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Businesses in turmoil over sudden halt to lockdown easing - UK COVID-19 update Sky NewsView Full coverage on Google NewsBoris Johnson appears to be balding after his fight with coronavirus, amid growing speculation that the disease may cause hair loss.
Eagle-eyed social media users have spotted the Prime Minister's trademark shaggy, blond mop has looked thinner than usual over the past few weeks.
And his hair loss was more apparent than ever today, when he stood in front of the nation in a Downing Street press conference to announce he was was 'squeezing the brake pedal' on easing lockdown because of a rise in cases.
But the PM has reportedly showed signs of going bald since 2016, meaning it's not clear if it has worsened since his battle with coronavirus in April, which he described as a 'tough old moment' which left him in intensive care for several nights.
It comes amid dozens of anecdotal reports of Covid-19 survivors losing their hair after recovering from the life-threatening illness.
Many survivors are convinced their extensive hair loss was triggered by the disease - even though there is currently no scientific evidence to prove it is a side effect.
But the NHS says hair loss can be triggered by 'illness' and dermatologists say shock - such as that caused by Covid-19 - may trigger shedding. One expert has said a high temperature - a tell-tale symptom of the disease - can also be to blame.
Boris Johnson's trademark messy mop may be a way for him to hide bald patches, Twitter users have speculated. Pictured today in Downing Street
Eagle-eyed social media users have spotted the Prime Minister's trademark shaggy, blond mop has looked thinner than usual over the past few weeks. Pictured in January, when his hair was not as thin
On the other hand, some scientists say balding might even be a predictor Covid-19 and not the other way around.
A recent study found that bald men are 40 per cent more likely to end up in hospital with the coronavirus, showing there may be a link between Mr Johnson's thinning hair and his battle with the deadly disease.
However independent experts rubbished the study findings and said the evidence was 'not terribly strong'.
Mr Johnson used his press conference this afternoon to warn that coronavirus cases have started to 'creep up' and as a result the Government has no choice but to delay the further reopening of the economy.
He said that the scheduled August 1 return of casinos, bowling alleys and so-called close contact services like beauticians has now been pushed back to August 15 'at the earliest'.
The mandatory wearing of face coverings will be extended to include galleries, cinemas and places of worship while there will also now be a 'greater police presence' to ensure people wear masks and comply with social distancing.
The announcements came after the Government last night announced it was reimposing partial lockdown measures on 4.5 million people living in Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Many social media users have commented on Mr Johnson's hair over the past month.
One Twitter user wrote: 'Boris Johnson is very bald now and has been taking hair styling lessons from the baldest man in the White House for many decades, Donald Trump.'
Social media users have been quick to point out that Mr Johnson's trademark ruffled 'do bears a striking resemblance to Donald Trump's combover
Twitter users continued on in their theory that Mr Johnson's signature ruffled hair is just a 'disguise'
Another said: 'Is Boris Johnson going bald? Nothing wrong in being bald, just the increasingly Trumpian hairstyle is not good.'
And another wrote: 'It is becoming increasingly challenging to detect and discernible difference between Donald Trump and Boris Johnson (apart from the size of Boris's bald patch).'
While another simply said: 'The ''untidy'' hair is carefully positioned to hide the bald cranium.'
The Prime Minister has reportedly showed signs of going bald since 2016, and so it's not clear if it has worsened since.
The Mail on Sunday's Black Dog column revealed: 'Boris Johnson’s diplomatic ditching of his dishevelled hairdo to mark his debut Commons speech as Foreign Secretary in the Aleppo debate has one downside: Dog’s lofty vantage point in the Press Gallery revealed a looming bald patch on Bozza’s bonce.
'No wonder he is always ruffling his tresses: it’s his version of the Donald Trump Comb-Over…'
Social media users continued on in their theory that Mr Johnson's signature ruffled hair is just a 'disguise'. One wrote: 'Hiding his bald patches. And mostly the truth.'
Another said: 'His ruffled hair is just a comb over to disguise the fact that he is going bald!'
While another wrote: 'That hair has been carefully placed across his bald patch.'
There is some speculation that baldness could actually be caused by the deadly coronavirus.
One survivor, Grace Dudley, 30, spent almost a fortnight in hospital after contracting Covid-19 from her father, lost masses of hair after her recovery.
More than a month after she was discharged, Grace, a make-up artist, began to notice her hair falling out in large clumps, seemingly without reason.
'I woke up and noticed it was on my pillow and thought, "that's not good",' she said in an interview with FEMAIL.
'Every time I brushed my hair it was falling out and it's still happening. I've lost about 55 per cent of my hair every day and I'm losing more.'
Grace was told by an expert that her hair loss was linked to Covid-19. According to Grace, the trichologist said the severe hair loss had been triggered because the body had been so close to death that it had began to 'shut down' follicles on her head in a bid to conserve energy for essential functions.
