we also strongly recommended that when two households meet, there should be no more than eight people in total in a group. again, we put that into guidance rather than law, because we do trust this is bbc news. and continue to trust the majority i'm ben brown. to keep those groups small the headlines: and to stay within the rules. the biggest easing in lockdown but it is worth being clear, restrictions is under way, in fact, i have a duty to be clear with you that if there is continued as primary schools in england re—open and it's evidence of even a minority not back to business too abiding by these guidelines, for outdoor markets, and travelling unnecessarily, car showrooms, and some sports. if people meet up in larger groups we're now at the stage of that plan or if they are making journeys where we can get our lives a little which risk spreading the virus, bit more back to normal. we will have to put these but that isn't an overnight, big bang thing. restrictions on group size it is measured. it is progressive. and travel distance into law we do it in a safe and responsible way. and we won't hesitate to do that if we think that is necessary in england, more children have returned to primary schools, for the collective safety but not all parents agree that it's safe enough. how is it safe to send back? and well—being of the population. the pressure is all being put on us as parents and teachers and on the children. that is the picture in scotland from i have to say, i woke up and i did feel quite anxious this morning. nicola sturgeon. it's... i know the logic, i know the science some restrictions are being lifted for people who are "shielding" but even so, it's quite scary. in northern ireland from next monday. they will be able to go nice to be out in the sunshine. outside with members

of their own household, confusion for some, or meet one person from another household outdoors. the first minister, arlene foster, as restrictions are eased on those and deputy first minister, michelle 0'neill, have been speaking classed as extremely vulnerable. at stormont‘s daily news conference. in scotland, nicola sturgeon says with the level of infection in the community falling, she will not hesitate to use the risk of exposure the law to enforce group sizes is significantly less than it has and travel distances, after there was a five—fold increase been over this last two months. in police dispersal orders. therefore, in consultation with the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser, we can advise that from next monday, the 8th ofjune, those who are shielding will be able to spend time outside with people from their own household, or one person from another household, whilst ensuring social distancing is observed. good afternoon. we believe that this is a reasonable we're building up to today's downing street briefing, and proportionate first step, led by health secretary matt and people who are shielding will receive a letter with further hancock. advice in the coming days. ministers have been trying to reassure people that they are not relaxing lockdown measures too fast. the chancellor rishi sunak said progress towards recovery does not the lifting of lockdown has mean that the threat posed been carefully planned. by covid—19 has reduced. so, let's remind ourselves your actions now, in combating of what is changing. the spread of the virus,

all four are just as important nations of the uk now have as they have ever been. guidelines in place allowing more we urge you to keep sticking to than two people to meet outside. the restrictions that are in place — vulnerable people in england to keep two metres away from anyone and wales, who have been advised who isn't part of your own to stay home since march, household, to maintain good hand have been told they can and respiratory hygiene. go outdoors again. ask yourself this question, but shielding advice in northern ireland every time you leave your house, and scotland hasn't changed. is it really necessary? and if you have to go out, will you be able to follow the first phase in the reopening of schools has begun in england, the advice whilst you're out? with children in nurseries we know how challenging these and years i and 6 returning this morning. restrictions have been for everyone, and they have been especially and, provided they meet safety difficult and challenging for those guidelines to protect who have been advised to shield. shoppers and workers, open air markets and car showrooms in england are also so, i also am pleased that we're able to trade again. able to come forward with that little bit of good news, but the measures come as another for those people who've been doing group of public health officials so well throughout the most warn the pace of change could lead to a rise in the infection rate. here's duncan kennedy. difficult of circumstances. some schools, open—air markets, michelle 0'neill michelle o'neill and arlene foster. 0pen—air markets and car showrooms car showrooms and some sports. have re—opened in england today, but with strict distancing it may not be a manic monday measures in place. for example, if you're taking a car of openings but the lid on lockdown for a test—drive, normally, is starting to creak open. you'd have a sales rep in the car with you. not any more.

from today, you'll be alone. ministers say the risk of infection is lower outdoors, and in more open spaces. at the sandbanks beach in dorset, the new week and new month brought more glorious sunshine. in a fortnight, other nonessential from today, six people can now gather outside in england shops will open again, but businesses are having if they keep two metres apart. to overhaul how they operate — so, what do people to keep customers and staff safe. here think of that? simon gompertz reports. i think we just need to be cautious about it. even though we can come out, we have to be cautious. everyone seems to respect this is the monday with a difference other people's space. they've been waiting you see now there is a good for at barnsley‘s open—air market. amount of space between everybody on the beach. at last, they can get back to selling what are called you feel 0k? non—essentials, like clothes i feel fine. and things for the home, as well as fruit and veg. but local officials say with the numbers they have seen customers a bit cautious, outside in recent days, but the buying began the message about the rules before eight o'clock. still isn't clear. i'm quite impressed, i think people are completely confused now by the rules. they're so inconsistent. actually, because these days, —— first day, you just they don't make any sense to people. don't know, do you? and how did it work? you ask people on the beach was it different for you? well, she was stood over what the rules are, they don't know and frankly they don't there looking at duvets, asking care any more. about size and prices. what now are the rules for gathering? she stood over there, in england from today, i got them out, and then she put groups of up to six can the money over there and then took meet anywhere outdoors, it from there. social distancing is vital,

including in private gardens. keeping everyone two metres apart. in wales, any number of people hygiene as well, hand sanitisers using foot pumps. from a maximum of two households the feeling here is of relief. are able to gather outside, to have a permanent lockdown for ten but ideally travelling no more than five miles from home to meet. weeks is a nightmare in a small business. you can't measure it. in scotland, up to eight people from a maximum of two households are able to meet outside. whilst in northern ireland, 0ne trader said to me groups of up to six can now also gather outside. it was like falling off a cliff. one big issue today, as things start but everywhere, social going again, is the threat distancing rules apply. of congestion, which is why a lot all these changes in england, wales, northern ireland and scotland of markets are reopening stalls gradually, in order to guard are dividing opinion. against the risk that people will start bumping into each other it's making some people nervous, but others say they welcome the opportunity to move on narrow pavements and walkways. out of lockdown. and bearing in mind as well that the one guiding principle you'll it's only a couple of weeks hear across the nation, until nonessential shops on the high and it's the one we have heard street will also be opening up. throughout this crisis, today also sees car dealers back is that science must lead the way. in business, after sales of new vehicles fell close to zero during the lockdown. and the following of that science was again again, a big emphasis on measures the government message today. to reduce the risk of transmission, we must do this cautiously which is precisely what we are doing. helped by the fact that, in most showrooms, there's more we've also said if people comply indoor and outdoor space.

during lockdown, the whole industry with the rules and the test effectively shutdown. april was very low numbers. and trace system is up and running, which it has been since thursday, may was slightly better. but i think until we see then there is a good likelihood the impact of retail opening, we will not breach the r value it's going to be very difficult to understand what the true factor above one. level of demand is. england is moving fastest on this. but some health professionals remain in scotland, smaller shops nervous about the speed of society's reengagement. and outdoor markets can open in the second phase of its easing plan, no date yet. i think it'sjust a bit difficult the timing hasn't been fixed yet in wales either, to understand the message where non—essential shops when you're urging caution and services could open in the amber phase of the exit strategy, at the same time as saying nor in northern ireland, where non—food outlets will reopen that there are all these additional liberties to be taken. in step two of its plan. don't get me wrong. the vast majority of the public will follow those guidelines here is possibly a sign extremely well but there is a danger of what's to come — there is a confusing message. the queue outside ikea in gateshead, which let customers back in today, that whole national blended mood of the cautious and carefree was also shared by some people and with a general reopening of nonessential shops in england we spoke to in exeter today. expected from the 15th, i'm delighted we can do it our eerily quiet high streets expect but it is tinged with nervousness. to become much busier. just a little bit concerned that it might be too early a look at the picture overseas now. and we might have a second wave.

