Coronavirus news: Manchester Tier 3 talks end without deal, as Wales imposes ‘firebreak’ restrictions

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Significant numbers from the coronavirus lockdown

The government moved closer to imposing Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions on Greater Manchester after the latest round of talks collapsed without a deal.

Local leaders, including mayor Andy Burnham, had initially expressed hope an agreement could be reached on extra funding for the region on Monday, only for ministers to reject the proposals.

And on Monday night communities secretary Robert Jenrick issued a letter setting a deadline of 12pm on Tuesday to settle the dispute.

The government also held talks with several other regions in northern England, including the North East and South Yorkshire, over a move into Tier 3.

Meanwhile Wales announced a two-week “firebreak” lockdown will be imposed from 6pm on Friday to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the “sharp and deep” new restrictions would last for 17 days and would require everyone  except key workers to stay at home.

Ireland also confirmed it would begin a second national lockdown from midnight on Wednesday. The Level 5 restrictions will see schools stay open but non-essential businesses close. People will be told to stay at home for six weeks unless taking exercise within a 5km radius.

Irish premier Micheal Martin said the measures were necessary to curb the rise in cases and hospital admissions, adding: "As Taoiseach I am asking everyone again to take this threat seriously."

Key Points

• New national lockdown in Ireland
• Government sets deadline for Manchester to agree to Tier 3
• Government still failing ethnic minorities most affected by Covid
• UK Covid situation remains ‘perilous’, says Hancock
• Wales imposes new ‘fire-break’ restrictions for 17 days
• Intensive care beds could run out ‘very soon’ across north west
• Coronavirus cases hits 40m worldwide

[19 October 2020 18:34 · Peter Stubley]

‘Fauci is a disaster’, says Trump

Donald Trump lashed out at disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci and branded him a “disaster” as he said Americans are “tired” of hearing about Covid-19.

The president attacked Dr Fauci on a campaign call to staffers and said that if the scientist had been in charge more than 500,000 Americans would have died.

[19 October 2020 18:37 · Peter Stubley]

GM health system can cope with Covid surge, says expert

The head of Greater Manchester’s Covid response has said the region’s health system can “cope” - despite government claims that intensive care units could be overwhelmed within weeks.

Prof Jane Eddleston, the executive medical lead for Greater Manchester, said the situation was “serious” but there were “detailed escalation plans” to bring in extra capacity.

She said: "The system can cope. If one looks at the stark figures one might be mistaken for thinking, 'Oh gosh'. But that does not take into account the additional capacity that will come into play.

"They would not know all of our escalation plans. We have got very detailed escalation plans. We would bring more beds into play. We have made provision, we have put aside quite a lot of our beds in Covid-secure facilities. As a consequence, the number of beds available at any one time are dynamic."

[19 October 2020 18:40 · Peter Stubley]

Will Boris Johnson impose Tier 3 on Greater Manchester?

The failure of the latest talks about Tier 3 restrictions in Greater Manchester has increased the prospect that they will be imposed against the will of local leaders.

Here’s political editor Andy Woodcock with the latest:

[19 October 2020 18:50 · Peter Stubley]

Burnham ‘surprise’ at failure of talks

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has written to Boris Johnson to express "disappointment" at the outcome of the latest talks with the government.

Local leaders had previously expressed hope for an agreement after a proposal providing support to low-paid workers was put forward.

That appeared to then be ruled out by ministers, according to a report by Press Association.

Mr Burnham said in his letter that the region will “continue to work with the government to find a resolution".

[19 October 2020 19:02 · Peter Stubley]

Case rates falling in hardest-hit areas of England

The latest Covid figures for local authorities in England shows that the areas with the highest rates of new cases may have passed their peak.

Nottingham’s rate remains the highest but has fallen from over 1000 cases per 100,000 people (in the week up to 8 October) to 711 in the week ending 15 October.

Case rates have also fallen in the cities of Newcastle, Exeter, Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds. One possible explanation is a drop off in the number of students being infected since the start of term. 

However some areas have seen big jumps in their seven day rates, including Blackburn with Darwen (up from 382.1 to 513.7, with 769 new cases); Rossendale (up from 316.2 to 472.8, with 338 new cases); and Charnwood (up from 172.2 to 288.9, with 537 new cases).

Here are the top ten local authorities in England by case rate, as compiled by the Press Association agency.

Nottingham 711.3 per 100,000 people (2368 cases), up from 1001.2 (3333) in the week ending 8 October.

Knowsley 673.5 (1016), 729.1 (1100)

Liverpool 606.6 (3021), 684.7 (3410)

Burnley 536.4 (477), 545.4 (485)

Blackburn with Darwen 513.7 (769), 382.1 (572)

Rossendale 472.8 (338), 316.2 (226)

Rochdale 469.4 (1044), 402.9 (896)

Pendle 450.5 (415), 406.0 (374)

West Lancashire 447.9 (512), 445.3 (509)

Wigan 436.9 (1436), 378.8 (1245)

[19 October 2020 19:17 · Peter Stubley]

Vaccine ‘unlikely’ to completely stop virus, says Vallance

It is "unlikely" that a coronavirus vaccine will be able to completely stop the spread of infection, the government's chief scientific adviser has warned, adding that the disease may well become endemic in the global population – much like influenza.

Sir Patrick Vallance told a select committee on national security that the UK government would likely need to manage Covid-19 on a year-by-year basis in the same way as flu.

[19 October 2020 19:37 · Peter Stubley]

Hancock caught maskless

Health secretary Matt Hancock received a slap down from Downing Street today after being pictured riding in his ministerial car without a face covering.

Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said ministers had been told to wear masks in their chauffeur-driven cars, shortly after pictures emerged of Mr Hancock with his face uncovered.

[19 October 2020 19:50 · Peter Stubley]

'Three billion people could miss out on vaccine’

Three billion people could miss out on a coronavirus vaccine because of storage issues – with some of the poorest people on the planet most at risk of being left behind.

Experts have warned that among the problems facing vaccine distribution teams is that large parts of the world do not have the refrigeration capacities needed.

[19 October 2020 19:53 · Peter Stubley]

Patient numbers ‘uncomfortable reading’ for Track and Trace director

NHS Track and Trace testing director Sarah-Jane Marsh has provided a small insight into the problems being faced by the NHS as patient numbers rise.

She said the rate at which Covid-19 patients are "filling" hospital beds, according to an NHS CEOs WhatsApp group, has made for "uncomfortable reading".

"The NHS CEOs WhatsApp Group is uncomfortable reading tonight as friends and colleagues share the rate at which Covid patients are filling NHS in-patient and ITU beds against a much busier backdrop than March/April #protectheNHSsavelives," she tweeted.

[19 October 2020 19:57 · Peter Stubley]

Ireland to enter national lockdown again

Ireland will move to the highest level of Covid-19 restrictions under the government's five-tier Covid roadmap.

Cabinet ministers have agreed to place the country under level 5 restrictions from midnight on Wednesday for six weeks in a bid to combat the rise in cases of the virus.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings in Dublin on Monday evening.

The restrictions will last until December 1.

Further details are awaited but it was previously reported that schools will remain open while non-essential retail, hairdressers, barbers and salons will have to close.