this is bbc world news, the headlines. ajunior minister resigns over the uk government's handling of dominic cummings — and his family trip during lockdown. the prime minister's chief adviser says he does not regret the journey. nearly a0 conservative mps are calling for mr cummings to go over his interpretation of the rules — but ministers continue to insist he acted reasonably. the uk government's been asked if it will review fines given to families who breached lockdown to get childcare. europe looks to relax border restrictions — ahead of the tourist season. in greece, restrictions on domestic travel have been eased — with people allowed to move around the country. and a warning to latin america — now is not the time to ease restrictions, as coronavirus deaths rise rapidly in brazil. let's return now to today's downing street briefing, led by the health secretary matt

hancock. once again the questions centred on dominic cummings. matt hancock told the briefing he believed that mr cummings acted within the guidelines set out by the government. he also said he may review fines given to families who breached lockdown to get childcare. it was in response to a question from a member of the public. it comes as a further 134 people have died in the uk after testing positive for covid—19, taking the total death toll up to 37,048. mr hancock said that although the number of deaths appears to be falling, "we must keep our resolve". mr hancock said contracts have been signed to make two billion items of personal protective equipment, or ppe, in the uk. he also said that the anti—viral drug, remdesivir, is probably the biggest step forward in treatment since the crisis began. on the nhs test and trace programme — mr hancock urged people to follow the rules — for both themselves

and the wider community. before i provide an update on the work that we are doing to combat coronavirus, i want to update you on the latest figures. in total, 3,681,000 295 tests have been carried out in the uk, including 9979 yesterday. torch 65,227 people have tested positive, that is an increase of 2004 cases since yesterday. sadly, those of tested positive for coronavirus across all settings, 37,048 people have now died. yesterday, i hundred 34 deaths we re died. yesterday, i hundred 34 deaths were reported. but since the 18th of march, iam

were reported. but since the 18th of march, i am very encouraged to confirm that yesterday, there were no deaths of coronavirus recorded in northern ireland. i want to pay tribute to my opposite member and all of those across the nhs and public health in northern ireland and the people of northern ireland who have shown such resolve to be able to bend the curve down. and thank them for the work that they have done. while the news may not be dispositive every day, i look forward very much to working with them to keep the virus under control. today's figures from the office of international statistics show across the uk as a whole, the lowest numbers of deaths for six weeks. this is the national endeavour as a country, we cannot let up on this. we have passed the peak we are flattening the curve,

who protected the nhs, the number of deaths is falling. we must keep our resolve. they also want to say a massive thank you to everybody over the bank holiday weekend, who's stuck to the social distancing rules and especially to my colleagues in the nhs and social care, for doing so the nhs and social care, for doing so much. even though we are past the peak, there are still many in the hospital with coronavirus in the uk this * 98 nhs colleagues in hospital with coronavirus, including some who we re with coronavirus, including some who were seriously ill. we must maintain oui’ were seriously ill. we must maintain our focus and there are two areas relative provide an update on today. both incredibly important for the future of tackling this disease. ppe and treatments first, we have been working hard to build a supply of personal protective equipment. i know how important this is, especially to colleagues in the front line. we all heard in the

early weeks of the crisis, the calls from the front line for more and better ppe and we all saw the global scramble to acquire it. i have been com pletely scramble to acquire it. i have been completely open about the scale and the difficulties of this challenge, building a new supply chain from scratch and, the operational challenge of delivering. general nick carter said himself that this is the single greatest logistical challenge that he has faced in his 40 yea rs of challenge that he has faced in his 40 years of service. in the response to those challenges, thanks to the armed forces in so many others, including so many in the nhs, we have seen a mammoth effort. we have ramped up production and i can announce that we have signed contracts announce that we have signed co ntra cts to announce that we have signed contracts to manufacture 2 billion items of ppe here in the uk. a national challenge than absolutely

delighted that they have stepped up and are helping us to deliver against it. around the world, we have signed deals with over 100 new suppliers, including contracts for a further 3.7 billion gloves. while we continue to improve the logistics and work hard to give people the ppe that the need, these new supplies mean that we not simply keeping up with demand, we are now able to begin to replenish our stockpiles. there is a lot further to go on ppe and so many other things. we have made significant progress and i would like to think everybody involved. and ppe is so important, because it is about protecting the people who protect us. and we will do that for as long as the virus remains on the shores. the next thing is some of the remarkable rmd enter treatment that is taking place across the uk. 0ne

enter treatment that is taking place across the uk. one of britain's greatest strengths is our life sciences and or life science research. we are leading the road in the clinical trials that are being done here. as i said, the nature of scientific inquiry means that not every project will bear fruit but i am determined to explore every possible avenue. the recovery trial is the worlds largest trial of potential coronavirus treatments and because our nhs is a universal system in which we are all part of, we have some the best data and can do some of the best research. today, ican do some of the best research. today, i can announce that we are beginning a new trial for selected i can announce that we are beginning a new trialfor selected nhs patients of an antiviral drug. some promising early results on coronavirus patients with early data showing recovery time by about four days. as you can understand, will be prioritising this treatment where it

