Chancellor to unveil £2bn 'kickstart jobs scheme' for 16-24s - Coronavirus morning headlines (Wednesday, July 8)

Here is a round-up of the latest news in response to the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday, July 8.

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Confirmed worldwide cases:  11,955,847

Confirmed deaths:  546,737

Confirmed recoveries/discharges: 6,902,486.

In Wales, the number of people who have died with coronavirus increased by three.

Public Health Wales (PHW) confirmed on Tuesday that the death toll since the outbreak began had now reached 1,534.

In addition, the number of lab-confirmed positive cases of coronavirus in Wales has increased by seven to bring the total to 15,900.

Sunak to unveil £2bn youth unemployment scheme in recovery package

The Chancellor will announce a £2 billion scheme aimed at alleviating youth unemployment by subsidising work placements when he sets out his coronavirus recovery package.

A three-point plan to boost the ailing economy by helping job creation will include a plan to help pay for six-month placements for some under-25s facing long-term unemployment.

Rishi Sunak will set out the measures in his summer economic update in the House of Commons on Wednesday, as he faces pressure to assist those who are most at vulnerable to the effects of a financial crisis.

He will also offer an immediate stamp duty "holiday" to temporarily exempt the tax on the first £500,000 of homes purchased in England and Northern Ireland, according to unconfirmed reports. This is a devolved issue so no details have been given yet as it whether this will also apply in Wales.

The Treasury acknowledged that young people are more likely to be furloughed under the job retention scheme which is being wound up and is due to end in October.

So a "kickstart scheme" hoped by the Treasury to create hundreds of thousands of jobs will be unveiled for 16 to 24-year-olds who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term employment.

Government funding would cover 100% of the minimum wage for 25 hours a week in the scheme that will be open to all employers across Great Britain, with bosses able to top up wages.

Ahead of the announcement, Mr Sunak said: "Young people bear the brunt of most economic crises, but they are at particular risk this time because they work in the sectors disproportionately hit by the pandemic.

"We also know that youth unemployment has a long-term impact on jobs and wages and we don't want to see that happen to this generation.

"So we've got a bold plan to protect, support and create jobs - a plan for jobs."

Mr Sunak has also been urged to consider an emergency VAT cut to stimulate consumer spending and stem the 14% slump in GDP forecast by the Bank of England this year.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland push for more powers to aid recovery

Finance ministers from the devolved administrations have joined forces to push for more fiscal powers from the UK Government.

A joint message to Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of his summer statement today requests "relatively limited powers" they believe will help to bolster the recovery of each country.

The three ministers are asking for the Chancellor to allow capital spending to be moved over to day-to-day revenue as well as an end to "arbitrary" limits on borrowing.

Rebecca Evans, who holds the finance portfolio in Wales, said the response from her Government had been "hampered" by current fiscal rules.

Northern Ireland Finance Minister Conor Murphy said it is "crucial" for devolved administrations to be given the powers allowing them to "respond swiftly and effectively" to the challenges presented by Covid-19.

Labour to press Chancellor for 'flexible' furlough scheme

Labour will urge Chancellor Rishi Sunak to develop a "flexible" furlough scheme to support businesses forced to close in local lockdowns and "avoid additional floods of redundancy notices".

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds will also press Mr Sunak to spell out how he will fund his coronavirus recovery package being announced today without hiking taxes or slashing public services.

The job retention scheme that has seen the Government pay up to 80% of furloughed workers' salaries will be wound up and is due to come to an end in October.

Ms Dodds is expected to tell Mr Sunak that the at least £27.4 billion spent to support 9.4 million jobs "must not have merely served to postpone unemployment".

"The scheme must now live up to its name, supporting employment in industries which are viable in the long term," the Labour MP is likely to add during their House of Commons exchange.

"And we need a strategy for the scheme to become more flexible, so it can support those businesses forced to close again because of additional localised lockdowns.

"There is still time to avoid additional floods of redundancy notices."

Ms Dodds is also set to warn that increasing taxes during the recovery and cutting back on public services "will damage demand and inhibit our recovery".

Changes to free hospital parking in England

Free hospital parking for NHS staff at English hospitals will end in all but "certain circumstances" once the coronavirus pandemic begins to ease, the Government has said.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on March 25 that the Government would cover the costs of car parking for NHS staff who he said were "going above and beyond every day" at hospitals in England.

