Malaysians struggling amid a strict lockdown have been flying white flags outside their homes in a plea for help.

The white flag campaign gained momentum on social media last week in order to help lower income families signal a need for assistance.

Malaysia has been under a lockdown since 1 June to help curb Covid infections. In recent weeks there have been stories of families surviving on just one meal a day.

People, including celebrities, have been leaving groceries at the doors of homes flying white flags.

Read more here

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Iain Watson
Political correspondent

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In an online Q&A session, Boris Johnson's former aide Dominic Cummings has been critical of his former boss's likely decision to scrap almost all remaining restrictions on 19 July.

Asked if it was right to lift remaining restrictions in England, Cummings replied, "obviously not" and claimed that scientific advisers had told the government not to do so.

Some scientists have indeed been cautious but others have said that, with vaccines weakening the link between infection and hospitalization, there is some scope to move closer to normal life.

Mr Cummings also renewed his criticisms of Boris Johnson, external - claiming he was uninterested in policy and his desire had been to enjoy himself rather than work hard.

Downing Street is yet to respond.

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While some public health experts have urged caution over removing mandatory mask-wearing in England, others are more relaxed about the prospect.

Prof Paul Hunter, an expert in health protection at the University of East Anglia, says he is fine with lifting the restriction - although he adds there are times when people may wish to take extra care.

"What I would say is that if you are in a vulnerable group and are going into a crowded indoor environment then it is sensible to still wear one, at least whilst infection rates are high.

"Also, if you are visiting a very vulnerable individual indoors when Covid is common in the community, then I would wear one for their protection, even though I have been fully vaccinated."

Prof Robert Dingwall, a sociologist, says it is a "positive step" to make mask-wearing voluntary.

"The benefits of masks have always been uncertain because the quality of the evidence in both directions is so weak.

"Any benefit has probably been quite small, or it would have been obvious even from weak studies."

He adds that any positive needs to be offset by the negative effect masks have had such as the impact on children's learning and interactions with adults and on people with communication issues.

However, Prof Calum Semple, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said he would probably continue to wear a mask in some settings.

The professor of child health and outbreak medicine added: "But it's got to be remembered that the mask-wearing is primarily to stop transmission rather than acquisition.

"So it's people that have got symptoms, who should really be staying at home, that are going to be the risk here, rather than the people walking around who are double-vaccinated. They're far less at risk"

Wales is still in a "very difficult situation", with Covid cases rising exponentially, the country's health minister has said.

However, Eluned Morgan said the vaccination programme meant the link between infections and hospital admissions had been "weakened" and there had been only a "small increase" in the number of people admitted to hospital with the virus over the past few days.

She told a press conference her government "would like to move together" with other parts of the UK in lifting coronavirus restrictions but will only do so if it is "right for Wales".

She said: "We will be driven by the data not by any political deadline that has been set out artificially, which time and time again in England has been set and then missed."

"Our primary concern is to keep people safe but of course we need to understand that we are going to learn to live with this illness and we are going to have to adapt as a society to a situation where we will be exposed to an extent to this new variant and to coronavirus more generally," she added.

The next review of measures in Wales is due on 15 July.

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The ashes of Captain Sir Tom Moore - who raised almost £33m for NHS charities - have been buried in his family grave alongside his parents and grandparents.

The Army veteran, who set himself the fundraising challenge of walking 100 laps of his garden before he turned 100, died in February with coronavirus.

Schoolchildren and organisations close to his heart made up a guard of honour for his close relatives as they walked to his final resting place at Morton Cemetery in Riddlesden, West Yorkshire.

Around 50 representatives of the NHS, Royal British Legion, Scouts, Guides and many other groups lined the path.

The family carried out Sir Tom's wishes to have had the words "I told you I was old" engraved on the family memorial stone above the grave.

Image source, Reuters

Ryanair has said face masks will remain compulsory on its flights.

“In order to protect the health of our passengers and crew, the use of face masks will still be mandatory across all Ryanair flights, regardless of the departing/destination country,” a spokeswoman for Europe's biggest budget airline told the BBC.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to confirm later whether the majority of the remaining Covid restrictions in England can be lifted from 19 July.

Making face masks voluntary will be among the PM’s announcements.

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France’s health minister has urged the country’s healthcare workers to get vaccinated after an outbreak at a nursing home was linked to a member of staff who had not been immunised.

Olivier Véran said the government was not “pointing the finger” at medical workers.

“Asking medical workers to be vaccinated is asking them to reach the end goal of their commitment, to serve patients and the health of the people they have chosen to protect,” he said on Sunday.

The government is currently considering making it compulsory for those who work in hospitals or nursing homes to be vaccinated.

On Sunday, Mr Véran warned on Twitter that France could be facing a fourth wave of the virus.

