As it happened: Johnson 'regrets confusion' over aide lockdown row

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Coronavirus has been described as an invisible killer and what can be more terrifying than that?

It's unsurprising, therefore, that many people are fearful of going out, returning life to normal or even letting children go back to school.

Our Reality Check team has spoken to experts who explain the risks and how to quantify them.

Read more here

Europe is opening up further, with citizens tasting freedoms they have missed during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the Czech Republic, people can finally get back into pubs, albeit with social distancing and mask-wearing indoors. It is the country with the highest per capita beer consumption in the world.

BBC correspondent Rob Cameron visited a brewery in Prague to see how the measures are working in pubs.

Read more about the ways Europe is easing the lockdown here.

Political advisers are meant occasionally perhaps to be seen and not heard.

Dominic Cummings, the UK prime minister’s right hand man, took a dramatic step today explaining why the decision to leave London during the lockdown could be justified.

He majored on the small print, unusual for a man used to painting political campaigns in bold primary colours, but knowing that so many members of the public were incensed by what had happened.

He spent a long time answering as many questions as there were, trying to explain something that many in the Tory Party felt could not be explained, trying to make the best of a very bad situation for the prime minister.

But it's far from clear tonight whether Dominic Cummings has managed to save himself for the long term.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

BBCCopyright: BBC

Our Reality Check team spoke to intensive care doctors across the UK about their observations from the front line.

One of the phrases that emerged time after time is, "We've never seen anything like this before".

And as the number of cases increased, doctors up and down the UK were reading first-hand accounts from colleagues in China, and then in Italy - in scientific journals and on social media - about the intensity of infection.

"It felt in some ways like we were trying to prepare for the D-Day landings," says Barbara Miles, clinical director of intensive care at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, "with three weeks to get ready and not a great deal of knowledge about what we would be facing".

But what arrived in the UK as winter turned into spring took even the most experienced ICU specialists by surprise.

Read more here

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Iceland took a different approach than most countries caught in the coronavirus pandemic and, after extensive testing of its population of around 328,000, public gatherings of up to 200 people are allowed while night clubs and gyms are to reopen.

Anyone who wanted a test received one, while schools and day care centres remained open.

It has confirmed 1,804 infections and 10 deaths but there have been only five new cases reported in May.

Coronavirus tests have been performed on more than 16% of its people - a greater proportion than in almost any other country thanks in part to its small population.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Patrick Ewing, former NBA star and Georgetown basketball coach, has been released from hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, his son confirmed on Monday.

The former New York Knicks player announced that he had tested positive for the virus on Friday.

His son, Patrick Ewing Jr. said on Twitter: "My father is now home and getting better. We'll continue to watch his symptoms and follow the CDC guidelines. I hope everyone continues to stay safe and protect yourselves and your loved ones."

Ewing features in the recent The Last Dance documentary, which is based on Michael Jordan's all-conquering Chicago Bulls and their hunt for a sixth NBA title in the 1997-98 season.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Germany has been widely praised for its response to the coronavirus. The government quickly implemented a mass testing programme, and the death toll is far lower by population than in many other European nations.

Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a relaxation of national lockdown measures this month after discussions with leaders of the 16 states. Each controls the timing of reopenings, and can also reimpose restrictions.

But divisions are growing as some states favour easing lockdown faster than others. Bodo Ramelow, premier of the eastern state of Thuringia, has announced plans to drop compulsory social distancing and face mask use as early as 6 June. The health minister in the neighbouring state of Saxony said it was planning a “paradigm change” with similar rules on the same day.

But the government in Berlin fears what could happen if lockdown measures are eased too much.

“Under no circumstances should the impression be given that the pandemic is over,” federal Health Minister Jens Spahn reportedly told Bild.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

As of last week, all 50 US states have begun to partially reopen after a two-month shutdown. On 20 May, Connecticut became the final state to loosen restrictions when it gave the green light to shops and restaurants under certain restrictions.

So what's the latest?

• In Colorado, Governor Jared Polish announced today that children's day camps and sports camps can open on 1 June, with certain social distancing restrictions in place. The state - now seeing a downward trend of infections - has had 24,174 confirmed cases
• California has issued guidelines that allow places of worship to open, with a series of restrictions like limiting attendance to 25% of a building's capacity. Virtual services are still "strongly recommended" for vulnerable groups. In recent days, California cases have plateaued - there are 94,675 so far
• In New York - the state with the highest death toll - groups of up to 10 people can now father "for any lawful purpose" anywhere in the state, including the epicentre of the outbreak: New York City

Toronto's Trinity Bellwoods Park was packed with 10,000 Sun worshippers on Saturday, when temperatures soared above 20 C (68 F) after several weeks of bad weather.

Mayor John Tory was there himself, ostensibly to educate people about safe social distancing.

But it’s his behaviour that became a cause for concern when photos surfaced of him speaking closely with others with his mask off his face.

He has since apologised.

"I fully intended to properly physically distance, but it was very difficult to do,” he said.

He has also been criticised for not sending police to the park to ticket rule breakers and maintain crowd control.

Ontario reported 404 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, a 1.6% jump from the day before. The uptick means government officials will keep groups limited to five people longer than expected.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was "disappointed" by peoples' "reckless" behaviour and urged those who were at the park to get tested.

Jyoti Kumari travelled to a suburb of the Indian capital Delhi to take care of her father after he was injured in an accident.

But when the lockdown was introduced, the 15-year-old knew she had to get her father home to Bihar, a 1,200km-long (745 mile) journey.

