High-risk environments where BAME people tend to work to have access to more coronavirus testing

During today’s daily Downing Street briefing, Mr Shapps was asked about making nursing safe for BAME nurses.

And he said work from equalities minister Kemi Badenoch on coronavirus and BAME people would recommend greater testing for people in high-risk settings.

He said: “My colleague, who’s the equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch, is in the process of working with that report (from PHE) to make a series of recommendations.

“But I can give you an early sneak preview when I say that we consider it doubly important to make sure some of those higher-risk environments which coincidentally are environments that black, Asian, minority and ethnic people might be working in get additional support in terms of testing and tracking and tracing.”

It comes as Mr Shapps reminded the nation that face coverings would be mandatory on public transport from Monday.

He said a “gentle approach” to enforcement would be used over the “first couple of days”.

He said: “Remembering your face covering should be the same as picking up your phone, your wallet or your purse whenever you’re leaving your house.”

NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis said the NHS has been working hard to prepare for a possible second wave of coronavirus in the winter.

A further 202 deaths of people who had tested positive for coronavirus were recorded today, bringing the total across the UK to 41,381. In Yorkshire, 2,712 people have now died, an additional six recorded today.

Also at the briefing Mr Shapps launched a new body enabling passengers to fly across the Atlantic “without harming the environment”.

The Jet Zero Council consists of leaders from aviation and environmental groups, and representatives from the Government.

Mr Shapps said the organisation “will be charged with making net zero emissions possible for future flights”.

He went on: “Our goal, within a generation, will be to demonstrate flight across the Atlantic without harming the environment.”

Mr Shapps acknowledged the aviation sector has suffered an “impossible few months” but insisted there is “a real determination within the industry to have a greener restart”.

In February, an alliance of aviation firms and operators such as Heathrow Airport, British Airways, easyJet, Airbus and Nats pledged to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

More efficient aircraft and engines, sustainable aviation fuels and carbon offsetting schemes were among the measures featured in its Decarbonisation Road-Map.

The plan also included modernising airspace and streamlining ground operations.

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, which represents UK carriers, said the Jet Zero Council is “an excellent initiative”.

He added: “There are huge opportunities for the UK to be a world leader in sustainable aviation fuel production and electric aviation, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and major export opportunities in the process.”