Coronavirus News Live: Latest Updates As Matt Hancock Denies The Government Is Losing Control Of The Crisis

Plan for 24-hour Covid passes

Matt Hancock suggested that in mass testing, people get a 24-hour Covid-free “pass” so they can return to theaters and sporting events where they may need close contact.

Speaking at LBC, the Minister of Health said: “This is the hope we give the country that we can succeed even if there is no vaccine, that we can use mass testing so people can check if they have the virus today if they don’t go and do something, even if it means they will be in close confinement. “

He added that quick home testing kits would be needed to implement this idea.

Hancock said, “We need to use the following test design, which does not require you to send a swab to the lab and get the result back.

“There is a new technology that we support to take a test where you can turn around practically on the spot, and you can imagine going to something like a theater, or a sports event, or to work, and you have a test. you get the result and then they can go to the theater.

“This is what we are working on, this is hope, and I also hope it will allow us to have a happy Christmas.”

Railway companies will restore 90% of services

Train operators in England, Scotland and Wales are expected to resume more service from today, bringing the number of services to around 90% of pre-lockdown levels as more schools reopen and the government encourages workers to return to offices.

Additional carriages will be added to some peak trains, especially in services serving schools, although trains can only safely carry half of their capacity due to social distancing requirements.

Staff will also be on hand to provide social distancing to older children and explain camouflage guidelines.

Some of the remaining suspended services are expected to resume no earlier than December, prompting unions to demand a full timetable reinstatement amid fears that the timetable could eventually be cut.

My colleague Joanna Whitehead tells the full story here:

300 people call for self-isolation as 28 positive test results after charity soccer match

Up to 300 people attending a charity soccer game in the North East of England are being asked to self-isolate after 28 people have tested positive for the coronavirus.

The event took place on 30 August at the Burnside Workers’ Club in Fenshauses, Houghton-le-Spring, near the Sunderland-Durham border. Sunderland Echo reports.

Both local governments are now working with Public Health England to manage the response.

They called on everyone attending the match to immediately self-isolate before midnight on 13 September.

India has overtaken Brazil to become the country with the second highest total number of coronavirus infections after the United States.

About 90 802 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University, bringing the total number of cases in India to 4,204,614, more than Brazil, which has over 4.1 million cases. More than 6.2 million people have been infected in the United States.

Samuel Osborne more on this below:

Five teachers from one school in Suffolk have tested positive for coronavirus, two more are awaiting their test results, reports Keith Ng.

The Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill closed its doors today as a “precautionary measure” as recommended by the England Department of Health.

The school said it hopes to open it on Tuesday and will notify parents by 5:00 pm today. Principal Andy Hunter said the safety of staff and students at the school is his “highest priority.”

Primark is oblivious to the gloom casting a shadow on the UK’s main streets after reporting more-than-expected sales as restrictions on store closings were eased in mid-June.

The owner of budget clothing retailer Associated British Foods said the number of people visiting his stores has increased and shoppers are spending “significantly” more than last year.

Primark’s annual profit is expected to be at the highest level of forecasts and will be between 300 and 350 million pounds sterling, according to ABF.

Business Correspondent Ben Chapman more on this story below:

Hancock admits “operational problems” with test booking system

When asked about people having to travel long distances to get tested for coronavirus, Matt Hancock told LBC that there were “operational problems.”

One caller from Nottingham said that when he tried to take the test, he was ordered to go to the Dundee testing center.

Mr Hancock said no one will be instructed to travel more than 75 miles for the test.

“Over the summer we have seen an increase in the demand for tests, and so if your local center is overcrowded, people are asked to go a long way,” he said.

“The vast majority of people access the test at their local testing center, and the results come through very quickly.

“But there were problems, and we are increasing capacities.

“There were operational problems and operational problems. We have been completely frank about the challenges the country is facing, but all I can do is just keep increasing and increasing the capacity of the system, ”added the Minister of Health.

Potential AstraZeneca Vaccine Introduction “Most Likely” Next Year

According to Matt Hancock, the Covid-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca is “likely” to be ready for deployment in the UK early next year.

Speaking about the candidate vaccine for the LBC, the Minister of Health said: “We already have contracts for 30 million doses with AstraZeneca, in fact they are already starting production of these doses before approval, so if approval is obtained – and this is still not sure, but he looks up – then we’re ready to launch.

“The best scenario is what happens this year. I think the start of next year is more likely – most likely in the first few months of next year.

“But we also purchased the vaccine before it gets approval from a whole series of international vaccines.”

Manchester City players Riyad Marez and Aymeric Laporte have tested positive for coronavirus, the Premier League club announced.

The club issued a statement to show that the Egyptian striker and French defender are self-isolating from the rest of the team, testing positive for Covid-19.

Cases confirmed in three schools in the North East of England

Coronavirus cases were confirmed in three schools in the north east of England just days after Middlesbrough was officially designated a “zone of concern.”

Redcar and Cleveland City Council said Sunday that a positive case had been reported at St. Benedict Elementary School.

However, local authorities said the school in Redkar would remain open and that the parents had received recommendations.

Further up the coast, in Hartlepool, CE St. Aidan Elementary School reported that it also had a confirmed case of Covid-19.

And Outwood Academy Ormesby in Middlesbrough said in a short statement that the confirmed case had been found “in the school community,” adding that the person had not contracted the virus at school.

Redcar and Cleveland reported 38 new cases of coronavirus in the seven days to September 1, equivalent to 27.7 per 100,000 people, up from 10.2 in the seven days to August 25.

Hartlepool’s rate also rose from 7.5 to 22.4 with 21 new cases, while Middlesbrough’s rate rose from 28.4 to 31.2 with 44 new cases.

Middlesbrough was added to the government’s Covid-19 watchlist on Friday as an “area of ​​concern.”