the uk economy grew by 6.6% injuly, say official figures, but it remains far below pre—pandemic levels. and this year's great north run will take place this weekend — but with a very different look. it is a downloadable app and when you run it measures the distance and then you get messages. sting comes on, says you can't stop the great north run and it is support for people to say, run 13 miles wherever you are. and coming up in sport on bbc news: powering through — victoria azarenka ends serena williams‘ hopes of a record—equalling 24th grand slam at the us open. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. tougher lockdown restrictions are expected to be announced in birmingham because of a jump in coronavirus cases. the latest weekly figures show the city has one of the highest infection rates in england — with around 80 cases for every 100,000 people. other parts of the west midlands — including solihull and sandwell — may also be included in the measures. other parts of the west midlands — including solihull and sandwell — here's our health correspondent, anna collinson. fears have been growing that coronavirus is once again spreading. new restrictions are expected to be announced for birmingham and other parts of the west midlands. the city had avoided tightened measures a few weeks ago. the council hopes that will be a wake—up call. but cases have continued to rise. will be a wake—up call. but cases have continued to riseli will be a wake—up call. but cases have continued to rise. i think it would be a good idea but they have to be absolutely clear and they have to be absolutely clear and they have to protect business this time as well. it is strange because we have already got used to the lockdown, come out of the lockdown and it feels like we will probably go back into it, so at least we are prepared this time. it is like don't go to work, catch a bus to work, don't catch a bus to work, it is confusing and people are not going to listen for that. the conservative mayor for the west midlands insists the new measures will not be as restrictive this time round. we must not fall into the trap of thinking it is a local lockdown and everything is back to where we were in the dark days of march and april. this is about a what is the appropriate action for that because of the increase in infections, and we want to protect as much as possible of the return to normal life as we can. birmingham has 85 cases per 100,000 people. bolton has the highest rate of new infections in england with 160 cases. the average is 16. new figures from the office for national to sticks suggest the number of infections has increased particularly amongst those age 3a and under but many in that age group are frustrated that they are being blamed. people work in the retail and hospitality industry and just in general customer facing industries. of course we are going to come into more contact with people and have more contact with people and have more risk of spreading the virus. newcastle and gateshead council have confirmed they will be placed on the government's coronavirus watch list for increased support, due to be announced later today. the leader of my council has written to every single resident, so a letter should be with many residents today if not by tomorrow at the latest and every business as well. we have got some great businesses in gateshead who are working with us, really responsible, but actually reminding everybody that this is far from over. there are concerns about sunderland and south tyneside with hospital suspending visiting. areas on the watchlist get additional resources including extra testing. an increasing demand has led to local shortages with some people being directed to sites hundreds of miles away. one man in scotland was told to travel to ireland. the rise in covid cases has not yet translated to a significant increase in hospitalisation or deaths, but it is hoped people who think twice about what they get up to this weekend ahead of tighter measures being introduced on monday. anna collinson, bbc news. 0ur correspondent, phil mackie, is in birmingham. the situation in birmingham has been for some concern for some time. we saw figures rising in the beginning of august and there was a creep to a level of about 20—30 cases per 100,000 back in the last ten days that has rocketed to 80 cases per 100000 and we have been told by all the local authorities that there will be an announcement today of greater restrictions. i understand that will be around households meeting so going further than the rule of six, which is going to be introduced nationwide on monday. perhaps stopping different households meeting at all, indoors. the problem in birmingham is, although there are pockets where there is a slightly larger outbreak it is basically everywhere across the city has had an increase in cases and they think that is largely because people are meeting indoors, large numbers of people having parties orfamily large numbers of people having parties or family gatherings, and thatis parties or family gatherings, and that is how the disease is being spread. it is worrying and solid hole where the numbers have gone up to around 60 and then sandwell and wolverhampton, they are hovering around 40, so potentially greater restrictions there, too. look how quiet it is in the city centre. people are still not returning to offices. before lockdown this would have been a very busy area but, outside in the suburbs, that is where the disease is spreading. at a point this week there had been no coronavirus deaths in hospitals in the west midlands for seven days for the west midlands for seven days for the first time since before the pandemic but admissions are rising again and we know that four hospitals across birmingham and solihull have seen seven patients on ventilators. 