Boris Johnson has said he does not want to put the country in another national lockdown but warned the government may need to “intensify things to help bring the rate of infections down”.
‘Increasingly likely’ London will face tougher lockdown restrictions
It is “increasingly likely” further lockdown restrictions will be required in London, the city’s mayor has warned – and says he does not want to wait.
People in Lancashire warned: Don’t go to Blackpool for a ‘last blast’
Lancashire Police has warned people against heading to Blackpool for one “last blast” ahead of new lockdown measures in the county.
Losing football clubs to COVID-19 would be a ‘national outcry’
Football league clubs are warning of financial implosion if the return of fans to stadiums is further delayed with a second national lockdown potentially looming.
Towns across England added to COVID-19 watchlist – find out if you’re affected
A number of areas have been added to the coronavirus watchlist as scientists warned the transmission rate could now be as high as 1.4 in the UK.
Common colds ‘may account for some reported coronavirus cases’
Rising cases of the common cold could be giving a false picture of the spread of coronavirus among children.
New local lockdown rules announced in parts of North West, Midlands and West Yorkshire
Parts of the North West, West Yorkshire and the Midlands have been placed under further localised coronavirus restrictions.
‘Widespread growth’: R number now between 1.1 and 1.4, as cases pass 4,000 and deaths rise
The coronavirus transmission rate could now be as high as 1.4 in the UK, official figures show.
Amal Clooney quits UK envoy role over ‘lamentable’ plans to break international law
Amal Clooney has quit her role as the UK’s special envoy on media freedom in protest at the government’s “lamentable” intention to “break international law” with the Internal Market Bill.
Labour to hold party conference ‘with a difference’
Labour is this weekend staging a party conference with a difference.
Lancashire expected to be placed under tighter lockdown measures
Lancashire is to be the latest part of the UK to face strict coronavirus lockdown rules, with drastic new curbs being introduced this weekend, Sky News understands.
‘Chaos’ as drivers queue for hours for coronavirus tests before being turned away
In scenes of “absolute pandemonium” and “chaos”, drivers queued for hours as they tried to get a coronavirus test only to be turned away – as the system struggled to cope with soaring demand.
Head of Test and Trace: No one was expecting to see such a big rise in demand
The head of Test and Trace has said she doesn’t believe “anybody was expecting to see the really sizeable increase in demand” for coronavirus tests.
North East lockdown: Curfew for bars and pubs and ban on household mixing begins
New local restrictions are being introduced in northeast England – including a 10pm curfew for bars and pubs and a ban on people mixing with others outside their household.
‘People have been selfish and now we’ll pay the price’: Welsh towns go into local lockdown
The Welsh county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf has gone into a local lockdown after a “rapid rise” in coronavirus cases.
Wife of ‘naughty Tory’ jailed for sexual assault explains why she is backing his appeal
The wife of “naughty Tory” Charlie Elphicke – who announced she was divorcing him when he was convicted of sexual assault on two women – has revealed why she is backing his appeal.
Lineker congratulates Alex Scott for being new Question Of Sport host, but BBC denies it
The BBC has denied speculation that Alex Scott is the next host of A Question Of Sport after Gary Lineker tweeted his congratulations to the athlete.
The Batman returns to filming after COVID scare
Filming has resumed on the movie “The Batman”, after a two-week shutdown caused by a member of the production who tested positive for coronavirus.
Every waterway in England fails to meet chemical pollution standards, data shows
None of England’s rivers are in good health, according to new data.
North East faces tighter lockdown restrictions from Friday
Large parts of the North East are set to be subjected to tighter lockdown restrictions that will be announced tomorrow.
PM climbs down on law-breaking Brexit bill in face of Tory rebellion
Boris Johnson has partially climbed down on his controversial new Brexit bill in the face of a Tory rebellion.
PM defends testing and says children should stay at school until a positive test in their bubble
Groups of pupils should only be sent home if there has been a positive test,
rather than someone just developing symptoms, the prime minister has said as he defended the struggling testing system.
What it’s like trying to get a COVID test: ‘I live in Bolton, I was offered one in Inverness’
People in England are still struggling to get a coronavirus test – a problem that the government says could take weeks to solve.
Rhondda Cynon Taf going into lockdown after ‘outing to the races which stopped off at pubs on the way’
Local lockdown measures are to be imposed in the Welsh county of Rhondda Cynon Taf after a rise in coronavirus cases.
Parts of London ‘could face curfews’ to prevent second wave of coronavirus
A curfew could be introduced across London to help prevent a second wave of coronavirus, according to a public health director.
Why has the UK run out of testing capacity? The three fateful decisions behind our stumbling system
How did Britain’s “world-beating” COVID-19 testing system stumble in the face of its very first serious test?
UK records 20 deaths and 3,991 confirmed cases of coronavirus
The UK recorded 20 deaths of people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 today, according to government figures.
‘Appalling and negligent’: Care homes’ fears over coronavirus ‘second wave’
Delays in getting coronavirus test results back have been condemned as “appalling and negligent” by the chair of a body representing 4,000 care homes in the UK.
Mother’s alcohol use could soon be shown on child’s medical record, prompting privacy fears
A pregnant woman’s alcohol consumption could soon be mentioned on their child’s medical record – prompting significant privacy concerns.
Peers warned not to block Brexit bill as Merkel ally brands UK a ‘despot’
Peers have been warned by the government not to block its controversial bid to override the Brexit deal, as an ally of Angela Merkel branded the UK a “despot” like North Korea.