Coronavirus map LIVE: UK death toll rises by 114 - but real figure could be MUCH lower

It comes after researchers criticised "statistical flaws" in the way the deaths are reported across England, saying they are left looking far worse than any other part of the UK whilst the latest UK daily death toll says 114 fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours. PHE's figures feed into the daily death statistics published by the Department for Health and Social Care. THIS BLOG IS NOW CLOSED. Click HERE for your latest coronavirus updates 

Data from Public Health Wales, Health Protection Scotland and the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency is also included.

Christina Pagel, a mathematician at University College London (UCL) and a member of SAGE said the way PHE calculates data could become an issue as time goes on but she did not believe there had been a "massive distortion".

She added: "For Matt Hancock to suddenly be launching a massive inquiry is odd.

"The Department of Health website says quite clearly how each country is doing its death calculations, so it shouldn't be a surprise to him.

"That's what I find really odd."

Dr Susan Hopkins, PHE's incident director, however, said there was no World Health Organisation agreed method of counting deaths from COVID-19.

She added: "In England, we count all those that have died who had a positive Covid-19 test at any point, to ensure our data is as complete as possible.

"We must remember that this is a new and emerging infection and there is increasing evidence of long-term health problems for some of those affected.

"Whilst this knowledge is growing, now is the right time to review how deaths are calculated."

The two experts have claimed the Government figures are inaccurate, because officials add on historical deaths to random deaths - even when the fatalities happened weeks or even months ago.

They have urged No10 to make it clearer, so that when there are one day spikes, such as the 138 deaths announced on Tuesday, it doesn’t appear that the outbreak is accelerating.

Writing in a blog Dr Oke and Professor Heneghan said: “What has become apparent in recent weeks is the growing disparity between the numbers released by ONS [Office for National Statistics] and those reported by Public Health England which are widely disseminated in the media.”

They said the figures “vary substantially from day to day” and explained: “This variation is most likely due to the appearance of ‘historic’ deaths that have occurred weeks before, but for some reason unknown to us, get reported in batches on particular days.

"To counter this variation, a moving average smooths the trend, but even this is at odds with the ONS data... We can surmise that the total number of deaths in all settings is approximately 40 per day, much closer to the ONS numbers.”

The Government has pointed out in the past that it counts deaths on the date that the paperwork is completed, not when the person actually died, which can make day-by-day figures inaccurate.

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Saturday, July 18

7.15am update: THIS BLOG IS NOW CLOSED. Click HERE for your latest coronavirus updates 

05:45am update: US announces another 78,000 COVID-19 cases 

Authorities in the United States have just announced the country recorded another 78,000 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours. 

The number of infections in the US has been surging, particularly in southern and western states. 

More than 3.6 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the US, more than in any other country in the world, leading to 139,000 deaths. 

Separately, during an interview with Fox News, President Trump said he will not order Americans nation wide to wear masks because he believes people should have a "certain freedom". 

04:01am update: Coronavirus cases surge across Middle East 

The number of coronavirus cases reported across the Middle East and North Africa have surged over the last few weeks. 

Countries such as Iraq, Algeria and Lebanon have seen their infection rates explode despite initially containing the virus. 

Last week the total number of cases recorded in Iran exceeded 245,000 for the first time. 

President Hassan Rouhani has told the Iranian people it is their "religious duty" to report coronavirus cases. 

02:12am update: President Trump accused of costing "many lives" with COVID-19 handling by neice 

President Trump has been accused of having cost "many tens of thousands of lives" by Mary Trump, his own neice. 

Ms Trump was appearing on CNN to discuss her new book 'Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man'. 

Speaking to CNN she said Trump had made "huge mistake that's cost many, many tens of thousands of lives" in his handling of coronavirus. 

She added: "All that he's got left is creating division, and that's a place in which he is very, very comfortable." 

00:15am update: India hits one million coronavirus cases 

On Friday India announced another 35,000 coronavirus cases, taking the total number reported by the country to over one million. 

In total more than 25,000 people in India have died after testing positive for COVID-19. 

Only Brazil and the United States have recorded more cases in total. 

India went into lockdown in late March but this was lifted in early June. 

Friday, July 17

11pm update: President Trump's COVID-19 approval hits a record low

Approval of President Trump's handling of the coronavirus outbreak has hit a new low according to a fresh poll. 

The Hill-HarrisX survey found 58 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump's performance, whilst just 42 percent approve. 

Approval from Republican voters has also fallen from 86 percent in March to 76 percent in the latest poll. 

Mr Trump was criticised for initially appearing to downplay the crisis and refusing to be pictured in a mask until earlier this month. 

James Bickerton takes over live reporting from Richard Percival 

9pm update: Record number of new global Coronavirus cases 

The World Health Organization reported a record increase in global COVID-19 cases today, with the total rising by 237,743 in 24 hours.

The biggest increases were from the United States, Brazil, India and South Africa, according to a daily report.

The previous WHO record for new cases was 230,370 on July 12. Deaths have held steady and averaged less than 5,000 a day in July.

