Coronavirus news: UK has reached 200,000 daily testing target, government claims after Raab admits he did not know Cummings was self-isolating in Durham when he acted PM
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The UK government claimed it had reached its testing capacity target of 200,000-a-day, amid mounting concerns about the effectiveness of the test and trace system ahead of the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab was unable to say how many people have so far been traced under the new scheme, which he claimed could cope with 10,000 new patients a day, after it emerged that PHE had capacity only to trace the contacts of five patients a week when contact-tracing was first abandoned in March.
Mr Raab also admitted he “wasn’t aware” that Dominic Cummings was in Durham while deputising as PM during Boris Johnson’s hospitalisation. Dozens of leading scientists and public health experts have warned Mr Johnson that the scandal has “badly damaged” public trust in the government, which they deemed essential to reduce the risk of a second wave.
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More than 8,000 cases reported in single day in India
More than 8,000 new cases have been reported in a single day, another record high that topped the deadliest week in the country.
The health ministry said confirmed infections have risen to 182,143, with 5,164 fatalities - including 193 in the last 24 hours.
More than 60 per cent of the overall virus fatalities have been reported from only two states - Maharashtra, the financial hub, and Gujarat, the home state of prime minister Narendra Modi.
The new cases are largely concentrated in six Indian states, including the capital New Delhi.
Tory vice chair accuses 'hard-left' teachers' union of 'chasing headlines' on cautioning against schools reopening
'It is sad to see Labour and the hard-left NEU chasing headlines rather than acknowledging the facts around the phased, cautious wider opening of schools," said Caroline Johnson, vice chair of the Conservative Party.
"Throughout this pandemic the government has engaged closely with the unions, schools and local authorities, and that engagement continues.
"Having reviewed the scientific and medical advice from Sage, all of us want to ensure children can get the education they need whilst ensuring the risk of transmission is very low."
Nicola Sturgeon urged to draw up 'radical response to the double crises of climate change and coronavirus'
Campaigners from 80 organisations across Scotland are calling for a meeting with the First Minister to present ideas on ensuring a "truly just and green recovery" from Covid-19.
In a letter to Ms Sturgeon, the groups insist a return "to business as usual" is "both unrealistic and undesirable".
"Decisions made in times of crisis have long-lasting consequences. After the 2008 financial crisis, inequality grew and climate emissions spiralled," they wrote. "We want to see this moment seized for the common good, not repeat the mistakes of the past."
The groups, which include Friends of the Earth Scotland, Oxfam Scotland, Poverty Alliance, Children in Scotland, Christian Aid Scotland and Extinction Rebellion Scotland argue existing inequalities across society are being "exacerbated" by the pandemic and climate change, leaving the poorest to suffer the most.
But they insist: "The recovery from coronavirus is a rare chance to markedly accelerate the repurposing of government away from the prioritisation of economic growth and towards goals of wellbeing and sustainability, ending inequality and environmental destruction. This is a time for system change."
They want to see expanded public ownership of public services and a redistribution of wealth, which they say must "ensure all public workers receive at least the real living wage".
The indy100 has rounded up the reaction to deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam's surprisingly frank take on the Dominic Cummings saga.
"In my opinion, the rules are clear and they have always been clear. In my opinion, they are for the benefit of all. In my opinion, they apply to all," Prof Van-Tam said at the end of Saturday's Downing Street briefing.
Boris Johnson had previously blocked questions on the subject to the chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who both also said they did not want to be involved in politics.
Hundreds protest in Trafalgar Square after George Floyd killed by US police
In what is likely the largest protest in the UK since lockdown began, hundreds of demonstrators have gathered in Trafalgar Square to honour George Floyd - a black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis - and to protest alleged police brutality in the UK.
Many kneeled, and repeated “No justice, no peace” and “Say my name, George Floyd”, in reference to the campaigning civil rights group, Jane Dalton reports.
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Others held up placards saying “Racism has no place” and “I can’t breathe” – thought to have been among Mr Floyd’s last words to the police officer, who had handcuffed him during his arrest.
The US has been rocked by days of protests and riots, which have spread to the White House and Trump Tower. The president has threatened protesters with "the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen" if they breached the hastily erected wall around the White House.
Spain's PM requests 15 further days of lockdown to 'finish with pandemic once and for all'
"We have almost set out what we set out to do," Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday, expressing intense relief that the number of new cases of Covid-19 had fallen dramatically.
If parliament approves the proposed extension, from 21 June the national state of emergency will end and with it the lockdown, allowing citizens to move freely in their regions. From 1 July, citizens will be able to move throughout the country.
Spain's death toll rose by four on Saturday to 27,125, the health ministry said, while the number of infections rose by 271 overnight to 239,228 on Saturday.
Despite opposition to the most recent lockdown extension from parties on the right and demonstrations across Spain, Mr Sanchez has struck a deal with a Catalan separatist party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) which should guarantee his minority government secures enough support to extend the lockdown.
Lib Dems 'deeply worried' about reopening schools
"Ministers have repeatedly claimed to be guided by science through this crisis yet a number of scientists - including members of Sage - have expressed concern about the easing of lockdown," said Lib Dem education spokesperson Layla Moran.
"It's deeply worrying that plans to reopen schools tomorrow are going ahead despite the fact that the Covid-19 risk is still classified as 'high'.
"We all want to see children back in schools as an urgent priority. But not if this risks a new Covid-19 spike. The government must guarantee that public health will not be put at risk as a result of a premature or rushed effort to get children back into classrooms."
Government appears significantly short of looming 200,000 daily testing target on penultimate day
Boris Johnson has pledged to expand capacity to 200,000 daily tests by the end of May, meaning today is the day by which the target needs to be met.
On Wednesday, Matt Hancock said capacity was at 161,000. However, daily Department of Health figures published at 9.30pm on Saturday show just 127,722 tests were carried out on Friday.
Some 3,286 people tested positive on Friday, however ONS analysis suggests the true figure is around 8,000 new infections per day.
No data has been published on the number of people tested for more than a week, which the government says is "to ensure consistent reporting".
Wales official death toll rises by 11 to 1,342
Another 82 people have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 13,995.
Northern Ireland announces one more coronavirus fatality
Stormont's health department says one more person has died from Covid-19 related illness in Northern Ireland, bringing the overall death toll to 523. An extra seven positive cases brought the mainly hospital-related number of cases to 4,716.
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