Coronavirus news: Northern leaders attack new lockdown plans for lack of clarity amid pub closure fears

Govt ‘failed to understand’ value of arts and sports sectors

A senior Tory MP has accused the government of failing to go far enough in its measures to support the arts and sports sectors.

Julian Knight, chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee thanked the government for its efforts to support the sectors “but these measures don’t go far enough”.

Speaking during a Commons debate, he said: “There remains large gaps in the Government’s response and I know many industry figures are concerned that some within Government have failed to understand either the needs of the sectors or the immense value they add to both the economy and our lives.”

It comes as frustrated arts workers accuse Chancellor Rishi Sunak of an “incredibly insulting” attitude towards the sector.

In an interview earlier this week, Mr Sunak spoke about the need for people in the arts to “adapt”, but denied later he was suggesting people struggling in creative industries should retrain and find other jobs.

‘We all have our part to play to control this virus’, health secretary says

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, has said “we all have our part to play to control” the spread of coronavirus.

Mr Hancock told the NHS Providers conference: "We know from bitter experience that the more coronavirus spreads, the harder it is to do all the other vital work of the NHS too."

He added: "The message to the public must be that we all have a part to play to control this virus.

"Our strategy is simple - suppress the virus, supporting the economy, education and the NHS until a vaccine can make us safe."

He told health leaders: "My message to everyone in the NHS is that we can and we will get through this.

"Sadly, there will be more difficult times ahead but we will get through this together."

Coronavirus UK cases up more than 17,000 in 24 hours

The number of coronavirus cases has risen by more than 17,000 over the latest 24-hour period, figures show.

A further 77 deaths have also been recorded.

Samuel Lovett has the full story:

Health bosses demand urgent action to prevent ‘full blown' second wave

Health bosses have warned that urgent action is needed to prevent a “full blown” second wave, amid mounting concern that the NHS is not prepared for the ongoing rise in hospital admissions due to shortages in staffing and capacity.

Samuel Lovett has the story:

UK has reached ‘perilous moment’ in fight against coronavirus

Matt Hancock said the country has reached a "perilous moment" in the course of the coronavirus pandemic.

The health secretary told the NHS Providers annual conference: "We are at a perilous moment in the course of this pandemic.

"I am very worried about the growth in the number of cases, especially in the North West and the North East of England, parts of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and parts of Yorkshire."

He added: "In parts of the country the situation is again becoming very serious.

"Hospitalisations in the North West are doubling approximately every fortnight. They have risen by 57 per cent in just the last week alone.

"Unfortunately we're seeing hospitalisations in the over-60s rising sharply and the number of deaths from coronavirus also rising."

Five Greek islands added to UK safe travel list

Five Greek islands have been added to the UK’s safe travel list, the transport minister, Grant Shapps, has announced.

Travellers will be able to visit and return from Lesvos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos without needing to self-isolate for two weeks.

No countries were removed from the travel corridor list this week.

Sports and culture venues close in Czech Republic

The Czech government will close indoor sports facilities and culture venues for two weeks from Monday to slow down the spread of new coronavirus infections, the country’s health minister, Roman Prymula, has announced.

Restaurants will have to close at 8pm, and pupils in the upper level of elementary schools will alternate in-class and distance learning, government officials said.

More French cities move to ‘maximum alert’

The cities of Lyon, Lille, Grenoble and Saint-Etienne in France will move to maximum coronavirus alert status on Saturday, health minister Olivier Veran has said.

Paris and Marseille were put on maximum alert earlier, which led to the closure of bars in those cities.

Mr Veran said the situation in Toulouse and Montpellier was also worrying and that those cities could also be moved to the maximum alert level from early next week.

Ben Chu analysis: Could local lockdowns end up making left behind places even poorer?

Is the coronavirus actually levelling Britain down?    

Different parts of the UK have been subject to different levels of restrictions in this pandemic. On the face of it this discrepancy is justified by the varying rates at which the infection is spreading around the country, writes Ben Chu.

Record one-day increase in global cases

The World Health Organisation reported a record one-day increase in global coronavirus cases on Thursday, with the total rising by 338,779 in 24 hours. The biggest increases were from India, the United States and Brazil, according to the agency's website. Deaths rose by 5,514 to a total of 1.05 million.