Coronavirus - 24th April

Summary for Friday, 24th April


Hello and welcome back to our rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. We’re writing to you out of Asia this morning, and will be joined later today by our colleagues from London.
Muslims across the world are today marking the start of the holy month of Ramadan, and many of them are doing so under a lockdown.
Typically, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, gathering with family to break the fast in the evening.
Some countries are allowing events to go ahead. But for many people, social distancing measures means these traditions can't take place as usual this year – with people unable to pray at mosques or even gather for meals.
Some are trying to combat this by going virtual – with mosques offering virtual prayers and families breaking fast through video calls. For most, it’s still going to be a month of reflection and celebration – just one that might look a little different.

What’s happening in Asia

As the last day of the working week gets under way in Asia, here's a glance at what's happening across the region:

• China again reported no coronavirus deaths for the past day, making it a full week without fatalities.
  
• South Korea’s government says it will provide cash handouts to every household, not just middle and lower income ones as initially planned.
  
• Japan has warned the fallout from the virus threatens to push its economy into a deep recession.
  
• Indonesia will temporarily ban domestic air and sea travel, starting this Friday.
  
• The Philippines will extend the lockdown of Manila and other high risk areas until 15 May.
  
• Malaysia will extend most lockdown measures for two weeks until 12 May but looks at allowing some sectors to resume business.
  

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar - a holy month for the world's 1.8 billion Muslims and a time of increased participation in community life.
It is obligatory for every able Muslim to fast between dawn and sunset during the entire month. Young children, pregnant women, the old, the sick and travellers are exempt from fasting. People typically gather with families and friends to break their daily fasts with large Iftar meals.
Another special, but not obligatory, practice during Ramadan is attending the nightly Taraweeh prayers. Traditionally, mosques are filled with worshippers attending these prayers, which usually last for one and a half to two hours. Most mosques will recite one 30th of the Koran each night.
You can find out more about Ramadan here from our colleagues at BBC Newsround.

What’s happening in Australia?

• Australians are being urged to stand in their driveways and tune into streamed services tomorrow to mark Anzac Day, the national day of remembrance for the wartime dead. Traditional dawn services have been cancelled as large gatherings have been banned.
  
• A 79-year-old woman from Tasmania’s north-west has died, in another fatality linked to a super cluster there. It brings the national death toll to 77.
  
• However less than a dozen new cases have been recorded nationally overnight and New South Wales – the worst-affected state - has urged anyone with even mild symptoms to go for testing so restrictions can be relaxed sooner.
  
• Around 460,000 Australians have sought to withdraw money from their retirement funds, prompting criticism the government's welfare isn't being released quickly enough.
  
• And Tom Hanks, who recovered from the virus last month, has become pen pals with an eight-year-old Gold Coast boy who's been bullied for his name, Corona.
  

US death toll close to 50,000

The number of deaths in the United States linked to Covid-19 now stands at 49,759. The country has by for the highest death toll in the world and the number of confirmed infections is more than 866,000 with just under 10% of those already recovered.
President Donald Trump has criticised the decision by some US states to gradually open up their economies, even though he earlier tweeted his support to protesters demanding an end of the lockdown.
Meanwhile, the US has passed a new $484bn (£390bn) stimulus package, with funds for small businesses and virus testing. It's the fourth aid bill in response to the pandemic.
US unemployment claims have hit 26.4 million - more than 15% of the country's workforce.

Ruby Princess crew fly home to the Philippines

Some 360 Filipino crew members from virus-stricken cruise the Ruby Princess have flown home to the Philippines.
The crew members boarded a chartered flight from Sydney last on Thursday - all of them were cleared to travel.
The ship had been docked in Port Kembla, south of Sydney, since 6 April.
More than 600 confirmed cases and 21 deaths in Australia have been linked to the Ruby Princess, after thousands of passengers were allowed to leave the cruise despite some of them being sick.
It left the port yesterday, bound for the Philippines. Around 100 Filipino crew members remain onboard as part of the essential crew.

Islam's holiest sites lie empty

The coronavirus outbreak has meant that some of the holiest sites in Islam have been empty for weeks and will continue to be so during Ramadan.
These sites are usually full of worshippers during the fasting month.
“It is a very sad moment in the history of Islam,” said Sheikh Omar al-Kiswami, the imam and director of al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Dome of the Rock at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem




Umraah visits to Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia have been halted since March

Japanese hospitals face onslaught of patients

Until recently, Japan had been one of the success stories in controlling the spread of the virus. In February and March it succeeded in suppressing early cluster outbreaks, and in keeping total infections in the hundreds.
But now the capital, Tokyo, appears to have a developing epidemic with more than 3,500 cases confirmed. Countrywide there are now more than 12,000 cases.
Doctors in Tokyo say a state of emergency, declared two weeks ago, is not slowing the spread of the virus enough to stop new cases overwhelming the hospital system.
Rupert Wingfield-Hayes and the BBC's Tokyo team have been inside one hospital just south of the capital, which has built a makeshift Covid-19 unit in just 10 days, to try to deal with the overflow.

How to fast safely at this time

Fasting is obligatory for all adult followers of Islam who are able to safely go without food and drink.
But there are some considerations when it comes to fasting during a pandemic.
Fighting infection takes a lot of energy, University of Sussex immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi says.
And prolonged periods of not eating or drinking can weaken the immune system.
Learn more about how to fast safely here

Boris Johnson 'just another patient for us'

The New Zealand nurse whom British PM Boris Johnson credited for taking care of him while he was in an intensive care unit has said he was just "another patient we were trying to do our best for."
In an interview with TVNZ, Jenny McGee also said she was shocked when she heard that he had paid tribute to her and a Portuguese nurse, saying it came "totally out of the blue".
Mr Johnson is currently recovering from his bout of Covid-19 at his country retreat, Chequers. Read more from Jenny's interview here.

Coronavirus drug fails first trial

A potential antiviral drug for the coronavirus has reportedly failed in its first randomised clinical trial. There had been widespread hope that the drug called remdesivir could treat Covid-19.
But a Chinese trial showed that the drug had not been successful, according to draft documents published by accident by the World Health Organization.
Out of 237 patients, some were given the drug, others a placebo. After one month, 13.9% of the patients taking the drug had died compared to 12.8% of those receiving the placebo. The trial was then stopped early because of side-effects.
The US firm behind the drug, Gilead Sciences, has disputed the WHO post though, saying it had mischaracterised the study.

US protesters say 'we want our lives back'

According to John Hopkins University there are currently more than 864,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US and there have been more than 47,000 deaths.
But from Pennsylvania to Kansas, protesters across the US have been insisting that the coronavirus lockdowns should be lifted and states reopened, despite expert advice that social distancing is the best way of keeping the virus from spreading.

Hong Kong students finally sits exams

Tens of thousands of teenagers in Hong Kong are today sitting their university entrance exams. They were originally due to take place last month but were forced to be delayed due to the outbreak.
Today's students however, will need to wear masks and adhere to strict social distancing rules in the examination room. Their temperatures will also be taken before they're allowed in.
Hong Kong currently has 1,035 confirmed virus cases.

G20 calls for more donations

The presidency of the G20, currently held by Saudi Arabia, has called for more donations to fund emergency response to the pandemic.
The G20 secretariat said that so far $1.9bn (£1.5bn) had been donated, but that the target set was $8bn. Donations are coming from countries and the private sector.
G20 labour and employment ministers pledged on Thursday to prop up the labour market as the coronavirus pandemic hits jobs and output around the world.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) earlier this week warned that the economic consequences of the virus crisis were having a "devastating effect" on workers and employers.
"The world of work is facing the worst global crisis since World War Two," Alette van Leur, ILO policies director, warned.

Cruise ship in Japan reports 91 cases

Ninety-one crew members onboard an Italian cruise ship which was undergoing repairs in Japan's port city of Nagasaki have now tested positive for the virus, says a Reuters report quoting officials.
There are around 623 crew members on board the Costa Atlantica and no passengers.
Those who test negative will be repatriated, said Japan's Health Minister Katsunobu Kato, though it's still unclear how exactly this would take place. All those onboard the ship are currently in quarantine, unless they require hospital visits.
The ship was taken into a shipyard in Nagasaki in late February after the outbreak meant that scheduled repairs in China could no longer take place.

Anzac Day to be marked at dawn in driveways

Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand is the most sacred public holiday for both nations – as their day of remembrance for wartime dead.
Traditionally, people will gather at their local war memorial or community hall to attend solemn dawn services, however under lockdown restrictions, any public gatherings have been banned.
So instead people have been urged to turn out in their driveways, windows and balconies tomorrow morning, with a lit candle, to pay tribute. People can access pre-recorded services or tune into a select few ceremonies being live-streamed. Musicians are also encouraged to play the Last Post.
Already people have shared some of their creative #AnzacSpirit tributes online, such as papier-mache red poppies and home-made wreaths. And veterans have been encouraged to call each other over the phone in lieu of the usual reunion marches.

Ramadan restrictions in key countries

In Saudi Arabia, King Salman has decreed that a shortened version of the Taraweeh prayers can be performed by clerics and staff at Islam’s two holiest sites, Mecca’s Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. Members of the public will not be permitted to enter the sites - they have been told to pray at home.
The Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, in the Old City of Jerusalem will also be closed to members of the public during Ramadan. “Such a decision was the first in 1,400 years, it is tough, and it pains our hearts," said Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, al-Aqsa’s director. Clerics and guards will still be allowed to attend the Taraweeh prayers, which will also be streamed online.
The president of Egypt, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, said the decision to close mosques and continue the night-time curfew during Ramadan were taken to “preserve the safety of the people”. He warned of “tougher measures” if the restrictions were ignored and the Covid-19 outbreak got worse.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will provide 10 million meals to communities affected by the outbreak in the country. “Providing food for everyone, with the approach of the Holy Month of Ramadan, is a social priority in our battle against the pandemic,” Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum wrote on Twitter. The UAE is also relaxing its lockdown to allow people out between 06:00 and 22:00.

Tom Hanks writes back to bullied Corona

It can't be easy being called Corona in these times - and for an eight-year-old Australian boy - all the teasing he's been getting at school was bringing him down.
So Corona De Vries wrote to one of his favourite actors, Tom Hanks, who along with his wife Rita Wilson contracted and recovered from the virus on the Gold Coast last month.
"I heard on the news you and your wife had caught the coronavirus," Corona wrote in his letter to "Mr and Mrs Hanks", adding: "Are you ok?"
Hanks then sent a letter back thanking Corona for his well wishes - and marvelling over his unique name: "You are the only person I've ever known to have the name Corona - like the ring around the sun, a crown."
The Toy Story actor also gifted a Corona-brand typewriter to the boy telling him: "Use it to write me back."
Read more about this lovely new friendship here.

