UK death toll rises by 104 as it happened – The Guardian

6.50pm EDT 18:50

You can follow the latest Covid developments in Australia in our dedicated blog -

6.33pm EDT 18:33

Mexicos health ministry reported 20,307 new cases of Covid-19 and 847 more deaths on Saturday, Reuters reports.

It brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country since the pandemic began to 3,217,415 and the death toll to 252,927.

6.27pm EDT 18:27

A conservative radio host from Tennessee who was critical of vaccination efforts and mask mandates died on Saturday after weeks in a Nashville hospital battling Covid-19.

Phil Valentines death was reported by his station, SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, on Saturday afternoon.

We are saddened to report that our host and friend Phil Valentine has passed away, the station said in a tweet. Please keep the Valentine family in your thoughts and prayers.

According to WKRN, an ABC-affiliated Tennessee news outlet: Several of Valentines co-workers and close friends announced they had spoken with Valentines brother Mark, who confirmed the 61 year old had passed away earlier in the afternoon.

The station said hosts would discuss Valentines life and legacy on air.

Before contracting Covid-19, Valentines comments on the pandemic included performing a song called Vaxman, to the tune of Taxman, George Harrisons Beatles number against government taxation.

6.03pm EDT 18:03

Afghanistan is facing an absolute catastrophe involving widespread hunger, homelessness and economic collapse unless an urgent humanitarian effort is agreed in the wake of the US withdrawal, world leaders are warned today. Covid rates are also high.

5.46pm EDT 17:46

A governors efforts to combat Covid-19 in the US state of Kentucky suffered a legal defeat on Saturday as the states high court cleared the way for new laws to rein in his emergency powers. In a landmark separation-of-powers case, the Kentucky Supreme Court said the legislature wields policy-making authority to limit the emergency powers granted to the governor by state law, Associated Press reports. The ruling ordered a lower court to dissolve an injunction that for months had blocked the Republican-backed laws from curbing Democratic governor Andy Beshears executive authority. The order could alter the states response to the pandemic at a time when virus cases and hospitalisations have surged because of the Delta variant. The Supreme Court order will dissolve Kentuckys pandemic-related state of emergency, Beshear spokesperson Crystal Staley said The next step is to determine whether lawmakers are willing to extend the state of emergency in a potential special session, she said.

5.13pm EDT 17:13

Brazil recorded 28,388 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, along with 698 deaths, the countrys health ministry said on Saturday.

Brazil has registered more than 20 million cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 574,209 , Reuters reports.

4.33pm EDT 16:33

The majority of Australians aged 18 and over are now eligible for a Covid vaccination if they are willing to consider the AstraZeneca vaccine, and provided they do not have a history of some specific health conditions.

In addition to the governments official eligibility checker, which lists some clinics near your location which might have vaccination appointments available, there are a number of other helpful resources that can help you to find somewhere that has appointments open.

4.15pm EDT 16:15

Everyone in Australias many locked-down communities wants to know the answer to one question: when will life start returning to normal? For the millions of parents juggling their work commitments with home-schooling their children, a return to normal means a return to the classroom.

Whenever the school gates reopen its likely that many students, particularly those in primary school, will walk through them unvaccinated.

At the same time, children account for a significant proportion of infections. In Victoria, 45% of infections are in children and teenagers, while people aged 19 and under make up 30% of those infected in New South Wales.

The combination of continuing infections in children, and a low vaccination rate, means the school experience children return to could be different from the one they left.

3.32pm EDT 15:32

Frances interior ministry said around 175,500 people in total demonstrated on Saturday - down from roughly 215,000 last weekend although numbers could increase as people return from summer holidays. They demonstrated across France for a sixth consecutive weekend on Saturday against a Covid-19 health pass required for daily activities, Reuters reports. This health pass divides French people. I think that is clear. And unfortunately, I believe we should abolish it, said civil servant Sophie Soulas at the Paris protest.

3.15pm EDT 15:15

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a total of 37,583,545 coronavirus cases as of yesterday, a rise of 157,450 new cases.

Originally posted here:

UK death toll rises by 104 as it happened - The Guardian