The Covid-19 treatment remdesivir has no substantial effect on a patient’s chances of survival, a clinical trial by the World Health Organization has found, delivering a significant blow to hopes of identifying existing medicines to treat the disease.
Wisconsin reported a record jump in cases on Thursday as it battles to bring a surge in infections under control. A further 3,747 people tested positive, the state health department revealed, up from 3,107 the day before.
California reported its biggest daily jump in coronavirus deaths in a week and an increase in new cases that hovered around its average of the past seven days. A further 118 fatalities were attributed to coronavirus, more than doubling from 58 on Wednesday.
North Carolina reported a record one-day jump in cases, reflecting a recent surge in daily infections. A further 2,532 people tested positive, almost double the 1,267 reported on Wednesday.
United Airlines has begun testing travellers to Hawaii for the coronavirus, a measure it hopes can be replicated to reopen international routes. The Chicago airline is offering the tests to passengers flying from San Francisco. If passengers receive a negative test result they can bypass the island state’s 14-day quarantine.
Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, has had to abandon a EU leaders summit after coming into contact with a positive Covid-19 case. Ms von der Leyen said she was negative for the virus but would be entering a precautionary quarantine.
Poland has announced a series of restrictions on businesses, schools and recreational activities. Prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who is in quarantine after coming into contact with someone who subsequently tested positive, said the measures would include limiting the opening hours for restaurants and bars, and closing gyms and swimming pools.
Florida reported one of its biggest one-day jumps in new coronavirus cases in a month. A further 3,573 infections were revealed by authorities, up from 2,883 on Wednesday.
The French government has announced a further €1bn of aid to employers affected by the pandemic, to compensate for the damage to restaurants and other businesses that will be caused by a six-week curfew in Paris and eight other big cities from Saturday.
Boris Johnson’s attempts to introduce tighter regional lockdowns to control a surge in coronavirus cases have hit a wall after Greater Manchester refused to agree to the measures. The government has the power to impose restrictions, closing pubs and other businesses, but is reluctant to do so without local support.
Joe Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris, has cancelled all campaign travel through Sunday after two people involved in the presidential campaign tested positive for Covid-19 with less than three weeks to go until election day.
Scotland plans to introduce a system of lockdown tiers similar to that in England and tighten up rules on wearing face coverings indoors amid a continued surge in numbers of coronavirus infections and admissions to intensive care units. The tiered system is to come into force from October 26.
New requests for US unemployment aid unexpectedly rose last week to nearly 898,000, amid concerns that the labour market’s comeback has stalled as the White House and Democrats continue to clash over a new stimulus deal ahead of the presidential election.
Matt Hancock, the UK health secretary, has confirmed that London, along with seven other areas, would be moved up to tier 2 in England’s three-level system of coronavirus restrictions, banning gatherings between separate households indoors.