Coronavirus news – live: WHO says everyone must wear face masks in public as Matt Hancock urges people not to attend George Floyd protests
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Your support makes all the difference.The World Health Organisation has updated its coronavirus guidance in response to recent research to say everyone should wear face coverings in public where there is a risk of virus transmission.
The change came as Matt Hancock, the health secretary, announced all hospital visitors would have to wear face coverings from 15 June and urged the public to not attend upcoming George Floyd protests due to concerns about the potential for large gatherings to spread Covid-19.
Meanwhile, as the official UK death toll passed 40,000, scientists halted a trial of the anti-malaria drug touted by Donald Trump after researchers at the University of Oxford found hydroxychloroquine was ineffective as a treatment for coronavirus.
Follow the latest developments in the liveblog below:
Councils need data at 'person level' to manage outbreaks, Sheffield public health director says
Councils need coronavirus infection data at “person level” to effectively manage outbreaks and implement local measures, Sheffield’s public health director has said.
Greg Fell, director of Public Health Sheffield, told the BBC’s Newsnight that he would be receiving data at a level of about 1,500 people this weekend but said he would prefer even more specific information on infections.
“I’ve had two emails and two texts this evening that tell me I’ll have data down to the level of about 1,500 people over the weekend,” Mr Fell said.
“I think I’m going to need that data regularly and in real time so I can spot trends over a long period of time. Preferably, I would like that data at person level.”
He added: “I don’t particularly need the data but I need to know that someone somewhere is keeping a really really close eye on that data, right down to person level because that’s the only way to spot trends.”
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