0ur health correspondent, catherine burns, is here. we've heard there about the picture in various parts of the country that are seeing an increase — but what's the story generally? we are getting lots of data and it is pointing in the direction of cases going up. the office for national statistics has estimated almost 40,000 people are infected in homes across england. to give you more context, that is about 3200 new infections every day. one in 1400 people. it looks at wales, thinks the rate there is more like one in 2600 people. another thing to look out for today is the r number, the ability of how fast the disease can spread but in the meantime another study today has come out and said that it thinks that across the uk, there are 10,000 more people sick with coronavirus now compared to a week ago. so what does this all mean? re back in march and april at the peak of the virus? it can feel like that when you look at the cases and see 6000 a day, but we are not there. it is important to say that. that is based on testing just the sickest people, hospital patients and the best guess is that there we re and the best guess is that there were 100,000 cases a day, then, so the numbers we are at today is an increase, this is not good news but still the numbers are relatively low. wales is to follow england and scotland in banning indoor gatherings of more than six people from monday. face coverings will also become compulsory in enclosed public spaces. 0ur wales correspondent, tomos morgan, is in cardiff. as lockdown begins to ease, it has been easing in different ways and at different speeds across the different speeds across the different devolved nations and that difference has been confusing for many. in wales, there was government says the science shows that keeping the two metres was enough in indoor spacesin the two metres was enough in indoor spaces in shops. facemasks are only mandatory on public transport and recommended in areas where social distancing could not be maintained for those over 11 such as in the school corridor for example and they we re school corridor for example and they were reluctant to take that further but now the rate of infection is increasing, so does the need for further safety measures. as coronavirus numbers increase across areas of the south wales valleys, so too do measures to curb the disease. facemasks are now recommended across the local authorities of rhondda cynon taf and neighbouring merthyr tydfil. but from monday they will be mandatory across the whole of wales in shops and public indoor spaces. today, for the first time since things started to improve, we are back with 20 out of 100,000 people in wales suffering from coronavirus. we have reached a threshold where we think, in a precautionary way, requiring people to wear face coverings will help us to clamp down on the spikes that we are seeing in some parts of wales, and prevent us from having to take even more intrusive action in the future. it is a significant change on welsh government policy, who have, until now, stuck to two metres social distancing as the main deterrent against the virus. it is a welcome decision here in pontypridd, but one that has also raised questions about why the devolved nations could not have been more unified from the start. i think it is ridiculous. the countries, they are not sticking together. everybody is doing a different thing and they shouldn't, it's wrong. there is no wonder this is not going away. why is it different in one country to another? we are all going through it. everyone has got covid in different areas, so why should wales be different to england? also announced today is a limit of six people from four different households meeting up indoors from next week. there will be no change on a limit of 30 meeting up outdoors. children under 11 will not be part of either of those restrictions. from monday also, in scotland, the rule of six applies, but from two households, and that is for both site inside and outdoor spaces, with children under 12 not part of the total. in england, social gatherings of more than six people, again inside and outside, becomes illegalfrom next week, with some exemptions. while in northern ireland, six people from two households can meet indoors. the maximum number of people meeting outside has been halved from 30 to 15. after a steady decline, with a varied approach to easing restrictions across the uk, it now seems that as the threat of a second wave becomes more of a reality, so does the chances of a more joined up approach to restrictions between the four nations when it comes to tackling the spread at home. that report was by tomos morgan. the government's long—awaited coronavirus contract tracing app will be launched across england and wales on september 24th. businesses are being urged to put up posters featuring a qr code, which people will be able to scan when they arrive at venues. let's talk to our technology correspondent, rory cellan—jones. is this different from the original app that we were expecting? the original app was shelved back in june. it was based on a different kind of method. it didn't use the apple and google tool kit which was made available to lots of countries as long as they concentrated on privacy. that made it very difficult. it didn't