Summary for Wednesday, 20th May
Hello and welcome back to the BBC's live coverage of the global coronavirus outbreak. We're writing to you from Singapore this morning, and will be joined by our colleagues across Asia, Australia and London later on today.
Here's a quick look at what's happening this morning:
Brazil has recorded its highest daily death toll yet with 1,179 over that past 24 hours. Overall, the virus has now been linked to almost 18,000 fatalities in the country.
In terms of infections, Brazils now has the world’s third-highest number with 271,885 confirmed cases. Over the past 24 hours alone, there were 17,408 new positive tests and observers say the country’s peak is not expected until June.
Brazil is deeply divided over how to respond to the pandemic. President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the virus and argues that the lockdowns implemented by regional governors will do more harm to the economy and hence the people – than the virus itself.
"I look at that as, in a certain respect, as being a good thing because it means our testing is much better," he said.
While the US has conducted more tests by volume than any other country, it is not first in the world on a per capita basis, according to Our World in Data, a scientific publication based at Oxford University.
Its chart ranks the US as 16th globally in terms of tests per 1,000 people, ahead of South Korea, but less than the likes of Iceland, New Zealand, Russia and Canada.
The US has 1.5 million coronavirus cases and nearly 92,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
This model- understandably - has made many nervous and some are questioning whether the airline is prioritising costs over health risks. Qantas says were it to enact personal space guidelines, planes would only have 22 passengers and airfares would be up to 10 times higher.
In defending the plan, chief executive Alan Joyce also said Qantas had run several full repatriation flights for the government with no issues. There were also few confirmed cases globally of the virus being contracted on a plane, he said.
He claimed pressurised plane cabins were safer environments than other transport. This is because passengers sit the same way, high seats act as barriers and the filtered "air flow is top to bottom".
However, several health experts in Australia have said they're still cautious of air travel, and would not sit close to a stranger in a contained space.
The member states of the World Health Assembly met online
World Health Organization (WHO) member states have agreed to set up an independent inquiry into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The resolution, approved without objection by the WHO's 194-member annual assembly meeting virtually in Geneva, also allows for the inquiry to look into the health body's own role.
The United States in particular has been highly critical of its response.
The EU presented the resolution on behalf of 100 nations.
Read the full story here.
For one, they'll have to get their temperatures checked, hands sanitised and don a mask before they're able to step into school premises.
If a case is confirmed within a school, the school will switch back to online classes immediately.
The country is implementing a phased return to the classroom - all of the country's students will eventually get back to school by 8 June.
Industry has temporarily closed down and demand for energy all over the world has crashed. China has been responsible for the biggest drop, followed by the US, Europe and India.
The most comprehensive account yet published says that almost half the record decrease was due to fewer car journeys.
But the authors are worried that, as people return to work, car use will soar again. They fear CO2 emissions could soon be higher than before the crisis.
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro will finally have his way – helped by his new interim health minister, an army general, happy to take orders from his boss.
Speaking live on Facebook, Bolsonaro said that Eduardo Pazuello would sign the new protocol which widens the use of the anti-malarial drug chloroquine beyond just critical patients – this, despite there being no evidence that it helps treat or prevent Covid-19.
He announced the decision on the same day that Brazil saw a record number of deaths and new cases.
Bolsonaro also mentioned that he kept a small box of chloroquine in case his 93-year-old mother needed it.
It was only a few days ago that Brazil’s previous health minister resigned, reportedly because he felt under pressure to sign the new guidelines.
Read more about chloroquine here.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall on Wednesday on India's eastern coast
India is preparing for a "severe cyclonic storm" - one of the biggest in decades - which will make landfall on the country's eastern coast this afternoon or evening.
Cyclone Amphan is expected to bring heavy rains and winds gusting up to 185km/h (115mph).
Millions are being evacuated in coastal villages in Orissa and West Bengal states, with the latter likely to experience the brunt of the storm.
Both states have turned government schools and other buildings into shelters as they need extra space to accommodate people with social distancing norms - and they are short of them as many existing shelters are already being used as quarantine centres.
The storm comes as India's confirmed Covid-19 cases crossed the 100,000 mark.
Venezuela, already suffering under US and British sanctions, says it wants to use the gold's value to tackle coronavirus.
