Business secretary Alok Sharma has announce the government will commit a further £84m to the vaccine trial being conducted by Oxford University and Imperial College London to help a mass roll-out of the treatment with UK patients being treated as a priority.
Meanwhile Dame Carolyn Fairbairn told Sky News’ Ridge on Sunday that restoring aviation links would be a “powerful” boost to the UK economy after lockdown and warned that aerospace and manufacturing businesses are “really worried” about the obstacles quarantine would cause to movements of critical workers.
This comes as Michael Gove admitted that there was no way of being certain teachers and children will not catch coronavirus if they return to the classroom – just moments after claiming he could “guarantee” schools are safe.
Follow the latest updates below:
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are the latest developments from across the globe:
- Barack Obama has attacked the Trump administration’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic during a speech on Saturday, telling college graduates that the crisis shows many "aren't even pretending to be in charge." He added: "More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they're doing."
- Prime minister Boris Johnson has called for more patience from the nation as it plots a course back to normality, saying he is backing the British public's fortitude and common sense to help the country recover. Mr Johnson said he could "understand people will feel frustrated with some of the new rules" but urged Britons to remain patient so that the country "does not risk reversing the gains we have so far won in the fight against the virus".
- The UK government is to invest £93 million to bring forward the opening of a new vaccine-manufacturing centre ready to begin production if a coronavirus vaccine is found. The not-for-profit facility - located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxford - will have the capacity to produce enough doses for the entire UK population in as little as six months.
- Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has warned Boris Johnson he faces a "fracturing of national unity" if he ignores concerns of the regions in the coronavirus outbreak. Mr Burnham said the prime minister had failed to inform civic leaders of his easing of the lockdown restrictions in advance - even though they were the ones who had to deal with demands on the transport system.
- Italian premier Giuseppe Conte acknowledged reopening the economy brings a risk of new outbreaks of coronavirus, but said "we must accept it". He said the nationwide lockdown that began in early March had brought "the expected results", putting the country in a position to expand economic activity in the second phase of reopening.
- Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said he will ask Parliament for what he hopes will be the last extension of a state of emergency to battle the pandemic, until around late June. Tourism, which accounts for 12 per cent of GDP, looks set to lose its critical summer season.
- South Korean authorities reported 13 new cases of coronavirus over a 24-hour period, raising hopes a fresh outbreak linked to nightclubs in Seoul may be waning. The additional figures released on Sunday by the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention brought the national tally to 11,050 with 262 deaths.
- Venezuela has reported its biggest one-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic hit the South American nation. Vice-president Delcy Rodriguez said the 45 new cases bring Venezuela's total to 504, with 10 deaths. Officials have reported a relatively low number of cases since the first were discovered in mid-March.
'Expect to see an even greater fracturing of national unity'
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has warned Boris Johnson he faces a "fracturing of national unity" if he ignores concerns of the regions in the coronavirus outbreak.
Mr Burnham said the Prime Minister had failed to inform civic leaders of his easing of the lockdown restrictions in advance - even though they were the ones who had to deal with demands on the transport system.
While the announcement came as cases of the disease were falling in the South East, Mr Burnham said that he believed it had come too soon for the North.
Writing in The Observer, he warned that without additional support for the regions, there was a danger of a "second spike" in the disease which could in turn pass back through the Midlands to London.
His intervention comes amid growing signs of unhappiness with Mr Johnson's handling of the crisis in other parts of the country.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has warned Boris Johnson he faces a "fracturing of national unity" if he ignores concerns of the regions in the coronavirus outbreak.
Mr Burnham said the Prime Minister had failed to inform civic leaders of his easing of the lockdown restrictions in advance - even though they were the ones who had to deal with demands on the transport system.
While the announcement came as cases of the disease were falling in the South East, Mr Burnham said that he believed it had come too soon for the North.
Writing in The Observer, he warned that without additional support for the regions, there was a danger of a "second spike" in the disease which could in turn pass back through the Midlands to London.
His intervention comes amid growing signs of unhappiness with Mr Johnson's handling of the crisis in other parts of the country.
