Coronavirus - 2nd May

Summary for Saturday, 2nd May

• Adults in Spain are being allowed to exercise outside for the first time in seven weeks
  
• Thousands register interest in taking part in a UK trial to see if blood plasma from survivors can help those in hospital
  
• The US Food and Drug Administration gives emergency approval for the experimental antiviral drug remdesivir
  
• A nursing home in New York has reported 98 deaths linked to coronavirus
  
• Austria is allowing thousands of shops to reopen, as well as hairdressers and beauty salons
  
• UK government says the target of 100,000 daily coronavirus tests has been met - but critics say the numbers are misleading
  
• The lockdown has seen a huge fall in murders in El Salvador, one of the world's most violent countries
  

Good morning and welcome to our continuing live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Here are the key events overnight and today:

• The US government has given emergency approval for the anti-viral Ebola drug Remdesivir as a treatment for the coronavirus. The company behind the drug, Gilead Sciences, has donated 1.5 million vials to help patients
  
• More European countries are taking steps to ease restrictions. In Spain adults will be able to exercise outside for the first time in weeks and Austria is allowing thousands of shops to reopen
  
• UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock says there has been an "unprecedented" rise in coronavirus testing in the UK and that the target of 100,000 daily tests has been met. However, the opposition Labour Party says the numbers are misleading
  
• A nursing home in New York City has reported 98 deaths linked to coronavirus. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the losses at the 705-bed Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan were "absolutely horrifying"
  
• El Salvador, one of the world's most violent countries, has seen a sharp drop in the murder rate after it imposed strict quarantine rules
  
• Singapore has announced moves to gradually ease restrictions. The health ministry said traditional Chinese medicine practitioners would be allowed to partly reopen on Tuesday while other services such as barbers and laundries could operate from 12 May
  

NY care home deaths 'absolutely horrifying'

New York mayor Bill de Blasio said the nursing home deaths were an "inestimable loss"

A nursing home in New York has reported 98 coronavirus-related deaths, a figure described by the city’s mayor as "absolutely horrifying".
The Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan said 46 of its residents died after testing positive, while the other 52 were suspected to have had the virus.
"It’s absolutely horrifying," New York mayor Bill de Blasio said. "It’s inestimable loss, and it’s just impossible to imagine so many people lost in one place."
According to Associated Press data, New York has had at least 3,065 nursing home deaths - the most in the US - as of Thursday.
The Washington Post also carried out a nationwide study. It says the number of nursing homes publicly reporting cases of covid-19 has doubled in the past week, with more than one in six facilities in the US now acknowledging infections among residents or staff.

Recap of key UK developments

Good morning, here’s a rundown of the key developments in the UK overnight and on Friday:

• The government passed it 100,000 testing target by the end of April, but figures include kits sent to people’s homes, which may not have already been used
  
• There is a higher death rate in poorer areas of England and Wales than in affluent places
  
• Londoners are dying from coronavirus at more than twice the rate as the rest of the country, the Office of National Statistics found
  
• Commuters could be asked to check their temperature before leaving home to make transport safer
  
• Parents in England have been urged to keep their child’s vaccination appointments following a drop in numbers
  
• Thousands have signed up for a trial to see if blood plasma from coronavirus survivors can treat hospital patients with Covid-19
  
• Lockdown has reduced the amount the UK shakes, with a fall in ground motions due to human inactivity
  

Why is remdesivir so promising?

James Gallagher -Health and science correspondent, BBC News
The latest clinical trials of remdesivir, an anti-viral drug originally developed to treat Ebola, have been encouraging.
The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) found that remdesivir cut the duration of symptoms from 15 days down to 11. The trials involved 1,063 people at hospitals around the world. Some were given the drug and others were given a placebo (dummy) treatment.
Dr Anthony Fauci who runs NIAID, said that remdesivir had "a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery".
However, although remdesivir may aid recovery - and possibly stop people having to be treated in intensive care - the trials did not give any clear indication whether it can prevent deaths from coronavirus.
It is one of the four drugs in the WHO Solidarity trial and its manufacturer, Gilead, is also organising trials.
The US data on remdesivir was published at the same time as a trial of the same drug in China, reported in the Lancet medical journal, showed it was ineffective.
However, that trial was incomplete because the success of lockdown in Wuhan meant doctors ran out of patients.

Why so many people are dying in Belgium

Gavin Lee - BBC Europe reporter
Belgium is the world's worst affected country when it comes to the coronavirus mortality rate.
That rate, unlike the total number of fatalities, is a measure of the number of deaths in relation to the size of population.
Belgium has a population of 11.5 million. That means 66 people in every 100,000 have died from Covid-19. In the US, with a population of around 330 million, it's 19 in every 100,000, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
But those figures are "faulty comparisons" that have been "abused", argues Prof Steven Van Gucht, a Belgian virologist and government spokesman.

Premier League given guidelines for resuming season

Laura Scott  - BBC Sport News Correspondent
Neutral grounds and up to 40,000 tests for players and staff will be required if the English Premier League's plans to play the 92 outstanding games behind closed doors are pursued.
"Up to 10 stadiums" would be used to resume the 2019-20 campaign, which was halted in March because of the pandemic.
The advice came during a video conference on Friday which followed a separate meeting, hosted by culture secretary Oliver Dowden, involving medical experts from several sports organisations, government and Public Health England, about "stepping up planning" for sport's eventual return.
Clubs reiterated a commitment to resuming the season "when safe and appropriate to do so".
Read more here

Why the biggest challenge is yet to come on testing

Nick Triggle - Health Correspondent
The UK met its 100,000 testing target by the end of April, but the government has been accused of being creative with its counting, including kits sent to people’s homes which may have not been returned.
But even discounting these figures, the government still achieved an eight-fold increase from a month ago.
There are serious questions to ask about the UK's approach to testing, however.
As the outbreak spread, it quickly became clear the testing system was going to be overwhelmed, with concerns the government was slow to react.
Many believe the delay has proved costly, particularly when it comes to testing capacity for care homes, where more lives might have been saved.
Some also think that the 100,000 target might hinder, rather than help, with the six-figure target representing “testing for testing’s sake”.
The UK has had to play catch up with other countries, such as Germany, Italy and Lithuania.
And the main test is yet to come, as effective tracing measures will be key to aid any easing of lockdown measures.

