Coronavirus news: Luton and Blackburn put on highest Covid-19 alert level, as face mask rules spark confusion across England
The key updates and developments from Thursday 23 June
Face masks will have to be worn in shops and supermarkets in England from Friday under new government rules which have been criticised as “confusing”.
The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed face coverings will be required in shops and takeaways, such as Pret A Manger, if people intend to take their food and coffee away – however customers will be allowed to remove them if sitting down to consume food or drink bought on site.
Meanwhile Luton and Blackburn with Darwen were added to Public Health England’s coronavirus watchlist as “areas of intervention” due to high infection rates. It means further lockdown-easing measures such as the reopening of sports centres has been postponed in both areas.
New data also showed the government’s test and trace programme has failed to reach 33,235 close contacts (16.4 per cent) of people who have tested positive for Covid-19.
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WHO seeing 'intense transmission' of virus in relatively few countries
The World Health Organisation is seeing intense transmission of the coronavirus in relatively few countries, its chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said.
"We continue to see intense transmission in a relatively small group of countries," he told a virtual briefing in Geneva.
"Two-thirds of all cases are from 10 countries. Almost half of all cases reported so far are from just three countries."
He also said that just because cases may be at a low level where someone lives, it doesn't mean they should let down their guard.
"Know your situation - do you know how many cases were reported where you live yesterday," he said.
"Do you know how to find that information? Do you know how to minimise your exposure?"
Uzbekistan extends coronavirus lockdown
Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has agreed with his cabinet's proposal to extend a nationwide lockdown beyond 1 August as the coronavirus situation remains "serious" in the Central Asian nation, his office has said.
Mr Mirziyoyev's office did not say by how long the former Soviet republic of 34 million would extend its second lockdown introduced from 10 July after a surge in the COVID-19 cases.
Uzbekistan has confirmed 18,703 cases of the disease with 105 deaths, figures which jumped in June and early July when the country reopened following its first lockdown and local hospitals quickly filled up.
Neighbouring Kazakhstan has also introduced its second lockdown this month after a botched reopening, and then prolonged it from the initial fortnight to four weeks.
Just two weeks after the UK government gave the all-clear for travellers to visit Spain without the need to quarantine for two weeks upon their return to England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the popular holiday destination is struggling with a wave of new outbreaks of coronavirus.
Is Spain still safe for Brits to visit? And will holidays be hampered by restrictions? Here’s everything you need to know.
US coronavirus cases pass 4 million in rapid acceleration
The total number of coronavirus cases reported in the United States has today passed 4 million, reflecting a rapid acceleration of infections detected in the country since the first case was recorded on 21 January, according to a Reuters tally.
It took the country 98 days to reach 1 million cases, but just 16 days to go from 3 million to 4 million, according to the tally.
The average number of new US cases is now rising by more than 2,600 every hour - the highest rate in the world.
As the pandemic has spread widely over the country, moving from the early epicentre of New York to the south and west, federal, state and local officials have clashed over how to fight it, including over how and when to ease social and economic restrictions aimed at curbing the infection rate.
Florida reported a record one-day increase in COVID-19 deaths today, with 173 lives lost, according to the state health department.
On Wednesday, COVID-19 deaths rose by more than 1,100 for a second day in a row, including record single-day increases in fatalities in Alabama, California, Nevada and Texas.
The daily death tally is still well below levels seen in April, when on average 2,000 people a day died from the virus.
Vacuum maker Dyson is cutting 600 jobs in the UK and another 300 around the world as the coronavirus pandemic has impacted consumer demand, a spokesperson for the company has said.
Founded by Sir James Dyson and famous for the invention of the bag-less vacuum cleaner, Dyson has a global workforce of 14,000, with 4,000 employees in the UK alone.
Here's a guide to what could happen if you break the new face mask regulations and refuse to wear one:
Stormont Executive ministers have provisionally agreed to make the wearing of face masks in shops in Northern Ireland mandatory from 20 August.
They will initiate a public awareness campaign in the intervening weeks in the hope of securing voluntary compliance.
UK death toll increases by 53 in last 24 hours
The government said 45,554 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Wednesday, up by 53 from the day before.
Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been more than 56,100 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The government also said in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Thursday, there had been a further 769 lab-confirmed cases.
Overall, a total of 297,146 cases have been confirmed.
WHO chief condemns US secretary of state's 'untrue and unacceptable' comments
The chief of the World Health Organisation has condemned the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, for "untrue and unacceptable" comments, responding to reported allegations that included the health agency chief having been "bought" by China.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted WHO is focusing on "saving lives" as he lashed out at the comments Mr Pompeo reportedly made at a closed-door event earlier this week in London.
Mr Tedros' response to Mr Pompeo represented some of his most defensive and full-throated statements yet in the wake of the Trump administration's repeated criticism of the UN health agency in recent months.
Kuwait to shorten curfew and reopen hotels and mosques
Kuwait will shorten its nightly curfew and reopen hotels and mosques next week in the latest relaxation of its coronavirus restrictions, the government announced.
The Gulf country said it would enter "phase three" of its coronavirus restrictions on 28 July, enabling taxis to operate and resorts as well as hotels to re-open.
In addition, all mosques would be open for Eid Al Adha prayers, the Center for Government Communication (CGC) said on Twitter. Muslims expect the holiday to begin on 31 July. Until now, only some mosques had been allowed to operate.
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