Boris Johnson has raised concerns that a second wave of the virus could strike the UK if social distancing measures are not adhered to - while urging members of the public not to use rainy weather as an excuse to bring gatherings indoors.
It comes as fears that MPs are being unnecessarily exposed to the virus by returning to Westminster mount as the Business Secretary Alok Sharma - who appeared visibly unwell in the chamber - was tested for the virus.
Meanwhile Italy, once the European epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic, is to reopen its borders to travellers from most European countries from Wednesday, while also lifting restrictions on domestic travel.
Good morning and welcome to today's live blog, we'll be bringing you rolling updates on the coronavirus crisis across the globe.
Hopes Brits will be able to go on holiday this year
Health minister Edward Argar has said he hopes people will be able to go on holiday later this year.
He told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm not going to say a particular date on when that might happen because we will have to be guided by how the disease behaves, controlling any risk of a second wave and controlling the disease.
Health minister Edward Argar has said he hopes people will be able to go on holiday later this year.
He told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm not going to say a particular date on when that might happen because we will have to be guided by how the disease behaves, controlling any risk of a second wave and controlling the disease.
"I hope that people will be able to go on holiday at some point this year, but I can't make that promise and because I have to be cautious and go with the science and I don't have that forward view yet of how a second wave or otherwise might behave."
Mr Argar also told Sky News: “I really hope that people will be able to enjoy a holiday later this year but it is hugely important that I say we can only do things like that when the infection rate and when the risk of a second spike are so reduced.”
Guernsey becomes first to reopen pubs
Guernsey has become the first place in the British Isles to reopen pubs this week, as it entered phase four of its coronavirus lockdown plan with no known Covid-19 cases remaining.
Guernsey has become the first place in the British Isles to reopen pubs this week, as it entered phase four of its coronavirus lockdown plan with no known Covid-19 cases remaining.
In addition to pubs, hairdressers, gyms, restaurants, cafes, museums and cinemas have also been allowed to welcome customers again.
Initially pubs and bars not serving meals were warned they would need to remain closed even when other businesses reopened, but that continued closure now just applies to nightclubs.
And with venues serving food re-opening on Saturday, all other pubs were allowed to follow suit on Monday.
Health minister Edward Argar told Sky News this morning: “In terms of hospitality and pubs and bars reopening, we will be guided by the science.
"We are not in a position to give a date for that, we will be looking at it again in the coming weeks before the beginning of July.”
"We are not in a position to give a date for that, we will be looking at it again in the coming weeks before the beginning of July.”
Health minister Edward Argar has suggested the number of people being tested for coronavirus is not important, as he came under fire for the failure to provide figures for nearly two weeks, deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports.
Mr Argar also insisted he still did not know how many people are going through the test-and-trace programme – even after leaked data put the number at just 1,749 in its first four days.
Mr Argar also insisted he still did not know how many people are going through the test-and-trace programme – even after leaked data put the number at just 1,749 in its first four days.
New Zealand could return to normal as early as next week
New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said she could lift all social distancing measures to return the country to normal life, bar the international border closure, as early as next week.
Ms Ardern will decide on Monday whether the country is ready to move to alert level 1, more than two months after she imposed a strict level 4 lockdown, shutting most businesses and forcing people to stay home in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The PM said waiting until Monday would allow her to see if recent changes, like the removal of restrictions on the number of people in bars and at social gatherings, had led to a rise in cases.
"If it hasn't, then we will be in a good position to move," she said during a televised news conference today.
Under level 1 there is no requirement for physical distancing or limits on the number of people allowed in places like bars, clubs, churches, and sports venues, she said.
However, there would be one major change from pre-pandemic normality, with no immediate plans to reopen New Zealand's border.
New Zealand recorded no new cases of coronavirus for a 12th consecutive day today and has just one active case.
New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said she could lift all social distancing measures to return the country to normal life, bar the international border closure, as early as next week.
Ms Ardern will decide on Monday whether the country is ready to move to alert level 1, more than two months after she imposed a strict level 4 lockdown, shutting most businesses and forcing people to stay home in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The PM said waiting until Monday would allow her to see if recent changes, like the removal of restrictions on the number of people in bars and at social gatherings, had led to a rise in cases.