Is social distancing an oxymoron in India?

Geeta Pandey - BBC News, Delhi


Three weeks into the lockdown, this vegetable market in Patna was still crowded

Health experts and governments across the world have been advising people to practice social distancing to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
In India too, we are constantly being told to avoid physical contact and maintain a distance of at least 1m from others.
But what transpires every now and then makes one wonder if social distancing is an oxymoron in India.
"In India, it's a privilege to be able to maintain social distancing when most of the population is huddled up five to six in a room," one sociologist I spoke to said.
You can read the full story here.

Trump suggests unproven heat and light treatments

At his daily press conference that ended just hours ago, US President Donald Trump suggested looking into unproven treatments for curing Covid-19, including using shining "a tremendous light" into the body, and injecting disinfectant.
But at the same briefing Dr Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus task force co-ordinator, said she had not seen evidence that heat could kill the virus.

Mass prayers to go ahead in Pakistan

M Ilyas Khan - BBC News, Islamabad


Friday congregational prayers have continued at the Red Mosque and others despite a government ban

Ramadan officially begins in Pakistan on Saturday, but questions over official measures to contain infection still loom large.
The government has agreed to open mosques for Ramadan prayers after a month-long closure.
It comes as most Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia which is the birthplace of Islam, have said they will continue with restrictions on public prayers in mosques.
Ramadan is traditionally marked by increased attendance at mosques and other communal rituals which many say may spur the social spread of the virus.
Pakistan has already registered more than 10,000 cases of coronavirus infection, of which around 79% have been due to local transmission.
Top doctors’ associations have since warned of an "unmanageable" spike in cases next month if the decision to open mosques for collective prayers is not revised.

Red Mosque and the influential clergy

M Ilyas Khan - BBC News, Islamabad
The government of Pakistan says the clerics have agreed to a set of precautions such as disinfectant sprays or keeping a 1m distance between worshippers. But everyone, including government officials, admits there is no capacity to enforce universal conformity.
Islamabad has repeatedly failed to enforce earlier lockdowns on mosques.
Some say the clergy has been adamant on opening religious rituals during Ramadan because it is the month when most affluent Muslims tend to pay zakat, or an Islamic annual tax on income, and most of which flows into the mosques and seminaries attached to them.
They say the government’s decision is evidence of the influence the clergy – which has long been an ally of Pakistan’s powerful military – wields over the political establishment.
A clear sign of this is the case of Islamabad’s famous Red Mosque, whose chief cleric has been booked for violating lockdown procedures for three consecutive weeks, but hasn’t been arrested because officials fear a violent backlash from his followers.

Lockdown clears Delhi pollution

As recently as November, the Indian capital, Delhi, went through some its worst polluted days in history.
But the country has been under strict lockdown since March and just have a look at what a difference that's made. The closure of factories and airports has resulted in a dramatic reduction in smog pollution.

See more HERE

Top health expert says WHO trusted China too much

A key member of Canada's pandemic task force has said the World Health Organization (WHO) response relied too much on China's official data and set back the global response by as much as three weeks.
Dr David Naylor told broadcaster CBC that the WHO should have known from past experience that there was a problem with China reporting incomplete data.
"I think we lost two to three weeks and I think that's regrettable, and I think that will come to light when a review is done," he said.
He stressed though it was wrong to conclude that an earlier reaction would have "completely changed" the course of the outbreak and said the WHO needed continued support.
The WHO has also been criticised by US President Trump, who has said he will withdraw funding.

Mass prayers still held in Aceh, Indonesia

Prayers were held in mosques in Aceh province in Indonesia - the world's most populous Muslim country - on Thursday evening.
The local religious authorities announced that the nightly Taraweeh prayers would be allowed in the month of Ramadan despite the Covid-19 outbreak - in defiance of the guidelines issued by the country's Religious Affairs Ministry that advises Indonesians to worship from home.
The congregational prayer were only being allowed in Aceh in areas where the spread of Covid-19 was under control, authorities said.
Aceh has recorded seven confirmed cases and one death.

Sydney beaches closed again after crowds gather

Three Sydney beaches that re-opened this week - Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra - have been temporarily shut again after too many people flocked to the surf.
Local authorities said lifeguards cleared the crowds shortly after lunchtime when it became "just impossible to maintain safe social distancing".
A council spokeswoman told the BBC: "There were definitely too many people breaching the 1.5m distancing rule. Lots of people just paddling along the shoreline not actually swimming but just hanging out in the shallows.
"What we need is people to come and swim, do their exercise and then go."
But on a sunny Friday in 27C heat - the temptation to stay clearly proved too much for many. The beaches will re-open tomorrow, but officials say they will draw the line in the sand if crowds form again.
Bondi Beach is also set to re-open next week but only to swimmers and surfers.

United flight attendants must wear masks

All United Airlines flight attendants must wear a face covering or mask on duty starting today - the first such rule by a major US carrier
In a letter seen by Reuters, the Association of Flight Attendants welcomed the move but also urged the departments of transportation to make it compulsory for passengers to wear masks.
It also called for personal protection equipment to be made available to flight attendants, which was echoed by the US pilot union.
"Flight crews are a unique vector for the virus, traveling all over the country. It is vital that our crews be treated as essential workers and have access to personal protection equipment and testing," Jason Goldberg, spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, was quoted as saying.
Major US airlines have drastically scaled back flying schedules but continue to operate domestic flights and a handful of international routes.

'India has not done enough for the poor'

Nobel Prize-winning economist Abhijit Banerjee has told the BBC that India needs to be "much more generous" in providing relief to the millions that have been directly hit by the ongoing lockdown.
"We haven't done anything close to enough," the Indian-American academic said in an interview.
After imposing the lockdown on 24 March, India announced a $23bn (£18bn) relief package.
Much of it involves cash transfers and food security for the poor.
Prof Banerjee, who won the Nobel Prize in economics in 2019 with co-researchers Esther Dufflo and Michael Kremer, said the "government was right in its thinking to throw a shock in the system" to contain the spread of the Covid-19 infection.
"But the lockdown is not the end of the story. This disease is going to be with us for a long time until a vaccine arrives, which is not anytime soon," the economist added.
You can read more of his comments here.

Osaka mayor says women take too long to shop

In times of social distancing, all ventures outside should be done swiftly. And according to the mayor of Osaka, that means they should be done by men because women "take a long time" and "hesitate about this and that".
Mayor Ichiro Matsui said men should do the grocery runs because they "can snap up things they are told to buy and go, so I think it's good that they go shopping, avoiding human contact".
Unsurprisingly, he has come under significant fire for his comments, with people online accusing him of being prejudged and disrespectful to both women and men.
When challenged by a reporter, he admitted his advice might be viewed as out-of-touch, but said it was true in his family.
Traditional gender roles are still deeply rooted in Japanese society and women are often expected to take primary responsibility for childcare and domestic chores.

'Giving to others is a form of prayer'

Krutika Pathi - BBC News, Delhi
One non-profit in the Indian capital, Delhi, has found a way to connect the community, as Ramadan begins under lockdown with no gatherings at mosques allowed.
“We thought let’s give ourselves an alternative - let’s give out ration kits to families in need,” Irtiza Quraishi of the Marham non-profit said.
Volunteers will aim to deliver around 200 kits every night. Filled with essentials like wheat, rice and lentils, each kit weighs 18kg and is enough for a family of three or four to survive for a month, Mr Quraishi said.
His team of volunteers have secured passes that will allow them to drive through the city to drop off the rations, which has been funded by the Hamdard National Foundation.
He adds that Ramadan is a month to reflect but now “everything has changed”.
“Our ambitions, our targets for the year - it’s different now. It’s all about survival so we need to work together to make sure everyone survives this.
“The satisfaction from doing something like this is similar to praying at the mosque - giving to others is a form of prayer itself.”

Trump criticised for disinfectant theory

US President Donald Trump has been widely criticised after he suggested the possibility of injecting disinfectant into the body as a treatment for Covid-19.
He also appeared to propose irradiating patients' bodies with UV light, after an official had earlier said sunlight and disinfectant were known to kill the infection.
"So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous - whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light," he said.
"And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?"
Pointing to his head, Mr Trump went on: "I'm not a doctor. But I'm, like, a person that has a good you-know-what."
But doctors warned the president's idea could have fatal results, with one doctor saying it's "irresponsible and it's dangerous".
In short - don't inject or ingest disinfectant.
Read more on Trump's remarks here.

Acehnese 'scared' but follow local fatwas

Resty Woro Yuniar - BBC News, Jakarta
Muslims in Indonesia’s Aceh flocked to the province’s grand mosque on Thursday night to attend mass Taraweeh prayers - an additional prayer at night during the Islamic fasting month Ramadan.
While many of them wore masks, they still prayed closely together, defying the Indonesian government’s physical distancing guidance.
“I’m scared of dying because of coronavirus, but I don’t let it stress me out and scare me out of praying. The most important thing is to maintain our personal hygiene by washing my hands and wearing masks,” Putri Sarah told BBC Indonesia.
Another congregation member, Wahyuka, said that he went to the mosque because his children forced him to.
“I myself am scared of praying together, that is why I prayed far from other people’s lines,” he said.
Marini Kristiani, a sociologist from Syiah Kuala University in Aceh, said that many Acehnese people pay more attention to fatwas, or Islamic rulings, issued by local religious figures than the central government.
Aceh is the only region in Indonesia that implements Islamic sharia law. The province also still carries out public flogging. The latest was on Tuesday, when six people were flogged for violating Islamic law - only one wore a mask.

Virus tests now available to millions in UK

Up to 10 million key workers in the UK and their family members will be able to register for a coronavirus test if they are showing virus symptoms.
Those who can register include NHS and social care workers, police officers, teachers, those in the justice system, supermarket and food production workers, journalists and transport workers.
Previously, only a smaller group of people whose work was deemed critical to the Covid-19 response were eligible for testing.
But the government remains some way short of its target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of this month.
Thursday's figures showed 23,560 tests were carried out, though Health Secretary Matt Hancock said capacity had now increased to 51,000 per day.
Read more about testing here.

