Category Archives: Coronavirus outbreak

Face mask fashion: politicians step out in statement masks

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From Nicola Sturgeon’s tartan to Michael Gove’s fog, politicians find masks to match their personality

Nicola Sturgeon set the template for face mask diplomacy almost three weeks ago with a £10 tartan mask, which raised money for Shelter Scotland. Her endorsement sparked staggering sales and promoted Scottish culture, charity and business in one photo op, while making a clear message about public health. In other words, she played a blinder.

Sturgeon also sparkled a trend of sorts, with Jackson Carlaw, the leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party, wearing an even toastier-looking tartan face mask to pour himself a patriotic pint a few weeks later.

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Israel returns to partial lockdown with immediate weekend shutdown

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Government unveils measures after marathon emergency cabinet session as infections rise

Israel has reimposed some lockdown measures following a vigorous second surge in the number of coronavirus infections, putting in place stringent weekend shutdowns in which shops, hairdressers and attractions will be closed.

The government announced the measures in the early hours of Friday morning, following a marathon emergency cabinet session called after daily infection rates climbed to close to 2,000.

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Coronavirus symptoms fall into six different groupings, study finds

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Exclusive: Findings could give medics advance warning for hospital care and respiratory support

Symptoms of Covid-19 appear to fall into six different groupings, researchers have revealed, in work they say could help to predict whether a patient will end up needing a ventilator or other breathing support.

The team say the findings could give healthcare providers several days advanced warning of demand for hospital care and respiratory support.

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‘Work from home’: UK chief scientific adviser warns of coronavirus risks – video

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The UK government's chief scientific adviser has said working from home is still the best option where possible to maintain physical distancing, as he acknowledged that the outcome of Britain's response to the Covid-19 outbreak 'has not been good'. Sir Patrick Vallance's advice during a two-hour appearance before the science and technology select committee contrasts with Boris Johnson's recovery 'roadmap' under which the prime minister is encouraging more people to return to their workplaces in an effort to help city centre economies recover

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‘Reckless, callous, cruel’: teachers’ chief denounces Trump plan to reopen schools

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‘Angry’ AFT president Randi Weingarten tells Guardian proposal from Trump and Betsy DeVos could result in teaching exodus

Plans put forward by Donald Trump and his education secretary to reopen America’s schools in the fall are “reckless” and could result in many teachers leaving the profession, the president of one of the country’s biggest teaching unions has warned.

Related: Betsy DeVos insists all US children should be in school this fall

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UK coronavirus live: Johnson to unveil £3bn plan to get NHS ‘battle ready’ for winter

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News updates: PM set to make announcement in press conference on Friday

The news that the court of appeal decided yesterday to allow Shamima Begum to return to Britain makes many front pages this morning, and is now under discussion on the Today programme.

Richard Walton, former head of counter terrorism command at the Met, says the court has made a “profound mistake”. “It’s quite alarming to see the court of appeal taking over the home secretary’s job of deciding who should be allowed into the UK,” he says.

With much discussion today of how to encourage people to embrace the reopening of the economy, Joanna Partridge reports grim findings for England’s pubs, bars and restaurants. Figures released overnight find that sales since they reopened are about 40% down compared on the same period last year.

On the other hand, argues Karl Chessell, director of the consultancy CGA which released the findings, that’s actually better bounceback for the sector than in many other countries. You can read more about that here:

Related: England yet to embrace reopened restaurants and pubs, data suggests

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Coronavirus live news: record 24-rise in worldwide Covid-19 cases as Australian parliament to be postponed

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Increase of 237,743 cases globally; EU ‘no closer to agreeing rescue package’; Brazil cases pass 2m

That’s where we might leave this blog for now. You can keep up to date with global news on The Guardian website or come join me on the new Guardian live blog launching soon.

Labor MP Amanda Rishworth is also speaking with ABC. She agrees the parliament must follow medical advice, but says the cancellation of this sitting fortnight makes it difficult for the opposition to scrutinise government.

Question time is a really important forum which the opposition can ask the government questions, and every MP has a chance to raise their voice in parliament. So this is critically important that we have parliament sitting. It is a really important vehicle.

Yes, there is the Covid committee, but parliament itself is the opportunity for every MP from around the country to bring the concerns of their constituents. So it does make it more challenging [if it is not sitting].

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Protests predicted to surge globally as Covid-19 drives unrest

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New analysis finds economic shock of pandemic coupled with existing grievances makes widespread public uprisings ‘inevitable’

The economic impact of coronavirus is a “tinderbox” that will drive civil unrest and instability in developing countries in the second half of 2020, according to new analysis.

Highest risk countries facing a “perfect storm”, where protests driven by the pandemic’s economic fallout are likely to inflame existing grievances, include Nigeria, Iran, Bangladesh, Algeria and Ethiopia, the analysis said.

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‘Money makes money’: Uganda’s Tarantino raises funds with rap

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Wakaliwood’s Isaac Nabwana swapped directing shootouts to parody music videos to support rural projects hit by Covid-19

The helicopter and the bling are made of cardboard and the dollar bills carefully drawn on paper by local children. But the people are very real and the music is totally authentic.

A new video from Ugandan film director Isaac Nabwana is a move away from his previous output – movies heavy on blood and gore and ultra-low on budgets – which is gaining him an international cult following. And he says the pandemic’s impact in pushing film online, with the trend towards all-digital film festivals, has helped.

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England yet to embrace reopened restaurants and pubs, data suggests

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Tracker finds sales about 40% down on same period last year among venues that reopened

People have not embraced an easing of lockdown restrictions in England’s pubs, bars and restaurants, according to figures that showed a drop in sales of about 40% among venues that opened their doors at the beginning of the month.

Pubs that were open in the week beginning 6 July posted a 39% decline in sales compared with the same period last year, while bars were down 43% and restaurants down 40%.

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The science should not stand in the way of schools reopening, says Kayleigh McEnany – video

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Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, has suggested that US schools should reopen regardless of what the science says. 'The president has said unmistakably that he wants schools to open,' she said. 'The science should not stand in the way of this.' Donald Trump has said school districts must offer a full schedule of classes, arguing that parents are under tremendous strain from managing their children and work at the same time


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Russia targeted Covid-19 researchers and interfered in 2019 UK election, says Raab – video

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Foreign secretary accuses Russia of seeking to interfere in last year’s general election by amplifying an illegally acquired NHS dossier that was seized upon by Labour during the campaign. Raab also confirms reports that Russian state-sponsored hackers are targeting UK, US and Canadian organisations involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine, describing it as ‘completely unacceptable’.

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Coronavirus live news: Covid-19 was direct cause of 89% of Italy pandemic deaths; Israel faces new lockdown

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Israel reports new daily record of cases; 125 million in India under new lockdown; Beijing Winter Olympics under threat

The news that there may be a delay in re-opening pubs in Ireland has been described as a “hammer blow” by the Licensed Vintners Association, which represents pub owners, who said the future of 7,000 pubs and 50,000 jobs hung in the balance.

Ireland has paused its phased easing of lockdown and extended rules on face coverings amid a surge in Covid-19 cases. Leo Varadkar, the tánaiste (deputy prime minister), told parliament today that pubs, nightclubs and other venues will open no sooner than 10 August, and possibly later.

Covid-19 was found to be the direct cause of death among 89% of the pandemic’s victims in Italy, according to a report on Thursday by the country’s higher health institute and national statistics agency.

The study was based on the death certificates of 4,942 people who had tested positive for Covid-19 and carried out until 25 May, by which time 31,573 people were officially reported to have died of the disease.

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UK coronavirus live: ‘It’s clear the outcome has not been good’ in Britain, Patrick Vallance tells MPs

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Chief scientific adviser gives evidence to science and technology committee; Scotland records first Covid-related death in eight days

Vallance told the committee that SAGE advised the government to impose lockdown measures “as soon as possible” on the 16 or 18 March.

He said this happened as soon as data showed further restrictions were needed. “Looking back, you can see the data may have preceded that but the data was not available before that.”

Back to the Science and Technology committee, where chief scientific adviser has said the coronavirus lockdown “carries risks” to the public’s mental and physical health.