Spain steps out as quarantine rules eased

Exercise is subject to a timetable for different age groups

People are walking, jogging and cycling on Spanish streets for the first time in weeks as the country's tight coronavirus restrictions are eased.
The decision to allow adults to exercise follows a relaxation of the rules for children a week ago.
Spain has suffered one of the world's worst outbreaks of the coronavirus - more than 213,000 cases and 24,500 deaths - and imposed a stringent lockdown in March.
People were only allowed to leave the house to buy food or medicine, to go to work if working from home was not possible, or to briefly walk the dog.
Until last week it was the only country in Europe where children could not leave home at all.
However, daily exercise is still subject to timetables for different sections of the population to avoid crowds. Training must be carried out close to home and social distancing rules remain.

Murder rate falls in violent El Salvador

BBC World Service
There has been a signficant fall in the murder rate in El Salvador, which is one of the world's most violent countries.
According to official data, there were 441 homicides in the first four months of the year - down 58% on the same period in 2019, when there were 1,059.
El Salvador has introduced strict quarantine rules to try to stop the spread coronavirus. President Nayib Bukele has ordered the security forces to intern quarantine violators in so-called containment centres, but there are fears the virus is spreading in overcrowded prisons where many gang members are jailed.

Saliva tests could be used for care home residents

The UK government's testing co-ordinator has addressed concerns raised by care home providers.
Sam Monaghan, chief executive of care provider MHA, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that care home staff were having difficulty getting a testing slot and receiving results quickly.
Professor John Newton said: “There’s a lot being done and things are improving fast." He said an enhanced helpline for staff had been created, as well as mobile units.
Meanwhile, the government is looking at saliva tests, which are less invasive than the nose and throat swabs, and can be particularly beneficial for people with dementia.
“The saliva testing is a really interesting one and there are a number of companies… developing these.
“So we are actively looking at those and we are engaging with the companies and if they prove to be better then we will use those," Prof Newton said.

Latest developments in Asia and Australia

Here's a roundup of the latest coronavirus developments in Asia and Australia.

• The Indian government has made it compulsory for all public and private sector workers to use a smartphone app designed to trace people who may have been infected with coronavirus. The Aarogya Setu app alerts users who have come in contact with people later found to have Covid-19. India has recorded 37,336 cases and 1,223 deaths
  
• Meanwhile in Australia, more than four million people have downloaded a contact-tracing app but the information it gathers is not yet available, broadcaster ABC reports. Health chiefs say privacy rules and final tests are still being carried out. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called the COVIDSafe app "a ticket" to easing restrictions
  
• Singapore has announced a timetable to ease coronavirus measures. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine will resume some activities from Tuesday and other businesses such as hairdressers and laundry services will be allowed to operate from 12 May. On Friday the city-state's oldest coronavirus survivor, 102-year-old Madam Yap Lay Hong, was discharged from hospital. There have been more than 17,500 cases in Singapore but only 16 deaths
  

• Thailand, meanwhile, reported six more cases of Covid-19, taking the total to 2,966. The number of deaths stays the same at 54
  

Irish government to relax some restrictions

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made the announcement in an address to the nation on Friday evening

The Irish government has signalled an easing of lockdown restrictions from Tuesday.
People who are over 70 and currently cocooning can leave their homes as long as they avoid contact with others.
The 2km exercise limit currently in place for the Irish population will be extended to 5km.
Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar also announced a five-stage road map from 18 May, which would "reopen the country in a slow, phased way".
In a live televised address to the nation on Friday evening, the taoiseach said: "So on the 18th of May, Ireland begins to reopen and begins that journey to a new normal."

The majority of the lockdown measures will remain in place until 18 May, although two will ease in the coming days.
The road map after that is set out in five phases and will work on two-to-four week cycles monitored throughout, with each stage dependent on the success of the previous one.

Phase One (18 May)

• Outdoor meetings between people from different households will be allowed and childcare for healthcare workers will be opened
  
• Phased return of outdoor workers such as gardeners and repair workers, as well as the opening of retailers which are primarily outdoor
  
• Certain outdoor public amenities will also be opened
  

Phase Two (8 June)

• Household visits will be allowed and plans will be in place to open up business with consideration for safety of staff and customers
  
• Small retail outlets will open with social distancing observed
  
• Open public libraries.
  

Phase Three (29 June)

• Small social gatherings will be permitted and playgrounds will open, while creches, childminders and pre-schools will be available for children of essential workers in a phased manner
  
• Those with low levels of interaction can return to work
  
• Non-essential retail outlets with street level entrance and exit can open.
  

Phase Four (20 July)

• Creches, childminders and pre-schools will be opened for children of all other workers on a gradually-increasing basis.
  
• Those who cannot work from home will return to work
  
• There will be a gradual easing of restrictions for higher-risk services like hairdressers
  
• Opening of museums, galleries and places of worship.
  

Phase Five (10 August)

• Larger social gatherings will be allowed and workers across all sectors can return to the workplace
  
• On a phased basis, commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2020/2021, primary and secondary schools and third level institutions will reopen
  
• At this point there will be further easing of restrictions on high-risk retail services.
  

Mr Varadkar stressed the need for caution as "the risk of a second phase of the virus is ever present".
"If we relax the restrictions too soon, we could see our ICU overcrowded," he said.
"Everything we achieved would be lost, so we must go on a short time more."
The plans were agreed by cabinet after medical experts on the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) provided advice to the government earlier on Friday.
The current lockdown period had been due to expire on Monday.
Mr Varadkar said the cabinet would meet on Saturday to agree further actions to help businesses restart.

Eurostar passengers must wear face masks

Passengers travelling on Eurostar from the UK must wear a face mask or face covering from Monday in line with guidelines from the French and Belgian governments.
Any type of mask is suitable, authorities have said, as long as it effectively covers the nose and mouth.
Those without masks may be refused travel, the statement added. Fines may also be imposed in France and Belgium for anyone without a mask.
Eurostar has significantly reduced its timetable for services running between London, Paris and Brussels, with four trains running each day today, Sunday and Monday.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said face coverings worn by the general public “will be useful” when the country comes out of lockdown.
Read more on whether the public should wear face masks.

