Coronavirus news - live: Test result turnaround times hit lowest point, as millions in northeast face lockdown
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Your support makes all the difference.The proportion of people in England receiving an in-person Covid-19 test result within the government's 24-hour target period has hit its lowest point since the middle of June.
Test and Trace chief Baroness Dido Harding told MPs the latest capacity for Covid-19 tests stands at 242,000 across the UK, but that demand was currently three to four times higher.
The former Talk Talk boss conceded that tests were lying unused at testing sites, lest they go out of date at backlogged laboratories, where she said the “constraint” lay in the system.
It came as more than 1.5 million people across the northeast of England prepare to be placed under new coronavirus restrictions, bringing the total subject to additional measures to nearly 10 million across the country.
The new rules will see residents banned from socialising outside their own households or support bubble, leisure and entertainment venues shut between 10pm and 5am, and table service only in bars and restaurants from midnight on Thursday.
And globally, reported infections surpassed 30 million, according to a Reuters tally, as countries’ combined official death tolls neared the million mark.
‘Better work could have been done’ to prepare for pandemic
David Cameron has conceded “better work could have been done" in ensuring the UK was prepared for the coronavirus pandemic, Andy Gregory reports.
The former Tory prime minister, who resigned in 2016 after finding himself on the wrong side of the result in his own Brexit referendum, suggested that too much emphasis had been placed on dealing with a possible flu pandemic.
David Cameron concedes ‘better work could have been done’ to prepare for pandemic
Former PM’s austerity policies and Brexit referendum have previously been linked to disastrous UK response
Middlesbrough manager tests positive
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock has tested positive for coronavirus.
A club statement issued this morning confirmed the 71-year-old returned a positive test following the club’s 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat on Tuesday, and will now remain in self-isolation until he has recovered.
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock tests positive for coronavirus
Club confirm the 71-year-old is in self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19
My colleague Jon Sharman has put together this round-up of important coronavirus news you may have missed overnight:
Coronavirus news you may have missed overnight
Meanwhile, at least three countries have reported record one-day infection rises
Patients will have to book slots in A&E
The government has confirmed plans to shake-up accident and emergency care in England this winter with plans that could see patients having to dial NHS 111 before going to A&E, writes health correspondent Shaun Lintern.
Initially, the new A&E booking system is being piloted in Cornwall, Portsmouth and Hampshire and Blackpool and Warrington but if successful could be rolled out across the country to all hospitals as soon as December.
Patients will have to book slots in A&E by calling ahead first, ministers confirm
Planned changes to A&E waiting time targets to be revealed before December
P&O cancels cruises until 2021
The UK's biggest cruise line P&O Cruises has extended the cancellation of its sailings until early 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
President Paul Ludlow said: "With evolving restrictions on travel from the UK, unfortunately it is necessary to cancel these itineraries.
"These further cancellations vary according to ship as well as complexity and length of itineraries, advice and guidance regarding ports of call and current air availability for fly/cruises.
"We are continuing to monitor the overall situation closely and will certainly reintroduce cruises should the opportunity arise and it is feasible to do so."
Test booking website issues continue
People attempting to book a local coronavirus test on the government’s website say technical problems are preventing them from checking availability, as the system struggles to cope with the number of requests.
A growing number of visitors said they had received a message stating that “this service is currently very busy”.
Although the online portal should allow users to opt between drive-through and walk-through tests, some users are reporting errors which prevent them from checking whether a test is even available in their area.
Website for booking coronavirus tests struggles to cope with demand
‘This service is currently very busy,’ users told
People without masks forced to dig graves for coronavirus victims
Eight Indonesians who refused to wear masks have been made to dig graves for coronavirus victims in a rural province in the country.
Three men and five minors were sentenced to grave-digging duties in in Cerme district of Gresik Regency, East Java on 9 September, officials told Tribun News.
Mask wearing is mandatory in public spaces throughout Indonesia, but the government has given local officials the power to decide on punishments for breaches.
More on this from Clea Skopeliti below:
People without masks forced to dig graves for coronavirus victims
Officials in the region of Cerme offer the option of a fine or community service
Northeast Labour MPs call for more clarity
Labour MPs representing northeast England seats have called for further information from Matt Hancock on the measures being taken.
They requested "urgent clarification on a number of key issues" around interventions being planned in Sunderland, South Tyneside, Gateshead, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham.
The letter, signed by 15 Labour MPs, asked whether household-level information and contact tracing data will be available to local authorities and what extra testing capacity would be put in to the region.
"We agree that restrictions must be put in place in order to protect public health, and prevent the further spread of Covid-19, and we support measures taken in order to save lives," the MPs said.
"We do, however, believe that this must be done in close collaboration with local authorities, who must have access to all appropriate information, data and support in order to make the best decisions for their areas."
The letter was sent by Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott and signed by colleagues including shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Bridget Phillipson and shadow science minister Chi Onwurah.
Sadiq Khan calls for action on testing ‘chaos and confusion’
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has written to health secretary Matt Hancock calling for action on the coronavirus testing "chaos and confusion".
The Labour mayor told London Assembly Members: "This is a critical moment in the fight against Covid-19. Many Londoners are being told there are no testing sites available in London.
"The delays are preventing frontline workers from being able to do their jobs, and children are being kept away from their classrooms unnecessarily.
"This failure is putting lives and livelihoods in jeopardy. We've known for months now that come the autumn demand for testing would increase. This crunch point should have been foreseen, and then avoided.
"And unless the Government massively ramps up testing capacity in London we'll be back to where we started: trying to halt the spread of the virus in the dark.
"Nothing is more important than a fully functioning test, trace and isolate system if we are to prevent a devastating second wave, and time is fast running out. "
Latest test and trace figures
A total of 18,371 new people tested positive for Covid-19 in England in the week to 9 September, according to the latest Test and Trace figures.
This is an increase of 75% in positive cases on the previous week, and is the highest weekly number since Test and Trace was launched at the end of May.
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