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Monday 1 June 2020 12:12
Two million people classed as clinically vulnerable in England will be able to venture outdoors for the first time in 10 weeks from Monday under relaxed coronavirus lockdown rules.
It is part of a wider easing of measures that will also see groups of up to six people allowed to meet in public places or private gardens and outdoor markets and car show rooms reopen.
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 will also return to primary schools across England as the government and education unions continue to fight over whether it is safe to do so, while public health officials warn restrictions are being lifted too quickly and that the move risks a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
Now households can visit each other in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, what is the best way to reduce virus transmission? Sophie Gallagher explains in this guide to the new lockdown rules:
Lucie McInerney is joined by science writer
David Quammen and
The Independent‘s senior climate correspondent
Louise Boyle to discuss the role of wildlife in the pandemic.
Grand Bazaar reopens after longest closure in history
Masked shopkeepers opened and cleaned their stores as the covered market opened for the first time in two months today.
President Tayyip Erdogan’s government has slowly removed some restrictions in recent weeks and authorities say the outbreak is under control.
Covid-19 has killed more than 4,500 and infected more than 160,000 in Turkey, though new daily cases and deaths are sharply down.
Iran’s health minister has warned the country could face a second, stronger wave of Covid-19 infections if people ignore guidance and social distancing rules.
The Islamic Republic, one of the worst-hit countries in the region, started easing its lockdown in April after a drop in deaths.
But May saw an uptick in the rate of reported infections compared with mid to late April – an acceleration the government put down to increased testing.
Health minister Saeed Namaki said in a news conference broadcast on state TV today: “The outbreak is not over yet and at any moment it may come back stronger than before.
“If our people fail to respect the health protocols … we must prepare ourselves for the worst situation.”
Iran has reported a total of 154,445 infections as of today, an increase of 2,979 from the previous day. It also reported 81 new deaths, taking the toll to 7,878.
Reuters
Donald Trump’s administration says it has sent 2 million doses of hydroxychloroquine to Brazil to help fight coronavirus, despite a lack of solid evidence for its efficacy and even some suggestions it could be harmful, Jon Sharman reports.
The US president last month claimed he was taking the anti-malarial drug as a prophylactic, after weeks of touting it from his White House podium as a magic bullet.
Russia has reported 9,035 new cases of the novel coronavirus, taking the nationwide tally of infections to 414,878.
The country’s coronavirus response centre on Monday said 162 people had died in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll from the virus to 4,855.
Louise Whitbread has put together a selection of interiors for anyone looking for some inspiration before visiting Ikea as a number of stores reopen today.
Hundreds of shoppers have been spotted queuing outside Ikea stores as the furniture retailer reopens 19 branches across England and Northern Ireland today.
Pope Francis has said people are more important than the economy, as countries decide how quickly to reopen their countries from coronavirus lockdowns.
Francis made his comments, departing from a prepared script, on Sunday at the first noon address from his window overlooking St Peter’s Square in three months as Italy’s lockdown drew to an end.
He said: “Healing people, not saving [money] to help the economy[is important], healing people, who are more important than the economy.
“We people are temples of the Holy Spirit, the economy is not.”
The pope did not mention any countries, however many governments are deciding whether to reopen their economies to save jobs and living standards, or whether to maintain lockdowns until they are sure the virus is fully under control.
The pope’s words were met with applause by hundreds of people in the square, many of whom wore masks and kept several metres from each other. The square was reopened to the public last Monday.
Reuters
Singapore’s health ministry has confirmed 408 new coronavirus cases, bringing the city-state’s tally to 35,292.
Roisin O’Connor reports.
The popular ITV soap’s return to the cobbles means it will remain on-air through summer without a transmission break. Showrunners plan to film three episodes each week at the studios in Trafford, Manchester.
Armenia’s prime minister Nikol Pashinian and his entire family have been infected with coronavirus.
In a Facebook statement, Mr Pashinian said he did not have any symptoms but decided to get tested ahead of visiting military units, and the test came back positive.
“I will be working from home,” the prime minister said, adding that he probably contracted the virus from a waiter who brought him a glass of water at a meeting without wearing gloves and later tested positive for the virus.
Armenia has so far reported more than 9,000 confirmed cases of the virus among its population of nearly three million, with around 130 deaths.
The country’s authorities declared a state of emergency in mid-March. Last week, Mr Pashinian said the outbreak in Armenia was getting worse.
Bulgaria has further eased lockdown restrictions to allow restaurants, bars and cafes to fully reopen from today.
Discos, piano bars and night bars remain closed until at least 14 June.
Bulgaria has reported six new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the country’s total to 2,519.
Sweden’s decision to shun strict Covid-19 containment measures may have kept businesses open, but at what cost? Anthony Cuthbertson reports
Indonesia has reported 467 new coronavirus infections, bringing the total number of cases to 26,940.
The Southeast Asian country also reported 28 new deaths from Covid-19, taking the total to 1,641. Meanwhile, 7,637 people have recovered as of Monday.
The health ministry also reported no new deaths, keeping total fatalities at 115.
political correspondent Lizzy Buchan reports.
Boris Johnson told the Commons in May that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) would carry out safety checks in workplaces such as offices and building sites to ensure that social distancing and other protective measures were in place as people return to work.
But it later emerged HSE had suspended physical spot inspections to keep its staff safe, with checks often being carried out by telephone.
Airlines have written to the government with their wish-list of countries that will neutralise the policy of 14 days of self-isolation from many key locations, travel correspondent Simon Calder reports.
But much of Africa, the Gulf, Cuba, Thailand and Malaysia are missing from the list.
More than a quarter (29 per cent) of available teachers will be working from home only, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research study, prompting fears that shortages will affect teaching standards, Jane Dalton reports.
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