loosening lockdown measures many of italy's cultural icons are reopening, as the country continues to ease its lockdown measures. the colosseum in rome is welcoming tourists are a challenge for everyone for the first time in months. there are strict limits on the number of people allowed at the site. they're asked to wear masks, in our changing world and everyone has their of inside outside living. temperature taken on entry. duncan kennedy, bbc news, in dorset. long queues have formed outside shops selling well, the daily coronavirus alcohol in south africa, after a controversial ban on its sale was lifted, downing street briefing is due for the first time in two months. from monday to thursday, alcohol can now be bought for consumption at home. drink—related violence is a big to get under way in about half problem in south africa. an hour, today led by the ban was introduced to relieve the health secretary, matt hancock and professorjohn pressure on police and hospital newton, who's the national testing casualty departments coordinator for england. let's talk to vicki young ahead of during the coronavirus lockdown. the country is now easing some that briefing at downing street. no lockdown restrictions — to help revive its economy. doubt there will be questions for matt hancock in particular about the but there's concern that infection science, and the government are a lwa ys science, and the government are always saying that these briefings rates are beginning to rise. they follow the signs but the trouble is, different scientists are now saying different things about the speed of easing the lockdown. in istanbul, a symbolic easing of that is the problem, if you just the coronavirus has been taking look at the scientific advisory place. the grand bazaar, which dates group the government talks about and we hear so much about, it is around back to the 15th century, has been 50 people who attend that. some of reopened after closing for more than

them have come out this weekend and said they are unhappy about the two months. many other restrictions are being lifted today in turkey, easing of some of these restrictions. but of course, others allowing travel between cities to resume and the opening of cafe have given the go—ahead to that. in centre restaurants resume and the opening of cafe centre restau ra nts a nd resume and the opening of cafe centre restaurants and sporting the end, the politicians have to facilities. there have been more make a decision based on the evidence they have in front of them than 160,000 confirmed cases in but the truth is, nobody knows for turkey and more than 4,500 deaths. sure exactly what the consequences will be of lifting one measure or this year's summer reading challenge line—up the other. now the government here has been announced — with a host of big names is looking at other countries lending their support. the scheme, which reaches out because in other places, they have started unlocking before us and in to over 700,000 children each some cases, three or four weeks ago so summer, will be hosted online this some cases, three or four weeks ago so they can look at that. but year, owing to the pandemic. the aim of the challenge is to make ministers would say they are doing sure children continue to read this quite gradually. if you look at during the longer summer holidays, primary schools, for example, the with this year's event starting first thing being it isjust earlier than usual — primary schools, for example, the first thing being it is just primary to support parents and carers with schools, there are no plans for children already at home. senior schools to go back until i've been speaking to one september and even within those schools, it is only one or two of the ambassadors — yea rs, schools, it is only one or two years, in some cases, four is the bestselling author and illustrator recommendation but lots of schools rob biddulph. basically, the reading agency are not managing to do it in one go. set the challenge up. they are not going back to normal they want to encourage primary school—age children really. overnight. interestingly, listening to rishi sunak, the chancellor today so, sort of 4 to 11, to keep reading

atan to rishi sunak, the chancellor today at an outdoor market, talking about during the summer holidays. trying to get people back to some because traditionally, there's a huge blip in reading over that time, kind of normality, saying that it is obviously, i think. and i just think this year safe. he of course has a very close in particular, it's more important than ever, eye on the economy and has already warned of a severe recession and so because school life has been so disrupted and children's lives he does want to get people back to in general have been disrupted. work but people are not going back they're missing their friends. to work in the same way as they were so, i think it's really important before. things are different and that we encourage them to keep ministers emphasising that the rules on social distancing still stand. on reading and have some kind of focus, you know, to that regard. and apart from anything else, that is crucially important when i think it really helps parents people go back to offices or they go and carers find sort of fun activities to help maintain those on public transport, if they can, or literacy levels at this crucial time in their development. if they go out to the park. it is yes, because we've been discussing all about making sure that continues the return to schools today of some and probably will for some time to pupils to primary schools. come. vicki young, many thanks, our chief political correspondence at but of course, they've missed out westminster. weeks and weeks of their education, parents across england faced a dilemma this morning — is it safe for children to go weeks that they are not back to school? actually going to get back. after six weeks closed yes. yes, it's true. because of the coronavirus, i mean, it's very difficult. i've been doing a series primary schools re—opened this of draw—along videos just to kind of help morning, but parents don't have parents have a little bit of routine to send their children back, and into their lives. many teachers' unions are warning because home—schooling isn't it's too soon for them to do so. something that parents have been trained in at all. dan johnson reports.

after so many weeks, so, you know, that's why i think school's back for summer. these kind of initiatives are really morning. important. welcome back. and the fact that we're launching it at thisjunior school, earlier than usual can it isjust year 6, the 10 only be a help for parents, i think. and ii—year—olds returning. generally, what's your experience of reading amongst young people there isn't a head that doesn't want and children in particular? as many pupils back as soon i suppose the assumption as they can but as safely is that with mobile phones as we possibly can and that is and so on and so much digital what we have been working to do over the last few weeks, technology out there, that people are reading less. to make sure our school is safe is that right, do you think? but welcoming to pupils. if so, how do we get harry was keen to get back and see some of his friends and stuff, them to read more? he knows it's going to be different well, the statistics show that one in five children but given the space they have got in england still can't read and it is only year 6, particularly well by the age of 11. hopefully, it should be ok. so, it is still a problem. i have to say i woke up and i did ai do lots of school visits feel quite anxious this morning. i know the logic, i know the science, but even and festival visits and one so, it's quite scary. and that's why these of the first questions i always ask their kids is, "hands up are some of the few socially who has a bedtime story?" sometimes, it's heartbreaking how distanced classrooms few hands go up and then you sort actually reaching their new of investigate a bit further and it lower capacity today. it's be good to see my friends, turns out these people don't even albeit it's only half the class have a single book in their home. but it's good to catch up maybe it's because of with my mates. the prevalence of screens i have wanted to come back for ages. and ipads and digital things, you know.

it's been a bit hard at home. but it really is tragic. my mum told me it would be a bit the real key in this particular age different than it used to be group is reading for pleasure. so i was a bit nervous what would've happened. you know, that's the thing, but there is huge if you can get children reading for pleasure, variation across england. in walsall, two thirds of the schools are not it has been proved that is more accepting more children yet. important determination of their educational success than their family's socioeconomic i am very worried about the children status, for example. being at home but, weighing it up, and those kids that do read i think their health is really for pleasure are the ones important and the health of their families and the wider who are more likely community, as well. to go on to a more fulfilled life, get managerial or professional i want to get them back jobs later in life. as soon as possible, so, it really is key that we get but i will keep reviewing it them early and get them really and as soon as we are convinced that interested in reading, not because they have to, but because they want to. everybody is saying the same thing, i think itjust kind of develops instead of having conflicting a curious mind which will stand them messages, we will reopen. in great stead for the rest of their lives. and there are estimates that up we can see some of your to half of parents will have decided books behind you, there. to delay returning their kids what is your secret to unlocking to the classroom. a child's imagination? well... the risk of transmissibility, that's a question! i kind of wish i knew, really. if he catches it, can he bring it back, pass it on to other people? it's not clear. for us, we wanted more evidence, how is it safe to send back?

