Matt Hancock denies claims he has been holding large meetings in his office and not observing social distancing rules at work.

Prof Van Tam moves on to say the "extraordinary efforts" the public has made with social distancing measures has "stopped the NHS from being overwhelmed".

He adds: "Without it, the NHS it absolutely would have been overwhelmed, and several weeks ago."

The deputy chief medical officer says "other emergencies will go on" so it is important we have protected the NHS' "vital functions".

He says: "Road traffic accidents will still occur. Cardiac emergencies will continue.

"The important message for British people, for those emergencies, [is to know] the NHS is open, business as usual."

Ruth May says it is particularly important for pregnant women, who must call the NHS if they have concerns about their babies.

Matt Hancock finishes the press briefing supporting this message, saying he wants it to be heard "loud and clear" that the NHS is still open to those who need it.

We'll continue to bring you up to speed on the UK government's briefing but US President Donald Trump will soon take the stage with the White House coronavirus task force to give a daily update.

The number of cases in the US has risen to 473,000 with more than 17,800 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Matt Hancock says he's set a "clear goal" of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by end of the month and there have been "a huge number of offers" from science firms to convert their facilities.

They and the government are "working 24/7" to achieve this target, he adds.

He praises "super-specialist" volunteers working at the three "mega-labs" set up so far.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam says the requirement for oxygen for coronavirus patients is extremely high and that setting up supplies and ventilators is a "logistical challenge".

There have been "one or two reports of where something has gone slightly wrong with an oxygen supply", he adds, and that "we have to learn as we go along".

Mr Hancock adds there are 2,000 spare beds with ventilators and that spare capacity is increasing.

Image source, Getty Images

There was a glimmer of hope in Italy on Friday as the country saw another drop in the number of deaths from coronavirus.

A total of 570 people died in the last 24 hours, down from 610 on Thursday.

This takes the death toll to 18,849.

Italy's deadliest day was on 28 March with 971 deaths.

More than 147,000 people have now tested positive for the virus, according to the Civil Protection agency.

The hardest hit area of the country remains the Lombardy region, which now counts 10,238 victims.

But there will be hope in Italy - which currently has the world's highest death toll - that the latest figures are another sign that the country is past the worst of the crisis.

Image source, EPA

Asked about what targets we need to reach so we can relax social distancing measures, Prof Van-Tam warns it is a complex picture.

"I completely understand everyone wants a number or figure they can I look out for... but unfortunately it is complicated," he says.

The government's scientific advisers will look at a range of data, from the number of people who test positive, to the number of hospital admissions, and the number of deaths.

"All of those indicators will need to be taken into account for a proper reliable picture that things are definitely on the downturn and we are confident that is consistently the case," he adds.

"But even if I am itching to give you one thing you can go on, that this is the signal we are looking for, I just can't.

"It is just too soon and a more complicated judgement than that."

A reporter asks the chief nursing officer how she feels when she sees people ignoring social distancing rules.

Ruth May says it is "very very frustrating", adding that she saw groups of cyclists "hording" together on Westminster Bridge today.

But at the same time, she said some of her staff were getting shouted at for getting in their cars to go to walk, and "getting abuse from neighbours".

She adds: "My ask of everyone is to stay at home, save lives and protect my staff."

Matt Hancock says his goal is to protect life but this must be in "the widest context".

He says that at "no point in this crisis" has the NHS been overrun.

Asked about reports of a sharp economic downturn being forecast, he says he and the chancellor are working to ensure decisions on social distancing look at the impact on "the whole country".

But it's too early to judge this, he adds, urging people to stay at home this weekend.

Image source, Reuters

England's chief nurse, Ruth May, is asked how many frontline NHS staff have died due to coronavirus.

She says any death due to coronavirus is "a tragic one", describing the death of an NHS staff member - "one of our family" - as "heartbreaking".

Ms May says they are collating the numbers of frontline workers who have died, but that it is inappropriate to give a number, especially as some family members may not have given permission.

