GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY

CORONAVIRUS CASES: 22,049,457

DEATHS: 777,440

RECOVERED: 14,791,869

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Alarm over Covid case rates in 19 European countries

The Guardian says 19 European countries have crossed a key threshold of new coronavirus infections, with Spain’s numbers particularly worrying. 

According to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the countries have recorded cumulative 14-day infection totals higher than 20 per 100,000 inhabitants, considered an early alarm level by many health experts.

Luxembourg and Spain have reported more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the past two weeks, the figures show, with Malta recording more than 80, Belgium more than 60, and France and the Netherlands more than 40. The UK has 20.7.

Read the full story on The Guardian

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A-levels: Universities facing places scramble after exam U-turn

BBC News says universities are preparing to deal with a rise in calls from students after ministers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales said A-level grades could now be based on teachers’ assessments.

Pupils who were rejected from universities last week on the basis of grades downgraded by an algorithm may now be able to revisit their choices. But universities are warning there is a limit to what they can do.

Read the full story on BBC News

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Cabin fever: Passengers brave Covid-19 risk as cruises return to Europe

France24 says the first major cruise ship to resume tours of the Mediterranean since the coronavirus pandemic set sail from Genoa in Italy on Sunday in a major test for an industry that has been hard-hit by the Covid-19 crisis.

Passengers confined to their cabins, ships quarantined for weeks and deadly viral outbreaks on board what some described as a “floating prison”: The Covid-19 crisis had a devastating effect on the cruise industry after a number of ships, such as the Diamond Princess, were hit with outbreaks in the early days of the pandemic.

Read the full story on France24

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Lebanon on the brink of Covid-19 abyss, says health minister

Arab News says  Lebanon is on the brink of a Covid-19 abyss, the country’s health minister warned following a surge in cases, as a two-week national lockdown was recommended to keep a grip on the virus.

The country recorded more than 500 new infections in 24 hours on Monday, with Health Minister Hamad Hassan saying that this number meant there were “2,500 or 5,000 undiagnosed cases” in addition to the diagnosed ones.

Read the full story on Arab News

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WHO says young people are now driving the pandemic

Aljazeera says the World Health Organization’s regional director for the Western Pacific says younger people – those in their 20s, 30s and 40s – are increasingly driving the pandemic.

“This increases the risk of spillovers to the more vulnerable: the elderly, the sick people in long-term care, people who live in densely populated areas and underserved areas,” he said.

Read the full story on Aljazeera

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Japan reports more than 640 new Covid-19 cases

CNN says Japan’s Health Ministry announced 642 new coronavirus cases and 16 additional deaths on Monday – the highest daily rise in fatalities since the country lifted its state of emergency on May 25.

Of Monday’s new cases, 161 were from the capital Tokyo — the first time in six days the city has recorded fewer than 200 daily infections.

Read the full story on CNN

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ARTS & ENT

Piers Morgan and wife burgled while they slept

Sky News says Piers Morgan and his wife Celia Walden have been burgled while sleeping at their rented villa in France, the pair have revealed.

The rented house was broken into shortly before the couple were due to travel back to the UK from the Cote d’Azur in the south of France.

Read the full story on Sky News

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SPORT

Barcelona set to appoint Koeman as manager after sacking Setien

BBC News says Barcelona have sacked manager Quique Setien, three days after his side’s humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman, who played for the Catalan giants between 1989 and 1995, is set to replace Setien at the Nou Camp.

Former Real Betis manager Setien, 61, was appointed in January and took charge for just 25 matches.

Read the full story on BBC News

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