Another Russian minister has coronavirus

President Putin in protective kit, visiting a hospital on 24 March


Russian Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev has gone to hospital with coronavirus, just a day after the prime minister did so.
The construction minister's deputy was also infected, Russian media said.
On Thursday Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told President Vladimir Putin that he had the virus.
President Putin is now ruling via videoconference from a residence just outside Moscow.
In the past 24 hours, 9,623 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Russia, more than half of them in Moscow.
The infections have been growing daily and the Russian death toll now stands at 1,222.

Malaysian migrants detained 'to stop spread'

Malaysian authorities are rounding up undocumented migrants as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus, the country’s police chief Abdul Hamid Bador said.
Over 700 were taken into custody, including young children and ethnic Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, during Friday's raid in a downtown area of Kuala Lumpur, rights groups said.
"We cannot allow them to move freely... as it will be difficult for us to track them down if they leave identified locations," the police chief told Bernama news agency.
This follows public anger over the presence of migrant foreigners, particularly Rohingya refugees, with some in the country accusing them of spreading the virus and being a burden on state resources.
Malaysia reported 105 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 6,176.
The number of deaths remained at 103, unchanged from Friday.

Rolls-Royce considering job losses

Engineering company Rolls-Royce is considering job losses as the pandemic continues to hit the aviation industry hard.
The UK-based firm, which makes aircraft engines, employs 23,000 people in the UK out of a total 52,000 worldwide.
Responding to reports in the Financial Times that up to 8,000 roles could be cut, the company said it expected to advise staff on the likely scale of job losses by the end of the month.
A spokesperson said in a statement: "We have taken swift action to increase our liquidity, dramatically reduce our spending in 2020, and strengthen our resilience in these exceptionally challenging times. But we will need to take further action."

Scotland's Catholic Church considers phased reopening

The Catholic Church in Scotland is preparing plans for a phased reopening of parishes, but services might look very different after lockdown measures are lifted.
Social distancing could be implemented to allow church buildings to reopen if lockdown is relaxed, with the removal of pews, the suspension of the use of holy water and hymn books.
The Church will approach the Scottish government with its proposals.
Read more.

White House blocks health adviser Fauci from testifying

The White House has blocked senior health adviser Dr Anthony Fauci from testifying next week to a congressional committee examining the Trump administration's response to the pandemic.
A subcommittee of the Democratic-led House of Representatives had sought Dr Fauci's testimony for a hearing on 6 May. Democrats have heavily criticised President Donald Trump's response to the outbreak, which has killed more than 65,000 Americans.
A White House spokesman said it would be "counterproductive" for those involved in the coronavirus response to testify.
"We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time," the spokesman added.
However, Dr Fauci is due to appear the following week at a hearing focused on testing in the Republican-controlled Senate, an official quoted by the Washington Post said.
Dr Fauci was a familiar face at the White House daily briefings on the pandemic but has appeared at fewer in recent weeks.

• Anthony Fauci: The face of America's fight against coronavirus
  

JK Rowling donates £1m to charities

Harry Potter author JK Rowling will donate £1 million to two charities to help some of those hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.
Ms Rowling said the money would be split equally between two charities - Crisis, which helps homeless people, and Refuge, which supports people suffering domestic violence.
She said on Twitter on Saturday that she was "thinking of the people who're out there doing their jobs to protect us and our way of life."

Man dressed as grim reaper stalks Florida beaches

A Florida lawyer has been stalking local beaches dressed as the grim reaper.
Daniel Uhlfelder is protesting against what he considers to be a premature reopening of Florida beaches after a shutdown was imposed on 19 March.
His menacing black cloak, mask and scythe were in stark contrast to the swimwear of beach-goers, who seemed unfazed by the protest.
Uhlfelder believes there is a danger of spreading the virus and prolonging the recovery.
"I think we should take better measures," he told a local television news crew. "It's too soon, it's not appropriate."
He began a "tour" of local beaches on Friday, with the campaign aiming to raise money for Democrats running for office.

The UK is turning to drinking and baking

Reality Check
After a month in lockdown, the UK appears to be upping its alcohol intake.
Sales of stout are up by 83% and cider are up 63%, with overall sales of alcohol rising by more than a third on this time last year.


We also appear to have turned in to a nation of homebakers.
Half of the 10 products seeing the biggest growth in the week to April 25 were related to baking.
Fresh dough and pastry sales were up by 110%, while sales of baking mixes were up 85%.
Herbs and spices sales were also up by more than 80%.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, sales of frozen and long lasting foods have also risen significantly, according to the figures from consultancy Neilsen.
Read more here about how the UK has changed under lockdown

Labour warns of NHS staff 'breaking down'

NHS staff are "breaking down" on the front line and support for their mental health must be a priority, the Labour Party has warned.
Shadow mental health minister and A&E doctor Rosena Allin-Khan has written to Matt Hancock, asking for assurances that staff are getting the support they need.
In her letter to the health secretary, she said fears of spreading the virus, a lack of personal protective equipment, an increased workload and seeing more patients die have been taking "taking its toll on their mental health".
She said there was "real-time data to understand where particular pinch points may be and where resources need to be directed".

New York becomes Ground Zero again

Nick Bryant - BBC New York Correspondent
The headlines seemed to be crowding in on us. The coronavirus had reached American shores.
It had come to the outer suburbs of New York. There were cases in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.
By now, the news was coming word of mouth. Someone had tested positive in our downtown office complex. A tenant in a neighbouring apartment building had been laid low. Our school was shutting. All the schools were shutting. The whole of New York was soon in lockdown.
Back then I remember thinking how different this was to stories of the past. Whether it was war or disaster, there was always a plane to take you away to safety; always a refuge at the end of a harrowing ordeal. With Covid-19, however, there was no plane; there was no refuge. In this planetary pandemic, the entire world was a trouble-spot.
Read here for more from Nick on his family's struggle with coronavirus in New York.

Austria continues to loosen lockdown

Shopping centres, hairdressers and shops with more than 400 sq m (4300 sq f) of sales area were allowed to reopen in Austria on Saturday.
Major electrical retailers, fashion chains, furniture stores and sports retailers were among those to open their doors.

