13:57

Here are the main points from Matt Hancock’s press conference.

Hancock, the health secretary refused to accept that he has missed a coronavirus testing deadline he set last month as he restated his commitment to increasing testing to the rate of 100,000 a day by the end of April. Exactly four weeks ago today his department said that within four weeks testing would reach 25,000 a day. (See 6.05pm.) The government has not hit that target, because the latest figures show 16,000 tests being carried out a day. At his press conference Hancock wrongly said that he had not set a target of 25,000 tests a day. (See 5.45pm.) But he did recommit himself to the 100,000 tests a day target by the end of the month - despite widespread doubts as to whether this is achievable. He said:

And as we build capacity further over this month and then beyond to that 100,000 a day target by the end of this month we’ll expand further those who are eligible for tests - all as part of the plan to get a hold of this virus and make sure that we support the key public services that we need as this moment.

He published a coronavirus action plan for adult social care (pdf). The plans involve increased testing and improved access to protective equipment for people in care homes.

Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, said that the daily death toll from coronavirus in the UK was reaching its peak. He said:

On the issue of the peak, our view is that it is probably reaching the peak overall. That is what the flattening shows.

But Whitty also said the number of deaths might go up tomorrow. That was because, after every weekend, there was a dip in reported deaths at the weekend, and for two days afterwards, followed by a rise. And he said deaths would continue at a high rate for a while. He went on:

At the moment we are not yet at the point where we can say confidently and safely this is now past the peak and we can start thinking very much about the next phases.

Whitty also said that the experts did not know yet what the reproduction number for coronavirus was (the rate at which it is transmitted). It was between 0.5 and 1, he said. (One is the point where one new person gets infected for every person with the virus etc. The reproduction number has to be below 1 for the epidemic to be on the decline.) He said the better the understanding of this number, the more easy it would be for the experts to anticipate what would happen next.

Hancock said that he wanted to change hospital rules so that “wherever possible” people will be given the “chance to say goodbye” to loved ones dying with coronavirus. He said that “wanting to be with someone you love at the end of their life is one of the deepest human instincts”, and that he wept at reports of 13-year-old Ismail dying without a parent at his bedside. He went on:

I’m pleased to say that working with Public Health England, the care sector and many others, we are introducing new procedures so we can limit the risk of infection while wherever possible giving people’s closest loved ones the chance to say goodbye.

He said that he was promoting a badge for carers, so that they would be able to receive the same public respect as NHS staff. Displaying the badge, he said:

This badge will be a badge of honour in a very real sense, allowing social care staff proudly and publicly to identify themselves, just like NHS staff do with that famous blue and white logo. I know that many businesses will want to offer the same recognition and benefits as they do wonderfully to the NHS.

It subsequently emerged that the badge was first launched last year. (See 5.26pm.)

He defended the government’s decision not to discuss details of its exit strategy from the lockdown. Asked about this, he said this might undermine the “clarity” of the guidance issued to the public.