Here are the key coronavirus updates from the last 24-hours.

  • A further 60 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 30,439, NHS England said on Saturday. Patients were aged between 41 and 93 years old. All but five patients, aged 72 to 86, had known underlying health conditions. The deaths were between March 30 and October 9. Most were on or after October 7. Seven other deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
  • Scotland recorded six deaths of confirmed coronavirus patients in the past 24 hours, according to the latest Covid-19 statistics. This takes the total under this measure – patients who died within 28 days of first testing positive – to 2,550 since the start of the outbreak. The Scottish Government figures show 1,009 new coronavirus cases were recorded during the same period – down from Friday’s record high of 1,246 new infections.
  • There have been a further 627 cases of Covid-19 in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 29,654. Public Health Wales said on Saturday a further 21 deaths had been reported, taking the total number of related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,667. But it added that the large increase was the result of a delay in incorporating 17 deaths that occurred in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board area between October 3-7.
  • Mental health charities across the country are being given a £1 million boost by the Government as part of ITV’s Help Our Helplines campaign. The donation features in Saturday’s episode of Britain’s Got Talent. The funding for telephone operations by charities is aimed at aiding the coronavirus response. The money is part of a package of support to mark World Mental Health Day.
  • Drinkers and diners in Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester are enjoying what could be their last orders this weekend as pubs and restaurants across northern England are widely expected to be told to shut to limit the spread of coronavirus. It comes amid Government concern that nearly one-third of Covid-19 infections are coming through hospitality settings and follows the start of a 16-day closure of venues across the central belt of Scotland. Council leaders in the West of Yorkshire have warned of a “devastating” effect on town and city centres, while the leader of Newcastle Council, Nick Forbes, said a tighter clampdown would be a “travesty of justice” and Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon said it would be “counter-productive”.
  • Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen is calling for more support for businesses crippled by coronavirus lockdown rules as it emerges the Tees Valley is expected to go into tier two lockdown restrictions.  The details of the new tiers, expected to be officially announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday, have been communicated to Northern political leaders and chief executives. Mayor Houchen has been told it is highly likely the whole of the Tees Valley will be placed into the second tier of restrictions, similar to those rules already in force in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, when the new system comes into force.