"If the government carries on in the same vein, expect to see an even greater fracturing of national unity. Different places will adopt their own messaging and policies," he said.
"Nervousness in the north about the R number will see more councils adopt their own approach on schools, as Liverpool, Gateshead and Hartlepool are doing. Arguments will increase about funding.
"And if we don't get the help we need, there is a risk of a second spike here which, in turn, will pass the infection back down the country through the Midlands to London."
Government invests £93m in vaccine-manufacturing centre
The UK government is to invest £93 million to bring forward the opening of a new vaccine-manufacturing centre ready to begin production if a coronavirus vaccine is found.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) said the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) will now open in summer 2021 - 12 months earlier than planned.
The not-for-profit facility - located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxford - will have the capacity to produce enough doses for the entire UK population in as little as six months.
A further £38 million is being invested in a rapid deployment facility which will be able to begin manufacturing at scale from the summer of this year if a vaccine becomes available before the new centre is complete.
Officials said the VMIC would also boost the UK's long-term capacity for dealing with future viruses and accelerate the production of vaccines for existing illnesses such as the flu virus.
The UK government is to invest £93 million to bring forward the opening of a new vaccine-manufacturing centre ready to begin production if a coronavirus vaccine is found.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) said the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) will now open in summer 2021 - 12 months earlier than planned.
The not-for-profit facility - located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxford - will have the capacity to produce enough doses for the entire UK population in as little as six months.
A further £38 million is being invested in a rapid deployment facility which will be able to begin manufacturing at scale from the summer of this year if a vaccine becomes available before the new centre is complete.
Officials said the VMIC would also boost the UK's long-term capacity for dealing with future viruses and accelerate the production of vaccines for existing illnesses such as the flu virus.
'A lot them aren’t even pretending to be in charge'
Former US president Barack Obama has criticised the Trump administration’s response to the Covid-19 crisis in a rare public rebuke, saying the pandemic shows many officials "aren't even pretending to be in charge."
“More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” he said during an online speech on Saturday. “A lot them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”
Mr Obama was speaking on "Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition," a two-hour event for students graduating from historically black colleges and universities broadcast on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
His remarks were unexpectedly political, given the venue, and touched on current events beyond the virus and its social and economic impacts.
As he congratulated graduates and commiserated over the difficult world they face, the former president noted the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, 25, who was killed while jogging on a residential street in Georgia in February.
"Let's be honest: A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communicates have historically had to deal with in this country," Mr Obama said.
Former US president Barack Obama has criticised the Trump administration’s response to the Covid-19 crisis in a rare public rebuke, saying the pandemic shows many officials "aren't even pretending to be in charge."
“More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” he said during an online speech on Saturday. “A lot them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”
Mr Obama was speaking on "Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition," a two-hour event for students graduating from historically black colleges and universities broadcast on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
His remarks were unexpectedly political, given the venue, and touched on current events beyond the virus and its social and economic impacts.
As he congratulated graduates and commiserated over the difficult world they face, the former president noted the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, 25, who was killed while jogging on a residential street in Georgia in February.
"Let's be honest: A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communicates have historically had to deal with in this country," Mr Obama said.
PM accepts public frustration over lockdown amid growing disproval rates
Prime minister Boris Johnson has called for more patience from the nation as it plots a course back to normality, saying he is backing the British public's fortitude and common sense to help the country recover.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has called for more patience from the nation as it plots a course back to normality, saying he is backing the British public's fortitude and common sense to help the country recover.
Writing for the Mail on Sunday, Mr Johnson acknowledged frustrations over Government plans for emerging from the coronavirus lockdown.
Restrictions in England have been eased - and the Government message softened from "stay at home" to "stay alert" - but Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have not followed suit.
With debate over reopening of schools and return to work raging, an Opinium survey released this weekend has shown public dissatisfaction with the Government's response to Covid-19 has overtaken approval for the first time.
Mr Johnson said he could "understand people will feel frustrated with some of the new rules" but urged Britons to remain patient so that the country "does not risk reversing the gains we have so far won in the fight against the virus".
"We are trying to do something that has never had to be done before - moving the country out of a full lockdown, in a way which is safe and does not risk sacrificing all of your hard work," he wrote.
