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Elite athletes in the UK will be able to resume individual training immediately in official sports venues which meet new government guidelines, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has announced.

All competitors and coaches must have a one-to-one meeting before returning, indicating they understand the risks of their specific sport.

Under carefully controlled medical conditions, athletes must keep two metres (six feet) apart at all times from team-mates and other people outside their household.

The DCMS says the relaxation of the restrictions is "a significant step towards a safe resumption of live sport behind closed doors".

In other sporting developments:

• Greater Manchester Police officers are "fearful" of crowds turning up at English Premier League stadiums if the football season restarts
• In Italy, Serie A football clubs have agreed to aim to resume their season on 13 June, subject to government approval
• England cricketer Jos Buttler says players will make their "own decisions" about whether they feel it is safe to return to playing

Image source, Getty Images

New York City has seen its longest period without pedestrian fatalities since 1983, thanks to Covid-19 restrictions.

Transportation commissioner Polly Trottenberg said on Tuesday no pedestrians had been killed in the city for the last 58 days, ABC 7 New York reported, external.

New York City's traffic levels have dropped following work-from-home guidance and non-essential business closures that began at the end of March.

But Trottenberg also warned that some drivers had been taking advantage of the lack of congestion to speed - and transport officials have issued twice as many speed violations as before the pandemic.

Last month, the city's mayor also announced plans to open up to 100 miles (160km) of New York streets for pedestrians to make it easier to socially distance outside.

Image source, EPA

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has challenged Europe's leaders to build a “modern, clean, healthy economy” but warned they “must not rebuild an economy of yesterday”.

Speaking to the European Parliament, Von der Leyen outlined plans for a recovery fund that would help governments invest in projects for a modern future and said the fund would include grants for healthy companies.

She added: "If we have to increase the debt our children have to pay back in the future, the least we can do is use the money to invest in your future, to tackle climate change, reduce the climate burden and not add to it in any way.

"At the end of the [coronavirus] crisis we must not fall back into the old patterns, we must not rebuild an economy of yesterday. We should now courageously seize the opportunity to build a modern, clean, healthy economy that will secure the livelihoods of... our children."

Gordon Carrera
BBC Security correspondent

The US FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued a Public Service Announcement warning groups researching Covid-19 of likely targeting and network compromise by China.

The UK and US had already issued a detailed joint warning about other countries targeting research back on 5 May.

On that occasion, they did not officially name names but sources indicated China, Russia and Iran were among those responsible.

Now, in a widely trailed move, the US has decided to single out China specifically with this new advisory.

So far they have not been joined by the UK and the new alert does not contain any new details of what has taken place.

That means this may well be interpreted as a means of both playing to a domestic audience and of raising the pressure on China as part of the growing tension between Washington and Beijing.

We're on to the final question at the conference, from a reporter on the Dundee Courier.

Jenrick is asked what will happen to the government's job retention or furlough scheme for workers in Scotland if it remains in effective lockdown longer than the rest of the UK.

Could the Treasury step in to pay for the scheme if the Scottish government's borrowing powers are too stretched?

The communities secretary says it is a UK-wide scheme and the government will have regard to how it is working in all parts of the UK, adding that it has recently been extended to October.

And asked what impact the easing of lockdown measures will have on the reproduction rate - the number of people that someone with the virus infects - Harries says the aim is to keep that number below 1.

And with that, the daily government briefing is finished.

The Metro’s Dominic Yeatman asks about government guidance for care homes, issued for 25 February to 13 March, that said it was "unlikely" anyone would be infected.

Earlier, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer challenged Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the issue.

Harries says the guidance needs to be considered “in the background” of what the situation was at the time.

She says this was produced at a stage when at that time there was no evidence of "sustained transmission" of the virus.

Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent

Missing the 100,000-a-day target for tests is becoming a bit of a recurring theme. Yesterday just over 87,000 tests were carried out.

The government has always said it does not have to hit the target every day - what matters is whether people who need a test get one.

So how is the government doing on that? It has emerged this week that it will be another four weeks until all care home residents are tested.

All the evidence, like comparisons with some other countries, suggests we should probably be exceeding 100,000 tests a day regularly.

The Daily Telegraph's Gordon Rayner talks about the UK's stance on reopening schools, mentioning French government advice which he suggests had indicated that pupils are safer at home than at school.

Harries says she is not an expert on the French system but that policymakers have to give consideration to where children "flourish" best and how to balance risks and responsibilities.

She says being in school has been proved to be particularly beneficial for the most vulnerable children.

On rates of infection and transmission among children, she says it is clear that young children are among one of the safest groups.

She says the school environment is often more "controlled" and children behave differently at home.

Jenrick adds that the government wants schools to return when it is safe to do so and the government's "door is always open" to unions to discuss how this can be done safely.

