Trial for test, separate to antibody test, involves 4,000 people and will run for six weeksCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe government has announced the start of trials for a new test to see if people have coronavirus, with results processed on site within 20 minutes.The news came as the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said the UK had made a deal to receive up to...

Experimental cell using the potentially game-changing material perovskite passes a series of heat and humidity testsA team of Australian researchers are claiming a world first in a global race to develop cheaper, more flexible and more efficient solar panels after their experimental cell passed a series of heat and humidity tests.Using a type of crystal material known as perovskite, the group...

Official findings add to concerns about Sweden’s laissez-faire strategy towards the pandemicCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageJust 7.3% of Stockholm’s inhabitants had developed Covid-19 antibodies by the end of April, according to a study, raising concerns that the country’s light-touch approach to the coronavirus may not be helping it build up broad immunity.The...

Retired doctors in Sheffield say their struggles show challenges government’s system will faceCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA group of retired doctors who set up the UK’s first Covid-19 contact-tracing scheme has warned that the government system faces major challenges after they struggled to persuade health and care workers to self-isolate.Dr Bing Jones, a...

For people who live alone, lockdown means ‘touch starvation’ as we go days without hugs, handshakes or other contactCoronavirus – live US updatesLive global updatesMy friend Hannah tells me her therapist said: “A person should be hugged 10 times a day.”For many of us, that’s now unsafe. It was even unlikely before. Pre-quarantine, I was one of 35.7 million Americans who lived alone. My...

Firm has capacity to make 1bn doses of Oxford University drug undergoing trialsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAstraZeneca has said it has the capacity to manufacture 1bn doses of the University of Oxford’s potential Covid-19 vaccine and will begin supply in September if clinical trials are successful.The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said it had signed the first...

Participating hospitals begin enrolling volunteers to test drug’s impact on coronavirusCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA major trial to see whether the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, taken by Donald Trump to protect himself against Covid-19, can prevent health workers from getting the disease is beginning in the UK and other countries.Trump’s revelation that he...

The health service is not a charity and it is not staffed by heroes. It has been run into the ground by successive governmentsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageI work for the NHS as a doctor. I don’t work “on the frontline” because there isn’t one; I’m not in the army and we aren’t engaged in military combat. But I do work as a consultant on a ward where we...

Government told it is running out of time to kick off testing systemFewer young adults sticking to lockdown rules, study showsBoohoo and biotech firm develop saliva home testing kitCoronavirus global updates - liveCoronavirus latest: at a glanceSee all our coverage 9.18am BST Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, joining the blog for the day.Here’s the agenda showing what’s coming up. 9.13am BST...

‘The question is when and how big,’ says Europe CDC chief; world sees largest daily rise in cases; Trump considers in-person G7. Follow the latest updatesEU virus response chief: ‘Europe should brace itself for second wave’Global report: don’t count on a vaccineUK coronavirus updates - liveAustralia coronavirus updates – liveCoronavirus latest: at a glance 9.05am BST The head of the...

Latest figures from public health authorities on the spread of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom. Find out how many confirmed cases have been reported in each of England’s local authoritiesCoronavirus - live news updatesFind all our coronavirus coverage hereHow to protect yourself from infectionPlease note: these are government figures on numbers of confirmed cases – some people who report...

Study reveals cloth coverings reduce airflow but Covid-19 effectiveness remains unprovenCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe wearing of cloth face masks by the public was becoming more about politics than science, one expert has argued, as a new study reveals potential benefits and problems of the coverings.At present the UK government recommends the public wear face...

A seven-page report from the former president’s science advisers is an implicit criticism of Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemicNine top scientists who advised Barack Obama in the White House are warning that the US has just three months to rebuild its national stockpile of emergency medical supplies or risk further drastic shortages of testing kits and protective gear should coronavirus...

A summary of the biggest developments in the global coronavirus outbreakFollow our latest coronavirus blog for live news and updatesKey developments in the global coronavirus outbreak today include: Continue...