The next question comes from Sky News, asking Prof Whitty and Sir Patrick if they are comfortable with not being able to answer the questions about Mr Cummings.

Prof Whitty says: "The desire not to get pulled into politics is far stronger for Sir Patrick and me than the prime minister."

Sir Patrick adds: "I am a civil servant and don't want to get involved in politics at all."

Mr Johnson says he has "no choice" but to get involved, but moves onto the second question about whether people must isolate "no ifs, no buts", even if they have childcare issues - another nod to Mr Cummings' reasoning for breaking lockdown.

The PM says: "If you get contacted and told you have been in 2m of someone for 15 minutes that has the virus... then yes, you must self-isolate.

"I know that is going to be hard, but do not forget this is the way to beat it."

Prof Whitty adds it can take two or three days before symptoms show, for two, so if those asked to isolate don't, they are "the biggest risk of unwittingly having the infection without symptoms and spreading it for two or three days".

Robert Peston from ITV asks the government experts whether Mr Cummings' behaviour will undermine government messaging on the lockdown.

Boris Johnson answers for them, saying it would not be appropriate for advisers to be "dragged into political controversy".

On the planned review of the current two metre rule, Sir Patrick says the two-metre rule is a "policy decision".

He says scientists have given advice on the principles and measures than can be taken to reduce risk generally.

The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg asks the first question from the press.

She asks about a statement from Durham Police, who said they would have sent the PM's top aide, Dominic Cummings, home when he went to Barnard Castle during lockdown - something that has led to calls for his resignation.

She asks the PM and the experts why people would stick to the rules if Cummings didn't.

Boris Johnson says: "I have said quite a lot on this matter already and noticed Durham Police said they were going to take no action."

He adds: "I intend to draw a line under the matter."

He also stops Prof Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance from answering, saying he wants to "protect them [as it is] unfair and unnecessary to ask them a political question".

Philippa Roxby
Health reporter, BBC News

Finally, adults will be able to see their parents and children will be permitted to see their grandparents.

It’s been more than eight weeks since this was last possible in England.

The PM has announced that family reunions can take place in private gardens, rather than parks, as long as people continue to stay 2m apart.

That is because the risk of the virus spreading between people is much lower outdoors than indoors.

Outside, there are fewer surfaces to become infected and less chance of smaller droplets being passed around in fresh air.

But the risk is still not zero and so social distancing still applies.

There's a second question from the public on help for those who cannot go into work during local lockdowns.

Boris Johnson says we'll be "hearing more" about support for the self-employed.

He also says employers can take advantage of the government's job retention scheme.

"Where we have to clamp down [...] we will make sure we look after local people".

The first question is from the public - a mother called Jay from Horsham.

She says she is shielding with her 10-year-old son, and wants to know how lockdown will be eased for them.

The prime minister says he feels "very sympathetic" to the over one million people who are shielding because of their health issues.

"We want to release you from your lockdown as fast as we possibly can and that is why we continue to be extremely vigilant in our approach," he adds.

Johnson says they are taking "tentative steps" with others now, but they need to get the infection rate down so "everybody who has been shielded can be released".

Prof Chris Whitty adds: "As the rates of infection comes down... the risk to people at higher risk is decreasing".

He says he hopes they will get to that stage "relatively soon" but the infection is not there yet.

Sir Patrick Vallance says the current infection rate means there is “not a lot of room” to do things differently.

Antibody surveys estimate that under 7% of people have antibodies to the virus, meaning the “vast majority” are still vulnerable, he adds.

Sir Patrick also gives some more details of the ongoing swab test infection survey being conducted by the Office for National Statistics.

He says the results point to an estimated 133,000 people being infected in England between 11 May and 24 May, around 0.24% of the population.

The projected total for the two weeks up to 10 May was about 148,000.

There are an estimated 54,000 new infections per week, he adds - which is still a "significant burden" of new infections.

Sir Patrick Vallance says the R number – which estimates the infection rate – is currently between 0.7 and 0.9.

That’s a slight reduction on the latest estimate as of last Friday, which was between 0.7 and 1.0.

But he says it may be "very close" to 1 in some areas - and although numbers are going down, they are not "coming down fast".

