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Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus taskforce co-ordinator, has said in a series of US media interviews that social distancing will remain the norm for the next several months.

“Social distancing will be with us through the summer to really ensure that we protect one another as we move through these phases,” Birx told NBC on Sunday, referring to the three stages of reopening that the federal government has outlined.

Her comments come after Vice-President Mike Pence said the virus would be largely "behind us" by the 25 May Memorial Day holiday, which signals the unofficial start of summertime in the US.

On Saturday, Birx told Fox News that new cases and deaths "will be dramatically decreased by the end of May".

Birx on Sunday also criticised the media for its coverage of Trump's suggestion on Thursday that disinfectants or UV light could be injected to fight off the virus - a comment that he later claimed was "sarcastic".

She told CNN that it "bothers" her that "this is still in the news cycle".

"I think I've made it clear that this was a musing, as you described. But I want us to move on to be able to give information to American people that can help them protect each other," she added.

A boat carrying hundreds of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar has been turned away from Malaysia, with the government citing fears over coronavirus.

One survivor estimated between 20 and 50 refugees died before Bangladeshi coastguards rescued the boat, with witnesses saying they saw bodies "thrown into the sea".

It is believed hundreds of refugees are still stranded at sea, while it is unclear if Bangladesh will accept them.

The refugees, who originally fled persecution in Myanmar, left camps in Bangladesh, according to some accounts.

Environment Secretary George Eustice has ended the daily briefing which he presented with Prof Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England.

Asked about reports that the government might introduce quarantine for international travellers arriving in the UK, Mr Eustice says "no decisions" have been made.

He says that as the UK moves to a new phase, at some point in the future "international travel could become a more significant risk to manage".

So far there have been few additional measures at airports because international travel represents "only a tiny proportion" of cases, Mr Eustice says.

The government had "taken a conscious decision not to close our borders" to "keep trade flowing".

Environment Secretary George Eustice says there is no serious disruption to the international flow of food.

But he says only about a third of the usual number of migrant workers is in the UK to pick fresh fruit and vegetables. He says the government is working with industry to encourage furloughed workers to help with harvests in June.

Mr Eustice is asked if when the prime minister is back at work he will follow the first ministers of Scotland and Wales in publishing a lockdown exit plan.

He says Mr Johnson "has been in all of our thoughts as he faced a very difficult encounter with the virus" and they are "delighted he is back at the helm".

But he said it is "too early" to review social distancing, saying the evidence will be examined at the regular three-week review.

Prof Powis says it is "a continually evolving approach based on emerging science".

On contact tracing, Prof Powis says it will be at its most effective when the infection rate is as low as possible. He says contact tracing is a "tried and tested" way of managing outbreaks but the lower the number of cases, the easier it is to do.

Mr Eustice is asked about concerns from care homes, which say they still have difficulty obtaining tests - even for residents who have Covid-19 symptoms.

But the environment secretary says the capacity for testing has now risen to 50,000 a day. He says that "significant numbers" of people in care homes are obtaining tests.

The environment secretary sets out how food suppliers have been trying to address the supply of groceries while the nation remains in lockdown.

Mr Eustice says that staff absence due to self-isolation and illness has dropped significantly in food suppliers, from 20% earlier in the lockdown to less than 10% at the end of last week.

He says 500,000 food parcels have been delivered to the people with medical conditions which require them to be "shielded" indoors for 12 weeks.

And supermarkets have carried out 300,000 priority deliveries to these groups.

Mr Eustice says supermarkets have increased delivery slots from 2.1m to 2.6m a week, and intend to add a further 300,000 over the next couple of weeks, but he acknowledges "it will still not be enough to meet all the demand that is out there".

Prof Stephen Powis, the National Medical Director of NHS England, says the benefits of social distancing are clearly showing with the number of hospital admissions and the number of critical care beds in use both declining.

Image source, Reuters

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US has updated its guidance to add six new symptoms to its list of possible signs of coronavirus.

The US health agency had previously only listed fever, cough and shortness of breath as symptoms.

However, it has now included chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell. Shortness of breath has also been changed to shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

The CDC says any of the nine symptoms can develop from two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Mr Eustice opens by giving the latest death toll in the UK, with 413 additional deaths in hospital bringing the total to 20,732.

Image source, Reuters

Environment Secretary George Eustice has begun the daily briefing from Downing Street.

He's joined by Prof Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England.