Charged for breaking quarantine 30 mins early

A Singaporean man has been charged for leaving quarantine 30 minutes earlier than he was supposed to, according to a report by the Straits Times.
Tay Chun Hsien, 22, was ordered to be isolated in his flat until the 22 March at noon. But he's been accused of not being at home from around 11:30.
It's not clear why he had to be isolated or where he went after leaving home. Singapore has for some time been ordering contacts of confirmed cases to stay at home, and checking in on them with video calls at random times.
Tay, who has been charged under the Infectious Diseases Act, says he intends to plead guilty. If convicted, he faces up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of up to S$10,000 ($7,010; £5,670).

An unusual holy month for Muslims

Welcome if you're just joining us. We've been looking at Ramadan, which begins today and will be a very different experience for Muslims this year.
Outbreaks of Covid-19 around the world have been traced to religious gatherings, and governments in many Middle Eastern countries have imposed social distancing measures to limit the spread of the disease.
Many have closed mosques and instructed worshippers to perform the special prayers at home. They plan to provide virtual alternatives using TV, radio and social media.
Some have also put in place nighttime curfews and inter-city travel bans, which will limit the ability of people to break their fasts in large groups or away from their homes.
Communal meals traditionally organised for the poor have also been affected. Many mosques and charities plan to distribute pre-packed meals instead.
However, in Pakistan and Indonesia some mosques are going ahead with congregational prayers.

First patients injected in UK vaccine trial

Two volunteers in the UK have been injected with a potential vaccine - the first human trial to take place in Europe.
More than 800 people were recruited for the study.
Half will receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and half a control vaccine which protects against meningitis but not coronavirus. The volunteers will not know which vaccine they are getting.
The vaccine was developed in under three months by a team at Oxford University.
Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, led the pre-clinical research.
Prof Gilbert previously said she was "80% confident" the vaccine would work, but now prefers not to put a figure on it, saying simply she is "very optimistic" about its chances.
Here's how the vaccine will work.

The woman who pushed for homemade masks in India

Pallava Bagla - Columnist, Delhi


Behind India's push for mass use of homemade masks for more than a billion people is a little-known female biochemist.
Shailaja V Gupta, 58, is a scientist in the office of India's principal scientific adviser. She helps draw up policy and advises the government on the best use of technology.
"Homemade masks were a very obvious solution to limit the chain of transmission, especially in crowded conditions," she says.
There continues to be debate around the efficacy of masks, and the World Health Organization (WHO) says there isn't much evidence to support wearing them. But many Asian countries have made them compulsory.
And in India, with PPE kits in short supply and the regular purchase of surgical masks not a viable option for many, Ms Gupta believes that homemade masks are a practical preventive measure.
You can read the full piece here

Italy's burgeoning mental health crisis

Italy’s coronavirus death toll is the second highest in the world, and its lockdown is the strictest and longest in Europe.
Doctors say both things are creating a mental health emergency. Psychologists are warning that Italy is not equipped to deal with the crisis, and that the rest of Europe must prepare.
The BBC has spoke to staff at a psychological help centre, and they say they’re overwhelmed by calls from people struggling.

Good morning to our UK readers

If you're joining us in the UK, good morning.
Here are the latest headlines:

• Up to 10 million key workers and their households can now book a coronavirus test online or through their employer
  
• The 'Big Night In' has raised more than £27m. The money will go to causes that support vulnerable people around the UK whose lives have been affected by coronavirus
  
• Two volunteers in the UK have been injected with a potential coronavirus vaccine. It is the first human test in Europe.
  
• US President Donald Trump said Boris Johnson sounded "incredible" after his recovery from the virus.
  

South Africa eyes easing lockdown

South Africa’s president has announced an easing of some lockdown restrictions beginning next month, citing economic concerns.
From 1 May, some businesses will be allowed to reopen, and a third of their employees can return to work. However, President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that most people should remain at home, public gatherings remain banned, and the country’s borders will stay closed.
Here's what else is happening across the continent:

• Night curfew hours in Egypt will be shortened during Ramadan. It will begin at 21:00 local time (19:00GMT), an hour later than usual
  
• Two people who fled a quarantine centre in Kenya have been arrested at a bar where they were found drinking despite social distancing regulations
  
• US President Donald Trump has held telephone conversations with the presidents of South Africa and Kenya, offering assistance to both countries.
  

South Korea reports no deaths in 24 hours

Laura Bicker - BBC News, Seoul
There have been no reported deaths from Covid-19 in South Korea in the last 24 hours - the first time in a month that's happened.
The Centre for Disease Control (KCDC) also reported only six new cases of the infection – the lowest recorded daily total since 18 February.
It is a remarkable turnaround in a country which was battling a spiralling number of cases in February.
The country used aggressive tracing and testing measures to find infected patients, isolate them and treat them. So far 240 people have sadly died, but that is still a low fatality rate in comparison to other countries. All of this has been achieved with no lockdown and no major movement restrictions.
But health officials say now is the time to remain vigilant.
In the last few days they have continued warning the public that it is inevitable this country will face further outbreaks until there’s a vaccine.
KCDC Deputy Director Kwon said South Koreans should brace themselves for an “unexpected, explosive spread of Covid-19 anytime, even tomorrow" and that officials were using this time to prepare long-term pandemic plans.

World's Muslims face very different Ramadan

Martin Bashir - BBC religious affairs correspondent
The coronavirus pandemic has disturbed the rituals and traditions of the vast majority of Islam’s 1.8 billion adherents, who will abstain from food and water during daylight hours for the next 30 days.
In most countries, mosques are closed and Ramadan’s traditional evening call to prayer will be heeded only at home, as Muslims experience the holy month in chastened circumstances.
During Ramadan, special evening prayers – known as Taraweeh – are traditionally said alongside the recitation of the Koran. Taraweeh derives from an Arabic word which means to rest and forms an essential part of congregational worship at this special time of the year.
The pandemic has cut to the heart of Islamic worship; vertically, in terms of prayer, and horizontally, by preventing the evening gatherings when people break the fast together, renew bonds of friendship and extend charity to those in need.
The coronavirus has impacted the holiest sites of Islam. The Grand Mosque in Mecca is silent, the mosque in Medina closed and the doors of Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque are bolted.
While most Muslim-majority nations have cancelled congregational gatherings, the prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, was forced to seek a compromise with clerics following protests.

No timetable for Johnson's return yet

The Daily Telegraph has been reporting that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be back in control at Number 10 on Monday after recovering from coronavirus.
But Downing Street are being clear that they have no official timetable for his return, says BBC political correspondent Leila Nathoo.
We’re starting to see signs he is back in action but there is no firm commitment for when he will be back in public, our correspondent adds.
Spokespeople say he is not doing government work although he has spoken to Dominic Raab, the first secretary of state who is deputising for him.
He has also spoken to the Queen over the phone and Donald Trump.
The US president has said Johnson sounded "incredible" during their phone conversation a few days ago - the "old Boris, tremendous energy, tremendous drive".

The economic price of the pandemic

The huge economic impact of coronavirus lockdowns should come as no surprise to anyone.
This week though we had some stark reminders of just how much the pandemic is hitting the global economy.
Just yesterday we learnt that European business activity suffered a massive blow this month as government restrictions to slow the spread of the virus saw businesses close their doors.
The data was a grim reminder for the region's leaders as they started to discuss a huge rescue plan for the bloc.
We also had data showing that Japan's services sector contracted at a record pace in April, while factories also fell silent as large parts of the world's third-largest economy went into lockdown.
In the US it was confirmed that in just five weeks the world's biggest economy has seen the job gains of the last 11 years wiped out. That's as new jobless claims for last week totalled 4.4m - taking the total number of jobless claims since mid-March to 26.4m.
This morning, new figures showed UK retail sales fell a record 5.1% in March, the steepest sales fall since the Office for National Statistics (ONS) started collecting the data in 1996.
For now at least, we are likely to see much more of this kind of gloomy data as governments around the world continue to enforce stay-at-home orders.

White House promotes sunlight research

The Trump administration is promoting research which suggests that sunlight can be a powerful weapon against the coronavirus.
Bill Bryan, head of science at the Department of Homeland Security, said the virus weakened quickly when exposed to sunlight, heat and humidity.
The research has not been published or externally examined.
Vice-President Mike Pence said the study raised hopes that the pandemic would recede in the summer.
During a press conference on Thursday, President Trump asked whether powerful light or injections of disinfectant could be used to treat coronavirus patients.
Health experts accused him of promoting dangerous misinformation.
The idea that hot weather might stop the coronavirus has been around for a while. Read our review of the evidence here.

Architect of Sweden's approach says it has worked

Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief state epidemiologist, believes his country's decision not to impose strict lockdown measures has "worked in some aspects because our health system has been able to cope".
Sweden's approach has been controversial. It has seen more infections and deaths than its Nordic neighbours, with 2,021 deaths and 16,755 cases. But Dr Tegnell has told the BBC that at least half the deaths have been in nursing homes and "it's a bit unclear to us if a lockdown would have stopped this from happening or not". He also argued that the decision not to impose strict restrictions meant that there was an immunity level of up to 20% in the capital, Stockholm, "so we hope this will make it easier for us in the long run".

'I can't wash my hands - my water was cut off'

Aleem Maqbool - BBC News, Washington
Unlike in many European countries where it is illegal, US households have the water connection turned off for non-payment of bills.
That has left many Americans without water at a time when they are being told that one of the most important things they can do is wash their hands.
"I have been without water for about six months now," says Akiva Durr.
A mother of two girls, she lives in one of the most deprived neighbourhoods not just of Detroit but of the entire country.
Her family is among many in the US state who, in the midst of a public health crisis, have no water due to non-payment.
You can read the full story here.

BBC's Big Night In raises more than £27m

The BBC's Big Night In charity special has raised more than £27m.
A number of stars joined forces for the three-hour event to help raise money for charities across the UK that are helping people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Peter Kay and Catherine Tate took part as did the Duke of Cambridge, who appeared in a surprise sketch with Stephen Fry.
Read more about the highlights from the night here.

UK contact tracers to start work 'in weeks'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said a workforce of 18,000 people to trace contacts of those infected with coronavirus will be "up and running in a matter of weeks".
This "is just the start" and it will be combined with mass testing to help hold down the rate of transmission of the disease, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning.
He admitted the measures "work far better when there are fewer new cases" of the virus to trace - but if they do work the UK will be able to hold down the number of new coronavirus cases with fewer social distancing restrictions.