Legal documents say the bank wants the transfer made "as a matter of urgency" to buy supplies like food and medicine. They say the bank has agreed to transfer the money directly to the United Nations to administer for that purpose.
Britain does not recognise the government of Nicolas Maduro as legitimate.
The Bank of England acts as a gold custodian for a number of developing nations.
But the parents of Kai - who was born prematurely - are getting to see him through an app on their phone.
Every morning Kai's mother wakes up to a message updating her on how her son slept, and a real-time picture of him - and the updates continue throughout the day.
Mogo was among towns hit hard by Australia's bushfires
As bushfires ravaged the small town of Mogo on New Year's Eve, all that many residents could do was flee.
When they returned, almost 500 homes in the town and surrounding shire had been razed.
In the following weeks, the Business Council of Australia announced funding for a pop-up mall and 10 temporary buildings. It was hoped that local businesses could find their feet again, but the virus has crippled the community once more.
The BBC's Shaimaa Khalil was able to visit the town, observing distancing rules.
"It's heart-breaking and soul destroying," one business owner, Lorena Granados, told her. "Our motivation went from a hundred to nothing."
Read more of Shaimaa's report.
David Malpass said the bank expects global economic growth to shrink by 5% this year as nations deal with the pandemic.
This has already led to millions losing their jobs and businesses failing, with poorer countries feeling the brunt.
"Millions of livelihoods have been destroyed and healthcare systems are under strain worldwide," he said.
The World Bank defines "extreme poverty" as living on less than $1.90 (£1.55) per person per day.
Read our full story here.
Hydroxychloroquine (and a similar drug chloroquine) is an anti-malaria drug and some anectodal evidence has suggested it might work against Covid-19 as well. Scientific studies are ongoing but so far, no study has confirmed that it has any effect against the coronaviurs.
In fact, there are warnings over serious and even fatal side effects the medication can have.
The BBC's Reality Check team has looked in depth at what the concerns over the drug are, why some people are promoting it and which countries have authorised its use against Covid-19.
Most of the state's eight million residents live in Sydney and other coastal cities, so this is aimed at getting city residents out into the country and boosting tourism.
NSW is also encouraging interstate visitors - a message which optimistically belies the fact that besides Victoria, all other states are still keeping their borders shut. (They moved quickly when it became clear most of Australia's infections were in NSW and Victoria.)
Still, NSW residents will have plenty of room to wander in a state which is three times the size of the UK.
New South Wales is encouraging residents to take local holidays
If you want to keep track of the global outbreak, we have just the place for you. Our visual and data journalism team has put together a special page where you can see:
Singapore has announced that it will end its partial state of lockdown on 1 June - but there's no rejoicing yet.
The country, which entered its "circuit breaker" on 7 April, will still continue to adhere to strict regulations - with measures to be progressively lifted in three phases.
In the first phase, which begins on 2 June, more people will be allowed to return to their workplaces, to visit their parents and schools will gradually reopen.
The second phase - where businesses like retail outlets and gyms may reopen - could take weeks or even months, depending on how successful phase one is.
The streets of Singapore have now fallen silent
It's clear that Singapore is taking an extremely cautious approach to reopening- eager to avoid the same outcome as several countries that have seen a new surge in cases after easing their lockdown.
But the sentiment among Singaporeans seems to be a feeling that the partial lockdown was being lifted more in name than in practice, as most social regulations remain in place.
And with no clear end in sight there's a sense of disappointment in the air.
Many were looking forward to getting on with their daily lives, but now feel stuck in this period of waiting. Others are worried that businesses will not be able to sustain themselves until phase 2 ends - whenever that might be.
Though community cases has been low in recent days, an outbreak amongst its huge migrant worker community - who have now been quarantined - means hundreds are still testing positive for the virus each day.
Brazil just saw its highest daily death toll of 1,179. With almost 18,000 new daily infections, the pandemic is rapidly gaining pace in the country - the most populous in the region.
In Peru, a traditional Andean harlequin is reminding people to wear face masks. The country has around 100,000 infections and 3,000 deaths.
In Venezuela, this karate professional has to train in isolation on his rooftop. The country has confirmed only around 600 cases but the lockdown is adding to the already crippling economic crisis.
With fewer than 9,000 confirmed cases, Argentina fares a lot better than its neighbour Brazil. But medics are bracing for things to get worse and are practicing their response.