Scotland remembers the lives behind Covid-19 deaths

Since the first coronavirus death was recorded in Scotland on 13 March, the number of victims has steadily increased.
Behind the statistics are real people loved by many: grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, husbands and wives.
These are some of the stories of those who have lost their lives to Covid-19.


Danny Cairns
Danny, 68 developed a cough and sore throat at the end of March and within days he was so ill he had to be taken to hospital by ambulance.
In a video call from his hospital bed, his last words to his brother were: "I'm on my way out mate".
Janice Graham
Janice was the first NHS worker to die with coronavirus in Scotland.
The health care support worker and district nurse died at Inverclyde Royal Hospital on 6 April. One colleague said she had a "bright and engaging personality and razor-sharp wit".
Read more about those who have sadly lost their lives in Scotland

France to extend emergency measures

The French government has announced plans to extend national emergency measures until 24 July.
Health minister Olivier Véran said the proposal would to be put to parliament on Monday. He said lifting the state of emergency, which started on 24 March, would be "premature" and risked an increase in cases.
France has recorded more than 167,000 infections and 24,628 deaths during the coronavirus outbreak.

UK PM and partner in baby name tribute

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds have named their son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson.
Ms Symonds said in an Instagram post that the name is a tribute to their grandfathers and the doctors who helped care for the prime minister when he had coronavirus.
The "Nicholas" middle name refers to Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart, who both treated Mr Johnson.
The birth of their child on Wednesday came just weeks after the prime minister was discharged from intensive care on 9 April.

Just joining us?

Here's a round-up of the latest coronavirus developments from across the globe:

• Adults in Spain are now allowed to exercise outside for the first time in seven weeks. Spain's lockdown - one of Europe's strictest - was eased for children a week ago. Exercise time remains limited with specific slots for different age groups
  
• Austria has allowed thousands of shops, hairdressers and beauty salons to reopen
  
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorised emergency use of an Ebola drug, remdesivir, for treating coronavirus after a recent clinical trial showed the drug helped shorten the recovery time of seriously ill people
  
• A nursing home in New York has reported 98 deaths linked to Covid-19. The death toll at the Isabella Geriatric Center is one of the worst such outbreaks in the country
  
• The Indian government has made it compulsory for all public and private sector workers to use a smartphone app designed to trace people who may have been infected with coronavirus
  

France to ease lockdown during emergency

Some more now on France's decision to extend its state of health emergency until 24 July.
Although emergency powers are set to be extended, the government still plans to start lifting lockdown measures from 11 May.
Restrictions will be adjusted regionally and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said "if conditions are met", people will no longer require permission to be out on the street.
But Prime Minister Édouard Philippe will be able "to take measures by decree to regulate the movement of people as well as the use of means of transport", Mr Castaner said.

England coronavirus deaths rise by 370

A further 370 people have died with coronavirus in England, bringing the total number of reported deaths in hospitals to 20,853.
The figures published by NHS England show 8 April continues to have the highest number for the most hospital deaths occurring on a single day, when 864 people died.
The latest UK-wide figures - which use a different timeframe to those of individual nations - will be published later.
The UK-wide figures now include deaths occurring outside hospitals with confirmed links to Covid-19.

Scientists wary of relaxing 'two-metre rule'

Naomi Grimley, BBC News
UK ministers continue to say their policies are “science-led" but the science on coronavirus is still evolving.
There's been some suggestion that the UK's two metres apart rule could be relaxed in order to get more people back to work in offices and factories. The World Health Organization recommends 1m (3.2ft) between people and is sticking to its view that the disease is mainly transmitted through droplets, from sneezing and coughing, rather than lingering airborne.
But the BBC understands that some of the scientists helping to advise the government remain wary about relaxing the two-metre rule - arguing that two seconds spent 1m apart is as dangerous as spending one minute 2m apart.
Another suggestion being mooted from within government is that commuters may be asked to take their own temperature before travelling. Many experts, however, argue this wouldn’t stop asymptomatic carriers of Covid-19 slipping through the net.

Masks must be worn on Spanish transport

Some more news from Spain, where people have been enjoying getting out and exercising after weeks trapped indoors.
The country will make masks compulsory on public transport from Monday to prevent a spike in coronavirus infections as the strict lockdown is eased.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the government would distribute six million masks across the country from Monday, with another seven million being sent to local authorities.
Sanchez also said his government would approve a €16bn (£14.2bn) reconstruction fund to help regions deal with the social and economic impact of the pandemic.

Priest hears open-air confessions in Belfast

How do you conduct something as private and intimate as confessions at church while observing social distancing? Father Paddy McCafferty of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Belfast has the solution - listening to members of his congregation through locked gates.



Other people could be seen lining up in the streets, waiting for their turn to be seen and listened to

Barcelona residents find 'freedom' on city streets

People in Spain have been enjoying regained freedoms today. Here's how the BBC's Anna Lindsay started her day:
At 06:00 it is still dark in Barcelona, the sun rising almost an hour later. I walk for 20m (65ft) and see no-one until I reach the main Las Ramblas thoroughfare, where about a dozen joggers are heading towards the waterfront, seemingly desperate to make it there on the one hour they are permitted outside a day.
The atmosphere is serene and quiet and those who are out are a little excitable and smiling at each other - many through masks. It is still the busiest I’ve seen any streets here since mid-March when lockdown began.

Las Ramblas on Saturday, when citizens were allowed to exercise outdoors for the first time

While we all understand why we have been in "la cuarentena" or quarantine - the seven weeks inside our homes (except for essential journeys) has been a mental and physical endurance test for us all. For most city residents, buying food or visiting a pharmacy involves walking no further than a few dozen metres.
Today is different. People are in sports gear and running, walking and cycling freely. A man is playing Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe’s famous song Barcelona loudly down at the water’s edge as the sun comes up: "Barcelona, such a beautiful horizon!”
A nearby advertising board says “Bienvenidos a la libertad” - or, welcome to freedom.

