TODAY beauty salons and tattoo parlours reopen across Britain for the first time in four months.
The businesses were given the green light to resume operation by the Culture Secretary on July 9.
Olivier Dowden also announced that gyms and indoor polls will reopen from July 25.
Other establishments reopening today include tanning studios and grassroot sports.
It comes as the coronavirus death toll in the UK rose to 44,819 after 21 more deaths were recorded on July 12, 2020.
Follow the latest news and updates surrounding coronavirus below…
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JOHN LEWIS TO REJECT £14M JOBS HANDOUT
John Lewis is expected to follow Primark in rejecting a bonus funded by the taxpayer that could be worth £14 million.
It comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the state would give firms £1,000 for every worker they brought back from the furlough scheme, provided they work for at least three months.
The furlough scheme will be scrapped at the end of October.
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UK COVID-19 HEALTHCARE WORKER DEATHS AMONG HIGHEST – AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
The UK is among the countries to have recorded the highest number of health and social care worker deaths during the coronavirus crisis, according to a report by Amnesty International.
The human rights organisation said that at least 540 frontline staff have died after contracting the virus in England and Wales – second only to Russia, which has recorded 545 deaths.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that 268 deaths involving Covid-19 among social care workers were registered in England and Wales between March 9 and May 25.
In the same period, the ONS reported that 272 deaths involving the virus were registered among healthcare staff, including doctors, nurses and midwives, nurse assistants, paramedics and ambulance staff, and hospital porters.
Amnesty International said it has analysed a wide range of data, which found that more 3,000 health workers have died after contracting Covid-19 in 79 countries.
It added that this figure is likely to be a “significant under-estimate” due to under-reporting, while noting that the UK is one of few countries to distinguish between deaths of social care workers and healthcare workers – increasing the total relative to other nations.
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CORONAVIRUS IMMUNITY MAY ONLY LAST A FEW MONTHS, STUDY SUGGESTS
Immunity to Covid-19 in recovered patients may only last a few months, a new study conducted by King's College London has suggested.
According to the research, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, immunity antibodies decrease significantly in the three months following infection, leaving patients susceptible to reinfection year after year – similar to the common cold.
In what is believed to be the first longitudinal study of its kind, researchers looked into the immune response of 90 patients and healthcare workers at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust.
While the analysis revealed a “potent” level of antibodies could be found in 60% of participants while at the peak of their battle with coronavirus, sequential blood tests showed only 17% sustained that same level of potency three months later.
Antibodies decreased 23-fold in some cases, and were depleted entirely in others.
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CORONAVIRUS ANTIBODY TREATMENT PROMISES TO PROTECT ELDERLY
Scientists are set to start trials of an antibody treatment that could be used to protect the elderly from Covid-19.
It is hoped a three-minute infusion of antibodies could ward off infection for up to half a year.
The treatment is being developed by Astrazeneca, the Cambridge-based drug maker, which is also partnering Oxford University on a separate effort to create a vaccine.
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BUSINESS ACTIVITY IN PRIVATE SECTOR CONTINUES TO DECLINE
Business activity in Scotland's private sector continued to decline in June due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but at a lower rate.
The latest Royal Bank of Scotland Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) found coronavirus is “stifling demand and disrupting operations”.
The seasonally adjusted headline Royal Bank of Scotland Business Activity Index – a measure of combined manufacturing and service sector output – increased from 21.1 in May to 37.1 in June.
Private sector firms in Scotland reported a further reduction in total new orders during the month.
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PEOPLE URGED TO EMBRACE GREENER TRAVEL AS LOCKDOWN EASES
People are being urged to embrace “greener” ways of travelling as lockdown eases and roads become busier in Scotland.
Cities and surrounding areas are expected to welcome back hundreds of thousands of commuters, visitors and shoppers over the coming weeks as part of phase three of the Scottish Government's route map out of lockdown.
Private vehicle road traffic is forecast to rise to between 85 per cent and 90 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels in phase three, up from 65 per cent in phase two.