work properly. that was shelved. they went down this new route that is more privacy focused but it has taken a long time to get there, and this time there is more emphasis on these qr codes enabling people to log details when they are out and about. exactly how is it going to work? once people have downloaded this app, if they get close to somebody who later reports a positive test, they then getan reports a positive test, they then get an alert telling them that they, too, need to self—isolate but also, they will have this ability to scan aqr they will have this ability to scan a qr code when they visit a pub or restau ra nt a qr code when they visit a pub or restaurant and that will keep a record of who has been there, and thenif record of who has been there, and then if someone at that place registers positive it will be easier to co nta ct registers positive it will be easier to contact people and tell them what they need to do. many thanks, rory cellan—jones. the rise in coronavirus infections has sharpened concerns over the safety of leisure events, as governments renew warnings about the spread of the virus. public health officials in southampton have ordered the cancellation of the international boat show which was due to open in the city today. the new restrictions on social gatherings are also having an impact on lettings, as duncan kennedy reports. it is meant to be the showcase for the british boating industry but last night it was cancelled. 230 exhibitors had set up here, hoping to sell millions of pounds worth of boats over the next ten days. but not any more. this was about us and them supporting the boat show and it is devastating, disappointing for everyone. fair line yachts based in northamptonshire employs 250 people and had dozens of clients lined up to spend money on vessels like these. the local council said the event was too high risk, as other areas of britain were seeing covid spikes. this legislation that comes on monday, for me, is about teenagers gathering to party. it is not about grown—ups trying to run businesses. 20,000 people had been expected at the show. many turned up today unaware that it had been called off. did you know they sure had been cancelled? called off. did you know they sure had been cancelled ?|j called off. did you know they sure had been cancelled? i did not know, i had not heard about it. they cancelled it last night. because of covid. i did not know that. the local council said the event was simply too high risk and would break the rule of six. we are seeing in areas like leicester and liverpool how quickly the situation can change from a low rate to a high rate and therefore i think it would be risky to have this event over ten days in southampton. i absolutely understand that people will be incredibly disappointed about that decision being made so close to the event occurring. but this isn'tjust about the cancellation of two boat shows. this affects the whole industry which now makes around £1.5 billion for the british economy and employs something like 30,000 people. and the new rule of six goes far beyond boats. emma runs a business catering company on the isle of wight. she says that she cannot make money with that small. rule of six and hospitality is going to quite difficult. 0ur businesses are based on an outdoor seated cafe, accommodation that seats 14 and outside catering that relies on weddings and big groups and, without that, we have no trade now. from weddings to watersports, the new counter covid measures are changing business and personal lives. fighting the disease whilst keeping the world open is a dilemma that will not yet go away. duncan kennedy, bbc news, southampton. the economy grew by 6.6% injuly, the third month in a row that activity increased as lockdown restrictions were eased. but it has still only recovered just over half the output lost because of anti—virus measures. 0ur economics correspondent andy verity has this report. july was the month when this once prohibited activity, drinking and eating in pubs and restaurants, was finally allowed again. just as banning drinking and eating out shrunk this part of the economy from april untiljune, lifting the ban helped activity recover, jumping by 140% injuly. construction companies and sites like this were running at and sites like this were running at a quarter of normal capacity in the spring, but now staff are back from furlough ina spring, but now staff are back from furlough in a sector where activity soared by 18%. i think local businesses really appreciate seeing the construction industry at the forefront of the recovery, of the bounce back. it is palpable, the city is coming back to life, led by the construction industry. in construction, as in the rest of the economy, extraordinary growth in july is nowhere near enough to make up july is nowhere near enough to make upfor july is nowhere near enough to make up for the extraordinary shrinkage from april to june. the up for the extraordinary shrinkage from april tojune. the economy is bouncing strongly but the line on the right of the chart shows it had barely recovered half of the output it lost. i think it will take the rest of this year and next before we recover the lost ground. for 2020 we will still have an economy which could be one tenth smaller, 10% smaller, than what we had in 2019, which has implications forjob prospects and the wealth and opportunity for many people. as people left home and flock to campsites in record numbers over the summer campsites in record numbers over the summer holidays, they were