"If it hasn't, then we will be in a good position to move," she said during a televised news conference today.
Under level 1 there is no requirement for physical distancing or limits on the number of people allowed in places like bars, clubs, churches, and sports venues, she said.
However, there would be one major change from pre-pandemic normality, with no immediate plans to reopen New Zealand's border.
New Zealand recorded no new cases of coronavirus for a 12th consecutive day today and has just one active case.
Sweden’s state epidemiologist, who led the country’s controversial approach to tackling the coronavirus pandemic, has admitted more restrictions on movement and gatherings would have helped avoid a high death toll, Kate Ng reports.
Study shows coronavirus antibodies in 5.5% of Dutch blood donors
A study of Dutch blood donors by blood donation firm Sanquin has found about 5.5 per cent of them have developed antibodies against the new coronavirus.
A study of Dutch blood donors by blood donation firm Sanquin has found about 5.5 per cent of them have developed antibodies against the new coronavirus.
The study, conducted among 7,000 donors between 10 and 20 May, gives an indication of what percentage of the Dutch population may have already had the disease.
A similar study in April showed antibodies in 3 per cent of Dutch blood donors.
"This shows that over 90 per cent of our donors have still not been in touch with the virus, assuming almost all people who have been infected develop antibodies," Sanquin head researcher Hans Zaaijer told Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
"We are miles away from a scenario of herd immunity."
As of Tuesday, 46,647 infections with the new coronavirus had been confirmed in the Netherlands, with 5,967 deaths.
A similar study in April showed antibodies in 3 per cent of Dutch blood donors.
"This shows that over 90 per cent of our donors have still not been in touch with the virus, assuming almost all people who have been infected develop antibodies," Sanquin head researcher Hans Zaaijer told Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
"We are miles away from a scenario of herd immunity."
As of Tuesday, 46,647 infections with the new coronavirus had been confirmed in the Netherlands, with 5,967 deaths.
Couples should have sex while wearing face masks to reduce the risk of transmitting Covid-19 to one another, according to a new study.
Senior Conservative MPs have criticised the government’s decision to make MPs cast their votes in person, following chaotic scenes of kilometre-long queues likened to that of theme parks in the House of Commons.
Russia coronavirus cases pass 430,000
Russia has reported 8,536 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing its nationwide tally to 432,277, the third highest in the world.
The death toll has reached 5,215 after authorities said they recorded another 178 deaths from the virus in the past day.
Russia has reported 8,536 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing its nationwide tally to 432,277, the third highest in the world.
The death toll has reached 5,215 after authorities said they recorded another 178 deaths from the virus in the past day.
Portugal in discussions over 'air bridge' with UK
Portugal's foreign minister has said his country is in discussions with the UK about "air bridges" so tourists can avoid being quarantined.
Augusto Santos Silva told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "quarantine is an enemy of tourism".
He added: "During these weeks our diplomats will work together in order to guarantee that British tourists coming to Portugal would not be subjected on their return to England to any kind of quarantine."
Most people arriving in the UK from Monday will be told to isolate for 14 days in an attempt to prevent coronavirus cases being introduced from overseas.
A £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England will be levied on those failing to adhere to the quarantine, with prosecution and an unlimited fine potentially to follow.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that the Government is still looking at the prospect of "air bridges" between the UK and other countries, creating specific exemptions from the quarantine rules.
PA
Portugal's foreign minister has said his country is in discussions with the UK about "air bridges" so tourists can avoid being quarantined.
Augusto Santos Silva told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "quarantine is an enemy of tourism".
He added: "During these weeks our diplomats will work together in order to guarantee that British tourists coming to Portugal would not be subjected on their return to England to any kind of quarantine."
Most people arriving in the UK from Monday will be told to isolate for 14 days in an attempt to prevent coronavirus cases being introduced from overseas.
A £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England will be levied on those failing to adhere to the quarantine, with prosecution and an unlimited fine potentially to follow.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that the Government is still looking at the prospect of "air bridges" between the UK and other countries, creating specific exemptions from the quarantine rules.
