MPs, meanwhile, are vowing to continue meeting the public face-to-face, despite the fatal stabbing of Sir David Amess in his Essex constituency last week.

Elsewhere, Latvia is to go into a four-week lockdown in a bid to control surging Covid cases, and investors are betting on an imminent rise in the UK’s interest rate in November due to inflation fears. 

Here are the key headlines the travel industry woke up on Tuesday (19 October).

Covid cases increase by nearly 50,000 per day 

Daily Covid-19 infections in the UK have reached more than 49,000 – the highest level since the middle of July. Hospital admissions and deaths from the virus are also rising. The prime minister’s spokesperson said the government was keeping a “close watch” on the figures and “always knew the coming months would be challenging”. (The Guardian) 

Fears growing of another Covid lockdown this year

Half of British adults think there will be a new Covid lockdown before the end of the year, according to a new poll. With infection rates rising quickly, 74% of people in the UK are concerned about another wave of the virus this winter, with the over-55s the most worried age group. (The Telegraph)

MPs vow to keep meeting public face to face

Politicians are determined to continue meeting their constituents in person, despite the killing of MP Sir David Amess last week. The House of Commons paid tribute to the veteran Conservative MP on Monday (18 October), while it was also announced that Southend would be given city status as a tribute to Amess. (The i)

Latvia to introduce four-week lockdown as cases rise

The Baltic nation will go into lockdown for four weeks from 21 October to try to curb a rise in Covid infections. Shops, restaurants, schools and entertainment venues will be closed, with only critical services allowed to continue. Latvia’s surge in hospital admissions has been blamed on low vaccination rates. (Sky News)

Markets bet on rate rise after governor’s inflation warning

Investors are predicting the UK’s main interest rate will rise in November, after Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, said inflation was “more persistent” than feared. The key interest rate is likely to go up from 0.1% to 0.25% next month. (The Times)

Singapore Airlines to fly A380 on one-hour flights

The airline plans to use its long-distance superjumbo aircraft on short-haul flights from next month. Singapore Airlines will operate the A380 on some flights between its Changi hub and the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur in November for “operational requirements”. (CNN)