Summary

  • England reopens pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas after a major relaxation of lockdown curbs

  • Two households are now allowed to meet indoors or outside, including overnight stays

  • Places of worship can open for prayers and services, including weddings with up to 30 guests - subject to social distancing

  • Nine tower blocks in the Australian city of Melbourne go under lockdown after a surge in cases

  • The US recorded its largest single-day rise in infections on Friday, with more than 57,000 recorded

  • America's 4 July Independence Day celebrations are muted this year with cities cancelling parades

  • Worldwide, more than 11 million people have now been infected and more than 525,000 have died

  • Official UK death toll for those who have tested positive for Covid-19 reaches 44,198 - a rise of 67

Live Reporting

Edited by Alex Therrien

  1. England eases lockdown, but what about the rest of the UK?

    Outdoor seating near Edinburgh Castle in JunePA Media

    Scotland's beer gardens can reopen on Monday

    Although you can get a pint in a pub in England from today, each UK nation’s lockdown differs.

    In Northern Ireland, pubs and restaurants reopened on Friday.

    In Scotland, beer gardens and outdoor restaurants will be allowed to reopen from 6 July, and indoor areas can be used from 15 July.

    The Welsh government has promised talks with the hospitality sector about a "potential phased" reopening, but no dates have yet been given.

  2. Analysis: England's stride back to normality

    James Gallagher
    Health and science correspondent, BBC News

    “Super Saturday” feels like a moment, a stride back to normality.

    Of course, whether you’re after a pint, a movie or a haircut everything will be different.

    Coronavirus may be at low levels, but it has not gone away and measures - from booking your slot in the pub to socially distant dining - will be needed.

    The virus thrives on close contact and opening up society makes it easier for it to spread. The government’s scientific advisers say outbreaks - such as those already seen in Leicester, Weston-super-Mare and Kirklees - are to be expected.

    Whether we diligently follow the guidance or, to borrow a phrase, “tear the pants out of it”, will dictate how common they become.

    The hope is that lockdown-for-all can be replaced with targeted, regional lockdowns when these outbreaks appear.

    The pressure will be on health officials to rapidly spot and contain outbreaks before they become a national problem.

  3. French former PM faces Covid-19 inquiry

    Agnès Buzyn (L), Edouard Philippe (C) and Olivier Véran are the subject of the inquiryAFP

    Agnès Buzyn (L), Edouard Philippe (C) and Olivier Véran are the subject of the inquiry

    A court has launched an inquiry into the French government's handling of the coronavirus response.

    The Law Court of the Republic - which deals with claims of ministerial misconduct - is focusing on three senior figures, including former PM Édouard Philippe, following complaints from unions and doctors.

    The government has faced criticism over shortages of medical equipment during the pandemic.

    France has reported 202,673 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 29,875 deaths.

    Read our full story

  4. 'People have to be tremendously cautious'

    Prof Robert WestPA Media

    Epidemiologist Professor Robert West, from University College London, has told the BBC that the coronavirus "is with us" and infection rates are still not coming down very fast - even as pubs are able to fully reopen in England.

    "We are looking at around 20,000 new infections a week and around 1,000 deaths a week and the rates aren’t coming down very fast so people have to be tremendously cautious here," he said in an interview with BBC Breakfast.

    Despite the hospitality sector doing "everything" it can to reopen safely, he added, "as we open up these businesses you will get more contact… and that means you will get more infections and unfortunately it means you will get more deaths."

    "The key here is do everything you possibly can to minimise the risk," he urged.

  5. 'We cannot in good conscience open the pub'

    Tollington Pub, north LondonThe Tollington

    England's pubs can now fully reopen to customers - but not every publican is keen to do so.

    The Tollington pub in north London tweeted to say it hopes to welcome customers in the near future - but only "when it is safe to do so".

    "We care too much about our staff and our customers to risk rushing back, thus contributing to a second wave of this pandemic," the pub said.

    Read more here.

  6. Donald Trump lashes out at 'cancel culture'

    Mount Rushmore: Protesters will not ‘tear down’ history, Trump warns

    US President Donald Trump has used a used a speech celebrating Independence Day to rail against the "cancel culture" and activists who toppled monuments during recent anti-racism protests.

    He was speaking on Friday under the giant sculptures of former presidents at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota.

    Mr Trump - who has been heavily criticised for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic - made little reference to the disease that has now claimed almost 130,000 American lives.

    The US recorded 57,000 infections on Friday - the largest single-day rise so far. That brought the overall number to 2.5 million - the most of any country.

    Read our full story here

  7. In pictures: English pubs and barbers open their doors

    The Toll Gate Wetherspoon's pub in HornseyPA Media

    Doors open at The Toll Gate Wetherspoon's pub in Hornsey, north London, just after 08:00 BST

    Staff at the Toll Gate pub wear PPEPA Media

    Staff at The Toll Gate are wearing masks, gloves and work behind protective plastic screens

    Barbers opens in Ashford, KentPA Media

    A queue lines up as Sweeney's barber shop reopens in Ashford, Kent

    A customer has a haircut at a barbers in Ashford, KentPA Media

    A customer wearing a face mask enjoys a haircut at DB Barbers in Ashford

  8. Hairdressers reopen: ‘Such a relief’

    Sandra Jacobs at a salon in Camden, LondonPA Media

    Unruly locks, discoloured roots and split ends are some of the side effects of spending three months in lockdown.

    But now hairdressers can finally reopen again in England, and Sandra Jacobs was one of the first people through the door at her local hairdressers in Camden, north London, on Friday night.

    She described it as "such a relief" to be back in the salon chair and said the haircut made her feel "normal again".

    Hairdresser Carole Rickaby, wearing an apron and a facemask, said it was great to pick up the scissors again.

  9. Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers reopen in England

    JD Wetherspoon pub in north London on Saturday morningPA Media

    Finishing touches at a JD Wetherspoon pub in north London on Saturday morning

    Hello and welcome back to our rolling coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    It’s a big day in England, where pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas can reopen for the first time since the UK went into lockdown three months ago.

    Restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas were allowed to reopen just after midnight, but pubs had to wait until 06:00 BST after the government expressed concerns of early morning partying.

    As they reopen, businesses must observe strict social distancing rules, and people have been urged to act responsibly.

    Read more here.