The three-tier coronavirus alert system is now in force across England, but it's emerged that ministers rejected a recommendation from scientific advisers to introduce much tougher lockdown rules three weeks ago. A newly released document from 21 September shows the Sage committee pushed for a short nationwide lockdown, but their advice was declined by the prime minister. They warned "not acting now to reduce cases will result in a very large epidemic with catastrophic consequences", and called for measures including banning all contact inside homes with members of other households, and requiring all university and college teaching to take place online.

Boris Johnson told a news conference on Monday he had rejected the "extreme route" at this stage, and took other actions instead, like introducing the rule of six. But, standing alongside him, England's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, said he believed the three-tier system would not be enough "to get on top of the virus". Labour is demanding the government explain why it ignored its own experts - here's what our health correspondent thinks about that key question.

The Liverpool City Region is the only area so far to be placed under the highest level of restriction - see what that means and look up the level where you are. Introducing the new system, the PM said the UK's increasing infection rate was "flashing at us like dashboard warnings in a passenger jet", and the number of people currently hospitalised with Covid-19 was now higher than when the country entered full lockdown in March. 

Away from UK developments, scientists in the US have reported a case of a man catching Covid twice, with the second infection far more serious than the first. Reinfections remain rare, but it raises questions about how much immunity can be built up.

President Donald Trump has returned to the campaign trail less than two weeks after testing positive for coronavirus. Thousands gathered for an outdoor rally in Florida - a key battleground state - with little evidence of social distancing on show. Mr Trump told the crowd he felt "so powerful" and ready to "kiss everyone". The president and his rival Joe Biden - who spoke in Ohio on Monday - are scrambling to secure votes ahead of the 3 November election. Polling suggests Mr Biden has a 10-point lead nationally, but things are much tighter in some key states.

Vigo County in Indiana has backed the winning candidate in all but two presidential races since 1888, so what does it predict this time? Also, here's our really simple guide to the whole contest.  

The latest UK unemployment figures will be released this morning and we're expecting a big jump in the number of people out of work. Check out our Business index for the news. It comes as research from poverty charity Turn2Us suggests the stigma around claiming benefits has become more pronounced this year. Influential think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies is also warning of tough times to come for the economy as a whole.

We've got some advice if you're struggling to find a job right now - see which sectors are hiring and get tips from nine top bosses on how to wow an interviewer.

A gloomy set of front pages greets Boris Johnson this morning. The Daily Mirror says "after eight months of families being torn apart" and huge economic damage, "It All Ends... In Tiers". The Daily Star feels "We're Back To Square One", depicting the PM as a game piece on a snakes and ladders board. The Sun also takes a dim view of the new rules, arguing they're not the sensible middle ground the PM claims. The Times says their introduction is being overshadowed by a row over how and where the system will operate. It reports that Mr Johnson is urging council leaders across northern England to follow Liverpool and agree to "draconian lockdown measures". The Guardian says "tempers are flaring" among northern MPs who feel left out of discussions. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, though, former Tory leader Lord Hague says that while "the government's had its fair share of Covid blunders" we mustn't allow ourselves to be persuaded they're "a bunch of dunderheads who have got everything wrong and don't give a damn for people outside London".

A wide-ranging conspiracy theory about elite, Satan-worshipping paedophiles has migrated from the US, inspiring a series of regular street protests. So how did QAnon find a British audience? Elsewhere, Mennel is a French-Syrian singer who became famous for performing in her hijab, but she's faced criticism for removing it. Hear from her. And finally, read the story of Emmy, aged just 29, who found a lump in her breast when she was 28 weeks pregnant.

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