Coronavirus live updates: May 26 2020

The row about Dominic Cummings breaking lockdown rules threatens to overshadow the government’s latest plans to open shops.

The prime minister’s adviser said he believed he had acted “reasonably” and legally when he drove 260 miles from his home in London to his parents’ estate in Durham in March.

Scroll down for the latest updates throughout the day:

5.01pm
Thank you for following today’s live blog. See you again tomorrow morning.

4.29pm
These are some of the day’s latest developments:

• Prime minister Boris Johnson has said that non-essential shops will be able to open from June 15 if they meet safety guidelines.
• Outdoor markets and car showrooms are allowed to reopen from June 1.
• Southmead Hospital Charity has launched a £815,000 appeal to fund Coronavirus research.

4.07pm
Talk Club, a mental health organisation for men founded in Bristol, has released a charity single.

Soul to Save was written by professional musician and Talk Club co-founder Gavin Thorpe, in memory of his friend Miles, who took his own life a year ago.

Image: Emily Koch/Talk Club

Money raised will go towards Talk Club, which a more than 25 per cent in increase in members since the start of lockdown.

Gavin said: “This is a song about the soul but not in the biblical sense, it’s about uniting and inspiring others to realise that we all have a soul to save.”

15.16pm
A week tomorrow, Knowle West Media Centre ‘s The Factory will be holding an online discussion about uniting makers and innovators from Bristol and beyond.

2.03pm
Read some of the latest coronavirus news stories published by Bristol24/7:

• Appeal launched to fund vital coronavirus research in Bristol
• Top Bristol chef and restauranteur ‘technically bankrupt’
• ‘How BAME groups have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19’
• Expansion for Bristol company in anticipation of staycation boom

1.12pm
Prime minister Boris Johnson has said that non-essential shops will be able to open from June 15 if they meet safety guidelines.

Outdoor markets and car showrooms are allowed to reopen from June 1.

11.32am
Old Market-based youth charity Off The Record has released this week’s activities.

10.15am
Southmead Hospital Charity has launched a £815,000 appeal to fund Coronavirus research.

Money raised will fund research into drug treatments, a deeper understanding of how the virus spreads and its long term impact on the health of people who recover.

“Our research is directly changing patient care now and by supporting these projects you will be helping us to transform patient services by enabling us to develop innovative breakthroughs sooner,” says deputy director of research & innovation at North Bristol NHS Trust, Dr Rebecca Smith.

“Together we can make a real difference to the research of tomorrow.”

Donate to the appeal at www.southmeadhospitalcharity.org.uk/covid-19-research

9.39am
Up Our Street has compiled a Covid-19 directory, detailing where people can access help in Ashley, Lawrence Hill and Easton during the pandemic.

Access it at www.assets.adobe.com/public/b26fa39a-3ea7-4e52-5071-7d2a9ebcc912

8.45am
Good morning and welcome to today’s live blog.

In the latest news:

• Nine deaths of people with coronavirus have been recorded by Bristol’s two hospital trusts in the past four days.
• Boris Johnson said shops will be able to open if they meet safety guidelines, with outdoor markets and car showrooms allowed to reopen from June 1.
• All shops in England can open from June 15 provided social distancing and hygiene measures are observed.
• Bristol City Women’s season is now officially over, with the Women’s Super League ended immediately on Sunday.

Main photo by Martin Booth

Read more: Tory mayoral candidate: ‘Cummings should continue to serve the country’