Olympic rower starts work as junior doctor

An Olympic rower is swapping her oars for a stethoscope as she joins NHS front-line staff as a junior doctor to help the UK deal with coronavirus.
British athlete Polly Swann, 31, won silver as part of the women's eight at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro.
She took a break to finish her medical degree, rejoining team GB in 2019.
Now, she is joining front-line staff at a hospital in Scotland, where she will work for the next three months.
But that won't stop her training for the postponed games, which have been rescheduled for next year.

Iranians enjoy drive-in movie as cinemas stay closed

Cars were disinfected and windscreens wiped

A drive-in cinema has been set up in the Iranian capital, Tehran, for the first time since the Islamic revolution more than 40 years ago.
It comes as normal cinemas remain closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
About 160 vehicles filled the car park at the Milad Tower on Friday evening to watch a film by the Iranian director Ebrahim Hatamikia. The cars were disinfected as they drove in.
One viewer, named only as Nazanin, said he and his partner had enjoyed the experience. "It was something new for me. My parents had experienced it and they had told me [about it]," the 28-year-old told Spain's EFE news agency.

The drive-in showed a film by the famous Iranian director Ebrahim Hatamikia

Iran has reopened small shops but larger stores and venues such as cinemas and theatres remain closed.
More than 6,100 people are known to have died with Covid-19 in Iran, with nearly 100,000 confirmed cases.

Small 'group hug' protest in London

A small group of protesters have gathered in London to take part in a group hug in defiance of lockdown measures in the UK.
Around 20 people, some holding signs including one which read "My body, my choice" and others alluding to debunked 5G conspiracy theories, were involved in the protest outside the Metropolitan Police's headquarters this afternoon.
Since late March, people in the UK have been told not to gather with people living outside of their household to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Life in the UK has been transformed since that and other restrictions were brought in but there have been signs people might be tiring of the lockdown.
While other transport use has consistently stayed down, there has been a slight uptick in the number of vehicles on the road. Visits to parks have also almost returned to normal levels, after dropping by more than 50% in the first few weeks of lockdown.

Just joining us?

Good afternoon and a warm welcome if you're just joining us for the UK government's press briefing.
Here's a round-up of some key developments in the UK so far today:

• Passengers travelling on Eurostar trains out of the UK must wear a face mask or a face covering from Monday
  
• Thousands of people have signed up for a trial to see if blood plasma from coronavirus survivors can treat hospital patients with Covid-19
  

• Commuters could be asked to check their temperature before leaving home in an effort to make public transport safer
  
• Fitness coach Joe Wicks, who livestreamed PE lessons for children during lockdown, is in hospital after injuring his hand
  

£76m pledge for the 'most vulnerable'

The communities secretary says a £76m package will be released to support "the most vulnerable" in society.
He said the fund would go to charities which address domestic abuse, vulnerable children and victims of modern-day slavery
The additional support will ensure safe spaces and accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse and their children, as well as fund the recruitment of additional specialists for victims of domestic violence.

Harries: 'We have passed peak but still have work to do'

Speaking at the briefing, Dr Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, acknowledges that the UK has passed the peak but that we "have a lot of work still to do".
She says people must still keep in mind the five tests to be reached before adjusting the lockdown measures.

• Transport use remains low, despite a small rise in motor use. Social interaction remains low in conjunction with these measures
  
• Testing has grown exponentially and the growth will continue. Testing outside of NHS settings is on the increase
  
• Number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has decreased by just over 13%. Pressure on the NHS "is now moving down", allowing other NHS services to ramp back up again
  
• Critical care bed use across the UK is coming down
  
• The total number of fatalities from coronavirus in the UK, across all settings, now stands at 28,131. The rolling average shows the death rate is starting to come down "very gradually and very slowly"
  

What more will UK do for those struggling?

Responding to a question from a member of the public, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the government is trying to support people across all areas of society.
He stressed that food parcels are being delivered every day to the vulnerable, alongside medical supplies - and there were many options for volunteering.
He highlighted the support laid out by the Job Retention Scheme and increased support via the welfare system, as well as support for rough sleepers and the homeless.
"We want to ensure that we emerge from this crisis as strong as we can."
Dame Louise Casey, who is already leading a review into rough sleeping, will now oversee a national effort to ensure rough sleepers have safe accommodation in which to receive support whilst self-isolating.

UK offices set to remain closed 'for months'

As we continue to monitor the UK government briefing, here's some other news.
The Financial Times is reporting that thousands of UK office staff working from home are unlikely to return to their place of work anytime soon.
As the government prepares to set out plans for easing the lockdown in the next few days, the newspaper says that many offices will likely remain closed for "several months", in part to avoid overwhelming public transport.
We'll let you know if this is asked about at the briefing.

What will be done to support people 'shielding'?

More from the UK briefing now.
The BBC's Chris Mason asks what long-term plans are in place for people who were asked at the end of March to stricly quarantine themselves for a minimum of 12 weeks by staying home at all times and not seeing visitors.
Some 1.8 million people deemed most at risk of needing hospital treatment if they catch coronavirus have been doing this.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick says: "We appreciate the huge emotional impact it has on people.
"We have tried to support people with practical steps for those with no access to family or friends."
He says there has been access to food boxes - which will continue to be delivered.
Local councils are being asked to share data on who people shielding are so more tailored support can be offered where appropriate.
Councils are being encouraged to start a check and chat service to ensure supplies are getting through as well as the offer of emotional support.
Read more: Who should be shielding?

US death toll passes 65,000

The United States has by far the most deaths globally connected to the coronavirus, though proportionally it has had fewer deaths relative to population size than several countries in Europe.
The death toll has now passed 65,000, with more than 1.1 million cases confirmed.
Here are some other developments from the US:

• The White House has blocked top health official Anthony Fauci from testifying to Congress on the government's coronavirus response. It said it would be “counterproductive” to have individuals involved in the response testify
  
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorised emergency use of the Ebola drug remdesivir for treating Covid-19
  
• More states, including Idaho and Alabama, are loosening lockdown measures. Texas has lifted stay-at-home orders for its 29 million residents
  

Can you catch coronavirus twice?