7:30pm update: Ireland to publish new travel rules next week 

The US will not be on Ireland's green list for safe travel and the UK is also very unlikely to be included, the country's foreign minister has said.

Simon Coveney said the list, which is due to be published on Monday, will not be particularly long.

Travellers arriving in Ireland from countries on the new green list will not be required to isolate for two weeks.

6pm: Millions raised to help the fight against COVID-19 internationally 

An appeal to raise funds to fight coronavirus in refugee camps and poor communities in some of the world's most vulnerable countries has raised more than £10 million.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Coronavirus Appeal, involving 14 of Britain's largest aid charities, aims to help provide food, water and medical care to people in countries such as Syria, Yemen and South Sudan.

It has raised £10.1 million since it was launched on Tuesday.

Other targets around the world are Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

5pm update: 114 more deaths in UK today

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said 45,233 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK yesterday, up by 114 from 45,119 the previous day.

Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 55,700 deaths registered in the UK where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The DHSC also said that in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Friday, there had been a further 687 lab-confirmed UK cases.

Overall, a total of 293,239 cases have been confirmed.

4pm update: Boris Johnson stresses the importance of the UK union during Coronavirus 

Boris Johnson said that the union has proved its worth during the COVID-19 crisis "time and time again", Boris Johnson has said.

The Prime Minister said there has been good co-operation across the UK during the pandemic despite "surface differences".

During a Downing Street media briefing on Friday, he was asked about support for Scottish independence and whether he is "the biggest threat to the union".

Responding, he said: "When you look at what's happened during this crisis, there has been very good and very close collaboration - despite the surface differences and the polemics that you refer to - there have been very good discussions across the UK between public health authorities, between the scientific and medical officers.

"Actually, the agenda that is being pursued by all parts of the UK beneath the surface has been very, very similar."

3pm update: Latest COVID-19 figures from Scotland

Scotland has seen a further 17 people test positive for coronavirus in the past 24 hours, according to government figures.

The numbers from Friday also show there have been no new deaths involving someone with a positive COVID-19 test, meaning the death toll under this measurement remains unchanged from Thursday at 2,491.

A total of 18,401 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland whilst there are 316 people in hospital with confirmed COVID-19.

Of these patients, three are in intensive care.

2pm update: Lockdown POLL: As Boris shifts responsibility, are you happy to return to office?

Boris Johnson announced new coronavirus rules today and said employers must now decide whether or not to lift the work-from-home guidance.

But are you happy to return to the office? VOTE HERE.

1.15pm update: Europe prepares for another peak - 'Must NOT let our guard down'

The European Commission, the executive branch of the EU, has announced a series of new measures to prepare for the second wave of COVID-19.

The proposals include more tests, contract traceability, improved surveillance and seasonal flu vaccination coverage.

Officials also said greater coordination will be needed between member states if the virus returns in the coming months.

12.37pm update: No10 issues advice on grandparents looking after grandchildren 

Downing Street said grandparents stepping in to care for grandchildren while parents went to work should still respect social distancing guidelines if they were not living in a bubble with the family.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "As of our previous update, two households can now meet together indoors so that would mean you could ask two grandparents to provide childcare but you would, in doing so, be advised to respect the one metre-plus rule."

When asked whether that meant grandparents not in a support bubble were unlikely to be able to look after small children who required closer care, the Number 10 spokesman added: "I think in some instances it will be (possible to follow social distancing advice) but as we've said throughout, we trust people to exercise their common sense in following the guidance."

12pm update: English tourists demand their money back over Sturgeon border threats

Engish tourists have demanded their money back from a Scottish hotel amid Nicola Sturgeon’s threats to quarantine visitors to Scotland from England.

Hotelier Beth MacLeod, who runs the Knockderry Country House Hotel in Argyll, revealed English tourists have called to cancel their bookings amid fears they will not be able to travel in to Scotland during the coronavirus pandemic.

She said visitors are “nervous” to continue their holidays in Scotland over Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s threats and have been demanding their money back.

It comes as Ms Sturgeon has refused to back down on her plans to potentially impose quarantine restrictions on people travelling from England to Scotland after a week of the country registering no coronavirus deaths.

11.20pm update: Boris hopes for normality to resume by November

Boris Johnson said he hopes Britain will return to "some sort of normality" by November, giving hope to the public that the country will return to normal in time for Christmas.

He said: "It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest possibly in time for Christmas."

The Prime Minister said social distancing rules coud be scrapped by November.

11.15am update: Leisure facilities allowed to reopen 

More leisure facilities will be allowed to reopen from August 1.

This includes bowling alleys, skating rinks, casinos and beautician.

But night clubs and soft play areas will remain closed for the time being. 

11.13am update: Work places to decide with employees return

From August 1 the Government will change its advice on working from home, to give employers discretion over whether to ask staff to go back to work.

Mr Johnson said: "We’re going to give employers, more discretion and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely.

"That could mean continuing to work from home which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees.

"Or it could mean making workplaces safe."

11.11am update: Testing to be ramped up ahead of winter months

Boris Johnson has said testing of coronavirus will ramped up to capacity of 500,000 a day.