you just... the pressure is being put all on us i think the key as a children's as parents and teachers author is you don't and on the children. talk down to children. you try to involve here, the children are being kept them in the story. the books i write, they are picture in smaller classroom pods or bubbles books so they are for the really so they're not mixing. young ones, ages 5—7. so quite often, that experience is a joint experience, but it's the busier times like lunch reading with mum or dad that are the real pinch points. or your carer on a one—to—one basis. i think the real key in that now, it's manageable with limited situation is that one—to—one time, numbers of children. but what about getting where there are no screens around, it's just you and mum back to a full school? that will be much harder. or dad reading a book. the child wants to know what happens government guidance, as you know, over the page and just for the sake of the enjoyment of reading has changed quite often. and progressing a story. they are starting to understand it's i do think that is really important. the heads who need to make those there's a certain amount decisions and every head's school of interactivity with my books community, circumstances because i illustrate my books as well. are different and therefore so you include lots of levels of detail in your stories. there will need to be flexibility. the child might spot something on the fourth or fifth read more of england's schools will get that they hadn't spotted before, to this in the next week or two. in the background of one wales, scotland and northern ireland of the pictures, and that adds are expected to follow in the months ahead. another element to the story. dan johnson, bbc i think it is important to involve children in storytelling news, hertfordshire. and that is what i think we as authors and illustrators

really strive to do. let's talk about how the reopening of primary schools has gone today rob biddulph. now it's time for a look with a head teacher and a parent. at the weather with tomasz. emma meadus is the headteacher well, it's been so warm for the last of coppice valley primary school few weeks, hasn't it? in harrogate. and very sunny too. another little temperature blip on the way in the next couple of days. and maria cooper is a mum in swindon who's decided to send her son, archie, back today. from mid—week onwards, i think some emma, how has it been today and how of us will have a ten—degree drop, many children have turned up for compared to what we've had recently. this return to school today? well, now, the skies are clear across the uk, but to the north we have just been open for key of us, we're starting to see changes there — closer to iceland workers and vulnerable children and across the norwegian sea. today. that was our first step in a in fact, over the next few days, we'll see wind currents shifting. staggered return. by the end of the rather than air coming week we will have reception and year in from the south, it'll start to come in from the north again. one. from the surveys and phone calls we have done with parents, we and the winds will strengthen think we are going to have about 65% as well, so you can imagine it's going to feel a little bit colder. of the children in reception and year one by the end of the week. what kind of safety measures do you now, one thing that many gardeners and growers are hoping have in place? we saw a few in the for is a bit of rainfall and, report but give us an idea of what at the moment, it looks as though your school is doing. well, we the rain is going to be very hit and miss across the uk followed the dfe guidance and we in the next few days. have got staggered start times, we now, the late—afternoon temperatures

today, obviously not a drop of rain and very warm — have got staggered start times, we have got staggered start times, we have got children coming in through 26 or 27 degrees, mid—20s different entrances, we have even in the north of the country as well. got them coming in through different and to the very far north—west, you can start to see gates onto the ground with their the changes in that weather. pa rents. gates onto the ground with their parents. it is very managed and so, the first weather front approaching the very far north west careful. maria, tell us, archie is of scotland by the end of the night. in yearsix, i careful. maria, tell us, archie is in year six, i think did he go back but really, for most of us, today? he did. can you hear me? it's clear again, and it's copycat conditions on tuesday. now, high pressure is essentially still in charge, but there is this weak weather front that's sort of snuck into its edge here, so that does mean more cloud let's try again, tell us about and the possibility of some rain across the highlands archie's day. this morning, through the course of the day. everything has gone really well and he's come home very positive. we there could be some heavy showers in one or two spots across scotland and the very far north of england, have... i am afraid you are freezing but the vast majority of us on tuesday, tomorrow, again, a little bit, let's go back to emma, another sunny day and another very warm one too. the head teacher. have some parents and then from roundabout wednesday, said to you they are not happy about it starts to change. sending their kids back to school you can see a weather front pretty and they are worried and actually much slicing the uk there in half, they are not going to send them so that does mean increasing amounts of cloud and the back? some have. we phoned our possibility of rain. pa rents last back? some have. we phoned our parents last week because we wanted to hear what their concerns were, to

help us with ourjudgments as well. but i want to stress that this rain what they have been saying is that is going to be hit and miss. yes, in one or two spots, it they are very trusting of what the could be a little on the heavy side. school would do, the measures we many of us will probablyjust have would take so it is not about not overcast skies and little trusting us as professionals, but bits and pieces of rain. some of us will actually end up more about wanting to wait a little having mostly bright weather. but the main feature is just how bit longer. some of them have said they might come back next couple of much cooler it's going to be. weeks after they have seen how it look at that — 12 in newcastle, and in the teens for everybody. goes, which would take our and that cooler trend, attendance up to about 75%. how with more cloud and a chance of some worried have you been that your rain, which is good news, will continue through the week. children have been missing all these weeks of education? well, it is a big concern, a concern for every school in the country, of course. there is a little bit of reassurance in that we are all in the same boat in that we are all in the same boat in that respect. but we have had a very good home learning of her four children, and really, although education is incredibly important, we know that, the first thing has to be at this point the children's health and the health of the staff as well. there has been some reports in the last couple of days about loneliness and even depression amongst children of quite a young

age, just not being able to see their friends age, just not being able to see theirfriends or age, just not being able to see their friends or play freely in the playground with their friends. yeah, and that is a big concern. part of what we are doing here is something we are calling a recovery curriculum. the emphasis in this first week or two, or longer if they need it, is going to be on relationships, getting their friendships back together, re—establishing bonds with their teachers, even. what would be your message to pa rents what would be your message to parents who could be quite nervous at the moment and are wavering about whether to send their children back oi’ england sees the biggest easing whether to send their children back or not this week? well, i have set of the lockdown so far all of my parents that i am not but some warn it's too putting any pressure on them. it has much, too soon. first day back at school for some primary school children to be their decision. sometimes, as they try to get used your head and your heart say to new social distancing. it's emptier than usual. separate things. sometimes your head is saying it is the right thing to we're more spaced out whereas we're do, but your heart is not quite sure usually quite close together. andi it makes me happier because i know do, but your heart is not quite sure and i am absolutely happy with that, i would never pressurise anybody to i get to see the people i've been do anything they were not sure about. so although the government with my whole entire life.

say schools are back and the local authorities and people like you, the 0pen air markets and car head teachers, might say schools are showrooms welcome their first customers since lockdown. back, it is very much the decision of the parents in the end?” and they're off — horse racing back, it is very much the decision of the parents in the end? i think so. of the parents in the end? i think and snooker resume — so. i think the government has said but no spectators allowed. schools will not be held accountable for attendance and it reflects that. the lifting of the lockdown relies on contact tracing to locate we wa nt for attendance and it reflects that. we want to see the children coming flare—ups of coronavirus. back, we do, but it is such a the government insists it's working well but admits it's not yet fully operational. difficult time, completely unprecedented, we cannot make people do that at this point. we will try maria cooper in swindon who sent archie back at we were having troubles with the phone line. maria, if you can hear me, what was it like for archie going back to school today? yes, i can hear you perfectly. he has come back. no, we are not having any luck at all with maria, surrey, thank you to you, maria, surrey, thank you to you, maria and let's hope archie is back at school happily this week. emma meadus, head teacher of coppice valley primary school in harrogate. good luck to you.

