Coronavirus news – live: Covid ‘support bubbles’ begin in England and NI, as Brazil death toll surpasses UK’s

Good morning and welcome today's live blog - we'll be bringing you rolling coverage of all the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic across the world.

More than 7.66 million people have now been reported to be infected by Covid-19 globally, while more than 424,700 people have died.

Covid 'support bubbles' begin

Adults living alone and single parents living with children are allowed to form a "support bubble" with one other household of any size as of today.

Members of the bubble will effectively be able to behave as a single household during the lockdown, visiting one another as much as they like without any requirement to stay two metres apart, and staying overnight if they choose.

However some single parents have told our women's correspondent Maya Oppenheim that the plans overlook the fact the majority of single parents rely on formal childcare and do not necessarily have support network.

Read more on this here:

Brazil surpasses UK's death toll

Brazil has recorded 41,828 deaths during the coronavirus pandemic surpassing the UK's death toll, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Officials in Brazil - the hardest-hit Latin American nation - reported 909 more deaths on Friday and more than 828,000 confirmed virus cases.

The country now has the second-highest death toll from Covid-19 behind the United States, figures from Johns Hopkins University suggest.

Brazil's biggest city, Sao Paulo, is to free up space at its cemeteries by digging up graves more than three years old and temporarily storing remains in numbered bags in 12 large metal storage containers.

Sao Paulo is one of the Covid-19 hot spots, with 5,480 deaths as of Thursday in the city of 12 million people.

Anti-racism protests take place in Australia for second weekend

Protesters in Langley Park, Perth, 13 June 2020 (Paul Kane/Getty)

Anti-racism protests have gone ahead in Australia for a second weekend, despite some cities urging people to stay away amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus.

A day of demonstrations across Australia in support of the Black Lives Matter movement began today with about 1,000 protesters gathering in the far northern city of Darwin with approval from state health authorities.

However, protesters in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth were urged to stay away by government officials concerned about the risk of spreading the new coronavirus.

Police in New South Wales warned anyone attending the Sydney protest risked being fined and arrested.

Perth was expected to be the scene of the biggest rally in Australia on the weekend, with local organisers expecting more than 8,000 people despite the city council refusing to grant a permit for the protest on the country's west coast.

Last weekend, tens of thousands of people protested in downtown Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane against racism and the deaths of indigenous Australians in custody.

A man in his 30s who attended the rally in Melbourne last Saturday later tested positive for COVID-19, heightening concerns about a potential second wave in Australia just as the federal and state governments are easing restrictions.

10 arrests as hundreds protest against Nepal's coronavirus response

Protesters in Kathmandu, Nepal (Prakash Mathema/AFP)

Police in Nepal have arrested 10 people, including seven foreigners, as demonstrations against the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis have continued with hundreds of protesters gathering in the capital city Kathmandu today, officials have said.

The Himalayan nation imposed a complete lockdown in March after reporting its second confirmed coronavirus case.

But the number of infections have since risen to 5,062, with 16 deaths, and the government has come under fire for not doing enough to contain the outbreak.

Police officials said an estimated 1,000 people gathered on a major thoroughfare in Kathmandu for the third day.

Police official Basant Lama said: "The foreigners were arrested for interfering in Nepal's internal affairs".

Earlier this week, police used baton charges, water cannons and tear gas to break up protests near the prime minister's residence. No such clashes have taken place today.

Protesters are demanding better quarantine facilities, more tests and transparency in the purchase of medical supplies to fight the crisis.

Nepal's government says it has spent almost £71m on fighting the pandemic, has conducted about 310,000 tests and quarantined some 158,000 people. But activists insist this is not enough in a country of 30 million people.

NHS scientist 'on forefront' of of testing dies with Covid-19

Biomedical scientist Richzeal Albufera (Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

Tributes have been paid to an NHS scientist, who was "on the forefront" of virological testing during the pandemic, after his death with Covid-19.

Richzeal Albufera, 45, a biomedical scientist at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, East Yorkshire, died on 9 June after three weeks in intensive care.

A GoFundMe page has raised more than £6,800 towards sending Mr Albufera's body back to his family in the Philipines.

According to PA news agency analysis, he is the 30th Filipino working for the NHS or in private health and social care to have died with coronavirus.

Mr Albufera moved from the Philippines in 2005 with his wife, a nurse, and both had worked for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust since.

His colleague, radiographer Nikkie Gromet, told PA: "Rich has truly touched and continues to touch the lives of many through his inspiring and grafting hard work ethic."

Ms Gromet said the scientist was "the epitome of what the NHS is all about", adding: "He will also be remembered for his fun approach to life and the jokey nature he had, which always put a smile on people's faces... He will very much be missed."

Brazil virus death toll becomes world's second highest

Brazil‘s coronavirus death toll has overtaken the UK’s to become the second highest in the world after another 909 fatalities were reported, Zoe Tidman reports.

A total of 41,828 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in the country, according to health ministry figures on Friday.

Meanwhile, the UK’s death toll stood at 41,481 – making it the world’s third largest.

Support bubbles: What does new lockdown rule mean for single people?

Olivia Petter has put together this guide on the latest change in lockdown restrictions, which has come into effect today.

Russia reports 8,706 new Covid-19 cases

Russia is still reporting huge surges in coronavirus cases.

The country has confirmed 8,706 new cases in 24 hours, slightly down compared to 8,987 the previous day.

India records biggest daily jump in cases

India has reported its biggest single-day jump in coronavirus cases, adding 11,458 confirmed infections and taking its total count to more than 300,000, according to health ministry data.

India is the fourth-worst affected country in the world, with cases steadily increasingly despite a nationwide lockdown that began in late March and has since been loosened.

Confirmed cases in the worst-hit western state of Maharashtra have moved past the 100,000 mark, data shows.

The national capital New Delhi, where the health system has also been reeling, has also seen more than 2,000 new cases.

Despite the rising case load, the recovery rate of patients is improving, with more than 147,000 people having been cured, the federal government said on Friday.

India has 145,779 active cases, and has recorded 8,884 deaths.