Millions plunged further into lockdown - three weeks after top scientists called for urgent measures

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing October 13, 2020 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Millions of people in England are facing tougher restrictions on their social and work lives after Boris Johnson [announced a new coronavirus alert system]( and ordered the shutdown of pubs and bars across Merseyside. The move came after government medical advisers gave a chilling warning that hospitals are now treating more patients for Covid-19 than when the first national lockdown was imposed in March, with infections increasing fourfold in the past three weeks and spreading into older and more vulnerable groups. Papers released late on Monday also revealed that the PM’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) was advising him to consider immediate new restrictions to reverse an “exponential” rise in cases as long ago as 21 September. Sage’s proposals for action three weeks ago went far beyond the more limited action announced by the PM and included a two-week “circuit-breaker” lockdown for the whole of England, closure of all bars and restaurants and online-only teaching in universities. In the House of Commons, MPs have [overturned measures designed to protect domestic food standards]( in post-Brexit trade deals, as fears persist that chlorine-washed chicken imported from the US could become the norm in British supermarkets. The Commons voted by 332 to 279 to strike out a House of Lords amendment that would have required both food and agricultural imports to meet the UK’s regulatory standards after Brexit. In the US, Donald Trump [returned to the campaign trail]( with a speech to a crowd of thousands in Sanford, Florida, on Monday night - his first campaign rally since he tested positive for coronavirus and just seven days on from his being given supplemental oxygen and experimental therapeutics in hospital. "They say I'm immune. I feel so powerful. I'll walk in there, I'll kiss everyone in that audience," the president said to cheers from his loyalist audience, before touting his administration's success in fighting a virus that has killed more than 210,000 Americans - the highest death toll anywhere in the world. "Nobody acted fast like I did. The bottom line is we saved millions of lives. When this first came out if we didn't do a good job they predicted 2.2 million people would die. We're at 210,000." For a daily briefing on the race for the White House, [sign up here for our Inside Washington newsletter](. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Government publishes full list of local coronavirus alert levels]( [Trump almost as unpopular for election as Clinton in 2016]( [US reports first Covid-19 reinfection ‘with second hit worse than first’]( . Polarized: Voices from across America Join us on 21 October at 6.30pm BST as we speak to voters from across America to discuss the burning issues of the day, just days out from election day. [Book your free ticket]( . More news - [Macron’s top ally in Brussels urges Boris Johnson to intervene in Brexit talks]( - [Jodie Whittaker discovers uncomfortable family history in Who Do You Think You Are?]( - [‘It’s almost like a warzone’: GP issues coronavirus warning as cases rise across the UK is terrifyingly underwhelming]( If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.