social—distancing rules have led to large parts of the film and television industry cancelling or postponing productions. now, though, a new set of guidelines have been published, outlining the measures that film—makers should be taking, in order to get the industry back up and running. i'm joined now by adrian wootton, the chief executive of the british film commission, which drew up the guidelines. thanks for being with us, in a nutshell, what are the guidelines, how do you safely make tv and film in the era of coronavirus? well, that's the reason we put together the guidance. they are incredible the guidance. they are incredible the detailed and exhaustive and competitive, the largest the film and tv industry has engaged with. we have done it with industry and also every facet of government, public health england, the deputy chief medical officer's office have been consulted so it reflects absolutely

all the government, technical, scientific, medicaladvice, to ensure we can go back to work safely. people will be safe -- people will be saying, how do you film a love scene or a battle scene with social distancing? social distancing is there, we have to work safely within those confines, but the guidance is very clear about how we can do things safely. and in terms of things like love scenes or big battle scenes, people are going to have to modify and think about the way they make certain things. after all, this is the magic of the movies. camera tricks and visual effects have been with us a long time. we have got the greatest visual effects in the world, actually, the uk. and there are things you may not think were possible in real time because of the current rules that everyone is going to abide by, but with the magic of the movies, there is a lot more that we can do than you might think. so a

bit of cheating with the help of cgi and so on. when do you think production work will get back up and running? because everyone has been watching all sorts of stuff during the lockdown. but worried there is going to be a drought of tv and films in a few months' time. well, i think that with the publication of the guidance from us at the british film commission today, we have provided a road map, a guidebook if you like. and that is £1 billion worth of production currently sitting mothballed or suspended around on uk studios. we hope to unlock that to help those film—makers and producers to a that, with rolling out workshops, with our partners the bfi and screen skills to start to explain the guidelines to start to explain the guidelines to people. people will be running their risk assessments and preproduction. we are confident with the app of the guidelines and everybody being really committed to working safely, that we can get

thousands of people back to work and millions of pounds worth of revenue back into uk plc very shortly. i would like to think that before the end of this summer, you will see the cameras rolling again on those large scale film and high—end television productions that bring so much into the uk. because i read a report it could bejuly, next month, that we might see some productions resuming and getting back into filming. well, i think that everyone now is grabbing this opportunity because we have consulted with the whole of the kind of workforce, the unions had been involved in this, or the employers have been involved, as well as all government departments, huge, huge cross industry effort to make this happen. and everyone wants to get back to work. so i think you will see those stalled or postponed 01’ will see those stalled or postponed or suspended production starting to move again and over the next few weeks, there will be a lot of preplanning. and as i say, i really do hope that we get production back very soon do hope that we get production back very soon and there is actually no reason, people follow the guidance and apply it in the way they should,

that they can't. all right, adrian wootton, chief executive of the british film commission, many thanks indeed for talking to us. thank you very much for your time. in england and wales, people who have been shielding — those who are clinically very vulnerable to coronavirus — can now exercise and meet people from another household outdoors. but some medical professionals are concerned that the changes have come too soon. they want to see the scientific evidence to show that it is safe. hywell griffith reports. after 11 weeks of shielding for derek, this is a day to savour. emphysema means his lungs are vulnerable. he knows covid—19 could kill him, but being confined to his home in treorchy for so long has been hard. he says this is the end of his house arrest. it's relief. you've got to be sensible. you won't see me on any beaches. you won't see me with any crowds. you've got to use your sense.

if you're not sensible, you're asking for trouble. you've got to keep your distance. from today, shielded patients in england and wales can go outdoors... nice to get out in the sunshine. ..and meet other people. the world they're going back into has changed considerably, but they're being assured that it is safe. now that we've passed the peak and the prevalence of covid—19 in the community has reduced significantly, we believe that the risk to those shielding is lower. for around 2.3 million patients in england and wales, this is a huge step, but it's one some are reluctant to take. the change in guidance came unexpectedly, with no clear reduction in the r number, or the rate at which the virus is reproducing. health charities say they're being inundated with questions which they're finding difficult to answer. does this mean it's the end of shielding? does this mean that my employer is going to now ask me to go back to work? i'm not ready for that,

i'm not confident with that. also, people are saying, well, actually, is it safe? the beaches are crowded, the parks, the beauty spots too. and in this kind of new world that's developing, is it now safe for me to go forward? the guidance on shielding in scotland and northern ireland hasn't changed. across the uk, there are calls for more tailored, patient—specific advice on what lies ahead for those most at risk. hywell griffith, bbc news, treorchy. we will talk to somebody who has been shielding. vince mayne, who had a kidney transplant in 2013, was one of those that received a text earlier this year telling him to shield. hejoins me now. thanks very much for being with us. so the restrictions on you and other shielded people, about 2 million people in england and wales, have been used today, are you going to ta ke been used today, are you going to take advantage, have you taken advantage of the easing on the restrictions? no, not yet. ithinki

will probably hang on a little bit. speaking to some transparent friends across the transplant support community, there is a real mixture of responses from people willing to go out straightaway to those waiting to ta ke go out straightaway to those waiting to take advice from their clinical units about what they should and should not do. and also those who are incredibly anxious about going back outside again. i guess from my perspective, the timing of this announcement comes on the back of primary schools going back today, thousands of people going to the beaches and other outdoor beauty spots over the weekend and probably not maintaining social distancing. soido not maintaining social distancing. so i do wonder what that will do to the r value and is itjust a poor piece of timing? so having shielded so farfor 11 weeks, a cup on the week's probably won't hurt and i will probably hang on for a bit and see what advice comes out in the future —— a couple of weeks. see what advice comes out in the future -- a couple of weeks. how desperate are you to get outside? if you don't mind me asking. what has it been like under lockdown as you had been shielding, not been able to

go outdoors, are you gagging to get outdoors or are you thinking, i am going to be patient, it simply isn't worth the risk? from my perspective, i quite like the outdoors. i spent most of my life outdoors coaching spot or otherwise. so it has been difficult. but i have a responsibility to my wife and my family, who had been through a lot already. and also, through shielding. because i can't go out and do shopping, they have had to do that and they wiped and the shopping when they bring it in. light switches and door handles. they are very careful about what they have to do to protect me. so it wouldn't be rightjust to do to protect me. so it wouldn't be right just to put do to protect me. so it wouldn't be rightjust to put my needs to go outside above the responsibility i have to them and the debt i owe. yes, i would love to go outside and go for a yes, i would love to go outside and go fora run yes, i would love to go outside and go for a run round the block or a bike ride, i am lucky i can exercise in my garden, i have a bike in the garage so i can still do exercise. looking at the end of my garden for the umpteenth week in a row, it's

not great, but it is what it needs to be. i think most transplant recipients have been to be much worse than this. so whilst it does affect your mental well—being, i think we can probably cope for the time being. so i would love to get outside, but i think i will wait for the time to be right. when you say wait for the time to be right, what will be the deciding factor? there are so many variables, the r rate and the rate of death, the rate of new hospital admissions and so on, there is what the scientists say and thatis there is what the scientists say and that is what your advisers say as well, i suppose, that is what your advisers say as well, isuppose, what that is what your advisers say as well, i suppose, what will be the decisive factor? i guess a combination of all of those things. the r value tells us one thing and the rate of deaths tells you something else. the rate of new infections. and i think looking at primary schools going back and the number of people breaking the social distancing guidelines over the weekend, i would distancing guidelines over the weekend, iwould imagine, i'm nota scientist in that area, i imagine that will have an impact on the rate of infection, but that will only come out in the next couple of

weeks. i think of all of those factors, they will have to be put into the mix. then there is that unknown factor about how you feel about it individually. everyone will make a decision based on their own experiences and feelings at the moment. i will try to make a judgment based on what i think is right. but with some good guidance behind it. and a lot of transplant recipients have a great relationship with the clinical units, they receive excellent support and great advice from them. they are the probably the people we will turn to, what do you think, how much of a risk is it to me given my clinical background? risk is it to me given my clinical background ? they risk is it to me given my clinical background? they know that incredibly well, what do they think is the right time for us to go out individually. vince mayne, very good to talk to you, thank you for your time. and stay safe. thank you very much. well, the daily coronavirus downing street briefing is due to get under way very shortly. and as is traditional, let's go to our chief political correspondent vicki young. interesting talking to

