Summary
- A short period of tight restrictions across England is being considered to slow the spread of the virus
- Health Secretary Matt Hancock says UK faces “very serious situation” and does not rule out another lockdown
- Other European countries, including France and Spain, are also taking action as cases surge
- It comes as the WHO warns of “alarming rates of transmission” across Europe, with fears death rates will rise significantly
- Israel is due to become the first country to start a second nationwide shutdown, with residents unable to stray far from their homes
- Australia will now let in 6,000 citizens a week – some 24,000 stranded Australians have been waiting to return home
- Confirmed cases worldwide pass 30 million, with more than 940,000 confirmed deaths of people who had Covid-19