Coronavirus news – live: Thousands join illegal ‘quarantine’ raves, risking virus spread, as UK records lowest daily death toll since lockdown began

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Video purports to show party-goers at illegal 'quarantine rave' in Manchester

Thousands of people defied social-distancing rules to attend two illegal “quarantine raves” on Saturday night, prompting fears they will be spreading the coronavirus in the community.

About 4,000 people turned up for one event in Greater Manchester, where a 20-year-old man died from a suspected drug overdose, and a woman was raped at the other rave, which had 2,000 party-goers.

Police condemned the mass gatherings, and deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said those who went were irresponsible and should be ashamed.

Another 36 deaths of people with the virus in the UK have been recorded, in the lowest daily rise since lockdown began on 24 March.

The fall in cases has given the government "more margin for manoeuvre" in easing the two-metre social-distancing rule, Boris Johnson has said.

However, in China, where a fresh outbreak has emerged, Beijing officials confirmed the country’s highest daily total of coronavirus cases in two months.

Key Points

• Thousands attend illegal 'quarantine raves'
• UK records 36 more deaths, lowest daily rise
• British police federations call for protest ban during pandemic
• 'More margin for manoeuvre' on easing 2m rule
• More virus cases found in new outbreak in Beijing

[14 June 2020 22:50 · Vincent Wood]

Tulsa official says he wishes Trump would postpone rally

The director of the Tulsa Health Department says he wishes President Donald Trump would postpone a planned campaign rally in Tulsa because of recent increases in the number of coronavirus cases.

Bruce Dart told the Tulsa World that it's an honour for the president to want to come to the city, but said he's concerned about protecting anyone attending a large indoor event.

"I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn't as large a concern as it is today" he said.

"I think it's an honor for Tulsa to have a sitting president want to come and visit our community, but not during a pandemic,

"I'm concerned about our ability to protect anyone who attends a large, indoor event, and I'm also concerned about our ability to ensure the president stays safe as well."

[14 June 2020 23:05 · Vincent Wood]

Government could overrule scientific advisers and relax two-metre distancing rule, Chancellor says

The government could overrule its scientific and medical advisers and relax the two-metre coronavirus social distancing rule, the chancellor has said.

Asked on Sunday whether the chief scientist and chief medical officer would have to agree with a relaxation of the policy, Rishi Sunak said ministers were ultimately "elected to make decisions" and suggested they were not bound by the views of experts

More below:

[14 June 2020 23:20 · Vincent Wood]

New York governor threatens to reintroduce restrictions in regions flouting rules

New York governor Andrew Cuomo has threatened to reinstate restrictions in areas where local governments fail to enforce the rules.

Manhattan and Long Island's Hamptons were singled out Sunday as problem areas by Mr Cuomo, who cited 25,000 complaints statewide of reopening violations. The large gatherings, social-distancing violations and lax face-covering enforcement endanger the state's fragile progress in the fight against the coronavirus, he added, adding that many complaints involve bars and restaurants.

"We are not kidding around with this. You're talking about jeopardising people's lives," the governor said at his daily briefing.

The warning comes a day after the Democractic governor reacted sternly to a short Twitter video from New York City of young people enjoying a warm day packed tightly on a city street, many without masks.

[14 June 2020 23:31 · Vincent Wood]

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Sturgeon condemns 'utterly shameful' violence after rival protesters clash in Glasgow

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has decried violent protests as “utterly shameful” after police in Glasgow worked to avert a clash between two rival groups in the city’s George Square.

Hundreds of people affiliated with loyalist organisations arrived at the square under the statue of Metropolitan Police founder Robert Peel after protesters called for the monument’s removal.

Despite the original protest - organised by the Glasgow Youth Art Collective - over the statue being called off, police were forced to put themselves between those who had gathered in the square and a small group with unknown affiliations as the two sides lobbed projectiles at one another.

[14 June 2020 23:35 · Vincent Wood]

Brasilia governor clamps down on pro-Bolsonaro rallies

The governor of the federal district in which Brazil's capital Brasilia is located has closed the area around the presidential palace, ministries, Supreme Court and Congress to keep right-wing supporters of president Jair Bolsonaro from gathering there.

Governor Ibaneis Rocha forbade car and pedestrian traffic along the main thoroughfare that houses Brazil's most important federal government buildings, preventing the protests held by Mr Bolsonaro's supporters that have become a regular occurrence in the area.

Mr Bolsonaro, who has consistently downplayed the risk of the virus despite his nation becoming one of the worst afflicted worldwide, has frequently attended the demonstrations himself.

The state government issued the decree on Saturday night, after a small far-right group of the president's supporters tried to invade Congress. The decree said the area was closed due to the need to avoid large gatherings amid the coronavirus epidemic, as well as the threat made by some protesters against Brazil's democratic institutions.

[14 June 2020 23:50 · Vincent Wood]

Spain to restart tourism from 21 June – but not for Brits

In case you missed it: the Spanish prime minister has declared his country will reopen to European visitors from next Sunday.

But only travellers from the European Union and the wider Schengen area will be permitted from 21 June; visitors from the UK are likely to have to wait until 1 July to be admitted.

Pedro Sanchez made the announcement on the eve of Spain’s reopening to international tourism with a pilot programme of holidays to Mallorca for German citizens.

Our own Simon Calder has more:

[14 June 2020 23:55 · Vincent Wood]

Ghanaian health minister contracts virus

Ghana's president has announced that Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu has contracted Covid-19 and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

In a state broadcast Sunday night, President Nana Akufo-Addo said the health minister had "contracted the virus in his line of duty" leading the West African nation's fight against Covid-19.

Ghana has one of highest number of confirmed cases in Africa because of its robust testing, with more than 11,400 cases. Health authorities have reported 51 deaths.

News of the health minister's illness further fueled worries as Ghana's universities prepared to reopen Monday so students in their final year of study can take exams.

"If the health minister is contracting the disease, what is the guarantee that my son will be safe?" said Peter Owusu, whose son studies at the University of Cape Coast.