Covid index - June 2020 - August 2020
1 Jul 2020: The US has bought almost all the world's upcoming supply of Covid-19 treatment drug remdesivir
Top US health expert Dr Anthony Fauci warns cases in the US could reach 100,000 a day
The UN's labour agency says the virus's economic impact is far worse than feared
EU borders are reopening to people from 15 countries but the US is excluded
Australia is battling rising cases in Victoria, which is facing a possible new state-wide lockdown
UK PM Boris Johnson has pledged to speed up infrastructure projects to boost the economy
The UK has the third highest Covid-19 death toll globally, after the US and Brazil
Worldwide there have been nearly 10.5m confirmed infections and more than 509,000 deaths
2 Jul 2020: In the US, 52,982 people tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday - a new one-day record
States are rolling back plans to open up - New York has paused plans to allow indoor dining
President Donald Trump changes tack and says he would wear a mask "in a tight situation"
In the UK, around 75 countries are expected to be exempt from travel quarantine rules
A report says there is no obvious source for a recent virus surge in the English city of Leicester
Plans for all students in England to return to school in September will be announced later
New Zealand's health minister resigns after a series of quarantine breaches by travellers
Globally there are 10.6 million coronavirus cases and more than 515,500 deaths
3 Jul 2020: People arriving in England from dozens of nations will no longer need to quarantine from 10 July
A full list of 'low risk' countries is set to be published on Friday but will include France, Spain and Germany
PM Boris Johnson will urge the public to act responsibly ahead of England's lockdown being eased
New figures suggest 20,000 care home residents have died with Covid-19 in England and Wales since the beginning of March
The governor of Texas has ordered face coverings to be worn in public as virus cases rocket
With 53,000 new cases recorded on Thursday, the US set a new one-day record for new infections
Globally there are 10.8m virus cases and there have been more than 520,000 deaths
4 Jul 2020: England reopens pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas after a major relaxation of lockdown curbs
Two households are now allowed to meet indoors or outside, including overnight stays
Places of worship can open for prayers and services, including weddings with up to 30 guests - subject to social distancing
Nine tower blocks in the Australian city of Melbourne go under lockdown after a surge in cases
The US recorded its largest single-day rise in infections on Friday, with more than 57,000 recorded
America's 4 July Independence Day celebrations are muted this year with cities cancelling parades
Worldwide, more than 11 million people have now been infected and more than 525,000 have died
5 Jul 2020: The Australian state of Victoria warns that an outbreak in Melbourne has "genuinely explosive potential"
Some 3,000 residents of densely populated tower blocks in the city have been placed under lockdown
NHS England is launching a new service for people with ongoing health problems after having coronavirus
Pub-goers in England have enjoyed their first night out in three months after some restrictions were lifted
A round of clapping is to be held across the UK at 17:00 BST to pay tribute to NHS staff
Mexico records more than 30,000 deaths as the disease ravages one of Latin America's worst-hit countries
More than 11.2 million cases of Covid-19 have been recorded worldwide with nearly 531,000 deaths
6 Jul 2020: Indian scientists say the August vaccine deadline - set by the country's medical council - is unrealistic
India now has the third-highest caseload in the world according to its health ministry, overtaking Russia
India says it now has about 698,000 cases with more than 19,000 deaths
New South Wales in Australia is closing its border with neighbouring Victoria to fight a surge there
Nearly 240 scientists want the WHO to take the airborne risk more seriously
Arts venues in the UK are getting a lifeline from the government to survive
Globally there have now been more than 11.4m cases and more than 533,000 people have died
7 Jul 2020: Self-isolation: exempt countries introduced (SI2020/691)
Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba; Australia; Austria; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belgium; Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba; Croatia; Curaçao; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Dominica; Faroe Islands; Fiji; Finland; France; French Polynesia; Germany; Greece; Greenland; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Hong Kong; Hungary; Iceland; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macau; Malta; Mauritius; Monaco; The Netherlands; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Norway; Poland; Réunion; Saint Barthélemy; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Pierre and Miquelon; San Marino; Serbia; Seychelles; South Korea; Spain; Switzerland; Taiwan; Trinidad and Tobago; Turkey; Vatican City State; Vietnam; The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the Island of Cyprus; Anguilla; Bermuda; British Antarctic Territory; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands.
