Coronavirus live news: UK welcomes end of US travel ban; American Covid death toll passes 1918-19 flu pandemic

US lifts travel ban for vaccinated UK and EU passengers; Covid has killed more than 675,000 Americans as average daily deaths reach levels last seen in March

• Covid-19 has now killed as many Americans as the 1918-19 flu pandemic
• US to lift Covid travel ban for vaccinated passengers from UK and most of EU
• Canada election result: Trudeau forecast to win third term after early vote gamble
• See all our coronavirus coverage

5.53am BST

Covid-19 has now killed as many Americans as the 1918-19 flu pandemic – more than 675,000.

The US population a century ago was just one-third of what it is today, meaning the flu cut a much bigger, more lethal swath through the country. But the Covid-19 crisis is by any measure a colossal tragedy in its own right, especially given the incredible advances in scientific knowledge since then and the failure to take maximum advantage of the vaccines available this time.

Related: Covid-19 has now killed as many Americans as the 1918-19 flu pandemic

5.38am BST

The US will lift Covid-19 travel restrictions to allow fully vaccinated passengers from the UK and most European Union (EU) countries to travel into the country from early November, the White House has announced.

The move signals the end of a travel ban imposed by Donald Trump more than 18 months ago in the early stages of the pandemic, and comes after intense lobbying from Brussels and London.

Related: US to lift Covid travel ban for vaccinated passengers from UK and most of EU