But the Department of Health has said the free parking will continue only for "key patient groups and NHS staff in certain circumstances" as the pandemic eases, although no further timeline has been given.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has said to reintroduce charges while the virus is still being fought would be "a rebuff to the immense efforts of staff across the country and the sacrifices they have made to keep others safe".

Last week, health minister Edward Argar said the support to make free parking available "cannot continue indefinitely" and added that the Government was looking at how long it would "need" to go on.

There has been no hospital parking charges for staff, patients and visitors since 2018 in Wales, and there are no plans to change.

Airborne transmission cannot be ruled out, WHO says

The World Health Organization has acknowledged there is emerging evidence that the coronavirus can be spread by tiny particles suspended in the air.

The airborne transmission could not be ruled out in crowded, closed or poorly ventilated settings, an official said.

If the evidence is confirmed, it may affect guidelines for indoor spaces.

An open letter from more than 200 scientists had accused the WHO of underestimating the possibility of airborne transmission.

The WHO has so far said that the virus is transmitted through droplets when people cough or sneeze.

WHO officials have cautioned the evidence is preliminary and requires further assessment.

Benedetta Allegranzi, the WHO's technical lead for infection prevention and control, said that evidence emerging of airborne transmission of the coronavirus in "crowded, closed, poorly ventilated settings that have been described, cannot be ruled out".

Police ban in Welsh town centre over antisocial behaviour

Police have made Neath town centre the subject of a dispersal order after reports of street drinking, begging and anti-social behaviour.

The order, made by South Wales Police under section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, aims to ensure the safety of the public and reduce the risk of any anti-social behaviour or disorder within this area.

It gives a uniformed police officer the power to exclude a person from an area for a period of up to 48 hours by the issuing of a written notice.

The power is preventative and allows an officer to deal quickly with someone’s behaviour before it escalates.

It is in addition to the current Covid-19 legislation.

A statement from the force read: "Anyone enjoying the town centre and not causing issues and adhering to the current Covid-19 legislation can continue to do so, the section 35 order is for those not only causing concerns for residents but also putting themselves at risk.

"The dispersal notice will be reviewed after 48 hours and in addition to the section 35 dispersal order, we will also be using powers to confiscate alcohol and if the behaviour meets criminal levels or the order is breached then prosecution will be considered." 

Brains will not open any of its pubs next week

Pub chain Brains will not be re-opening any of its venues in Wales on July 13, the date the Welsh Government has said bars, restaurants and cafes can begin serving the public again outdoors.

A spokesman for the pub chain said it wanted customers to be able to use all of the facilities in its pubs.

But the Welsh Government decision last week means venues are still barred from serving people indoors, despite the fact pubs in England can now welcome people inside.

A statement released by Brains on Tuesday, July 7, said: "During lockdown we have been working incredibly hard to be ready to re-open our pubs indoors and outdoors safely for the benefit of our team members and customers.

"We are waiting to be given a date and guidelines for the full re-opening of pubs from the Welsh Government, which we hope will be as soon as possible.

"We want our customers to be able to use all of the facilities in our pubs come rain or shine and to receive a warm welcome back in safe surroundings.

"We will not be able to do that by opening outdoors only from 13th July and so we will not open any of our managed pub gardens on that date.

"We really look forward to welcoming back our customers when we are given the green light to open fully. Thank you for your patience and loyalty."

The chain has joined Wetherspoons who confirmed last week that they would not be opening any of its pubs either.

Schools announcement expected this week

Wales' Education Minister has said she aims to "maximise face-to-face learning" when schools return for the next academic year.

Kirsty Williams MS has been coming under increasing pressure from healthcare professionals, teachers, governors, and scientists to re-open schools fully in September.

On Tuesday, Ms Williams told a meeting of the Senedd's children, young people and education committee she intended to "minimise disruption" to children's education when they return after the summer break.

She said the Welsh Government is awaiting "crucial evidence" which will guide their decision on how to manage the new academic year.

The Minister said she expected to make a full announcement before the end of the week.

Pupil who has not done schoolwork since March

An 11-year-old from Cardiff has been unable to do schoolwork for three months because the laptop the school promised to send never came, a report going to the Senedd says.

The child's comments are among experiences revealed in a consultation on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and school closure on young people carried out by the Senedd’s Children Young People and Education Committee.

The committee launched the consultation in April especially seeking views of disadvantaged young people by working with organisations in touch with them. Read what the child had to say here.

Second lockdown begins in Melbourne

Melbourne will be been plunged back into lockdown for six weeks from 2pm today after a second wave of cases emerged.