will provide the greatest benefit. this is probably the biggest step forward in in the treatment of coronavirus since the crisis began. these are very early steps but we are determined to support the science. the devolved administrations, this is uk wide in the pharmaceutical company for their work and making it happen. it is worth remembering that in the battle against this virus, we are all on the same side. we will keep working across the world to develop vaccines in the treatments like this. they will help us turn a corner. but until a treatment or a vaccine comes, there is simply no way to beat the virus, so we must not lose oui’

beat the virus, so we must not lose our resolve and please, stay alert come control the virus and save lives. i will now turn to the professor. the first night shows changes in transport use in the country and the top three refer to motor vehicle transport, cars, bikes, vehicles and you can see if there's a small trend upwards in all three, which is more or would expect with the advice for people to return to work and despite the fact that many businesses have been continuing to deliver essential business throughout the lockdown. below, you see the use of public transport, national rail, buses and to and the trend is really, no increase in the use of public transport recently. the next slide shows numbers of

tests and numbers of confirmed cases. the latest numbers 109,000 come very nearly one inch 10,000 and a total of 3.6 million tasks. the numberof a total of 3.6 million tasks. the number of tests fluctuate because we are sending out large volumes of tests on certain days to perform large population surveys, so the fa ct large population surveys, so the fact that the test numbers fluctuate is expected. the graph below shows numbers of confirmed cases and again, as the secretary of state mentioned, the latest figure is 2004 and that also fluctuate somewhat but there is a seven day rolling average trend. the number 2004 is there is a seven day rolling average trend. the number2004 is an underestimate of the total number of cases in the country because not every case is tested and

presents symptoms. turning to the situation are hospitals. the first slide shows the number of admissions to hospital and there we have a numberof to hospital and there we have a number of fourth to hospital and there we have a numberof fourth and to hospital and there we have a number of fourth and 71 which is down from 639 and in fact those lows number recorded since we started collecting these data is in march. so that is the news. and in hospital, the i see you, 11% of bets of mechanical ventilations are now occupied by covid—19 patients. turning to people in the hospital, around the country, we can see the different regions in the country of

the uk. and in other numberof number of things numberof things are number of things are different. the northwestern mittens, all of these areas show a decline in there are fewer people in hospital now in total, in 1802 which is step from 10,000 -- 8000. it was total, in 1802 which is step from 10,000 —— 8000. it was similarly country. sadly, people are still dying from coronavirus and hundred 34 deaths is the latest figure. this isa 34 deaths is the latest figure. this is a relatively low figure compared to previous days if you look at this graph if the bear in mind that there isawe graph if the bear in mind that there is a we defend effect in the case of this, it is the bank holiday effect. nevertheless, the rolling average to show a steady decline in the number of deaths. total deaths recorded is

not the december 2048. we turn to the next slide and we have additional information for the deaths from covert on the national office of statistics and here, the number is higher it is 4000 which have been registered with covid—19 was mentioning a death certificate in the figure to compare it with directly is 33,998 on the 15th of may and those are the numbers of deaths with the positive tests, so there is a difference. the graphs on there is a difference. the graphs on the top of the slide shows that gap between the numbers of registered deaths from covert and the number of confirmed deaths you can see that the gap is narrowing, but also we can see that there is a bank holiday effect on the numbers of death registrations as well. in the graph

below shows from the office of national statistics, the numbers of deaths in place of deaths in a numberof deaths in place of deaths in a number of deaths encouraging in hospitals and care homes and those are both declining but the trend of deaths and care homes occurred rather than later smaller and both are not declining in 28 or 22% of covid—19 related deaths have occurred in care homes. thank you very much since that wide the first questions from a member of the public interim and everyone, we do not see these questions in advance. so the first question is from martin from brighton. for the government

review all penalty fines imposed on families travelling for childcare purposes during lockdown? thank you, martin, it is a very good question. and we do understand the impact and the need for making sure that children get adequate childcare. that is on the significant concerns that we have had only through this and especially coming from the man of the cloth, i think that is perfectly reasonable to take away that question. i love to talk to my treasury colourants before i can a nswer treasury colourants before i can answer it in full and we will look at it and if we can get your details, we can make sure that we write to you with a full answer and make an announcement from this podium. ithink make an announcement from this podium. i think we can make that commitment. thank you martin.

podium. i think we can make that commitment. thank you martinm people can start to shop for unessential i entirely understand where you're coming from on this and one of the most natural instincts is seeing people that you know and love and one of the challenges is that it is very difficult to know where the virus is passed from into. we are on the 1st ofjune, proposing to make a series of changes, including from the middle ofjune, starting to open up the middle ofjune, starting to open up nonessential retail from the 1st ofjune and having some schools except children in reception year, year one and year six. but as you

say, there is a yearning to see people in another household and how will you make this happen in safeway. it is all about risk and we know that if social distancing measures are being implemented as they are, vary widely in places like supermarkets so the risk is quite low at highest risk of transmission is in households so the people we are most likely to infect our way to be in your household and those like the advice has to be different for meeting people and households compared to the places. the gradual increase in contact is what will get us all back to normal but we have to bearin us all back to normal but we have to bear in mind that everything we do asa bear in mind that everything we do as a risk attached to it and we have to reduce the risk is much as possible. next question is from

