Your morning briefing: What you should know for Thursday, October 29
'Critical stage' as nearly 100,000 catch coronavirus every day, research shows
The second wave of coronavirus in England has reached a "critical stage” with almost 100,000 people a day in England being infected, experts have warned.
Researchers say they are detecting early signs areas that previously had low rates of infection are following trends observed in the country's worst-affected regions.
They add that there has to be change before Christmas, and if more stringent measures are to be implemented, it needs to be sooner rather than later as the current measures are "not sufficient".
The interim data from round six of the React study uses data and swab results from 86,000 people between October 16-25, and estimates there are around 96,000 new infections per day.
10% of England’s population could be tested for Covid every week
The Government is reportedly considering the rapid unrolling of saliva-based coronavirus kits in a bid to test up to 10 per cent of England's population every week.
NHS Test and Trace is said to be stepping up its efforts to meet the targets set out in the Government's Operation Moonshot plans announced last month .
Alex Cooper, director of rapid testing at NHS Test and Trace, said the body was embarking on an "important new front in our fight against coronavirus".
"Each director of public health will be eligible to receive on a weekly basis the number of tests equivalent to 10 per cent of their population," he wrote in a leaked letter seen by the Guardian.
Torrential downpours set to bring ‘dangerous’ flooding across UK
Torrential downpours are set to bring "dangerous" flooding across the UK this week, forecasters have warned.
The Met Office said large waves, heavy rain, strong gales and potential river flooding will affect the west coast of England, much of Wales and parts of Scotland from today.
A yellow rain warning has been put in place in these areas and will last until Sunday evening.
The weather could cause damage to homes and businesses, travel cancellations and power cuts, forecasters said.
Farage praises Trump at Arizona rally: Bravest person I have ever met
Nigel Farage showered Donald Trump with praise and described him as the “most resilient and brave person” he had ever met as he spoke at the US President’s rally.
Taking to the stage in front of a crowd of voters in Arizona, the former Ukip leader praised Mr Trump for withstanding a “barrage” of events over his four-year term.
“This is the single most resilient and brave person I have ever met in my life,” he said.
He ended his speech by telling the crowd they were voting for “the only current leader in the free world who has the guts to stand up for the nation state, to fight for patriotism, to fight against globalism”.
Rashford 'can't stop smiling' as first Man Utd hat-trick coincides with food poverty petition landmark
Marcus Rashford has said he "can't stop smiling" as his petition to extend free meals into the school holidays passed one million signatures.
The Manchester United star's mission to ensure no child goes hungry has gripped the nation and caused a major headache for the Government who have opposed funding his campaign.
Also referencing his side's 5-0 win against RB Leipzig yesterday evening, during which he scored a hat-trick, Rashford wrote on Twitter: "3 goals, 16 minutes, 1,030,000 signatures.
On this day...
1618: Sir Walter Raleigh, English seafarer, once a favourite of Elizabeth I, was beheaded at Whitehall, falsely accused of treason.
1740: James Boswell, Scottish diarist and biographer of Samuel Johnson, was born. He accompanied Johnson on a tour, retold in Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides, before producing his Life Of Samuel Johnson in 1791.
1787: Mozart's opera Don Giovanni was first performed, in Prague.
1929: "Black Tuesday" - so-called when Wall Street crashed, leading to the Great Depression.
1956: Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula and troops pushed on towards the Suez Canal.
1986: The final section of the M25 around London was opened.
1987: Thomas 'Hit Man' Hearns won the world middleweight title, making him the first boxer to win a world title at four different weights.