blissfully unaware that employers, anticipating the end of the furlough scheme in october, were giving notice that they plan to make more than 300,000 people redundant. it does matter is being warned that if it does not extend furlough for the hardest—hit sectors, it does not extend furlough for the ha rdest—hit sectors, many it does not extend furlough for the hardest—hit sectors, many more will lose theirjobs. we need a recovery plan, the same spirit of consensus approach about the rescue plan for a recovery plan now, and what is being proposed at the moment is totally inadequate. we will do skills and capacity, put families at risk, consumer spending will go down. like other city centres, bearing in‘s city centre is quieter than normal and the bounce back is already slowing down. the worry is that as the furlough skin ends and job losses rise, many more people will have less to spend, slowing the economy further and risking a second wave of economic illness. it is 19 minutes past one. our top story this lunchtime. tougher lockdown restrictions are expected to be announced in birmingham because of a jump in coronavirus cases. the latest weekly figures show the city has one of the highest infection rates in england. and this year's great north run will take place this weekend — but with a very different look. and coming up in sport on bbc news: standing in solidarity — the american football season gets under way in kansas city with players united in the fight against racism. it's six months since the world health organisation declared the covid—19 outbreak a global pandemic. in total there have been over 28 million official cases around the world. the death toll associated with the disease is now over 900,000 people. 0ur correspondents in the world's three hardest hit countries — the us, india, and brazil — report now on the situation where they are. we start with nada tawfik in new york. six months on, and the united states is still struggling to keep infection rates downn in certain places. the mid west has been the hardest hit recently, with iowa, north dakota and south dakota the latest hotspots. here in new york, the state once most affected, the infection rate has stayed below 1% for more than a month. it has allowed for an easing of restrictions. now, health officials are warning americans not to become complacent as a second potential wave looms, and there has been increased scrutiny over the president's handling of the crisis. president trump admitted that he downplayed the threat to the public as early as february, to avoid panic. india now has consistently the highest number of new coronavirus cases in the world, every day. back in march, it was one of the countries that had imposed quite a stringent lockdown relatively early, and in those initial months it had seemed as though this had at least slowed the spread of the virus. but health experts say not enough was done then to aggressively track and test and that's why the country has not been able to curb the spread of covid—19. its graph remains on an upward trend, and it is growing steeper as the economy opens up further. earlier this week, metrorail systems were opened up in cities across the country. later this month gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed. schools and universities remain closed and international travel still has not been allowed. here in brazil the transmission rate has started to slow and the death toll has started to fall but it has been a long time coming because, for months, more than 1000 people were dying a day, and much of the criticism has been pinned on presidentjair bolsonaro, who, from the very beginning has tried to downplay the virus. meanwhile, regional governments have imposed quarantine and closed public spaces and schools. but the mixed messaging has been criticised. people not knowing which guidelines to follow. now restaurants and bars have started to reopen, but scientists have cautioned, against saying that the worst is over here in brazil. now, the headlines have been very much focused on brazil. this is the largest country in the region. but other countries are suffering also. in argentina, they are seeing cases rise and, in peru, they have registered the highest per capita death toll of almost any other country in the world. katy watson reporting. attempts are continuing to find shelter for almost 13,000 migrants who remain stranded after their camp on the greek island of lesbos burned to the ground. france, germany and the netherlands have offered to take in a small number of unaccompanied children. eu officials have promised to rebuild a camp on the island for the migrants, but the suggestion has met with opposition from local people. bethany bell reports. sheltering in a cemetery in the olive groves, these migrants have been sleeping rough for three nights ever since the refugee camp where they were living was burnt to the ground. this person from afghanistan said the fire started at night. suddenly we saw that the tents are going to burn. we did not bring anything with ourselves, just our blanket. wejust run. the police are not letting migrants leave the area. not even when their children are sick. ok, but here is problem. you must go back. so they are stuck with little access to food or medical care. excuse me, we are not animal, you know. we are human. these migrants have got nowhere else to go, so they are just sitting by the side of the road. some of them have built little shelters out of blankets but conditions are pretty grim. there is no running water and it is very