Covid UK news – live: Latest coronavirus cases as quarantine exemption for business chiefs condemned

The Delta variant currently represents more than 20 per cent of Covid-19 cases in France, the country’s health minister has said.

Olivier Veran told France Info radio that the proportion of Delta variant cases was increasing in the country, more than doubling over last week’s estimate that suggested the variant made up only 9 to 10 per cent of cases a week ago, writes Celine Wadhera.

“The Delta variant now accounts for about 20 per cent of new cases,” he said, “its share keeps on increasing in percentage not in absolute terms as the total number of cases is decreasing.”

Mr Veran said the Delta variant was “gradually becoming dominant, as it does in all countries in the world, as it is more contagious.”

The UK has today recorded 20,479 new coronavirus cases, according to the government’s dashboard.

This compares to yesterday’s 22,868 cases but the total number of cases over the past week is now up 72.8% on the total for the previous week.

There have also been 23 more deaths within 28 days of a positive test, bringing the total number of recorded deaths since the beginning of the pandemic to 128,126.

School absences linked to coronavirus have peaked at their highest rate since March, according to the latest government statistics.

The Department for Education (DfE) has estimated more than five per cent of state school pupils in England were off school last week due to Covid-related reasons, continuing a rise seen over the past few weeks, writes Zoe Tidman.

This includes more than 330,000 self-isolating due to potential contact with a Covid case – 270,000 of these involving potential contact in an educational setting – and tens of thousands more out of school with a suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection.

A leading union said there was a “real concern” numbers would only increase in the weeks ahead.

Jill Biden may fly to Tokyo for the Olympics opening ceremony next month, her husband Joe Biden has said.

“We’re trying to work that out now. That’s the plan,” the US president told reporters at the White House as he departed for an unrelated trip to Wisconsin.

The ceremony, scheduled for 23 July, has been unravelled by coronavirus with the games already being pushed back a year and now meant to be going ahead in a host country still grappling with the pandemic.

The 15-day Olympic torch relay ahead of the ceremony will take place without spectators and off public roads.

While many US athletes have been vaccinated and will compete at the world’s largest sporting event, Covid safety protocols and travel restrictions have largely curbed any expected crowds.

More now from my post earlier about Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.

Denis Logunov, deputy head of the Gamaleya Centre, was quoted by Russian news agency Tass as saying the effectiveness of the jab was 2.6 times lower against the Delta variant.

But the Sputnik V jab is still around 90 per cent effective against the Delta variant, Mr Logunov clarified, compared with 92 per cent efficacy against the original variant.

“We see that there is a slight decrease in serum activity with regard to the delta variant – it is about 2.6 times for Sputnik V,” he said at a press conference.

Tom Batchelor has more details here:

Greater Manchester’s mayor has said he appreciates the Scottish government for “listening” and deciding to remove what he considered an unfair and “hypocritical” travel ban on areas in northwest England including Manchester and Salford.

The SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, has asked the cabinet secretary to launch an independent investigation into “blatant misuse of public money for political purposes”.

It comes after allegations the government misused public funds from a coronavirus contract to carry out opinion polling on Scottish independence. Michael Gove has denied the claims.

Asking an urgent question on the Government’s use of emergency Covid contracts, Mr Blackford said: “Just as the prime minister failed to act to sack his health secretary, he has failed to act on this scandal too, but no matter how hard they might try to sweep this under the carpet this scandal isn’t going away.”

He continued: “This morning I have written to the cabinet secretary urging him to launch an independent investigation into this blatant misuse of public money for political purposes. If the UK Government has nothing to hide, will the minster join me in supporting this investigation by the cabinet secretary and will she co-operate with it?”

Speaking to MPs at the Commons, Mr Blackford added: “The truth and this government are distant strangers and that comes as no surprise when we remember the prime minister’s been sacked not once but twice for lying.”

His comments led to an intervention from Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, who asked Mr Blackford to withdraw them.

Nicola Sturgeon said today the number of coronavirus cases in Scotland is the “first sign” that the nation’s vaccination programme is working.

Speaking at the Scottish government’s daily Covid briefing, the first minister said it was important to remember that in comparison to where Scots were at the beginning of the year, the situation is much better.

“While we are comparing case numbers now to the situation at the start of the year, it is the case that at the start of the year – which was the last time case numbers were anywhere near the levels they are at now – we were in much a stricter lockdown,” she told the media.

“Far, far fewer restrictions are in force now.”

Ms Sturgeon continued: “So the reality now is that without vaccination, the level of restrictions that are in place just now would undoubtedly be leading to far higher case numbers than is actually the case. So that’s the first sign that vaccination is actually having an effect.”

A 57-year-old man accused of chasing a BBC journalist and calling him a “traitor” during an anti-lockdown protest has denied committing a criminal offence.

Martin Hockridge was allegedly one of several protesters who targeted Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt on 14 June.

Appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress, those present heard Mr Hockridge does not accept his behaviour was an offence.

Our home affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden has the full report:

More reaction to the news senior executives will be allowed to leave self-isolation early now.

Not holding back, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said plainly the new policy “takes the p***”.

“Yet again it is one rule for those at the top and another for everyone else,” she added in a thread of angry tweets.