Vietnamese children donate masks to the UK

Two children in Vietnam have given 20,000 medical masks to the UK.
Nhan and Khoi, from the capital Hanoi, bought them with "lucky money" they had saved up over a few years.
The British Ambassador to Vietnam, Gareth Ward, wrote a letter to the pair thanking them for their donation. He confirmed the masks had been sent on a commercial flight last week that carried 100 British nationals home

Australia turns a corner

Shaimaa Khalil - BBC News, Sydney
Nearly four weeks ago, the government in Australia introduced tough social distancing measures - no more than two people anywhere and the closure of all non-essential services.
We were all getting used to a very different way of living. No loitering outside. I spent 23 hours a day at home and one walking around my neighbourhood. The beaches were off limits. At the time, the country was recording hundreds of cases a day.
It’s a very different picture now. Today, there are 13 new cases in the whole of Australia. Contact tracing and testing have been ramped up. In total, there have been 79 deaths.
Unlike Europe and the US, Australia has managed to get a handle on the spread of the virus through tight border controls and robust social distancing rules.
Despite the devastating effect on the economy, the government persisted with the restrictions and introduced stimulus packages for people and businesses. It has turned a corner but the leadership has warned against complacency.
For Australia to consolidate the gains it’s made in controlling Covid-19 and to avoid the risk of a resurgence in cases, the world’s most outdoorsy country will have to endure more of the indoors for some time.

How UK Muslims are adapting for Ramadan

The coronavirus pandemic means Muslims living in the UK will be observing Ramadan differently this year.
Normally many practising Muslims would fast from dawn to dusk for a month before getting together with families and friends in the evening for the Iftar meal. Many would also go to the mosque to pray.
However, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) says this year will be a “very different experience” and is urging people to fast and pray at home and share Ramadan digitally.
With the lockdown in place there will be no congregational acts of worship outside the home and the MCB suggests livestreaming sermons and virtual Iftars as alternatives.
Read more about how Muslims in the UK are observing Ramadan here.
And here's a piece from our health team about how to fast safely during the pandemic

Will the UK meet its testing target?

The UK government wants to do 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of April. With a week to go it's managing around 20,000 but says it has the capacity to do just over 50,000 tests.
However, a number of organisations representing key workers have said there have been issues with the accessibility of testing centres – with some facing long journeys to be tested.
Earlier, Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted testing had been “slow” at the beginning of the month because the country was still building the IT systems needed.
He told the BBC the government was ahead of its plan to hit the target “but nothing is guaranteed in life”.
You can read more about the government’s testing plan her

No English cricket before July

Cricket has always been one of the staples of the English summer but it will not start until at least 1 July, organisers have announced.
The County Championship - which usually starts in early to mid April - will have nine rounds of fixtures chopped off it.
The England men’s and women’s national teams will play all their matches between July and September, subject to government guidance.
England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive officer Tom Harrison says “we remain hopeful we can deliver some cricket this summer” but “there will be no cricket until it’s safe to play”

Trump's disinfectant suggestion is dangerous

Rachel Schraer - BBC Reality Check
US President Donald Trump has been criticised by doctors for suggesting that injecting disinfectants and or using UV light “inside” the body should be researched as treatments for coronavirus.
These claims are highly misleading and are not supported by medical advice.
Using a disinfectant can kill viruses on surfaces. It’s a very good idea to keep things you touch clean, using products with anti-microbial properties - for example those with a high alcohol content.
There is also some evidence that, in general, viruses on surfaces die more quickly when directly exposed to sunlight. But we don’t know how much or how long they have to be exposed for UV light to have an effect, so you’re far safer just washing your hands and surfaces and trying not to touch your face.
Crucially, this is only about infected objects and surfaces – not about what happens once the virus is inside your body.
One of the main ways of catching the virus is by breathing in droplets expelled by an infected person, mainly by sneezing and coughing. The virus very quickly begins to multiply and spread, eventually reaching the lungs.
Not only does consuming or injecting disinfectant risk poisoning and death, it won't even reach the virus.
Equally, by the time the virus has taken hold inside your body, no amount of UV light on your skin is going to make a difference.
And since UV radiation damages the skin, using it to kill the virus could be a case of - to borrow a well-worn phrase - the cure being worse than the disease.

UK scientists measure just how quiet life has become

You may have noticed the streets are quieter in the UK during any trips out of the house, and that is quite literally true.
Seismometers used to record earthquakes and volcanic activity also track seismic noise caused by humans - such as traffic and industrial work.
That ambient noise has dropped between 20% and 50% in the past five weeks.
David Cornwell, a geophysicist at the University of Aberdeen, says some of his seismometers can now pick up natural noises like the wind and the sea - and adds he would be able to record a minor earthquake in Japan because of the reduced noise.

Police in Scotland criticise 'selfish' lockdown rule-breakers

A small number of "irresponsible and selfish people" are "repeatedly and wilfully" flouting coronavirus lockdown rules, according to Police Scotland.
Officers have made 78 arrests and issued 1,637 fixed penalty notices in Scotland since 27 March.
Most of the enforcement action has been taken in response to house parties and other public gatherings.
People are being told to stay at home during the lockdown period, only leaving the house if they have a "reasonable excuse".
Read more here.

Applications closed on England testing website

The online application system for millions of essential workers in England to book coronavirus test appears to have closed for applications following high demand.
The government website opened on Friday but users are already being greeted with a message saying applications are closed and asking them to check back later.
Up to 10 million key workers and their households are now meant to be able to book a coronavirus test online or through their employer.
We've asked the Department of Health to explain what the problem is.
Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said essential workers in Scotland will also be able to apply for a test online "very soon".
The Welsh government has previously outlined plans to expand testing to key workers and Northern Ireland's health minister has announced the nation's testing programme is being expanded to include frontline workers in the private sector.

UK government apologises after testing website closes

The UK's Department of Health has apologised after its new coronavirus testing website closed to applications hours after it launched.
In a tweet, the department said there had been "significant demand" for the tests from essential workers, millions of whom are now eligible for coronavirus testing.

Spain daily deaths lowest for a month

Some promising news from Spain, where the number of new coronavirus-related deaths has dropped to the lowest daily level in over a month.
Some 367 people have died in the past 24 hours to take the total fatalities there to 22,524 - which remains the third-highest in the world.
The number of new coronavirus cases has risen by 6,740 to 219,764.

Transport for London to furlough 7,000 staff

Some London tube stations are closed

Transport for London (TfL), which runs the Tube and other public transport in the capital, is to furlough 7,000 employees to save about £15.8m ($19.5m) every four weeks.
TfL fare revenue has dropped by 90% as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Mayor of London has warned transport "will not immediately return to normal" when lockdown measures are relaxed.
TfL's future is entirely dependent on a government bailout, says BBC London's Transport correspondent Tom Edwards.
Read more here.

Disinfectant giant warns against injecting its products

David Shukman - Science editor - BBC News


The world’s biggest manufacturer of disinfectants has issued a stark rebuttal of President Trump’s suggestion that injecting them could help treat coronavirus.
RB, the makers of Dettol and Lysol, warns against any internal use of the products.
“As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route).”
The statement adds that disinfectant and hygiene products “should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines”.

Labour calls for 'public debate' over lifting lockdown

Labour is calling on the UK government to "urgently" tell the British public about the different options for easing the lockdown.
"I’d like to see a real public debate - looking at public health options and the economic impacts," shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He said public services also needed to be able to prepare for the different scenarios which could happen when restrictions were lifted.
He added that the Westminster government was an "outlier" compared to the more open approaches of the Scottish and Welsh governments.
You can read more about when the lockdown could be lifted here.

Who can be tested in the UK?

Hospital patients, NHS and care staff, emergency services, care home residents and now all essential workers

and their families should be able to get tested.
Testing is not yet available for the general public, although it will be an important part of the next phase, once lockdown restrictions are relaxed.
Key workers in England who are self-isolating because they or a family member have coronavirus symptoms can be referred for a test by their employer or apply online themselves. Then they can choose whether to attend a regional test site or ask for a home test kit - although availability is limited.
In Scotland, tests are being prioritised for health and social care staff. Wales is adopting a needs-based approach to testing for NHS and "critical" non-NHS workers. In Northern Ireland key workers can be testedat one of three drive-through centres.
You can read more about the UK's testing strategy here.

Poland keeps schools shut for another month

Adam Easton - Warsaw Correspondent
Poland’s education minister has said the government has decided to extend the closure of schools, pre-schools and universities until 24 May.
The deadline for the existing closure period had been due to expire on 26 April.
Minister Dariusz Pitakowski also announced the dates for end-of-year exams, for both the equivalent of GCSEs and A-levels.
The matura exams, Poland’s A-level equivalent, will now take place between 8-29 June. The equivalent of GCSEs will take place between 16-18 June.
Poland, with a population of 38 million, has a relatively low number of Covid-19 cases and related deaths – 10,759 and 463 respectively as of Friday morning.
Szumowski said the government would announce a decision on introducing the second stage of easing restrictions next week.
The government is planning to reopen hotels, libraries, museums and art galleries.

How EU states plan to ease their lockdowns

Coronavirus testing in central Prague

The Czech government has lifted a ban on free movement from today.
Czechs will be able to move outside in groups of up to 10, the health ministry says, as the Covid-19 situation has improved. The Czech Republic’s lockdown began on 16 March.
Travel abroad will also be permitted from Monday, though with strict conditions. Czechs will be tested for coronavirus on re-entering the country. EU citizens - not other foreigners - will be allowed in, but must have proof of having tested negative in recent days.
Italy, with one of Europe’s tightest lockdowns, is preparing for “Phase 2” – an easing affecting much more of daily life than the very limited easing that started on 14 April.
So far, some small shops – besides those selling food and medicines – have reopened. Phase 2 means resuming construction and manufacturing and reopening more public transport. Social distancing and mask-wearing will remain in force. Some easing could start as early as Monday.
In Belgium a panel of experts is to set out plans for easing the lockdown, starting on 4 May, with a wider easing on 18 May. Initially DIY stores, bike shops and some other small businesses will reopen. Then on 18 May schools are expected to reopen, along with hairdressers. But leisure facilities, such as gyms and cinemas, will remain shut. The lockdown began on 12 March.
EU leaders have agreed that emergency EU loans of €540bn (£470bn; $580bn) will be released from 1 June to help businesses and workers. Later a special recovery fund worth at least €1 trillion will be set up, though details are yet to be decided.

