Coronavirus - 18th April

Summary for Saturday, 18th April

• Spain's coronavirus death toll has risen above 20,000
  
• Despite its daily toll falling, Spain passed a threshold previously breached only by the US and Italy.
  
• Britain's Queen Elizabeth has asked that there be no gun salutes to mark her birthday on Tuesday
  
• It is thought to be the first such request from the Palace in the British monarch's 68-year reign.
  
• As world coronavirus deaths pass 150,000, more than 4.5 billion people are under containment to slow the pandemic.
  
• Doctors in Japan say some hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients, even turning ambulances away
  
• In the UK, there are concerns updated guidance on protective equipment could put hospital staff and patients at risk
  
• The UK death toll reached 14,576 on Friday as 847 new deaths were reported in hospitals
  
• President Trump said US lockdown protesters being treated "rough", after calling for the "liberation" of some states
  
• The WHO advised countries to plot a cautious path out of lockdown rather than relying on antibody tests
  

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In the latest headlines:

• The latest data, compiled by Johns Hopkins University, shows that there are now more than 2.2m cases of Covid-19 worldwide and almost 155,000 deaths
  
• More than 4.5 billion people are under some form of social distancing curb designed to slow the pandemic's spread
  

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned countries against investing too much in antibody tests. The WHO says there is "no evidence" that having had the virus would guarantee immunity
  
• US President Donald Trump has defended a series of tweets he posted that appeared to encourage protesters to “liberate” states, run by his political opposition, where stringent lockdown measures are place
  
• An early-release prison scheme in the UK, aiming to stem the spread of coronavirus in prisons, has been suspended after a number of prisoners were freed by mistake
  
• Doctors in Japan are warning the country’s medical system will break down unless the government redirects more resources to its hospitals as coronavirus cases increase
  

Sport plots return post-lockdown

With major sport across the globe on hold, officials have been discussing when the action might restart, while one event has gone ahead. Here's the latest:

• Premier League - Finishing the season in a 40-day window was one of the scenarios discussed at a meeting on Friday.
  
• Olympics - It is "very unrealistic" that Tokyo 2020 will take place next year unless a coronavirus vaccine has been found by then, says Professor Devi Sridhara, a leading global health scientist.
  
• Tennis - Top players Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray gave fans a treat as they met on Instagram Live to discuss their careers.
  
• Darts - World champion Peter 'Snakebite' Wright sported a multi-coloured mohican and NHS logo as he kicked off the 'home tour' tournament.
  

Could the virus delay the US election?

As the coronavirus pandemic grinds much of the US economy to a halt, it is also playing havoc with the American democratic process.
Fifteen states have already delayed their presidential primaries. But could November's presidential election be delayed by the virus?
Anthony Zurcher, the BBC's North America reporter, answers this and some other key questions here.

UK 'in a good place' for vaccine development

The UK doesn’t currently have the capacity to produce the amount of vaccine it needs to tackle coronavirus, but “is in a really good place” for vaccine development, according to Prof John Bell, a member of the UK government's vaccine task force.
Asked about the possibility of a vaccine being produced by the autumn, Mr Bell said the real question was whether it would be effective, adding that "we won’t get a signal for that until May".
"The crucial thing is you have to do a proper trial because safety is really important for these things," he said.
"But if we can see evidence of a strong immune response by the middle or the end of May, then I think the game is on.
"And they may well get across the finish line by mid-August."

Here's the latest from Asia

• Singapore's health ministry confirmed 942 more coronavirus infections on Saturday, a new daily record. The vast majority of new patients were foreign workers living in dormitories. Singapore has previously been praised by the WHO for its handling of the outbreak, but case numbers have recently risen.
  
• In Japan, health workers have warned that hospitals risk being overwhelmed, amid reports that some are turning sick patients away. The number of confirmed cases in the country hit 10,000 on Saturday - but there has been criticism of low testing levels.
  
• A state of emergency was extended nationwide across Japan on ThursdayImage caption: A state of emergency was extended nationwide across Japan on Thursday
  

• Clerics and government ministers in Pakistan are meeting to discuss whether Friday prayers should be allowed during the outbreak and what rules will be in force during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins next week.
  

How long does it take to recover?

Many of us will have wondered: If I get this virus, and am in the large majority of people who recover - how long will it take to feel better?
Our health correspondent James Gallagher says it all depends on how sick you become in the first place.
Some will shrug it off quickly, but for others the illness could leave lasting problems.
Age, gender and other health issues all increase the risk of becoming more seriously ill from Covid-19.
The more invasive the treatment, and the longer your receive it, the more time the recovery is likely to take. Read more from James here.

Cases rise for fourth consecutive day in Germany

There has been a rise in the number of new infections in Germany, for the fourth day in a row.
The latest figures, from the Robert Koch Institute, show there were 3,609 new cases in the past 24 hours. There were also 242 deaths, taking the country's total tally to 4,110.
On Friday, Health Minister Jens Spahn said the outbreak was under control in Germany following a month-long lockdown.
He said that since 12 April the number of recovered patients had been consistently higher than the number of new infections.

Stars to perform massive benefit show

More than 100 performers have signed up to join One World: Together At Home - a huge benefit show being broadcast online and around the world later today.
The list of celebrities making an appearance is massive and includes acts like Taylor Swift, Andrea Bocelli and Stevie Wonder.
The special concert has been created by the Global Citizen movement and the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with pop star Lady Gaga, to raise funds and thank healthcare workers working to combat Covid-19.
"We may be apart right now, but coming together has never been more important," Global Citizen said in a statement.

• Read more about the concert and how to watch
  

We debunk the latest fake coronavirus news

Our BBC teams have been fact-checking some of the most popular fake and misleading coronavirus stories on social media all week.
From a bogus virus detector, to rumours spreading on WhatsApp that the BCG vaccine can protect you against infection - read the latest claims debunked this week by BBC Monitoring, Trending and Reality Check.

How will Captain Tom's millions be spent?

The story of 99-year-old Army veteran Captain Tom Moore walking laps of his garden to raise money for the UK's NHS captured hearts around the world this week - and the total just keeps on rising.
It has now surpassed a staggering £21m.
So what exactly will happen to the money? Our story looks at some of the possibilities.

'Charismatic' detective dies after contracting virus

While the 150,000 coronavirus deaths around the globe are a blunt statistic, each one leaves a grieving family and friends.
This morning, British Transport Police in London paid tribute to Detective Constable John Coker, who died on Friday aged 53 after contracting the disease.
The father of three, who was based at Euston railway station, had been taken ill on 22 March.
"His colleagues remember a man who was charismatic, kind and thoughtful and took everything in his stride. He will be greatly missed by all in the force," said chief constable Paul Crowther.
Limited train, tube and bus services have remained in operation to help key workers during the lockdown.
A minute's silence was held in London on Friday as it was announced that 26 transport workers there have died after contracting coronavirus, amid calls for improved safety measures.

No gun salute to mark Queen's birthday

There will be no gun salutes to mark the Queen's 94th birthday on 21 April, as it is not thought to be appropriate during the coronavirus pandemic.
It is believed to be the first time in the Queen's 68-year reign that there has been no such birthday salute.
The monarch will celebrate the occasion privately, although there will be a social media post as normal.
It has already been announced that there will be no Trooping the Colour, a public celebration of her birthday, in June.

Japan's virus response criticised

Michael Bristow - BBC world Service Asia Pacific editor
In a stark warning, doctors in Japan have said the country's medical system could collapse.
According to two medical associations, the coronavirus outbreak is reducing the ability of Japan's hospitals to treat other medical emergencies.
While the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 remains relatively low compared with other countries, hospitals are turning away patients.
Doctors have complained of a lack of protective equipment, which suggests Japan has not prepared well for the virus. This is despite the fact it was the second country outside China to record an infection, in January.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been criticised for not introducing restrictions to deal with the outbreak sooner for fear they could harm the economy.
Read our full story here.

Spain deaths pass 20,000

The number of people who have died with coronavirus in Spain has passed 20,000, the health ministry has announced.
Since the start of the pandemic, 20,043 people have died from Covid-19. In 24 hours, the death toll rose to 565, a slight drop from the 585 reported on Friday.
Spain is one of the worst-hit countries, behind the United States and Italy.

Nigerian president's chief of staff dies

The Nigerian president's chief of staff, Abba Kyari, has died after contracting coronavirus.
A statement from President Muhammadu Buhari's office said it "regrets to announce the passage" of Kyari.
"The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging Covid-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday," the statement said.
There have been 493 confirmed coronavirus infections, with 17 deaths, in Nigeria.

Who is still flying to and from the UK?

Flights into and out of the UK have dropped dramatically in recent weeks.
London's Heathrow airport normally has about 600 flights landing on an average day, but under lockdown that's down to about 60.
So who is on these flights, given the strict travel advice in place? Read the latest from Tom Burridge, the BBC's transport correspondent.

Virus-hit cruise ship leaves Australia after stand-off

After more than three weeks stranded in Australian waters, the German cruise ship Artania set sail for Europe on Saturday to cheers by locals and relief from officials
who had been keen to see the virus-stricken vessel leave the country.
The ship had docked in Fremantle, near Perth in Western Australia, on 27 March when about 25 passengers reported respiratory symptoms. Dozens of passengers later tested positive for Covid-19.
The Artania had defied orders to leave the port after most of the passengers were evacuated and flown home.
On Saturday it left Fremantle for Germany carrying 411 crew and passengers. Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan announced there were three more cases of coronavirus in Western Australia, two of them from the Artania.

Fears 7,500 residents have died in UK care homes

The number of coronavirus victims in Britain's care homes could be as high as 7,500, five times more than the official estimate, the sector's main charity has warned.
"Without testing, it is very difficult to give an absolute figure," Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, told The Daily Telegraph. "However, if we look at some of the death rates since April 1 and compare them with previous years' rates, we estimate a figure of about 7,500 people may have died as a result of Covid-19."
The figure is more than five times higher than the estimate of 1,400 suggested by the government earlier this week.
Britain's official coronavirus toll currently stands at 14,576, although that only includes deaths recorded in hospitals.

Daily update: UK government's latest figures on virus deaths

A total of 15,464 people hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus have died as of 17:00 BST on Friday, the Department of Health and Social Care has said.
That's an increase of 888 on the previous 24 hours.
As of 09:00 BST on Saturday, 460,437 tests have concluded, with 21,389 tests on 17 April.
A total of 357,023 people have been tested,114,217 of whom tested positive.

A holy ceremony without the usual crowds

Yolande Knell - BBC Middle East correspondent, Jerusalem


An ancient ritual has gone ahead at the Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem for Orthodox Easter, without the usual crush of thousands of pilgrims.
During the Holy Fire Ceremony, a handful of Orthodox priests wearing face masks were present for what is seen as a miracle at the site revered by Christians as the location of Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
As always, the Greek Orthodox patriarch circled the tomb, then entered and emerged with candles said to have been lit by a heavenly flame.
Usually, at this point, a big roar goes up from the crowd in the church and the fire is passed from candle to candle, to be taken to far-flung Orthodox Christian communities.
This year, special arrangements were made with the Israeli authorities allowing planes to collect the flame from Ben Gurion airport - on the condition that nobody onboard disembarked to avoid breaking quarantine rules.

Tracking the global outbreak

Coronavirus has been spreading rapidly around the world, with more than 2.2 million cases now confirmed in 185 countries. At least 147,000 people have died.
The US has seen more than three times as many confirmed cases as any other country.
This series of maps and charts tracks the global outbreak of the virus since it emerged in China last year.

Spain's death toll passes 20,000

The death toll from Covid-19 in Spain moved past 20,000 on Saturday, the country's health ministry said.
A total of 20,043 people have now succumbed to coronavirus, which killed 565 people in the country in the past 24 hours. That figure is down on the 585 reported on Friday.
Spain is one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic.
The number of declared cases now stands at 191,726 - but the health ministry said the increase in infections had slowed in recent days, and the number of people considered to be cured had risen to nearly 75,000.

The three grandmas self-isolating together

It's important to keep your spirits up in these times, and this lovely trio brought a smile to our faces.
Doreen Burns, Carol Spark and Dotty Robinson are all in their 70s and have known each other for over 40 years.
The women, who all live in Salford in Greater Manchester, decided to keep each other company by living together...

'Church' ordered to stop selling bleach as coronavirus cure

A Florida judge has ordered a self-described church to stop selling a product that includes a bleaching agent, and which it claims will treat coronavirus.
The Genesis II Church of Health and Healing marketed the product as cure for everything from cancer to coronavirus.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that it was a combination of sodium chlorite and water, which when mixed according to the directions on the package, becomes chlorine dioxide - a powerful bleaching agent.
Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt said: "The Department of Justice will take swift action to protect consumers from illegal and potentially harmful products being offered to treat Covid-19."
There is no cure or vaccine for the coronavirus.

15:45

Coming up - UK government briefing

The UK government's daily press briefing on the coronavirus will start in about 15 minutes, and we might well see more questions over the country's lockdown "exit strategy".
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has said the government needs to "bring the British people into its confidence" over how it plans to end the lockdown.
Sir Iain said the government had been right to introduce and extend restrictions but that the effect was being seen sooner than expected.
On Thursday, it was announced the restrictions would remain in place for at least another three weeks.

Analysis: UK local authorities feel the pressure amid lockdown

Nick Eardley - Political correspondent
The strain on local authorities is another example of the huge economic impact of the shutdown.
Just as they face extra pressure on social care and caring for the vulnerable, funding from leisure centres and parking is drying up.
We’ve heard council leaders warn they will have to cut back key services without more cash – that’s what today is designed to avoid.
The government has announced an additional £1.6bn to support councils.
But some are already warning it’s another sticking plaster – and that more will need to come later.

Global artists perform in global music event

The One World: Together At Home music show is into the third of its eight hours. It will feature 100 artists singing in several different languages.
Puerto Rican Luis Fonsi, widely known for the summer classic Despacito, Honk Kong's Eason Chan, Indian-American Lisa Mishra and Emirati Hussain Al Jassmi have already performed .
Sir Elton John, Rolling Stones and Billie Eilish are coming up. Lady Gaga, who helped organise the concert, will also perform.
The event run by the Global Citizen movement and the World Health Organization (WHO) is being live-streamed and broadcast on TV.

More protests calling for end of lockdown across US

There are planned protests across the US as people call for the end of lockdown measures in several states.
The curbs, which include stay-at-home orders, are needed to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Facebook pages are calling for gatherings in Maryland, Wisconsin, Virginia and Pennsylvania. It is unclear how many people will attend. The four groups have more than 100,000 members combined.
Earlier this week thousands attended a demonstration in Michigan, which appears to have inspired the protests.
So far demonstrations against the shutdown have also been held in Ohio, North Carolina, Minnesota, Utah, Virginia and Kentucky.
President Donald Trump has been criticised for appearing to endorse the protests. In a series of tweets, he wrote: "LIBERATE MINNESOTA", "LIBERATE MICHIGAN" and then "LIBERATE VIRGINIA".

New York governor: 'A terrible experience'

At his daily briefing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the number of Covid-19 patients in the state continued to fall. There were 16,967 people being treated in hospitals, compared with 17,316 a day earlier.
Some 540 people died on Friday, the lowest daily tally in more than two weeks. But 2,000 new patients were admitted to hospital, which was "sobering".
While there was some positive news, he said it did not mean "happy days" were here again. Testing was a critical issue: "The more you test, the more information, the more you can reopen society," he said.
Mr Cuomo cautioned that infections could increase if the economy was reopened too fast.
"At every level this is a terrible experience,” he said. He added that it was no time for politics. The situation will get worse "if you politicise this emotion”.

In Lombardy, 'five times more killed' than by WW2 bombs

A sobering remark by Italy's special commissioner for the coronavirus emergency, Domenico Arcuri.
He said Italy's northern Lombardy region had now suffered more than five times the deaths seen from bombing in Milan during World War Two, when 2,000 civilians lost their lives between June 1940 and May 1945.
Another 482 deaths have been reported in Italy in the past 24 hours, including 199 in Lombardy, where Milan is the capital. So Lombardy has now seen over 12,000 deaths, more than half Italy's toll of 23,227.
The numbers are coming down every day, however. There are now 2,733 people in intensive care.
"We're going through a great tragedy. We've managed to confront it but we haven't yet beaten it," said Mr Arcuri.

Cuomo criticises protesters calling for end to lockdown

Here are the main takeaways from New York governor Andrew Cuomo's daily coronavirus update.

• He said there have been 2,000 new cases admitted to hospitals. "That is still an overwhelming number every day."
  
• Cuomo reserved his criticism for protesters who have been gathering this week to call for the country to reopen. "Everyone wants to reopen," he said. "You don’t have to hold up a placard saying it. The tension is how fast can you reopen without raising the infection rate."
  
• Asked about President Trump's tweets which appeared to endorse protests against lockdown measures, Cuomo said "no-one should inject politics," but added: "I think the president... is right that it’s different in different places."
  
• He shied away from backing calls to reopen parts of New York state which are less affected than others. "You could create unintended consequences," he said.
  

Premier League players to compete in Fifa game

They are more used to competing against each other in the best arenas in England, but Premier League players - including Manchester City's Raheem Sterling and Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold - will substitute the pitch for their own living rooms next week to raise funds for the National Health Service.
The inaugural ePremier League Invitational knockout tournament will see club representatives test their dexterity in Fifa 20 video game duels.
The prize fund will be donated to the #PlayersTogether initiative created by league players to help the NHS.
Fans can watch the action on the Premier League website.

France coronavirus deaths rise to over 19,000

French authorities say 364 people have died in the last 24 hours after contracting coronavirus, bringing the national total to 19,323.
The number of confirmed cases in the country has also risen to nearly 112,000.
But in a positive development, France's health ministry says the number of people being treated in intensive care units has fallen for a 10th consecutive day.

UK paramedic dies after contracting virus

A UK paramedic has died after contracting coronavirus, says the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).
"This will deeply affect many people within the trust and we are supporting our staff during this very sad time," said the NWAS, which services north-west England.  It said they had lost a "very dear colleague" who had worked for the trust for a "considerable number of years". The unnamed paramedic was married with children.
As of 16 April, the government said there had been 27 verified deaths of National Health Service staff during the pandemic. But others, including retired staff who still worked within the NHS, have also died.
At Saturday's Downing Street briefing, Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said the UK death toll, which has now risen above 15,000, was "heartbreaking".

Spain to ease confinement of children

Ever since Spain's prime minister imposed nationwide restrictions on movement on 14 March, children have had to stay indoors. It is among the strictest lockdowns in Europe with only adults allowed out to visit their nearest supermarket or pharmacy or for essential work.
The country has seen 20,000 deaths in one of the biggest outbreaks of Covid-19 in the world.
Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau pleaded with the government this week with the message: "Free our children."
Now PM Pedro Sánchez has given children some hope. From 27 April he has said children will be allowed outside but the measure is stlil being finalised and may involve under-12s only.

Canada-US land border to stay closed another 30 days

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the Canada-US land border will remain closed to non-essential travel for an additional 30 days.
The current closure was set to expire on Tuesday.
“This is an important decision and one that will keep people on both sides of the border safe," he said.
It has been another busy day of news in the US. Here are the highlights:

• More protests are being arranged with people calling for an end to the lockdown. Facebook pages are calling for gatherings in Maryland, Wisconsin, Virginia and Pennsylvania. It is unclear how many people will attend. The four groups have more than 100,000 members combined
  

• New York governor Andrew Cuomo criticised the protesters. "Everyone wants to reopen," he said. "You don’t have to hold up a placard saying it. The tension is how fast can you reopen without raising the infection rate."
  
• And a national helpline in the US has seen a dramatic increase in people getting in touch - an 891% increase in calls
  

Football icons in new campaign - sports round-up

Some of football's most well-known faces - including Pele, Diego Maradona and David Beckham - take part in a collective round of applause for healthcare staff across the world, as part of a new video campaign

• launched by the sport's governing body Fifa
  
• World Rugby boss Sir Bill Beaumont says he is confident a revised Nations Championship - a revolutionary new competition - will be launched in the aftermath of the pandemic
  
• India plans to launch a domestic tennis circuit from July to support its players who are struggling financially during the sport’s shutdown due to the Covid-19 outbreak
  
• Manchester City's Raheem Sterling is one of a host of players set to test their Fifa 2020 video games skills in the inaugural ePremier League Invitational knockout tournament, which starts next week
  
• By the way you can take part in BBC Sport's Quarantine quiz by clicking here
  

Annie Lennox addresses 'unprecedented moment'

Pop star Annie Lennox appeared to address Donald Trump's threat to pull funding from the World Health Organisation as she joined the One World: Together At Home concert.
"In this unprecedented moment in history we have a collective responsibility to make sure that global health systems are strong enough to identify and prevent future pandemics before they happen again," said the singer, although she didn't mention the US president by name.
"Be safe. Be well. And please, stay home," she added, before playing the Eurythmics' 1999 hit single I Saved the World Today.

'Only touch what you plan to buy'

Helier Cheung - BBC News, Washington DC

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that people wear cloth masks or face coverings in public, which help reduce transmissions from asymptomatic carriers.
Some parts of the country have gone further - in Washington DC, for example, the mayor has issued an order  saying that all people entering supermarkets or food halls must wear face coverings, and observe social distancing. All retail food sellers are required to post notices outside asking customers to cover their faces, and limit the number of people in store.
At one local grocery store, I also saw a sign urging customers to "only touch items that you plan to purchase".

Trump press conference begins

We are underway at the White House as President Donald Trump gives his daily coronavirus task force update.
Trump opened his press conference by stating that, on a per capita basis, the US has seen fewer deaths than some other countries.
"Our mortality rate is far lower than other nations of Western Europe," he said, "with the lone exception of possibly Germany.
"This includes the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, France. Spain has a mortality rate which is nearly four times that of the United States.
"When the fake news gets out there and starts saying the US is number one... we’re not number one, China is number one. It’s not even close. You know it, I know it, they know it."

'To the teachers out there - God bless you'

Mark Savage - Music reporter, BBC News
The Killers joined the One World: Together At Home concert to play a stripped-back version of Mr Brightside, with Brandon Flowers accompanied on guitar Ronnie Vannuci Jr (more usually seen behind the drum kit).
"We wanted to express our gratitude and show some appreciation and support for people on the front lines, whether that be hospitals or clinics or supermarkets," said Flowers.
"And the teachers out there - God bless you."
Pop star Charlie Puth played See You Again - originally written as a tribute to Fast and the Furious actor Paul Walker - but which took on new significance amidst the lockdown.
A similar sentiment was shared by Indian-American singer Lisa Mishra, who dedicated her performance "to all the lovers who are away from each other right now".
Meanwhile Jessie J encouraged fans to "let the inner diva out" sing along to with her rendition of Flashlight - unless they didn't know the words and might irritate someone they're living with.
The concert continues until 02:00 GMT, and is streaming on YouTube, Amazon Prime, Twitter, Facebook, Twitch and many other services.

'An army of young, brilliant geniuses'

Trump has opened his press conference by focusing on discussing the numbers "per capita".
“In Louisiana, Massachusetts and other hot spots,” he said, “we have tested more people per capita so far than all other major countries, so think of that.”
He said that in New York, per capita testing was 6% higher than in Singapore - before clarifying: “in fact, there’s a typo. It’s 67%. Good job out there.”
Speaking about the production of tests and ventilators, Trump said he inherited "broken junk".
"We assembled an army of young, brilliant geniuses," he said, to get ventilators produced. "They did a job like nobody could believe. Round the clock.
"And now the rest of the world is coming to us asking if we can help them with ventilators.
"If there was a surge, we could have ventilators [to the states] within hours."

US will 'work out' payment with hospitals

Trump has reiterated his claim that the previous US administration left his government with a small stockpile of ventilators.
“Our cupboards were bare," he said. "We had very little in our stockpile, now we’re loaded up."
He went on to say that the government "loaded up" hospitals, and then made a series of comments about how they would agree terms for payment for the goods they were sent.
"We gave billions of dollars worth of things to hospitals," he said. "We’ll have to work that out at some point. In fact, I guess they’re going to be working that out with Congress.
“But we loaded up hospitals, the federal government loaded up hospitals with things to take care of people that are very desperately ill - we weren’t worried about payment at that time. We said you’ll take care of it at the right time.
“But we gave billions and billions and billions of dollars of medical goods and medicines and equipment to hospitals, and we’ll work it out with them.
“But people don’t like to talk about that."

Trump targets the media once again

Trump has once again taken aim at the media, this time calling for New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman to have her Pulitzer Prize revoked.
“I even read a story where Mark Meadows, a tough guy, he was crying,” he said. “This was Maggie Haberman, you know, she won a Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of Russia, but she was wrong on Russia. So was everyone else. They should all give back their Pulitzer Prizes.”
Haberman was amongst the staff of the New York Times and Washington Post which won the National Reporting Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for their reporting on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and its ties to the Trump campaign.
“In fact, it turned out that the crime was committed by the other side,” Trump said. “The crime was not committed by this side, it was committed by the other side, a bunch of bad people. You saw the reports coming out over the last two weeks. They got caught.”

Fact check: Does China have a higher death rate than America?

At his press conference, President Trump defended his administration's response to the outbreak, saying that China had a higher death rate than the US.
According to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University, America has a far higher death toll - 37,938, compared with 4,636 in China.
But the death rate in China current stands at 5.5%, one percentage point higher than that of the US.

Trump gives details of how US states will be easing restrictions

At the briefing, President Trump said a number of US states - led by both Democrat and Republican governors - had already announced "concrete steps to begin a safe, gradual and phased opening".
He said Texas and Vermont would allow certain businesses to open on 20 April, while Montana would begin lifting restrictions on 24 April.
Ohio, North Dakota and Idaho had advised non-essential businesses to prepare for a phased opening starting on 1 May.

Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga play

There were no punches pulled as the main Together At Home broadcast kicked off just after midnight GMT.
Lady Gaga was first to play, delivering an upbeat version of Charlie Chaplin's Smile (though your heart is aching) that she dedicated to first responders and healthcare workers.
She was followed swiftly by Motown legend Stevie Wonder, who played Lean On Me - written by Bill Withers who died earlier this month (although his death was not related to coronavirus).
"During hardships like this we have to lean on each other for help," said the singer. "My friend, the late Bill Withers, has the perfect song about that and I want us to remember him tonight."
Next up was Paul McCartney, who said healthcare workers were the "real heroes", and likened the medical response during the Covid-19 pandemic to the circumstances his mother, Mary, worked in as a nurse during World War 2.
He went on to play the Beatles hit Lady Madonna, while images of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers flashed up on the screen.

Paul McCartney's speech in full

"I’m very honoured to be part of this programme tonight that celebrates the true heroes: The healthcare workers all around the world.
"As this Covid-19 pandemic is a global crisis, we all have to come together to fight it on a global scale. Let’s tell our leaders that we need them to strengthen the healthcare systems all around the world so a crisis like this never happens again.
"My mother Mary was a nurse and a midwife just after and during the Second World War, so I have a lot of time for the doctors, the nurses and all the medical staff who keep us healthy.
"We love you. Thank you."

What happened in the US today?

As we approach the end of the day, here's what happened in the United States on Saturday.

• President Trump said the US has a lower coronavirus death toll than many other countries on a "per capita" basis, whilst in the same briefing accusing Democrats of having "anti-Israel" beliefs
  
• The Canada-US land border will stay closed for an additional 30 days for non-essential travel. The closure was set to expire on Tuesday
  
• Public spaces, included parks and beaches, have been opened up in Jacksonville, Florida and images have shown many people gathering in close proximity to each other. Duval County, where Jacksonville is located, has recorded 817 cases of coronavirus
  
• More protests are being arranged as people call for an end to the lockdown across the US
  
• New York governor Andrew Cuomo has criticised the protesters and called for an end to politicising coronavirus
  
• And a national helpline in the US has seen a dramatic increase in people getting in touch - an 891% increase in calls
  

'I will hold your mom's hand'

In addition to the musical performances, Together At Home is speaking to people on the forefront of the fight against coronavirus.
Among them was Sanam Ahmed, a critical care physician in New York, who spoke of how the nightly cheers that resonate around the city had boosted her spirits.
“I was able to stop a few times and listen to it. It really brought a happy tear to my eye. It was a nice way to go into work.”
Asked by host Stephen Colbert if she had a message to people whose loved ones were in hospital, she replied: "I want people to know that if you can’t hold your mom’s hand, I’m there to hold her hand.
"The nurses and the doctors, we’re all there to tell your mom, your dad, your loved one, that you love them and we’re there for them."

Rolling Stones play together, apart

Mark Savage - Music reporter, BBC News


There was no lengthy premable from Mick Jagger as the Rolling Stones as they joined the concert.
“Here’s one I hope you know," said the singer. "You can join in if you want.”
And with that, the band launched into their 1968 hit You Can't Always Get What You Want, all from separate locations - and with a bit of help from a backing track, since drummer Charlie Watts only had a few flight cases and a decrepit armchair to bash from his front room.