This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. The terrible toll of coronavirus. In the uk more than 40,000 people, have now died the second worst in world, behind america but there is some more postive news, latest figures for england suggest infections are falling, dramatically. A pensioner is assaulted by police in new york state, as the protests over the death of george floyd, continue. Meanwhile us job figures show that the Unemployment Rate has fallen. Welcoming the data President Trump has come under fire for bringing george floyd into his comments about the economy. Hopefully, george is looking down right now and saying, thats a great thing thats happening for our country. Thats a great day for him. Its a great day for everybody. Its a great day for everybody. Theres a great, great day in terms of equality. In pakistan doctors are warning the already weak Healthcare System could soon be overwhelmed by coronavirus patients. And a new boss in the house. Tim davie is the bbcs new direcor general promising accelerated change, when he takes up the role. With swimming pools shut and the unusual warm weather wildswimming is on the rise in the uk but how safe is it . We find out about the risks involved. Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. The terrible toll of covid 19 on the uk, has been starkly
highlighted today in the passing of a grim milestone. The number of people whove died after testing positive for the coronavirus, has passed 40,000. Britain is now only the second country in the world to reach that figure, after the united states. But the number of new infections is falling and quite dramatically. An office for National Statistics study of adults and children in private households estimates one in a thousand people in england tested positive for the coronavirus in the last week of may, not counting those staying in hospitals or care homes. This is down from last weeks estimate of one in 400. With the latest, heres our Health Editor, hugh pym. Forfamilies for families and friends of the bereaved some of whom spent weeks in intensive care to have the months of grief and emotional turmoil. She was my best friend. She was kind, funny. This is just the worst pain in the world. I feel like without the proper protection, then more things like this and more families will lose a loved one. Since the first uk death in early march, a total of 40,000 have now died after testing positive for coronavirus. The governments chief scientific adviser said keeping the death total to 20,000 or below would be a good outcome. It is now above 40,000. How do you assess that outcome, given where we are now . The day that the number of deaths from coronavirus has gone over 40,000 is a time of sorrow for us all. We have got to remember that each one of these is. Is an impact on a family that will never be the same again. And my heart goes out to them all. And it makes me redouble my determination to deal with this virus. So how did we get here . On march the 11th, the World Health Organization formally declared a pandemic. That day, spanish football fans were in liverpool for a Champions League fixture. The next day, testing and tracking of new Community Cases was stopped, with resources focusing on hospitals. The four day cheltenham racing festival was in full swing. 0n the 16th of march, people were told to avoid pubs and other social venues and work from home as possible. The next day, the chief scientific adviser made this prediction. If we can get this down to numbers, 20000 and below, that is a good outcome. On march the 23rd, lockdown began across the uk. 0n the 21st of april, the daily death toll hit a peak, with more than 1000 deaths. Since then, the overall total has climbed and now stands atjust over 40,000 deaths, though this does not include those in all settings where there was not a test. Some experts argue that government should have reacted more quickly after seeing what was happening in italy. We had two to three weeks
more time to get ready for this. But i think we just took it too easy, to be very frank. I think we assumed that we were different, that somehow, we were going to respond in a different way, that we could cope. And then, by the time they realised they had the problem, it was too late. The uk covid i9 death toll, at around 40,000, is ahead of other european countries, with italy next on the latest reported figure atjust over 33,500, followed by france, spain and belgium. But adjusted for the size of the population, belgium has the highest death rate, at around 84 per 100,000 people, with the uk at 60, a little above spain, italy and france. There are slight differences in the way each country calculates its figures. This virus has hit lots of very developed nations with Robust Health care systems, Robust Health infrastructures, and it has taken a lot of people by surprise and i dont
think the uk is alone having been taken by surprise. I think we need to essentially wait until the end of the pandemic and then have a section of what happened and learn lessons from it. For now, the authorities will focus on testing as many people as possible and then tracing their contacts, seen as the best way to suppress the virus. Hugh pym, bbc news. So as we mentioned, new figures suggest Coronavirus Infections in the community are falling. The office for National Statistics, says the number of cases in england is down to 5,600 a day, from 8,000 a day, last week. Although one Study Suggests that in the north west and the south west of england, the rate at which the virus is reproducing, the so called r rate, could be near one, suggesting infections may rise. Heres our science editor, david shukman. With people out and about across the uk over the past week or so,
what do we know about the virus and whether it is under control . Well, despite the scale of the death toll, there are some signs that things may now be going in the right direction, at least for the moment. The latest survey shows how the percentage of the population testing positive for covid i9 as fallen in each of the last five weeks, which is of course good news. But bear in mind that there is a very wide margin of error with this study and also that the swab tests were carried out by people themselves. Because that is not easy, the results may not be that accurate. I think it is incredibly important for us not to lose sight of the fact this is a virus which is incredibly contagious, can transmit very easily and efficiently between people, and still, most of the population have not seen this virus and are susceptible which allows it to spread very rapidly if we let our guard down. The big worry is that more
