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Today's news conference was led by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden as he announced a further reopening of the economy, including gyms, pools and outdoor performances. The new announcement comes just under a week after the reopening of restaurants, shops and pubs across the UK which itself faced mixed criticism.


Key points from the conference:

• Mr Dowden announced that "as of this weekend, our artists, musicians and dancers can start performing outside to an outdoor audiences". "We'll also have the resumption of recreational sport, followed later by the reopening of our gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres," he adds.
  
  

• Dowden announced gyms are set to open July 25th with guidance including: limiting users with timed booking system, reducing class sizes, spacing out equipment, enhanced cleaning, ensuring ventilation.
  
  

• Mr Downden announced: Beauticians, spas, tattooists, and tanning salons can reopen from Monday with "some restrictions"
  
  

• Mr Dowden warned: "All of these measures we are taking are conditional and they are reversible." He noted how a local lockdown has already been in Leicester.
  
  

• In relation to a combination of lockdown eases announced this month, Mr Dowden added: "It's time to eat out to help out, to enjoy the arts to help out, and to work out to help out. "It's over to all of you to help the country recover safely."
  
  

• Questioned on how the eases to restrictions could be taken advantage of, Dowden responded "I've been tremendously heartened by how the British people have behaved during this crisis".
  
  

• When asked about testing those who do not show symptoms of Covid-10, Dowden responded "Throughout all of this we have ramped up the numbers, we have ramped up test and trace," he adds. Pressed on the question, Mr Dowden said these are "matters for the prime minister and the health secretary" but he stressed the UK has an "effective regime" for testing.
  
  

• No increase in coronavirus numbers following lockdown easing, the culture secretary said. "We haven't seen as a result of those easements that the number is increasing, in fact it continues to decline," Mr Dowden says when he is asked whether the government has seen any effect from the reopening of pubs last week.

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To read a brief summary of the last briefings points and important measures click here

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