laura coombs berg thank you, very much. you need 40 of your colleagues and people say the guidelines were not advice and they were instructions, do you feel that way? 0rdo you instructions, do you feel that way? or do you see what your code speak to you like that? on this question mrcummings has set to you like that? on this question mr cummings has set out all of the details and quite extensive detail yesterday and then invited questions on it in my view is what he did was in the guidelines and i understand why people can take a different view but myjudgement is that what he did was within the guidelines and after all, the guidelines allow for exceptional circumstances, particularly in regard to childcare

and if you are as we have stated before, if you're unable to after a small child, that is the exceptional circumstance and within the guidelines, max cummings acted and most important thing is that we can get on a deal with the others and we talked about ppe and other treatments. health secretary, do you admit that it's doing damage to the governments credibility and undermining the message. that in turn set after the question you might review some of the fines that are being given for people travelling with pertaining to the children. i think it's incredibly important that people keep that result as we see from the following number of deaths, the following number of deaths, the following number of deaths, the following number of hospital admissions, and as we stand up there and the

increased test and trace capabilities, i think it is incredibly important that as a nation, we keep our resolve and everybody has a part to play in this and everybody needs to act in a way thatis and everybody needs to act in a way that is responsible, both for them and for their communities and i think that is important and i think it is important that we all stick added. thank you very much. secretary of state, you and your wife tested positive for covid—19 and you have three young children, but you chose to stay—at—home in london. what is the relevance difference between you and dominic cummings? the relevant differences that we had childcare readily available at home and mr cummings did not. thank you very much. how is

70% of percent did not. thank you very much. how is 7096 of percent confidence in the government has plummeted 20 points injust four days. government has plummeted 20 points in just four days. given how important that confidence is for maintaining social distancing, to reopening the economy getting people back to work in the track and trace system that you're introducing next week, how is that apparent loss of confidence were you what you say to those, simply that means you are risking peoples health and out of the economy? or people think to save one number to adviser supposed to say to them? of course, i understand that the people feel and have a the anger that some people feel and mr cummings himself said that but hindsight, he should have got all the facts out and i think it is

incredibly important as a country, that we focus on what we need to do now and i've said this repeatedly through this crisis. you've got to wa ke through this crisis. you've got to wake up every day and work out, what is the best thing to do next and making sure that we have the ppe available and that we protect people on the front line, making progress on the front line, making progress on these treatments as i talked about, these are the critical next steps that we need to take and along with us, making changes to the social distancing rules, to allow people to get back to doing some of the things that they love. if you look at the earlier question, it is all about how we get back to a position where i can see my loved ones. these are the sorts of things that the country is yearning for and i'm not underplaying the importance of the debate that has been an entirely reasonable and they can

disagree over what happened over the description of what happened over the weekend. but i am here to focus on and really try to forward all of the other important things that we need to do as well. thank you very much. according to a poll conducted today, after that press conference, 71% of the public said after hearing him use that language, they believe their durham brook lockdown rules. raising the misunderstood those rules and that you as a government nerve felt drafting them and if you do not mind me asking, which you now advise prudent use that discretion while interpreting the rules is that just for the people that work in downing street to shallow just for the people that work in downing street to shallovsm just for the people that work in downing street to shallow it is incredibly important, i was actually standing at this podium with a set

out that clearly, as she put it, if you have and are unable to look after a small child, in exceptional circumstances that set out and don't apply in this case, but describing some of the other circumstances that people face and it is reasonable to conclude that the description of events that mrcummings put out that the description of events that mr cummings put out was within the guidelines. but as i have said, to the first question, i understand the people will disagree with that and they disagree with some of the anger that toilet up over the weekend. on

monday, they'll be a major landmark which will hopefully help beat this virus will be the economy, how important is it and successive discrete product that people abate the instructions that are given to the instructions that are given to the spirit. can they come for example, follow their instincts?m i answer. it will be incredibly important. because as it has been set out, the whole purpose here is to try and move to a system where we have a more targeted lockdown where if you are at high risk because you've been in contact with someone who assists a positive, you're asked to self—isolate it will gives

information to focus on areas where there may be flare—ups and it's very important that people follow those rules and perhaps not for the government, people need to do for themselves, the communities and it's incredibly important and it will stop those local flare—ups from happening. it will help us to control the virus in different phases of the pandemic while we are returning back to normal. but it is important to stress that it has been seen important to stress that it has been seen long time and other —— a long site with other measures. will not be able to find every case and will not be of the traits of recontact, but to your point, the programme will give context very clear

instructions, they will be phrased by instructions rather than advice morneau to follow them. is been another fine and sunny afternoon although it's been a little bit more the way of cloud, crossing the skies north of england and wales, this was the reservoir near sheffield, cloud their and another cloud here, a core front with a few patches of cloud it separates and some fresh water so relatively warm air will have for the south and that's the southern areas like england and wales though i have the highest temperatures, 13 or 14 degrees, but the fresher field to the weather. wednesday morning could start off of the few fraud patches towards south west england,