FRIDAY COVID UPDATE
What happened in today’s government coronavirus press conference?
MATT HANCOCK chaired Friday's coronavirus press briefing and discussed social-distancing ahead of the warm weekend.
The Health and Social Secretary told the nation “we cannot relax our discipline” on social-distancing.
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What time was the coronavirus press briefing today?
Today's press conference began approximately 5pm and was broadcast live by the BBC.
The briefing was held in Downing Street and generally takes place between 4pm and 6pm and lasts 15 to 30 minutes.
Government press briefings have been ongoing since March 16.
Who hosted today's briefing?
Today's briefing was hosted by Health and Social Secretary Matt Hancock for the second day in a row since coming off self-isolation.
Professor Jonathan Van Tam was also on hand to answer questions from reporters.
What happened at the press conference?
Hancock ordered the nation to main social-distancing, as he spoke of the weekend weather forecast for warm weather.
Insisting his advice was not a request but an instruction, he told Brits to “do your part” on social-distancing and stay at home.
He went on to say “we cannot relax our discipline” on social-distancing or people will die.
Also during the conference, Hancock was asked about promises of antibody tests, which have not yet transpired.
On Thursday, he said no working test had been found yet, however, today, he revealed the government has ordered 17 million, before adding that he has been "absolutely clear all along we will only use them if they work".
He went on to says no G7 country has found a home antibody test that works yet, "but we continue to search for one".
When questioned about testing Hancock repeated that the UK has "ramped up" the numbers, before adding his "clear goal" of 100,000 a day by the end of April.
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What happened at yesterday's briefing?
Yesterday's briefing was hosted by Health and Social Secretary Matt Hancock.
He was joined by Medical Director of NHS England, Prof. Steve Powis, and Prof John Newton.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock gives first coronavirus briefing since coming out of isolation
The agenda of yesterday's briefing centered around Matt Hancock's NHS testing masterplan.
Health and Social Secretary said that more beds, staff and equipment are now being made available and that £13.4bn of NHS Trust debts have been written off.
He mentioned the construction of the NHS Nightingale hospital and thanked everybody involved.
At the beginning of the briefing, he also thanked everyone who has followed the social distancing guidelines.
He also shared the latest figures, with 12,949 having been admitted to hospital with the virus and 2,921 UK deaths due to the deadly bug.
Hancock said that he has made £300m available for funding community pharmacies.
He outlined challenges the nation faces and the plan to drive the plan forward.
"I understand why NHS staff want tests, so they can get back to the frontline,"
"I am proud that every single patient who has needed a test for life-saving treatment has had access"
He said it is important that the public confidence in the tests: "Approving tests that don't work is dangerous and I will not do it".
The ultimate goal, he said, is that everyone that needs a test will have one.
He said that he returned from illness more determined than ever to tackle the virus, working with our friends and allies across the world.
Why is the government holding daily press conferences?
Boris Johnson and his senior cabinet ministers had been criticised for a lack of regular updates into what is happening with the coronavirus outbreak.
Among them was Sir Keir Starmer – a candidate to become the next Labour leader – who called for daily press conferences.
The Shadow Secretary said he was “deeply concerned” that “ministers have been failing in their responsibilities to provide consistent and transparent public health advice”.
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