More Covid patients in England hospitals than in March

More people are now in hospital with Covid than before lockdown in March, says the BBC quoting National Health Service (NHS) medical director Stephen Powis.

NHS Nightingale hospitals have been put on stand-by in Manchester, Sunderland and Harrogate as UK Covid admissions rise.

The report by the BBC says Manchester's medical lead, Dr. Jane Eddleston is asking the public to "take this disease extremely seriously."

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is chairing an emergency committee meeting and is due to announce a new three-level alert system for England.

The Liverpool City Region is expected to face the tightest curbs.

Australian researchers say the virus responsible for Covid-19 can remain infectious on surfaces for 28 days.

Meanwhile South Korea has lowered Covid 19 social distancing guidelines to the lowest level as case numbers drop.

There are more than 37 million confirmed cases globally with more than 1.07 million deaths.

Credit: The BBC