"I recognise what we are now asking is more complex than simply staying at home, but this is a complex problem and we need to trust in the good sense of the British people.
"If we all stick at it, then we'll be able, gradually, to get rid of the complexities and the restrictions... but we must move slowly, and at the right time."
China reports five new cases of Covid-19
China reported five new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, as Shanghai announced the restart of classes for many young children from 2 June.
Of the new cases, two were imported and three were domestic infections in the north-eastern province of Jilin that has seen a small spike in cases of unknown origin.
In Shanghai, pupils retain the option of continuing to follow classes online rather than facing virus testing and social distancing measures to be imposed at schools.
China reported five new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, as Shanghai announced the restart of classes for many young children from 2 June.
Of the new cases, two were imported and three were domestic infections in the north-eastern province of Jilin that has seen a small spike in cases of unknown origin.
In Shanghai, pupils retain the option of continuing to follow classes online rather than facing virus testing and social distancing measures to be imposed at schools.
As in Beijing and other cities, Shanghai has already restarted classes for older pupils preparing for exams.
No new deaths have been reported for the past month, but Jilin added one fatality retrospectively, bringing China's total to 4,634 out of 82,947 cases reported since the outbreak was first detected in the central city of Wuhan late last year.
Conte: 'We must accept the risks'
Italian premier Giuseppe Conte acknowledged reopening the economy brings a risk of new outbreaks of coronavirus, but said "we must accept it".
Italian premier Giuseppe Conte acknowledged reopening the economy brings a risk of new outbreaks of coronavirus, but said "we must accept it".
He said the nationwide lockdown that began in early March had brought "the expected results", putting the country in a position to expand economic activity in the second phase of reopening.
Shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, hairdressers and museums are among the business and cultural activities that can resume from Monday. Gyms and swimming pools can reopen a week after. Travel between regions and into Italy from abroad will be permitted from 3 June.
Mr Conte said the country must accept the risks and open before the availability of a vaccine. But he said an extensive monitoring system is in place and the government will intervene to close areas if there are new outbreaks.
'Tourism needs security. It needs health guarantees'
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said he will ask Parliament for what he hopes will be the last extension of a state of emergency to battle the pandemic, until around late June.
Tourism, which accounts for 12 per cent of GDP, looks set to lose its critical summer season.
"Spain needs tourism," Mr Sanchez said. "But tourism needs security. It needs health guarantees."
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said he will ask Parliament for what he hopes will be the last extension of a state of emergency to battle the pandemic, until around late June.
Tourism, which accounts for 12 per cent of GDP, looks set to lose its critical summer season.
"Spain needs tourism," Mr Sanchez said. "But tourism needs security. It needs health guarantees."
'There's a very different picture in the north'
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has called for the government to publish the R value per region in England to help communities ease lockdown restrictions.
The former Labour MP wrote in the Observer on Sunday that the prime minister could fracture national unity unless he listens to regional concerns, adding the lifting of measures came too quickly for the north.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has called for the government to publish the R value per region in England to help communities ease lockdown restrictions.
The former Labour MP wrote in the Observer on Sunday that the prime minister could fracture national unity unless he listens to regional concerns, adding the lifting of measures came too quickly for the north.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast he called for the Government to publish a regional breakdown of the R value to give people confidence they are making the right decisions at the right time, including on the reopening of schools.
He said: "People do not have the R information at the moment. They can get it, but it's not formally published by the government.
"There's a very different picture in the north, particularly in the north east, where the R is the highest, so I can understand concerns [about lifting lockdown measures].
"Let's get back around the table, look at the evidence and have some flexibility in terms of how [children] return to school because it will be different for different places."
Sunday's front pages:
Former education secretary says concerns over reopening of schools 'totally understandable'
Damian Hinds, former Conservative education secretary, told BBC Breakfast it is "totally understandable" that people have concerns about their children returning to school and that he would expect teaching unions to be thinking about their members, adding this is "absolutely right".
He added that he thinks "the time is right now" for pupils to begin to return, saying "there is a lot scientific advice and analysis gone into this".