The government wants to keep this number below 1 at all times, meaning the spread of the virus is decreasing rather than increasing.

The briefing pauses for a moment, as a video is played out explaining the new test and trace system being launched in England.

You can read more about the programme here.

Johnson says it is "still a fraction" of the social contact people are used to, and he knows people will "find it frustrating".

But he says it is "unavoidable given the nature of the invisible enemy".

The PM says: "We will inevitably not be getting everything right first time."

He says he is "hopeful in the coming weeks we may be able to do more", but protecting the health and safety of the public is the "number one priority".

Johnson adds: "I want to reaffirm the fundamental commitment to the British people that all the steps we have taken and will take are conditional on all the data and all the scientific advice."

But he warns "there will be further local outbreaks", and while the government will monitor them, it is prepared to "put on the brakes as required and, where necessary, reimpose measures".

Johnson says some retail will open on Monday - such as car sales - and more may follow on 15 June, depending on the infection rate.

But he then moves on to social contact.

The PM says there has been a "toll taken on family and friends unable to see each other".

But from Monday, six people will be able to meet in public spaces and private outdoor spaces, such as gardens, if those from different households stay 2m apart.

"These changes means friends and family will start to meet loved ones," says the PM, adding it is a "long awaited and joyful moment".

But he warns people "must stay alert and act responsibly".

And he warns against too many households meeting in quick succession and that they are still not allowed to be inside homes of friends and families.

First, he says schools will reopen to more children from Monday.

Johnson says: "Closing schools has deprived children of their education and as so often the most disadvantaged are hardest hit."

On 15 June, secondary schools will begin face-to-face contact time for years 10 and 12.

The final test is to be sure any changes to lockdown will not result in a second peak in the virus.

Johnson says he is going to set out measures on schools, social contact and retail.

Although all parts of the UK are moving in the same direction, he says other nations are moving at different speeds.

"I cannot and will not throw away all the gains we have made together, so the changes we are making are limited and cautious," he adds.

Image source, UK Government

Test four is about the government having confidence it can handle challenges such as testing capacity and the supply of personal protective equipment - both of which it has faced criticism for throughout the crisis.

The prime minister says the UK has secured over 100 new deals with suppliers around the world for PPE, with two billion items to be manufactured in the UK.

On testing, Johnson says testing capacity has increased to over 161,000 a day.

He adds: "I fully acknowledge the difficulties on testing and PPE.

"It has been immensely frustrating but we are now making progress."

Image source, UK Government

The third test is about seeing the rate of infection of coronavirus "decreasing to manageable levels".

Johnson says there has been a total of 269,127 cases in the UK so far, but the average number in the last seven days is 2,312 - down from an average of 5,066 in the first week of May.

The PM says: "The government is satisfied the third test is being met."

Image source, UK Government

The next test is seeing a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rates.

Johnson says the seven-day rolling average is now at 256, compared to 943 at the peak in the middle of April - a difference of 687.

The PM says: "While every death is one too many, it is now the case there has been a sustained and consistent fall" so, as with the first test, the second test is being met.

Image source, UK Government

Starting with test one - protecting the ability of the NHS to cope through the crisis - Mr Johnson says at the start of the outbreak there was "significant concern" it wouldn't cope, but it did thanks to the "heroic efforts" of staff and "the British people".

In his slide, he shows there were an estimated 475 admissions into hospital in England due to coronavirus on Tuesday - down from its peak of 3,121 on 2 April.

He also says 11% of beds with ventilators were in use yesterday, compared to 41% on 10 April.

Image source, UK Government

Boris Johnson begins the press conference by confirming over three million tests have now been carried out in the UK.

He also confirms the latest UK death toll in the past 24 hours has increased by another 377.

The prime minister then moves to his slides, explaining the "five tests" the government wanted to pass before deciding to ease lockdown measures any further.

He says it is "vital" to pass these tests as we "must not risk the hardwork and sacrifice of the British people".

Image source, UK Government

The daily UK government news conference has started, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking to the lectern.

He is joined by the government's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, and its chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.

Stay with us as we bring you all the details.