It's the question that everyone wants a clear answer to and has come up in today's UK government briefing.
Members of the public are allowed to submit questions to the briefing now and Ashley in Yorkshire asked whether people can catch the virus causing Covid-19 twice.
Dr Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England replied: "The WHO (World Health Organization) position is very similar to the one we would have, which basically says we actually don't have enough information yet to be very clear on the immune status.
"We know that some people will have different status. We would normally expect to see some sign of immunity about 10-12 days after an infection, and then a very consistent pattern [at] about 28 days.
She added: "There's sometimes a delay in different individuals and we need to study this really carefully as we go forward. Our testing policy and the development of new antibody tests will help us do that."

UK government 'wants to support aviation industry'

A question from ITV at the daily briefing raised the spectre of aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce considering thousands of job cuts, with the British workforce potentially bearing the brunt. It follows the announcement of major job cuts by British Airways and Ryanair.
BA is looking at cutting 12,000 people from its 42,000-strong workforce, citing a collapse in business. The company thinks it will take several years for air travel to return to pre-virus levels.
Ryanair is looking at 3,000 job cuts - that's 15% of its workforce. Boss Michael O'Leary has also said it would take six months to refund passengers for flights cancelled.
Robert Jenrick, the minister fronting today's briefing, said the government wanted to support the UK's aviation industry, which he said was "an extremely important one strategically" as well as an industry which employs "a great deal of people".
"If there's more we can do, we will do so."

Schools could be re-opened 'in a phased manner'

Any return of UK pupils to school will be done carefully and "may well be in a phased manner" but only when the time is right, Robert Jenrick said at the briefing that finished a few minutes ago.
He said he was aware that home-schooling could be difficult and said there was anecdotal evidence that there was a huge range in terms of the quality of education that children are currently receiving at home.
"I am very focused upon those children who we know are vulnerable... and are at home and less visible," he said.
On the re-opening of schools, Dr Harries, England's deputy chief medical officer, said that children who get infected with the virus "tend to have less clinical disease" and that the disease is less likely to become severe.
She added there was some evidence to suggest younger children are less susceptible to the disease but further research was required.

No, Trump is not selling coronavirus coins

  Reality Check




A website called the White House Gift Shop has caused anger by selling coins "commemorating" the Covid-19 outbreak for $100 (£80) each.
US Senator Bernie Sanders was one of those infuriated by the coins. But the White House Gift Shop is a privately run online store with no direct connection to the White House or the Trump administration.
Its own website says it "operates independently of the US government".
The coins, however, do exist and are being sold online. They show a coronavirus germ superimposed over a world map, with slogans such as: "Together we fought the unseen enemy" and "Everyday heroes suited up". The website says profits will be donated to hospitals.
You can read more virus fact-checking from BBC journalists here

Italy reports surge in deaths but figure is misleading

Italy has experienced its largest daily death toll since 21 April with 474 fatalities reported, up on 269 the day before.
The total death toll now stands at 28,710, the Civil Protection Agency reported - second only to the United States.
But the increased figure is distorted and might actually mask positive news, La Repubblica newspaper reports, as 282 deaths not reported in April were only just registered and added to the toll.
That would put the most recent daily figure at 192 deaths - the first time it has dropped below 200 since 14 March, it says.
The news comes just two days before Italy plans to ease the restrictions it imposed seven weeks ago to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
From 4 May people will be allowed to visit their relatives in small numbers. Parks, factories and building sites will also reopen.

What did we learn from today's briefing?

The briefing was led by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick alongside Dr Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England.

• The total number of fatalities from coronavirus in the UK, across all settings, now stands at 28,131. The death rate is starting to come down "very gradually and very slowly"
  
• 105,937 tests were carried out on Friday, surpassing the government's self-imposed target of 100,000 tests a day.
  
• The government pledged a support package of over £76m to support victims of domestic abuse, vulnerable children and victims of modern slavery through the coronavirus crisis
  
• Dame Louise Casey will oversee a national effort to ensure rough sleepers have safe accommodation in which they receive support whilst self-isolating
  
• Any return of UK pupils to school will be done carefully and "may well be in a phased manner", but only when the time is right
  
• The fact that the rate of transmission is "significantly less" outdoors than indoors is likely to be taken into consideration when lockdown measures are lifted
  
• It is still not clear whether a person can catch coronavirus twice, but increased testing will help scientists in their conclusions
  

Will the UK investigate China?

The government was asked at the daily press briefing if the UK would try to claim "billions in reparations" if it was shown that a lack of transparency from China hampered efforts to prevent the pandemic.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said while "there will come a time" to analyse the origins of the virus and consider what actions to take, the time was "not now".
It follows international calls for an investigation into how the virus - first documented in the Chinese city of Wuhan - emerged.
At a White House press briefing last week, US President Donald Trump appeared to undercut his own intelligence agencies by suggesting he had seen evidence coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory.
In the same week, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would push for an investigation next month at the annual World Health Assembly, which is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO).
That body already plans to discuss calls for a "lessons learned" review of health emergencies.
Our science editor has looked in detail at the Wuhan lab theory and the lack of any evidence for it - have a read.

£76m for vulnerable as abuse charity warns of spike

  Reality Check
The news that the UK government is providing a £76m package to support "the most vulnerable" in society comes at a time when domestic abuse helplines are receiving a surge in calls.
The National Domestic Abuse helpline saw a 25% increase in calls in the first two weeks of lockdown, rising to 49% after three weeks, the charity Refuge says.
It is now receiving hundreds of extra calls for help every week.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said that social distancing, while necessary, meant it was ‘’harder than before for victims of domestic abuse to reach out to friends, colleagues and neighbours for the support they urgently need’’.
The additional support for charities will ensure more safe spaces and accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse and their children, as well as fund the recruitment of additional specialists for victims of domestic violence.
Sally Field, chair of Women's Aid, said emergency funding is always welcome but she would wait for more detail of how the money could be accessed.
While calls to the national helpline increased, she warns the rest of the sector were receiving fewer calls because victims can no longer find a safe space to get in touch. After lockdown the charity expects an ‘’exponential increase" in calls for help.

