UK

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has vowed to “go further” as he announced three new measures to help workers and businesses get through the winter and a coronavirus second spike. Speaking in the House of Commons, he said cash grants of up to £2,100 a month will be given to firms in Tier 2 areas – enough

The number of people reported to have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK has gone up by a record 26,688. It is the highest daily rise since 4 October, when 22,961 cases were recorded, although that number was inflated because of a system glitch. A further 191 deaths have also been confirmed within 28

Coronavirus restrictions in Scotland are being extended for another week, taking the nation into a new tiered system. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said details of the new system will be published on Friday and the measures will be implemented from 2 November. Restrictions put in place two weeks ago on hospitality businesses had been due

Greater Manchester will enter Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions from Friday, Boris Johnson has confirmed. The prime minister announced the move to tougher COVID-19 measures – the top alert level, called “very high” – after talks with local leaders ended without a deal. The imposition of extra restrictions comes amid a bitter row with politicians in

The midday deadline for a deal on tougher coronavirus restrictions in Greater Manchester has passed without news of a breakthrough. Local leaders are pushing for the government to up their offer of £22 million to £75 million to help struggling workers and firms, and pay the council more for contact tracing and rules enforcement. Neither

The government has given Greater Manchester until midday tomorrow to reach an agreement on entering Tier 3 restrictions. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said 10 days of discussions in “good faith” have not resulted in an agreement – and he warned that the prime minister would have to intervene if no deal is made by the

Wales will be placed into a circuit break lockdown for 17 days from 6pm on Friday, the Welsh government has announced. The new coronavirus lockdown will take Wales back to the restrictions introduced in March, with most businesses shutting, and people being told to stay at home and work from home where possible. Announcing the

Michael Gove has accused Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham of “posturing” and “political positioning” in refusing to accept strict new COVID-19 rules. The government is currently at a stand-off with Mr Burnham over whether his region should be moved into the highest alert level of the new three-tier system for local coronavirus lockdowns. Before agreeing

More than one coronavirus vaccine will be available in the first quarter of 2021, a government scientific adviser has told Sky News. Sir Jeremy Farrar, who sits on the SAGE committee, said: “I think in the first quarter of next year we will have vaccines – will have more than one vaccine.” It is unlikely

Another 16,171 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the UK, with 150 more people having died. The total number of positive coronavirus cases nationwide now stands at 705,428, according to government figures. The death toll, which only includes people who have passed away within 28 days of testing positive for the virus, has reached

The mayor of Liverpool has urged people to follow the city’s strict coronavirus lockdown rules as he revealed his brother has caught the illness. Joe Anderson said on Twitter on Friday evening: “10 mins ago my sister-in-law a Nursing Sister has told me my eldest brother her husband has got COVID-19 he is in the

New coronavirus restrictions have come into force in England with roughly half the population facing further curbs on their social lives. Vast swathes of the north, London and parts of the south east are now subject to tougher COVID-19 rules. At 6pm on Friday a ban on visiting Wales from areas of high infection came

Bars and pubs across Lancashire will close after local leaders agreed the county should move into Tier 3 of England’s lockdown system. It means towns such as Blackpool, Blackburn and Fleetwood join the Liverpool City Region in the highest level of coronavirus restrictions. A formal announcement is expected later today. Live coronavirus updates from the

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has accused the government of treating the region as a “sacrificial lamb” and vowed: “We aren’t going to be pushed around anymore.” Leaders in Greater Manchester have rejected being put into the highest category of the government’s new three-tier system for localised COVID-19 restrictions, amid a bitter political row. A

London will face Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions from Saturday. It means millions in the capital will be banned from meeting people from other households indoors, whether that’s in their home or in a pub. Londoners have also been advised to avoid public transport and reduce the number of journeys they make where possible. Please use

Around three-quarters of medics in urgent and acute care believe hospitals are not prepared to cope over the next six months, a survey has found. In addition, just under three-quarters (70%) believe they will not be able to provide the level of care they want over the same period. The findings come from a snapshot