The number of people cycling has increased during lockdown and people are being urged to try to stay local and use “cleaner and greener” methods of travel when they can.
Scottish Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Phase three sees more parts of our society andeconomy reopening and will be one of the most challenging for the public, operators and employers.
“A combination of life slowly returning to some form of normality, the lifting of the five mile travel rule, the retail sector fully reopening, more people returning to work, and the tourism sector restart (July 15), means demand on public transport will be significant.
“However we know that even with public transport service levels increasing and physical distancing being relaxed to one metre for some services, capacity is still significantly restricted compared to pre-Covid levels.”
He said that transport operators are continuing to take steps to improve confidence in public transport, including measures such as enhanced cleaning measures, more sanitisers, mandatory face coverings and screens, and hopes that confidence in the sector will begin to return.
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LOCAL ACTIONS TO CURB COVID-19
More than 100 “local actions” are being taken across the country each week to tackle outbreaks of Covid-19, Matt Hancock has said.
The Health Secretary revealed flare-ups are being “swiftly and silently” dealt with, while he said increased testing means officials can take a more targeted approach rather than imposing national measures.
Monday marks two weeks since Mr Hancock announced Leicester would be the first city to be put under a local lockdown – restrictions he is expected to review later this week.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Hancock said: “Each week there are more than 100 local actions taken across the country – some of these will make the news, but many more are swiftly and silently dealt with.
“This is thanks in large part to the incredible efforts of local authorities – all of whom have stepped up and published their local outbreak control plans in line with the end of June deadline.”
In an article for the newspaper, the Health Secretary said officials will “hunt down the virus” by targeting areas of concern.
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BRAZIL APPROACHES TWO MILLION CORONAVIRUS CASES
Brazil registered 631 new deaths today, bringing the total number of fatalities to 72,100.
The country now has a total of 1,864,681 confirmed cases, the Health Ministry said.
The numbers of deaths and cases are usually lower on the weekend because of patchy reporting.
Experts say the true totals are likely far higher due to a lack of testing.
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IMMUNITY TO CORONAVIRUS COULD BE LOST IN MONTHS, STUDY SUGGESTS
People who have recovered from Covid-19 may lose their immunity to the disease within months, new research has found.
According to a study into the immune responses of 90 patients and healthcare workers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS foundation trust, levels of virus destroying antibodies peak three weeks after the onset of symptoms.
“People are producing a reasonable antibody response to the virus, but it’s waning over a short period of time and depending on how high your peak is, that determines how long the antibodies are staying around,” said Dr Katie Doores, lead author on the study at King’s College London.
The study has implications for the development of a vaccine, and for the pursuit of “herd immunity” in the community over time, The Guardian reports.
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THAILAND PLANS HUMAN TESTING FOR POTENTIAL CORONAVIRUS VACCINE
Thai researchers plan to begin human trials of a potential vaccine for the new coronavirus in November and are preparing 10,000 doses, a senior official said, aiming for a vaccine that could be ready for use by late next year.
Following favourable results in trials on primates, the next step is to manufacture doses for human trials, said Kiat Ruxrungtham, director of the Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University vaccine development program.
“At first we were going to send them in June, but it was not easy to plan everything,'' Kiat told a news conference.
“If everything goes according to plan, the vaccine will be ready for Thailand in the third or fourth quarter next year,'' Kiat added.
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40 MOURNERS CATCH CORONAVIRUS AFTER ATTENDING LARGE FUNERAL
Forty mourners caught coronavirus after attending a large funeral in a Spanish holiday town.
Thousands were given emergency tests and an entire region of the country has been put on red alert.
Everyone who attended the funeral and wake in Granada is being contacted and tested, together with every member of their family – even if they weren’t present.
More than 1,000 tests have been carried out so far, with queues of people at a local health centre waiting to be tested from 7am.
Those tested included the mayor of Vegas del Genil, Leandro Martín, who issued a “keep calm” message on social media.
