The UK has recorded its highest number of new coronavirus cases for five months, 26,068, although hospitalisations and deaths remain relatively low. (See 4.37pm.) Nearly 1,300 Scotland fans who travelled to London to watch their team play England on 18 June later tested positive for coronavirus, it was revealed today. Scotland has recorded its highest total for new coronavirus cases for the second time in three days. (See 2.34pm.) Boris Johnson has again sought to take credit for the departure of Matt Hancock, despite having backed the health secretary before he resigned, and prompted an angry response by dismissing the story as one only of interest to the “Westminster bubble”. The government is urging schools in England not to send whole bubbles of children home just because one of them has tested positive for Covid-19. Thousands of workers in the UK will suffer a steep fall in income as employers make redundancies after the furlough scheme begins winding down from Thursday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned Bids from politically connected firms to provide Covid-19 tests in Britain were designated as “fast track”, according to an email which suggests a VIP priority lane could have operated for tests as well as for personal protective equipment in the early stages of the pandemic. The European Commission has granted the UK a three-month extension on the sale of sausages in Northern Ireland in an attempt to defuse a row that has poisoned post-Brexit relations. But, at a press conference announcing the move, Maroš Šefčovič, the commission vice-president in charge of Brexit matters, stressed that a permanent solution would have to be found. He said: This continuous rolling-over of the grace period does not give the predictability and stability to the businesses, especially in Northern Ireland who otherwise could really use the opportunity of being in two markets at the same time to their big advantage. That’s all from me for today. But our coronavirus coverage continues on our global live blog. It’s here.