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The UK registered an additional 397 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours
MPs will debate and vote on a second national lockdown this afternoon, as England prepares to enter a month of restrictions that will see hospitality venues shut, furlough extended and a ban on household mixing.
The new lockdown is expected to pass as it is backed by Labour, with Sir Keir Starmer saying on Sunday that his party will likely vote for the new measures. 
It is due to end on 2 December, but Michael Gove has conceded that there may be an extension if the infection rate does not fall sufficiently within the time frame.
A number of Tories have spoken out against a renewed lockdown, with reports suggesting up to 15 MPs may rebel against the measures. 
It follows the UK reporting an additional 397 deaths in the past 24 hours, according to government data. This is the highest single-day rise in the death toll since 27 May, when 422 deaths were reported. 
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easyJet cancels flights back from Egypt until December
As another four-week stretch of lockdown begins in England, Britain’s biggest budget airline has grounded hundreds of flights rather than operating near-empty aircraft.
The easyJet cancellations include the longest flight on its network, from Sharm El Sheikh to Manchester.
But the airlines email to holidaymakers in the Egyptian resort failed to make clear their entitlement to be routed home on other airlines.
Exclusive story by Simon Calder here:
Exclusive: Holidaymakers in Sharm El Sheikh could not find flights home to Manchester for four weeks
Clea Skopeliti4 November 2020 09:43
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Asymptomatic frontline NHS staff will be routinely tested, NHS England boss says
Sir Simon Stevens has said all frontline NHS staff would soon start to be regularly tested, regardless of symptoms.
The NHS England boss told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Routine testing of asymptomatic NHS staff has now begun in high prevalence parts of the country, areas where there are outbreaks, and more than 70,000 NHS staff have had those tests within the last several weeks.
“And the chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, yesterday wrote to the health committee, to parliament, explaining that, because the availability of testing had now increased, and we’ve got this new saliva testing that will be available for hospital and other health service staff over the next six or eight weeks, we will now be able to press on routinely testing all patient-facing NHS staff.”
Clea Skopeliti4 November 2020 09:36
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NHS England gearing up to administer any potential Covid vaccine
Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS England boss, said the health service has been preparing to administer a Covid-19 vaccine when it becomes available.
GPs will be “geared up to start by Christmas if the vaccine becomes available”, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
He said: “There are over 200 vaccines in development and we believe that we should hopefully get one or more of those available from the first part of next year.
In anticipation of that we’re also gearing the NHS up to be ready to make a start on administering Covid vaccines before Christmas, if they become available.
Clea Skopeliti4 November 2020 09:31
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Infections seem to be higher than worst-case scenario predictions, consultant warns
An intensive care consultant has warned the number of coronavirus infections appears to be worse than “even gloom-mongers like me had feared”.
Dr Richard Cree writes a blog about his work at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
Dr Cree said when the government’s leading scientists presented the worst-case scenario in September, growth of cases was low and deaths even lower.
He wrote: “As a result, most people refused to believe such a prophecy.
“It turns out that everyone was wrong and that the situation looks much worse than even gloom-mongers like me had feared.”
He believed the new lockdown would not reduce transmission as effectively the first one because of the decision to keep schools open.
Clea Skopeliti4 November 2020 09:10
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Speaking on the same programme, the former health secretary discussed how quick-turnaround tests should be used to allow care home visits.
Mr Hunt told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “The solution is surely for someone like Jane (a case studied interviewed) to get one of these new tests they are using in Liverpool which they can do on the spot, get the answer in 15-25 minutes and allow her to visit her mother. 
“I think this is something the government has looked at but if we are at the point where where we can offer these tests to a whole city, then surely we can find a way of offering them to people who have loved ones with dementia in care homes.”
Clea Skopeliti4 November 2020 08:57
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Speaking on the same programme, the former health secretary discussed how quick-turnaround tests should be used to allow care home visits.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “The solution is surely for someone like Jane (a case studied interviewed) to get one of these new tests they are using in Liverpool which they can do on the spot, get the answer in 15-25 minutes and allow her to visit her mother. 
“I think this is something the government has looked at but if we are at the point where where we can offer these tests to a whole city, then surely we can find a way of offering them to people who have loved ones with dementia in care homes.”
Clea Skopeliti4 November 2020 08:56
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High Covid transmission rates in hospital would be unforgivable, Jeremy Hunt says
It would be quite unforgivable if the UK saw comparable levels of Covid transmission in hospitals, Jeremy Hunt has said, calling for  more routine testing of NHS staff.
The Commons health committee chairman also urged the new quick-turnaround tests be utilised to allow people who have family members in care homes with dementia to visit them.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “My biggest worry frankly is that we still have not introduced weekly testing of NHS staff.
“We know that up to 11 per cent of coronavirus patients in hospital died last time having caught the virus in a hospital and I think it would be quite unforgivable if we made the same mistake twice and didn’t take that terrible weight off the minds of NHS staff of worrying that they might be giving the infection to their own patients.”
Clea Skopeliti4 November 2020 08:54
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MP Peter Bone says he will rebel in second lockdown vote
Conservative MP Peter Bone has become the latest Tory to say he will vote against a second lockdown in England.
He tweeted: “Today I will vote against a second national lockdown. The government’s case is based on dubious modelling. It seems to me there are lies, damn lies and Covid statistics!!”
Clea Skopeliti4 November 2020 08:42
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Police chiefs warn they will clamp down on those who break coronavirus rules
Police chiefs in the North West have warned they will crack down people who flout restrictions.
In a joint open letter, the chief constables of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria said they would particularly target those organising music events or other large gatherings, and those who refuse to self-isolate.
“To the minority who feel the restrictions don’t apply to them, be prepared to face the consequences of greater levels of enforcement,” they said.
Clea Skopeliti4 November 2020 08:31
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Hello, and welcome to The Independents rolling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
Clea Skopeliti4 November 2020 08:15