Coronavirus news: Packed scenes spark concern as pubs reopen across England and holiday makers flock to coast

Opinion: Social distancing may also end sexual harassment of bar staff

Almost 90 per cent of female hospitality workers have been sexually harassed, but staff preparing for this weekend's reopening have no choice but to don their best smiles and get back to work, writes Rebecca Collins.

Farage accused of breaking quarantine

Nigel Farage has caused quite the stir after posting an image of himself in a pub, despite recently returning from the US.

America was this week placed on England's travel "red list," meaning that people visiting from the country will be forced to quarantine for 14 days.

Mr Farage, who was photographed in Tulsa on 20 June for a Donald Trump, has drawn criticism on social media for supposedly breaking his quarantine - though the far-right commentator insisted he has been back in the UK for longer than two weeks.

'I came here to have a quiet time'

The Prime Minister's father, Stanley Johnson, has defended his decision to travel to Greece and make social media posts about it.

He said: "I didn't put them up... in a spirit of defiance, or anything like that."

Referring to his residence in Greece, Mr Johnson told reporters: "I came here to have a quiet time, to organise the house.

"I think I'm going to go back on July 10. So, I have just got one week to get everything organised. Got a whole lot of instructions about how to make the place Covid proof."

Asked if he had put his son in a difficult position by travelling to Greece, Mr Johnson said: "I have read his answers and he is absolutely right to say... that, you know what... and I think... I am not going to talk about private conversations between family members... and, I am absolutely not going to talk about that."

Up to half of pubs remain closed on Super Saturday, says Camra chief

The national chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) said feedback from branches suggested up to half of pubs have not reopened on so-called Super Saturday.

Speaking after raising a pint of Marston's Pedigree to mark the end of England's 105-day pub shutdown, Camra's Nik Antona said many licensees had done a fantastic job to manage to reopen in the face of insufficient notice from the government.

After being greeted by Steve and Katy Boulter, who run the Royal Oak in Barton-under-Needwood in Staffordshire, Mr Antona said one-way systems, protective screens and other measures had made pubs safe.

But he told the PA Media news agency: "I think it's going to be difficult for pubs.

"They are opening up under uncertain circumstances. They don't know if they're going to get their customers back.

"The Government have not really been helpful with their guidance, leaving it to the last minute in a lot of cases.

"What you are finding is, some of the pubs haven't even bothered opening today - they want to see what's going to happen.

"Across the country I've seen figures of up to 50 per cent of pubs actually not opening today."

No new coronavirus deaths in Scotland

There have been no new deaths recorded for people who tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland in the last 24 hours.

The total number of people who have died after being confirmed to have the virus remains at 2,488.

Statistics released on Saturday, which cover the previous day, show there were 11 new cases confirmed.

There were 429 patients in hospital on Friday night, including 19 in intensive care.

Nicola Sturgeon reacted to the latest figure on Twitter, saying it was time to take "extra care" to keep the progress going.

Cinemas reopen their doors

Cinemas have reopened their doors to customers following months of closure.

Film goers are being welcomed into venues with reduced capacities and are being encouraged to follow measures such as wearing masks, paying by contactless transactions and using hand-sanitising stations on arrival and exit.

However while some cinemas resumed trading on Saturday, a large number have remained closed despite restrictions being lifted.

At the Showcase cinema in the Bluewater shopping centre in Dartford, Kent, staff are all wearing masks and being subject to mandatory temperature checks on arrival at work.

Perspex screens have been put up around tills and stations where food is served, and one-way systems around the venue guide customer's movement in an effort to stop them coming into close contact with each other.

A dearth of new film releases means the cinema is showing old films including Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone and Back To The Future.

BREAKING: The UK’s coronavirus death toll has risen by 67 in 24 hours to 44,198, according to the latest government figures.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said 44,198 people had now died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for the disease in the UK, as of 5pm on Friday 3 July.

This tally only accounts for those who have tested positive for Covid-19. The latest Office for National Statistics figures, which includes all fatalities in which Covid-19 is on the death certificate, suggests the true toll is above 54,000.

Catalonia curbs movement of 200,000 people after latest outbreak

Police at roadblocks warned motorists they were entering a lockdown zone on Saturday as Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia reimposed restrictions on more than 200,000 people following several new coronavirus outbreaks.

Residents in Segria, which includes the city of Lleida, have not been able to leave the area from 12 noon on Saturday, but they will not have to stay at home as was the case during Spain's original lockdown.

As police stopped cars heading to Lleida, some drivers decided to turn around to avoid getting stuck inside the city.

"We've decided to confine Segria due to data that confirm too significant a growth in the number of Covid-19 infections," Catalan regional president Quim Torra told a news conference.

Regional health ministry data showed there were 3,706 cases in the Lleida region on Friday, up from 3,551 the previous day.

Catalonia is one of the hardest-hit parts of Spain, with a total of 72,860 coronavirus cases, according to regional health ministry data released on Friday.

People in Lleida will be allowed to go to work outside the city, but from Tuesday workers entering or leaving the lockdown area will have to present a certificate from their employer.

(A member of the Catalan regional police force Mossos d'Esquadra controls a checkpoint on the road leading to Lleida on 4 July)

Government messaging 'all over the place,' says Starmer

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has attacked the government for having its messaging "all over the place" as the coronavirus lockdown in England is relaxed.

Sir Keir said that the easing of restrictions was a massive test for the government as outlets like pubs, restaurants, and hairdressers reopened.

But he said the government had sent out conflicting signals.

Sir Keir told TimesRadio: "The messaging has been all over the place.

"You have had some Government messaging saying go out and have a drink, other messaging saying be responsible, be cautious - the messaging, I think, has been very poor over the last few weeks.

"Today is a massive day, and it is a real test.

"We have supported the easing of restrictions and we have supported the Government on that.

"But, we have been very mindful of the risks, so we are saying be very cautious the virus hasn't gone away.

"My message, really, to the government is, this is a big test for you.

"We are supporting you in easing restrictions, but you absolutely have to be on top of the risks.

"And that means that things like test, track and trace really have to work. And there has to be a much better way of dealing with local outbreaks."

Leicester businesses keep their doors shut on 'Super Saturday'

While people from across the country have taken to their local pubs and restaurants, the city of Leicester for the most part remains closed, however, amid its own local lockdown.

Restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs in the city must remain closed, but can be open for takeaways.

People are also banned from staying overnight at another household, and those in the restricted area can no longer visit people in private gardens or indoors, and could face fines if they flout rules.

The East Midlands city was placed under harsher restrictions by health secretary Matt Hancock following the rapid rise of coronavirus cases.

As well as the city of Leicester, the lockdown area includes parts of Leicestershire that touch on the city's boundaries, including parts of Blaby District and Charnwood in the county.