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak sets out details of a £3bn plan to cut emissions and support jobs
Home insulation grants expected to be part of package to boost economy reeling from coronavirus
In Australia, Melbourne residents go back under lockdown as border between New South Wales and Victoria to close
New Spanish study casts doubt on the theory that herd immunity will protect populations
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is tested after showing symptoms of the coronavirus
A UN report says diseases will keep leaping from animals to humans without action to protect the environment
Three UK pubs which re-opened at the weekend have had to close after customers tested positive
There have been more than 11.5 million cases globally and more than 530,000 deaths
8 Jul 2020: United States registers record daily tally of new cases - 60,000
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak set to announce £2bn ($2.5bn) to create jobs for young people
New French PM rules out another general lockdown
Serbs angered at the government's handling of the pandemic clash with police in Belgrade
WHO says emerging evidence the virus can spread through particles in the air
Melbourne set to go back into a second lockdown after a surge in cases
Global totals - more than 11.8 million confirmed cases and over 544,000 deaths
9 Jul 2020: Two of the UK's biggest High Street retailers, John Lewis and Boots, announce 5,300 job cuts
They come despite public spending to tackle the crisis rising to nearly £190bn ($240bn)
Charity Oxfam says 12,000 people a day could die from hunger - more than from Covid-19 itself
It identifies 10 countries as potential hotspots, including Yemen, DR Congo and Afghanistan
Australia's second-largest city, Melbourne, has begun a second lockdown
The Trump administration says US schools should reopen on schedule, despite a surge in several states
Globally there are now 12 million confirmed cases and almost 549,000 deaths
10 Jul 2020: Travellers arriving in the UK from dozens of countries no longer have to self-isolate for two weeks
The rules are being relaxed for arrivals from more than 70 countries and British overseas territories
Hong Kong is to suspend all schools amid a spike in locally-transmitted cases of Covid-19, officials confirm
Top US diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said some states in the country reopened too fast
"We're in a very difficult, challenging period right now," he said
It comes as the US posted another record rise in cases of more than 65,000 in 24 hours - according to Johns Hopkins University
Singapore is holding a national election with strict safety measures in place
Globally there are now 12.2 million cases and more than 550,000 deaths
11 Jul 2020: Self-isolation: apply to Serbia (SI2020/724)
President Hassan Rouhani of Iran says economic closure is impossible as outbreak worsens
Belgium has made the wearing of masks compulsory in shops, cinemas and other indoor settings
It is understood the UK government is looking at whether to make face coverings compulsory in shops in England
The US recorded 63,643 new cases on Friday and experts fear there will soon be a spike in deaths.
India has seen another big spike in infections, rising to over 820,000
Globally the number of cases has passed 12.5 million with more than 560,000 deaths
The head of the World Health Organization has called for an aggressive approach to fight the virus
12 Jul 2020: The US - the country hardest hit by the coronavirus - on Saturday posted more than 66,000 new cases, a daily record
President Donald Trump finally wore a mask in public for the first time since the pandemic began
Amitabh Bachchan, one of India's best known film actors, has tested positive for Covid-19
India has seen another surge in infections, rising to over 820,000
MPs have called for the government to clarify its position on face coverings in England
A Scottish pilot who spent more than two months on life support in Vietnam with coronavirus is on his way home
More than 12.7m cases of Covid-19 have been reported globally, and 565,000 deaths
13 Jul 2020: More than 230,000 cases were recorded on Sunday, the WHO says
Most new cases were in the Americas, followed by South East Asia
Coronavirus immunity may only last for months, according to a study by King's College London
Mexico now has the fourth-most virus deaths, passing Italy
In England, nail bars, beauty salons, spas, and tattoo parlours can reopen today
The Palestinian Authority imposes a curfew on the West Bank
Bolivia's economy minister tests positive, days after the interim president did
Globally there have been 12.9m confirmed cases since the outbreak began, with 568,000 deaths
14 Jul 2020: France awards health workers pay rises worth €8bn (£7.2bn; $9bn) after a series of protests
The number of confirmed global infections since the outbreak began passes 13m
In England, face masks will be compulsory in shops from 24 July
The UK could see about 120,000 new coronavirus deaths in a second wave of infections this winter
California reimposes restrictions on indoor activities including bars and restaurants
Singapore's economy plunges by 41% compared to the previous quarter
Hong Kong Disneyland to close less than a month after reopening, as the city reimposes distancing rules
15 Jul 2020: US pharmaceutical company Moderna entering final testing phase for its vaccine
Phase one testing has proved safe and provoked an immune response, it says
