Health Secretary Matt Hancock says a "sharp rise" in cases in the UK in recent days is "concerning"
New restrictions brought in for Bolton, as cases reach 120 per 100,000 there
No 10 not ruling out tightening restrictions on the number of people who can meet in England
UK reports 32 new deaths - the highest daily total since 29 July
People in Scotland warned to stick to one pub visit per night, as three news deaths recorded
Japan says it will hold the Tokyo Games in 2021, even if the pandemic is still continuing
UK tax authorities admit about 5-10% of cash paid out on the furlough scheme was wrongly awarded
India records its highest daily deaths in more than a month - 1,133 people in 24 hours
US President Donald Trump and rival Joe Biden trade insults over their stances on a vaccine
That's all for our live coverage today. Join us again tomorrow for more of the latest news on coronavirus as it happens.
Our editors were: Helier Cheung, Martha Buckley and Owen Amos. Our contributors were Lauren Turner, Ashitha Nagesh, Marie Jackson and Joshua Nevett.
Here is a round-up of the major Covid-19 stories from today in the UK:
Image source, ReutersDemand at testing sites in Bolton has led to queues
Image source, EPAThe French PM visited a section of the Tour de France route on Saturday
Coronavirus cases rising, lockdown restrictions returning, economies wobbling. The pandemic has wreaked havoc worldwide on yet another eventful day. In case you missed them, here are some of the main developments from around the world today.
Olga Robinson and Jack Goodman
BBC Reality Check
People in several countries have been sharing a link to a webpage connected to the World Bank saying it shows test kits for Covid-19 were being exported in 2017, long before the disease was known to exist.
The claim on social media is that this is evidence the pandemic was planned all along – but this is false and we can settle any doubts about what’s going on.
The page is genuine and includes trade information under the heading “Covid-19 test kits exports by country in 2017”. So you can understand why this might have caused some confusion.
It’s from a database run by international organisations including the World Bank. According to the World Bank, the page was created to make it easier to find all of the previously existing products that are now being used for Covid-19.
All the medical devices listed on the site have had other uses for many years, but they were re-labelled to ease the tracking of items that are particularly important to tackle coronavirus.
The title of the page has been amended to “medical kits” and to avoid further misunderstanding includes a disclaimer that says, “The data here track previously existing medical devices that are now classified by the World Customs Organization as critical to tackling Covid-19.”
The claim appears to have emerged on English-language Facebook late last week and then spread across Twitter, Instagram and Reddit over the weekend.
Over the past few days it has also been shared in Italian, German, Polish, Hebrew, Spanish, Dutch and other languages.
The allegations have also been amplified by opponents of vaccination and supporters of the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory.
Earlier we brought you the latest coronavirus figures for Great Britain - as there was a delay with the Northern Ireland data.
That is now in and the updated figures for the whole UK show 2,460 new cases of coronavirus reported in the past 24 hours.
There have also been a total of 32 deaths of people who had tested positive within the previous 28 days. It is the highest daily figure since 29 July, according to the government data, external.
Image source, Getty ImagesIf you're in the UK, here is a round-up of useful information on the spread of Covid-19:
Image source, ReutersTravellers to Sydney, Australia are kept in isolation for a period to curb the spread of the coronavirus
Police in Sydney, Australia have accused a man of falsely claiming his grandfather was terminally ill as an excuse to leave quarantine early.
The 30-year-old man from neighbouring Victoria state was asked to quarantine at a hotel after arriving at Sydney Airport on Friday without an exemption.
But the following morning, the man was released after he provided what he claimed to be a valid exemption document, saying he was in New South Wales to visit his terminally ill grandfather in hospital.
Police later determined the document to be false, and discovered the man’s grandfather was not in hospital.
The man was arrested on Saturday and charged with failure to comply with coronavirus regulations, and producing false documentation, police said, external.
He was given bail and returned to hotel quarantine, with a court appearance due on 12 October 2020.
Image source, Nick TalbotCoronavirus restrictions have been eased in parts of northern England allowing more businesses to reopen - except in Bolton where there has been a rise in cases.
Soft-play centres, bowling alleys, gyms and casinos are able to open again in parts of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire which had had restrictions reimposed.
