The panel is asked what recourse employees have if they are being "dragged back" to unsafe workplaces by "unscrupulous" employers and whether they can refuse to work.

Alok Sharma says he believes only a small number of firms would fall into this category. In the first instance, he says staff should raise the issue with their employers or unions.

If they don't get "any traction", he says employees should take the matter up with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or their local authorities.

Asked to comment, the HSE's Sarah Albon says she is aware of a small number of firms "not doing the right thing or not sure what the right thing is to do".

She says the watchdog has enforcement powers and is prepared to use them if necessary, by bringing criminal prosecutions.

The Business Secretary says that if an employee feels unsafe they should talk to their employer.

The government wants businesses to carry out Covid-19 risk assessments, he says, in response to a question from LBC's Ben Kentish.

"Every single workplace has a duty to keep their employees safe," the minister says.

ITV's Paul Brand says several care homes run by the private sector are on the brink of financial collapse and he knows of one which is set to go out of business imminently.

What more support can ministers offer them, he asks?

Mr Sharma says care homes can apply for wage support through the government's furlough scheme, which was extended earlier by the chancellor to October.

He says the government is also underwriting £14bn in credit for business and urges firms, including care providers, to see if they are eligible for recovery or business interruption loans.

He says the UK's overall package of business support is "very favourable" compared with other countries.

Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent

Image source, COBR

Government slides released at the press conference include one based on Office for National Statistics data on deaths.

Unlike the daily figures the government releases, these figures rely on death certificates – so doctors are free to put coronavirus down even if there has not been a positive test.

It shows there have been more than 8,000 deaths in care homes in England and Wales since the start of the epidemic.

But the positive news is that the number of deaths being reported each week seems to have peaked.

There were 2,400 in the most recent week – to 1 May - down from 2,800 the week before.

The BBC's Simon Jack asks about hospitality businesses - what happens if they can't open in July?

Sharma says the UK's furlough scheme has been welcomed and has given people "reassurance".

"It will have been eight months, March to October, where we have provided that security and that is the right thing to do," he says.

Our correspondent asks whether the minister acknowledges that there are hundreds of thousands who are now effectively unemployed, but who don't realise yet.

Sharma says the government has also provided bounce-back loans and other loans to keep people in their jobs.

"We won't save every single job," he says, adding that the action taken should be "universally welcomed".

Reality Check

Business Secretary Alok Sharma says 85,293 tests for coronavirus were carried out on Monday.

The target, set by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock last month, was for 100,000 tests per day in the UK.

The government said this figure was reached on 30 April and then on 1 May (although there was some criticism about how tests were counted), but the target was then missed for eight consecutive days.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government hit the daily testing target again on Sunday, with 100,490 tests.

Reality Check has been looking at how the government is performing on testing and and its other coronavirus targets.

The second question is from Alan in Newcastle who says he survived being put on a ventilator in intensive care.

He asks what plans the government has to help clinically vulnerable members of the public once the 12-week shielding period ends next month.

In response, Mr Sharma says he recognises how difficult it has been for relatives of those in this group not able to see their loved ones but the restrictions are designed to save lives.

And Prof Powis says the care Alan received showed the dedication of NHS staff, reminding people that it is the international day of the nurse.

The first question is from Hannah from Rossendale, Lancashire, who asks whether the UK government has considered universal income?

The business secretary replies that the government is providing an "enormous amount of support" for businesses and workers, with the extension of the furlough scheme providing "reassurance" today.

He says universal basic income has been tested in other countries "and hasn’t been taken forward".

Prof Powis says the number of people admitted to hospital in England with Covid-19 is continuing to fall while, as of 11 May, 22% of critical care beds were occupied by coronavirus patients.

As for the total number of patients currently in hospital with coronavirus, that is down from 13,606 a week ago to 11,605 – although as Mr Sharma said a moment ago the figure has risen by nearly 150 in the past 24 hours.

While numbers are continuing to fall in London and several other regions, there appears to have been a slight uptick in the North-East of England and the East of England.

Prof Powis says the UK’s testing capacity is above 100,000 – although the number of daily tests is still some way below that.

He says the fact that the number of people testing positive is broadly stable or falling as a proportion of those being tested is “good news”.

He says while there is a variation in the daily fatality rates, and there is a reporting lag over the weekend, he says the rolling seven-day average does point to a steady decline.

