The Papers: PM's 'second wave' fears, and airport test calls

Image caption The prime minister's fears of a "second wave" of coronavirus feature on the front of many of the papers. The Daily Mail reports that Boris Johnson is worried it could start within a fortnight, quoting a senior government source as saying the PM was "extremely concerned" by outbreaks "bubbling up" both at home and abroad. The paper claims there has been a 28% increase in UK cases since the start of the month. Image caption A "second wave" of Covid-19 is already under way in Europe, is how the Metro has reported the PM's remarks. It says Mr Johnson also defended the decision to make holidaymakers returning from Spain have to undergo quarantine, adding that similar action could soon be taken for people flying home from other tourist hotspots. Image caption The same story of a spike of coronavirus in Europe leads the Financial Times, which carries quotes from the head of the public health institute in Germany, Lothar Wieler, saying he was "very concerned" by the rise in infections in Germany. He tells the paper: "We don't know if it's the start of a second wave, but of course it could be." Image caption Belgium, Luxembourg and Croatia could be the next countries to have quarantine measures reintroduced by the UK government, the Times reports. The paper says quarantine for arrivals from Luxembourg and Belgium could begin "as soon as" Thursday, while ministers are "keeping a close eye" on Croatia but restrictions are not imminent. Image caption The boss of Heathrow Airport is urging the government to all allow passengers to be tested for Covid-19 on arrival, according to the Daily Telegraph. John Holland-Kaye tells the paper that Heathrow could have a test "up and running" in two weeks' time - which would allow holidaymakers to be checked for £150 each. Image caption Calls for up to 1.5 million more children in England to get free school meals to help tackle a growing food poverty crisis, is the focus for the Guardian. It comes from a government commissioned report which the paper says is a "blueprint billed as the first national food strategy" since rationing in World War Two. Image caption The latest developments in the hunt for Madeleine McCann make the front of the Daily Express, which reports that "a mammoth team" of police are involved in digging up an allotment in Germany. Madeleine was three when she went missing while on holiday with her family in Portugal in 2007. Image caption The same story is the lead in the Daily Mirror. It says the site being searched is near the prime suspect's home in Hanover. Image caption And "Maddie cops dig up veg patch" is the headline in the Daily Star, which describes it as a "shock new search".

Many of the front pages are still dominated by the decision to impose a two week quarantine on travellers returning from Spain.

The Daily Telegraph runs quotes from the chief executive of Heathrow, John Holland-Kaye, urging the government to allow airports to carry out Covid-19 tests to help save the tourism and holiday industries - an idea which the paper reports has gained support from the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

The Guardian suggests the quarantine requirement could soon be halved, with scientific models suggesting almost all cases coming into the country could be detected by making people take a test a week after arrival.

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The row over whether the government's decision to introduce the restrictions so suddenly also continues across the comment sections. The Times leader commends ministers for implementing the new rules swiftly, a move it says was in stark contrast to the time taken to put the country into lockdown in March.

The Spectator's Isabel Hardman focuses on the impact that the latest policy U-turn may have on consumer confidence, saying the government's actions may lead to people becoming so risk-averse that they avoid doing things that are essential to kick-start the faltering economy.

Elsewhere, the online-only Independent highlights damning claims from MPs regarding the government's handling of care homes in England during the coronavirus pandemic.

It quotes a report from the Public Accounts Committee that accuses ministers of taking a "slow, inconsistent and at times negligent" approach to social care, with many care homes effective being "thrown to the wolves". The Department of Health said they have worked closely with the sector and public health experts to support adult social care.

The Daily Mail's leader issues a strong challenge to the prime minister on the subject, saying if he does not act swiftly to address the concerns raised in the report, they "must reluctantly conclude this words are worthless".

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Officials investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann search an allotment in Germany

Most of the tabloids feature pictures of German police digging up an allotment in Germany near to where a man suspected of abducting Madeleine McCann lived.

The Sun reports that possible evidence samples were removed from the site close to Hanover, while the Daily Express claims that around 100 officers and sniffer dogs took part in the operation. Three-year-old Madeleine went missing while on holiday in Portugal with her family in 2007.

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The development of a new blood test that could diagnose Alzheimers two decades before symptoms develop features in many of the papers. The Daily Telegraph quotes Professor Clive Ballard from the University of Exeter, who calls it an "exciting step", but cautions that it could take another five years for the test to be made available.

The leader in the Daily Express compares the scientists responsible for developing it with the World War Two era code-breakers in Bletchley Park, and says the news highlights why efforts should be made to encourage more young people to pursue a career in scientific research.

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And scientists may have finally discovered why leaves on the line cause so much chaos for commuters. The Times reports research by scientists at the University of Sheffield, which has found that they change into an extraordinarily slick paste when crushed, which causes the friction between rails and wheels to become similar to that seen between ice and an ice-skate.

The lead researcher, Dr Michael Watson, details a number of solutions to the problem, including cutting down certain species of trees lining railways, or spraying rails with a substance that stop them from fusing with leaves.