Residents have expressed their dismay and sadness about Lockdown 2.0, while small businesses wonder if they'll be able to survive another shutdown, which is estimated to cost the state A$1bn (£0.55bn; $0.8bn) a week.

"It will test you and it will strain. But you have done it once before and you will be able to do it again," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

"The nation is with you and we will be with you every day."

He said Victoria was essentially "self-isolating" from the rest of the nation, which has recorded very few infections recently.

Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews apologised for the renewed restrictions but said "simply, there's no other choice."

He confirmed 860 active cases in the state on Wednesday, and 134 new infections.

The border also closed overnight between virus-hit Victoria and New South Wales - and only permit-holders will be able to travel across state lines.

US states report record number of new cases

In America, the US states of California and Texas have each reported more than 10,000 new cases for the past day, a record for both.

But US President Trump said the US was "in a good place", disagreeing with the adviser Dr Anthony Fauci who said country was "knee deep" in the pandemic.

The 10,201 new cases reported in California took the state's total to nearly 284,000.

The surge led to the state last week rolling back the reopening of the economy, banning indoor restaurant dining, closing bars and stepping up social distancing.

Meanwhile, Texas reported 10,028 new infections on Tuesday.

Around 6,500 people have died in California while in Texas, just under 3,000 fatalities have been linked to the virus.

The death rate in California has been flat for weeks, but in Texas, there has been a recent increase to a rolling average of 47 a day.

In total, there have been almost 3 million positive cases recorded in the US - and more than 131,000 deaths have been linked to the virus.

Bolsonaro says treatment is helping him recover from Covid-19

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has said he is confident of swiftly recovering from Covid-19 as he has been treated with hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug that has not been proven effective against coronavirus.

Mr Bolsonaro said he tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday after months of downplaying its severity while deaths mounted rapidly inside the country.

The president told reporters he underwent a lung X-ray on Monday after experiencing fever, muscle aches and malaise.

He said his fever has subsided on Tuesday, a development he attributed to hydroxychloroquine.

In a video posted to Facebook, he said: "Today I'm a lot better, so certainly it's working. We know today there are other remedies that can help fight the coronavirus.

"We know none of them have their efficacy scientifically proven, but I'm one more person for whom this is working. So I trust hydroxychloroquine. And you?"

Mass protests as lockdown is reintroduced in Serbia

Thousands of people protested against the Serbian president's announcement that a lockdown will be reintroduced after the Balkan country reported its highest single-day death toll from coronavirus.

Police fired tear gas at thousands of people, some chanting "Resignation! Resignation!" as they gathered in front of the central parliament building in Belgrade.

Some managed to enter the building by force, but were pushed back by riot police.

Earlier, President Aleksandar Vucic called the virus situation Belgrade "alarming" and "critical" as the city's hospitals neared their capacity limits.

The country's Health Ministry said Tuesday 13 people had died in 24 hours in Serbia and 299 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed.

That brought the total to 16,719 confirmed cases and 330 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic in Serbia, which went from having one of Europe's strictest lockdowns to a near-complete reopening at the beginning of May.

Football and tennis matches were played in packed stands and a parliamentary election was held on June 21 despite warnings from experts that the mass gatherings without social distancing could lead to a new coronavirus wave.

UK's broadcasters join forced for one-off simultaneous premiere

And finally, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 have joined forces for the first time to broadcast a short film simultaneously across their major channels.

This evening, just ahead of the 9pm slot, 21 services will broadcast the film, titled Our Stories, in a celebration of the role broadcasters have played in bringing people together before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is the first time UK public service broadcasters (PSBs) have worked together in this manner, and the launch aims to reach 50% of the country's adult population.

The two-minute film features the message that "our stories are your stories", and was created by Uncommon Creative Studio and directed by Sam Walker through Pulse Films.

Viewers are taken on a road trip around the UK, through fields, Cornish coastlines, factory floors and London estates to the Angel Of The North and the Royal Academy gallery.

Screens such as televisions, tablets and mobile phones feature in these locations showing programmes from recent years.

Among these are the BBC's Blue Planet II, Fleabag and Strictly Come Dancing, ITV's Britain's Got Talent, This Morning and Quiz, and Channel 4's Great British Bake Off, Gogglebox and Derry Girls.

Channel 5 also features with The Yorkshire Vet, Cruising With Jane McDonald and New Lives In The Wild With Ben Fogle.

The film finishes with the message: "This is the story of everything we've done. And everything we could be. This is us. This is who we are. Our stories are your stories."