events, the government can say we are easing the lockdown for people who are shielded, but whether they ta ke who are shielded, but whether they take advantage of it is another matter and plenty people won't take advantage of it. yes, that summed it up. the risk doesn't go away completely. people will have to make their own decisions based on how relaxed they feel about that and how much risk they personally are willing to accept. and that is a very, very difficultjudgment willing to accept. and that is a very, very difficult judgment for people. but the government cannot force people to leave the house if they don't feel right about that and it works the other way as well. i think that is the stage we are at now as you start unlocking and lifting some of these restrictions, there is going to be more leeway and people are going to have to make their own decisions and so to an extent, it is about personal responsibility, whilst making sure that things like social distancing do continue and that has been a very clear message from the government. you can see from the activities they have started to allow, if you are

outside and social distancing, that is far, far safer than being indoors, which is why you are still not allowed to go round to people's houses apart from to walk through the house in order to go into the garden. things are not back to normal and the government would say they are easing back into this very, very carefully and keeping everything under review. so if things do start to change and transmission rate starts to go back up transmission rate starts to go back up again, they can bring restrictions back and they could do it locally, as long as of course, they can track where the outbreak is, and that is what we will hear about may be more today. it is matt hancock the health secretary who will be speaking to people and of course, that system of testing and chasing people's contacts has been controversial, lots of people saying they have got nothing to do at the moment working on that who —— and i'm sure he will asked about that. and testing capacity, he set the original target of 100,000 tests a day to be provided, the prime minister set the target of 200,000,

where exactly are we with testing capacity at the moment?” where exactly are we with testing capacity at the moment? i have talked about reaching at 200,000. it is important to say it is notjust testing whether you have coronavirus now, it also includes antibody testing. they are the tests that can work out whether you have previously had coronavirus and therefore have antibodies, and they hope, but they don't know for sure, some resistance to reinfection. that is the 200,000. but of course, all of that system is really crucial to being allowed to get the country back opened up even more, so there are lots of things that are not happening. senior schools are not back, pubs and restau ra nts schools are not back, pubs and restaurants are not open and the chancellor today talking about his hope that may be towards the beginning ofjuly, those things may start to happen when it comes to restau ra nts start to happen when it comes to restaurants opening back up and people's livelihoods and jobs, they wa nt to people's livelihoods and jobs, they want to get people back to work, but they want to do it in a way that is safe and having that system in place where if there is an outbreak, you can track the people and trace the

people who have been in contact in order to suppress the virus again is really important. and a lot of people are looking at that really to reassure them that it is safe to go back outside and start to get back to some kind of normality. this time last week we were talking head of the dominic cummings press conference in downing street and the prime minister said he wanted to move on and draw a line under that. do you think the covenant have managed to do that in the last few days? they have in the sense it is not on the front pages of the newspapers any more but that does not mean people will instantly forget what happened and i think that will be the worry amongst some in downing street but also conservative mps, who feel that actually, it really has had quite an impact, not on popularity, necessarily, but may be on trust in government, at a really crucial moment when people are going to be contacted and told, right, you have to go into isolation now because you have been in contact with somebody who has tested positive. it really depends, this whole thing come on

people following the rules and the guidance and i think that is the real fear, has it guidance and i think that is the realfear, has it had a lasting impact on the way people behave? again, it is very difficult to know whether that is the case or not. but again, there are lots of conservative mps who do feel that the prime minister has been personally harmed by this they he did not sack dominic cummings —— because he did not sack dominic cummings and wanted to keep them onside at a crucial time. and as you have been saying all through this crisis, it has been a balance for the government and liz crisis, it has been a balance for the government and linohnson, where to save lives or save the economy. “— where to save lives or save the economy. —— and borisjohnson. the difficulties of doing that, the delicate balance, and it is really that once again at this moment, what has been described as a dangerous moment once again. yeah, and i think of course at the beginning, all the focus was on hospitals in particular, on trying to save lives, and the health element of this, of course, was right at the top, it was

the priority. but of course, ministers and particularly those in the treasury have been well aware of the treasury have been well aware of the repercussions and they have brought in those schemes to try and help people to make sure they have still got money coming in and to make sure businesses can survive for something to go back to. here is the downing street briefing, matt hancock, the health secretary. good afternoon and welcome to downing street for today's coronavirus breathing. we are going to do things slightly differently today. i am going to go through the charts and i joined by professorjohn newton from the test and trace programme, and we will then answer questions from the public and from journalists. if there is one message that we have today, it is that it is incredibly important for anybody who has symptoms of coronavirus, a cough, or a fever, or a change in your sense of taste or smell, that you get a

test. it is by people coming forward to get the test, which you can get on the coronavirus section of the nhs website or by dialling 119, it is by getting those tests that we are able to identify those who have got the virus, ensuring you get the best possible treatment and ensuring that we can then trace the virus and that we can then trace the virus and that through that, we can control the virus. so that is the most important message and what everybody can do to help to control this virus. if we turn now to the slides, the first slide shows testing capacity and new cases. yesterday, there were 128,437 tests in the uk, meaning there has been a total of

4.48 million tests carried out since the start of this crisis. now of course, testing capacity stands at a higher level. testing capacity stands at 206,444, and this shows that there is extra capacity for more tests. tests are available right now on the website, if you go to nhs.uk/coronavirus right now on the website, if you go to nhs. uk/coronavirus or right now on the website, if you go to nhs.uk/coronavirus or by dialling 119. i wanted to highlight that because it is so important people come forward for a test and anyone who needs a test can get a test. if we stay at the previous slide, the next chart shows that there are 1570 cases confirmed as of yesterday, and this is the lowest number since the

25th of march. in total, 276,000 cases have been confirmed, but this number of 1570 shows that we have seen number of 1570 shows that we have seen continued downward progress in the number of new confirmed cases. next slide, please. we are getting this virus under control and this is why we can make the cautious, small, positive steps we have been able to make today. if we have been able to make today. if we look at the number of admissions with covid—19 to hospital, 479, that is down from a peak of 3121 on the 2nd of april. and the proportion of people on mechanical ventilators... the number that corresponds to that 996 the number that corresponds to that 9% people is that there are 606

people on mechanical ventilators. again, that is the lowest since late march. next slide, please. the picture is repeated across the country, where we have seen in almost every case the number of people in hospital with covid—19 is the lowest since late march, and as of yesterday, there were 7541 people in hospital with covid—19. if we can go to the final side, sadly, 39,045 people have died with coronavirus, confirmed with a positive test. that is 111 yesterday, again, the figure is 111 yesterday, again, the figure is the lowest figure since lockdown began on the 23rd of march. so we can see from these charts the pattern right across—the—boa rd, which is that on the substance, we

are making significant progress, but there is still more to be done. i just want to say a few notes of thanks to our volunteers responders, who in their hundreds of thousands have come forward and stepped up to the plate, thanks to the charities and the charity groups who are working so hard in very difficult times, thanks to colleagues in the nhs and in social care and also to the businesses, the pharmaceutical companies and the diagnostics companies and the diagnostics companies without whom we simply could not have mounted this response, to the pharmacists and dentists, and in very pleased that dentistry is going to restart from next week. and especially for their ha rd next week. and especially for their hard work and their understanding, all of the families who stand behind those on the front line. and at the start of pride season, i want to ta ke start of pride season, i want to take a moment, when we can't get together as we normally would, to thank all colleagues in the lgbt community who do so much in the nhs

and across social care. i think the data shows that the action plan is working, the data shows that we are winning the battle against coronavirus. today, we are therefore able to make some cautious changes to the lockdown rules, carefully and safely. 0f to the lockdown rules, carefully and safely. of course, these are balanced judgments, and we take these decisions very carefully. we must all remember that in the war against this virus, we are all on the same side. we have come so far together, we can take these steps together, we can take these steps together, but do not step too far. the disease is not done yet. we must not throwaway the progress that has been made, so please take your responsibilities seriously. if you have symptoms, you must get a test. if the nhs asks you to isolate, you must do so. and to everybody, please, stay alert, control virus, and save lives. we will now go