UK Health Minister Matt Hancock says masks will not be made compulsory in offices
Hong Kong is bringing in strict new measures to counteract virus surge
Dine-in restaurants must close from 6pm until 5am, while bars are closed entirely
A South African minister and his wife have tested positive for the virus
NZ PM Jacinda Ardern says they must prepare for new outbreaks, as the virus "explodes" globally
Globally, there have been 13.3m confirmed cases since the outbreak began, and 578,000 deaths
16 Jul 2020: Spain's king leads a state memorial event for the country's coronavirus victims
The UK shed more than half a million jobs during the lockdown, with employees working fewer hours
China announces a year-on-year increase in GDP as its economy rebounds
Another 317 cases were confirmed in Melbourne on Thursday
In the US, a new daily record number of cases is confirmed, according to Johns Hopkins data
US health chief Dr Anthony Fauci believes the country will have a vaccine by the end of the year
Globally, there have been 13.5m cases since the outbreak began, with 583,000 deaths
17 Jul 2020: Boris Johnson promises to increase testing capacity to 500,000 coronavirus tests a day
PM says local authorities will get more powers to bring in lockdowns in their areas to contain future outbreaks
Health Secretary Matt Hancock calls for urgent review into data on deaths in England
There have now been more than 1m confirmed cases in India, and 2m in Brazil
The total in both countries has doubled in less than a month
In the US, the daily total of new cases hits another record
With infections rising, Japan is now recording more daily cases than Italy
The UK, US, and Canada accuse Russian spies of targeting vaccine researchers
Globally there have been 13.8 million cases since the outbreak began, with 589,000 deaths
17 Jul 2020: President Trump rejects mandatory masks: "I want people to have a certain freedom"
Top US infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci says everyone should use them
UN Secretary General António Guterres has criticised the world’s biggest powers for failing to work together to tackle the pandemic
PM Boris Johnson gives English councils new powers to manage local outbreaks
Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is taken to hospital after testing positive for Covid-19
Iran's president says 25 million Iranians have already been infected by Covid-19
4 million people in Barcelona in north-east Spain are urged to stay at home for 15 days
Globally there have been 14.1 million cases since the outbreak began, with 602,948 deaths
Seem to have missed a day
19 Jul 2020: More than 600,000 people have died with the coronavirus around the world
Nearly a quarter of them were in the US
The world has seen the largest single-day increase in cases, the WHO says
The number of new cases of coronavirus rose by almost 260,000 in 24 hours
The EU is in its third day of talks to try to agree a rescue package for virus-hit countries
Millions of people have been told to stay at home amid an outbreak in the Spanish region of Catalonia
The global number of infections now stands at 14.3 million - Johns Hopkins University
20 Jul 2020: Data from early-stage human trials of a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University is to be published
The results of phase one testing would indicate whether it is safe and triggers an immune response
Australia has launched an investigation into security breaches in Victoria's hotel quarantine programme
EU leaders are meeting for a fourth day to try to agree a huge virus rescue plan
Early research suggests a new treatment involving a protein called interferon beta could significantly reduce deaths
Globally the number of confirmed infections has risen to more than 14.4 million and deaths to 605,000
21 Jul 2020: EU leaders agree details of huge economic recovery fund, after four days of talks
€750bn (£677bn; $859bn) in loans and grants to member states for coronavirus recovery
UK police, teachers, doctors get pay boost for "vital contribution" to coronavirus frontline
UK chief medical officer Chris Whitty is to give evidence to MPs' inquiry into the outbreak
WHO emergencies chief Michael Ryan says evidence of "acceleration of disease in Africa"
Surge in South Africa could be "precursor" for outbreaks across continent, he says
More countries bring in rules to require people to wear masks in public places
There have been 14.6 million infections worldwide and more than 600,000 deaths
22 Jul 2020: The head of the Pan American Health Organization says the virus shows "no signs of slowing down" in the Americas
Carissa Etienne says the virus is surging in Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru
More than 300m people risk developing complications from Covid-19 because of underlying conditions, she says
President Donald Trump says the pandemic is going to get worse, and urges Americans to wear face masks
Health experts in the UK have told politicians Sars-Cov-2 virus will be with us for "decades"
The Australia state of Victoria has reported another record high number of new cases
There have been nearly 15m cases of the new virus worldwide and more than 600,000 deaths
23 Jul 2020: Basic income would allow 2.7 billion people to stay at home, a UN Development Programme report says
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the pandemic shows "sheer might of the union" (Scotland doesn't agree!)