difficult to wash. i have five children and we are living here in a very bad situation, because at night it is very cold and we have nothing. i answered scared here in moria, every time panic attacks continue. my baby is also little, all my babies, every time they are sick. we need help, please. the greek authorities say they have secured tents to house the homeless migrants, but locals on the island are strongly against plans to build a replacement camp. the migrants want to leave and the islanders want them to go, but without european agreement, solutions remain difficult. bethany bell, bbc news, lesbos. the uk has struck its first major post—brexit trade deal after signing an agreement in principle with japan. the international trade secretary liz truss says it's an historic moment. let's speak to our correspondent, dharshini david. just how significant is this deal? i think we have got a problem with the line to dharshini, we might try to come back to her later.|j the line to dharshini, we might try to come back to her later. i can hear you now. can you hear me? go—ahead. hear you now. can you hear me? go-ahead. i am sorry, technology is not always your friend, but it has been a friend for the trade deal as far as been a friend for the trade deal as farasjapan and been a friend for the trade deal as far asjapan and the uk is concerned, most negotiations happens with mostly over the internet, as most meetings are at the moment, an historic day, the first deal signed in the post brexiteer and a big sigh of relief across the business community, they say it means we know 99% of goods sold from the uk into japan will not attract carrots or extra charges and even though the deal is very similar to the one that has been existing already between the eu and japan, there have been benefits on financial services and cracking down on things like music piracy —— will not attract carrots. the international trade secretary liz truss was very keen to celebrate this deal. well, this is an excellent deal for the united kingdom. it goes significantly beyond what the eu have agreed, it's our first as an independent trading nation. and what i'd describe it as is a british shape deal. it has particular benefits for the tech industry, for the creative industries, food and drink. what we've also agreed is a pathway to the trans—pacific partnership, so that will also give the uk access to a much wider market across the pacific. how they are those benefits? ultimately, 0.07% of gdp in 15 yea rs, ultimately, 0.07% of gdp in 15 years, a tiny fraction of what we stand to lose if we forego our current relationship with the eu, and the majority of benefits will go tojapan, a key and the majority of benefits will go to japan, a key reason why they have been keen to sign this. a key moment, but perhaps more symbolic. it's the biggest half marathon event in the uk, raising millions of pounds for charity every year. but this weekend the great north run will look very different. the event was cancelled because of the coronavirus, so now a virtual version will be held, with 16,000 people taking part all over the world. alison freeman reports. it was quite warm when i did it. it's quite hilly, particularly when you're in a robotic suit, because you notice every little bump and slope, and i was pregnant, 16 weeks pregnant, so a combination of all of those factors did make it tough. every year, there are amazing stories of bravery and overcoming adversity, and claire lomas' great north run journey is one that stands out. paralysed from the waist down, she completed the course in a robotic suit in 2016. but in the year the 40th race was meant to be run, things are going to be a little different. there is a downloadable app, and when you run, it measures your distance, and then you get messages, sting comes on and says you can't stop the great north run, and alan shearer, seb coe, steve cram, paula radcliffe have alljoined in, and the support, just to say to people run 13 miles wherever you are. claire's one of 16,000 people around the country and the world taking part in the virtual race. we spoke to a few of them to find out why. andy might win the prize for the most beautiful location for his great north run. i've been living the last 20 years, working and living here in colombia, so i'm in the andes, the foothills of the andes around me here, so i thought running the great north run in colombia with these headphones on, listening to geordies egging you on, was going to be the maximum of strange, so i went for it. gavin's reasons for taking part in southampton are a little closer to home. a virtual great north run was a fantastic way for me to potentially motivate myself. i weighed nearly 21 stone, struggled to walk a mile, let alone do anything else. covid probably made the decision for me, a, because of the health implications and b, because we were due to have a baby injune. and in buckinghamshire, ian's fundraising doesn't just depend on his running performance. if i double my target, the beard that has grown during lockdown will disappear. it might not be the experience everyone had hoped for, but they are going to give it their all. i will miss the crowds, because there's nothing like actually being at the great north run, and it's making me want to go back again. really good luck on sunday, and well done on all your fundraising as well. yeah, good luck everyone. great, i love these stories. alison freeman, bbc news. time for a look at the weather— here's darren bett. we have

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