straight to questions. the first question is from a member of the public, nick from london on video. nick? with the coronavirus sending us into a deep recession that is likely to hurt the prospects of many school leavers and young people, what is the government planning to do to address this? thanks, nick, thatis do to address this? thanks, nick, that is a very important question. as well as the health response, we ta ke very as well as the health response, we take very seriously the economic response, especially towards those who are starting out in their careers, as you have mentioned, school leavers and young people, but actually, right across—the—boa rd. the amount of economic support we have put into the economy is unprecedented with the furlough scheme one of the most generous in the world, and the direct support for businesses, because ourjudgment

is that it is best to keep businesses up and running as much as is possible. we can't save everyone but keep them up and running as much as possible, therefore, to keep the jobs there for people to go back to as we get through this crisis. but it is also true that the economy is going to have to change. we are going to have to change. we are going to have to change. we are going to need a different type of economy as we come out of this end he will be hearing more about that from the chancellor and the prime minister who have been working so ha rd minister who have been working so hard on getting this right, in the weeks and months to come. it is an incredibly important question. we wa nt to incredibly important question. we want to support the economy, we have put that financial support in but we have to make sure the opportunities are there as well. have you anything to add? let's go to jail from warrington, who asks... the shielding advice was updated on 29th of may but did not indicate it will say for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable to go outside. what changed on the 30th of may to make it safe? thank you, jill. we

understand just how significant asking people to shield was and still is, because the shielding is still is, because the shielding is still very important. if you think about the impact of having to stay at home for ten weeks so far, and to have to take the extraordinary measures that were put in place to shield the clinically extremely vulnerable, that has been a very major step. and so when the clinical advice said that it was safe to be able to advise those who were shielded to be able to go outside as long as they stay two metres away from others, then i think that is a small step but a very positive step for those who have been shielding. and i know it has been very well received by those who are shielding, and therefore can just start to make

that positive change, just to be able to go outside, staying two metres away from others. so i am glad we were able to make that change. we announced it when it was safe and we were ready to do so. as i think you can see from the charts that we put up, one of the reasons we could make that change is that the rate of incidence of disease is now back down to the levels that it was before we introduced the shielding policy. but of course, the mainstay of the shielding policy, which is not to meet other people, remains in place, and is very important. it is just people can now, we think it is safe for people to go outside in a very cautious and careful way. john? just, secretary of state, as you say, to emphasise the main consideration is the rate of infection in the community at the time. as you have shown on the

slides, all of the indications are thatis slides, all of the indications are that is decreasing, albeit slowly and in fact, other surveillance data, public health england takes a wee kly data, public health england takes a weekly surveillance report from a whole range of other sources which are available on the web, and they also show reductions in the rate of infection, although, ithink also show reductions in the rate of infection, although, i think it is very important to say there are differences in different parts of the country and the rates are kept under review. all of these decisions are kept under review. thank you very much, and thank you for your question, jill. i think it is a very important subject. we now turn to hugh pym from the bbc. thank you very much, secretary of state. you have said that test and trace is vital to stopping the spread of the virus. we have heard reports from some contact tracers that since they started work in england last thursday, they have had very little, if anything to do. what do you think is actually happening with the system ? is actually happening with the system? thanks, i will say something and then i will askjohn to add to

that. the system is up and running. it is successful. i am very glad to report that those who are asked to isolate by the contact razors are expressing —— contact traces are expressing —— contact traces are expressing a willingness to do so and we tracked that very carefully. 0ne and we tracked that very carefully. one of the pieces of good news is that as the rate of incidence of new cases comes down, so that as the rate of incidence of new cases comes down, so of course there are fewer index cases to track, and we have hired, as you know, 25,000 people to work as contact tracers and the level of incidence of disease has come down and so actually, we have more capacity than we need. this is a good thing. the test and trace programme is working well, the data flowing from the testing portal into the contact

tracing software, which is all built relatively new so we are pleased to see that working well. and the contacts are being identified. there are different levels, there is a clinical public health level which looks at more complicated cases, for example, those arising in care homes or in outbreaks of some sort, and then there are cases where people can in fact enter their own contact details on the web—based portal, so that doesn't require the intervention of one of the call handlers, the contact tracers. then there are those who need to be contacted by the contact tracers and there are plenty of cases and contacts being reported and pursued in all three of those areas, so they are all working and working well. but as the secretary of state says, we do have a lot of capacity. we are very grateful for all those people who have come forward to work as contact tracers and at the moment, many of them are not fully occupied, but we wait and see. 0ne many of them are not fully occupied, but we wait and see. one of the challenges of this, of course, is to

build a system that can respond to whatever comes in the future and thatis whatever comes in the future and that is a little difficult to predict. we think there will be flare—ups in different part of the country and we will need to be able to divert resources as required, but we wait and see. but at the moment, it is working well. thanks very much. and i ask a follow—up? do you know how many contacts have been made since thursday because with nearly 2,000 new cases each day, you would have thought there would have been quite a lot of work for them to do, even with the fact is you have mentioned? if you think about it, the figures i announced today are that there were only 1570 new cases, which is lower than when we were planning this system. so i think you are on the side of having too many contact cases is the right side. i would rather have too many people trained and ready to go. we have 7,500

clinicians in the system, so for every new case, we have on average six clinicians able to support them. and also, one of the interesting things is the number of contacts that each index case has is a bit lower than we were expecting, which implies that people are following the social distancing rules and are not coming into contact with large numbers of people. but of course, that also reduces the demand on the contact tracers. thanks very much, the next question from tom clarke at itv. thanks very much, secretary of state. can i follow up on that question? around 9,000 people had tested positive for covid—19 since tested positive for covid—19 since test and trace was launched last week, how many have been contacted and how many of their contacts have been chased? i don't have those figures, i will askjohn to answer. but the answer is the vast majority. and of course, many of them are able to put the

details in on a web—based portal rather than directly on the phone. the figures are going to be available soon, but as the secretary of state says, the numbers of tests feeding through and contacts being identified are high. so we are very pleased with the level of completeness. so it is operating pretty much as we had hoped. 0f course, of the numbers of new cases, not all of them need to go into the contact tracing process. so if it is a case in a care home of somebody who has already been part of a known outbreak, or if the case indeed is already known to the public health service, then they don't need to be contact taste. but of those who are being contacts traced, a very high proportion of people are working with us to use the web—based system themselves or to provide us with the information. so we are really very pleased. and we did a trial in the isle of wight where we had some

expectations from that. and he said the numberof expectations from that. and he said the number of contacts are less then we had expected, secretary of state, thatis we had expected, secretary of state, that is less than what the modellers had in their models which they were using to base the effectiveness and they are similar to the numbers we we re they are similar to the numbers we were expecting from the isle of wight. in lockdown, people do not have that many close contacts outside the household. so the system is working well and we will be publishing some figures soon. i know everyone is very keen to see them. thanks very much. can i have a follow—up as well? them. thanks very much. can i have a follow-up as well? go ahead. as you said, surveillance of new outbreaks is essential as part of the test and trace system. i thought that was the job of the joint bio—security centre, does that centre exist yet? it has published the report as far asi it has published the report as far as i can see and has no website, can you update us on the joint bio—security centre? you update us on the joint bio-security centre? yes, we are getting it stood up and make sure

all of the information flows come to it so it is able to analyse them. and to make sure that it gets set up correctly. that, all that work is being done as we speak. but it doesn't exist yet? well, it is being formulated at the moment and pull together, yes. thanks very much. some coats. sky. secretary of state, if the r rate goes up or the second day rolling average star to plateau will go up, how likely is it that you would reimpose some of the blanket lockdown measures? because some people think you just won't do that under almost any circumstances. john newton, it is quite clear that you have a lot of data on the contact tracing system that you are choosing not to release today. can i

