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Wednesday 24 June 2020 09:08
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Medical experts have warned the UK must prepare now for the “real risk” of a second wave of coronavirus amid growing fears of a renewed outbreak this winter.
The warning came in an open letter published in the British Medical Journal after prime minister Boris Johnson announced the two-metre social distancing rule would be reduced to “one-metre plus”, allowing pubs, restaurants, hotels and cinemas to reopen from 4 July.
Australia has reported its first death in more than a month, sparking concerns about a second wave which saw thousands in Victoria queue for Covid-19 tests and supermarkets impose new restrictions.
Top US health official Dr Anthony Fauci has warned of a “disturbing surge” in US cases.
Dr Fauci gave an “unvarnished view” of the state of the US outbreak during testimony to the House of Representatives committee, saying the next few weeks could be “critical” as the country tries to bring the virus to heel.
Asked to give his diagnosis by committee chair Frank Pallone, who praised him for his candour, Dr Fauci said the situation in the US is “a mixed bag”.
My colleague Andrew Naughtie has more on this below:
German health minister Jens Spahn has stressed Covid-19 remains a risk after the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia put two municipalities back into lockdown on Tuesday following an outbreak at a meatpacking plant.
Guetersloh and the neighbouring town of Warendorf became the first areas in Germany to fall back under lockdown measures that had been gradually lifted since the end of April.
Mr Spahn said the virus spreads very quickly again, as seen among church congregations and family celebrations.
“That’s why it’s important to keep making clear that although the numbers were low over many weeks, this virus is still there.”
Simon Calder has put together a guide on the 12 ways in which hotel stays will change when they finally reopen.
They include:
- Early check-in and late check-out will be tougher.
- Temperature checks on arrival could become the norm.
- Cushions and newspapers are likely to be removed from public areas.
- Pools may be restricted to one family at a time.
Australia has seen its first coronavirus-related death in more than a month, sparking fears of a second wave of infections.
Victoria reported 20 overnight cases, taking the state tally to nearly 1,900 after recording 17 on Tuesday and 16 on Monday.
The upswing in new cases in Victoria has sparked fears of a second wave, with 241 cases in the state so far identified as community transmission, an increase of eight from Tuesday.
Concerns of a second spike in cases saw thousands queue for Covid-19 tests and supermarkets impose new restrictions.
Victoria has asked for assistance from the country’s military, a spokeswoman for Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Those personnel will assist Victoria in enforcing a 14-day quarantine requirement imposed on all Australians and permanent residents returning from overseas.
Authorities believe the surge in new cases has been caused by family get-togethers attended by people with mild symptoms.
Health leaders have written an open letter to the leaders of all the UK’s political parties warning of the “real risk” of a second wave of Covid-19 infections in the winter.
Former chief scientific adviser Sir David King, meanwhile, has said lifting lockdown measures now is “extremely risky” after the prime minister announced the latest easing of restrictions on Tuesday.
Political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more on this below:
Good morning, welcome to today’s coronavirus live blog. Stay tuned for rolling updates as we bring you the latest on the Covid-19 pandemic across the globe.
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