He told the committee it was “crucially important” that the indirect impact of the measures on people’s health were fully understood.

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Coronavirus US: Covid-19 cases rise in 41 states as total number nears 3.5m – live updates

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Mary Trump’s tell-all book set a sales record for Simon & Schuster, Trump’s publisher said in a statement about the book, which was released on Tuesday.

According to Simon & Schuster, the book sold more than 950,000 copies through Tuesday, setting a new company record.

Simon & Schuster says Mary Trump’s book “sold a total of more than 950,000 copies through Tuesday, July 14, the first day the book went on sale.” It’s a company record.

Related: Mary Trump’s book: eight of its most shocking claims about the president

Despite the rising number of coronavirus cases in Georgia, the state’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, issued an executive order yesterday that voids local mask mandates.

The order encourages residents to wear masks, but it goes on to state, “Any state, county, or municipal law, order, ordinance, rule, or regulation that requires persons to wear face coverings, masks, face shields, or any other Personal Protective Equipment while in places of public accommodation or on public property are suspended.”

It is officially official. Governor Kemp does not give a damn about us. Every man and woman for himself/herself. Ignore the science and survive the best you can.

In #Savannah, we will continue to keep the faith and follow the science. Masks will continue to be available!

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UK government orders halt to Randox Covid-19 tests over safety issues

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Care homes and members of public told to immediately stop using kits produced by firm

Care homes and members of the public have been instructed by the government to immediately stop using coronavirus testing kits produced by a healthcare firm after safety problems were discovered.

Randox was awarded a £133m contract in March to produce the testing kits for England, Wales and Northern Ireland without any other firms being given the opportunity to bid for the work.

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Russian state-sponsored hackers target Covid-19 vaccine researchers

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UK National Cyber Security Centre says drug firms and research groups being targeted by group known as APT29

Russian state-sponsored hackers are targeting UK, US and Canadian organisations involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine, according to British security officials.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said drug companies and research groups were being targeted by a group known as APT29, which was “almost certainly” part of the Kremlin’s intelligence services.

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Netanyahu accused of ‘bribing the masses’ with Israeli cash handout

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PM proposes £1.4bn in handouts to all Israelis as country braces for potential second wave of the coronavirus

Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of attempting to deflect public anger around his handling of Israel’s pandemic and an ongoing corruption trial by proposing a cash handout to all Israelis regardless of their income.

The Israeli prime minister presented the 6bn shekel (£1.4bn) package on Wednesday night, with payments of up to £175 for individuals, rising to nearly £700 for families, arguing it would boost spending and “get the economy moving faster”.

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Coronavirus: England’s face mask law could backfire, says EU expert

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Exclusive: persuasion could be more effective than ‘unenforceable’ law, says Dr Agoritsa Baka

A new law making it mandatory to wear a face mask in shops and supermarkets in England could backfire, a leading official in the EU’s agency for disease control has warned, after police officers said it would be unenforceable.

Dr Agoritsa Baka, chief expert on emergency preparedness at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), said persuasion could be more effective given the evident difficulties in policing the rule.

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The power of touch: when my son visited in lockdown, we couldn’t hug. It was a reminder of the saddest truth

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My son’s 14th birthday was the first he and I had spent apart – then he called to say his mother had Covid-19. We were faced with a reality I had hoped to forestall for ever

Welcome to the Guardian’s Power of Touch series

We Jacksons are not effusive types. There ain’t a helluva lot of hugging and touching at family gatherings. However, one of the few exceptions is my son, who’s been unfettered with his affections since he was toddling around his mother’s New Jersey home – he and I have never lived together full-time. My son’s been a boy who, unprompted, says, “Dad, I love you” and wraps me in the tightest of hugs. Who, when he’s seen his sister after a long absence, almost tackles her with glee. Who’s still apt to let a deluge go on account of hurt feelings. In plenty of explicit ways, he’s my emotional opposite, a boy who showed me how to embrace; who, along with his sister, softened parts of me that my own boyhood had hardened; a kid who’s been instrumental in ushering me as close to comfortable with physical expressions of love as I have been in all my almost 45 years of life.

What kind of father was I that I was scared to receive my flesh and blood?

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