A committee of UK MPs says it is "astonished" by the government's failure to plan an economic response to the pandemic
The cost of the pandemic has pushed Australia into its biggest budget deficit since World War Two
Brazil registers more than 67,000 new cases in 24 hours, another record amount
President Trump says he wants schools to reopen and would be "comfortable" sending his young son in
Globally there have been 15 million cases of Sars-Cov-2 and more than 622,000 deaths
24 Jul 2020: Face coverings required in shops and banks (SI2020/791)
India records 49,310 new infections - its highest daily number of cases
New rules begin in England making it compulsory to wear face coverings in shops
President Trump cancels the Republican convention in Florida, blaming the virus "flare-up"
Cases in the US pass four million with at least 144,000 deaths
All major international tennis tournaments have been cancelled in China
Former UK PM Tony Blair believes coronavirus will not be eliminated
Globally there have been more than 15.4m cases and almost 632,000 deaths
25 Jul 2020: Indoor gyms, swimming pools and other sports facilities open
Catalonia is to close all nightlife in the region due to a spike in coronavirus infections
Indoor gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities have started to reopen in England
Being obese or overweight puts you at greater risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19, experts in England say
The World Health Organization reported 284,196 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours on Friday, a new record
The biggest increases were in the US, Brazil, India and South Africa
South Korea reported 113 new infections on Saturday, its biggest one-day increase for three months
There have been more than 15.7 million cases globally and almost 640,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University
26 Jul 2020: Self-isolation: apply to Spain (SI2020/805)
Travellers arriving in the UK from Spain must now quarantine for 14 days, under new coronavirus travel rules
The measures follow a spike in infections in Spain, with more than 900 new cases reported on Friday
Spain is taking new measures to cut a spike in cases, amid fears of a more widespread "second wave"
France and Germany have also seen a rise in cases, as nations grapple between staving off fresh outbreaks and reopening economies
North Korea has reported what it describes as its first suspected case - a defector who returned from South Korea last week
There have been more than 16 million cases globally and nearly 645,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University
27 Jul 2020: The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases reaches more than 16 million - up by a million in just four days
Hong Kong has reported 145 new cases, setting a new daily record - hours after announcing its toughest measures yet to contain the spread
A doctor who diagnosed early infections in China says local officials covered up the scale of the initial outbreak
Clusters in China lead to 61 new cases recorded on Monday - the highest daily figure since April
Australia also records its biggest daily spike, with more than 530 new cases in Victoria state
Vietnam has closed the city of Da Nang to tourists after four new locally transmitted coronavirus were recorded - the country's first since April
Spain insists it is a safe for tourists after the UK ordered people coming from the country to quarantine
28 Jul 2020: Self-isolation: exempt Estonia, Latvia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovakia & Slovenia (SI2020/799)
The German foreign ministry advises against unnecessary travel to Catalonia, Navarra and Aragon "due to high infection numbers"
Belgium tightens social restrictions to try to avert fresh lockdown
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the UK’s 14-day quarantine is "unjust" and tourists would be safer from coronavirus in most Spanish regions than in the UK
A lack of translated coronavirus guidance is jeopardising the safety of non-English speakers in the UK, a joint letter to the health secretary claims
US Republicans propose spending an additional $1tn (£776bn) to address the economic damage caused by the pandemic
Emirates becomes the first airline to offer free Covid-19 insurance as it tries to get people flying again
Worldwide, more than 16m cases have been recorded so far, with about 650,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University in the US
29 Jul 2020: Young people could be driving spikes in coronavirus cases across Europe, the World Health Organization warns
Several countries are seeing a higher proportion of new infections among the young, the health body says
Heathrow boss calls for tests at airports to avoid quarantine rules, but a UK minister says this is not a "silver bullet"
Almost 1,300 virus-related deaths were logged in the US on Tuesday, the biggest daily increase since May
UK government to fund studies to explain why ethnic minorities are at greater risk
Scaled back Hajj begins in Saudi Arabia with international visitors banned
Hong Kong government warns hospitals face "collapse" as it grapples with a rise in infections
There have been nearly 16.7 million confirmed cases globally, and around 660,000 deaths
30 Jul 2020: Self-isolation after contact extended from 7 to 10 days.
The time people with coronavirus symptoms will have to self-isolate in the UK increases from seven to 10 days
The change comes as the government tries to avoid a resurgence of the virus
Florida is to close its coronavirus testing centres as Tropical Storm Isaias approaches
The decision comes a day after the US state reported a record 216 deaths
Coronavirus has killed more than 150,000 people in the United States
Australia's virus-hit state of Victoria has reported its worst death toll and case rise
Violent protests have broken out in Paraguay after areas were ordered back into lockdown
There are now more than 17m confirmed cases of coronavirus and 667,000 reported deaths worldwide
31 Jul 2020: Self-isolation: apply to Luxembourg (SI2020/819)
Separate households are banned from meeting each other indoors in large parts of northern England
Four million people are hit with the measures, imposed after a spike in coronavirus cases
UK PM Boris Johnson is to give a briefing at 1200 BST (1100 GMT)
Spain, Italy and France report slumps in their economies as restrictions take their toll
Vietnam reports its first death, months into the pandemic, amid record new cases
The WHO is to meet to discuss what more can be done to control the pandemic
Melbourne in Australia could face further restrictions as cases rise despite a lockdown
Globally there have been more than 17m cases and nearly 700,000 deaths
Covid index - June 2020 - August 2020
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© Jo Edkins 2024