Image source, Reuters

We're wrapping up our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, brought to you by our team of reporters in London and around the world.

Here's a recap of some of the top headlines from today:

• Africa has now surpassed one million confirmed coronavirus cases
• In England, virus cases are up since June but may be levelling off, according to the Office for National Statistics
• But lockdown measures are being reintroduced in the Lancashire city of Preston, north-west England, from midnight after a rise in cases
• Local restrictions are also being imposed on the counties of Kildare, Offaly and Laois in Ireland from midnight
• New figures show that hiring in the US slowed sharply in July as the country struggled to control the coronavirus pandemic
• India has become the third country to record more than two million cases
• The death toll in Mexico has passed 50,000, days after it became the country with the third-highest toll
• In Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has announced free Covid-19 tests for anyone in the city who wants one
• And in the past few minutes, the daily number of new cases in France has jumped to 2,288

Thanks for joining us and we'll see you next time.

We'll soon be pausing our live coverage of the biggest coronavirus stories across the world.

Today's coverage was brought to you by George Wright, Becky Morton, Holly Honderich, Jenny Matthews, Jo Couzens and Alice Cuddy, and edited by Robert Greenall, Alice Evans and Deirdre Finnerty.

France has recorded another 2,288 new confirmed cases of coronavirus over the past 24 hours up to Friday - an increase of more than 40% on the previous day.

From Wednesday to Thursday, an additional 1,604 people tested positive for the virus.

Since Thursday, 12 people have died of Covid-19, taking the country's total coronavirus death toll to 30,324.

Here's our guide to lockdown curbs country by country across Europe.

A Republican congressional candidate has drawn criticism for selling promotional face masks that appear to blame China for the Covid-19 outbreak.

Bright red masks adorned with the words "Covid-19 Made in China" are currently for sale on the campaign website, external of Virginia delegate Nick Freitas, who is seeking a seat in the US House of Representatives. A photo of a mask was tweeted out last week by Frietas' fellow Virginia delegate Mark Cole, who tagged the Freitas campaign's account.

Now, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) Action fund is calling on Freitas to discontinue to the sale of the masks.

"We are highly disturbed that Delegate Nick Freitas has decided to bankroll his campaign using a narrative that identifies Covid-19 with China," the organisation said in a statement.

When asked for comment, the Freitas campaign blamed China for the pandemic.

US President Donald Trump, a Republican, has frequently blamed China for the global spread of the coronavirus, which he frequently refers to as the "China virus". His comments have been criticised for stoking anti-Asian racism in the US.

Reality Check

Following on from the news about the UK government's updated quarantine list, a reader asked us whether they would need to self-isolate when they returned to England if they had driven through Belgium.

For example, you might be on holiday in the Netherlands and need to drive through Belgium to get to Calais on your way home.

If all the passengers remained in the car, and nobody new got into the car throughout your journey through Belgium, then nobody would need to self-isolate.

It’s also fine if you just stopped to drop off a passenger, so if somebody got out of the car but then did not get back in again.

But if somebody got out of the car and mixed with other people – at a service station, for example – and then got back into the car, then all the passengers would need to self-isolate on their return.

As for train travel, rail passengers arriving to the UK on journeys which include a stop in Belgium will also need to quarantine unless no new passengers boarded the train and no-one left it before getting back on.

This means Eurostar passengers travelling from Amsterdam to London will need to self-isolate, as the journey involves a change of trains in Brussels.

Here we look at which other countries are affected by the quarantine rules - and how could that change.

Following the announcement earlier that lockdown measures will return to Preston at midnight after a rise in Covid-19 cases, the director of public health for Lancashire has said almost half of the cases reported were among people aged 30 and younger.

Speaking at a media briefing, Sakthi Karunanithi said: "I want to pay extra attention to indoor spaces, particularly pubs, where high numbers of people are mixing between households.

"That's a worrying pattern that we really must avoid."

He added the spike in cases in Preston was affecting people from south Asian and white ethnic backgrounds - particularly those living in poor socio-economic conditions.

Adrian Phillips, chief executive at Preston City Council, said while some wards have recorded a higher level of cases, it remains a "city-wide issue".

