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Day 54: Key points from today's conference

Posted on May 2020 By Aaron Liffen

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Today’s daily coronavirus conference was led by Environment Secretary George Eustice, who was joined by NHS England medical director Prof Stephen Powis. The number of people who have died in hospitals in England after testing positive for coronavirus has risen by 332, according to NHS England - bringing the total to 22,765.


 A total of 31,241 people have now died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus, an increase of 626 people since yesterday. This includes deaths in all settings, George Eustice said.

Key points to take away from today's speech are: ​​

  • Environment Secretary George Eustice has opened the government's daily briefing by acknowledging that today is the 75th anniversary of VE Day. He says today is an "important to pause and remember", adding that it was "a moment when our whole country pulled together".

  • Eustice: Vital to abide by restrictions this sunny bank holiday, ahead of PM's address to nation on Sunday

  • Powis: 4.649 new cases over last day - but says spread of virus decreasing in the community. People in UK hospitals with the virus down from 14,346 to 11,788 in last week.

  • PM will set out "roadmap" for evolving current restrictions on Sunday - but no dramatic change: "We're not out of the woods". Devolved administrations working together to have "broadly similar" approach to easing lockdown.

  • Powis: 'R number' will vary from place to place and at different times, but vital to keep it below 1 to avoid exponential growth of virus.

  • In the 24 hours to 09:00 BST on Friday, 97,029 tests were provided – just short of the 100,000 target. Since the deadline it set at the end of April, the government has met its target twice.

To read a brief summary of last night's points and important measures click here.