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SOUTH AFRICA REINTRODUCES BAN ON ALCOHOL SALE AS CORONAVIRUS CASES SURGE
South Africa will immediately return to a ban on the sale of alcohol to reduce the volume of patients in hospitals, so they can have more beds to treat coronavirus patients.
President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement as Covid-19 cases continues to rise in the country.
South Africa is also reinstating a night curfew to reduce traffic accidents and made it mandatory for all residents to wear face masks when in public.
Mr Ramaphosa said that top health officials warn of impending shortages of hospital beds and medical oxygen as South Africa reaches a peak of Covid-19 cases, expected between the end of July and September.
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PELOSI SAYS TRUMP 'MESSING WITH' CHILDREN'S HEALTH ON SCHOOL REOPENINGS
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused President Donald Trump of “messing with” children's health and said federal guidelines on reopening schools amid the coronavirus outbreak should be mandatory.
She criticised the Trump administration for advocating a return to school in the autumn as Covid-19 infections surge across the country, particularly in states that reopened their economies earliest during the pandemic.
“Going back to school presents the biggest risk for the spread of the coronavirus,” Pelosi said on CNN's “State of the Union” program. “If there are CDC guidelines, they should be requirements.”
“They should be mandates.”
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HEREFORDSHIRE FARM IN LOCKDOWN AFTER 73 COVID-19 CASES
Around 200 workers at a farm in Herefordshire have been quarantined following an outbreak of Covid-19.
Some 73 positive cases of the virus have been confirmed among workers at vegetable producer AS Green and Co, which is based in the village of Mathon, near Worcester.
A joint statement from Public Health England (PHE) Midlands and Herefordshire Council said employees were being asked to remain on the farm during the period of isolation.
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MEXICO SET TO SURPASS ITALY'S CORONAVIRUS TALLY AS DEATH TOLL NEARS 35,000
Mexico's death toll from the coronavirus pandemic is poised to overtake Italy's and shoot above 35,000 on Sunday, with the Latin American nation set to post the world's fourth highest deaths total, according to Reuters data.
Mexico on Saturday recorded 539 additional fatalities to bring its coronavirus toll to 34,730, with 295,268 confirmed cases. Italy has recorded 34,945 deaths and 242,827 cases.
While Italy appears to have tamed the virus, the pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down in Mexico, where the government has faced criticism for reopening its economy too soon.
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LEBANON RECORDS NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTION HIGH
Lebanon has recorded a new coronavirus infection high, with 166 new cases confirmed in the last 24 hours.
“The number will remain high this week,” Health Minister Hamad Hassan said. “To reassure people, the source is known,” he added in comments to broadcaster LBC.
Most of the new cases were at what he described as “a big cleaning company”, an apparent reference to waste management firm RAMCO, which collects garbage across Lebanon.
RAMCO said it was moving infected workers to quarantine.
“We are separating those who are infected from those who aren't … we are waiting for more results,” RAMCO manager Walid BouSaad told Reuters.
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LEWIS HAMILTON WARNED HE RISKS GOING TO PRISON IF HE BREAKS ISOLATION RULES IN HUNGARY
Lewis Hamilton and his fellow British F1 drivers have been told they risk being sent to prison if they break strict isolation rules next week in Hungary.
Despite the announcement of “air bridges” between the UK and Hungary, all British nationals involved with the race will only be allowed to travel to and from their hotels and the Hungaroring.
It means that Hamilton, Lando Norris or George Russell – plus around 1,700 others making the journey in teams and media – could face a spell in jail, or up to a €15,000 (£13,400) fine, if they breach protocol.
F1 teams have been told they must eat at the track or their hotels, with stopping for petrol or to buy a bottle of water, potentially landing them in hot water.
Hamilton, who will sleep at the track in a motorhome to avoid any unnecessary risks, said: “I was only made aware of it before qualifying.
“It doesn't affect me because I stay at the track, but there will be protocols in place for the team.”
