in Wales has been ordered to close after refusing to comply with Welsh government rules which require customers to show Covid passes to attend.

Anna Redfern, who owns Cinema & Co in Swansea, tells the BBC the law went against her principles.

“If I’m going to die, that is the hill I’m going to die on," Redfern says.

Notices have since been pinned outside the premises, stating the business had not carried out a Covid risk assessment.

The Welsh government says the use of Covid passes is required by law and not optional.

Image source, PA Media

Northern Ireland's chief medical officer has said he does not think the country is facing the prospect of another coronavirus lockdown.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, Sir Michael Bride says Northern Ireland is facing a very serious situation and some further restrictions may be required if efforts to suppress the current Covid-19 wave fail.

He says it is unlikely a lockdown will be required because of the protection provided to the population by vaccinations.

But he warns: "If we don't act now and if we don't act decisively, unfortunately we may well be back advising the executive [Northern Ireland's devolved government] that further interventions are needed to prevent our health service being overwhelmed."

It comes as a number of countries in mainland Europe begin re-imposing restrictions in an attempt to curb a surge in cases.

Earlier today, Austria announced it was going into a national lockdown.

The rate at which coronavirus spreads - as measured by the R number - varies across the UK.

In England, the latest R estimate from the government's scientific advisory group Sage is between 0.8 and 1, external.

That means, on average, every 10 people with Covid will infect between eight and 10 others.

In Northern Ireland it is estimated to be between 1.1 and 1.3 - meaning every 10 people with Covid will pass it on to between 11 and 13 others.

An R value of 1 means that the total number of infections is stable.

Here's how the R number looks across the UK and English regions.

Image source, Reuters

The Czech Republic will not be following the approach of its neighbour, Austria, in imposing a national lockdown and making vaccines mandatory, the country's Prime Minister Andrej Babis has said.

The government has approved higher compensation for those in quarantine and a new round of testing in schools and firms.

On Monday, new regulations will come into force in the country that target unvaccinated Czechs.

A negative PCR test will no longer be sufficient to enter pubs or restaurants, use services or attend events.

Proof of vaccination or previous infection will be the only way to access such facilities.

There were more than 13,000 new recorded cases on Thursday.

There are now 4,750 in hospital, with almost 700 in intensive care, and some rural facilities saying they are running low on intensive care unit capacity.

An intensive care consultant says NHS staff are "cracked but not broken" in a moving open letter.

Dr Matt Morgan, who works at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, read his letter on BBC Radio 4's Today this morning.

Colleagues took to social media to thank him for having "captured our mood".

In his letter he tells staff: "You may be cracked, but not broken.

"You are still there. You still care. But now the helpers need help."

Describing the "scaffold smiles" to hide the pain of another long day at work, he advises worn-out NHS workers to "fill the cracks with life outside work, your family, your hobbies, with things that make you feel more like you".

Jenny Hill
BBC Berlin correspondent

Image source, PA Media

All bars, clubs and discos in Bavaria are to close for the next three weeks and there will be no Christmas markets in the German state this year, the region’s prime minister has announced.

Cultural and sporting events will restrict spectators to 25% of a venue’s capacity and those attending must be vaccinated or have recovered from an infection – but will also have to show a negative test.

"The situation is very, very serious and difficult," state premier Markus Soeder tells a news conference.

Bavaria recorded a weekly incidence rate of 625.3 recorded infections per 100,000 people today, according to the Robert Koch Institute, up on the nationwide figure of 340.7.

The famous Christmas market at Munich, Bavaria's state capital, had already been cancelled due to the resurgence of coronavirus. It normally attracts three million visitors a year.

Image source, PA Media

Waning immunity in adults could mean Covid cases "really take off" and extend the strain on the NHS, a scientist who advises the government on coronavirus says.

Prof John Edmunds, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) tells BBC Radio 4's The World At One it is really important to boost immunity in older individuals so "we might be able to avoid any significant fourth wave".

