Italy reports 653 new deaths – as it happened

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Research shows that people with coronavirus are more likely to be highly infectious in the first week after symptoms appear.

A study, published in the Lancet Microbe, found that while genetic material of the Sars-Cov-2 virus was detected in samples from sufferers for several weeks afterwards, no live virus was found in any samples collected nine days after symptoms began.

Lead author, Dr Muge Cevik of the University of St Andrews said: “Our findings are in line with contact tracing studies which suggest the majority of viral transmission events occur very early, and especially within the first five days after symptom onset, indicating the importance of self-isolation immediately after symptoms start.”

California’s governor Gavin Newsom has issued month-long curbs on gatherings inside homes, and is telling people to work from home.

The latest figures show 9,811 new confirmed cases, meaning there has been more than a million infections in total. 18,360 people have died from coronavirus in the state.

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19 Nov 202016.54 EST

Henry McDonald

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Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality outlets will remain closed until mid-December in Northern Ireland, the regional devolved government has announced.

Bars and licensed eating outlets were meant to re-open on 27 November but instead will be shut for another fortnight from this date.

Unlicensed cafes will be allowed to open this Friday but only for one week when they will be subject to the same closure restrictions. Close contact services such as driving lessons, hairdressers and beauticians will also only be available for a week.

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The US government will extend a ban on non-essential travel at land borders with Canada and Mexico until 21 December.

The rules were first introduced in March to stop the virus’ spread, and will be in place for another 20 days. They were due to expire on Saturday.

A significant number of Italians who want to be vaccinated against Covid-19 will have had their jabs by September 2021, according to an official.

Special commissioner for the virus emergency Domenico Arcuri said people could be vaccinated as early as January, after the European Medical Agency has authorised the Pfizer jab.

He added that the elderly and people at high risk would get priority, as Italy is set to receive 3.4 million doses of the vaccine.

Brazil recorded 35,918 new cases of coronavirus and 606 deaths on Thursday, its Health Ministry has confirmed.

The country has now had almost 6 million cases of the virus since the start of the pandemic, according to Reuters. The official death toll now stands at 168,061.

Here’s a round up of the latest developments

The US centre for disease has told Americans not to travel next week for Thanksgiving celebrations, and not to spend the holiday with people who aren’t in their household.

Northern Ireland faces two weeks of tougher lockdown restrictions from the end of next week, as non-essential retail will also close. Health minister Robin Swann had warned colleagues that a delayed lockdown risked seeing the country’s health services overwhelmed

Spain has announced 16,233 new cases and 252 more deaths from the virus. It takes Spain’s death toll to 42,291 since the start of the pandemic.

France’s health minister, Olivier Veran, has admitted that the mental health of the French was deteriorating during the second lockdown. The admission came as the French death toll from coronavirus increased by 429 to 47,127 people.

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Northern Ireland will go into a fortnight of tougher lockdown restrictions from 27 November.

Non-essential shops will have to close, with pubs and restaurants remaining shut. Schools will be allowed to stay open. The measures were agreed by ministers on Thursday night. Existing restrictions on the hospitality sector were due to expire on 26 November.

The country’s health minister, Robin Swann had urged colleagues in Stormont to take action, otherwise health services could have been overwhelmed.

Some close contact services, such as hairdressers and cafes can open as scheduled on Friday but will have to close in a week’s time. Takeaway hospitality services will be allowed to stay open, but leisure and entertainment services will have to close.

Sporting events at an elite level will still be allowed to take place, but without spectators. A ban on households mixing indoor will continue and places of worship will close.

People will also be encouraged to stay at home and work from home.

On Thursday, another 487 people tested positive for Covid-19. A total of 3,401 have been diagnosed over the last week. Another 12 deaths were reported on the same day, meaning 901 people have died from the virus in the country.

Amazon in France has said it will postpone its Black Friday promotion next week amid the country’s ongoing lockdown.

A spokeswoman told Reuters that it will now take place on 4 December, as the country’s restrictions are set to expire on 1 December. The French finance ministry said that supermarkets and retailers had told them they were open to suspending the discount day.

The Scottish parliament has voted to support stricter Covid-19 measures, including tougher restrictions in 11 council areas and a travel ban.

On Tuesday, first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that areas of west and central Scotland would be moved from tier 3 to tier 4 from Friday, for three weeks. Non-essential shops, and hospitality businesses will close, along with gyms and beauty salons.

The new limits will make it illegal to enter or leave Scotland without a reasonable excuse, with those breaking it facing a minimum £60 fine.

MSPs voted by 99 to 23 to express Holyrood’s support for the restrictions, rather than to accept or reject them, according to PA Media.

The US centre for disease control has told Americans not to travel next week for Thanksgiving celebrations.

The guidance, according to the AP press agency, is amongst the strongest given by the US government on limiting celebrations because of the pandemic. Americans have also been told not to spend the holiday on 26 November with people who aren’t in their household.

The body’s Dr Erin Sauber-Schatz cited more than 1 million new cases in the US over the past week as the reason for the new guidance.

“The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is at home with the people in your household,” she said.

Good evening. I am taking the Guardian’s global coronavirus blog for the rest of tonight, bringing you all the latest updates from around the world. Please keep in touch to share any thoughts, comments or news tips.

I’m on Twitter as @HarryTaylr and you can reach me by email at harry.taylor@guardian.co.uk