Meanwhile, others have taken to Twitter to share their experiences of hair loss weeks and even months after the initial symptoms of Covid-19 have passed.
Eva Proudman, of the Institute of Trichologists, which specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the hair and scalp, told The Daily Mail on July 20 they could be experiencing telogen effluvium, a 'shedding' condition triggered by a number of potential factors.
Speaking to FEMAIL, one coronavirus survivor, Grace (pictured), told how she experienced hair loss after recovering from the disease
Hair loss is one of the long term health problems reported by Covid-19 patients. Pictured, clumps of Grace's hair that have fallen out. She estimates she has lost 55% of her hair
Among them is a continuous high temperature like those experienced by some Covid-19 patients including Grace, who had a temperature of 40C (104F) when she was taken into hospital.
Eva said: 'Generally with a normal growing and shedding cycle for your hair, around 85 per cent of your hair is the growing phase with 15 per cent either resting, shedding or moving back to regrow.
'However with telogen effluvium this can effectively switch, leaving a very thin covering of hair on the head. Fortunately, with correct diagnosis and treatment, a good recovery can be obtained.'
Hair loss is one of the long term health problems reported by Covid-19 patients. Eva said she personally has seen seven people who have experienced shedding after a coronavirus diagnosis.
Dermatologists recently uncovered a possible link between hair loss and ending up with severe coronavirus by analysing data from 2,000 British men in hospital.
West Virginia University researchers, who published their findings in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, reported all the men were part of the UK Biobank, a huge data-set of 500,000 people that has collected information on volunteers over the past 14 years.
For the most recent data collection, carried out last year, men described how much hair they had.
The four options were pattern 1: 'no hair loss', pattern 2: 'slight hair loss', pattern 3: 'moderate hair loss', and pattern 4: 'severe hair loss'.
Results showed a fifth of men with no hair tested positive for the virus in hospital — compared to 15 per cent of those who had a full head of hair.
Dr Michael Kolodney and his colleagues calculated bald men were 40 per cent more likely to test positive than those with a full head of hair.
Because the men tested positive in hospital, it indicates they had a severe form of Covid-19. But patient outcomes were not revealed to confirm the claim.
The study — not the first to stumble across the bizarre link — said other risk factors for Covid-19, such as diabetes and age, did not explain the gap.
However, experts warned the findings are 'not terribly strong' and said there is a whole list of other factors that may explain why bald men are dying more. For example, ethnicity is linked to a higher risk of severe Covid-19, but this study didn't appear to take that into account.
The academics noted their findings supported those made by Dr Carlos Wambier, a dermatologist at Brown University, Rhode Island.
He has led two studies in Spain, the findings of which are published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Both have found a disproportionate number of men with male-patterned baldness being admitted to hospital with the deadly disease.
It has been theorised the male hormones that fuel hair loss in both men and women also help the virus to enter cells. But there is no evidence to support this.
Sufferers have taken to Twitter to share their experiences of hair loss and other 'long tail' symptoms of Covid-19 that continue weeks after the initial symptoms have passed
Nationwide lockdown changes which were due to take effect as of tomorrow have been scrapped with hours to spare. Plan to reopen bowling alleys, casinos and ice rinks have been postponed for at least two weeks.
People in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East Lancashire have been banned from meeting someone indoors despite pubs and restaurants remaining open.
A new study found half of the English public do not understand the new lockdown rules.
Researchers from the University College, London (UCL) surveyed more than 70,000 adults across England.
Around 45 percent of respondents said they have a “broad understanding” of the current rules.
In Scotland, the figure was much higher and reached 75 percent and 61 percent in Wales.
Only 14 percent claimed to understand the rules completely now lockdown has eased.
This figure was higher in Scotland (27 percent) and Wales (18 percent).
Now, the Express.co.uk is asking: Do you understand Boris Johnson’s current coronavirus lockdown measures?
During a press briefing today, Mr Johnson said: "On Saturday August 1, you'll remember we had hoped to reopen a number of the higher-risk settings that had remained closed and today I'm saying we're postponing those changes for at least a fortnight.
"That means until August 15 at the earliest casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and the remaining close-contact services must remain closed.
"Indoor performances will not resume, pilots of larger gatherings in sports venues and conference centres will not take place, and wedding receptions of up to 30 people will not be permitted.”
READ MORE: Covid areas of concern MAPPED: 26 towns on Boris Johnson watch list
This is equal to around 4,200 new cases per day - up from an estimated 2,800 new cases a day in the previous week.
The R value for the UK has also seen a slight rise, increasing from 0.7 to 0.9 to between 0.8 to 0.9, according to figures published by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).
Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty admitted the idea that the country could open "everything" up and still keep the virus under control is "clearly wrong."
He said: "I think what we're seeing from the data from ONS and other data is that we have probably reached near the limit or the limits of what we can do in terms of opening up society.
"So what that means potentially is that if we wish to do more things in the future, we may have to do less of some other things.
"And these will be difficult trade-offs, some of which will be decisions for government and some of which are for all of us as citizens to do.
"But we have to be realistic about this. The idea that we can open up everything and keep the virus under control is clearly wrong."
Today is officially the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 37.8C (100.04F) in Greater London.
The Met Office tweeted that Friday has been the "hottest day of the year by some way".
Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey confirmed the highest temperature was recorded in Heathrow, Greater London, on Friday afternoon.
She told Sky News: "Today is the hottest day of the year so far as 37.8C (100F) was reached at 2.41pm at Heathrow.
"37.3C (99.1F) was reached at Kew Gardens at 2.55pm.
"Before today, only three days on record have seen temperatures that exceed 37C."
Forecaster Simon Partridge added: "This not only makes it the warmest day of the year, it also makes it the third hottest UK day on record."
The current temperature record was registered at 38.7C (101.7F) at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens last year, while the second hottest day was 10 August 2003, when the mercury rose to 38.5C (101.3F) in Faversham, Kent.
The Met Office earlier warned that climate change was exerting an "increasing impact" on the UK, with data showing an "undeniable warming trend".
The soaring temperatures seen on Friday are expected to be short-lived.
The Met Office issued a thunderstorm warning for Friday afternoon, with a yellow warning in place from 4pm until midnight across large parts of the East and South East of England where the weather was at its hottest.
Gusty winds, hail and "frequent lightning strikes" can be expected, which could cause slight damage to buildings.
The Met Office said the storms will be caused by hot air moving in from mainland Europe, some parts of which will be cooler than the UK.
Popular tourist spots across Europe, including Ibiza, Lisbon and Berlin, were forecast to reach 33C (91.4F), 30C (86F) and 25C (77F) on Friday.
The Met Office said cooler air is arriving for the weekend as a cold front sweeps the UK in the next 24 hours.
Temperatures are expected to be closer to average on Saturday, but it will still be relatively warm in the South East.
Despite the short spike of hot weather, July has been below average temperature-wise.
"We've not seen a temperature anywhere above 30C (86F) so far or even with a three in it, that is quite unusual for July," a Met Office spokesman said.
Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this Friday evening. We'll have another update for you on Saturday morning.
A further easing of coronavirus restrictions in England, which was due to happen this weekend, has been postponed for at least two weeks. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the change in plan as new figures suggest the number of virus infections are on the up. Read about all the latest changes to restrictions. Our health correspondent says we're now, give or take, at the absolute limit of how much we can reopen society without a resurgence.
Mr Johnson also added museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship to the list of places where face coverings should be worn in England. It is currently a recommendation, but will become law on 8 August - to add to the current mandate on wearing them in shops. Here's what you need to know about wearing face coverings across the UK.
As hordes of sun-seekers flocked to beaches in the south of England, local lockdown measures were brought in across parts of northern England, to address a spike in cases. One community leader said Muslims were angry at the timing of the announcement, two hours before Eid began. Others accused the government of causing "confusion and distress". We've answered some of your questions about local lockdowns.
Hong Kong has announced it will postpone its parliamentary elections by a year because of the pandemic. At least 68 countries or territories have postponed elections due to Covid-19, while 49 places held elections as planned. Here's why Hong Kong's "third wave" is a warning to us all.
From Zoom woes to duvet dens, the story of how a new BBC Radio 4 docu-drama was performed, directed and recorded from home during lockdown, with its radio workshops still shut, is one of skill, inventiveness - and a large dose of perseverance.
You can find more information, advice and guides on our coronavirus page and get all the latest from our live page.
And, if keeping track of things is proving tricky, you can take our quiz on the virus and lockdown rules to jog your memory.
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The honeymoon is over.
Gone is the optimistic tone of normality returning by Christmas as the scales of influence tip back from the economists to the scientists.
So the brakes have been put on. But what could come next?
In a hint at a new strategy, we now hear of the need for "trade-offs" with the chief medical officer saying the country is at the limit of what can be re-opened.
That will lead some to wonder what will need to shut down for things like schools to reopen safely.
Boris Johnson has clearly been spooked by an increase in the number of people testing positive in England and worrying signs of a second wave brewing on the continent.
The prime minister knows a botched reopening and painful second wave would be a tragedy on a human level and a catastrophe on a political one.
So amid a volley of incoming fire about apparent delays bringing in lockdown, the government is now unapologetic about acting rapidly and sometimes brutally.
But moving fast risks breaking things.
