Coronavirus news you may have missed overnight: Up to 100 UK children affected by rare disease linked to infection, as study warns commuters returning to work could trigger fresh epidemic

More than 4.35 million people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide, while over 295,000 deaths have been reported

More than 4.35 million people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide and over 295,000 deaths have been reported.

In the UK, 33,186 people have died from coronavirus, according to the latest Department for Health figures.

This figure includes those who died in hospitals, care homes, and the wider community.

However, separate analysis of official figures from the Office for National Statistics, NHS England and other authorities suggests the real death toll in the UK is more than 40,000.

Here is your morning briefing of the coronavirus news you may have missed overnight.

Roche antibody test given thumbs-up by Public Health England

A test to check whether a person has previously had coronavirus has been approved by Public Health England after it was found to carry a 100 per cent rate of success when it came to ruling out false positives – paving the way for people to potentially see if they have built up an immunity to Covid-19.

The tests, developed by Swiss firm Roche, have already been given the green light in the US, with UK officials now reportedly in talks to roll out millions in the UK to check how aggressively the virus has spread through the country, according to The Times.

It comes after another batch of tests, ordered by the government in mid-March, was deemed too unreliable to be used.

Up to 100 UK children affected by rare disease linked to infection

Up to 100 children in the UK have been affected by a new disease thought to be linked to infection with coronavirus.

At least one teenager, a 14-year-old boy, has died after suffering a stroke caused by complications of treatment for the new syndrome, which is similar to the existing Kawasaki disease leading to an inflammatory response in the body’s immune system causing blood vessels to swell.

Symptoms include a fever, rash, red eyes and lips and redness on the palms and soles of the feet. Some children have become so sick they have needed treatment in intensive care units.

Commuters returning to work likely to trigger fresh epidemic, study warns

The return of commuters to work is likely to trigger a fresh Covid-19 epidemic, says new research that warns ministers have underestimated the danger.

The study from at the University of Sussex calculates the sharp drop in travel was the main reason coronavirus was brought under control – and, therefore, more transport use carries a large risk of a second spike in infections.

The warning comes amid scenes of packed Tube trains and buses in London after Boris Johnson “actively encouraged” more staff to return to workplaces, even before new guidance was released.

Trump says schools should reopen and criticises Fauci

Donald Trump thinks Anthony Fauci, the widely respected infectious disease expert, is wrong to suggest it is not yet safe to reopen America’s schools due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The US president told reporters: “I think you should absolutely open the schools,” a day after Dr Fauci told a Senate committee he is hesitant to open schools without a Covid-19 vaccine available to all Americans.

Some health experts say children could be so-called “super carriers” of the disease who show no symptoms but spread it to others.