Image source, COBR

Professor Stephen Powis, from NHS England, is now talking through the latest data, starting as usual with figures showing a “high level” of compliance with social distancing and stay at home rules.

He cites research by the Office for National Statistics, suggesting 44% of employed adults worked from home between 17 and 27 April, compared with 12% over the same period last year.

More than 90% of people avoided contact with vulnerable people during that period, he adds, according to the watchdog’s Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.

He says the benefits of social distancing have been clear and it is critical it is maintained.

Sharma goes on to say the guidance for businesses makes suggestions on how employees can safely socially distance at work.

He says barriers could be used in workplaces, there could be fixed teams and frequent cleaning of work areas and equipment.

He also says that "to support employers and employers through this" up to £14m has been made available for the Health and Safety Executive for extra call centre employers, inspectors and equipment if needed.

The minister highlights the UK government's furlough scheme, which Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced he had extended by four months today.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma starts by going through the new alert system that will determine the social distancing measures in place in England.

He says it is "thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of the British people" that England is able to move to level three in “careful steps” - referring to measures announced by Boris Johnson on Sunday.

He says a second peak of the virus would be "disastrous" and continued changes will only happen when they feel it is safe.

He says businesses will need to operate in new ways to stay safe, and that the government will work with them to do this - and has published new guidance.

Here is all you need to know about the lockdown restrictions for England.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has begun his opening remarks at the UK's government's daily coronavirus briefing.

We'll bring you the latest here.

The UK's Chancellor Rishi Sunak says it breaks his heart to see many people losing their jobs and businesses shutting, as a result of the restrictions on the economy.

In a BBC interview with political editor Laura Kuenssberg, he said the government was determined to save as many firms as it could.

The UK's furlough scheme was "expensive" but the cost to society of not doing it would be "far higher", Sunak said.

Earlier today, he announced the extension of the scheme to the end of October.

We should be hearing from the UK government in the next few minutes.

But that gives you time to read our explainer on the UK government’s furlough programme.

Our reporter Eleanor Lawrie has taken a look at what it means for workers and how businesses can apply.

The official coronavirus death toll in the UK has risen to 32,692 - up 627 on yesterday's figure.

But if "excess deaths" - all those which would not have occurred without the virus - are added, the number of people who have died as a result of the UK pandemic is more than 50,000.

As of 09:00 on Tuesday there have been 2,007,146 tests, with 85,293 tests on 11 May - below the 100,000 target set for the end of April.

Of those daily tests, 3,403 were positive.

A note on Tuesdays:

Due to a lag in reporting deaths around every weekend, Tuesday has seen the highest number of deaths reported in each of the last three weeks. Today's death toll of 627 is a decrease from 693 last Tuesday.

Image source, DHSC

We will be hearing from the UK government shortly with its daily briefing on coronavirus.

But while we wait, there's time to take a look at our latest Q&A on the virus. We’ve answered some of the questions you’ve sent in, such as whether the new lockdown rules in England allow exercise in national parks.

The Wimbledon tennis tournament says it has earmarked £1.2m to help support the most vulnerable people in the UK during the coronavirus crisis.

The Championships, which should have started on 29 June in London, are among the many sporting events to be postponed or cancelled because of the pandemic.

The £1.2m fund includes:

• donations to a range of charities and organisations in south-west London
• the opening of an All England Club kitchen to deliver 200 daily hot meals for those in need in the local community
• financial support for homeless charities across London
• donations to the British Red Cross and Water Aid

Wimbledon will also make contributions to NHS Charities Together, St John Ambulance and the relief programme created to help lower-ranked players struggling without an income.

"We strongly believe that Wimbledon has the responsibility and the capacity to act as a force for good, using our resources to help those in need, particularly in a crisis such as this," said Ian Hewitt, the chairman of the All England Club.

Image source, Getty Images

We should be hearing from the UK government in the next 30 minutes, but let’s take a look at the latest from the country first.

• The UK scheme to pay wages of workers on leave because of coronavirus will be extended to October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said
• The number of coronavirus deaths in care homes across the UK has started to fall, figures show
• Many British people are unlikely to be able to take foreign holidays this summer due to virus restrictions, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said
• A five-stage plan for easing the lockdown in Northern Ireland has been published by the executive