He says the UK is ahead of other parts of Europe - where the Covid-19 situation is worsening - due to the rollout of boosters and the level of infection, but warns over the length of pressure being heaped on the NHS.

"It has been [under strain] for months and months, and that's not going to ease up any time soon because this very high level of infection that we have now and we've had for months isn't going to decline significantly," he says.

If you want to read more on this our health correspondent James Gallagher has taken a look at the issue of waning immunity here.

France is sending police reinforcements to its overseas territory of Guadeloupe in an effort to quell days of violent protests against coronavirus measures.

The government says 200 officers will be deployed to the Caribbean island to restore order.

Protests broke out on Monday when unions called for a general strike against France's Covid health pass and compulsory vaccinations for healthcare workers.

Police clashed with demonstrators who blocked roads and set cars alight.

A joint statement from the French interior and overseas ministers strongly condemned the violence.

A cinema has been told to shut down after its owner refused to ask for Covid passes.

Earlier this week, Anna Redfern, owner of Cinema & Co in Swansea, said she would not be complying with the Welsh government rules.

Notices were pinned outside the premises, stating the business had not carried out a Covid risk assessment.

The owner confirmed to the BBC she has been told to close by Swansea council, but would not comment further.

The Welsh government says the scheme, which requires proof of being fully vaccinated or having had a negative lateral flow test within 48 hours, played a key role in keeping people safe from the virus.

The Covid pass scheme, which applies to anyone over the age of 18, has been in place since 11 October for nightclubs and large-scale events, but now also applies to theatres, concert halls and cinemas.

Is Europe heading for lockdown?published at 13:25 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2021

13:25 GMT 19 November 2021

James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News

Image source, Reuters

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

There are only two ways for countries to slow the spread of Covid - build up enough immunity or limit contact between other people.

That wall of immunity – from a year of vaccination – is facing its first real test as winter rolls in across Europe.

It is already clear some countries – Austria being the most notable - have not vaccinated enough and feel the “need” to go back to restrictions that nobody “wants”.

But it does not mean that every country is doomed to a winter lockdown.

Those that have vaccinated more, given boosters to more and protected more of the vulnerable and elderly (who are the most likely to need hospital care) have the best shot at a manageable winter.

The impact of the UK having high levels of Covid through autumn, which will have topped up immunity levels, will be closely watched too.

However, it is still only November. There are many dark months to get through before the weather improves and makes it harder for Covid to spread.

Image source, AFP

The world's first known Covid-19 case was woman working at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan - not an accountant with no links to the place, according to a US study.

The 41-year-old man was widely thought to be the first case because symptoms from dental work he had were confused with those from the virus he caught days later.

A joint study by China and the World Health Organization (WHO) this year all but ruled out the theory that Covid-19 originated in a laboratory.

The report says the most likely hypothesis is that it infected humans naturally, and was probably transmitted from bats to humans through another animal but that further research was needed.

Now a new study published in the journal Science says the seafood vendor is the earliest known case, as her symptoms started on 11 December 2019.

When interviewed, the accountant reported that his Covid-19 symptoms started with a fever on 16 December. His illness reported on 8 December was a dental problem related to baby teeth retained into adulthood, the report says., external

Anna Holligan
BBC News Hague correspondent

An international warrant has reportedly been issued for a group of 14 Dutch holidaymakers, who allegedly ran off after some of them tested positive for Covid-19.

The local mayor of the Spanish village where they were staying has described their apparent flight as a "surreal crime".

The Dutch tourists were supposed to quarantine in their accommodation, after five of them contracted the virus.

The day after they were diagnosed, the Spanish health authorities reportedly discovered they had left isolation and vanished from the country house they'd been renting in the village of Navas del Madrono.

The local authorities are understood to have issued an international warrant for their detainment.

The Dutch ministry of foreign affairs is aware of the media reports, but a representative tells the BBC they have not been contacted for consular assistance.