Chile has had 50,000 cases and 500 deaths so far. On Tuesday soldiers and riot police clashed with demonstrators angry about food shortages and job losses.
A longer weekend, or just more flexibility, would allow Kiwis to travel more around the country - boosting tourism and the economy while the nation's borders remain shut.
The PM made the comments during a Facebook live chat, filmed on her way back from Rotorua, a popular tourist destination. She's become known for her casual online addresses.
“I hear lots of people suggesting we should have a four-day work week. Ultimately that really sits between employers and employees,” the PM said.
“I’d really encourage people to think about that if you’re an employer and in a position to do so."
The exciting prospect adds to the global discussion about what work-life balance might look like after the pandemic.
Ms Ardern has been globally praised for leading New Zealand out of the virus crisis, with 21 deaths recorded in the 5-million population. Polls released yesterday show that she is the nation's most popular leader of the past century.
The spike comes as the country begins to ease one of the world's most severe lockdowns, in which almost everything except essential services such as healthcare and food supplies was shut.
While European countries have already peaked, experts have said that's yet to happen in India. Dr Randeep Guleria, director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, has said that cases could peak in June-July, which is also the flu season.
But other epidemiologists believe the peak may vary from state to state, as the progress of the disease has also differed widely across regions.
Maharashtra state alone, for instance, accounts for nearly 40% of India's confirmed cases - and along with Gujarat it makes up nearly 70% of the national death toll from the pandemic.
Earlier this month, an infected laundry worker in Shulan city was found to have spread the virus to 11 others.
Shulan was declared a high-risk area and has entered a state of lockdown - all outbound transport has been stopped.
Several cases were later recorded in Jilin city and the province has now seen a total of 133 confirmed locally transmitted cases, according to state media.
There are now fears that the province could emerge as the centre of new infections in China - even as life starts to go back to normal for the rest of the country.
Both nations have succeeded in containing the virus' spread, while Fiji, which counted only 17 cases, has reported no new cases in the past month.
Like other small Pacific Island nations, it has succeeded in stopping the virus spread to its corner. But with an economy heavily reliant on tourism - and particularly the dollar of the Australian and Kiwi tourist - it's keen to resume that soon. It's even running trials of a tracing app as part of preparations.
Vanuatu is also in talks with Australia over travel openings.
Lectures will be available to students online and "it may be possible to host smaller teaching groups in person" if they meet social distancing requirements, the university said.
It follows a similar move by the University of Manchester, which said its lectures would be online-only for the next term.
University campuses across the country have been closed by the Covid-19 outbreak. Earlier this week, the university watchdog said students applying for university places in England must be told with "absolute clarity" how courses will be taught - before they make choices for the autumn.
Some South Korean students have returned to their classrooms after an unprecedented five-month break, as schools re-open in stages with high school seniors returning first.
Thermal scanners welcomed students entering through school gates. Smiling under their masks, students and teachers greeted each other.
Cho Sung-jin, a homeroom teacher at Chungam High School told the BBC that teaching a lesson while wearing a mask was tough. “It is very difficult to breathe with a mask on when you are trying to project your voice”, said Mr Cho.
“It’s also not easy to identify and recognise my students because they were all wearing identical masks.”
Schools spaced out desks and fitted them with plastic partitions. Class times and lunch hours were also being staggered.
A high school senior in a new partitioned canteen
At Chungam High School, students were also advised to “avoid unnecessary chitchat.”
“Students were very co-operative today,” said Mr Cho. “Both students and teachers have looked forward to this day and we were happy to see each other in the flesh.”
South Korea reported 32 new cases as of midnight Tuesday.
Plastic partitions separate students at lunch
The Times suggests the date has been "thrown into doubt" by a senior scientific adviser, who has indicated that a track and trace system needs to be in place first.
A government clarification that this is the earliest schools should open leads the Times to speculate whether the government's position is "softening in the face of a revolt".
The Guardian reports that up to 1,500 primary schools in England will remain shut while at least 18 councils refuse to sanction the plans.
Many papers have pictures of Captain Tom Moore, the 100-year-old war veteran who has been awarded a knighthood after raising more than £32m for charity.
The study looked at data from 2006-09 on viruses that were structurally very similar to the new coronavirus strain.
It found that the 1,663 participants were much less likely to be infected if they washed six times a day.
Hand washing more than 10 times a day however did not seem to cut the risk of infection further.
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that mostly cause mild illness such as the common cold. All of them, including the one that causes Covid-19, can be killed by soap and water.
Outsourcing firm Serco has apologised after accidentally sharing the email addresses of almost 300 contact tracers in the UK.
The company, which is training staff to trace cases of Covid-19 for the government, said it made the error when it emailed new recruits to tell them about training.
Serco said it had apologised and would review its processes "to make sure that this does not happen again".
It comes as the programme to train thousands of contact tracers has been described as shambolic and inadequate by recruits, according to a report in the Guardian. Contact tracing is a system used to slow the spread of infectious diseases like coronavirus. It is already being used in other countries including Singapore and Germany.
Punithan Genasan, aged 37, was found complicit in heroin trafficking back in 2011, court documents show.
He denies any involvement and is expected to appeal.
Earlier this month, a man in Nigeria was sentenced to death via Zoom for a murder in 2018.
Human Rights Watch described that verdict as "inherently cruel and inhumane".
Health officials reported a further 17,408 cases and 1,179 deaths in the past 24 hours.
In total, 271,628 infections and 17,971 deaths had been confirmed as of Tuesday, health officials said.
The country, which is the epicentre of the pandemic in Latin America, has the third highest number of infections worldwide, after Russia and the US.
Health experts say the true figure may be far higher due to a lack of testing in the country. They fear the outbreak could overwhelm Brazil’s health system in the coming weeks if cases continue to rise.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the threat of the coronavirus and criticised governors and mayors for adopting strict restrictions to curb its spread.
San Francisco has announced two more "safe sleeping villages", where homeless people can set up tents while practising social distancing.
The first site opened near City Hall earlier this month amid public outrage over a rise in homelessness during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The sites come equipped with toilets and hand-washing stations, and meals will also be provided, officials say.
The city has so far confirmed 2,179 coronavirus cases.
At the last count in 2019, the city had more than 8,000 homeless people
There has been a surge in the number of tents on pavements and street corners as homeless people struggle to find space.
The shelters that they normally turn to are running out of space, or are under quarantine.
The number of tents in the Tenderloin district has surged
The effect is most visible in the Tenderloin area, which has a history of homelessness. Residents say there are now more than 430 tents in the neighbourhood.
It's unclear how widespread the virus is in these areas as testing has been low.
The Dutch government says it is "plausible" that an employee at a mink farm contracted Covid-19 from one of the animals.
The details were shared in a report uploaded to the government website late on Tuesday night. Further research is being conducted.
If the "likely" scenario proves conclusive it would appear to be the first confirmed case of animal to human infection in the world. Experts suspect - but have not confirmed - that Covid-19 originated by crossing from an animal to a human in China.
Measures are being put in place at mink farms across the Netherlands to try to prevent any spread.
"These new research results have a major impact on the owners, families and employees of mink companies as well as on local communities. I am therefore in close contact with all these parties involved," said agriculture minister Carola Schouten.
Watford captain Troy Deeney says he will not return yet because he has fears for his family's health. Three of six positive tests among the league's players and staff were at Watford.
In other developments in sport:
A pastor is being held in judicial custody in Myanmar (Burma) after appearing in court in the city of Yangon accused of breaching coronavirus control rules.
Canadian-Burmese pastor David Lah held multiple religious gatherings in Yangon after the regional government had banned all mass meetings on 13 March.
More than 70 people have been infected after attending religious events in Myanmar, accounting for about 40% of all confirmed cases in the country. Mr Lah has said there will be no infections among true followers of Jesus. However, the pastor - who is popular with celebrities - has himself recovered after testing positive for Covid-19.
If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to three years. Three other people were charged along with the pastor.
The British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is anxiously awaiting news of whether her temporary release from prison will be extended or not.
"The uncertainty is not good for her mental health," her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, told me today.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe was freed from Tehran's Evin jail on 17 March, along with tens of thousands of other prisoners, as Iran tried to curb its coronavirus outbreak.
She is due back in prison today - Wednesday - if her release is not extended again.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in 2016 at Tehran airport as she prepared to return to the UK from visiting her parents. She was jailed for five years after being accused of plotting against the regime - charges that British officials describe as "spurious".
For the past two months she has been at her parents’ home in Tehran, forced to wear an ankle tag and stay within 300 metres of the house.
