Midwestern states report record infections; Russia reports almost 5,000 new cases; Australia reports highest daily death toll * ‘Selfish covidiots’ on flight to UK from Greek island criticised * UK records 1,715 Covid cases in largest weekend figure since mid-May * World map: which countries have most cases? * See all our coronavirus coverage 11.47am BST The European commission is negotiating advance purchases of vaccines with several drugmakers on behalf of the 27 EU states and has said in past weeks EU governments cannot buy vaccines through parallel procurement schemes. The commission added that it was ready, together with EU states, to “put expertise and resources at work within Covax to accelerate and scale-up development and manufacturing of a global supply of vaccines for citizens across the world, in poor and rich countries”. 11.19am BST The European commission will contribute €400m (£352m, $476m) in guarantees to a World Health Organization initiative to buy vaccines, it has said. Countries wishing to be part of the scheme, dubbed Covax, had to submit expressions of interest by Monday. Continue reading...