By Rachel Hall (now), Tobi Thomasand Tom Ambrose (earlier)
South Korea has seen near 40-fold increase in cases since mid-January; UK parliamentary watchdog brands loan losses ‘unacceptable’
- South Korea PM urges calm after Covid cases soar by 70,000 in a day
- UK lost up to £16bn due to fraud and error in Covid loans schemes
- Children ‘breathe out fewer aerosols’, which may reduce Covid risk
- Boris Johnson’s Germany comparison highlights UK’s low sick pay
Hong Kong reported a record 8,674 new Covid infections on Wednesday, as the city prepares for compulsory testing of its residents after authorities extended the toughest social restrictions imposed since the pandemic began.
Health authorities reported 24 deaths compared with Tuesday’s 32, as they step up measures, with assistance from their mainland counterparts, to contain the outbreak. On Tuesday, Hong Kong reported 6,211 new cases.
Category: Coronavirus, World news, Infectious diseases
