Coronavirus news: Island travel corridors to replace country-wide quarantines, as UK cases soar by nearly 3,000 in 24 hours
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Matt Hancock denied the government was “losing control” of the coronavirus crisis, as the government launched a new ‘island corridor’ travel quarantine policy.
The health secretary admitted the sharp rise in daily cases to 2,988 on Sunday - the highest daily figure since late May - was “concerning” but said they were predominantly among younger people from affluent areas.
He made the comments before transport secretary Grant Shapps announced seven Greek islands would be added to England’s quarantine list from Wednesday. Meanwhile a school in Suffolk was forced to close after five teachers tested positive for Covid-19, while two others awaited their test results.
New York officials have said post-mortem testing for coronavirus as well as the flu will be ramped up.
Deaths linked to respiratory illnesses that weren’t confirmed before a person died are to be followed up with tests for both viruses within 48 hours, according to the new regulation.
Katherine J Wu has more on this below:
New York to begin testing the dead for coronavirus and flu more often
Deceased hospital patients and nursing home residents will be targeted for follow-up testing
200 pupils told to self-isolate after outbreaks at eight Liverpool schools
Up to 200 pupils have been told to self-isolate following a coronavirus outbreak across eight Liverpool schools.
Twenty-one staff members are also said to be self-isolating following positive cases linked to five primary schools and three secondary schools, reports the Liverpool Echo.
One of the people to test positive was a student at West Derby School, according to the newspaper, while Bellerive High School and Liverpool College have also suffered outbreaks.
Nine cases in Greece refugee camp
Greece has reportedly registered at least nine cases of coronavirus in the overcrowded refugee camp of Moria on the island of Lesbos.
Last week, the facility was placed under quarantine after authorities confirmed a 40-year-old asylum-seeker had tested positive for coronavirus.
And today, a ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters: “So far, there are nine cases in the camp in Moria. The number might increase.”
Since 1 March, all migrants reaching Lesbos have been quarantined away from the island's camps.
The Moria facility, which hosts more than 12,000 people - more than four times its stated capacity - has been frequently criticised by aid groups for poor living conditions.
Most recently, aid groups have warned that social distancing and basic hygiene measures are impossible to implement in the camp due to the conditions.
‘Don’t kill your gran’
Health secretary Matt Hancock has told people "don't kill your gran" as he called for rules aimed at limiting the spread of coronavirus to be observed.
He told BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat: "The message to everybody of any age, the risk of spreading it to others - and, especially others who are older, and therefore highly vulnerable to the disease - that risk is real.
"Sticking to the social distancing rules is incredibly important.
"The question is, how much are you willing to risk the lives of yourself and others by breaking the social distancing rules?
"Don't kill your gran by catching coronavirus and then passing it on.
"And you can pass it on before you have had any symptoms at all."
Staff member tests positive at school visited by PM
A school visited by Boris Johnson less than two weeks ago has confirmed that a staff member has tested positive for Covid-19.
The headmaster of Castle Rock school in Coalville, Leicestershire, wrote to parents to reassure them that he had sought immediate advice from Public Health England.
"We apologise for the lateness of this letter, however this evening we have been informed that one member of our staff at The Castle Rock School has been tested positive for Covid-19," said Michael Gamble.
"The health, safety and well-being of our students is paramount.
"Please be assured that we have sought immediate advice from Public Health England this evening, and we are continuing to closely follow the published government guidance.
"Staff who may have been in 'contact' with the staff member have already been contacted by the NHS Test and Trace process."
During Mr Johnson's trip to Castle Rock school in Coalville on 26 August, he gave a rambling speech to students about whether or not Harry Potter was sexist or not.
The visit also prompted speculation that certain books may have been deliberately placed on the shelves behind the prime minister - including The Twits and The Resistance.
From The Twits to The Resistance: Was librarian trying to send Boris Johnson a message?
‘Are the books behind Boris artfully arranged with a secret political agenda and commentary on the current government?’
Positive tests at two primary schools in Neath Port Talbot
Seven pupils and three members of staff at Cwmnedd Primary School in Neath are having to self-isolate for two weeks after a student tested positive for coronavirus.
Meanwhile a member of staff at Coedffranc Primary School, who attended the school during an inset day last Thursday when no pupils were present, has also tested positive. Three further members of staff at the school are now self-isolating.
Neath Port Talbot Council said both schools remained open and it was not necessary for any other children to self-isolate, stay away from school or be tested unless they developed symptoms of Covid-19.
Breaking: New island quarantine policy confirmed
Transport minister Grant Shapps has announced that the government’s quarantine policy can now focus on specific islands - instead of the previous blanket quarantine system.
He said: "I can today announce a new islands policy.
"For the first time we have the data and the capacity to add and remove specific islands from quarantine while still providing maximum protection to the UK public."
Seven Greek islands added to England’s travel quarantine
Travellers arriving in England from seven Greek islands will need to self-isolate for 14 days from 4am on Wednesday, Grant Shapps said.
The islands affected are: Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and Zakynthos.
Island travel corridors to replace country-wide quarantines
Here’s our developing story on the new ‘island travel corridors’ policy announced by transport minister Grant Shapps.
Island travel corridors to replace country-wide quarantines, government announces
Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and Zakynthos will face quarantine restrictions from Wednesday
UK reports 2,948 new cases
A further 2,948 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the government’s daily figures for the UK today.
This is down slightly from 2,988 on Sunday, which was the highest since 22 May and prompted concern that the government was losing control of the crisis.
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