Coronavirus news – live: Boris Johnson accused of ‘shamelessly avoiding responsibility’ after sacking official and blaming ‘mutant algorithm’ for exams fiasco

Australian coronavirus antibody therapy aims for trial in early 2021

Australian researchers have said they hope to start human trials for a coronavirus antibody therapy in early 2021, while a large-scale trial of a vaccine could begin by the end of this year.

Melbourne's Walter and Eliza Hall Institute has made good progress in identifying the most potent antibodies that could neutralise the spike protein on the virus that causes Covid-19, stopping it from being able to enter human cells, researcher Wai-Hong Tam said.

Antibody therapies would be most useful for the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, she said.

Almost 64 per cent of Australia's 549 deaths from Covid-19 have occurred among residents of aged-care homes, mostly in Victoria.

“If we're very hopeful, we are looking at clinical trials early next year,” Ms Tam told reporters.

Separately, the University of Queensland (UQ) said its scientists had reported to the International Society for Vaccines that their “molecular clamp” vaccine had been found to be effective in hamsters and could be manufactured at scale.

Assuming the team's ongoing phase 1 clinical trial shows adequate safety and immune responses, its partner, CSL Ltd, could start a large-scale study before the end of this year, UQ project co-leader Keith Chappell said.

The “molecular clamp” technology adds a gene to viral proteins to stabilise them and trick the body into thinking it is seeing a live virus so it makes antibodies against it.

Pupils return to classes at schools in Leicester

Pupils are returning to classes at some schools in Leicester, with travel safety measures in place to protect against coronavirus.

About 20 schools in the city are reopening for some pupils on Wednesday, with children at a further 92 set to return to classes next Tuesday.

Leicester City Council said extra buses would operate on busy public transport routes because fewer passengers are allowed on each vehicle due to social distancing measures.

The authority has issued maps with “safe routes” for cycling and walking to encourage more pupils to travel on foot or by bike.

For many students, it will be their first time in class since March.

“We've been working with schools over the last few weeks to help us get the messages out to parents that they should walk or cycle to school if at all possible, and if they have to rely on public transport or car-sharing, how to do so as safely as possible,” Elly Cutkelvin, Leicester's assistant city mayor responsible for schools, said.

“All schools are busy at drop-off and pick-up times, and measures to help maintain social distancing, reduce traffic congestion and reinforce the key public health messages will all help to manage the situation as safely as possible.”

She added: “Returning to the routine of school life after such a long time away is quite a significant milestone for many families, and we want to ensure they get all the help they need to feel confident and safe in doing so.”

More on the backlash from Tory MPs over the U-turn on face masks in schools can be found below:

Inbound tourism losses costing UK economy £700 per second, report claims 

The UK is set to lose £700 per second in 2020 from the absence of visitors during the coronavirus pandemic.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said the predicted £22bn cost of missing tourists and business travellers this year was partly due to “continuing uncertainty around travel restrictions”.

In 2019, about 41 million overseas visitors who came to the UK spent £28.4bn - while spending by international arrivals in 2020 is expected to fall to just 22 per cent of the levels last year.

Our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, has the full story below:

Lib Dems call for Williamson to resign over handling of schools and exams

The Liberal Democrats have called for education secretary Gavin Williamson to resign over his handling of the return of schools and exams during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is incredibly disappointing that Gavin Williamson has refused to take responsibility for the combination of initial school return failure and the more recent exam fiasco,” the party said.

“He is simply not the person [to] deliver a safe return to schools and must resign.”

Teachers’ union says last-minute U-turn on face masks is ‘deeply regrettable’

The NASUWT teachers’ union has said it is “deeply regrettable” that the government’s U-turn on face masks in schools has come at the last possible moment after weeks of warnings.

Dr Patrick Roach, general-secretary of the NASUWT, said the announcement raised “serious questions” about whether the government was following scientific advice in its push to get schools open in September.

“The NASUWT has been pressing the government to address the contradiction between its general advice requiring the use of face masks and face coverings in many public places and its position on their use in schools,” Dr Roach said.

“It is deeply regrettable that the government has failed to heed concerns until the last possible moment.”

He added: “This latest government U-turn will raise questions about the statement issued by the UK’s Chief Medical Officers last Sunday that there is a low risk of coronavirus transmission in schools.”

Back to work? ‘No plans’ for return to office for millions in UK

There are no plans to get all staff to return to offices full-time in the near future among 50 of the UK’s biggest employers, mainly due to difficulties with social distancing measures, a survey has found.

The BBC asked 50 big employers, from banks to retailers, to find out when employees might be asked to return to workplaces permanently.

About 24 firms said they did not have any plans in place yet to ask workers to return to the office.

Our reporter, Kate Ng, has the full story below:

Japan’s PM to consult with doctors before Friday news conference, sources say

Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe will consult with doctors before holding a news conference on Friday amid worries about his health after two recent hospital examinations, three sources have told Reuters.

Mr Abe is expected to provide an explanation about his health and talk about the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, local media reported.

The consultations with the doctors on Friday could involve another visit to the hospital or may be carried out by phone, the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Mr Abe has been to hospital twice in the last two weeks, including one visit of 7-1/2 hours, but he has not detailed what the visits were for.

Yasutoshi Nishimura, the economy minister, said on Wednesday that Mr Abe looked “a bit tired” over the last two weeks but seemed “very well” on Tuesday and “gave us various instructions in the usual manner”.

“We want him to continue to look after his health and show us his leadership,” Mr Nishimura said, according to Kyodo news.

Mr Abe, who is the country's longest serving prime minister, has been in the role since 2012. 

He resigned abruptly from an earlier term in 2007 because of struggles with ulcerative colitis, a disease he has kept in check with medicine that was not previously available.

Berlin officials ban protests against coronavirus measures

Authorities in Berlin have banned several protests which have drawn support from the German far-right planned for the weekend against coronavirus measures in the city.

Officials said those protesting would likely have breached rules on social distancing amid a recent upswing in infections in Germany.

Authorities in the capital cited a rally against Covid-19 restrictions on 1 August during which participants ignored mask-wearing and distancing rules and other conditions imposed on the protest.

“We need to weigh the basic right of freedom of assembly against the sanctity of life,” Andreas Geisel, Berlin’s top security official, said in a statement.

“We chose life.”

Mr Geisel said police would act to stop any large gatherings of people and indicated that authorities would not tolerate a tent camp that protesters have erected near the German parliament.

“I'm not prepared to accept that Berlin is abused a second time as a stage for corona deniers ... and right-wing extremists,” he said.

Numerous leading figures from the country's far-right, including members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, had announced they would participate in rallies in Berlin on Saturday.

Government 'preparing fallback measures’ in case coronavirus disrupts 2021 exam season, Gavin Williamson says

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has said the government is preparing “fallback measures” to determine results in case students are unable to sit exams next year. 

Mr Williamson said the measures would be “different and better” than the controversial algorithm used by Ofqual to grade pupils in England this summer, which led to an embarrassing government U-turn and widespread anger from students, parents and schools.

Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has the full story below: