The Guardian

UK coronavirus live: officials meeting today to consider case for new restrictions for London, says Hancock (Sun, 20 Sep 2020)
Health secretary says nation is at a tipping point and if people do not follow the rules further restrictions may be necessary Global coronavirus live blog 10.26am BST Matt Hancock is now being interviewed by Tom Newton Dunn on Times Radio. So far much of the interview has replicated what Hancock was saying in his other two interviews this morning, but Newton Dunn also asked why NHS Test and Trace failed to anticipate the extra demand for tests. Didn’t they realise children get sniffles when they return to school? Hancock said what they did not anticipate was the number of people without symptoms requesting tests. 10.20am BST This is what Sir Keir Starmer told Andrew Marr when Marr asked if he wanted to see further restrictions imposed now. Under Starmer Labour has backed the government’s coronavirus measures, and generally he has avoided advocating an alternative Covid strategy. He has said it is important for public messaging to be clear, and he told Marr he did not want to second guess the PM. But, when pressed by Marr, Starmer said it would be wrong for the government to delay imposing further restrictions (as Johnson is reportedly considering - see 9.53am.) After referring to what Prof Neil Ferguson said yesterday, Marr suggested that bold decisions were needed from leaders now. Starmer replied: Take swift action, do it in the next few days, don’t leave it for two to four weeks ... I want swift action, if necessary local restrictions, look at a national lockdown. The government has got the figures. But I don’t want to leave it two or four weeks. Continue reading...
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Covid scepticism behind high Bolton infection rate, says local MP (Sun, 20 Sep 2020)
Exclusive: social media hashtag #thinkingforyourself bolsters residents refusing to follow rules Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Covid scepticism in Bolton has led to it having the highest infection rate of coronavirus in the country, a local MP has said, as a #thinkingforyourself social media trend gains traction. With 169 cases for every 100,000 people, the Greater Manchester town has the highest rate in England and has featured among the worst-hit areas in Europe. Health officials said infections had been doubling every four days. Continue reading...
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Trump vows to nominate a woman for US supreme court vacancy within a week (Sun, 20 Sep 2020)
President says he has ‘obligation’ to fill the vacancy created by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Trump has chance to reshape US for generations Donald Trump has promised to put forward a female nominee in the coming week to fill the supreme court vacancy created by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, pushing the Republican-controlled Senate to consider the pick without delay. Taking the stage at a North Carolina rally to chants of “Fill that seat”, the president said he would nominate his selection despite Democrats’ objections. Continue reading...
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