Scotland reports 64 more deaths

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says a further 64 patients have died in hospital, taking the total to 1,184 in Scotland.
Sturgeon confirms a total of 9,697 people have tested positive for coronavirus, an increase of 288 from yesterday.

Japan investigating cruise ship outbreak

Japan is investigating how a coronavirus outbreak occurred among the crew of a cruise ship that had no reported cases until a spike this week.
The Costa Atlantica has been docked in Nagasaki since January. But 91 crew members out of 623 have now tested positive. One person is in a critical condition.
The ship had no passengers on board and was sent to Nagasaki for repairs instead of China due to the outbreak.
The crew had been told to remain outdoors, however local media in Japan is reporting that some left the vessel.
Read more about the investigation and outbreak here.

5,000 home tests ordered in two minutes in UK

The UK government has said 5,000 home testing kits were ordered in just two minutes after a dedicated website opened for applications on Friday.
The website - which enabled essential workers to request a test for the virus - closed after around two hours.
The government said testing capacity for the website would increase to 18,000 home testing kits each day from next week.
The UK has set a target of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of April.

20,000 tests booked through new UK website

We've a few more details about the huge demand today for coronavirus testing in the UK, which caused a new government website to close just hours after launching.
The website allows key workers and their households to book a test if they or a family member have virus symptoms.
After people enter their details online they are sent a text or email inviting them to either book an appointment at a drive-through centre or to request a home test kit.
Today, 20,000 applications were made before the website closed, the government said. In total, 15,000 tests were booked at drive-through sites and 5,000 home testing kits were ordered.
After closing due to "significant demand" this morning, the website will reopen for applications when new slots are made available, a government spokesman said.
The total capacity for all types of testing is currently at 51,121 but the average number of tests being carried out each day has recently been about 20,000.

Pakistan's feared spy agency 'traces' virus

M Ilyas Khan - BBC News, Islamabad
Pakistan's powerful ISI intelligence agency is being used to "trace and track" people infected with the coronavirus, Prime Minister Imran Khan has revealed.
"We have this great system of surveillance by the ISI, which was meant for the terrorists, but now we are using it for those with corona," he joked.
Cases of local transmission are on the rise, and reports from several areas say people are hiding their infections to avoid social stigma.
Mr Khan's announcement raised eyebrows, with one politician saying it lacks "practical significance". Many argue the police and other officials with wider on-the-ground networks should be tracing those hiding infections, not spies.
In recent years, the activities of the ISI have prompted concern,with accusations that it has sought to control domestic political opinion.

Further 587 coronavirus deaths in England

A further 587 patients with coronavirus have died in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in English hospitals to 17,373, the National Health Service (NHS) said.
The patients were aged between 40 and 102 years old, 34 of whom had no known underlying health conditions.
Figures for the number of UK-wide deaths will be released by the Department of Health later today.

Further 110 deaths recorded in Wales

A further 110 coronavirus-linked deaths have been recorded in Wales, bringing the total number of deaths there to 751, health officials said.
The sharp increase - the largest daily rise since the outbreak began - is due to a delay in the reporting process, Public Health Wales said. There were 26 new deaths reported on Friday, the agency added.
It confirmed a further 243 people had tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 8,601.
We'll bring you the UK-wide figures later, as usual.

Uncertainty over maternity care causing distress

Women say the uncertainty surrounding maternity services in the UK during the outbreak is "making a stressful situation harder".
Some NHS trusts are not allowing home births or partners to be on the ward following a birth. One trust only provides face-to-face postnatal support when it is "absolutely essential".
Nadia Hussein, a 33-year-old from Leeds, is more than a week overdue with her second child and has been left feeling anxious by a "loss of control".
But some accounts might put minds at ease. Kim Moralee, a 27-year-old from Northumberland, was deemed to have a high-risk pregnancy. Despite some last minute changes, she says she had a "positive birth" at the end of March.
Read more about the challenges facing expectant mothers here.

WHO launches plan to fast-track vaccine

World leaders have launched a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative to speed up the research, development and distribution of vaccines, drugs and tests against the coronavirus.
"Our shared commitment is to ensure all people have access to all the tools to defeat Covid-19,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Speaking via video link at the launch, French President Emmanuel Macron said a vaccine should be “available to everyone around the world” when it is ready.
Other world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, echoed that sentiment, describing a vaccine against Covid-19 as a universal public good.
The US, whose President Donald Trump recently said he would withdraw American funding from the WHO, says it will not take part in the initiative.
We’ll bring you more details on what the WHO plan entails when we get it.

UK government has 'questions to answer' over website issues

Key workers trying to book tests were met with this message from the middle of Friday morning

Labour’s shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth says "questions will need answering" about the issues with the UK government's new coronavirus testing website.
The website for key workers to book tests has temporarily closed - hours after it launched on Friday.
“The fact the website crashed in minutes reveals the extent of the demand that ministers should have prepared for," Ashworth said.
"Questions will need answering as to why this happened, what mechanisms are in place to ensure everyone who needs a test gets one quickly and whether a workable tracing strategy is being prepared.”
A government spokesman said 5,000 home testing kits were ordered in the first two minutes of the website going live.
It will be back up and running when the next batch of slots becomes available, the spokesman added.

What’s the latest around the world?

If you're just joining us, here are the latest headlines from around the world:

• Muslims are marking Ramadan, but with mosques closed and social distancing in place in many countries the holy month is set to be very different
  
• US President Donald Trump has been criticised by experts for suggesting injecting disinfectant as a treatment. Disinfectants are hazardous substances and can be poisonous if ingested
  
• Poland is extending its closure of schools for another month. Exams will take place in June
  
• Spain has reported its lowest number of daily deaths for a month. Some 367 people have died in the past 24 hours
  
• South Korea has reported no deaths in the past 24 hours. But health officials say now is the time to remain vigilant
  
• Tom Hanks has written to a bullied boy named Corona in Australia. The child wrote to Hanks to wish him well as the actor recovered from the virus
  
• In the UK, the new website for key workers to book coronavirus tests has temporarily closed - hours after being opened. The government said 5,000 testing kits were ordered in just two minutes
  

UK death toll rises by 684 - Department of Health

A further 684 patients have died with coronavirus in UK hospitals, the Department of Health has confirmed.
The deaths are those recorded in the 24 hours prior to 17:00 BST on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a further 18,401 people have been tested for coronavirus as of 09:00 on Friday - with 5,386 testing positive for Covid-19.

White House hits out at media over disinfectant comments

The White House says the media has "irresponsibly" taken President Donald Trump's comments on injecting disinfectant into the human body to treat coronavirus "out of context".
At a briefing on Thursday, Trump hypothesised about using disinfectants or ultraviolet light inside the body as a treatment. His comments which have been widely criticised by doctors.
Disinfectants are hazardous substances and can be poisonous if ingested.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said: "President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasised again during yesterday's briefing.
"Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines."

Could nicotine stop people catching Covid-19?

Zoe Kleinman - BBC News
Researchers in France are planning to research whether nicotine could stop people from catching Covid-19.
They intend to use nicotine patches in a clinical trial, subject to approval from the health authorities.
In their paper they stress that smoking itself has “severe pathological consequences and remains a serious danger for health”.
A previous study of Covid-19 patients at a large French hospital noted that only 4.4% of its 343 in-patients were daily smokers.
About 25% of the population smokes, according to the country’s 2018 census.
However there are also indications that smokers may suffer more severe symptoms. A small study of 78 patients in China found that 27% of the group whose condition deteriorated after 14 days had a history of smoking, compared with 3% of those who got better or stabilised at the same point in their illness.
The World Health Organization said that in its view cigarette smoking could contribute to more severe symptoms of the disease because it could result in poorer lung functionality.
“The reports of a trial in France to see whether nicotine patches can help prevent or help lessen symptoms of Covid-19 should not put smokers off trying to quit, but encourage them to use nicotine to help them quit and stay quit,” said Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the campaign group ASH (Action on Smoking and Health).

UK's daily test target 'not set by government scientists'

The UK's chief medical officer Chris Whitty has told MPs that the government target of carrying out 100,000 tests a day by the end of this month was not set by scientific advisers.
Prof Whitty said the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) is still "developing a view" on what the "optimal number" of tests would be.
But he said that, while it had not set the specific number, Sage would "absolutely" support the "general trend" of increasing testing as that was "very important."
Meanwhile, the chief medical officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton, has told MPs that the new government website to allow key workers to request coronavirus testing "was not discussed in detail across the four nations".
The website was suspended within hours of its launch this morning.

UK government briefing at 17:00 BST

The daily coronavirus press conference is expected in about an hour. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is making his first appearance for the UK government.
He'll be joined by now familiar face Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer.
It's likely we'll hear more information on the plan announced today to protect the UK's supply chains during the pandemic.
We're also expecting yet more questions on the government's plans for testing, after the website for people to apply for a test closed within hours.

US death toll surpasses 50,000

The death toll in the US is now more than 50,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The country has by far the highest death toll in the world and the number of confirmed infections is more than 869,000.
However, the US has a population of 330 million, much higher than other worst affected countries such as Spain and Italy.

Israel shops get back to business as lockdown eased

Tom Bateman - BBC Middle East correspondent
Israel’s government has approved a further lifting of coronavirus restrictions, as officials believe the current wave of the crisis has peaked.
From Sunday morning, all street-side shops will be allowed to reopen including hairdressers and beauty salons. Where possible customers will have their temperature taken before they enter and there will be limits on the number of people allowed.
But restaurants and cafes that don’t do take-away will stay shut, as will gyms and all large shopping malls.
There was anger over the continuing closure order for small shops earlier this week when the health ministry allowed Ikea furniture stores to open.
”It is ridiculous that places that are not essential like Ikea are opening and have long lines out the doors, and the market sellers are left to suffer,” Tali Friedman, who represents stall owners at a major Jerusalem market, told Ynet news.
Senior officials believe early action - including closures and broad ranging travel bans - helped slow the spread of the the virus.
But the government has been under growing pressure recently over the economic impact with around a quarter of the workforce unemployed.