Damian Hinds, former Conservative education secretary, told BBC Breakfast it is "totally understandable" that people have concerns about their children returning to school and that he would expect teaching unions to be thinking about their members, adding this is "absolutely right".
He added that he thinks "the time is right now" for pupils to begin to return, saying "there is a lot scientific advice and analysis gone into this".
Mr Hinds said there is "flexibility" in the government's plans, so that if there is an outbreak of Covid-19 in one part of the country, there can be a response to that.
Shadow cabinet office minister Rachel Reeves meanwhile said the reopening of schools is a "difficult balancing act" as social distancing, particularly for young children, is "really, really tough" along with the wearing of face masks.
She told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "It is really important for the education of our young people, but also for their mental health and wellbeing, that they are back in school as soon as it is safe to do so.
"To do that we need to work together, the government needs to work with teachers and parents, but also government needs to put in place some of the measures to improve confidence."
Shadow cabinet office minister Rachel Reeves meanwhile said the reopening of schools is a "difficult balancing act" as social distancing, particularly for young children, is "really, really tough" along with the wearing of face masks.
She told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "It is really important for the education of our young people, but also for their mental health and wellbeing, that they are back in school as soon as it is safe to do so.
"To do that we need to work together, the government needs to work with teachers and parents, but also government needs to put in place some of the measures to improve confidence."
South Korean health expert calls for caution over recent Seoul outbreak
South Korea's top anti-disease official has said it is too early to have an optimistic view that recent coronavirus outbreaks linked to nightlife spots in Seoul have been suppressed.
Jung Eun-kyeong, director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, made the comment hours after her agency reported 13 additional cases - the second day in a row that the daily jump was below 20.
Ms Jung said the recent outbreaks have not yet shown "explosive" surges in infections. But she noted the incubation periods for those who recently visited night clubs in Seoul's Itaewon entertainment are have not ended and a large number of people who came into contact with those clubgoers are still under quarantine.
She said 168 new patients have so far been found linked to Itaewon clubs. Of those, 89 visited the establishments and 79 came into contact with them.
Five of the 13 new cases reported on Sunday are associated with Itaewon clubs, she added.
South Korea's top anti-disease official has said it is too early to have an optimistic view that recent coronavirus outbreaks linked to nightlife spots in Seoul have been suppressed.
Jung Eun-kyeong, director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, made the comment hours after her agency reported 13 additional cases - the second day in a row that the daily jump was below 20.
Ms Jung said the recent outbreaks have not yet shown "explosive" surges in infections. But she noted the incubation periods for those who recently visited night clubs in Seoul's Itaewon entertainment are have not ended and a large number of people who came into contact with those clubgoers are still under quarantine.
She said 168 new patients have so far been found linked to Itaewon clubs. Of those, 89 visited the establishments and 79 came into contact with them.
Five of the 13 new cases reported on Sunday are associated with Itaewon clubs, she added.
CBI chief urges government to rethink quarantine plans
Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), has urged the government to “think very carefully” about its proposed 14-day quarantine for people arriving in the UK, warning businesses are worried it will put the brakes on economic recovery.
"I've been hearing from businesses in aerospace and manufacturing who are really worried about this potential quarantine,” Dame Carolyn told Sky News.
"We would like to see an international standard. At the moment you've got different countries doing different things and that is very bad for global trade.
"We do ask the government to think very carefully about how this is introduced so that it doesn't put the brakes on our economy in this fragile recovery."
She added the idea of health of the nation versus health of the economy was a "false dichotomy".
Dame Carolyn added: "You cannot have a strong economy without public safety. The worst thing that could happen would be another lockdown. These two objectives go hand in hand.
"We should not be seeing these two things in conflict."
Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), has urged the government to “think very carefully” about its proposed 14-day quarantine for people arriving in the UK, warning businesses are worried it will put the brakes on economic recovery.
"I've been hearing from businesses in aerospace and manufacturing who are really worried about this potential quarantine,” Dame Carolyn told Sky News.
"We would like to see an international standard. At the moment you've got different countries doing different things and that is very bad for global trade.
"We do ask the government to think very carefully about how this is introduced so that it doesn't put the brakes on our economy in this fragile recovery."
