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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Coronavirus: UK death toll increases by 113 to 38,489

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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Key Points

• 200,000 capacity test target hit day early, Hancock says
• Deputy PM 'wasn't aware' Cummings was in Durham
• Raab unable to say how many contacted through test and trace scheme
• Government 'changed school reopening plans 41 times in three weeks'
• Scientists warn Dominic Cummings 'badly damaged' public trust

[31 May 2020 21:52 · Peter Stubley]

UK government 'lifting too many restrictions, too quickly'

Senior public health officials have accused the government of 'misjudging' its decision to ease lockdown restrictions from Monday.

The Association of Directors of Public Health warned that its members do not think new rules - such as allowing groups of six to meet outdoors - were supported by the science, and expressed concerns that the public was no longer abiding by social distancing advice.

"Directors of Public Health are increasingly concerned that the government is misjudging this balancing act and lifting too many restrictions, too quickly," said ADPH president Jeanelle de Gruchy.

The ADPH also warned the test and trace programme was "currently far from being the robust operation that is now urgently required as a safeguard to easing restrictions".

"Now is the time for steady leadership, careful preparation and measured steps," added Ms de Gruchy.

"The ADPH is calling for full implementation of all Phase 2 measures to be delayed until further consideration of the ongoing trends in infection rates and the R level gives more confidence about what the impact of these will be. There also must be a renewed drive to promote the importance of handwashing, social distancing and self-isolating if symptomatic, positive for COVID, or a contact of someone who is. And, additional assurance is required that the NHS Test and Trace System will be able to cope with the scale of the task.

"The risk of a spike in cases and deaths – and of the social and economic impact if we have to return to stricter lockdown measures – cannot be overstated; this needs to be understood not only by the public but also by the government."

[31 May 2020 22:07 · Peter Stubley]

Elite sports stars 'could be excluded from UK travel quarantine'

The government could grant an exemption to sports events from its 14-day quarantine for people entering the UK, according to The Times.

It is thought the relaxation could apply to European football competitions and Formula One races.

The two-week quarantine period is due to start from 8 June - although it does not apply to an estimated two million workers including police, bus drivers and dentists. Sport is not specifically excluded.

A Formula One spokesperson said in response to the report that the sport welcomed "the government's efforts to ensure elite sport can continue to operate and their support for our return to racing. We will maintain a close dialogue with them in the coming weeks as we prepare to start our season in the first week of July."

[31 May 2020 22:55 · Peter Stubley]

Premium: Kenya hit by floods, coronavirus pandemic and locust invasion

Kenya is experiencing some of the worst flooding for generations, adding a third layer of crisis to a nation buckled by the threat of Covid-19 and battling a massive locust invasion that is destroying vast areas of crops.

[1 June 2020 00:08 · Peter Stubley]

Editorial: 'Lockdown easing is a trade off between lives and livelihoods'