Andy Bell from Channel 5 asks whether school staff will be penalised if they are too worried to return to school in June.

He also asks about the absence of the global death rates slide from the briefing, which has been used in previous weeks.

Jenrick says the education secretary is working closely with the trade unions on schools returning to ensure staff have sufficient guidance.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England Jenny Harries says there is "no reason why the death data cannot be produced here".

But, she says, it is clear there is a lot of aspects to consider when understanding death data - such as how the data is collected differently in different countries.

She says the "only good comparison" would be in the long term looking back.

ITV's Paul Brand says care homes will welcome the £600m extra funding announced earlier, but sadly the number of deaths means that many of their beds are now empty and they face the threat of closure.

Brand asks, how will this new money stop this from happening?

Jenrick says the extra money is largely intended to boost infection controls but that it can be used for other purposes, such as allowing providers to rotate staff more effectively.

He says it is part of a huge package of support.

Local councils which provide social care in the community have already been given £3.2bn in funding, the vast majority of which has gone to social care. He says it is important that this get to the front line.

He says the government wants to ensure care homes are "financially sustainable" and that care homes have the PPE and testing they need.

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg asks why can't the government get a grip on care homes.

Jenrick replies that care homes are "at the absolute heart of everything we are doing", saying the PM has announced £600m in extra financial support for care homes in England.

This will fund changes in care homes, including better infection control and less rotation of staff, he says.

When challenged that there were not enough tests carried out, he says he is "sure there is more we can do" and they have to make sure the testing capacity focuses on those who need it - like caregivers.

The second question from a member of the public, from Laura in Rossendale in Lancashire, is about how soon people will be able to meet with extended "family bubbles or clusters" they are not living with.

Jenrick says the guidance does not allow that at the moment - although people are able to meet one other person from outside their household outdoors.

Harries says allowing people to meet up with other family members would give people a strong mental health boost, but she adds that the rules are somewhat complicated to ensure it remains fair, and consistent with public health advice.

The first question is from Michael in London, who says he works in the theatre and performing arts industry - he asks whether the government will pledge to protect industries without any income for some time.

Jenrick says "all of us who care about the arts are very concerned" for the sector, which is "incredibly important" in the UK and "important for our wellbeing".

He refers to the "unprecedented support package" of the furlough scheme and the Treasury scheme launched today for the self-employed.

The culture secretary is also working with institutions on this, he says.

Read more about the furlough scheme here.

Harries says the number of people in hospital with the virus is 15% lower than a week ago.

She says this "positive trend" is a testament to the public's support for social distancing.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England Jenny Harries then goes through the latest data.

She says transport usage is down by 50% across all modes and it is important to continue to watch these figures, saying they are a key indicator of how successful social distancing is proving.

On testing, she says the total capacity is still considerably above the number of daily tests.

She says this extra headroom will be used to increase tests in “hotspots” such as care homes and hospitals.

Reality Check

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick says 87,063 tests for coronavirus were carried out on Tuesday.

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

The government said the figure was reached on 30 April and 1 May - although the figures include home tests sent out but not yet returned or processed. 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. The PM now says the UK "will go up to 200,000 by the end of the month".

There was some confusion about this figure, which the Department for Health and Social Care says refers not to tests but to testing capacity, which is the number of tests that theoretically could be carried out per day.

Jenrick says the government is planning a "first homes programme" for later this year which will offer a 30% discount for key workers.

He says he wants construction of homes to be "up and running" and is "announcing further steps for safe house building".

He says they will allow "more flexible working hours where appropriate".

Sites can apply to extend their working hours to 21:00 BST Monday to Saturday in residential areas and this should be approved by local councils unless there are "compelling reasons" not to do so.

He says the housing market has been "key" to economic recovery in the past.

Jenrick continues: "As we begin to recover it is essential to open up parts of our economy where it is safe to do so."

He says that from today, anyone in England can move house if they follow the government guidance published on the government website.

He says 450,000 buyers had to put their move on hold and the pressure for some was "acute" with "serious" implications.

"These people have been stuck in limbo, now they can carry on with their house moves."

Estate agents can open, viewings are permitted and other essential parts of sales and lettings process is restarted with immediate effect, he says.

The viewings should take place virtually in the first instance, according to the guidance, he says.

Here is more information on moving house in England.

Image source, UK government

Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick starts by saying he is going to set out the plan to restart the housing market - after curbs on estate agents have been lifted in England.

He then goes through the government's new "Covid alert levels", as set out by Boris Johnson on Sunday.

He says social distancing measures remain critical to control the virus.

The first step he says is those who can’t work from home in England should now speak to their employer about going back.

He says they are due to meet faith leaders so private prayer can take place in places of worship.

Here is all you need to know about the easing of restrictions in England.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick is making his opening remarks at the UK government's daily coronavirus briefing.

We'll bring you the latest here.