Coronavirus live updates: June 12 2020

Matt Hancock, secretary of state for health and social care, has announced that £300m will be given to local authorities to “develop and action their plans to reduce the spread of the virus in their area” and to launch the NHS Track and Trace Service nationwide.

£3,032,572 will be given to Bristol to help develop and implement Covid-19 outbreak plans.

This news comes just after prime minister Boris Johnson announces that people living alone in England can stay at one other household from Saturday, forming “a support bubble”.

In Bristol, restaurants, cafes and markets are beginning to reopen with new safety measures. Finzels Reach Market takes place for the first time since lockdown begun today at 11am. Left Handed Giant will be open every Friday and Saturday from today, serving takeaway beer and pizza.

Scroll down for the latest updates:

5.06pm
That’s the end of today’s live blog, thanks for reading.

4.29pm
Here’s a roundup of today’s main developments:

• The South West’s R value is between 0.8 and 1.1, new Government estimates reveal.
• First West of England is set to introduce new timetables on selected routes from Sunday, June 14 as lockdown continues to ease.
• As of June 15, face masks or coverings will be mandatory for everyone riding or driving with Uber.
• GWR and South Western Railway have announced the trial of a powerful sanitising treatment which kills 99.99 per cent of viruses and bacteria.

4.11pm
The R value across the UK is close to 1. The South West’s R value is between 0.8 and 1.1, new Government estimates reveal.

The South West does have low rates of infection, so a higher R value may be less call for concern than other areas of the country.

3.47pm
Read some of Bristol24/7’s latest coronavirus-related stories.

• Cost of Nightingale Hospital Bristol unknown
• Harbourside Market to return
• Bristol Takeover Online returns for round two
• Baby born outside craft beer brewery in St Werburgh’s

2.28pm
First West of England is set to introduce new timetables on selected routes from Sunday, June 14 as lockdown continues to ease.

The 39 route will increase in capacity, with more buses running between Brislington and Bristol to support social distancing and match customer demand on this part of the route.

A temporary replacement for Service X5 will also operate every two hours from Monday to Friday.

Social Distancing on a bus. Photo courtesy of First Bus

“We are constantly monitoring all routes and working very closely with the West of England Combined Authority to ensure that we continue to provide a sufficient level of service, as social distancing means capacity onboard is reduced for those who do not have an alternative to using the bus,” says managing director James Freeman.

“We would like to remind customers to only use the bus if they do not have any other option. For those who cannot avoid public transport, we would advise allowing more time for travel, planning journeys ahead and avoiding busier times.”

Passengers can now view the capacity of buses after an update to the First Bus app.

1.23pm
As of June 15, face masks or coverings will be mandatory for everyone riding or driving with Uber.

If someone isn’t wearing a face mask or covering, theh driver has the right to cancel the ride. Anyone who is repeatedly flagged for not wearing a face covering will risk losing access to the app.

Similarly, passengers can cancel their ride if the driver arrives and is not wearing a face covering.

12.17pm
Prime minister Boris Johnson has said that removing statues is “to lie about our history” in a Twitter thread, following the removal of racist statues around the world, and the boarding up of Churchill’s statue in London.

11.01am
Following the success of the Bristol Takeover Online, a part two is going to be held on Saturday, June 20.

10.17am
Standup paddleboard school SUP is reopening. To adhere to Government guidelines, SUP Bristol have reduced group sizes down to five and introduced new cleaning regimes.

SUP have returned as a result of phase one of the council plan to reopen the harbour. Photo: SUP

The team have also increased the number intro sessions, which paddlers can join as a member and paddle regularly as part of a social group in the harbour.

9.52am
GWR and South Western Railway have announced the trial of a powerful sanitising treatment which kills 99.99 per cent of viruses and bacteria on surfaces for extended periods of time.

It is is sprayed inside train carriages overnight building to a fog which coats all surfaces and is proven to fight against Covid-19 for up to 28 days.

Operators reminds customers that if you need to travel by train, wear a face covering. Photo: GWR

“For those who need to travel, we are doing everything we can to carry as many people, safely, as we can. This new trial is just one example of that, helping those who do need to travel to do so with confidence,” said GWR interim managing director Matthew Golton.

“But please do help us by planning ahead, travelling, where possible, at quieter times, and wear a face covering to keep yourself and our staff safe.”

The advice follows an update to the National Rail app which show people if a specific train or station is busy and new guidelines to wear a mask while travelling.

8.45am
Good morning and welcome to today’s live blog. Here are some of the latest developments:

• Figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show that one third of people testing positive for coronavirus have been missed by the NHS Track and Trace Service.
• Matt Hancock, secretary of state for health and social care, has announced that £300m will be given to local authorities to “develop and action their plans to reduce the spread of the virus in their area”.
• Bristol is set to receive £102,000 in Government funding to help support rough sleepers.
• The University of Bristol says that it’s considering a change to its logo, as well as the name of several buildings, following the weekend’s protest.

Main photo: Lowie Trevena

Read more: Left Handed Giant to reopen for takeaway