Accusations of an excessively broad brush approach have been levelled at the restrictions on Spain and the measures in the North West.
A heavy-handed reintroduction of controls will lead some to conclude they should have never been eased in the first place.
The course of the virus in the devolved nations - who have taken a more cautious approach - could also show up the Westminster government.
But despite the shift in tone back to public health, the economy still matters.
The chancellor's much-lauded furlough scheme starts to phase out from tomorrow.
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Businesses forced to put reopening plans on ice will wonder why they are not being given extra support.
The noises of caution coming from Westminster may also put the frighteners on levels of shopping and spending.
England has entered a new chapter in its coronavirus story.
It may not be as tragic as those that have come before, but it will be just as tricky.
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The further easing of coronavirus restrictions in England - due to come in this weekend - has been postponed for at least two weeks, amid concerns over an increase in coronavirus cases.
Casinos and bowling alleys will remain shut, with Boris Johnson saying it was time to "squeeze the brake pedal".
Wedding receptions of up to 30 people were meant to be allowed as part of the changes but cannot yet happen.
Face coverings will be mandatory in more indoor settings, such as cinemas.
And people attending places of worship will also be among those required to wear face coverings, in a change that will be applied from next weekend.
But planned changes to guidance for people who have been shielding during the pandemic, and advice for employers, will still go ahead.
The rethink follows new restrictions for people in parts of northern England, after a spike in virus cases.
At a news conference in Downing Street, the prime minister said progress against coronavirus continues, with the daily and weekly number of deaths falling, but warned that some European countries are "struggling" to control it. The UK must be ready to "react", he said.
Highlighting the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, he added: "The prevalence of the virus in the community, in England, is likely to be rising for the first time since May."
Mr Johnson said planned reopenings for 1 August would be delayed for at least a fortnight.
That means venues such as casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and remaining close contact services must remain closed until 15 August.
Indoor performances will also not resume, pilots of larger gatherings in sports venues and conference centres will not take place, and the planned expansion of wedding receptions to allow up to 30 people will not be permitted.
Spectators were due to watch the first two days of two county cricket matches, while fans were at the World Snooker Championship when it started on Friday. The tournament will now go ahead without spectators until at least 15 August, which is when the final is schedule to begin.
Beauty salons will also be unable to start offering treatments that involve the face, such as eyelash, eyebrow and threading treatments.
The British Beauty Council said the changes were "very disappointing for a sector that has already seen delay after delay in reopening".
Separately, face coverings will be compulsory in more indoor settings where people are likely to come into contact with people they do not know, such as museums and places of worship, from next weekend. They are already required in shops, banks, airports and other indoor transport hubs.
The prime minister said the rules for face coverings would become enforceable in law from 8 August.
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Also at Friday's news conference, England's chief medical adviser warned that it might not be possible to further ease lockdown.
Asked whether it was safe for England's schools to open fully to all pupils at at times in the autumn, Prof Chris Whitty said it was a "difficult balancing act" but "we have probably reached or neared the limits of what we can do in terms of opening up society".
The "idea that we can open up everything and keep the virus under control" is wrong, he said, but it is clear that "schools are an absolute priority" for society.
However, the plan to pause shielding for the people most vulnerable to the effects of the virus will go ahead as planned from Saturday, according to the prime minister.
That means some 2.2 million people who have been self-isolating in England during the pandemic can return to work, if they cannot work from home, as long as their workplace is Covid-secure.
Guidance for employers will also change as planned from the start of August, giving employers "more discretion over how employees can work safely, whether by continuing to work from home, or attending a Covid-secure workplace", Mr Johnson said.
According to the ONS, there is "now evidence to suggest a slight increase in the number of people in England testing positive on a nose and throat swab in recent weeks".
A sample of households in England, excluding care homes and hospitals, were swabbed to test for current infection.
The ONS said daily cases had risen from an estimated 2,800 to 4,200 since last week.
However there is not enough data to suggest a higher proportion of positive tests in any particular region.
The latest announcement comes within hours of new lockdown rules in parts of England, banning separate households from meeting each other inside their homes and private gardens.
The rules, which came into force at midnight, impact people in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire, parts of West Yorkshire, and in Leicester.
They also ban members of two different households from mixing in pubs and restaurants, although individual households will still be able to visit such hospitality venues.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast that the increase in transmission in the affected regions was due to people visiting friends and relatives, citing fresh data from contact tracing.
The changes come as Muslim communities prepare to celebrate Eid this weekend, and nearly four weeks after restrictions were eased across England - allowing people to meet indoors for the first time since late March.
Ministers have said police forces and councils will be given powers to enforce the new rules.
Cases per 100,000 people
Are you getting married this weekend? Or were you reopening your business? How will the postponement affect you? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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