The government’s shambolic presentation of new guidelines for certain areas undermines the fight to control the B.1.617.2 variantDuring the first phase of the Covid pandemic, councils were driven to despair by the government’s failure to consult with them adequately or utilise local public health expertise. Last May, for example, as infection rates spiralled in the north-east, numerous...

Here are the times the lunar eclipse-supermoon will be visible in Australia – and if skies are cloudy, where you can see the livestreamA total lunar eclipse coinciding with a supermoon will be visible in Australian skies on Wednesday night for the first time in more than three years.The last total lunar eclipse, also known as a blood moon, was in January 2019, but one has not been visible in...

This week, a study has added to the evidence that specially trained dogs could be used to sniff out people with Covid-19, showing that canines are faster than PCR tests and more accurate than lateral flow tests at detecting infections. Anand Jagatia speaks to the Guardian’s science correspondent Linda Geddes, who went to see the dogs in actionCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus...

Latest updates: guidance that travel to Bolton and seven other areas should be avoided ‘unless essential’ apparently put online without announcementMinisters urged to clarify travel advice for England’s Covid hotspotsUp to 8,700 patients died after catching Covid in English hospitalsCoronavirus global updates - liveSee all our coronavirus coverage 9.41am BST Scotland’s smallest county,...

Local officials ‘astonished’ as Westminster fails to notify them of new Covid guidance Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePublic health chiefs are demanding urgent answers about why the government failed to announce new travel advice urging millions of people not to travel into or out of Covid hotspots.As news spread of the guidance on Tuesday, four days after it was...