October 23 coronavirus news

Iran’s health ministry reported 6,134 new Covid-19 cases over a 24-hour period on Friday, the third time this week the number of daily new cases has hit a new high.

The total number of cases in the country now stands at 556,891. 

Speaking on state TV, Health Ministry spokesperson Sima Sadat Lari also reported 335 new coronavirus-related deaths on Friday. This brings the country’s overall death toll to 31,985.

Lari added that 27 provinces across the country are still categorized to be in red zones.

Wearing masks in public has been mandatory in the capital Tehran for the past week. A restriction announced over a week ago on travel in and out of Tehran province is in place at least through Friday.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has set out a new five-tier system of Covid-19 restrictions, saying the nation’s slowing rate of infection allows for “cautious optimism."

The “strategic framework” will place parts of the country into levels ranging from zero to four depending on infection rates, but “it is possible that the whole country at some point could be placed in the same level,” the first minister said. 

What you need to know about the new tiered system:

This would see nonessential retail close, but people would still be able to meet outdoors in groups of six from two households.

Different parts of Scotland are currently facing restrictions similar to those in levels two and three. The tiered system will come into effect on Nov. 2, subject to review by the Scottish Parliament. 

With 1,401 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, Sturgeon said, "cases are still rising — which is why we cannot be complacent — but the rate of increase seems to be slowing, and that gives us grounds for optimism, albeit cautious optimism."

Sturgeon added the slowing rate is due to the ban on household gatherings that came into force in September. 

Further support for businesses was also announced. They will be eligible for grants up to roughly $3,900 for every four weeks they are closed or forced to restrict services.

This is over and above support available through the UK wide job support program, that Sturgeon said must “go further,” since Scotland did not see a “single penny of extra funding” from the extended economic aid announced by the UK chancellor on Thursday. 

The business support provided by the Scottish government is the “maximum possible” it is able to provide, said Sturgeon.

The coronavirus reproduction rate (R number) in the UK has fallen, according to the latest government figures released Friday.

It is now estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.4, meaning that on average every 10 infected people will pass the virus on to between 12 and 14 other people. 

Last week, the R number was estimated to be between 1.3 and 1.5.

These regions have the highest R number:

The North West region has the strictest lockdown.

Vincenzo De Luca, governor of the southwest Italian region of Campania, is urging the government to implement a national lockdown to control the second wave of coronavirus.

���The current data on the infection makes any type of partial measure ineffective,” De Luca said.

Campania encompasses the city of Naples and the Amalfi Coast, areas normally popular with tourists. 

Italy has been reporting an increasing number of coronavirus cases. On Thursday, it registered 16,079 new infections. 

Many European countries are reporting record rises in Covid-19 infections, which overtake what they saw during their spring peaks, as the second wave of the pandemic engulfs the continent.

The situation has turned political in some nations, with calls growing for the resignation of the Czech Republic's health minister, after he was photographed flouting Covid-19 rules.

Here's more:

Germany: It recorded more than 11,000 new infections for the second day in a row, which the head of the country’s disease and control agency described as "very serious." Germany's health minister said a vaccine could be available for the German population at the start of 2021.

The German government has also issued travel warnings for popular ski resorts in countries including Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Poland.

Czech Republic: Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš called on Health Minister Roman Prymula to resign on Friday, after Prymula was photographed leaving a restaurant in Prague without a mask this week -- days after he announced a strict lockdown and pleaded with people to stay home.

Sweden: “It’s time for partying in nightclubs to stop,” Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said Thursday as he announced restrictions on nightclubs, limiting capacity to 50 people. The tightening of these restrictions -- still lenient compared with other European countries where nightlife has all but ceased -- comes as the country sees a spike in coronavirus infections.

Ukraine: Ukraine reported 7,517 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, hitting a new daily high since the start of the pandemic. It also registered 121 coronavirus-related deaths.