Why Italy's daily death toll jumped today

Mark Lowen - BBC News, Rome
After a week where Italy’s daily death toll fell as low as 260, today’s official figure of 474 deaths in the past 24 hours seemed alarming.
The number seemed incomprehensible - especially given there are now just over 1500 patients in intensive care, down from a high of more than 4,000.
But then the explanation: 280 were previously unrecorded deaths from the northern region of Lombardy in April.
So the one-day death toll across the country in the past 24 hours is in fact 192, continuing the downward trajectory. It is the lowest daily rise since 14 March.
The number is still high and Italy remains the country with the second-highest number of deaths overall. But the figures are moving in the right direction and it seems Italy is gradually overcoming this killer.

Should you keep a coronavirus diary?

Helier Cheung - BBC News, Washington DC
Believe it or not, your personal musings right now could be valuable to historians of the future.
Archivists are urging people to keep diaries in written, audio, or video format because the coronavirus pandemic is a major event that historians will want to study in the years to come.
The Mass Observation Project is calling on volunteers to “help us create a record of the pandemic”, while Wright State University in the US says diaries "can also be extremely useful, therapeutic tools for the diary author as well”.
"Although many of us think history is about politicians and royalty, actually history is about everybody," says Rob Perks, director of National Life Stories at the British Library.
And if that's too remote for you, there's also a more immediate benefit: Jacinda Ardern has asked New Zealanders to keep diaries about their own movements to try and help officials with contact tracing.
You can read more about unusual ways to help during the pandemic here.

‘All society’ will have to help contact trace

  Reality Check
All of society will be expected to play a part when the UK launches a national contact tracing phone app in the coming weeks, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said this afternoon.
Contact tracing involves tracking down anyone with whom virus sufferers have been in prolonged contact with, to potentially ask them to self-isolate.
The UK is planning to roll out its contact tracing app and phone team by the middle of May. The method is already being used elsewhere in Hong Kong, Singapore and Germany. In Australia, more than four million people have downloaded a tracking app.
Contact tracing will start to form a key part of the UK government’s strategy in the coming months.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries said the results of contact tracing would help us start to see where the lines of transmission are.
Read more here about what the public will be asked to do.

Just joining us?

Here's a round-up of some key coronavirus developments from across the globe:

• The death toll in the US - the country with the most deaths globally - has passed 65,000
  
• Adults in Spain have been running on the streets for the first time in seven weeks after restrictions were eased. Masks are being made compulsory on public transport
  
• Austria is allowing thousands of shops, hairdressers and beauty salons to reopen
  
• Ireland will allow people to meet friends and family in small groups outdoors from 18 May
  
• The Ebola drug remdesivir can now be used on people who are hospitalised with severe Covid-19 in the US following a clinical trial
  
• War-ravaged Yemen has recorded coronavirus cases in a third province after officially registering its first deaths this week
  

US virus deaths could be much higher

More than 65,000 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in the US, but some experts fear the real figure could be much higher.
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that total deaths in seven hard-hit states were almost 50% higher than normal during the period 8 March to 11 April.
Researchers fear as many as 9,000 additional deaths in the country could be attributed to the virus.
The US has by far the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world but fewer relative to population than some European countries.

New French virus deaths drop to 166

We brought you the news earlier that Italy recorded just 192 deaths in the past 24 hours - the lowest daily rise since 14 March.
France has now reported similarly low figures. The national death toll in hospital and care homes has increased by 166, to a total of 24,760. It's a significant drop from the 218 deaths recorded on Friday.
There are still close to 26,000 people in hospital with Covid-19 in France but that figure has been going down for more than two weeks.
Earlier today, France extended a health emergency by two months, allowing the government to prolong anti-virus measures. The country plans to ease its lockdown from 11 May.

Will having the virus make me immune?

Rachel Schraer - BBC Health Reporter
During the UK government's daily news briefing earlier, a member of the public asked about what we know when it comes to immunity from the virus.
At the moment, the World Health Organization (WHO) says there isn’t yet good evidence that suggests having the virus once protects you from getting it again.
When the WHO say "no good evidence", they mean this hasn’t been properly studied yet.
We’d expect that having the illness would grant you some immunity, at least for a period of time. But the question is how much and for how long? Will a mild case now protect you if you’re exposed to a bigger dose of the virus later?
Lots of people are in the process of trying to answer these questions.
Countries including South Korea, Germany, Italy and the UK are beginning to test samples of their populations for antibodies.
This could provide more information about whether (and for how long) the disease gives immunity to those who have recovered.

Czech Republic envisages safe travel zone

Rob Cameron - BBC Prague Correspondent


Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek has laid out in a blog post how heintends to allow Czechs to travel again without restrictions.
From July, he would like the borders to be fully opened to fourneighbouring countries: Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia.
He also envisages unrestricted travel in July to countries that have dealt with the pandemic well.
The Czech Republic's ban on free movement, imposed to curb coronavirus, was lifted last month.
At present Czechs are in theory free to travel to any country in the world - if they can get there. But they must present either a recent negative Covid-19 certificate or do 14 days of quarantine on their return.
Even so, the foreign ministry is still advising against all but essential travel.

Blood pressure drugs 'do not increase risk' of catching virus

Medication widely prescribed to treat high blood pressure does not make patients more susceptible to coronavirus infection, three major studies have found.
The research primarily focused on angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs).
The findings are good news for millions of people who take the drugs. Rumours have been circulating that the medication could increase the risk of Covid-19 infection.
"We saw no difference in the likelihood of a positive test with ACE inhibitors and with angiotensin receptor blockers," Harmony Reynolds of New York University's Grossman School of Medicine, who led a study involving about 12,600 people, told the AFP news agency.
In the UK, the NHS advises that people keep taking blood pressure medicines as usual.

Images of life during a pandemic

The coronavirus has upended life for billions around the globe - and people have reacted in many different ways.
Here's a selection of some powerful news photographs taken this week amid the pandemic.