The UK picture

We should be hearing from the UK government in the next 30 minutes but let’s take a look at the latest from the country first:

• The website set up for key workers to apply for a coronavirus test had to be suspended hours after it opened because demand was too high
  
• A "traffic light system" could be used to lift some lockdown restrictions in Wales over the next few weeks
  
• Two doctors have launched a legal challenge against the government over its guidance on protective equipment for medics
  
• The opposition Labour party has launched a review of coronavirus's disproportionate impact on minority groups
  

Tributes paid to virus victims

The UK has announced that hundreds more patients have died with coronavirus in hospital. But behind the stark figures each day are real people - including frontline health workers.
Katy Davis, 38, worked in child health and died after testing positive for Covid-19 at Southampton General Hospital on Tuesday.
Ms Davis is being remembered by colleagues as "a nurse people would aspire to be like".
Elsewhere, a former chief prosecutor has paid tribute to his brother following his death with Covid-19.
Nazir Afzal, who led prosecutions in the north-west of England, said his brother Umar spoke and could write in "half a dozen languages". The father-of-seven was "kind and professional" and appreciated by many, he said.
"He was probably the healthiest of us all, he didn't look his age at all," Mr Afzal added.

What’s happening in the US and Canada?

The coronavirus death toll in the US has now surpassed 50,000. So what else is happening across the US and Canada?

• The state of Georgia has moved forward with its phased reopening, allowing salons, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors and other businesses to resume work. Asked about Georgia's planned reopening, President Donald Trump said yesterday he “was not happy with Brian Kemp”, Georgia’s governor
  
• Doctors and manufacturers have appealed to people not to ingest or inject disinfectant after Trump suggested that disinfectant inside the body might work as a treatment for the virus. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said it was “sad” the president had to be corrected on matters of science and health
  
• The White House said the media had "irresponsibly" taken Trump's comment "out of context"
  

• Trump is expected to sign a $484bn (£391bn) relief package approved by Congress yesterday, which will give more money to a small business aid fund, overwhelmed hospitals and testing expansion
  
• Canada’s cases have topped 43,300, with 2,244 confirmed deaths - most clustered in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario
  
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce a new rent relief programme to help businesses that can’t afford their rent amid virus shutdowns. Canada reported a record 1 million jobs lost last month
  

Hancock defends test booking system

Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the UK government has had "a very positive response" to its online system for booking coronavirus tests for essential workers.
The website temporarily closed just hours after being launched this morning, following high demand, with many left unable to apply for a test.
The government has faced some criticism over the roll-out of the system, with Labour saying ministers should have been prepared for the level of demand.
In a tweet, the health secretary says "more capacity will be added as it becomes available".

How close is the UK to 100,000 tests a day?

We should be hearing from the UK government in the next few minutes.
But that gives you time to read our explainer on coronavirus testing: how close is the UK to 100,000 tests a day?

Shapps: 'Tentative signs of progress'

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says there are “tentative signs we are making progress” because of the way the public has adhered to social distancing measures.
He says he is announcing a new package of measures for transport - including for essential freight services.
"Many bring in crucial goods," he says, like medicines.

Shapps launches transport support unit

The transport secretary says the government has also launched a transport support unit dedicated to fighting the pandemic.
Shapps there is "spare capacity" because of a reduced transport service and so there are volunteers and 9,000 vehicles available to help in the fight against the virus.
They will be able to distribute packages to vulnerable people for example.
There will also be a review looking at how drones might be used to deliver medical supplies.

Shapps: No UK tourists left stranded on cruises

The transport secretary also confirmed there are now no British holidaymakers who are stranded on cruises anywhere in the world.
Finishing his opening remarks, Mr Shapps said the end of lockdown restrictions "will arrive sooner" if motorists only continue to travel for essential journeys.

Cases are still rising

The deputy chief medical officer says that the total number of cases has risen and represents an epidemic curve "of a type" despite fluctuation in reporting.
That curve is flattening, she adds, saying that with increased testing of health and care workers we can expect to see an increase in cases as time goes on.
"Don't be surprised if cases do increase a bit," she says.

Number of inpatients testing positive falls below 1,000 - Harries

Dr Jenny Harries says the number of inpatients diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours has fallen below 1,000 for the first time in weeks.
She says that critical care capacity continues to increase across the NHS.
And she adds that while there has been an increase in deaths, there is a gradual but a subtle decline in the data.

Shapps challenged on testing website

Our Health Editor Hugh Pym asks about demand for testing - the test website for England closed hours after its launch earlier today.
Shapps says the website hadn't crashed, it was just the slots had been taken up.
He says there has been an increase in the capcity for daily testing and it was "important" that capacity was used.
He says 46,000 went to the portal earlier today and the site should be back up and taking bookings now. So far, 16,000 tests have been booked.
More tests will be available tomorrow, he adds.

Virus peak is not over - Shapps

Asked by Roger Johnson of BBC North West Tonight about whether policing needs to change in view of anecodotal evidence more people are ignoring lockdown restrictions, the transport secretary says the peak of coronavirus cases "is not over".
"When people ask me when the stay at home measures will be altered my answer is some of this lies in your own hands," Grant Shapps adds, suggesting the more people adhere to the restrictions, the sooner they may be eased.
Dr Harries says stories suggesting more people are leaving home to enjoy the sunshine points towards the behavioural science of implementing lockdown restrictions.
"Most of the public are increasingly complying and increasingly supporting" the measures, she says. "We need to encourage everyone to comply."

Drones trial for Isle of Wight hospital announced

We just heard the transport secretary say there is going to be a review looking at how drones will be used during the pandemic. Here's a bit more detail on that.
The Department for Transport says it will fast track the launch of a new trial using drones between the mainland and St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight.
It follows £28m awarded by the government earlier this year to Southampton and Portsmouth councils to carry out drone trials of this kind as part of a wider future transport zone trial.

How close is the UK to meeting the five tests?

Reality Check
The transport secretary referenced the five tests the UK must meet before lockdown restrictions can be eased. They include making sure the NHS can cope, and ensuring there is enough testing and personal protective equipment available to meet future demand.
So, how close is the country to meeting those tests? Our explainer sets out how far we’ve come:
Read more: Are the five tests being met?

Shapps: Airport passenger numbers 'down massively'

The transport secretary is is asked about ferries that are struggling and whether they will get government funding.
Shapps says the agreement with French and Republic of Ireland governments includes 26 different freight routes and support is available for ferries.
He is also asked about airport checks and whether there should be passenger screening.
He says passenger numbers are down “massively”, adding that countries that have "locked down" flights "have not necessarily weathered the storm of coronavirus".

Test capacity rising and high demand is good sign - Shapps

Asked whether the government has raised expectations beyond what it can deliver in terms of coronavirus testing and its goal of 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month, the transport secretary says we have seen capacity "rising very fast".
He adds that the significant demand demonstrated for tests earlier on Friday was a good sign - and that it will be good to see the demand match the rising capacity for tests.
He confirms that 10.72 million essential worker households are now eligible to request a test via the government's website.
But he and Dr Harries acknowledge that people are being offered a "have you got it test".
"There is no point taking the test unless you think you have some symptoms," Mr Shapps adds, saying those who experienced symptoms three weeks ago may have "missed the boat" on getting tested.

What is the 100,000 testing target?

Reality Check
The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said “it looks like” the government’s coronavirus testing target of 100,000 by the end of the April “will be met in terms of capacity”.
But when the target was first announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock on 2 April, he said it was for 100,000 physical tests a day, not just the capacity to carry them out.
Since then, some cabinet ministers have switched their emphasis to testing capacity - the amount of tests that could be done theoretically on any one day - with the latest daily testing capacity given as 51,000.
The latest actual number of daily tests was 28,532 - a long way off Mr Hancock’s 100,000 target.
The government has pointed to a “lack of demand” from NHS and other key workers for tests - but bodies representing them have blamed difficulties accessing the tests.

Shapps: Brexit transition period 'will not be extended'

Politico asks about Brexit and says the haulage sector has warned the Brexit transition period should be extended.
This is the period in which the UK and EU are negotiating a post-Brexit trade deal and the deadline is 31 December this year.
Mr Shapps says the Brexit talks included “very good progress” in “some areas” such as transport.
He says it “remains the case” that the “best way to provide certainty to business” is to keep the transition period and not extend the deadline of 31 December.
The panel is also asked about the coronavirus home testing kits and whether they are reliable.
Dr Harries says they have run tests in parallel with trained testers and someone who isn't trained and they are "remarkably comparable".
Find out more about the Brexit talks here.

Light rail operators will receive multi-million package - Shapps

Asked by Birmingham Live to detail the amount of support light rail systems such as the Manchester Metro Link will receive during the pandemic, the transport secretary says he does not have an actual figure at this stage but that it will be a "multi-million pound package".
He says the government is discussing support with operators as well as the extent to which the systems should be operating during the lockdown restrictions.
"These systems are running well below capacity," he adds. "It is a case of finding a route with them that ensures they remain a viable entity."

Shapps quizzed on 100,000 testing target

The Metro challenges the panel on the government's target of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month.
Mr Shapps replies: “What we have been finding is the capacity is rising pretty fast.”
He points to comments from yesterday's panel member, Prof John Newton, who said that he believes the government will reach target.
The problem has been that there has not been a sufficient number of people coming forward, he says.
Shapps is also asked about Boris Johnson's original target of 250,000 tests a day, which the transport secretary says was "an ambition".
On testing and contact tracing, he says this method is “absolutely vital”, saying the app uses a Bluetooth signal as part of the contact tracing follow-up.
We take a look at the government's testing target here.

Don't let sunny weekend ruin progress - Shapps

The transport secretary ends today's Downing Street briefing by saying that the public should not let another sunny weekend cause the progress in tackling the coronavirus to slip.
"The message as ever is the same: stay at home; protect the NHS; and save lives," he says.

Capt Tom reaches number one with charity single

Captain Tom Moore has reached number one with his charity single - making him the oldest artist to top the UK singles chart.
The 99-year-old war veteran, who raised more than £28m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden, has teamed up with Michael Ball and the The NHS Voices Of Care Choir to release a cover of You'll Never Walk Alone to continue his fundraising.
The song is now the fastest selling single of 2020, according to the Official Charts Company, clinching the top spot with combined chart sales of 82,000.
"My grandchildren can’t believe I am a chart topper!" Capt Tom, who turns 100 next week, said.
“I have to thank Michael Ball, the NHS Voices Of Care Choir and everyone behind the scenes, who shared their talents and expertise in order to raise money for the NHS, to whom we owe so much.
“And, of course, the public for buying the single and donating – we’re in this together, and I am forever grateful for your support.
“And this just proves you’ll never walk alone.”