She added the idea of health of the nation versus health of the economy was a "false dichotomy".
Dame Carolyn added: "You cannot have a strong economy without public safety. The worst thing that could happen would be another lockdown. These two objectives go hand in hand.
"We should not be seeing these two things in conflict."
BREAKING: More than 17,000 of the promised 18,000 coronavirus contact tracers have now been recruited and the government is “on track” to get the crucial programme operational, cabinet minister Michael Gove has said.
Read more below:
Read more below:
'Many people are reporting deteriorating mental health'
The chief executive of Mind has said the mental health charity is concerned about an "emerging mental health crisis" due to the lockdown.
Speaking to Sky News, Paul Farmer said while one million people have downloaded information from the Mind website in the past few weeks, immediate action is needed to support mental health services.
The chief executive of Mind has said the mental health charity is concerned about an "emerging mental health crisis" due to the lockdown.
Speaking to Sky News, Paul Farmer said while one million people have downloaded information from the Mind website in the past few weeks, immediate action is needed to support mental health services.
He said: "The positive from the last few years is that more people have been more aware of their own mental health and have sought out information and support.
"We do seem to be in this slight paradoxical situation where many people are reporting deteriorating mental health but the NHS is reporting a decline in numbers of referrals into the mental health system.
"We do think it's incredibly important to stress that mental health services are very much open for people to approach them.
"We think that services are going to come under considerable pressure over the next few months and it's absolutely vital that appropriate action is taken now to put in place the resources and the support that's needed to cope with what's likely to be a significant mental health surge over the next few months."
Lockdown has put celebrations on hold for people across the globe, but for Sara-Ella Ozbek it led her to reconsider the milestone moment she had been worried about.
'Aviation is the lifeblood of the UK economy'
Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye has urged the government to begin planning to reopen airports in order to rebuild the country's economy.
The chief executive of Heathrow Airport said 40 per cent of the UK's exports go on passenger planes from Heathrow.
Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye has urged the government to begin planning to reopen airports in order to rebuild the country's economy.
The chief executive of Heathrow Airport said 40 per cent of the UK's exports go on passenger planes from Heathrow.
"What we need to do is start planning ahead for how we start to reopen our borders as many other countries are doing," he told Sky News. "So we can start to get the economy back on its feet.
"This is not just about going on holiday," he added.
"Aviation is the lifeblood of the UK economy, so many manufacturers rely on the supply chain coming by air, their exports go by air."
‘I will not be masked, tracked, chipped or vaccinated. This will not be my new normal. I do not consent.’
Home affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden yesterday met the conspiracy theorists happy to break the law to oppose what they see as the ‘tyranny’ of coronavirus restrictions.
Home affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden yesterday met the conspiracy theorists happy to break the law to oppose what they see as the ‘tyranny’ of coronavirus restrictions.
Read her report below:
Watch: Government close to reaching target of 18,000 contact tracers, Michael Gove says
Michael Gove today admitted that there was no way of being certain teachers and children will not catch coronavirus if they return to the classroom - just moments after claiming he could “guarantee” schools are safe, reports political editor Andrew Woodcock.
The cabinet minister urged teaching unions and doctors to 'think again' about opposition to reopening classrooms from 1 June, as proposed by the government.
Asked on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show whether he could "guarantee" that teachers going back to school will be safe, Mr Gove said firmly: "Yes."
But moments later, he admitted that an element of risk would remain, telling Mr Marr: "The only way ever to ensure that you never catch coronavirus is to stay at home completely. There's always, always, always in any loosening of these restrictions a risk of people catching the coronavirus."
Read more below:
The cabinet minister urged teaching unions and doctors to 'think again' about opposition to reopening classrooms from 1 June, as proposed by the government.
Asked on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show whether he could "guarantee" that teachers going back to school will be safe, Mr Gove said firmly: "Yes."
But moments later, he admitted that an element of risk would remain, telling Mr Marr: "The only way ever to ensure that you never catch coronavirus is to stay at home completely. There's always, always, always in any loosening of these restrictions a risk of people catching the coronavirus."
Read more below:
