Live Reporting
- Saturday's UK press conference is starting.We're joined by Business Secretary Alok Sharma and NHS England medical director, Prof Stephen Powis.Mr Sharma, the former international development secretary, was only appointed to his latest role last month. He has also been given the key job of running the UN's next big climate summit in Glasgow which is scheduled in November.Don't forget these Downing Street briefings are now taking place via video conference - with journalists appearing on a screen.
- Global infections have topped 600,000. According to latest figures by Johns Hopkins University, the number of deaths in Europe has surpassed 20,000.
- Here in the UK, fatalities have risen by 260, bringing the total to 1,019. Business Secretary Alok Sharma is set to deliver the press briefing at 16:00GMT.
- Spain’s coronavirus death toll has risen by 832 in 24 hours, bringing it to 5,690. However the number of people recovering from the virus is also increasing, with a total of 12,285 out of over 72,000 cases.
- The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first emerged, has partially reopened after more than two months in isolation.
- South Korea says it has more people who have recovered from the virus than infected.
- The US has approved rapid testing kits. They will be able to detect coronavirus within five minutes.
- The USNS Comfort, a US Navy hospital ship will leave Virginia on Saturday and station itself in New York City, the epicentre of the US outbreak, to help it cope with an overload of patients.
- The Indian government has defended its handling of the outbreak after a strict lockdown left millions without food. India's population of 1.3 billion was given less than four hours' notice of the three-week lockdown on Tuesday.
- Russia is fully closing its borders from Monday as it attempts to stop the spread of coronavirus.The closure includes all rail, road, footpath, river and combined crossing points, a government order said.Russia has recorded 228 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 1,264 people. Five people have now died in Russia, according to Interfax, with four fatalities in Moscow.
- An organ transplant consultant has become the first working NHS surgeon to die in the UK from coronavirus.Dr Adel El Tayar died on Wednesday at a hospital in London. Tributes poured in for the 63-year-old, who was originally from Sudan, following news of his death.BBC presenter Zeinab Badawi, Dr El Tayar's cousin, said he had volunteered to be on the frontline of the health service to fight the coronavirus outbreak.More than 1,000 people have died in the UK since the outbreak began.
- The UK's daily press briefing is expected to begin at around 16:00GMT.Downing Street says it will be chaired by Business Secretary Alok Sharma, who will be joined by Prof Stephen Powis, the medical director at NHS England.Saturday's press conference comes as:
- The number of people to have died with the virus passed 1,000 for the first time. In total, there has been 1,019 deaths nationwide - a daily rise of 260
- The UK says it is ramping up testing for frontline hospital staff and their families
- New testing labs are expected to start work to process samples across the country this weekend
- Work begins on a new temporary hospital at London's ExCel centre, while two new ones will also be set up in Birmingham and Manchester
- And Scottish Secretary Alister Jack became the latest minister to develop symptoms, after both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock tested positive
We'll bring you the latest news and analysis of what they have to say here. Video content
The Indian government has defended its handling of the coronavirus outbreak after a strict lockdown left millions stranded and without food.India's population of 1.3 billion was given less than four hours' notice of the three-week lockdown on Tuesday. People are banned from leaving their homes under the measures.Millions have been left jobless and without money by the shutdown, sparking an exodus from major cities. Thousands of migrant workers are walking long distances back to their villages after transport was stopped.On Saturday the Information and Broadcasting Ministry hit back against criticism that the measures were announced without planning. The country's response had been "pre-emptive, pro-active and graded", it said in a statement.Officially about 900 people have coronavirus in India. However, experts worry that the real number of infections could be far higher. India has one of the lowest testing rates in the world, although efforts are under way to ramp up capacity.There are fears that an outbreak in the country - one of the world's most densely-populated - could result in a catastrophe. So far 20 people are reported to have died.- UK online shopping delivery service Ocado has bought 100,000 testing kits for its employees, the Telegraph has reported.It is believed £1.5m ($1.8m) has been spent on the tests, which would allow frontline workers who test negative to return to work from isolation. Ocado is currently receiving 10 times more orders than normal.
- The number of cases around the world has now surpassed 600,000, according to latest figures.In Europe, meanwhile the number of deaths has surpassed 20,000, the same data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows,The university has been keeping track of the number of coronavirus cases and deaths on its online global dashboard.The latest landmark came just two days after the world passed half a million infections.Global cases topped 100,000 on 6 March, 200,000 on 18 March, 300,000 on 21 March and 400,000 on 24 March, the university's dashboard shows.The five countries with the most cases are:
- The US, with 104,865
- Italy, with 86,498
- China, with 81,996
- Spain, with 72,248
- Germany, with 53,340
- New York City remains the epicentre of the US coronavirus outbreak with more than 45,000 infections and 510 deaths.On Friday Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city could begin issuing $500 fines this weekend to park goers and religious worshippers who do not heed the city's stay-at-home orders.City hospitals are rapidly running out of medical equipment.The USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship with 1,000 beds aboard, is leaving Virginia on Saturday and will station itself at a Manhattan pier to deal with the overload of patients that the city expects. Mr Trump, a famous New Yorker, plans to see the ship off from its base later and "kiss it goodbye".Governor Andrew Cuomo's daily press briefing is expected shortly.
- More on the sombre news that 1,019 people have died in the UK since the outbreak began.There have been 260 more deaths from coronavirus in the UK over the past 24 hours, latest government figures show.Scotland has reported seven new deaths, there has been a further four in Wales, and two more people have died as a result of coronavirus in Northern Ireland.