People shouldn't use disinfectant as treatment - Harries

Back to the Downing Street briefing. The transport secretary was also asked about comments from Donald Trump suggesting disinfectants could potentially be used to treat coronavirus - and whether he had a message for the US president about spreading disinformation.
Grant Shapps refused to answer and instead deferred to deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries.
She said she didn't have a specific message for Trump but from a medical perspective she would not support the idea of using disinfectants as treatment.
“Nobody should be injecting anything and we should be using evidence-based and properly trialled treatments that we know will be safe," she told the press conference.
Reality Check has had a look at the president’s coronavirus claims - including that exposing patients' bodies to UV light could help treat the disease.Read more here.

What did we learn from the UK government briefing?

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced an agreement with the French and Irish governments to guarantee supply chains. Spare capacity on transport will be used to supply the NHS and local resilience forums.
Shapps announced trials of using drones to carry medical supplies and paid tribute to transport workers, volunteers and engineers who are keeping logistics moving.
Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said the curve of new case numbers had levelled off, but the numbers could rise as more people get tested. She said there was success in reducing the numbers of people in hospital and in critical care.
Shapps said the website for key workers to book coronavirus tests will be opening again soon, after it closed due to high demand, and would open and close as slots become available. He said the devolved administrations had joined the scheme.
He emphasised there is no point taking a test if you do not have a reason to think you might be ill - but did not concede that the government has raised expectations above reality.
Asked about screening for passengers arriving at UK airports, Mr Shapps said flights are down to 3-4% of pre-crisis numbers, and most of those entering the UK are returning nationals.
Reacting to President Trump's suggestion that people could treat coronavirus by injecting disinfectant, Dr Harries repeated that no one should be injecting themselves.

Trump: Disinfectant comments were 'sarcastic'

President Donald Trump has said that his comments suggesting disinfectants could help treat coronavirus were "sarcastic".
During a signing for a new coronavirus aid bill on Friday, Trump said that he "was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen".
Trump then said that disinfectants on the hands "could have a very good effect".
Asked if he was encouraging their use, the president replied "of course not".
His comments have been heavily criticised by doctors and experts.
We should stress that disinfectants are hazardous substances and can be poisonous if ingested. Even external exposure can be dangerous to the skin, eyes and respiratory system.
Want to know more? Here's a fact check of Trump's initial claims.

New York governor urges caution as deaths fall

Speaking at his daily coronavirus briefing a little earlier, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that "all evidence suggests we're on the downside of the curve".
But the governor once again stressed that if the state opens prematurely "all that progress we made is gone".
Here are some other highlights from the governor's daily briefing.

• New York state reported 422 deaths in the past 24 hours, a slight decrease from 438 deaths recorded the day before
  
• Cuomo announced that every New Yorker would receive an application for an absentee ballot for the presidential primary. The governor had previously postponed the primary until June 23
  
• New York will suffer a $13.3bn (£10.78bn) shortfall due to the virus outbreak, according to state projections
  

Italy reports lowest daily death toll in a month

Italy has recorded the lowest daily toll of coronavirus-related deaths in more than a month.
The number of deaths rose by 420 to 25,969 in the past 24 hours, the smallest single-day increase since 19 March, Italy’s Civil Protection Agency said.
New infections rose by 3,021, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 192,994.
But the number of people currently infected with Covid-19 dropped for a fifth consecutive day, falling from 106,848 on Thursday to 106,527.
BBC Rome correspondent Mark Lowen said it was “too soon to get our hopes up but it is a positive sign”.
On Friday, Italian media reported that the country’s strict lockdown would be eased in stages over the next four weeks.
Earlier, Spain reported its fewest coronavirus-related deaths in almost five weeks. France saw fewer deaths on Friday too, recording an increase of 389 in the past 24 hours.

Who will get vaccines and treatments first?

Tulip Mazumdar - Global Health Correspondent
The development of new vaccines and treatments to fight Covid-19 is happening at historic speed.
But a crucial question stands: who will get the first access to life-saving vaccines and treatments, once they are developed?
On Friday, heads of state, UN officials and global leaders in public health and industry joined the World Health Organization via video link for the global launch of the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator.
Those involved in the programme committed to ensuring that, whichever country actually comes up with the Holy Grail of a vaccine or cure, that it will be equally accessible to those who need it most, no matter where they are in the world.
This will be a major challenge, given that almost every person on Earth is at risk from this disease.
The key consideration will be how quickly any new tools can be scaled up and distributed fairly.
During the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, richer nations were able to buy up supplies of the new vaccine first, resulting in shortages for developing nations.
"That cannot happen again," the WHO said earlier.

Twin sisters both 'die from Covid-19'

Twin sisters from the UK have died within three days of each other after testing positive for coronavirus, their sister has said.
Children's nurse Katy Davis, 37, died on Tuesday at Southampton General Hospital. Her identical twin Emma, a former nurse, died earlier today according to their sister Zoe.
"They always said they had come into the world together and would go out together as well," she said.

Katy (left) and Emma had other health conditions and been unwell for some time

Dyson ventilators 'no longer needed'

Electrical goods maker Dyson has said the medical ventilator it developed to help treat patients with Covid-19 is no longer required.
It began developing a device in response to an appeal from the UK government for firms to take part in a national effort to increase the number of ventilators.
But in a note to staff, founder Sir James Dyson said that demand for ventilators had been less than first envisaged.
The Cabinet Office said that tests on ventilators were continuing.
Dyson's ventilator was undergoing clinical tests in recent days and the government had previously said it intended to order 10,000 machines.
Read more on this story here.

'Beware' of comparing country death tolls

Robert Cuffe - BBC head of statistics
The US is top of the grim league table for reported coronavirus deaths, but that’s not the whole picture.
Part of the reason is population: many countries in Europe have reported more deaths per head than the US. Europe as a whole has reported more deaths overall.
But beware of comparing huge countries in this way.
The picture in New York is very different to the picture in the rest of the US, and the same goes for other countries.
Italy really has two epidemics – one in the north of the country that overran its healthcare system and another down south that is much less advanced.
Death rates also depend on how you count. The French and Belgian figures, for example, include suspected Covid-19 cases, making their numbers appear a lot worse.
Read more: Why are international comparisons difficult?

China rejects calls for virus investigation

James Landale - Diplomatic correspondent
China has rejected calls for an independent international investigation into the origin of the coronavirus.
Chen Wen, China’s deputy ambassador to London, told the BBC such an inquiry was a “politically motivated initiative” that would divert attention away from fighting the pandemic.
There's been growing scepticism about how transparent China has been in its handling of Covid-19, fuelling calls for an impartial inquiry.
Chen said: “The independent inquiry is politically motivated. We are fighting the virus at the moment, we are concentrating all our efforts on fighting against the virus. Why talk about an investigation into this?
"This will divert not only attention, it will divert resources."
The diplomat suggested criticism of the country’s initial response to the virus outbreak amounted to “finger pointing” and “deep-seated bias” against China.
Chen also claimed that speculation about the origin of Covid-19 was a “political virus”.
Read more here: Is there any evidence for lab release theory?

Nasa to brief Trump on virus response

Tara McKelvey - BBC News, Washington
President Donald Trump will receive a briefing from officials who work for Nasa, the government agency that deals with space, at the White House later today.
The officials will talk about their response to Covid-19.
Space exploration has already led to important developments on earth: satellites make it easier to issue hurricane warnings, for example.
These days, the Nasa scientists are helping to fight the virus. They have designed a new ventilator, a prototype that has been tested in New York. In addition, astronauts have shared tips for dealing with isolation. One space explorer said he drew a calendar to help him keep track of the days.
He posted images of notes and graffiti that other astronauts wrote on spacecraft walls, showing how they passed the time (at home, it’s probably better to use washable markers...)

More on the WHO’s vaccine fast-track plan

French President Emmanuel Macron was among the leaders who launched the initiative

We brought you news of the Covid-19 initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier and we've now got some more details.
The WHO describes the Access to Covid Tools (ACT) Accelerator programme as a “call to action” for a global, coordinated response to the pandemic.
The aim is to fund, research, develop and distribute treatments, technologies and vaccines against the virus worldwide.
The WHO hopes to raise €7.5bn euros (£6.5bn; $8.1bn) when it launches a global pledging effort at a summit on 4 May.
“This is a first step only, but more will be needed in the future,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who helped launch the programme on Friday.
Leaders from the 20 countries, including France, South Africa, Germany, Malaysia and the UK, have pledged their support for the initiative.
As part of the programme, the WHO has appointed two special envoys to lead global co-operation on vaccine research.
Dozens of potential Covid-19 vaccines are being developed around the world, including in the UK, where a human trial has begun.

Labour: Transport plan has more questions than answers

Reacting to the UK government's plan to support the transport industry during the coronavirus crisis, the opposition Labour party said it had "left more questions than it’s answered".
Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: "Few will be convinced that this secures jobs and the long term viability of key transport sectors, essential for any future economic recovery.
“Their support to light rail merely papers over the cracks without providing funding to make up for the shortfall in income. They’ve failed to secure all the key ferry ports they should have such as between Holyhead and Dublin. And they’ve failed to give bus operators the clear guidance they need to ensure that drivers are safe in their vehicles."
“This announcement is not the response of a Government that’s got a well thought through plan,” he added.

'I faked having Covid-19 and got arrested'

Joe Tidy - Cyber-security reporter, BBC World Service
Michael Lane Brandin knew his Facebook post would cause a stir.
What he didn't realise was that he'd be arrested, lose his job and face a trial that could see him behind bars.
It was an otherwise dull afternoon in March and the debate about how to cope with the potential outbreak of coronavirus was all over his timeline.
So he decided to, in his own words, "do a social experiment".
Mr Brandin posted that he had tested positive for coronavirus. And then he added that doctors had told him the virus was now airborne.
But he had made it up.
Mr Brandin says his point was to demonstrate that you can't always believe everything you read online. But the fake news spread like wildfire across Tyler County, in Texas where he lived.
You can read the full story here.

UK testing website reopens after closure

During today's coronavirus briefing UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the government's website, which allows essential workers to book coronavirus tests, would reopen on this evening.
The website now appears be up and running for those eligible here.
It closed less than two hours after opening for the first time on Friday after "significant demand" for tests, which will either be taken at home or at special drive-through testing centres.