contact will mean more infections. So what is the latest assessment about the speed with which the virus is being spread . At the height of the outbreak, the infection rate, the r number, was running at about three, meaning anyone infected was on average passing it on to three others. The key was to get it down below one because below that number, the disease does not escalate, and the latest estimate is that we are for the whole uk running at about 0. 7 up to 0. 9. Below one, but not falling rapidly. And if we break that down across the uk, the picture varies. 0ne computer model shows that in most areas of england, the rate is thought to be below one except in the north west and south west, where it is estimated to be right on one. A different Study Suggests that scotland, wales and Northern Ireland are on 0. 8. So for the moment, the advice is still to keep at least two metres apart, and barriers and signs have been springing up to remind people. The lockdown has suppressed the virus but it hasnt killed it off. David shukman, bbc news. The Parent Company of british airways, iag, is considering a legal challenge to quarantine rules, which are due to come into effect from monday. The uks biggest airline, opposes travellers entering the country having to isolate for two weeks. Iag argues it wasnt consulted over the plans, but government Officials Say they were disappointed, at bas absence from a meeting yesterday, to discuss the proposals. People living in the republic of ireland, will be able travel anywhere inside their own county from monday, instead of being limited to a range of 20km from home. The irish cabinet is accelerating the easing of the countrys lockdown, allowing groups of up to six people to meet indoors or outside, provided social distancing is maintained. So with an assessment of what todays figures mean, and how they might direct government policy in england, heres our Health Editor hugh pym. The new daily reported death total, the trend for that, the seven day rolling average, is moving downwards. That being said, there are one or two slightly worrying signs. Hospital admissions in england and wales have gone up for the last couple of days as no data from scotland and Northern Ireland. They have fallen. We have been hearing this regional r number, in the southwest and northwest of england because its up at one which isa england because its up at one which is a very maximum it can be before epidemics start picking up again. There is concern there. Matt hancock, the health secretary, made clear at the briefing people should very clear at mass demonstrations this weekend, he said he was a part of the death of george floyd understand why people were deeply upset, but said coronavirus is still a Health Crisis and a real threat. And people should certainly try to avoid large gatherings of more than six people. As the protests about the death in Police Custody of george floyd continue, President Trump has said that every american must receive equal treatment from law enforcement, regardless of race, gender, or creed. It comes as a new video has emerged of a 75 year old man being pushed to the ground by police in new york state. Aleem maqbools report contains some content that some may find distressting. Were not leaving. And theres no sign they are. Not here outside the white house, in spite of driving rain. And not around the country, including chicago, where kanye west took to the streets with protestors. But there continue to be staggering and disturbing incidents involving police. In buffalo, new york, a 75 year old protestor was shoved to the ground by an officer. He is seen motionless and bleeding from his skull, as police file past without coming to his aid. Two officers have been suspended. But it is just the latest in a torrent of apparently unjustified use of force at these protests. An assault from behind in seattle. What is that really doing . The arrest in charleston of a man peacefully trying to reason with officers. And police in la, driving into protestors, to name but a few examples. Particularly troubling, given the incident that sparked awe of this. Three officers have now appeared in court charged with aiding and abetting murder, in addition to the one already charmed with murdering george floyd. The president of the us. The president s called for authorities to continue to be tough on the streets, but has also talked of equality for black people. They have to receive fair treatment from law enforcement. They have to receive it. We all saw what happened last week. We cant let that happen. Hopefully george is looking down right now and saying, this is a great thing thats happening for our country. It is a great day for him, its a great day for everybody. Nobodys ever done for the black community, what President Trump has done. Think of it. Well, it is easy to say there should be fair treatment for african americans, but given the deep rooted issues with racism in this country, and, as we are seeing almost daily with police culture, that is of course far harder to achieve in practise. Aleem maqbool, bbc news in washington. Well, as we heard in aleems report there, President Trump pondered on what george floyd might think about the economy. Joe biden whos likely to be the democrat candidate taking on mr trump in novembers election for the white house called his comment despicable. George floyds last words, i cant breathe. I cant breathe. Have
echoed all across this nation and quite frankly around the world. For the president to try to put any other words in the mouth of george floyd, i frankly think is despicable. And the fact that he did so despicable. And the fact that he did so on despicable. And the fact that he did so on the day when black unemployment rose, hispanic unemployment rose, hispanic unemployment rose, hispanic unemployment rose, black youth unemployment rose, black youth unemployment skyrocketed, it tells you everything you need to know about this man. And what he really cares about. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson campaigned for change following the death of her constituent Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teenager who was shot dead by George Zimmerman in 2012. Shejoins me now from florida. Very good to have you with us. Eight yea rs very good to have you with us. Eight years ago, when Trayvon Martin was shot dead, you called for change, do you think this time is different .
