Coronavirus map LIVE: Positive tests hit RECORD HIGH - 6,634 new cases in grim 24hr tally
CORONAVIRUS cases in the UK have soared to a record high after more than 6,000 positive tests were counted in the past 24 hours.
Nicola Sturgeon issues plea to students in coronavirus briefing
The Department of Health has confirmed 6,634 cases of coronavirus have been recorded as of 9am on Thursday. It is the second successive day the number of COVID-19 cases has risen above 6,000 - on Wednesday the UK recorded 6,178 positive tests.
The Department also announced a further 40 patients had died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus.
The death toll is the highest for more than two months - when 44 patients died on July 14.
The total number of fatalities in the UK since the start of the pandemic now stand at 41,902.
Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said: "This is the highest number recorded and a stark warning for us all. The signals are clear. Positivity rates are rising across all age groups and we're continuing to see spikes in rates of admission to hospital and critical care.
"We must all follow the new measures that have been bought in to help control the virus and download the new NHS Covid-19 App which is the fastest way of knowing when you're at risk."
Experts have previously warned the increased testing capacity now compared to the start of the pandemic could distort comparison with the number of people infected.
It comes as Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a new job scheme to protect employees affected by the pandemic.
The job support scheme will see the Government top-up the wages of people working at least a third of their normal hours, with companies which did not take part in the furlough scheme also allowed to apply.
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9.30pm update: One million users download new NHS coronavirus app in less than 24 hours
The NHS coronavirus tracing app has been downloaded more than one million times by Android users as of Thursday evening, according to the Google Play Store.
The total figure is likely to be higher when iPhone downloads are included, but Apple does not provide similar data for app downloads.
The application was launched by Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning.
7.55pm update: France records more than 16,000 new coronavirus cases
France has reported more than 16,000 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours – smashing a previous daily record.
The French Health Ministry has recorded 16,096 positive infections this evening, surpassing the previous daily high of 13,498.
The number of people in France who have died from COVID-19 infections was up by 52, at 31,511.
7.40pm update: The damning stats which prove Brits ARE to blame for coronavirus spike
Just one-in-ten Britons are self-isolating after being contacted by NHS tests and trace, and less than 20 percent of people with coronavirus symptoms are quarantining at home, a new damning study of more than 31,000 participants has suggested.
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7.10pm update: Pub-goers in Wales given 20 mins to finish their drinks as 10pm curfew comes into force
Pub-goers in Wales will be given an extra 20 minutes to finish their drinks after last orders when the country's new 10pm cut-off for alcohol sales comes into force.
Licensed premises will only be able to provide table service for customers when consuming food or drink, and following a 20-minute period to allow customers to finish their drinks at 10pm, must close by 10.20pm.
6.35pm update: Ireland reports 324 news coronavirus cases
Ireland has reported 324 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours.
The National Public Health Emergency Team added there has been three further deaths due to the virus.
6.10pm update: Public Health England chief says record figure ‘stark warning for us all’
Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said: "This is the highest number recorded and a stark warning for us all. The signals are clear. Positivity rates are rising across all age groups and we're continuing to see spikes in rates of admission to hospital and critical care.
"We must all follow the new measures that have been bought in to help control the virus and download the new NHS Covid-19 App which is the fastest way of knowing when you're at risk."
5.50pm update: Expert says daily coronavirus cases could be as high as 18,000 in the UK
Daily coronavirus cases could be treble the current figure recorded by the Department for Health, according to an expert.
The UK has recorded more than 6,000 cases for a second successive day.
Dr Julian Tang, a respiratory disease expert at the University of Leicester, said the UK's coronavirus testing programme may only identity a third of cases because around two-thirds of people are asymptomatic.
Based on this modelling the UK would have recorded around 18,000 daily infections.
5.30pm update: UK records 6,634 new cases of coronavirus
The Department of Health has confirmed 6,634 cases of coronavirus have been recorded as of 9am on Thursday.
It is the second successive day the number of COVID-19 cases has risen above 6,000 - on Wednesday the UK recorded 6,178.
5.10pm update: Denmark, Slovakia and Iceland removed from safe travel list
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced Denmark, Slovakia and Iceland have been removed from the UK’s safe travel list.
Passengers arriving back into England will need to self-isolate for 14 days from 4am on Saturday.
5.00pm update: 120 coronavirus cases confirmed at University in Scotland
A total of 120 cases of coronavirus have been identified in an outbreak at Edinburgh Napier University.
NHS Lothian said the positive results had been confirmed from the establishment by Thursday morning, with a small number in the University of Edinburgh and Queen Margaret University.
4.15pm update: Sunak defends Eat Out To Help Out amid surge in cases
Rishi Sunak has defended his Eat Out To Help Out scheme after suggestions it could have contributed to the spread of coronavirus
He told a Downing Street press conference: "In terms of the spread of the virus, if you see what's happening in our country, as you've heard from our scientific advisers, we're following similar paths to other countries in Europe.
"So I think it's probably simplistic to look at any one thing. What's happening here is similar to what's happening in many other countries.
"There are lots of things going on at the same time towards the last few weeks and as we get into a season for respiratory illnesses so there's going to be lots of different factors at play as to why the virus is acting in the way it is.
"But more broadly I don't think it's the wrong thing for the Government or indeed people to want to try and get their lives back to normal."
3.55pm update: Chancellor says unemployment ‘will continue to rise’
Rishi Sunak has warned that unemployment will continue to rise despite his latest emergency measures.
The Chancellor told a Downing Street press conference: "I would be lying if I could try and give you precise numbers or time frames for what's going to happen when. We're dealing with unprecedented economic uncertainty.
"Unemployment is already rising and will continue to rise - that's a complete tragedy. We've already lost 700,000 jobs. Those people's security is now under threat."
3.40pm update: Sunak says ‘impossible’ to know how many people will benefit from scheme
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said it is "impossible" to predict how many roles the jobs support scheme will support, while declining to say which roles he thinks have now become unviable.
Mr Sunak added the new jobs support scheme was "more targeted" than furlough, and would help businesses who really need assistance.
3.25pm update: Wales reports 348 new cases – one more death.
Public Health Wales has reported a further 348 cases of coronavirus, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 21,896.
One further death was also confirmed – bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,606.
3.10pm update: NHS England confirmed 30 more hospital deaths
NHS England has confirmed a further 30 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital.
Since the start of the pandemic 29,838 people have now died from COVID-19 in hospitals in England.
2.38pm: Matt Hancock refuses to rule out students missing Christmas
Matt Hancock has said he is not ruling out the prospect of asking students to stay on campus over Christmas, amid coronavirus clusters in university halls.
In an interview on Times Radio, Mr Hancock was asked whether students would be encouraged to stay at university over Christmas.
He said: "We have said that students should stay at university until Christmas... We don't rule out the suggestion you just made but I don't want to have to say that. It is some time off.
"I very much hope that we won't have to say that, but as I say I don't rule it out.
"The important thing is in the short-term, students once they've gone to university should stay at university so as not to spread the disease."
1.23pm update: Students could be forced to miss Christmas
Hundreds of Glasgow University students have been forced to self isolate following an outbreak of coronavirus after a warning students could miss Christmas to stop the spread of the invisible killer disease.
More than 600 students have been forced to isolate after Glasgow University confirmed two “significant” outbreaks of COVID-19 at their Cairncross House and Murano student village residences.
The news comes the government’s SAGE scientists are said to be considering ordering students to stay on university campuses over the Christmas break rather than visiting home to prevent the spread of the virus.
SAGE said: “This could pose a risk to both local communities and families, and will require national oversight, monitoring and decision-making.”
12.30pm update: Two more deaths in Scotland
Two more confirmed coronavirus patients have died in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon said.
It brings the total number of COVID-19 fatalities to 2,510.
12.24pm update: Wages top up for workers
Rishi Sunak confirmed plans for the state to top up the wages of workers forced to cut their hours due to the pandemic.
As part of a package of measures the Chancellor said the new jobs support scheme was aimed at protecting "viable" roles rather than all posts which have been kept going as a result of state support under the furlough programme.
Under the terms of the new scheme, the Government will top up the wages of people working at least a third of their normal hours.
12.18pm update: Chancellor Rishi announces boost for businesses
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he would introduce a new scheme to give businesses flexibility to repay loans taken out during the coronavirus crisis, giving them up to 10 years to repay the loans rather than six.
Under the government's Bounce Back Loan Scheme, 1.3 million small businesses have taken out a total of £38.0 billion in loans worth up to £50,000 each, from banks which have received a 100 percent state guarantee.
He said: "To give those businesses more time and greater flexibility to repay their loans, we are introducing Pay-as-you-Grow. This means loans can now be extended from six to 10 years, more than halving the average monthly repayment.
"Businesses who are struggling can now choose to make interest only payments, and anyone in real trouble can apply to suspened repayments altogether for up to six months."
12.12pm update: Rishi issues economy warning
Chancellor Rishi Sunak warned the resurgence of coronavirus posed a threat to the "fragile economic recovery".
12.02pm update: MPs to debate coronavirus
MPs will have a chance to debate coronavirus in the Commons next week, Downing Street said.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Next week is the renewal of the Coronavirus Act 2020 which MPs will be voting on.
"In terms of the individual regulations, as is already the case, we lay them before Parliament, Parliament then has the opportunity to scrutinise and approve them within 28 days.
