https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-...k-cases-delay-phase-self-isolate-latest-live/
Coronavirus latest news: 'This is likely to be an annual virus', says Government's chief scientific officer
The coronavirus outbreak is "likely to become an annual virus", the Government's chief scientific officer has conceded.
Sir Patrick Vallance said Britain needs "herd immunity" to combat the spread of Covid-19, but independent scientists have said Britain's "timid" approach is "a gamble".
Meanwhile, sporting events are falling foul of the illness with Premier League matches postponed after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for the Covid-19.
Follow the latest updates below.
Auto update
9:50AM
Schools will close in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's schools will close as a result of coronavirus, the First Minister has said.
Arlene Foster said the region is 14 weeks away from the peak in the infection's spread as she warned many people may already have it but not realise.
A total of 20 cases of Covid-19 have been detected so far.
The DUP leader told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme: "There will come a point where we will have to close schools, there will come a point where we will have to say people should social distance themselves from other people, they should stay in their own homes.
"The timing of all of these things is where the science comes in and the modelling which has been done and which continues to be done by those scientists will inform the decision that we have to take, both at UK level and indeed at Northern Ireland level as well."
9:43AM
Catalan town first to be locked down in Spain
On Thursday night the town of Igualada and three surrounding villages in Barcelona province were locked down by the Catalan regional police force, sealing in 70,000 people from midnight in an attempt to contain a local outbreak of Covid-19.
Although some parts of the La Rioja wine town of Haro had also been placed under isolation, the sealing off of Igualada, Vilanova del Camí, Santa Margarida de Montbui and Òdena is the first lockdown of entire municipalities in Spain during the coronavirus crisis.
Igualada had registered 58 cases of Covid-19 infection out of the total for Catalonia of 319 as of Thursday.
Catalan Police officers halt cars trying to leave Igualada Credit: Getty
At midday on Thursday Spain’s Health Ministry announced a total number of cases of 2,968, compared to 2,002 the previous day. The death toll was put at 84, a sharp rise from 47 at midday on Wednesday.
In the Madrid region, where almost half of Spain’s total cases have been registered, local authorities are commandeering wards in private hospitals and even preparing to use spaces such as hotels, to ensure there is enough intensive care capacity for 1,000 people. Currently around 150 people are in a serious or critical condition due to coronavirus in the region.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday did not rule out placing the Madrid region under lockdown. Within Mr Sanchez’s cabinet, Carolina Darias, minister for territorial politics, has become Spain’s second cabinet member to test positive for Covid-19 after Equality Minister Irene Montero announced on Thursday that she had been infected.
Santiago Abascal, leader of the hard-Right Vox party, also said he had tested positive.
Coronavirus latest news: 'This is likely to be an annual virus', says Government's chief scientific officer
The coronavirus outbreak is "likely to become an annual virus", the Government's chief scientific officer has conceded.
Sir Patrick Vallance said Britain needs "herd immunity" to combat the spread of Covid-19, but independent scientists have said Britain's "timid" approach is "a gamble".
Meanwhile, sporting events are falling foul of the illness with Premier League matches postponed after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for the Covid-19.
Follow the latest updates below.
Auto update
9:50AM
Schools will close in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's schools will close as a result of coronavirus, the First Minister has said.
Arlene Foster said the region is 14 weeks away from the peak in the infection's spread as she warned many people may already have it but not realise.
A total of 20 cases of Covid-19 have been detected so far.
The DUP leader told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme: "There will come a point where we will have to close schools, there will come a point where we will have to say people should social distance themselves from other people, they should stay in their own homes.
"The timing of all of these things is where the science comes in and the modelling which has been done and which continues to be done by those scientists will inform the decision that we have to take, both at UK level and indeed at Northern Ireland level as well."
9:43AM
Catalan town first to be locked down in Spain
On Thursday night the town of Igualada and three surrounding villages in Barcelona province were locked down by the Catalan regional police force, sealing in 70,000 people from midnight in an attempt to contain a local outbreak of Covid-19.
Although some parts of the La Rioja wine town of Haro had also been placed under isolation, the sealing off of Igualada, Vilanova del Camí, Santa Margarida de Montbui and Òdena is the first lockdown of entire municipalities in Spain during the coronavirus crisis.
Igualada had registered 58 cases of Covid-19 infection out of the total for Catalonia of 319 as of Thursday.
Catalan Police officers halt cars trying to leave Igualada Credit: Getty
At midday on Thursday Spain’s Health Ministry announced a total number of cases of 2,968, compared to 2,002 the previous day. The death toll was put at 84, a sharp rise from 47 at midday on Wednesday.
In the Madrid region, where almost half of Spain’s total cases have been registered, local authorities are commandeering wards in private hospitals and even preparing to use spaces such as hotels, to ensure there is enough intensive care capacity for 1,000 people. Currently around 150 people are in a serious or critical condition due to coronavirus in the region.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday did not rule out placing the Madrid region under lockdown. Within Mr Sanchez’s cabinet, Carolina Darias, minister for territorial politics, has become Spain’s second cabinet member to test positive for Covid-19 after Equality Minister Irene Montero announced on Thursday that she had been infected.
Santiago Abascal, leader of the hard-Right Vox party, also said he had tested positive.