think that the video that we saw, there was no video with Trayvon Martin, and the video we saw was despicable. And to watch a man plays his foot on the throat of a human being and leave it there until he died, it took, it tore this country apart. And thats what you see today. Because people are tired of that. Trayvon martin was the start, but he was not murdered by a Police Officer. So these are the people that are sworn to protect us, and that are sworn to protect us, and thatis that are sworn to protect us, and that is what makes it so despicable. Sworn to protect the american public, but today we are focusing on another incident, doesnt it this time not involve a black man, it involves a 75 year old elderly man. You see Police Officers walk past
him as blood pours from his ear. What do you think there is so little accountability . I think that this started, im going to give you a history lesson. 0ur started, im going to give you a history lesson. Our nation has a lwa ys history lesson. Our nation has always had an army. We never had a police force until after the slaves we re police force until after the slaves were freed. And the police force was organised for the specific purpose of tracking, torturing, dehumanizing black men. So they were hanged and the escrow items were removed, and people carried them around as trophies. And this whole police methods, the police, you must remember now that these are family members from generation to generation. Most Police Officers with the father of a Police Officer, the son, the grandson. So this is an
intrinsic hates, i believe, of black men. So does it conduct recruitment . Asa men. So does it conduct recruitment . As a conductor diversity in the police force . I think diversity helps, but the colour blue is still there. Even when its diverse. In my particular city that i live in diversity has helped considerably. And its in miami. Miami, florida and Miami Gardens because we insist upon it. Something else we have, is called a Consent Decree that president 0bama put into place that demanded oversight of police in cities that had Excessive Police forces. My city had seven black men killed in seven months, and a Consent Decree was put over them,
that was back in 2011. We have not had a Police Incident since then. A Police Shooting or police murder, or Police Shooting or police murder, or police killing. Thats very interesting. Let me ask about the legislation he proposed last year. Its called the commission on the social status of black men and boys act of 2019. What does that do . Social status of black men and boys act of 2019. What does that mm would provide a Clearing House in the department ofjustice under the Civil Rights Division to establish a commission for the express purpose of looking at all of the disparities that we know historically affect black men and boys. Education, health care, criminaljustice, housing, welfare, all kinds of things. A holistic approach looking
at holistically the deep rooted problems. Which we see in the job figures, good job problems. Which we see in the job figures, goodjob figures problems. Which we see in the job figures, good job figures much better than we thought, i say that they are good, they are terrible but a lot better than people supposed that they would be. When you look at them and look deeper into the numbers is that things have gotten worse for african americans. Numbers is that things have gotten worse for africanamericans. And it has a lot to do with discrimination and racism, but this commission will investigate this, and it allows for us investigate this, and it allows for us to have a huge panel of experts to serve on this commission, to investigate the causes and come up with solutions, and to put in policies that will help us. As we try to deal with this issue that has been haunting this nation since it was founded. Since they brought us to this country. Black men, what can
i say . Can i ask you one other thing . The mayor of washington has called on President Trump to remove the military and federal police from the military and federal police from the city. There was this ring of stee