Wigan joins two Lancashire areas also easing restrictions; Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago off safe list from 4am Saturday
- Shapps rejects idea of partial quarantine for countries
- Lockdown fears for Birmingham amid sharp rise in cases
- Retail sales rise above pre-Covid levels
- Covid-19 drives UK national debt to £2tn
- Coronavirus global updates – live
1.13pm BST
Tens of thousands of frantic school-leavers are still waiting to hear if they will be accepted at the university of their choice after receiving better A-level grades this week. But vice-chancellors are warning that taking large numbers of extra undergraduates would put students, staff and local communities at risk from coronavirus.
Elite universities are racing to revise their social distancing plans, after the government U-turn led to 160,000 students having their A-level grades marked up. Some Russell Group universities say they took tens of thousands of calls in just two days this week, as students begged to be reconsidered for offers they had missed last Thursday.
Related: Universities warn of pandemic risk if upgraded A-level students admitted
1.10pm BST
At her daily briefing, Nicola Sturgeon says that 31 out of 71 new coronavirus infections overnight are in Tayside, where health officials are dealing with an outbreak at the 2 Sisters poultry factory, Coupar Angus.
Sturgeon has told all workers at the food processing plant and their families to self-isolate until 31 August.
Continue reading…Wigan joins two Lancashire areas also easing restrictions; Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago off safe list from 4am SaturdayShapps rejects idea of partial quarantine for countriesLockdown fears for Birmingham amid sharp rise in casesRetail sales rise above pre-Covid levelsCovid-19 drives UK national debt to £2tnCoronavirus global updates – live 1.13pm BSTTens of thousands of frantic school-leavers are still waiting to hear if they will be accepted at the university of their choice after receiving better A-level grades this week. But vice-chancellors are warning that taking large numbers of extra undergraduates would put students, staff and local communities at risk from coronavirus.Elite universities are racing to revise their social distancing plans, after the government U-turn led to 160,000 students having their A-level grades marked up. Some Russell Group universities say they took tens of thousands of calls in just two days this week, as students begged to be reconsidered for offers they had missed last Thursday. Related: Universities warn of pandemic risk if upgraded A-level students admitted 1.10pm BSTAt her daily briefing, Nicola Sturgeon says that 31 out of 71 new coronavirus infections overnight are in Tayside, where health officials are dealing with an outbreak at the 2 Sisters poultry factory, Coupar Angus.Sturgeon has told all workers at the food processing plant and their families to self-isolate until 31 August. Continue reading…