British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and director of Public Health England Yvonne Doyle provided an update on the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

During the briefing, Johnson unveiled the nation's retail reopening plan as restrictions begin to loosen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting June 1, outdoor markets will be allowed to operate, subject to all premises being made "COVID secure" as the transmission of the coronavirus is lower outdoors, Johnson said. The prime minister also announced that starting June 15, the British government will allow more non-essential retail to reopen.

As of Monday, Johnson announced that a total of 261,184 have tested positive for the coronavirus, which is an increase of 1, 625 cases.

The briefing came as Johnson defends his top adviser, Dominic Cummings, who is accused of breaking lockdown measures in March when he reportedly took a 400 km trip while his wife was apparently ill with COVID-19. Johnson said Cummings acted "responsibly, legally and with integrity" in travelling to "find the right kind of child care."

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