Coronavirus news: Boris Johnson urges public to abide by new Covid rules through ‘unquestionably difficult’ winter

National Police Chiefs' Council chairman Martin Hewitt has dismissed the suggestion of military involvement being needed to enforce coronavirus restrictions.

He said: "Policing is a unique role and any military support must be assessed very carefully.

"At the moment, no military involvement is necessary, nor do we anticipate this will be needed."

UK cases rise by nearly 5,000 in largest leap since May

The UK has recorded a further 4,926 coronavirus infections - the largest daily rise since 7 May.

The Department for Health and Social Care figures showed a level of new infections overtaking that often seen during the peak of the pandemic in the UK - albeit at which point testing capacity was significantly smaller.

What do the new coronavirus restrictions mean for the economy?

Our economics editor Ben Chu looks at the evidence on whether new coronavirus restrictions spell major trouble for the economy on Independent Premium.

Prospect of six-month-long restrictions a ‘bitter blow’ to elderly, charity says

Age UK's director has said she was "deeply disappointed" to hear that the new restrictions might last into next spring, after Boris Johnson said they “will remain in place for perhaps six months”.

“It raises the prospect of a far-from-normal festive period, especially for larger families,” said Caroline Abrahams.

"It is perhaps important to remember though that the coming period is clouded with uncertainty and it is possible that these new rules could be relaxed for Christmas if we're successful in controlling the spread of the virus - or tightened further if we fail to get a grip.

"Many older people look forward to Christmas as the one time in the year when their family gets together, including those living far away.

"To be deprived of having this to look forward to will be a bitter blow for them, making it all the more important that the rest of us make the effort to keep being in touch."

Boris Johnson suggests high infection rates are due to UK’s ‘love of freedom’

Boris Johnson has suggested that the coronavirus infection rate is worse in the UK than in Germany or Italy because Britons love freedom more, our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports.

Answering questions in the House of Commons, the prime minister rejected suggestions that the UK’s under-performing Test and Trace system might be to blame for the surging infection rates which today forced him to introduce new restrictions on social and economic activity.

Instead, he pointed to Britain’s history as a “freedom-loving country” as an explanation for why its citizens have been unwilling to obey instructions and guidance intended to damp down the disease.

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, who prompted the outburst by asking why the UK’s record was so much worse than Germany’s or Italy’s, told The Independent he was left “speechless” by the PM’s response.

He said Mr Johnson was grasping at “out-of-date attitudes” about the European countries’ history of Nazi and fascist government, and risked encouraging members of the public to break the rules to demonstrate their own love of freedom.

Theatres and cinemas not subject to 10pm curfew, culture secretary says

Music venue bosses questioned whether this exemption would apply to live music venues also, and if not, why.

Two thirds of adults want to lose weight to keep up with their kids and avoid catching coronavirus, study finds

Britons have revealed their motivations for wanting to get in shape — including getting a good night’s sleep, keeping up with the kids and reducing their chances of getting Covid-19, Rob Knight reports.

Research of 2,000 adults found two thirds are eager to improve their physical health so they can get more out of life.

And four in 10 adults believe a healthier lifestyle could limit the chances of them developing underlying health conditions.

But a quarter hope changes to how they live will mean they are less at risk of catching Covid-19.

However, the study, commissioned by Bupa Health Clinics, found half of those polled have “always” struggled to motivate themselves.

University of Liverpool faces calls to abandon in-person teaching after 87 cases identified

The University of Liverpool is facing calls to abandon in-person teaching when term begins after there were 87 positive Covid-19 tests of staff and students at the institution in the past week.

Academics are concerned a return to face-to-face teaching could "exponentially increase infection rates" when freshers' week and seminars resume in the upcoming weeks.

Students have begun arriving on campuses across the country and they have been warned not to attend large freshers' week parties due to the ban on social gatherings of more than six people in England.

But Professor Louise Kenny, executive pro-vice-chancellor for the faculty of health and life sciences at the university, has said face-to-face teaching is "an essential component" of many degree courses.

“Like other members of Liverpool's population, university students and staff members are also experiencing more Covid-19 cases,” Prof Kenny said.

"Our investment in an on-campus testing facility for staff and students displaying symptoms means that we are in a position to report on the numbers in our community who test positive and, importantly, to act quickly to stop the spread.

"We continue to work closely with Liverpool City Council's public health team and Public Health England and all those who have tested positive, together with their close contacts, have been informed that they now need to self-isolate in line with national guidance."

PA

France records more than 10,000 new cases

French health authorities have reported 10,008 new coronavirus infections - nearly double Monday’s figure, which tends to be lower following the weekend.

The country’s official death toll rose by 78 to 31,416.

Neon sign blaming Donald Trump for 200,000 coronavirus deaths placed in front of White House

The pointed message reading “Trump lied, 200,00 died” was held up by a group of Democrat politicians and paid for by the Democratic National Convention, Graeme Massie reports.

They lit the sign on Sunday night as the death toll from Covid-19 continues to grow dramatically in the US.

The death toll in the US reached 200,087 on Tuesday morning, according to the New York Times.