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

  • There have been no further coronavirus deaths in hospitals in the North-East and North Yorkshire. Latest figures published on Saturday afternoon, August 1, confirmed a total of 1,735 patients in the region have died since the outbreak began.
  • A further four people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,342, NHS England said. Patients were aged between 78 and 84 years old and all had known underlying health conditions. Another five deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
  • The Government said 46,193 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Friday, up by 74 from the day before. Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been more than 56,400 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The Government also said that in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Saturday, there had been a further 771 lab-confirmed cases. Overall, a total of 303,952 cases have been confirmed.
  • Pubs could have to shut in order for schools to reopen, according to a pandemic expert, as concern turned to a rise in infections among young people. Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said ministers might have to consider closing pubs in England in order for lessons to start again next month. Boris Johnson has previously pledged that both primary and secondary schools will return in September "with full attendance". But, following chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty's prediction that the country was "near the limit" for opening up society following the coronavirus lockdown, Prof Medley said a "trade off" might have to be made to ensure full-time education could resume.
  • More than half of furloughed employees have already returned to work, ahead of the scheme being phased out from Saturday, new research suggests. The Resolution Foundation said reports that nine million workers remained furloughed are "wide of the mark". From August 1, firms have to contribute towards the cost of furloughed workers by paying their employer National Insurance and pension contributions.
  • The public have given Boris Johnson their backing over his Government's quick-fire decision to reimpose quarantine restrictions on Spain, according to a new poll. But despite approval over Spain, the Prime Minister continues to face opposition to how his Conservative administration has handled the pandemic, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said to be making gains. Data from polling company Opinium Research has suggested that close to two-thirds of people agreed with suspension of the travel corridor with Spain, which was announced less than five hours before it came into force on July 28.
  • NHS workers will have to follow quarantine rules when they return to the UK from abroad - the government has confirmed. The announcement comes as quarantine restrictions for travellers returning to the UK from Spain were reimposed by the UK government on July 26, following a sudden spike in coronavirus cases in the country. The change means that anyone who has travelled to Spain, including the Balearic and Canary Islands, now has to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival back in the UK.