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About 40 people may have become infected in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, when they voted in the state’s election on 7 April, according to a local NPR News affiliate., external

Milwaukee's health commissioner says that the data is still being analysed to determine how many of the approximately 400,000 residents who voted got sick after going to polling stations amid lockdown orders.

The election was held earlier this month after courts backed Republicans opposing the Democratic governor’s move to push back the election. Residents were told that they must leave their homes in order to cast their vote, after absentee ballot efforts were also blocked.

On Friday, the state reported its largest single-day spike in cases, with an additional 331 infections and four deaths.

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A UK mother with terminal cancer wants permission to travel to the US so that she can receive potentially life-saving treatment.

Sarah Wright, nee Gray, 33, was told that her breast cancer had metastasised and was incurable in August 2019, the month after she gave birth to her daughter, Everleigh.

But Mrs Wright, from Ashford, Kent, has been accepted on a trial for a promising new drug, leronlimab, which could save her life if she can go to a clinic in San Francisco, California.

However, lockdown restrictions on entering the US mean that the family are unable to travel there.

“It feels like an utterly helpless situation, a situation where everything is out of your control,” said her husband, Adam Wright.

“I would never wish for anyone to experience what we have over the last year.”

Mrs Wright has tried a series of treatments but in April the NHS told her it could no longer help. The family has also contacted local MP, Damian Green, who they say is “on the case” with parliament and the UK’s ambassador to the US.

Helier Cheung
BBC News, Washington DC

With bars, restaurants and hotels shut across much of the US, people in the service industry have been hit particularly hard. Many have not only lost their jobs, but also their main source of income - tips.

"If you're a tipped worker in the US, tips are basically the only way you're making money - you depend on the kindness of strangers," says Kristen Monteleone, 32, in New Orleans.

Tipped workers have a lower minimum wage in many states - some as low as $2.13 per hour, external - as employers assume tips will make up the difference.

Kristen, an accountant who previously worked as a barista, bartender, and waitress, started the "NOLA Virtual Tip Jar" - where people can look up their favourite local service staff, and send them tips virtually.

It's an idea that's sprung up in many states - with people pledging to tip their favourite bartenders when they make themselves a drink, for example.

Others have argued that people should try and tip delivery staff and cab drivers more than usual, external - particularly given the increased risks they face while working.

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We're standing by to cover today's Downing Street news conference at 16:00 BST.

It will be led by Environment Secretary George Eustice, who has previously updated us on food supplies to supermarkets during the pandemic.

He'll be joined by NHS England's national medical director Prof Stephen Powis, who also attended yesterday's briefing.

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It's coming up to that time of year when thousands of people prepare to flock to the Chelsea Flower Show. But this year's event will be a little different.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the show will take place virtually for the first time, with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) hosting free content including garden tours on its website.

The famous event has taken place at London's Royal Hospital Chelsea every year since 1913, apart from gaps during the two world wars.

Every morning between 18 and 23 May, a leading designer, florist or gardening personality will provide a tour of their own private gardens.

There will also be daily "school gardening clubs" for families, "potting bench" demonstrations showing techniques for growing and maintaining plants as well as Q&A sessions with special guests.

UK growers who would have been at the event will give tours of their nurseries and replicate the displays they would have taken to the show.

A special series of programmes celebrating the show will also be broadcast on BBC One and Two throughout the week.

Image source, John Adamson

Scot John Adamson, a member of Edinburgh Beard and Moustache Club, says he is "devastated" after having to shave off his beard.

John has had a beard for as long as he has been able to but the need to wear a face mask for his job as a care assistant has meant he had to shave it off.

John said his wife of 10 years had never seen his chin before he shaved.

"I just can't get used to it and I don't like how I look now," he added.

"In fact, I would be more comfortable having no clothes on than having a naked chin.

"I did it for a really good reason, but I don't like it at all."

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President Trump is drawing flak from critics who say his plan to deliver a commencement speech at the West Point military academy in New York will create unsafe conditions for the 1,000 cadets returning to campus.

Trump is due to speak on 13 June at the academy, which is located about 60 miles (96km) from New York City, the epicentre of the US virus outbreak.

The decision led the editorial board of the New York Daily News, external to write that the Commander-in-Chief "is unconcerned about the damage he could cause to those around him".

The paper asked him to "stand down" and accused him of using the occasion as a campaign publicity stunt.

The US Naval Academy in Maryland called off its own commencement and instead held a virtual graduation. The Air Force Academy in Colorado allowed seniors to graduate last week, but required them to maintain strict social distancing.

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