France plans multi-billion loans for Renault and Air France

France is readying historic multi-billion loans to help Air France and the carmaker Renault through the coronavirus crisis.
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has announced a €7bn (£6.1bn; $7.5bn) package planned for Air France. He said it would be made up of €4bn in bank loans guaranteed by the state and a €3bn loan direct from the state.
"Air France's planes are grounded, so we need to support Air France," the minister said on TF1 television. He added that the aid would carry conditions requiring the airline to "become the most environmentally friendly airline on the planet".
KLM, the Dutch subsidiary of Air France, will also receive between €2bn and €4bn euros in emergency aid, Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra said.
For Renault, a €5bn bank loan package guaranteed by the French state is being worked on.
The French state retains shareholdings in both Renault and Air France.

What's the latest around the world?

If you're just joining us, here are the latest headlines from around the world:

• US President Donald Trump has said his widely criticised suggestions that coronavirus could be treated by using ultraviolet light or disinfectants inside the body were "sarcastic"
  
• The death toll in the US has surpassed 50,000
  
• Muslims are marking the start of Ramadan, but with mosques closed and social distancing in place in many countries the holy month is set to be very different
  
• In the UK, the government website for key workers to apply for coronavirus tests has reopened for bookings. It closed due to "significant demand" earlier
  
• Both Spain and Italy have reported their lowest number of daily deaths for about five weeks
  
• World leaders have launched a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative to speed up the research, development and distribution of vaccines, drugs and tests against the virus
  

Virus hotspot pork plant in US told to change

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued more than 100 recommendations to the Smithfield Foods pork-processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as the facility moves to reopen after a coronavirus outbreak.
The first case among employees was detected on 24 March, the CDC said, though the plant did not shut down until weeks later on 15 April. By then, the plant had become one of the top virus hotspots in the US.
After touring the plant last week, the CDC issued a 15-page report, asking the plant to implement a series of changes to improve worker safety. These included staggered shifts, setting out break areas outdoors and face coverings for all employees.
The report notes, however, that these recommendations "are discretionary and not required or mandated by CDC".
Read more about the untold story of America's biggest outbreak.

UK government responds to virus committee claims

The UK government has responded to a report that the prime minister's controversial senior adviser Dominic Cummings is on a scientific panel advising the government on the coronavirus pandemic.
The Guardian newspaper reported that Mr Cummings was among attendees at various meetings of the UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), which has provided advice to ministers.
A government spokesperson said: "Expert participants often vary for each meeting according to which expertise is required. A number of representatives from government departments and No 10 attend also."
Labour said the report raised questions about the credibility of the decisions being taken by the government in response to the coronavirus.
Sir David King, a former chief scientific adviser to the UK government from 2000-07, who contributed to the Guardian report, tweeted that it was "simply unimaginable" and "an egregious abuse SAGE membership the govt must answer".
Membership of SAGE has previously not been made public, partly for security reasons, but some MPs have called for a list of attendees to be published to ensure transparency.
Mr Cummings made his name as the mastermind of the successful 2016 Vote Leave campaign to take Britain out of the European Union, and is now Boris Johnson's closest political adviser. Read more about him here.

France bans online sale of nicotine products

French authorities have banned the online sale of nicotine products to prevent stockpiling, after a study suggested the drug could protect people from coronavirus.
The new rules cover products like nicotine gum and patches, designed to help people stop smoking.
The move comes after a study at a Paris hospital indicated smokers were statistically less likely to be admitted for treatment for Covid-19. Now researchers intend to use nicotine patches in a clinical trial.
But the researchers stressed that smoking had “severe pathological consequences and remains a serious danger for health”.
Read more

Dutch top-flight football abandoned

The Eredivisie - the top tier of football in the Netherlands - has been abandoned for the season with no title winner and no teams relegated.
The move comes after the national government banned major events until 1 September because of coronavirus.
Ajax led the table ahead of AZ Alkmaar on goal difference with nine games left, but will not be named champions.
Most major European leagues, including the English Premier League, have so far maintained their hope to resume when it is safe to do so.

21:34

Coming soon: Trump's coronavirus briefing

US President Donald Trump is expected to take the podium for his daily White House coronavirus briefing in about half an hour.
He will likely be asked about his suggestion yesterday that researchers consider injecting people with disinfectants and exposing patients' bodies to UV light as a way to treat coronavirus. His comments have been heavily criticised by doctors, and he later said they were "sarcastic".
The US death toll has now surpassed 5,000. More than 3,000 deaths came in the last 24 hours, and there are now more than 870,000 confirmed cases nationwide.

Chinese envoy accuses critics of ‘deep-seated bias’

China’s deputy ambassador to London has mounted a vigorous defence of her government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, accusing critics of “deep-seated bias”.
Chen Wen told the BBC that the Chinese government had been open and transparent, allowing it to contain and control the spread of the disease.
The diplomat said, despite “all these achievements”, critics were still “finger-pointing at China”.
“You have to look behind the thinking of these unwarranted accusations. I think the thinking is a deep-seated bias against China,” she said.
She rejected growing calls for an independent investigation into China’s initial response to Covid-19, calling such an inquiry “politically motivated”.
Can China's narrative on the pandemic be trusted? Read our analysis of why its claims of success are raising eyebrows

Maryland hotline gets surge of calls on consuming disinfectant

The US state of Maryland has sent out an emergency alert after receiving more than 100 calls to the state's emergency hotline about the use of disinfectant related to the coronavirus.
“We have received several calls regarding questions about disinfectant use and Covid-19,” the state's emergency agency wrote on Twitter. "This is a reminder that under no circumstances should any disinfectant product be administered into the body through injection, ingestion or any other route.”
The suggestion from President Trump that disinfectant could be used inside the body to treat the virus has been rejected extensively by scientists and medical experts. Trump later defended his comments, saying they were "sarcastic".
Maryland has 16,616 confirmed cases to date, with 798 deaths.

Trump talks stimulus package

The president begins by saying the country is beginning to work on re-opening and asks Americans to "maintain vigilance and hygiene, social distancing and voluntary use of face coverings".
Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act today - the fourth economic stimulus package passed by Congress due to Covid-19.
Trump notes that $30bn (£24bn) of the funds will be reserved for smaller financial institutions and "those that serve minority and distressed communities", like African American and Hispanic American small business owners.
The legislation also includes $75bn for hospitals.
Trump also says more than 80 million Americans have already received their economic relief payments from the federal government.
The typical family of four will get $3,400 he says. "That's great, and you deserve it."

Trump: US sending ventilators to countries in need

Trump says his administration is sending ventilators to other countries in need as the US now has a "tremendous capacity" of its own.
"They're asking if we can send them ventilators and I'm agreeing to do it," Trump says of other countries.
"The federal government has 10,000 ventilators and we could have a lot more if we wanted to do that but we're helping Mexico, Honduras, Indonesia, France...We're sending to Spain, we're sending to Italy," Trump says.

Vice-President Pence: 5.1 million Americans tested

"Testing is in the forefront of our minds," says Vice-President Mike Pence, taking the podium after President Trump.
“One month ago, all of the testing that had been done in America: 80,000 Americans had been tested," he says. "But as of this morning, 5.1 million Americans have been tested for the coronavirus.”
Pence urges Americans not to be "discouraged" by rising number of cases as testing increases.
"We continue to see positive progress," he says

US agency approves first at-home test

Dr Stephen Hahn, who heads the US food and drug agency, says the president tasked him with cutting down "as many barriers as we possibly could to get products into the medical community".
"We have done that, of course recognising the urgency of the situation," Dr Hahn says.
Dr Hahn announces the agency has authorised the first "at-home test" for diagnosing Covid-19.
"This is a test where, under certain circumstances with a doctor's supervision, a test can be mailed to a patient, and the patient can perform the self-swab and mail it back and get the results."
He says the agency has approved 63 tests thus far, and is currently working with over 400 test developers to authorise their products.
When asked about antibody tests - which determine if someone has already had the virus and may be immune - Dr Hahn says they have authorised four and "more are in the pipeline".
The lack of testing has been a key issue with the country's Covid-19 response. Governors across the nation have been requesting more tests in recent weeks, and initial tests put forth by the Centers for Disease Control were inaccurate.
Existing drug administration regulations also made it harder at the onset for hospital laboratories across the country to develop new diagnostic tests.
Read more on US testing:

• One case lays bare America's testing failure
  
• Can the US catch up on testing?
  

Vice-President Pence concludes briefing in record time

Vice-President Pence celebrates the "extraordinary and rapid progress" made by governors in their coronavirus response.
This is "one team, one mission", Pence said, listing progress across US states, like New York, New Jersey and Missouri.
"We are slowing the spread. We are protecting the most vulnerable," Pence says. "The day will soon come when we will heal our land."
He says that "social distancing efforts" are really making an impact, and thanks the "millions of Americans who put the guidance into practice".
He and Trump leave the briefing without taking any questions from reporters.
The coronavirus taskforce briefing lasted just over 20 minutes - which is unusually short compared to previous briefings, some of which have lasted more than 2.5 hours.
Trump and Pence appeared without either Dr Anthony Fauci or Dr Deborah Birx, top US health experts and coronavirus response co-ordinators.

Report: Trump 'may pare back virus briefings'

President Trump may cut back on his coronavirus taskforce briefings, according to news site Axios, citing four unnamed sources.
A number of Trump's advisers have reportedly urged the president to curb his daily appearances - which have often lasted for more than an hour.
Trump has previously boasted about the "ratings" for his White House briefings, comparing them to viewership for NFL games and reality show The Bachelor.
But the president faced intense backlash for his comments on Thursday's briefing, where he suggested that ingesting disinfectant could potentially treat the virus. His comments were heavily criticised by doctors, while disinfectant producers warned consumers not to inject or ingest their products.
On Friday, Mr Trump said that his comments at the briefing had been made "sarcastically".

Belgium to ease lockdown from May

Belgium will gradually lift coronavirus restrictions during May, allowing businesses, schools and social life to resume in several phases.
Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes says the lockdown will start to be eased from 4 May, when restrictions on open-air sports and public transport will be lifted.
All businesses will be allowed to reopen from 11 May and schools from 18 May. Beyond that, other public venues, such as cafes, bars, restaurants, may be reopened gradually in June.
Wilmes said the spread of the virus had slowed in Belgium, but stressed that the situation was still evolving day-by-day.
"Nothing is etched in stone," Wilmes said.
Belgium declared a nationwide lockdown over the coronavirus crisis on 18 March, following the example of several European countries.
As of Friday, there were 44,293 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 6,679 deaths related to the disease in the country, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.