With no transport services due to the lockdown, she decided to cycle home with her father on the back of her bike. The pair also managed to hitch rides with lorries along the way.

Learn more about the pair in this video.

Sweden's Public Health Agency has published official advice on dating and sexual relationships for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

The advice came as the agency announced that the Covid-19 death toll had passed 4,000.

The agency has updated its online guidelines to state that "dating and temporary sexual relationships with new partners...pose a risk of getting infected or infecting others".

However, it advises that "closeness, intimacy and sex are good for well-being and public health" and says that for those who are in relationships "sex is no obstacle if you and your partner, or partners, show no symptoms of illness".

Last month, Denmark said that its social distancing guidelines did not extend to sexual relationships, whether serious or casual.

Sweden never had a lockdown and has kept larger parts of society open than many countries, including bars and restaurants.

However, venues have already been asked to make efforts to avoid mingling or hook-ups between strangers, for example by offering table-service only and spacing out seating.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The extraordinary fundraising achievement of Capt Tom Moore - now Sir Tom Moore - has been well documented. But what has the money he raised been spent on?

The £32.8m raised by centenarian Sir Tom was in aid of the health service's charitable wing, NHS Charities Together. It is part of an overall £116m collected for the fund as part of its Covid-19 Urgent Appeal. Some £20m has been spent so far.

Despite publicity given to shortages of protective clothing for staff, and the need for medical apparatus, these are classed as "core" equipment and funded by taxpayers. The focus of Charities Together is the comfort and wellbeing of staff and patients - things that, in the words of one NHS worker, "make their working lives easier".

Among the NHS areas that will benefit include snacks for medical staff in County Durham, pop-up shops being funded in hospitals in London, improvements to NHS staff "welfare" areas and further catering provisions being brought into kitchenettes.

• Read more on how the money will be spent in our story here.

Penny AppealCopyright: Penny Appeal

A man who ran 260km (161.5 miles) while fasting during Ramadan has raised £52,000 ($63,000) for charity.

Haroon Mota, of Coventry, said thanks to "overwhelming support" he doubled his £25,000 target in the final week of his challenge.

Before lockdown, the 34-year-old planned to run four major world marathons for the Penny Appeal - a charity that helps people in poverty around the world.

He then decided to run 10km each evening during a 16- to 18-hour fast and said: "I'm enjoying putting my feet up and resting and feel proud and pleased with the money raised."

EPACopyright: EPA

Spain has revised its coronavirus death toll down by nearly 2,000 due to some fatalities being counted twice.

The toll now stands at more than 26,800 rather than the 28,700 reported before.

In addition to some deaths being counted twice, others had originally been notified as suspected or probably cases of Covid-19 which were subsequently not confirmed, officials said.

Spain - one of the worst affected countries - continues to relax its lockdown measures. From 1 July, foreign visitors to the country will no longer have to undergo a two-week quarantine.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Former Vice-President Joe Biden made his first public appearance since mid-March to visit a veterans memorial in his home state of Delaware.

The presumptive Democratic nominee and his wife, Jill, donned black masks as they laid a wreath to mark Memorial Day - the American holiday dedicated to honouring military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

President Donald Trump also made a Memorial Day appearance, visiting Arlington National Cemetery with First Lady Melania before traveling to Fort McHenry in Baltimore. Neither wore masks.

Mr Trump was criticised on Sunday for playing a round of gold at his club in Virginia, as the US death toll from coronavirus nears 100,000.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

There are now more than 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the US and more than 97,000 deaths. But the rates of the sick and dying are not spread evenly: the hardest hit areas are disproportionately Democrat-leaning.

According to analysis by the New York Times, counties won by Republican President Donald Trump in 2016 have reported just 27% of infections and 21% of deaths, even though 45% of Americans live in these areas.

Why? Part of the answer is linked to population density. The virus has wreaked most havoc in densely populated counties and urban America has long been Democrat-dominated.

Overall, infections in some Republican-leaning counties are rising, while Democratic-led states like New York and New Jersey are seeing cases fall - but not at a rate fast enough to close the gap, the Times reports.

The country's divides - urban/rural, Democrat/Republican - are exacerbated by wide discrepancies between states in their economic reopening. On the whole, Republican-led states have taken more aggressive steps to loosen social distancing, while Democratic governors have been more cautious.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Coronavirus lockdown measures are being eased across the country - to the great relief of many.

But the government has stressed that it is still important to maintain social distancing to avoid a second peak.

We've been tracing the geographic distribution of the virus for weeks now - and noticed that some 127 million of you have consulted it so far.

Head over to our dedicated page to check the latest - and enter your postcode to find out more about the distribution in your area.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features

The 2019-20 Women's Super League and Women's Championship seasons in England have been ended immediately, with the outcome of the WSL title and promotion and relegation issues still to be decided.

Since 13 March's suspension of elite football across the country, the FA - which runs England's women's leagues - has been determined to try to finish the season if safe to do so.

A statement from the FA said the decision came after "overwhelming feedback from clubs" and was made "in the best interest of the women's game".

Manchester City Women were top of the WSL table, one point clear of Chelsea, who had a game in hand.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Without the leftovers from restaurants, events and other non-socially distanced activities, rats are exhibiting some "unusual or aggressive rodent behaviour", according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But the rats are not becoming aggressive towards people. Instead, they're turning on themselves.

As urban rodentologist Robert Corrigan told the BBC last month, cannibalism is very pervasive in stressed colonies - and rats are stressed under coronavirus conditions.

"These rats will completely eat every scrap of meat off the victim's bones," Dr Corrigan said.