"If they are not approved by Parliament in those 28 days they will lapse.
"In addition, there is also a general debate on Covid which is taking place early next week."
11.20am update: With Queen to receive MILLIONS, is Treasury right to prop up royals during crisis?
The Queen will pocket millions from the Treasury to prop up the Royal Family's portfolio as it is hit by the coronavirus crisis. Do you think it's right for the royals to be handed taxpayer funds during the COVID-19 pandemic? VOTE HERE
10.54am update: Macron using von der Leyen as 'French Trojan horse' - huge warning
France is "blatantly" ignoring rules relating to the eurozone set down in the Maastricht treaty in a move which will "open the floodgates for irresponsible debt accumulation", with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acting like a "French Trojan horse", a former German MEP has said.
Hans-Olaf Henkel was speaking after financial analysts said "alarm bells should be going off" at the European Central Bank as a result of increasing numbers of coronavirus cases which they said represented a risk to the monetary union of countries which have adopted the euro.
Mr Henkel, who stepped down from the European Parliament last year, told Express.co.uk he was concerned about the long-term strategic affect which the corona crisis would have on the EU's economic system.
He explained: "It is alarming if the French State Secretary for European Affairs, Monsieur Clement Beaune, now officially suggests that the stability criteria, agreed upon by all participants of the euro system when the common currency was introduced, now demands that they be dropped.
10.33am update: ONS releases business update
The ONS found 84 percen of businesses were trading, which has been revised from the 97 percent estimated last week.
Meanwhile, the proportion of adults travelling to work at some point during the week increased to 64 percent, while the proportion exclusively working from home increased slightly to 21 percent.
10.20am update: MPs could be given vote on lockdown
Christopher Hope, Daily Telegraph chief political correspondent and assistant editor tweeted:"NEW Commons sources say Sir Lindsay Hoyle is working on a compromise to give MPs a vote on any major lockdown announcement within 5-7 days of its announcement.
"The Government would need to adopt it though as motion on Weds next week is not amendable."
9.44am update: Boris reminds public to 'remember basics'
The PM tweeted: " It falls to each of us and every one of us to remember the basics – wash our hands, cover our faces, observe social distancing – and follow the rules.
"Then we can fight back against this virus, shelter our economy and save many more lives."
9.18am update: Sports events can go ahead without vaccines
The recent resumption of sports events show they can be organised safely without vaccines, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Thursday.
Bach made the comment at a news conference.
The Tokyo Olympics were postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the coronavirus. The pandemic has continued to spread, casting a shadow over the viability of hosting the Games next year.
8.41am update: Sunak to extend tax cut for hospitality and tourism
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce an extension of the VAT sales tax cut for the hospitality and tourism industry through to the end of March.
The Times said Mr Sunak will also extend the life of the coronavirus business loan schemes until November and increase the term of the loans from six to ten years.
8.32am update: Russia reports over 6,500 COVID cases
Russia on Thursday reported 6,595 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, its highest daily increase since July 12.
The authorities said 149 more people had died, bringing the official death toll to 19,948.
The new figures pushed Russia's national tally of cases to 1,128,836, the fourth-largest in the world
8.01am update: Warning over sexual relations
Matt Hancock said people needed to "be careful" when it came to having sexual relationships outside of "established relationships" during the pandemic.
Asked about the Government's guidance that only "established" couples should be having sex, he told Sky News: "In these rules that we have to bring in, there have to be boundaries, to coin a phrase.
"If you're saying that two households shouldn't mix, which we are in some parts of the country - in the North East, the North West, in Scotland, in parts of Wales - then you have to then define what is the boundary of that."
7.45am update: 10k people catching COVID -19 a day
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said almost 10,000 people a day are contracting coronavirus - although still fewer than the "100,000 per day" estimated during the spring peak - and called on people to download the newly-released NHS tracing app to "make the country a safer place".
Speaking to Sky News, he said: "The massive testing capability we've got helps to find where the virus is so, if you think about it, yesterday we had a figure that there is over 6,000 people who have tested positive in the previous 24 hours.
"And that is comparable to the highest levels in the peak in terms of the number of people who were tested positive but back then we estimate through surveys that over 100,000 people a day were catching the disease, but we only found around 6,000 of them and they tested positive.
"Now we estimate that it is under 10,000 people a day getting the disease - that's too high but it is still much lower than in the peak - and through the mass testing we have and the quarter-of-a-million capacity, we found yesterday over 6,000 of them.
"That then allows us to do the contact tracing for everyone who has tested positive and find who they've been in contact with.
"In addition, today with the app, if you download the app you will also have that added protection for you and your loved ones."
(Additional reporting by Rebecca Perring)