ask, will we get by the end of this week data on how many, what proportion of people with infections have been contacted by your army of contact tracers? there have been 3,500 people infected in the last two days, what proportion of them have been contacted by your contact tracers? will you reveal how many contacts have been chased for each infected individual, the average, you say you are tracking that but not giving us a figure today, and levels of compliance, how many of those that you phone up agree to isolate? matt hancock says a lot of people have expressed a willingness to do so. will we get each of those transparently released and why can't we have those now? thanks. on the point about the blanket measures, the truth is that we are attempting to move the system from these national blanket measures to a more targeted approach and this is why

test and trace is such an important pa rt test and trace is such an important part of that. but we have always said, we have always said that we are prepared to reintroduce measures, whether that is nationally or in response to a localised outbreak, if that is necessary. the steps that we are able to take today, they are cautious steps, they remove some of the most difficult parts of the lockdown, with the goal of course of keeping r below one, as one of the five tests that we wanted to meet. i have also been able to change the basis in law of the lockdown. because for the lockdown until today, the law has been that you can't leave your home except for reasons that are specifically set out and this is very unusual in english law, not the approach we traditionally have taken for hundreds of years. instead, we have

been able to flip the basis of the law back to specifically outlining things that you cannot do, as opposed to saying you can't do anything unless it is specifically provided for and i am very glad we have been able to change the basis of the law and get away from what was essentially the most authoritarian part of the system whilst, of course, having rules and guidance that have made some minor adjustments. i can see today, people are able to do a bit more than they we re are able to do a bit more than they were and we have seen people going back to school. and some of the small changes that we've made. but i would just emphasise that they are cautious, they are small and it is really important that we stick with it and we keep our resolve as a nation, because it is how we behave that affects the r, not the rules themselves. and on the second question, john. thank you, secretary

of state. they are new systems, they are quite complicated. there are a numberof are quite complicated. there are a number of different systems that have been stood up to deliver this and in orderto have been stood up to deliver this and in order to calculate the figures you are asking for, you need to draw those data together and integrate them. we know how important these numbers are and how much attention they get, so we are very keen that when we do report them, they are correct and accurate. and it's difficult to do that reliably. so i'm sorry, bear with us, we are still making sure that we get the reliable data. what we don't wa nt get the reliable data. what we don't want to do is produce data and then have to go back and correct it. so we will be producing it. we are monitoring them, but we would like to do monitoring them, but we would like todoa monitoring them, but we would like to do a little bit more work on the systems before we publish them. thanks very much. peter walker, from the guardian. hello. to both of you, ifi the guardian. hello. to both of you, if i could ask the same question. to follow u p if i could ask the same question. to follow up on the last question, dominic raab raised the idea that even certain parts of the country,

the infection rate goes up, the idea of the lockdown would be localised. in practice, how would that work. would it be for example to schools closing or would there be stricter rules, or would it be like a chinese style with restrictions on transport? and how would that work? because people can expect, given the very different infection rates in different parts of the country, that could come to pass? yes, taking local action to respond to a local flare—up is an incredibly important pa rt flare—up is an incredibly important part of the toolkit we have available to respond, if we need to. and this can take a range of options. for instance, shutting to new admissions in a hospital a&e if there were an outbreak in that hospital, that is one example. at a local level, the local director of public health has a statutory duty and responsibility and they would work with the regional public health england and nhs teams to make sure

that we got the response rate. the joint bio—security centre role is national, to provide the advice and information that would then be acted on locally. so the way to think of it is thejoint on locally. so the way to think of it is the joint bio—security centre has the information. it advises the cmo is of the uk, who in turn give advice to ministers and to local public health bodies through p so that architecture is now established. the jpc still formally needs to come into existence, but we are putting in place the data flow to argument the already significant work public health england do in this space. and the toolkit that is available, the things that we could do, which includes for instance changes to the hospital is that i mentioned, that toolkit is as broad as the legal toolkit that we have

nationally and that is set out in the 1984 public health act for england and wales. and in the releva nt england and wales. and in the relevant scottish and northern irish legislation, augmented by the coronavirus at 2020 that we passed a couple of months ago. john. thank you. just to add that this is outbreak control in different areas, this is likely to be used, this is what we have seen in other countries as well. the coronavirus flares up in certain areas. as the secretary of state described, there are a range of public health measures. it is really a whole system response. each area has, as well as a director of public health working for the local authority, there is a local resilience forum where the other services, fire service and police, contribute and look at measures that might be taken. it is likely the outbreaks will occur in certain areas and therefore, one of the

things which will be required is what we call mutual aid. so where an area has, for example, has to close area has, for example, has to close a certain unit, maybe it is an element of health care or social care, other areas can come in to help them. there are a number of things which need to be done if you have a local flare—up, some public health, saum —— some more to do with the system response. this is an extension of normal processes, but with a very different flavour because of the coronavirus. thanks, jamie from pulse magazine. you said earlier the change in shielding of advice was well received, but gps have said today in surgery, they had been inundated with patients anxious who don't understand why the advice has changed so quickly, announced on saturday night and on implemented monday morning. why has this been rushed through before patients and gps who they rely on for advice could understand it? thank you. it hasn't been rushed through, far from

it. we have worked for some time to make sure that any changes that we make, and these are small, cautious changes, can benefit people in a safe way. and so, as you say, we announced it at the weekend. and i think being able to make changes like this is important for people. it is important especially for those who are shilded. i think it is quite ha rd to who are shilded. i think it is quite hard to imagine for those of us, even those of us who are practising self—isolation, but have throughout been able to go out for instance to exercise, to understand the impact of shielding, of having by the guidance to stay in your own home. so absolutely, once we made the decision, in collaboration with all of the government bodies, we then communicated that decision and this

was the right time to be able to change that, to be able to change that advice. the final question from the owner from dumfriesshire newspapers. good evening. thousands of our readers need to travel from scotland into england every day for work, business, educational reasons. those people now face mixed messages as a lockdown eases on both sides of the border in different ways. so is it time to synchronise the easing of lockdown and have more uk wide messaging, includingjust lockdown and have more uk wide messaging, including just one test and trace system for the whole country? well, we worked very closely and very hard to try to ensure that the changes are made on auk ensure that the changes are made on a uk wide basis. after all, we face this virus as one country. i think to the very large extent, that is what has happened. there are some minor differences, but the major

principles of the changes and the lockdown rules are the same. i speak to my counterpart in the scottish government regularly. there is also interned guidance for what people should do at the border, for instance, those in england should not drive to scotland for recreation, so there are some specifics around the border. legally, of course, the powers to be able to amend the lockdown are devolved, and so i respect the scottish government's right to take slightly different... well, different decision should they want to and they have made in some cases some slightly different decisions and therefore, it is a consequence of devolution. but the overall responsibility for public health emergencies is of course a uk wide one and we will make sure that we move as closely as possible, given the different situations on the ground and the slightly different

shape of the pandemic in scotland. cani shape of the pandemic in scotland. can i ask another question as well? . white may be professor newton, so the scientific advice and obviously as the secretary of state said“ different in different parts of the uk so today, shielded people in scotla nd uk so today, shielded people in scotland still can't go out, unlike in england. so who is right and are the scottish and english teams working together, the scientific teams, working together or working independently? yes, yes, you are quite right to point out of course that the same evidence applies across the uk. we do work together. we have regular discussions and people, there is cross membership of the different advisory teams and we give very similar advice and we do try wherever possible to make the guidance the same or at least to have the same principles behind it. so every effort is made by scientific and clinical advisors to recognise what you say, the public