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When the world’s largest democracy embarked on the world’s largest lockdown - 1.3 billion people under curfew in India – it left many Brits in limbo.With flights suspended until mid-April at least, those on holiday or visiting family, have no way of returning to the UK, unless evacuation flights are laid on by the British government.I’ve talked to several who say they’re desperate - unable to get food as basic supplies run low in some places, worried for their health as they run out of their medications.Others say they’re scared to leave their hotels, as a backlash against foreigners grows - amid fears they are spreading the virus.The British Embassy in India says its working around the clock to get people home, but many travellers say they’re still waiting for replies and reassurance from officials.They question why the UK government has yet to arrange evacuation flights from India when other countries including Germany, Japan and Israel already have.The German mission in India has even flown some Brits out on its rescue flights.More than 20,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for the UK government to do more. One signatory had this message for the government - let’s do the right thing and bring them home.- Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital has set up a shop so under-pressure staff don't have to visit supermarkets.More than 10% of workers are currently off sick or self-isolating.The city has emerged as a so-called hot-spot for deaths from Covid-19, with 41 lives lost so far.A security guard in his 30s at the hospital is one of those victims.Earlier on Saturday, Supermarkets Aldi and Lidl said they were offering extra help to NHS staff, joining other UK supermarkets have also taken steps to prioritise UK health workers.
- On Friday, President Donald Trump signed a $2.2tr (£1.8tr) bailout bill passed by Congress, the largest fiscal stimulus in US history
- The bill intends to bring relief to companies and average Americans, more than 3.3m of whom are newly out of work due to the global pandemic
- Mr Trump also invoked the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to force auto manufacturer General Motors to make ventilators
- Doctors and nurses have been sounding the alarm about a lack of medical equipment, calling it a "national shame"
- The mayors of about 90% of US cities say they expect massive shortages of critical personal safety equipment in the coming weeks
- There are over 100,000 Covid-19 patients in the US, more than any other country in the world
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- Across the UK, 1,019 people have now died.Acccording to NHS England, a further 246 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths to 935.The number of people who have died in Scotland has risen by seven to 40.In Wales, another four people have died bringing the number to 38.Two more people have died in Northern Ireland, bringing the number to 15.120,776 coronavirus tests have taken place, with 17,089 positive results and 103,687 people testing negative.
- A city in New York state may have slowed the spread of coronavirus by introducing a containment zone, the New York Times reports.Earlier this month, New Rochelle reported a surprise cluster of 90 cases that all linked back to one lawyer.In response, officials created a one mile containment area in the city. Schools, churches and synagogues were shut down and large indoor gatherings were banned.The national guard was also called in to deliver food and help clean schools.The containment zone appears to have had a positive impact as, over the past four days, only 38 new cases have been confirmed.Dr Sherlita Amler told the New York Times: “Everybody talks about flattening the curve and I think that’s exactly what we were able to do in New Rochelle.”But state health officials have urged caution, warning that it is too early to tell if the measures have been effective.
- A total of 1,019 patients have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Friday, the Department of Health has said, up from 759 the day before.
- Countries around the world have been updating the number of people caught up by the pandemic. Here's a breakdown of some of the latest figures:
- Authorities in the Netherlands have reported 1,159 new coronavirus cases and 93 deaths. So far, 9,762 cases have been reported in the country and 639 deaths
- Switzerland says deaths from coronavirus have risen to 235 - an increase of 40 in 24 hours. The country has confirmed 13,213 cases
- Vietnam's health ministry says there have been a total of 174 confirmed cases and no deaths
- In Russia, officials have reported a total of 1,264 cases - an increase of 228 in 24 hours. The country has reported four deaths in total, but these figures have been disputed
- The Czech Republic says 2,422 people have tested positive so far, and nine people have died
- Belgium has reported 1,850 new cases and 64 deaths in 24 hours. In total, the country has reported 9,134 cases and 353 deaths
- Iran says 2,517 people have now died from coronavirus, with 139 fatalities in the past 24 hours. In total, the country has reported 3,076 cases
- We're here all day, bringing you all the latest coronavirus updates from around the world.If you're just joining us, here are some of the latest key developments we have noticed:
- The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first emerged, has partially reopened after more than two months in isolation. Some metro services have restarted and people are now allowed to enter Wuhan, but not to leave
- Spain's coronavirus death toll has risen by 832 in 24 hours, bringing it to 5,690 - second only to Italy. The number of people recovering is also increasing
- South Korea says that for the first time it now has more people who have recovered from the virus than are still infected
- The UK's Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack has developed mild symptoms associated with coronavirus and is self-isolating
- Russia has begun a "non-working week" aimed at curbing the spread of the virus
- New restrictions have also come into force in Ireland, where people are now only allowed outside to get food or medicine, for essential work or to exercise
- In Italy, a 101-year-old man who tested positive for Covid-19 has recovered
- Japan has promised an unprecedented financial stimulus package in a bid to address the economic impact of coronavirus
- Facebook was one year old, but was still an American college phenomenon, only arriving at UK universities in the autumn of that year.Neither Instagram or WhatsApp had been thought of. And talk of "social media" would have drawn puzzled looks, even though many people were rediscovering old school friends via Friends Reunited, which was bought by ITV in 2005.YouTube was born that year, Twitter would come along the following year, and it was not until 2007 that Apple launched the iPhone.Here technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones takes a hypothetical look back on how different self-isolation would have looked 15 years ago.
- There are two main types of test that are useful in fighting the epidemic:
- The antigen or "have I got coronavirus now?" test will tell you if someone is currently infected and risks spreading it to others. That's the one that is being used to check very ill patients in hospitals and will now be rolled out to NHS staff too.
- The antibody or "have I recently had coronavirus" test is not available to the public yet but Public Health England is ordering it in the millions and will distribute it as soon as they are confident about its accuracy. That would help tell us how many people got coronavirus with no or only mild symptoms.
Both are vital to get a better handle on how to stop the spread of this deadly disease.
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