Coronavirus news: Sport to return and groups of six can meet to exercise together says government, despite warnings on lockdown easing

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Coronavirus: UK death toll reaches 38,376

Elite sport can return behind closed doors from 1 June, the government announced as it eased coronavirus restrictions to allow groups of up to six people to exercise together outdoors.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden described the move as “a significant moment” despite warnings from scientific advisers that Covid-19 “is spreading too fast to lift lockdown in England” with an estimated 8,000 infections per day.

With the new NHS test and trace system still “untested”, Professor John Edmunds accused ministers of making a “risky” and political decision, saying “Westminster clearly made a decision that this is the sort of level of incidence that they’re willing to tolerate”, despite it being “significantly higher” than similar European nations.

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Key Points

• Government to allow groups of six to meet to exercise
• Sport to return behind closed doors on Monday
• Liverpool deputy mayor steps down amid probe into lockdown garden party
• Adviser says government risking 'tens of thousands' of lives over Cummings' job
• Three Sage advisers warn against lifting English lockdown
• 'Huge redundancies' if furlough scheme lifted in October, Burnham warns

[30 May 2020 16:47 · Andy Gregory]

Referencing the ONS figures indicating 8,000 people catch coronavirus every day in England, Sky News asks who is catching coronavirus and how, given that we're 10 weeks into lockdown.

Prof Van-Tam says: "That's a difficult question. I can't tell you who's catching coronavirus. What I can tell you is the kinds of people that are at risk, and the kinds of people at risk of being hospitalised.

He adds: "You are quite right. It's a case in point that there are 8,000 cases occurring a day, according to ONS statistics, and we need to get to the bottom of that."

[30 May 2020 17:01 · Andy Gregory]

Rules 'have always been clear' and 'apply to all', Van-Tam says of Cummings

The Observer asks if the government will listen to the public on Dominic Cummings - with a petition for his removal gaining more than a million signatures and MPs inboxes "groaning" with emails.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden says Dominic Cummings gave a "very extensive explanation for his behaviour, and answered all questions in relation to that. The prime minister accepted that and on that basis kept him in post, and that remains the position".

Pushed to answer the question, he says "of course the prime minister and government listens to the public ... This has been dealt with extensively."

He asks Prof Van-Tam that given his assertion this is a "dangerous moment", should those in authority ensure they obey the rules "above all" others?

The deputy chief medical officer says: "In my opinion, the rules are clear and they have always been clear. In my opinion, they are for the benefit of all and, in my opinion, they apply to all."

[30 May 2020 17:06 · Peter Stubley]

Italy update

The death toll in Italy now stands at 33,340, following 111 further reported deaths, according to the Civil Protection Agency.

A further 416 cases of coronavirus were confirmed and 450 people remain in intensive care.

Italy has the third highest death toll and the sixth highest number of cases in the world.

[30 May 2020 17:11 · Peter Stubley]

Spike in hospital admissions across UK

New data has shown the number of coronavirus patients being admitted to hospital and intensive care units across the country has risen as lockdown rules are set to be eased further on Monday.

The Public Health England (PHE) data, published on Friday, covers 134 NHS trusts across the country and shows the daily rate of new patients admitted to hospital and critical care with Covid-19 has risen compared to recent weeks, with London experiencing a sharp spike in new admissions in the past week. The south east region also saw an increase.

[30 May 2020 17:23 · Peter Stubley]

Sunbathers take advantage of lockdown easing

Crowds of people have headed to beaches in England as the country enjoyed the extended spell of sunny weather – and while the public have been told to keep their distance from others to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Sunbathers flocked to the seaside in Dorset and Bournemouth on Saturday despite warnings from scientists the lockdown over Covid-19 is being lifted too early.

[30 May 2020 17:37 · Peter Stubley]

India extends lockdown amid rise in cases

A record daily increase of 7,964 new coronavirus infections was reported in India today, bringing the total to 173,763 confirmed cases - the ninth highest in the world.

The country has also reported 4,971 deaths so far, according to the Reuters news agency.

Meanwhile India extended its coronavirus lockdown until 30 June in high-risk zones while permitting restaurants, malls and religious buildings to reopen elsewhere from 8 June.

Restrictions on international air travel and city train services have not been revoked but permission for regional travel was granted.

Prime minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the nation on Sunday.

[30 May 2020 17:46 · Peter Stubley]

Romanian PM pays coronavirus fines over birthday celebration

Ludovic Orban, the prime minister of Romania, has been caught smoking indoors and holding a meeting with cabinet ministers in breach of social distancing rules.

Mr Orban told reporters the picture was taken on his birthday, 25 May, and involved the foreign minister and the economy minister.

The prime minister has now paid fines totalling around £500.

Romania has registered 19,133 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,259 deaths.

[30 May 2020 17:55 · Peter Stubley]

Belgian king's nephew infected after attending party in Spain

Prince Joachim, a nephew of Belgium's King Philippe, has tested positive for coronavirus after attending a party in Spain.

The palace said Joachim travelled to Spain for an internship on 24 May and attended the gathering in the southern city of Cordoba on 26 May.

However it could not confirm how many people were at the party or if it was in breach of lockdown rules, which restrict gatherings to 15 or less.

Meanwhile Spain's death toll from the novel coronavirus rose by four to 27,125, according to the health ministry announced. The total number of Covid-19 infections increased by 271 on Saturday to 239,228.

[30 May 2020 18:03 · Peter Stubley]

Lockdown rules 'apply to all', says medical officer in swipe at Cummings

The deputy chief medical officer has insisted that lockdown rules "apply to all" in a swipe at the prime minister's top adviser Dominic Cummings.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam was pressed on whether those in authority should set an example to the public on obeying the restrictions amid an ongoing row over whether Mr Cummings breached the rules by travelling 260 miles to his parents' farm in County Durham.

[30 May 2020 18:16 · Peter Stubley]

Tory MP admits bereavement email blunder over Cummings trip

A Tory MP has apologised for leaving a template bereavement instruction in an email to one of his constituents who had contacted him about the prime minister’s top aide.

Anthony Mangnall said he made a “stupid mistake” by leaving “insert if there has been a bereavement” in a message he sent in response to emails he received about Dominic Cummings' controversial trip to Durham during lockdown.