Beauty salons can also begin close-contact treatments such as facials.
The move brings these areas back in line with the rest of England.
One owner of a gym in Blackburn, Lancashire, described his "unbelievable relief" and "excitement" at being allowed to reopen after six months.
"I am finally back doing what I do best," said Nick Talbot, owner of The FitMill.
He said he feared he would lose his gym if it did not reopen soon.
Image source, ReutersThe Moria camp in Lesbos recorded its first case of coronavirus last week
Three migrant facilities in Greece have entered quarantine amid concerns over the spread of Covid-19 among thousands of asylum seekers living in dire conditions.
Restrictions will be placed on the camps of Malakassa, Schisto and Eleonas until 21 September, the Greek government said.
Greece's migrant camps have technically been under lockdown since March, with restrictions on who can leave and enter.
This has prompted criticism from aid groups, who have warned that an outbreak of the virus at these camps, where sanitation is poor and accommodation overcrowded, could easily spread.
One of the largest camps, Moria, which hosts almost 13,000 asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos, recorded its first case of coronavirus last week.
Up to now, Greece has recorded few coronavirus infections and deaths relative to its European neighbours. Of the 289 deaths confirmed in total, none of them have been at migrant camps.
These up-to-date charts show that while confirmed cases in the UK are rising sharply...
...the number of Covid hospital admissions remains low:
The number of people dying with Covid-19 also remains relatively low:
Image source, ReutersFrench Prime Minister Jean Castex said he would self-isolate until he received his test result
French Prime Minister Jean Castex has tested negative for Covid-19, the BFM TV channel has reported, citing his office, external.
Earlier, we reported that Castex was to be tested as a precaution, after he shared a car with the director of the Tour de France, Christian Prudhomme, who has contracted the virus.
Prudhomme was confirmed positive on Tuesday. He and Castex had travelled in a car together along the route of the cycling race on Saturday.
The prime minister’s office said they were both “wearing masks and respecting social distancing”.
Image source, Skin Kerr / InstagramThe posters put up in Skin Kerr salon in Bootle have since been taken down
A beauty salon that said Covid-19 did not exist will be visited by police.
Skin Kerr salon in Bootle put posters in its window and posted online stating masks weren't being worn by staff as "You can't catch what doesn't exist."
Merseyside Police said officers would visit the salon to "remind" the owner and staff of their responsibilities around Covid-19.
Sefton Council said its environmental health team would also visit and the owners are due to meet the council on Wednesday.
The BBC has been unable to contact Skin Kerr for a response. Read our full story here.
Canada's top doctor is urging caution after coronavirus cases spiked 25% in one week across the country.
Chief Public Health Officer Theres Tam warned that Canadians would need to be "even more diligent" in the autumn, as temperatures plummeted and people headed indoors.
“This is a concern and a reminder that we all need to maintain public health measures to keep Covid-19 on the slow-burn path that we need,” she said on Monday., external
Cases rose to 545 over the past week, up from 435 and 390 in the two weeks prior.
On Tuesday, after a long weekend, public health officials in Ontario noted there were 375 new cases over the past two days, external, the biggest increase since 6 July., external
About 23 of the new cases have been linked to a multi-location wedding the prior weekend., external
Image source, ReutersPeople in Bolton have been reacting to the tighter restrictions announced in their area - which include the closure of pubs and a ban on socialising with people outside their households.
Nasser Herez, 59, who runs Yummies Kebab & Curry House, said: "I have seen lots of drunk young people, hugging with no social distancing.
"It is sad it has come to this...but if that's what we need to do, then that's what I'll do."
The manager of The Elephant & Castle, Steve Coyle, said: "We are disappointed but not surprised.
"We are not going to operate as a takeaway so we are just going to close - probably for a few weeks."
Image source, ReutersKamala Harris has said she would not necessarily trust a vaccine approved by the Trump administration
Democratic US vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris has said she would trust a coronavirus vaccine developed under US President Donald Trump, but only if health experts gave it their approval.
Harris drew criticism from Republicans after saying she would not trust a vaccine approved by the Trump administration unless a "credible" source agreed it was safe.