He warned of the “very contagious” Delta variant and said there could be another wave from the end of July.

France has recorded more than 5.8 million cases and more than 111,000 deaths since the pandemic began.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Today, BBC Radio 5 Live’s Your Call programme has been asking listeners how they feel about restrictions lifting and losing their face masks.

Boris Johnson is expected to announce later that the majority of restrictions will be lifted on 19 July.

IT consultant Khaleel (pictured), in Burnley, says he is looking forward to “freedom”.

“The vast majority of the country has been abiding by and living with restrictions to our freedom for more than a year," he says.

“A lot of holidays and good times and precious times with family have been canned and cancelled and postponed.

“It’s purely about getting back to normality, getting the economy back to normality, getting people working, business owners earning their money again.

“My mask is going in the bin,” he adds.

John, in Leicester, is a kidney transplant patient and has been shielding during the pandemic.

He is worried about restrictions easing because of his immune system.

“I’ve not been out. When I have been out, it’s just to hospital,” he says.

“Now when we do go out, a strange phenomenon, people not shielding and not wearing masks any more.

“It’s scary for me just to change overnight like that.

“I’ve not been in a shop since March 2020.”

Listen to 5 Live on the free BBC Sounds app.

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Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, has been admitted to hospital with Covid-19.

He tested positive for the virus at the end of June and has been self-isolating.

Mr Bettel will remain under observation for 24 hours, local media reported. He was given the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in May.

Last month he attended a two-day EU summit in Brussels which was also attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European leaders. However none of the EU leaders were considered close contacts, AFP news agency reports.

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The Duke of Cambridge and the prime minister were among those who joined NHS workers at a ceremony to mark the health service's 73rd anniversary this morning.

Addressing the congregation at St Paul's Cathedral in central London, NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said the occasion was an opportunity for "cautious pride in science, treatments and our vaccines" but also for some "anger and regret" over the millions who have died with coronavirus around the world.

Dr Ashley Price, who treated the first coronavirus patients in the UK, also attended the ceremony and welcomed plans to lift restrictions in England on 19 July.

"We're having fewer admissions to hospital and those that are coming in we're generally able to treat," he said.

However, he said it was important to be mindful of more vulnerable people and those for whom the vaccine may not have worked as well.

"I think, in places like hospitals, mask wearing will need to continue for a bit longer because we are still contracting coronavirus and it's possible to spread it to very vulnerable patients," he added.

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It's looking set to be a busy afternoon for coronavirus news in England. If you're just joining us, here's a quick summary of what's happened so far:

• Boris Johnson is preparing to set out details of the final step of England's roadmap out of lockdown
• He is expected to confirm at a news conference at 17:00 BST that England is on track to lift the majority of remaining restrictions from 19 July

• Health Secretary Sajid Javid will update MPs at the same time
• But unions have said face masks should remain mandatory on public transport to protect workers - after ministers suggested wearing them in enclosed public spaces could become voluntary
• The Duchess of Cambridge is self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who later tested positive for the virus
• Meanwhile, her husband Prince William is attending events to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the NHS
• It comes after the Queen awarded the George Cross to the health service for its staff's "courage, compassion and dedication"
• Indonesia is facing an oxygen crisis as hospitals struggle to cope with a surge in cases

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Mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing should remain in place in shops to protect employees, a union has said.

Paddy Lillis, general secretary of Usdaw, which represents shop workers, said it was "not the right time to water down safety in stores".

"Retail staff are working with the public every day and are deeply worried about catching Covid-19," he said.

“To speak about the wearing of face coverings in these settings in terms of personal responsibility, ignores the reality that public facing workers have no option but to interact with large numbers of people as a part of their job.

"The main purpose of face coverings is to protect others, and the government must send out a clear message on this."

Ministers have hinted all legal restrictions requiring the public to wear masks in places like shops and on public transport could end in England on 19 July.

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At a news conference at 17:00 BST, Boris Johnson will say how and when the final step of the government's roadmap plan for easing coronavirus restrictions in England will happen.

Downing Street says Mr Johnson will outline:

• the next steps on the 1m-plus rule, face coverings, and working from home
• the findings of the reviews of social distancing and so-called Covid passports
• the next stages for care home visits

The government says it wants to give businesses and the public time to prepare - although the official announcements won't happen until 12 July, following a review of the latest data.

The prime minister is expect to confirm he is confident the majority of the final restrictions in England can be lifted from 19 July.

Remaining measures include:

• the "rule of six"
• table service in pubs and restaurants
• nightclubs being closed
• capacity limits in theatres and cinemas

Health Secretary Sajid Javid will also announce the plans to Parliament.

Get more details here.

Six Scottish health boards are among the top 10 regions worst hit by coronavirus in the European region, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures, external.

NHS Tayside has the highest rate, with 1,146 cases per 100,000 people.

Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Fife Lanarkshire and Ayrshire and Arran health boards are also in the top 10, along with north-east and north-west England.

The only areas in the table outside the UK are Nur-Sultan City in Kazakhstan and Russia's capital, Moscow.

Scotland's national clinical director, Jason Leitch, said a lack of "natural immunity" in the population was behind the high rates.

He also said also the country had been hit hard by the infectious Delta variant becoming "seeded" in Glasgow.

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The live music industry has welcomed the "positive noises" from government around the reopening of the sector.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to confirm later that he is confident the majority of remaining Covid restrictions in England can be lifted from 19 July - which is likely to mean nightclubs can reopen, while capacity limits on venues and events could be lifted.

Greg Parmley, chief executive of Live, which represents the sector, said: "As an industry that has been closed since the start of the pandemic, we are thrilled at the prospect of welcoming live music fans back through our doors.

“But the last year has taught us that nothing can be taken for granted.

"If the government wants the industry to bounce back and help the economy recover, they need to provide a government-backed insurance scheme to give organisers the confidence and security they still desperately need."

A large number of music festivals have already been forced to cancel this summer, with many citing the lack of government-backed insurance if coronavirus means they can't go ahead as a key reason.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Shop workers have been telling BBC Radio 5 Live they want customers to keep on wearing masks.

The prime minister is expected to announce later that wearing face masks will become voluntary in England.

Cheryl (pictured) is a shop worker from Gloucester. She says "we'll be losing shop workers hand over fist" if the measures are relaxed.

"People can choose whether they want to go into a shop or not; the people that work in the shops can’t. They don’t have the choice and they don’t have the protection.

"Take the masks away and that’s our last line of defence."

Cheryl, in Shropshire, works in a supermarket. She's already seen a decrease in the number of people wearing masks in the store.

"People are getting closer," she says.

"When they talk to you, they have to stand very close to you and they’re not wearing masks and not respecting social distancing.

"It’s as if we don’t exist because we’re wearing that uniform," she adds.

"If we become sick, how are they going to get their bread and milk? They’re totally disrespecting us."

Listen to 5 Live on the free BBC Sounds app.

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Newcastle upon Tyne has become the area of England with the highest rate of new cases of Covid-19.

Latest figures show the North East has overtaken the North West as the nation's main coronavirus hotspot, according to analysis by the PA news agency.

Newcastle recorded the equivalent of 664.4 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to 30 June - up from 382.1 one week earlier, and its highest rate for almost eight months.

Six of the top 10 highest rates in England are in the North East - a major turnaround from just two weeks ago, when the entire top 10 were areas in the North West.

However, rates are still rising in almost all parts of the North West, along with nearly every local area in England.

Other places seeing a sharp jump in cases include Tamworth in Staffordshire, which currently has the second highest rate in England (657.1), and Oxford, which has the fifth highest rate (589.7).

Find out how many cases are in your area here.

Callum May
BBC News

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Less than a quarter of people expect a return to pre-pandemic normality before the end of this year, according to opinion polls.

A survey by Ipsos MORI found only a tiny number - 5% - who thought the expected lifting of restrictions in England meant life would feel normal by the end of July.

Some 24% predicted a return to normality by the end of 2021, 49% said they expected it in 2022 or later, and 15% said life would never return to normal.

The proportion of people who said they were “concerned” about the risks to the country from Covid-19 has fallen to 77% - its lowest level since the first outbreak.

In March 2020, levels of concern were above 90%.

Ipsos MORI questioned 997 GB adults online between 18 and 20 June.

Is England ready to ditch self-isolating?published at 11:21 British Summer Time 5 July 2021

11:21 BST 5 July 2021

Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent

From the start of the pandemic, the single most important measure for controlling Covid was getting people to isolate when they had symptoms.

It’s why so many have urged the government to do more to support people financially when they do so.

Everything else - from mask-wearing and social distancing to contract tracing - was about marginal gains on top.

As we learnt more about the ability of the virus to spread before symptoms developed or among those who were asymptomatic, those marginal gains became more important.

But alongside isolating when ill, the new tool in the fight against Covid is, of course, vaccination.

Not only do the vaccines protect you, they protect others by curbing spread by cutting your chances of being infected in the first place and your risk of passing on the virus if you do become infected.

With high vaccination uptake, all those other measures are much less important than they once were.

That’s why ministers feel they can ditch many of them – and in doing so become arguably the first nation to relax restrictions on this scale with infections rising, and attempt to learn to live with Covid.

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The Duke of Cambridge has arrived at St Paul's Cathedral in central London for a ceremony honouring the 73rd birthday of the NHS.

William was due to attend with his wife, but she is now self-isolating following contact with someone who later tested positive for Covid-19.

Other guests include Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey.