Coronavirus news: More schools abandon plans to reopen next week as rising UK infection rates spark fears of second wave

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Boris Johnson dodges question over coronavirus crisis management

Fears of a second coronavirus spike grew after new figures showed the virus could be growing exponentially in the northwest of England.

The reproduction rate is thought to be 1.01 in the northwest and 1 in the southwest according to data compiled by Public Health England (PHE) and Cambridge University.

The blow comes as the World Health Organisation updated its guidelines to recommend everyone wear a mask while in public – and over-60s wear medical grade masks.

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Key Points

• Fears of a second spike grow as coronavirus R-rate rises above 1 in northwest
• WHO recommends over 60s wear medical-grade face coverings
• More schools abandon plans to reopen next week

[6 June 2020 22:33 · Peter Stubley]

France reports another 31 deaths

France's coronavirus death toll rose by 31 on Saturday from the previous day to reach 29,142, the French government said.

The number of confirmed cases rose by 579 to ​153,634.

Its death toll remains the fifth-largest in the world.

[6 June 2020 23:00 · Peter Stubley]

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