She and other Democrats have accused President Trump of pressuring health authorities to speed up vaccine development before November’s presidential election.
In response, President Trump has accused the Democrats of using "anti-vaccine rhetoric" for political ends.
But today Harris struck a different tone in an interview with the WISN TV channel, saying: "I would trust a vaccine if the public health professionals and the scientists told us that we can trust it."
As we reported earlier, nine companies developing vaccines against Covid-19 have pledged to "uphold the integrity of the scientific process".
Image source, Press AssociationLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer has warned the test-and-trace system is "on the verge of collapse".
He said Prime Minister Boris Johnson had to take responsibility amid a rise in the number of coronavirus infections in the UK.
Sir Keir told the BBC: "Everybody is deeply concerned about the rise in the rate of infection.
"As we reopen the economy, as children go back to school, this was always going to be a risk, we understand that."
He said Mr Johnson should have used the summer to get a "very effective" test-and-trace system running.
He added: "What we're now seeing is stories over the past few days that is showing the testing regime is on the verge of collapse.
"Heartbreaking stories from people who need a test being told no tests are available.
"Or the website is crashing, or people are being told to go miles and miles for a test. Nobody can argue that that is good governance."
Sir Keir said he still supported the principles of the government's coronavirus restrictions.
But he said that the government's messaging had been "confused".
Image source, ReutersThe parliament usually meets once a month in Strasbourg
Next week’s session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg has been cancelled over concerns about the spread of coronavirus in the French city.
The parliament will hold the plenary session in the Belgian capital, Brussels, instead, EU Parliament President David Sassoli has announced.
"We are very saddened by this decision, but the transfer of the administrative operation of the European Parliament would mean all the staff would have to be quarantined on their return to Brussels," Sassoli said.
The EU Parliament usually meets once a month for a plenary session in Strasbourg to vote on legislation and discuss political issues.
The next session, scheduled for 14-17 September, was to be the first in the city since coronavirus containment measures were introduced in March.
But MEPs have shown resistance to the notion of reconvening parliament in the city, which was recently designated a Covid-19 “red zone”.
In a tweet, external, French MEP Christophe Grudler said the decision to relocate the session to Brussels went against the advice of French health authorities, describing it as “lamentable”.
The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has been delayed a second day after a Covid outbreak on board.
The Royal Navy warship was due to leave Portsmouth for training exercises on Monday.
A MoD spokesman confirmed that “fewer than 10” members of the 1,000-strong crew had tested positive. They are in isolation on shore, while people who had been in contact with them are isolating on board.
The ship is now due to leave on Wednesday., external
Image source, PA MediaThe Royal Navy said the positive tests were detected during "routine" preparations
Image source, ReutersSilvio Berlusconi has served as Italian prime minister in four governments
There’s been an update on the condition of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who tested positive for Covid-19 last week.
The doctor treating Berlusconi for a lung infection at San Raffaele hospital in Milan says his condition has shown a “favourable evolution”.
Berlusconi’s signs of recovery “are reassuring”, said Alberto Zangrillo, head of the hospital’s cardiovascular intensive-care unit.
Berlusconi, 83, was admitted to hospital on Thursday. The media mogul's positive diagnosis came last week after a holiday at his luxury villa in Sardinia.
His companion, Marta Fascina, and two of his children - daughter Barbara, 36, and son Luigi, 31 - have also contracted the virus.
ONS figures earlier showed weekly deaths had dropped to their lowest level since mid-March - but that did not mean the virus is still a threat, according to England's Health Secretary, Matt Hancock.
He told the Commons: "We have seen a concerning rise in the number of positive cases, particularly among younger people, and these figures serve as a salutary reminder that this virus is still very much with us and remains a threat."
He said: "Of course, there is a lag between people catching the disease and the statistics for new cases, and those who sadly die.
"The second thing is that this rise most recently has been largely, predominantly, not entirely, amongst young people who are much less likely to die.
"The danger is that they will pass it on to others and it will spread more broadly into the community. "So, it is important to act on these cases even though, thankfully, currently the number who are dying is small."
He was speaking before Tuesday's daily coronavirus figures were released.