He added: "The number of cases in Preston have increased rapidly in recent days leading to government categorising the city as an area of intervention.

"It is also alarming to see that the under-30s are contracting it at a significant rate."

Image source, PA Media

As we told you a few minutes ago, Ireland is imposing new restrictions on the counties of Kildare, Offaly and Laois from midnight because of a surge in coronavirus cases.

The measures will be in place for two weeks.

Under the new rules:

• Residents can only travel outside of their counties in limited circumstances, such as work, attending medical appointments, or caring for an elderly relative
• Public transport should not be used "unless it is absolutely necessary" and private vehicles should not be shared with people from other households where possible
• Cinemas, swimming pools and gyms will all be closed
• Restaurants, cafes and bars should only offer takeaways or outdoor dining for a maximum of 15 people with strict social distancing
• No sporting events will take place
• Hotels can remain open but must limit occupancy to "essential non-social and non-tourist reasons". Existing guests are allowed to stay for the duration of their booking.
• Childcare facilities will remain open and preparations for the reopening of schools will continue

The Department of Health said the measures were being put in place to “protect the vulnerable in these counties as well as to stop the spread of the virus".

It comes after 226 cases of Covid-19 were reported in the three counties in the past 14 days - representing nearly half of all cases detected in the country during that period.

You can read the measures in full here, external.

Image source, Mercury Press

Nurse Sette Buenaventura shrugged off persistent leg pain so that she could continue working on the coronavirus front line but she’s had to have her leg amputated after a tumour was discovered.

The 26-year-old, from Eccles, ignored cramp in her right calf for eight weeks while working at Salford Royal Hospital.

But in April, a scan revealed a sarcoma and her leg was removed below the knee.

She said working as a nurse means "you forget about your own pains because you’re busy helping other people... but everything comes at a cost".

Read more here

Ireland has announced regional restrictions on the counties of Kildare, Offaly and Laois because of a spike in coronavirus cases.

The measures will come into force at midnight and be in place for two weeks.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Health said 226 cases of Covid-19 had arisen in the three counties in the past 14 days , external- representing nearly half of all cases detected in the country during that period.

Image source, Getty Images

Hawaiian authorities are moving to tighten social distancing restrictions throughout the state amid a jump in coronavirus infections and people needing hospital treatment.

Governor David Ige announced that Hawaii would be reinstating its inter-island travel quarantine on 11 August for travelers arriving to Kauai, Hawaii, Maui and Kalawao.

"There is no question the virus is surging," Ige said as the state reported 152 new cases - the majority on O'ahu island, home to the state capital of Honolulu. Until mid-July, daily case totals throughout the state had not stayed around the 35 mark.

"We must protect our neighbour island residents in light of the alarming increase in Covid-19 cases on O'ahu," Ige said.

In Honolulu, until 4 September, all city parks, campgrounds and botantical gardens will be closed and organised team sports are suspended. All beaches will be closed, though residents will be allowed to walk on the beach to get to the water for surfing, fishing, paddling and diving.

BBC Newsbeat

Many firms in the beauty industry have still not been able to fully reopen and eyebrow treatments are among a number of services to have their comeback delayed.

The government postponed their return - along with other facial treatments - at the start of August (here's our guide to what shops and businesses are already open).

It's not known when we'll be able to let the professionals thread, wax and tint our brows but in the meantime, Newsbeat has some DIY tips from an expert, in the video below.

Daniel Wainwright
BBC England Data Unit

As we mentioned earlier, lockdown measures are returning to the Lancashire city of Preston. This is what the numbers show us:

New cases of Covid-19 in Preston increased substantially with 43 (30 per 100,000 population) in the week to 2 August, compared with 30 (21 per 100,000) the week before.

Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle recorded higher rates in the same week - both of which are subject to the current tightened lockdown in east Lancashire.

Preston's figure is likely to rise over the next few days as early figures for 4 August show 16 cases recorded so far that day, but data for the past few days is always subject to revision.

Read the full story.

Image source, Reuters

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said all schools in the state can reopen for in-person learning after the summer break.

Earlier this year, New York was at the forefront of the global coronavirus crisis - at one point in April it had more diagnosed cases than any single country. But infection rates have dropped in recent months.