She adds: "We will learn any lessons to be learnt, but it is inappropriate to comment on any individual death we have seen, whether a healthcare worker or not."

Matt Hancock says the government "follows the science" on coronavirus and international travel and it's been "borne out by events".

The same is true of the government's policy on face masks, he adds.

And that is that they "should be saved for those who need them" most, he says.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam calls the wearing of face masks by the public a "vexed" issue. There "just isn't the evidence base" to support this as advice, Prof Van Tam adds.

He also says closing the UK's borders will "not work" in stopping the transmission of coronavirus.

Image source, AFP

Asked how the government is functioning during the prime minister's continued absence, Matt Hancock says Boris Johnson is "recovering", adding: "I am sure the whole nation is delighted to see the news."

He adds: "It demonstrates once again just how serious the disease is."

England's health secretary says the "good news" is that the government has been functioning "very efficiently and effectively" during the PM's illness.

He says the government does not have enough information yet to make changes to the lockdown measures, but promises a meeting on them will take place next week.

And he praises Dominic Raab for stepping into the role of deputising for the prime minister.

"But that is within the context of a strategy the prime minister clearly set out," he adds.

"We get on with the day-to-day things and do what is needed while the PM recovers."

This is the graph that the government has put out.

Image source, UK government

Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be treated as a "precious resource", Health Secretary Matt Hancock says.

There's "clearly a huge task ahead" to make sure those who need it get it, he adds.

He says while it is a "constant effort" to get it to the front line, the government has a detailed plan to get suppliers on board.

Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, says she has received refresher training about how to wear PPE, saying it's a "challenge" to work in it.

The graph showing the number of people in critical care "talks for itself", says the professor, with London shown as the "epicentre" of the pandemic.

Prof Van Tam repeats that it is "too premature to say" we have reached the peak.

But, he adds a personal note, saying his mother-in-law and friends work within the NHS, and it "really matters that we keep going with it."

Image source, UK government

When it comes to the number of cases in the UK, Prof Van-Tam says it is at a "high level" and "varying day by day".

But he hammers home the point the UK is in a "dangerous phase still"

When it comes to people in hospital beds, the deputy chief medical officer says the "curve is beginning to bend".

He also reassures people that their "hard work is beginning to pay off".

But he says he cannot say yet if we have reached the peak of the pandemic.

Deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, says the use of transport has continued to fall.

He says: "I can't tell you how important is is that you keep going with this.

"It is not over. We have to keep pushing as a nation to maintain our social distancing, and have to take the pain now to make the gain."

Here's what's been happening to UK transport in recent weeks.

Image source, UK government

The Downing Street press conference is continuing, if you're just joining us.

England's Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that the measures in place are about "protecting the people who protect us".

He says: "Even if you are not directly involved... there is something that everyone of us can do to play your part in the national effort.

"Stay at home, because spreading the virus today risks lives tomorrow and increases pressure of those working in the NHS.

"Do it for them. For it for the people you love."

Ruth May announces that Sunderland and Exeter will soon get Nightingale hospitals to deal with critically ill coronavirus patients.

Ruth May, Chief Nursing Office for England, says that, although it's "difficult" to stay indoors over the Easter weekend, it's vital.

She adds that people should remember the "sacrifices" NHS staff are making.

They're working "calmly" to deal with coronavirus, but it's taking a "toll", both "physical and emotional", Ms May says.

Matt Hancock has unveiled a new "PPE plan" with three strands.

He says the first is on guidance - about "being clear who needs PPE, when they need it and who does not".

Mr Hancock says there is enough PPE to go round, but only if it is used within guidance as it is a "precious resource".

The second strand is the "Herculean logistical effort" to distribute.

He says 742 million pieces of PPE have been delivered to the front line, but over the next three weeks, an online portal will launch so primary care and social care can request what they need.

Finally, Mr Hancock says it is about supply, appealing to British companies to help create PPE "on an unprecedented scale".

Here's the government's diagram of its personal protective equipment supply plan.

Image source, UK government