Poland: It reported 13,632 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, the country’s highest number since the pandemic began. On Saturday, new restrictions come into force, which includes the closure of restaurants except for takeaway and delivery, a five-person rule for outdoor meetings, and restrictions on the movement of people over the age of 70.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Twitter that more than 10,000 of the country's 18,000 hospital beds are currently occupied.

Slovakia: Residents will not be allowed to leave their homes from Saturday unless they have a negative coronavirus test or are carrying out an exempted activity. Slovakia went into an official state of emergency on October 1 when its infection rates started going up. The country reported a record high number of new infections on Thursday of 2,581. 

Russia: The country reported 17,340 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, around 1,000 cases more compared to the previous record daily increase reported on October 20.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš says he’s “absolutely shocked” by the actions of Health Minister Roman Prymula and has asked him to resign after it emerged he broke the country’s coronavirus rules.

Prymula was photographed leaving a Prague restaurant on Wednesday night and entering his chauffeur-driven government car without a mask.

Restaurants in the Czech Republic have been closed for sit-down service since October 14. Under the country’s coronavirus rules, people are also required to wear masks in a car, when shared with people from outside their house.

“This is an absolute catastrophe and I am absolutely shocked,” Babiš said Friday.

“Such a mistake cannot be excused," he said. "We cannot preach water and drink wine. When our healthcare workers fight on the frontlines to save people’s lives, this is inexcusable."

The Prime Minister apologized to the public adding that the Czech government “cannot afford to lose any more trust."

The country is currently experiencing one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world in terms of new infections per capita. Babiš also apologized during a live news conference on Wednesday for the country's spiralling rate and new restrictions.

Poland reported 13,632 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, the country’s highest number since the pandemic began and more than a 50% increase on Monday’s 7,482 cases. 

The Ministry of Health also reported a further 153 deaths related to Covid-19, the second-highest number since the start of the pandemic. Poland now has a total of 228,318 confirmed cases and 4,172 deaths.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Twitter that more than 10,000 of the country's 18,000 hospital beds are currently occupied.

More restrictions: From Saturday, the government said the entire country will be placed in a “red zone” and new restrictions will be implemented.

They include: remote learning for all but the youngest pupils and students; requirement for youths up to 16 years of age to be accompanied by an adult in public spaces between 8 a.m to 4 p.m.; closing restaurants except for takeaway or delivery; a maximum of five people from outside a household allowed to meet in public spaces; restrictions on the movement of people of the age of 70.

Nightclubs where dancing is permitted will be limited to a capacity of 50 people in Sweden, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announced Thursday.

The tightening of nightclub restrictions -- still lenient compared with other European countries where nightlife has all but ceased -- comes as the country sees a spike in coronavirus infections.

Sweden reported 1,614 new cases in the past 24 hours. The record was set on Tuesday with 3,180 new cases, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Venues that don’t allow for dancing but serve food and beverages for seated customers at a safe distance do not have to limit numbers.

Meanwhile rules on sporting and other events have been relaxed to allow up to 300 spectators where they can be seated at a safe distance. Currently, 50 spectators are allowed. 

The changes will come into effect on November 1. 

Residents in Slovakia will not be allowed to leave their homes from Saturday unless they have a negative coronavirus test or are carrying out an exempted activity, the country’s government announced at a press conference on Thursday. 

There’s also time exception -- people can leave their homes between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. 

All schools will be closed for in-person classes starting Monday, October 26 until Friday, November 27. The only exceptions to this rule are nurseries, kindergartens and lower grade elementary schools (grade one to four which equates to the ages of roughly 6 to 9). 

The list of exempt activities includes: leaving the house to get a coronavirus test, going to work or school, shopping for food in the nearest shop, going to a doctor’s appointment or a pharmacy, undertaking caretaker duties, taking care of animals, pet walking (only within 100 meters of the home), attending a funeral, going to the post office, the bank, insurance company, dry cleaner, car service stations or to spend time in the nature, but only within the person’s immediate region.  

Slovakia went into an official state of emergency on October 1 when its infection rates started going up. The country reported a record high number of new infections on Thursday of 2,581.