PA
The government is facing calls to pay the wages of workers told to self isolate under the new test and trace scheme to prevent people being forced to choose between paying their bills and putting others at risk, political correspondent Lizzy Buchan reports.
Under the new NHS tracing programme, public health officials will ask anyone who has had close contact with a coronavirus patient to isolate for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms, but concerns have been raised that workers could be plunged into financial hardship if they comply.
Germany plans to allow Europe travel from 15 June
Germany plans to lift a travel ban for European Union member states plus Britain, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland from 15 June provided coronavirus infection levels in those countries allow it to do so, Reuters has reported government sources as saying.
A further condition is that the countries concerned open their borders to holidaymakers, the sources said.
On lifting the ban, introduced for travel worldwide in mid-March, Germany would instead issue country-specific guidelines on the coronavirus situation in the European countries concerned.
Germany plans to lift a travel ban for European Union member states plus Britain, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland from 15 June provided coronavirus infection levels in those countries allow it to do so, Reuters has reported government sources as saying.
A further condition is that the countries concerned open their borders to holidaymakers, the sources said.
On lifting the ban, introduced for travel worldwide in mid-March, Germany would instead issue country-specific guidelines on the coronavirus situation in the European countries concerned.
A trial has been launched in the UK to test whether ibuprofen can help with breathing difficulties in Covid-19 hospital patients, Matt Mathers reports.
Scientists hope a modified form of the anti-inflammatory drug and painkiller will help to relieve respiratory problems in people who have more serious coronavirus symptoms but do not need intensive care unit treatment.
Scientists hope a modified form of the anti-inflammatory drug and painkiller will help to relieve respiratory problems in people who have more serious coronavirus symptoms but do not need intensive care unit treatment.
India approves Gilead antiviral drug for emergency use
India's government has approved Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir for emergency use for five doses in treating Covid-19 patients.
Remdesivir, which is administered intravenously in hospital, is the first drug to show improvement in Covid-19 patients in formal clinical trials and is at the forefront of the battle against the disease, which has no approved treatment or vaccine.
Gilead said the drug showed modest benefit in patients with moderate Covid-19 given a five-day course, while those who received it for 10 days in the study did not fare as well.
The drug was granted emergency use authorisation by the US Food and Drug Administration last month and has received approval by Japanese health regulators.
Earlier today, South Korea approved the drug's emergency use and said it will cooperate with Gilead for its swift import.
India's coronavirus infections have passed 200,000, latest official figures show, with the death toll at 5,815.
India's government has approved Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir for emergency use for five doses in treating Covid-19 patients.
Remdesivir, which is administered intravenously in hospital, is the first drug to show improvement in Covid-19 patients in formal clinical trials and is at the forefront of the battle against the disease, which has no approved treatment or vaccine.
Gilead said the drug showed modest benefit in patients with moderate Covid-19 given a five-day course, while those who received it for 10 days in the study did not fare as well.
The drug was granted emergency use authorisation by the US Food and Drug Administration last month and has received approval by Japanese health regulators.
Earlier today, South Korea approved the drug's emergency use and said it will cooperate with Gilead for its swift import.
India's coronavirus infections have passed 200,000, latest official figures show, with the death toll at 5,815.
As prospective holidaymakers and the travel industry wait to hear detailed plans for 14 days of self-isolation for arriving travellers, two warring Cabinet ministers appear to have confirmed that quarantine will be a “three-week wonder”, travel correspondent Simon Calder reports.
London City Airport to reopen for commercial flights by end of June
Commercial flights will return to London City Airport by the end of this month.
The airport announced that domestic routes will be the first to resume.
International flights will restart early next month but the timing "may depend on the proposed quarantine of passengers arriving into the UK", according to a statement.
London City's runway has been closed to commercial and private flights since 25 March due to travel restrictions and the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
PA
The airport announced that domestic routes will be the first to resume.
International flights will restart early next month but the timing "may depend on the proposed quarantine of passengers arriving into the UK", according to a statement.
London City's runway has been closed to commercial and private flights since 25 March due to travel restrictions and the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
PA
Head teachers fear many vulnerable children will never “come back” to school, with up to eight million pupils set to be at home for six months, MPs have been told.
British pilot in Vietnam known as 'Patient 91' has started to recover from coronavirus
Vietnam's most gravely-ill Covid-19 patient, a British pilot who works for its national airline, has started to recover from the illness and may no longer require a lung transplant, according to state media.
Vietnam, which has reported no deaths from the coronavirus, has mounted an all-out effort to save the 43-year-old man, who has been identified officially by the government as "Patient 91".
Until recently, the Vietnam Airlines pilot was thought by doctors and officials to be in urgent need of a lung transplant.
The fate of "Patient 91" has received unprecedented national attention, with more than 50 people in Vietnam offering themselves as potential lung donors, according to state media.
The man, who is being treated at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, can now smile, shake hands and respond to commands from hospital staff, the official Vietnam News Agency (VNA) said today.
His reliance on artificial life support has also been reduced but he is still on a ventilator to allow his badly-damaged lungs to recover, VNA said.
He has tested negative for the coronavirus, and Vietnam has spent more than £170,800 treating him, the report added.
Vietnam's most gravely-ill Covid-19 patient, a British pilot who works for its national airline, has started to recover from the illness and may no longer require a lung transplant, according to state media.
Vietnam, which has reported no deaths from the coronavirus, has mounted an all-out effort to save the 43-year-old man, who has been identified officially by the government as "Patient 91".
Until recently, the Vietnam Airlines pilot was thought by doctors and officials to be in urgent need of a lung transplant.
The fate of "Patient 91" has received unprecedented national attention, with more than 50 people in Vietnam offering themselves as potential lung donors, according to state media.
The man, who is being treated at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, can now smile, shake hands and respond to commands from hospital staff, the official Vietnam News Agency (VNA) said today.
His reliance on artificial life support has also been reduced but he is still on a ventilator to allow his badly-damaged lungs to recover, VNA said.
He has tested negative for the coronavirus, and Vietnam has spent more than £170,800 treating him, the report added.
BAME people more likely to be arrested under coronavirus laws, figures suggest
Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people are nearly 50 per cent more likely than white people to be arrested in London under coronavirus laws, new figures suggest.
The total number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) handed out by the Metropolitan Police between 27 March and 14 May was almost a fifth higher for those from non-white communities.
While people from Asian, black, mixed and other backgrounds make up around four in 10 of the capital's population, according to Office for National Statistics data, they account for more than half of the fines and arrests for alleged breaches of Covid-19 legislation.
Black people make up 12% of the population but received 26% of the 973 fines handed out by police and accounted for 31% of arrests.
Asian people, who account for 18% of London's population, were handed 23% of fines and were subject to 14% of arrests.
The UK's largest police force admitted "higher proportions of those in black and minority ethnic (BAME) groups were issued with FPNs or arrested across London as a whole".
But the Met said the reasons "are likely to be complex and reflect a range of factors", adding: "This includes interactions between the areas subject to significant proactive policing activity targeting crime hot-spots and both the variation in the age-profile and geographical distribution of ethnic groups in London."
PA
The total number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) handed out by the Metropolitan Police between 27 March and 14 May was almost a fifth higher for those from non-white communities.
While people from Asian, black, mixed and other backgrounds make up around four in 10 of the capital's population, according to Office for National Statistics data, they account for more than half of the fines and arrests for alleged breaches of Covid-19 legislation.
Black people make up 12% of the population but received 26% of the 973 fines handed out by police and accounted for 31% of arrests.
Asian people, who account for 18% of London's population, were handed 23% of fines and were subject to 14% of arrests.
The UK's largest police force admitted "higher proportions of those in black and minority ethnic (BAME) groups were issued with FPNs or arrested across London as a whole".
But the Met said the reasons "are likely to be complex and reflect a range of factors", adding: "This includes interactions between the areas subject to significant proactive policing activity targeting crime hot-spots and both the variation in the age-profile and geographical distribution of ethnic groups in London."
PA
