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Coronavirus lockdown: 'No dramatic overnight change' to restrictions Coronavirus lockdown: 'No dramatic overnight change' to restrictions
(32 minutes later)
There will be "no dramatic overnight change" to lockdown restrictions, the environment secretary has said.There will be "no dramatic overnight change" to lockdown restrictions, the environment secretary has said.
George Eustice also urged the public to abide by the current measures over the weekend, with Boris Johnson due to deliver an update on Sunday.George Eustice also urged the public to abide by the current measures over the weekend, with Boris Johnson due to deliver an update on Sunday.
It comes after Wales announced minor changes from Monday - allowing people to exercise outside more often. It comes after Wales announced "modest" changes from Monday - allowing people to exercise outside more often.
Mr Eustice also announced a £16m fund to deliver millions of meals to those struggling due to the pandemic.Mr Eustice also announced a £16m fund to deliver millions of meals to those struggling due to the pandemic.
A further 626 coronavirus deaths were confirmed on Friday, taking the UK total to 31,241, including a six-week-old baby with an underlying health condition.A further 626 coronavirus deaths were confirmed on Friday, taking the UK total to 31,241, including a six-week-old baby with an underlying health condition.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said he wanted the nation to move in step with the rest of the UK when he announced the changes to its lockdown, which also included garden centres and libraries being able to reopen. Asked by the BBC's Ben Wright about whether the UK government would ease restrictions in line with the announcement from Wales, Mr Eustice said the government would be "very, very cautious" and told the public that the stay at home message remained in place over the "sunny bank holiday weekend".
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday the only change she was considering in the immediate term was to outdoor exercise. He said that while each of the devolved nations might take slightly different approaches, they were working together "to try to have a broadly similar UK approach".
When asked whether the R rate - the rate at which the virus spreads - had to remain universally low across the UK before lockdown could be lifted, Prof Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said it would vary from place to place but "the important thing is that as a whole it stays below one".
Earlier Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford said he wanted the nation to move in step with the rest of the UK when he announced the changes to its lockdown, which also included garden centres and libraries being able to reopen.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday the only change she was considering in the immediate term was on the limits to outdoor exercise.
Ms Sturgeon said there had been a "helpful recognition" from the prime minister that the four UK nations "may well move at different speeds if our data about the spread of the virus says that that is necessary to suppress it".Ms Sturgeon said there had been a "helpful recognition" from the prime minister that the four UK nations "may well move at different speeds if our data about the spread of the virus says that that is necessary to suppress it".
Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland's First Minister, said there would only be "nuanced changes" to measures in the region.Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland's First Minister, said there would only be "nuanced changes" to measures in the region.
At the government's daily briefing, Mr Eustice said millions of meals would be delivered over the next 12 weeks to help during "this enormously challenging time".At the government's daily briefing, Mr Eustice said millions of meals would be delivered over the next 12 weeks to help during "this enormously challenging time".
At least 5,000 frontline charities across England will benefit from the cash which comes from the £750m pot announced for charities by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on 8 April.At least 5,000 frontline charities across England will benefit from the cash which comes from the £750m pot announced for charities by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on 8 April.
The government announced 97,029 tests had been delivered on Thursday, just shy of the 100,000 target Health Secretary Matt Hancock set for the end of April.The government announced 97,029 tests had been delivered on Thursday, just shy of the 100,000 target Health Secretary Matt Hancock set for the end of April.
That aim was achieved on 30 April and 1 May but has not been reached since.That aim was achieved on 30 April and 1 May but has not been reached since.
When asked why in some cases it was taking up to 10 days for people to get their test results back, Mr Eustice said there would be daily fluctuations in availability of tests in any given area.