A display of signs thanking NHS staff and other key workers put up by local artist Peter Liversidge in east London


A health worker uses an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of a labourer on a construction site in Ahmedabad, India


In New York, Gloria, 75, shows how big a hug she would give Father Pedro Gonzalez as a "thank you" for the help she is getting through deliveries from his church volunteer group


In Nablus in the West Bank, a man beats a drum to wake Muslims to have their pre-dawn meal during the holy fasting month of Ramadan


World War Two veteran Captain Tom Moore celebrated his 100th birthday on Thursday, after raising millions of pounds for the NHS, by walking laps in his back garden in Bedfordshire. Here, his grandson Benjie looks at more than 120,000 birthday cards from around the world

Letters of love to friends and strangers

Helier Cheung - BBC News, Washington DC
These can be lonely times - especially if you're separated from your family.
Alienor Duron, 22, started the project 1lettre1sourire (one letter one smile) encouraging people to write to isolated people in retirement homes in France, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg.
"A letter is something you can touch, keep and read again, and put on your wall or bedside table - not like an email that's going to be deleted after a while," she says.

Handwritten notes in Chinese that say "we love you and are thinking of you"

Meanwhile, in New York, volunteer movement Heart of Dinner is providing boxes of hot food, along with handwritten notes that say "we love you and are thinking of you" to elderly Asian-Americans in care homes.
Founders Yin Chang and Moonlynn Tsai say they came up with the idea after they experienced racism and saw other Asian-Americans being harassed.
"A lot of the seniors in Chinatown are immigrants - many are unable to communicate in English. We want them to know they're still a part of the community," says Chang.
You can read more about ways people are helping others during the pandemic here.

How are UK deaths being counted?

Rachel Schraer - BBC Health Reporter
The death toll figures have become a sad daily ritual and on Wednesday the number jumped – not because there was a sudden increase in deaths but because for the first time the official daily figures included deaths outside of hospitals.
Although we had been getting a separate publication from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) once a week looking at coronavirus deaths outside of hospitals, in places like care homes, these were not included in the headline figure.
Now the daily total (today's was 621) tells you about the deaths of anyone who tested positive for coronavirus. So this is a larger group than just deaths in hospitals, but still doesn’t include all deaths in the community settings because not everyone who dies of coronavirus will have had a test.
As testing is expanded to more and more people, the death figures should get closer to the true reality.

NY governor holds firm on keeping state closed

Some are demanding New York ease lockdown measures


New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has pushed back against demands to re-open his state, saying he needs more information about the spread of the virus.
Around half of states in the US have now partially eased lockdown restrictions but Mr Cuomo said a lot more information was needed before opening up his state, which is the hardest hit in the country.
"Even when you are in uncharted waters, it doesn't mean youproceed blindly," Mr Cuomo said.
"Use information to determine action - not emotions, not politics, not what people think or feel, but what we know in terms of facts."
He also released the preliminary results of a survey which tested 15,000 people across the state for antibodies to see if they had previously had the virus. The results showed that 12.3% had been infected.
A previous test with a smaller cohort suggested that one in five New York City residents had contracted it.

Conspiracist David Icke's channel deleted by YouTube

English conspiracy theorist David Icke has had his official channel deleted from YouTube after violating its policies by posting misleading information about the coronavirus pandemic.
"YouTube has clear policies prohibiting any content that disputes the existence and transmission of Covid-19 as described by the WHO and the NHS," a spokeswoman told the BBC.
The Google-owned video service acted after Facebook decided to take down Mr Icke's official page.
His YouTube channel had more than 900,000 subscribers at the time it was removed. The last clip Mr Icke posted - about his Facebook ban - had about 120,000 views.

Madagascar ships unproven Covid-19 herbal tea cure

Equatorial Guinea has also received the tea

A batch of herbal tea has been dispatched from Madagascar, off the coast of East Africa, all the way to Guinea-Bissau in West Africa after the Madagascan president touted it as a powerful remedy against Covid-19. (There is no scientific evidence for the claim.)
The drink, which has been coined Covid-Organics, is derived from artemisia - a plant with proven use in malaria treatment - and other indigenous herbs.
Equatorial Guinea has also received a batch of the tea after Madagascan leader Andry Rajoelina promoted it as a potential treatment.
The World Health Organization says its effects have not been tested.
In Madagascar itself, the national medical academy has also cast doubt on the product.
It said it had the potential to damage people's health as its "scientific evidence had not been established".

Venezuela prison riot leaves more than 40 dead
More than 40 people were reportedly killed after rioting broke out at a prison in Venezuela.
Inmates at Los Llanos jail, near western Guanare city, were angry at a lack of food and water, according to the Venezuelan Prison Observatory.
The organisation called for an investigation, casting doubt on the official version that the prisoners had attempted a jail-break.
Prison staff including the governor were wounded in the incident.
The Prisons Minister Iris Varela told a Venezuelan newspaper that there had been an incident at the jail but did not give a death toll. The incident was described as an escape attempt in that report.
Riots in the unsanitary and overcrowded prisons of Latin America have been increasing as governments introduce containment measures to help slow the coronavirus outbreak.
Quarantine measures may mean that inmates cannot receive food brought by relatives, on which they may depend.
The observatory, a prison watchdog, said 46 inmates had died and the local hospital's emergency department was overwhelmed with the number of wounded.
Read more

Malaysia migrant raids 'to reduce Covid-19 spread'
Malaysian police say an operation to arrest hundreds of undocumented migrants in Kuala Lumpur on Friday aimed to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
They were detained to ensure that they did not move around and spread the disease, police chief Abdul Hamid Bador told the state news agency.
Images show large numbers of enforcement agents wearing protective suits to carry out the arrests.
The raids took place in a part of the capital known to house foreigners.
The United Nations has urged the Malaysian authorities to release children and vulnerable individuals from the detention camps where migrants are held.
Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch tweeted that the detentions risked worsening the pandemic in Malaysia, both in terms of potential outbreaks inside the camps but also by making undocumented people less likely to co-operate.
Read more

Johnson reveals 'contingency plans' made during treatment


Boris Johnson has revealed "contingency plans" were made while he was seriously ill in hospital with coronavirus.
In an interview with the Sun on Sunday, he says he was given "litres and litres of oxygen" to keep him alive.
He says during a week in London's St Thomas' Hospital, with three nights in intensive care, he kept asking himself: "How am I going to get out of this?"
In his newspaper interview, the prime minister describes being wired up to monitors and finding the "indicators kept going in the wrong direction".
"It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he's quoted as saying. "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong."
Mr Johnson says he found it hard to believe his health could deteriorate so badly in a matter of days but puts his recovery from Covid-19 down to "wonderful, wonderful nursing".
Read more