He warned it is possible the virus will be more virulent this winter.

11.10am update: Boris announces councils will be given powers to introduce local lockdowns

The Prime Minister has said councils will be given the powers to shut businesses, outdoor spaces, cancel events and restrict public transport.

He said: "Next week we’ll publish draft regulations which clearly set out how central government can intervene, more effectively at a local level, were justified by the evidence.

"Ministers will be able to close whole sectors, or types of premises in an area; introduce local stay at home orders, prevent people entering or leaving defined areas, reduce the maximum size of gatherings beyond a national rules or restrict transport systems, serving local areas."

11.02am update: Boris Johnson holds coronavirus press conference

Boris Johnson is currently holding a press conference where he has congratulated the efforts of the nation for reducing the number of coronavirus cases.

He said: "I’m pleased to report that we’ve continued to make steady progress in our collective effort to beat the coronavirus. For three weeks now the number of new cases identified through testing, each day has been below 1000."

10.38am update: Queen will knight Captain Tom Moore today

Captain Tom Moore, the 100-year-old who became a national hero in Britain by raising millions of pounds for health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, will become "Sir Tom" today when he is knighted by the Queen.

The World War Two veteran raised a record £33million by walking 100 laps of his garden with the aid of a walking frame in April in the run-up to his landmark birthday.

His efforts prompted Boris Johnson to nominate the war hero for the award.

Captain Moore will receive the ancient accolade at Windsor Castle, where the 94-year-old monarch has been sheltering since March.

10.19am update: More than 50,000 coronavirus deaths in England and Wales, ONS announces

The Office for National Statistics has just published its latest coronavirus death figures for England and Wales.

Between March 1 and June 30, they say 50,335 people died from coronavirus.

They said 46,736 of those deaths had COVID-19 assigned as the underlying cause of death.

The ONS said some 26 percent of those who died had dementia and Alzheimers.

9.45am update: Hancock 'calls urgent review' into PHE coronavirus death statistics

After two Oxford university statisticians pointed out huge flaws in Public Health England's (PHE) coronavirus deaths recordings, the Health Secretary is understood to have launched an "urgent review" into the matter.

The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy reports that Matt Hancock will call an “urgent review” of how PHE compiles its statistics.

He wrote on Twitter: "Matt Hancock calling 'urgent review' into a staggering fiasco at Public Health England.

"They are counting people who die of natural causes as coronavirus deaths if they tested positive at any time previously.

"Not clear how many deaths were recorded in this way."

9.08am update: Labour calls for review into the Government’s Job Retention Bonus scheme

The Labour Party has called for the UK’s public spending watching to review the Government’s Job Retention Bonus (JRB) scheme and establish whether it will provide value for money.

Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Bridget Phillipson has written to Comptroller and Auditor General Gareth Davies, raising questions about the costs involved in the recovery project which will pay employers £1,000 for every worker they take off furlough and keep on the books until January.

Ms Phillipson, in her letter to the National Audit Office boss, said: "It is exactly because we support the stated policy rationale of providing support and incentives to firms to keep employees during a period of continued uncertainty, that we believe a more targeted approach is required.

"As it stands, the JRB will see money allocated to firms that don't need it, in respect of jobs that aren't at risk, while in sectors such as childcare, tourism, oil and gas, hospitality, and aviation, thousands upon thousands of jobs and livelihoods may be under threat.

"Our concern is that this blanket approach is both ineffective, because in too many firms the extra money will not change business decision-making, and is inefficient, because the money could be being allocated in a way that better supported the sectors facing the greatest challenges in the months ahead."

8.47am update: Employers to decide if people should return to work

Security Minister James Brokenshire was quizzed on the current debate on whether people should start to return to the office.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: "The advice actually says that employers should decide in consultation with their employees whether it's viable for them to continue working from home.

"But, if they do, then obviously this needs to be based on risk assessment, public health guidance, and ensuring that it's a Covid-safe space for them to do so."

Pressed on whether people should return to workplaces if they can, Mr Brokenshire said: "It's for employers to make that assessment."

8.13am update: ‘No evidence’ Russia succeeded in stealing information on coronavirus vaccine

Security Minister James Brokenshire has said there is "no evidence" Russia has succeeded in stealing any information from pharmaceutical companies developing a COVID-19 vaccine in a series of co-ordinated cyber attacks.

The security minister told BBC Breakfast: "Obviously we know these groups have been able to penetrate systems and to look around and assess what information is there."

But he refused to comment on whether these attacks have been effectively halted, saying only: "This is an ongoing incident, which is why we have put this alert out there, why there is mitigation that has been put in place."

7.45am update: Boris to hold press conference at 11am

Boris Johnson will hold a press conference at Downing Street later this morning to unveil new plans to ease the coronavirus lockdown.

He is expected to discuss the Government’s plans to get the NHS ready for the winter, after it was announced the NHS would receive a £3billion cash injection.

The Prime Minister is also set to clarify whether Britons should be returning back to the office and ditching home working.