"If you look at our infection rate we are probably in the best situation in the country right now," Mr Cuomo told reporters. "If anybody can open schools, we can open schools."

He warned that if the infection rate spikes, the guidance will "change accordingly".

In the latest daily figures, Mr Cuomo said five more people had died of coronavirus in New York and 714 had tested positive.

Image source, EPA

Leicester's pubs, bars and restaurants are preparing for their first Friday and Saturday nights in months.

The businesses were allowed to reopen on Monday for the first time since March.

Pubs reopened across the rest of England on 4 July but were stopped from doing so in Leicester when a local lockdown was imposed after a rise in coronavirus cases in the city.

Some landlords told the BBC they were ready and excited to welcome customers back, but authorities have urged people to remember to be "responsible" and not to "throw away all the hard work" by ignoring rules on social distancing and hygiene measures.

The city council plans to open up its event control room in City Hall to monitor events over the weekend, something that would usually be done for big occasions such as New Year's Eve or Diwali.

Image source, PA Media

Lockdown measures will return to Preston at midnight after data from Public Health England indicated a rise in Covid-19 cases in the Lancashire city.

It recorded 49 new cases of coronavirus in the week to 31 July, more than double the week before when there were 22 - this meant almost 35 cases per 100,000 population.

There were 18 cases recorded on the 29 July alone. Numbers have fallen since but data from recent days are subject to revision.

Restrictions banning households from mixing indoors or in gardens are to be brought in for Preston from midnight tonight, the Department of Health has said.

Current rules on gatherings in Greater Manchester, Leicester, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire remain in place.

Wider restrictions in Leicester, Blackburn and Bradford will also continue.

David Shukman
Science editor, BBC News

Image source, PA Media

A document released by the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) scientific advisers spells out the risks of the coronavirus spreading through the air.

Early in the pandemic, droplets from coughs and contaminated surfaces were seen as the main routes of transmission – which is why social distancing and hand washing were highlighted as vital measures.

But the possibility of a third route - what’s called "aerosol transmission" – in which infectious virus particles linger in the air, was only recently acknowledged by the World Health Organization.

The good news is that the UK advisers say there’s no evidence the virus can drift between rooms in a building or over long distances outdoors.

But they believe that airborne virus particles could play a role in "superspreading events" where the infection is passed to large numbers of people in poorly ventilated spaces such as churches and restaurants.

And while outdoors the virus can be largely neutralised by sunlight in up to 19 minutes, indoors it can survive in the air for up to five hours.

One recommendation is for people to wear masks to reduce how much virus they might release - and Sage says hairdressers should wear them in addition to face shields.

Image source, Reuters

Here's a quick look at some of the biggest coronavirus headlines from the US:

• Hiring in the US slowed sharply last month as the country struggled to control the coronavirus pandemic. In total, the US economy added 1.8 million jobs in July, down from a record 4.8 million in June
• The US death toll from the pandemic surpassed 160,000, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University. In total, the country has recorded more than 4.8 million cases of coronavirus
• The White House said more talks are expected on Friday over further coronavirus relief aid
• Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens have become the latest tennis players to pull out of the US Open
• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine tested negative for coronavirus, hours after a positive result prevented him from welcoming US President Donald Trump to the state
• Hawaiian authorities are moving to tighten social distancing restrictions amid a spike in cases

Image source, Victoria Hart

Victoria Hart has clocked up more than 300 miles training for this year's London Marathon.

But yesterday she found out that because of the pandemic, it won't be going ahead for 45,000 people this year. Only elite runners will be able to take part and there will be no spectators allowed either.

Instead, runners are being asked to do their marathon "virtually".

Organisers want those who were supposed to run to complete the 26.2 miles on 4 October from home or on a course of their choice.

"I kind of figured it was going to be cancelled but it was still gutting after putting in so many miles in training so I'm quite disappointed still," Victoria tells BBC Newsbeat.

Read more reaction from runners here.

A total of 46,511 people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus - up 98 on yesterday - according to the latest government figures.

The figures only include people who had been tested for Covid-19 and the actual death toll is estimated to be higher.