We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Coronavirus cases have now exceeded 10 million, a major milestone in the spread of a disease that has killed more than half a million people in seven months. This week Leicester re-entered lockdown after a spike in cases, with several other towns across the UK facing a similar fate.

Among the global areas on alert is Tokyo, which confirmed more than 100 infections on Thursday, the highest daily tally in two months in the city at the centre of Japan’s outbreak.

The jump comes after the city of 14 million sought to hold new daily cases at fewer than 20 since the government lifted a state of emergency on May 25, only to see its tally consistently exceed 50 over the past week.

Meanwhile, the Australian State of Victoria was placed into lockdown as 289 new cases were recorded since Monday.

Australian police have set up suburban checkpoints in new coronavirus hotspots in Melbourne earlier today, as authorities struggled to contain new outbreaks in the country’s second-largest city, even as travel restrictions eased elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the world’s most populous state California imposed sweeping “stay-at-home” restrictions on its residents in March after it recorded more than 8,000 new cases.

Economic forecasters say it will likely inflict more financial pain on the owners of bars and restaurants who have struggled to survive the pandemic.

FOLLOW EXPRESS.CO.UK FOR LIVE UPDATES:

07:30 update: Nicola Sturgeon expected to announce decision on Scotland’s 2m social distancing rule update

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is today expected to announce whether the 2m social distancing rule in the country will be relaxed or not.

It’s understood that the Scottish leader will receive scientific advice on which to base her decision.

It comes as England is due to relax its own measures by implementing a “one metre plus” rule on July 4, in which people can come closer than two meters to one another – but no more than one – as long as they take other precautions such as not sitting face-to-face.

However, the new guidelines still state that people should stay 2m apart where possible.

Source: Read Full Article