Coronavirus news: Northern leaders attack new lockdown plans for lack of clarity amid pub closure fears

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Leaders in northern England have attacked the government for its much-leaked plan to impose new lockdown restrictions in the region because of a lack of detail.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, said Boris Johnson had “lost the dressing room” through his poor communication. Earlier he tweeted he had learned of the plans in the press rather than an official briefing by ministers.

Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers could be ordered to shut again in some parts of the country, according to reports. There could also be a ban on overnight stays away from home in some areas, according to the BBC. It comes as hospitals face being overwhelmed as coronavirus infections continue to soar in places such as Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Dire warnings came thick and fast on Thursday. Matt Hancock said the situation was “perilous", with hospital admissions doubling every fortnight - including among people aged 60 and over. Deaths were also rising, he said.

At the same time, people waiting for routine surgery may see their operations pushed back still further if intensive care units fill up with Covid-19 patients, the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine said as they urged the public to stick with social distancing rules.

Also, worrying news from the Test and Trace service, which failed to reach more than 30 per cent of close contacts of people who tested positive for the coronavirus in England in its latest round of figures - the worst yet.

In the US, there was much wrangling over whether and if another presidential debate would take place between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and whether it would be virtual or in-person.

Mr Trump plans to return to the campaign trail on Friday - but virtually, through the medium of conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh’s programme.

Key Points

• WHO sees record one-day increase in coronavirus cases, led by Europe
• Inquiry into government’s handling of crisis
• Test and Trace reaches lowest ever proportion of close contacts
• Pubs and restaurants could close in northern England
• ‘Significant proportion of exposure’ to coronavirus comes from hospitality sector, says Downing St

[8 October 2020 21:45 · Jon Sharman]

Mitch McConnell takes clear shot at Trump over White House coronavirus outbreak

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took a somewhat-rare shot at Donald Trump and his White House on Thursday, saying he has not been to the now-coronavirus hotspot since August because he was worried about how the president and his team were handling the pandemic, writes John T Bennett.

[8 October 2020 22:05 · Jon Sharman]

Trump will reportedly hold ‘virtual rally’ Friday on Rush Limbaugh’s radio show

Today has been hugely confusing as far as presidential debates go. Here’s the latest…

Donald Trump will reportedly hold a “virtual rally” Friday on Rush Limbaugh’s popular nationally syndicated radio show, marking the president’s unofficial return to the campaign trail since being hospitalized for what his doctors say was a coronavirus infection, writes  John T Bennett.

[8 October 2020 22:27 · Jon Sharman]

#icymi

Test and Trace reaches lowest proportion of contacts yet

The government’s contact-tracing programme failed to reach more than 30 per cent of close contacts of people who tested positive for the coronavirus in England, the latest figures show, in what is the worst week on record since the beginning of Test and Trace, writes Samuel Lovett.

Some 68.6 per cent of close contacts were reached through the system, once dubbed “world-beating” by prime minister Boris Johnson, in the week ending 30 September, according to data published by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

[8 October 2020 22:44 · Jon Sharman]

England U19s vs Scotland U19s abandoned in first half after manager tests positive for coronavirus

A friendly match between England Under-19s and Scotland Under-19s was abandoned during the first half on Thursday after it was revealed that Scotland manager Billy Stark had tested positive for Covid-19, writes Lawrence Ostlere.

[8 October 2020 23:06 · Jon Sharman]

Rise in Covid-19 infections may cause knock-on rise in waits for surgery

If coronavirus infections continue to rise apace then people waiting for surgery may have to wait even longer, doctors have warned.

The Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine begged people to stick to social distancing rules.

RCoA president Professor Ravi Mahajan and Dr Alison Pittard, dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, said more pressure on intensive care units could lead to a surge in surgical waiting lists which are already at a 10-year high.

They added: "With a worrying increase in hospital admissions of patients with coronavirus and the tightening of restrictions across the UK, we must continue to be vigilant and play our part in tackling the spread of the virus.

"We are already seeing increasing pressure on intensive care units which, if this trend continues, will impact the NHS' ability to deliver non-Covid hospital services.

"This, in turn, will lead to prolonged surgical waiting lists, which are already at a 10-year high."

[8 October 2020 23:30 · Jon Sharman]

#icymi

Hancock warns of ‘perilous’ situation as hospital admissions doubling every fortnight

Hospital admissions in parts of England are doubling every two weeks, health secretary Matt Hancock has warned as he acknowledged the country is facing a “perilous moment” in the fight against Covid-19, writes Shaun Lintern.

In a speech to NHS leaders on Thursday, Mr Hancock said hospitalisations in those aged over 60 were also increasing along with deaths.

[8 October 2020 23:50 · Jon Sharman]

#icymi

National Trust to axe 1,300 jobs

The National Trust will cut almost 1,300 jobs, it has been announced, as it grapples with a major loss of income, writes Harry Cockburn.

Overall 514 compulsory and 782 voluntary redundancies will be made as the organisation reacts to the impact of coronavirus.