Coronavirus news – live: WHO says everyone must wear face masks in public as Matt Hancock urges people not to attend George Floyd protests

Health secretary urges people not to attend George Floyd protests

The health secretary has warned people against attending George Floyd protests over concerns about the spread of Covid-19.

Mr Hancock said: 

“Ahead of this weekend, when I know there are plans for further protests, I want to say something to you as the health secretary.

“Like so many, I’m appalled by the death of George Floyd and I understand why people are deeply upset, but we are still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remains a real threat.

“The reason it is vital that people stick to the rules this weekend is to protect themselves and their family from this horrific disease, so please for the safety of your loved ones do not attend large gatherings, including demonstrations, of more than six people.”

Halt on evictions extended by two-months, housing secretary says 

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has announced a two-month extension to the government's halt on evictions from social and private rented properties.

“We are suspending evictions from social & private rented accommodation by a further two months,” Mr Jenrick wrote on Twitter.

“Eviction hearings will not be heard in courts until the end of August and no-one will be evicted from their home this summer due to coronavirus.”

Death toll rising to more than 40,000 is ‘time of sorrow’, Hancock says

Mr Hancock has said the news that the UK’s Covid-19 death toll has risen to more than 40,000 will make him “redouble” his determination to deal with the virus.

“I think the day that the number of deaths from coronavirus has gone over 40,000 is a time of sorrow for us all,” the health secretary told the Downing Street briefing.

“We've got to remember that each one of these is an impact on a family that will never be the same again and my heart goes out to them all.

“And it makes me redouble my determination to deal with this virus and to get that incidence right down and the way you get the incidence down is... to keep the R below one.”

More on the health secretary’s announcement today on face coverings in hospitals

Earlier, Mr Hancock said hospital visitors and outpatients would need to wear face coverings and all hospital staff would need to wear surgical masks in England from 15 June.

“As the NHS reopens right across the country, it's critically important to stop the spread amongst staff, patients and visitors too,” the health secretary said.

“So today we're setting out that all hospital visitors and outpatients will need to wear face coverings.”

He added: “One of the things that we've learnt is that those in hospital, those who are working in hospital, are more likely to catch coronavirus whether they work in a clinical setting or not.

“And so to offer even greater protection we're also providing new guidance for NHS staff in England which will come into force again on 15 June and all hospital staff will be required to wear type one or two surgical masks.

“And this will cover all staff working in hospital, it will apply at all times - not just when they are doing life-saving work on the frontline - and it will apply in all areas, except those areas designated as Covid-secure workplaces.”

Mr Hancock has encouraged people who have recovered from coronavirus to donate their blood plasma and revealed he has made his own donation.

“If you have had the virus, then you can help make a difference,” he said.

“Because by donating your plasma from your blood that has your antibodies in it, then you can help somebody who is currently suffering in hospital with coronavirus.

“I did this earlier today, I gave my antibodies, and the process is simple, it's straightforward.”

The health secretary added: “If you have had coronavirus, if you go to the NHS blood and transplant website... then you too can donate your antibodies and help protect somebody who is currently in hospital with coronavirus.

“And I'd encourage anybody who can do that to step forward.”

Health secretary acknowledges ‘challenge’ in North West and South West with Covid-19

Mr Hancock has said there is a “challenge” in both the North West and the South West of England regarding the spread of coronavirus.

“What they [official figures] do confirm across the board is that there is a challenge in the North West of England to address and to a lesser degree in the South West of England where the issue is slightly different," he told the No 10 briefing.

“In the South West, the overall incidence of the disease is much lower but the R is a little bit higher than in the rest of the UK.”

Mr Hancock has said a study which suggests a higher R number in some regions of England needs to be looked at “in the round” with other data.

“The discussion of the higher R in the north-west and the south-west that's estimated compared to the rest of the country is an important part of moving towards a more localised approach rather than a national approach to the lockdown,” the health secretary said.

“It's very important that you look at all of these studies in the round.

"The study you mentioned is one, but the overall assessment that is brought together by Sage that advises the chief medical officer is the one that I look at.”

He added: “What I do is look at all of these different studies and the overall view of Sage is that the R is between 0.7 and 0.9 and it is higher in the south-west of England and the north-west but it remains below 1 in each area.

“That doesn't take away from the need that we spot and crack down on localised outbreaks.”

Government will take action to tackle structural inequalities related to Covid-19, Hancock says

Mr Hancock has the government will take action to tackle any structural inequalities which may have led to a higher level of Covid-19 deaths amongst people from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background.

When asked at the daily briefing why more people from BAME background proportionally have died, the health secretary said: “The answer to that is to address the risks to those occupations and we're working very hard to do that.

“And in fact the measure on face masks both on public transport and in hospitals will be steps in that journey.”

He added: “The Public Health England report did not take into account factors such as comorbidities or, as I mentioned, occupation.

“That's the first starting point. But also questions around deprivation, quality of housing are important as well because we know that those living in lower quality housing find it more difficult to escape from a contagious virus like this."

He continued: “All the way along if we find things that we can do to help reduce inequalities then we'll just get on and do them.”

Shelter warns government policy on evictions risks 'tidal wave of homelessness' this year

The chief executive of Shelter has welcomed the government’s two-month extension on the evictions ban but warned more action is needed to prevent a “tidal wave of homelessness” this year.

“The government has reset the clock on the evictions ban, buying the families who were only weeks away from losing their homes, a vital stay of execution. But it’s only a stop-gap,” Polly Neate said.

“The ban hasn’t stopped people who’ve lost their jobs during this pandemic from racking up rent arrears. 

“Even if they have a plan to pay them back, these debts will throw struggling renters straight back into the firing line of an automatic eviction as soon as the ban does lift.”

She added: “It’s critical that Robert Jenrick uses this extension wisely to change the law and properly protect renters. 

“Judges must be given the power to stop people losing their homes because of coronavirus, otherwise the country will face a tidal wave of homelessness after the summer. 

“Sooner or later, the government has to stop kicking the can down the road."

Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has more on Mr Hancock’s comments on upcoming George Floyd protests below: