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Here are five things to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Friday night. We will have another update on Saturday morning.
1. Stricter rules in Birmingham and Lanarkshire
New lockdown restrictions have been announced in parts of the West Midlands that have seen an increase in coronavirus cases. Starting Tuesday, the homes of Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull will be banned from mixing. In Scotland, restrictions on visiting other homes have been extended to Lanarkshire since midnight on Friday. Take a look at the areas that are under local lockdown.
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2. Cases in the UK on the rise
Scientists advising the government say coronavirus infections are beginning to spread more rapidly in the UK. For the first time since March, the R number, which measures how many people a patient infects, is above 1. A separate study of thousands of people in England found that cases were doubling every seven to eight days, with a marked increase in the north and among the young. The number of new confirmed daily cases in the UK rose to 3,539 on Friday, up from more than 600 the day before.
3. Face masks are required in stores in Wales
Wales has joined the rest of the UK in making face coverings mandatory in shops and other indoor public spaces. The new rule will take effect on Monday, the same day that indoor gatherings of more than six people from an extended home will become illegal in Wales. This is a reminder of the UK rules.
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4. Application to launch in England and Wales
The government’s long-awaited contact tracing app will launch in England and Wales on September 24. Businesses are requested to display posters with QR codes to support the application. Scotland launched its own app on Thursday that has already been downloaded more than 600,000 times.
5. Saliva test study to help schools
Scientists will carry out a major research project in Bristol to investigate the role school children play in spreading the virus. The study aims to understand exactly how students transmit the virus and help provide vital information on how schools should deal with outbreaks. The University of Bristol study will examine the saliva of 4,000 students and 1,000 school staff members across the city once a month for six months.
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And do not forget …
Find more information, tips, and guides on our coronavirus page. With UK travel rules changing frequently, here’s a reminder of which countries are on the various UK quarantine lists.
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