As it happenedended

Coronavirus news: Boris Johnson set to make face masks mandatory in shops as WHO reports record global surge in infections

Follow the latest updates

Samuel Osborne,Conrad Duncan,Peter Stubley

Friday 10 July 2020 18:59 EDT

Comments

Emerging evidence that coronavirus could be airborne, says WHO

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Boris Johnson is set to make face coverings compulsory in shops and other indoor venues as the government indicated further relaxation of lockdown restrictions.

The prime minister said he was looking at ways of being “stricter” about masks as the culture secretary announced gyms, sports facilities and beauty salons will be allowed to reopen in England later this month.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation warned the coronavirus pandemic had still not reached its peak, with the organisation’s director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, saying the virus is not under control “in most of the world” and is in fact “getting worse”.

It comes as quarantine rules for people returning to or visiting the UK from a list of 76 countries are relaxed from Friday.

Follow the latest updates

No new coronavirus deaths recorded in Northern Ireland

No further deaths have been recorded with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said, leaving the total number of people who have died at 554.

Another four positive cases have been noted since Thursday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the region to 5,772, according to the department.

Samuel Osborne10 July 2020 14:05

Drones are delivering coronavirus tests to remote Scottish islandsThe UK’s new Space Agency funding will be used to support drones that deliver coronavirus testing kits to a Scottish island, Adam Smith reports.Skyports, the company behind the drones, started a two-week trial in May with NHS Highland, which serves a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland.The technology was able to cut delivery times between Oban and the Isle of Mull to around 15 minutes, instead of going via road and taking a 45-minute ferry crossing.An initial £2.6 million was made available by the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency (ESA) to find and support space-enabled technologies and services that can support the NHS response to coronavirus.

Samuel Osborne10 July 2020 14:22

England hospital death toll reaches 29,013

A further 22 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals to 29,013, NHS England said.

The patients were aged between 52 and 99 and all of them had known underlying health conditions.

Another four deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

Samuel Osborne10 July 2020 14:33

Town centre hand gel stations being smashed up 'for alcohol gel inside'Hand sanitiser stations set up in town and city centres across England are being smashed up by people who then drink the alcohol gel inside, Conrad Duncan reports.The units have been installed to help shoppers protect themselves from coronavirus as lockdown restrictions are eased.But they are being targeted by vandals who then dispense the sanitiser into bottles for supping.The claim was made by BusinessWaste.co.uk, a York-based company contracted with disposing of thousands of gel containers up and down the country every week.“It’s happening all over the place, pretty much everywhere,” director Mark Hall told The Independent. “We take these away for councils and businesses, and we’re seeing so many damaged you wouldn’t believe.“It’s mindless idiocy. This stuff is 80 per cent proof with who knows what other chemicals inside. Do not drink it.”

Samuel Osborne10 July 2020 14:49

Some New York neighbourhoods may have 68% coronavirus immunityNew data from clinics in New York City shows that some neighbourhoods may have already achieved remarkably high levels of immunity to the coronavirus, with as many as two-thirds of antibody tests coming back positive, Andrew Naughtie reports.However, the results appear to be wildly uneven across the city, and neighbourhoods less affected by the city’s devastating spring outbreak may now be the most vulnerable if a new surge in infections begins.The data, shared with the New York Times by healthcare company CityMD, indicate that clinics in two neighbourhoods – Corona and Jackson Heights, both in Queens – have seen the majority of antibody tests come back positive, with 68 per cent and 56 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, some wealthier neighbourhoods are seeing positivity rates as low as 13 per cent.The disparity across different New York neighbourhoods appears to track the way the virus affected different communities, with poorer communities and people of colour far more likely to be badly hit than affluent white neighbourhoods.If antibodies do indeed provide immunity, wealthy neighbourhoods that so far have a low infection rate may be the most at risk should a so-called “second wave” of the outbreak arise later this year.

Samuel Osborne10 July 2020 15:07

No new coronavirus deaths in Wales

There are no new deaths of people who tested positive for coronavirus in Wales, with the number remaining at 1,540, Public Health Wales said.

The total number of cases in Wales increased by 10 to 15,939.

Samuel Osborne10 July 2020 15:26

Trump says he will wear mask on hospital visitDonald Trump said he will wear a mask when he visits US troops at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington this weekend, Gino Spocchia reports.The US president, who has not been seen masked in public since the Covid-19 pandemic started in March, said he expected to wear a mask at the hospital.“I expect to be wearing a mask when I go into Walter Reed. You’re in a hospital setting. I think it’s a very appropriate thing. I have no problem with a mask,” Mr Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity.“I think it’s fine to wear a mask out if it makes you feel comfortable,” added the president, who said “certain conditions” would make masks appropriate in public, such as visiting a hospital.

Samuel Osborne10 July 2020 15:41

Face masks now compulsory in shops in ScotlandThe Scottish government has made wearing face coverings mandatory in shops, in hopes it will provide an extra layer of protection to reduce the transmission of coronavirus, Kate Ng reports.It is already compulsory to wear face masks on public transport in Scotland, including on buses, trains, trams, planes and taxis. However, people with certain medical conditions and children under five are exempt from the new rule.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced Scotland is moving into phase three of lockdown easing on Friday, which means the two-metre social distancing rule can be relaxed and groups of up to 15 people from five households can meet up outside.In England, it is also compulsory for people to wear face coverings on public transport. In retail shops, masks are not required but are recommended in smaller shops where social distancing isn’t possible.Scotland’s decision to make face coverings the law in shops comes down to how difficult it can be to maintain a safe physical distance, said Ms Sturgeon.

Samuel Osborne10 July 2020 15:54

UK coronavirus death toll rises by 48

The UK’s coronavirus death toll has risen by 48, bringing the overall total to 44,650, according to government figures.

Data from the Department of Health and Social Care showed a further 512 people had tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, with 152 cases recorded in labs and NHS hospitals (pillar 1), and 360 cases recorded in the wider population (pillar 2).

You can find today’s full dataset below:

Conrad Duncan10 July 2020 16:12

Top US disease expert says some degree of airborne coronavirus spread is likely

The top US infectious disease official has said it is likely coronavirus is spreading through the air to some degree, one day after the World Health Organisation changed its guidance on the ways Covid-19 is transmitted.

“Still some question about aerosol but likely some degree of aerosol,” Dr Anthony Fauci, the head of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Friday.

Dr Fauci was speaking by video during a panel session at a Covid-19 conference organised by the International AIDS Society.

Conrad Duncan10 July 2020 16:28

OlderNewer

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies