"Black lives matter" said Health Secretary Matt Hancock as he discussed the latest report revealing higher Covid-19 death rate for BAME people and thanked those from ethnic minorities who were working on the NHS front line.

At the government's daily coronavirus briefing Mr Hancock addressed the report that concluded people from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds have a greater chance of catching, and dying, from the virus.

Touching on the ongoing protests in the United States, Mr Hancock said: "This is a particularly timely publication, because right across the world, people are angry about racial injustice. And I get that. Black lives matter. And I want to say this to everyone who works in the NHS and in social care: I value the contribution that you make, everybody equally.

"And I want to say it right across society too. I want to thank you. And I want you to know that our whole country cares about your wellbeing.

"And I value those who come to our country to work in the NHS and in social care."

Also speaking at the briefing was Public Health England's Professor John Newton who said Covid-19 had emphasised existing health inequalities across the country.

He told the t press conference: "There's a lot more than just the ethnic differences in the report, there are differences to do with levels of deprivation and where people live and occupation and so on.

"And all these causes are the causes of health inequalities, anyway.

"What Covid-19 has done is to emphasise the existing health inequalities in the country.

"It shows us again that we need to address those inequalities, whether they're to do with deprivation or to do with people's background.

"So in fact, to some extent, the recommendations that have been made before about similar issues still apply."

"And I love that this country is one of the most welcoming and tolerant and diverse."

Mr Hancock went on to say that those from BAME communities worried about returning to work should consult the safety at work guidance published by the Government.

"The number one thing I'd say for anybody in a higher risk group, the most important thing to do is stringently follow the social distancing guides, including the work on social distancing at work that has been published," he said.

"There is specific guidance for social distancing in the workplace."

He confirmed that Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch had been tasked with leading on the Government's response to the PHE report and "what further could be done".

He said: "There is much more work to be done and the report shows that."

Also speaking at the brieging was Public Health England's Professor John Newton said Covid-19 had emphasised existing health inequalities across the country.

He told the conference: "There's a lot more than just the ethnic differences in the report, there are differences to do with levels of deprivation and where people live and occupation and so on. And all these causes are the causes of health inequalities, anyway.

"What Covid-19 has done is to emphasise the existing health inequalities in the country.

"It shows us again that we need to address those inequalities, whether they're to do with deprivation or to do with people's background.

"So in fact, to some extent, the recommendations that have been made before about similar issues still apply."

He also stated that normally a report like this would take health experts a good six months to produce, but needed to get the report widely disseminated and widely discussed before "deciding exactly what needs to be done."

Matt Hancock also confirmed that antibody tests would be rolled out "across the country" after the health and social care sector.

Asked when members of the public who suspect they may have had coronavirus will be able to take an antibody test, the Health Secretary said: "In the first instance the antibody tests are being used by those in the health and social care sector."

Mr Hancock that the government was delivering around 40,000 a day across the NHS and social care sector and was planning to "roll them out across the country."

But he stressed that "we haven't yet been able to pin down the science" on whether having an antibody means a person can catch coronavirus again or transmit the virus.