Coronavirus news: R rate climbs again as cases surge and London braces for tighter restrictions
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK’s coronavirus reproduction rate, or R value, has risen again to between 1.3 and 1.6 following a sharp spike in new cases in recent weeks, the government’s top scientific advisers have said.
London was among the areas seeing rising Covid-19 infections, amid reports that tighter restrictions would be imposed in the capital in the coming days.
Meanwhile US president Donald Trump was taken to hospital, just hours after announcing he and his wife had tested positive. White House officials said it was a “precautionary measure”.
Good morning, thank you for joining us for today’s coronavirus live blog.
We’ve got some interesting stories you may have missed overnight, including:
- Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump testing positive for coronavirus-
- An MP being suspended for breaking the rules
- Businesses in northern England reacting to new lockdown rules
Middlesbrough mayor vows to ‘defy’ new rules
The mayor of Middlesbrough - one of four areas to be placed under new lockdown restrictions yesterday - is less than happy about the tougher rules.
In fact, Andy Preston has vowed his town will defy the restrictions - which he claims were based on “factual inaccuracies”, “a monstrous lack of communication” and “ignorance”.
Read this story in full:
Mayor vows his town will ‘defy’ local lockdown order
‘This measure has been introduced based on factual inaccuracies and a monstrous and frightening lack of communication, and ignorance’
London bracing for tighter restrictions
It is thought London could also be heading for tougher lockdown restrictions as infections continue to rise in the capital.
About a week ago, the government U-turned on its advice about returning to work, instead telling workers to return to their home offices where possible.
According to City AM, ministers are expected to meet next week to discuss where further restrictions are needed in the capital, such as a ban on mixing indoors as announced for Liverpool, Warrington, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool just yesterday.
Trump and Melania test positive
Some big news has broken across the pond in the United States.
Donald Trump and his wife First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for Covid-19.
The 74-year-old president took to Twitter to announce the news and vow the couple would “get through this TOGETHER”.
It is not clear what will now happen with the presidential race, since it is likely much of his inner circle will also have to self-isolate, but Adam Withnall and Andrew Buncombe can fill you in on the details:
Donald Trump and First Lady Melania test positive for coronavirus
President and First Lady tested after infection of close aide Hope Hicks, who travelled with the Trumps this week
Here’s how Melania Trump informed her 15.1 million Twitter followers of her positive coronavirus test result.
The US First Lady said she and Donald Trump were “feeling good” and have postponed all upcoming engagements.
SNP MP attends parliament with coronavirus
MP Margaret Ferrier has become the latest politician to find herself in hot water after attending parliament with Covid symptoms and then travelling back to Scotland by train despite testing positive.
The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP has been stripped of the Scottish National Party whip and is facing calls to resign.
Read more on this, including what Nicola Sturgeon had to say about the incident, here:
SNP MP stripped of whip for attending parliament with coronavirus
Margaret Ferrier apologises for behaviour branded ‘utterly indefensible’ by party leader Sturgeon
‘No excuse’ for Margaret Ferrier’s actions
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has said there is “no excuse” for MP Margaret Ferrier’s actions.
He told Sky the politician - who attended parliament with Covid symptoms and travelled back to Scotland by train despite testing positive - has given a “really poor example to the rest of the public that we’re expecting to observe the rules”.
Well wishes have flooded in for US president Donald Trump and his wife Melania after they revealed they have tested positive for coronavirus.
Among those sending messages of support to the couple was UK prime minister Boris Johnson, who was hospitalised with the disease earlier in the year.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyeusus, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has also sent his best wishes to Trump and his wife Melania after they tested positive for coronavirus.
"My best wishes to President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS for a full and speedy recovery," he said in a tweet.
Poland sees record daily cases rise
Poland has reported a new record of 2,292 daily coronavirus, according to its health ministry's Twitter account.
The country has also reported 26 more deaths from Covid-19. This brings Poland’s total caseload to 95,773 cases and 2,570 deaths.
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