Twin sisters from the UK have died within three days of each other after testing positive for coronavirus, their sister has said.

Children's nurse Katy Davis, 37, died on Tuesday at Southampton General Hospital. Her identical twin Emma, a former nurse, died earlier today according to their sister Zoe.

"They always said they had come into the world together and would go out together as well," she said.

Image source, Zoe Davis

Tulip Mazumdar
Global Health Correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The development of new vaccines and treatments to fight Covid-19 is happening at historic speed.

But a crucial question stands: who will get the first access to life-saving vaccines and treatments, once they are developed?

On Friday, heads of state, UN officials and global leaders in public health and industry joined the World Health Organization via video link for the global launch of the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator.

Those involved in the programme committed to ensuring that, whichever country actually comes up with the Holy Grail of a vaccine or cure, that it will be equally accessible to those who need it most, no matter where they are in the world.

This will be a major challenge, given that almost every person on Earth is at risk from this disease.

The key consideration will be how quickly any new tools can be scaled up and distributed fairly.

During the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, richer nations were able to buy up supplies of the new vaccine first, resulting in shortages for developing nations.

"That cannot happen again," the WHO said earlier.

All over the world, couples' wedding plans have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic but some, like Laura McKinlay and Ruaridh Macmillan from Scotland, have pressed on.

They were planning to get married recently but their big day was cancelled because of the ongoing lockdown.

So the couple held what they called a "not our wedding day" and linked up with family and friends via video calls. They held their own ceremony at home with improvised wedding props, including a fitted bedsheet that stood in for a veil, and pyjamas instead of a kilt. Have a watch:

Italy has recorded the lowest daily toll of coronavirus-related deaths in more than a month.

The number of deaths rose by 420 to 25,969 in the past 24 hours, the smallest single-day increase since 19 March, Italy’s Civil Protection Agency said.

New infections rose by 3,021, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 192,994.

But the number of people currently infected with Covid-19 dropped for a fifth consecutive day, falling from 106,848 on Thursday to 106,527.

BBC Rome correspondent Mark Lowen, external said it was “too soon to get our hopes up but it is a positive sign”.

On Friday, Italian media reported that the country’s strict lockdown would be eased in stages over the next four weeks.

Earlier, Spain reported its fewest coronavirus-related deaths in almost five weeks. France saw fewer deaths on Friday too, recording an increase of 389 in the past 24 hours.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking at his daily coronavirus briefing a little earlier, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that "all evidence suggests we're on the downside of the curve".

But the governor once again stressed that if the state opens prematurely "all that progress we made is gone".

Here are some other highlights from the governor's daily briefing.

• New York state reported 422 deaths in the past 24 hours, a slight decrease from 438 deaths recorded the day before
• Cuomo announced that every New Yorker would receive an application for an absentee ballot for the presidential primary. The governor had previously postponed the primary until June 23
• New York will suffer a $13.3bn (£10.78bn) shortfall due to the virus outbreak, according to state projections

Image source, Getty Images

President Donald Trump has said that his comments suggesting disinfectants could help treat coronavirus were "sarcastic".

During a signing for a new coronavirus aid bill on Friday, Trump said that he "was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen".

Trump then said that disinfectants on the hands "could have a very good effect".

Asked if he was encouraging their use, the president replied "of course not".

His comments have been heavily criticised by doctors and experts.

We should stress that disinfectants are hazardous substances and can be poisonous if ingested. Even external exposure can be dangerous to the skin, eyes and respiratory system.

Want to know more? Here's a fact check of Trump's initial claims.

Image source, Reuters

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced an agreement with the French and Irish governments to guarantee supply chains. Spare capacity on transport will be used to supply the NHS and local resilience forums.

Shapps announced trials of using drones to carry medical supplies and paid tribute to transport workers, volunteers and engineers who are keeping logistics moving.

Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said the curve of new case numbers had levelled off, but the numbers could rise as more people get tested. She said there was success in reducing the numbers of people in hospital and in critical care.

Shapps said the website for key workers to book coronavirus tests will be opening again soon, after it closed due to high demand, and would open and close as slots become available. He said the devolved administrations had joined the scheme.

He emphasised there is no point taking a test if you do not have a reason to think you might be ill - but did not concede that the government has raised expectations above reality.

Asked about screening for passengers arriving at UK airports, Mr Shapps said flights are down to 3-4% of pre-crisis numbers, and most of those entering the UK are returning nationals.

Reacting to President Trump's suggestion that people could treat coronavirus by injecting disinfectant, Dr Harries repeated that no one should be injecting themselves.

Back to the Downing Street briefing. The transport secretary was also asked about comments from Donald Trump suggesting disinfectants could potentially be used to treat coronavirus - and whether he had a message for the US president about spreading disinformation.

Grant Shapps refused to answer and instead deferred to deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries.

She said she didn't have a specific message for Trump but from a medical perspective she would not support the idea of using disinfectants as treatment.

“Nobody should be injecting anything and we should be using evidence-based and properly trialled treatments that we know will be safe," she told the press conference.

Reality Check has had a look at the president’s coronavirus claims - including that exposing patients' bodies to UV light could help treat the disease.Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Captain Tom Moore has reached number one with his charity single - making him the oldest artist to top the UK singles chart.

The 99-year-old war veteran, who raised more than £28m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden, has teamed up with Michael Ball and the The NHS Voices Of Care Choir to release a cover of You'll Never Walk Alone to continue his fundraising.

The song is now the fastest selling single of 2020, according to the Official Charts Company, clinching the top spot with combined chart sales of 82,000.

