World Coronavirus Dispatch: UK economic recovery runs into trouble

L'Oreal to close stores and cut 400 jobs, China's services sector recovery gathers pace, Gilead's remdesivir shaved five days off recovery time, and other pandemic-related news across the globe

Lifting lockdowns is unlikely to lead to a decisive and sustained economic boost as long as Covid-19 infections remain elevated, the International Monetary Fund said. New IMF research shows that while government lockdowns contributed significantly to the global recession, the slowdown was also driven in large part by people continuing to exercise voluntary social distancing. The fund will publish new forecasts on 13 October during its annual meeting with the World Bank.

The findings, using high-frequency mobility data from Google and job openings from Indeed Inc, should warn policy makers against lifting lockdowns amid elevated infections in the hope of jump-starting