​

Today's government coronavirus conference was led by  Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who was joined by the deputy chief medical officer for England Dr Jenny Harries.


A total of 36,675 people have died from coronavirus in the UK, up by 282 fatalities since yesterday across all settings, Grant Shapps announced. In the 24-hour period up to 9am on Saturday, 116,585 tests were carried out or dispatched, with 2,959 positive results. A total of 3,348,507 tests have been carried out and 257,154 cases have been confirmed positive.

​

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

​

• Grant Shapps announced the government is pumping £283m into roads, railways, buses and trams to improve public safety and protect services.
  
  

• The funding, divided into £254 million for buses and £29 million for trams and light rail, would increase both frequency and capacity of services while ensuring there is enough space on vehicles to allow for social distancing, the transport secretary said.
  
  

• Total of 3,348,507 tests have been carried out and 257,154 cases have been confirmed positive

  ​

  

  ​

  

  ​

  

  ​

  

​

• Answering a question on Dominic Cummings' 260-mile trip to Durham, Grant Shapps said the important thing is that "everyone remains in the same place whilst they are in lockdown". He said the welfare of the prime minister's aide’s four-year-old child was "the important thing", adding that Mr Cummings "went to where the family was" and "didn’t move around". 
  
  

• Jenny Harries tells Christopher Hope of the Daily Telegraph it is a really important message that people who are unwell "take themselves out of society" immediately.
  

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

​