"My grandchildren can’t believe I am a chart topper!" Capt Tom, who turns 100 next week, said.

“I have to thank Michael Ball, the NHS Voices Of Care Choir and everyone behind the scenes, who shared their talents and expertise in order to raise money for the NHS, to whom we owe so much.

“And, of course, the public for buying the single and donating – we’re in this together, and I am forever grateful for your support.

“And this just proves you’ll never walk alone.”

The transport secretary ends today's Downing Street briefing by saying that the public should not let another sunny weekend cause the progress in tackling the coronavirus to slip.

"The message as ever is the same: stay at home; protect the NHS; and save lives," he says.

The Metro challenges the panel on the government's target of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month.

Mr Shapps replies: “What we have been finding is the capacity is rising pretty fast.”

He points to comments from yesterday's panel member, Prof John Newton, who said that he believes the government will reach target.

The problem has been that there has not been a sufficient number of people coming forward, he says.

Shapps is also asked about Boris Johnson's original target of 250,000 tests a day, which the transport secretary says was "an ambition".

On testing and contact tracing, he says this method is “absolutely vital”, saying the app uses a Bluetooth signal as part of the contact tracing follow-up.

We take a look at the government's testing target here.

Image source, Reuters

The deputy chief medical officer says that data on any link between coronavirus deaths and ethnicity may be difficult to draw until there is "very, very clear data" but that the issue is under "very active consideration".

Dr Harries says there will be a very detailed review into any potential link - and that the review will consider not just ethnicity but also any link with medical conditions that may be prevelent within some ethinic minority groups.

"It is really important that we engage with those communtiies so that we understand," she says, adding as an example: "We need to understand how they are represented in the very sad deaths of health workers."

Asked by Birmingham Live to detail the amount of support light rail systems such as the Manchester Metro Link will receive during the pandemic, the transport secretary says he does not have an actual figure at this stage but that it will be a "multi-million pound package".

He says the government is discussing support with operators as well as the extent to which the systems should be operating during the lockdown restrictions.

"These systems are running well below capacity," he adds. "It is a case of finding a route with them that ensures they remain a viable entity."

Image source, Getty Images

Politico asks about Brexit and says the haulage sector has warned the Brexit transition period should be extended.

This is the period in which the UK and EU are negotiating a post-Brexit trade deal and the deadline is 31 December this year.

Mr Shapps says the Brexit talks included “very good progress” in “some areas” such as transport.

He says it “remains the case” that the “best way to provide certainty to business” is to keep the transition period and not extend the deadline of 31 December.

The panel is also asked about the coronavirus home testing kits and whether they are reliable.

Dr Harries says they have run tests in parallel with trained testers and someone who isn't trained and they are "remarkably comparable".

Find out more about the Brexit talks here.

Reality Check

The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said “it looks like” the government’s coronavirus testing target of 100,000 by the end of the April “will be met in terms of capacity”.

But when the target was first announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock on 2 April, he said it was for 100,000 physical tests a day, not just the capacity to carry them out.

Since then, some cabinet ministers have switched their emphasis to testing capacity - the amount of tests that could be done theoretically on any one day - with the latest daily testing capacity given as 51,000.

The latest actual number of daily tests was 28,532 - a long way off Mr Hancock’s 100,000 target.

The government has pointed to a “lack of demand” from NHS and other key workers for tests - but bodies representing them have blamed difficulties accessing the tests.

Asked whether the government has raised expectations beyond what it can deliver in terms of coronavirus testing and its goal of 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month, the transport secretary says we have seen capacity "rising very fast".

He adds that the significant demand demonstrated for tests earlier on Friday was a good sign - and that it will be good to see the demand match the rising capacity for tests.

He confirms that 10.72 million essential worker households are now eligible to request a test via the government's website.

But he and Dr Harries acknowledge that people are being offered a "have you got it test".

"There is no point taking the test unless you think you have some symptoms," Mr Shapps adds, saying those who experienced symptoms three weeks ago may have "missed the boat" on getting tested.

Image source, AFP

The transport secretary is is asked about ferries that are struggling and whether they will get government funding.

Shapps says the agreement with French and Republic of Ireland governments includes 26 different freight routes and support is available for ferries.

He is also asked about airport checks and whether there should be passenger screening.

He says passenger numbers are down “massively”, adding that countries that have "locked down" flights "have not necessarily weathered the storm of coronavirus".

Reality Check

The transport secretary referenced the five tests the UK must meet before lockdown restrictions can be eased. They include making sure the NHS can cope, and ensuring there is enough testing and personal protective equipment available to meet future demand.

So, how close is the country to meeting those tests? Our explainer sets out how far we’ve come:

Read more: Are the five tests being met?

We just heard the transport secretary say there is going to be a review looking at how drones will be used during the pandemic. Here's a bit more detail on that.

The Department for Transport says it will fast track the launch of a new trial using drones between the mainland and St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight.

It follows £28m awarded by the government earlier this year to Southampton and Portsmouth councils to carry out drone trials of this kind as part of a wider future transport zone trial.

Asked by Roger Johnson of BBC North West Tonight about whether policing needs to change in view of anecodotal evidence more people are ignoring lockdown restrictions, the transport secretary says the peak of coronavirus cases "is not over".

"When people ask me when the stay at home measures will be altered my answer is some of this lies in your own hands," Grant Shapps adds, suggesting the more people adhere to the restrictions, the sooner they may be eased.

Dr Harries says stories suggesting more people are leaving home to enjoy the sunshine points towards the behavioural science of implementing lockdown restrictions.

"Most of the public are increasingly complying and increasingly supporting" the measures, she says. "We need to encourage everyone to comply."