need clear advice and we need to make it the same across the uk but as the secretary of state has pointed out, the mechanisms for implementing the advice are different. some of that is the fact that we have different arrangements, so that we have different arrangements, so there are different organisations in different parts of the country, for example, the test and trace programme is implemented slightly differently in scotland, so you have slightly different bodies taking a different approach and sometimes these are political decisions and some of those are devolved. we do everything we can to simplify and unify, and over time, everything we can to simplify and unify, and overtime, the differences tend to get ironed out. but i fully accept your point. thank you very much indeed. that concludes our press briefing for today. we will seal again soon, no doubt. matt hancock, the health secretary, and professorjohn newton with our latest downing street briefing on the coronavirus pandemic, announcing that 111 people died yesterday having tested positive for

coronavirus, for covid—19. that is the lowest since the lockdown began, the lowest since the lockdown began, the health secretary said, the lowest death rate, taking the total uk deaths from coronavirus up to 39,045. but he also said that the key indicators were going down in the right direction, and we are getting this virus under control, matt hancock said. he said they are making significant progress but he also had a warning that the disease is not done yet. let'sjoin let's join vicki young, our chief political correspondent. cautious optimism from the health secretary, there. gas, and i think the tone was quite striking, wasn't it, talking about careful steps, small changes, being cautious, being balanced, and saying to people, don't step too far. 0bviously, saying to people, don't step too far. obviously, more freedoms for everybody, but actually, everybody has a responsibility to make sure they continue to follow the

guidelines, particularly the guidelines, particularly the guidelines about social distancing. i thought it was interesting that he a nswered i thought it was interesting that he answered more questions about the test and trace system. there's been lots of stories about people who have been recruited to do all of this but they have been sitting around with not much to do and i detected a slight note of irritation from matt hancock, there, saying the reason they have not got so much to do is because we have fewer cases, they are dropping the number of cases, and that is a good thing. so he is pointing out that they are prepared for what might come next and they don't know what that might be but if there are to be flare—ups of infection in certain places, they need to have people in place to do that, and also pointing out that contact traces deal with people, they phone them and speak to them in order to find out who they have been close to but in lockdown, people have not been near many other people so have not been near many other people so it's the moment, they might be sitting around slightly under occupied. it is a bit like the argument with the nightingale hospitals, not many of them were used and certainly not to capacity

but the government pointed out that was a positive thing. and also, matt hancock's message was very much that if you have the symptoms, go out and get tested. he said 128,000 tests we re get tested. he said 128,000 tests were carried out but capacity for testing is way more than that, more than 200,000. yes and i suppose again, it is partly that the emphasis at the moment is on easing restrictions, isn't it? we are all talking about the things we can now do rather than staying at home the whole time but of course, then that message is a bit deluded, the message is a bit deluded, the message is a bit deluded, the message is the same if you have got symptoms, then you are expected to isolate, you and those who lived with our expected to isolate —— you live with are expected to isolate, you are expected to get a test and then you are expected to make sure your contacts are traced. you can do that yourself on the internet, you don't have to speak to someone necessarily but i think going back to the basic message is that we all rememberfrom three to the basic message is that we all remember from three months ago, to the basic message is that we all rememberfrom three months ago, they have been slightly lost may be in the last few days as the emphasis is

much more on easing restrictions rather than bringing them in. he also said, as i mentioned, the disease is not done yet. if there are flare—ups in particular areas of the country, the government thinking about local lockdowns? yes, they have made clear they are willing to do that and matt hancock was asked about whether he would be willing to reimpose either national or local restrictions and he said yes they would be. but of course, looking at some of the pictures over the weekend, people on beaches and going out and of course, enjoying these new freedoms, then asking people to go back to how it was, of course, would be much harder. but he is making the point that if it were to happen, if they can detect any kind of flare—up and this is where this testing and tracing system is so important, that they can detect may be that there has been an outbreak in one particular place and you could take action and it could be a lot more precise. it does not necessarily have to be a national

lockdown, you can do it in local areas, so lockdown, you can do it in local areas, so it is less disruptive to everybody. for the moment, vicki young, many thanks again. our chief political correspondence, there. our health corresponded richard galpin joins me now. very much the emphasis from matt hancock, to go and get tested if you think you have the symptom. absolutely, he says it is absolutely crucial so they can identify the people with the virus and as you say, then they can trace them and their contacts. we have a number of statistics, i think we have a slide, and they are saying that at the moment, most recently, they have done 128,000 tests yesterday, but they have this capacity for more than 200,000. that is why i think they are appealing much more to people to come out and test. they have got the capacity and they can get more tests and the more tests are done, the better they can control the whole pandemic in this

country. it is vital. this contact tracing system that matt hancock was asked about by journalists tracing system that matt hancock was asked about byjournalists who say some of this army of contact tracers that have been established, thousands of them, some of them are twiddling their thumbs. yes, it looks that way and actually, downing street put out a statement earlier saying that the test and trace system, they are using the phrase world beating but they are saying it is not in its final state of operation. they are saying work is under way to get tests to people and then their contacts are traced. they are admitting it is a work in progress. we know obviously there have been problems with it, particularly of course with the app which has been trialled on the isle of wight, a lot of work still to do with that. but the manual, the people doing the contact tracing, thatis people doing the contact tracing, that is clearly up and running and it seems to be proving to be effective. it looks like it. they are saying the number of tests and contacts trace is high and the system is working well, they are

saying stuff like they would not give numbers on that, though they promised they would come up with numbers in the nearfuture. but generally, in terms of the death rates and the number of new cases and so on in hospital admission. those numbers are all coming down and there is cautious optimism from matt hancock. yes, definitely, he was painting a better picture than we have had, certainly. yes, the numbers he is saying are coming down quite significantly. he was saying the number of deaths is now the lowest since march, the admissions to hospital are down, the number of patients on mechanical ventilators in hospital is also down. and the number of people in hospital with covid is the lowest since mid—march. he was highlighting all of the statistics which seem to be, on the face of it, very positive. for the moment, thank you very much indeed, richard galpin, our health corresponded. so, a lot of discussion

in that news conference about the test and trace scheme, a key part of the country's move out of lockdown. but how exactly does it work, and when might you have to use it? let's take a look. test and trace schemes help tell us where coronavirus is and how it is spreading. this is a race. the sooner infectious people are found, the less the virus spreads. first, test the people who are isolating at home with covid—19 symptoms. if someone tests positive, then it goes to stage two, trace. in the uk, contact tracers ask the infected person about their close contacts, people they have recently been less than two metres from for more than 15 minutes. of course, if you get closer to someone, for instance kiss them or have a face—to—face conversation with them, from less than a metre, you will be contacted no matter how long the time period. if people are following social distancing rules, this shouldn't be a long list. it could include friends, family, housemates, co—workers. these people will also be told

to stay at home for 14 days, whether they feel ill or not. they should only get tested if they develop symptoms themselves. that is what happens with people you know, but what about those you don't? some countries use a contact tracing app to track people's movements and find those strangers, and to alert those who need to self—isolate. if you are self isolating in the uk, you are entitled to statutory sick pay, and you should isolate every time you are told to, even if you have had covid—19 before. so you test and trace people to track down the virus and help countries move out of lockdown. the first minister for scotland nicola sturgeon has given an update on the situation in scotland. she said the vast majority of people followed the new measures over the weekend. however, some people did break the rules. on saturday, there were 797 dispersals by police scotland, five times higher than the figure from the previous saturday. and on sunday, road use was up

by 70% on the previous sunday. it is very hard to see how all that can have been caused by local residents or people travelling a reasonable distance to meet loved ones. so we will be considering all of this as we continue, as we must do, to assess the impact of the phase one changes. last week, we deliberately allowed some flexibility when we changed the lockdown restrictions. we recommended people not to travel more than five miles for recreation but we left room for some discretion so that you can go 01:14:31,036 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 further to visit family.