You can read the full story here
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SPANISH CITY OF 140,000 PEOPLE AGAIN IN LOCKDOWN AFTER SPIKE IN CORONAVIRUS CASES
Lleida, a Spanish city of 140,000 people, is back in lockdown after a huge spike in coronavirus cases.
People in another seven municipalities near Lleida in the Segria region have also been told they can only venture outdoors to buy food or go to the bank or for work if it is an “essential service” and cannot be done from home.
The regional government-imposed decision is a tightening up existing restrictions which had been in place in the entire Segria region for more than a week.
Catalonia has registered 816 new cases in the past 24 hours. The Segria region is said to have accounted for 190 of the total.
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THE NEW NORMAL
Just one in 10 Brits wants life to go back to ‘normal’ after the pandemic, it has been revealed.
A poll, carried out by BritainThinks, found we want to live in a much kinder, fairer society once the pandemic is over – with two thirds of us happy to pay more taxes to fund the NHS.
The survey highlighted three new priorities, according to The Observer.
These are better funding for the NHS, saving the economy nationwide rather than focusing on London, and improving pay and treatment for key workers.
You can read the full story here
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FLORIDA: LARGEST SINGLE-DAY INCREASE IN COVID CASES
The Sunshine State reported the largest single-day increase in positive coronavirus cases in any one state since the beginning of the pandemic.
According to state Department of Health statistics, 15,299 people tested positive, for a total of 269,811 cases.
California had the previous record of daily positive cases 11,694, four days ago.
New York had 11,571 during its peak on April 15.
The numbers come at the end of a grim, record-breaking week in Florida, with 514 fatalities.
Today 45 more deaths were reported.
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NHS CORONA WARRIORS OFFERED FREE SEVEN-NIGHT IBIZA HOLS
All staff can enjoy a seven-night stay on the Spanish island for nothing next year as part of a campaign to show “gratitude to health heroes”.
The Ibizan government has agreed to back an initiative called Together for Healthcare Heroes which was launched in March.
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UK'S NEW QUARANTINE RULES WELCOMED BY IBIZA EXPAT BUSINESS
Gary Lineker’s nephew, Duane, who is owner of the O Beach Ibiza club, is among expats welcoming the new airbridges to the party island.
He said: “It is a huge lifeline for Ibiza as the island's biggest tourist numbers come from the UK.”
He added: “Ibiza did an amazing job with maintaining low numbers of contagions and although extremely sad for us to have seen any deaths, the reality is that it was very low in comparison with lots of other communities in Spain or around Europe.”
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MEDIEVAL STYLE SOCIALLY DISTANCED QUEUE FORMS OUTSIDE TESCO
This is the moment a medieval knight, his horse, a nobleman, an archer, and a serving girl were spotted queuing outside a supermarket.
Members of the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival kept on their fancy dress, much to the delight of their fellow shoppers.
The unusual group were all spotted socially distanced in a queue outside a Tesco Metro shop in Tewkesbury town centre.
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SCOTLAND WON’T RULE OUT IMPOSING TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON ENGLISH
Speaking to the BBC, Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said that imposing quarantine restrictions for English travellers was “not political, it’s not constitutional, it’s just taking a similar view to countries across the world in terms of protecting populations from the risk of the virus”.
Pictured below is a nationalist activist dressed in PPE after setting up signs to encourage people to not travel to Scotland at the “Welcome to Scotland” signage on the A1 at the border from England.
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SOUTH AFRICA MULLS RETURN TO DRACONIAN RESTRICTIONS AS COVID-19 SURGES
The country's health system is being overwhelmed after increases of more than 10,000 confirmed cases for several days and the latest daily increase was nearly 13,500.
It imposed one of the world's strictest lockdowns in April and May, including closing virtually all mines, factories and businesses, and a ban on sales of liquor and cigarettes.
The measures slowed the spread of the coronavirus but South Africa's economy, already in recession, contracted dramatically, increasing unemployment above 30 per cent and hunger.
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