"She’s pretty isolated because friends are too frightened to visit," said Mr Ratcliffe.
But she has been able to enjoy long video calls with her five-year-old daughter Gabriella.
"Gabriella is playing games with her, and showing her stuff - like her dolls, and they choose together which clothes to dress them in," Mr Ratcliffe said.
But the stress of not knowing what will happen next affects the whole family, including Gabriella, Mr Ratcliffe said.
"She picks up on moods. As we get more stressed, she gets more distressed."
The Ministry of Defence is to scale back its military “Covid Support Force” by standing down thousands of troops who had been placed on high readiness.
More than 20,000 armed forces personnel from all three services were put on alert in March to help the government response to Covid-19.
However, only about 4,000 have so far been deployed – fulfilling tasks such as helping construct the Nightingale temporary hospitals, delivering protective equipment and carrying out testing. Their work will continue.
But thousands of other service personnel who have not been used will now resume normal duties. The MoD is expected to issue a statement later today confirming that the Covid Support Force will be reduced to fewer than 10,000 personnel.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family has just said that her furlough from Tehran's prison has again been extended.
She was allowed temporarily release alongside tens of thousands of others from Iran's norotious Evin prison to limit the risk from coronavirus.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe is quoted as saying that the prosecutor's office told her she would stay free until a decision is made on her clemency.
Two people were arrested during the raid at a residential villa that had been converted into a seven-bed hospital, police said. One patient was found in the building.
More than 200 suspected coronavirus rapid test kits and syringes were also recovered from rubbish bins at the villa.
Those arrested were a Chinese hospital administrator and a person who manned the pharmacy, police said. The male Chinese patient has been moved to a local hospital.
The illegal facility, north-west of the capital Manila, is believed to have been in operation for about three months, officials said.
Home Secretary Priti Patel told LBC radio that she plans to "double the sentences" for people convicted of deliberately coughing on key workers to put them at risk of catching Covid-19.
"They will feel the full force of the law," she said. "We’ve seen some people be convicted and rightly."
Ms Patel said she was looking "right now" to increase sentencing powers.
Coughing or spitting at someone if it is intended to cause harm or fear can be prosecuted as common assault, with a maximum sentence of six months in prison or two years if it is against an emergency worker on duty.
Last month, railway station worker Belly Mujinga died after being spat at by a man claiming to have Covid-19.
- The number of people in Brazil who have died with Covid-19 jumps by 1,179 - a daily record
- President Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the risks, even though Brazil has the world's third highest number of infections
- In the UK, ministers face pressure to reconsider plans to reopen English primary schools to some pupils from 1 June
- The World Bank warns 60m more people could be pushed into "extreme poverty"
- There have been 4.9m confirmed cases worldwide, with almost 325,000 deaths
Hello and welcome back to the BBC's live coverage of the global coronavirus outbreak. We're writing to you from Singapore this morning, and will be joined by our colleagues across Asia, Australia and London later on today.
Here's a quick look at what's happening this morning:
- Brazil has recorded 1,179 virus deaths over the past 24 hours - its biggest daily toll yet - bringing the overall death toll to 17,971. The pandemic appears to be rapidly gaining pace in Brazil
- The World Bank has warned that 60 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty as a result of the outbreak
- Over in Asia, Singapore has announced it will end its partial state of lockdown on 1 June, though most curbs and guidelines will still remain in place as the country looks to transition into a "new normal" phase
- The number of cases worldwide is now inching slowly towards 4.9m, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The death toll now stands at 322,861
Pandemic rapidly gaining pace in Brazil
Brazil has recorded its highest daily death toll yet with 1,179 over that past 24 hours. Overall, the virus has now been linked to almost 18,000 fatalities in the country.
In terms of infections, Brazils now has the world’s third-highest number with 271,885 confirmed cases. Over the past 24 hours alone, there were 17,408 new positive tests and observers say the country’s peak is not expected until June.
Brazil is deeply divided over how to respond to the pandemic. President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the virus and argues that the lockdowns implemented by regional governors will do more harm to the economy and hence the people – than the virus itself.
Trump says US topping cases is a 'badge of honour'
US President Donald Trump has argued it is "a badge of honour" that the US has the world's highest number of confirmed Covid-19 infections."I look at that as, in a certain respect, as being a good thing because it means our testing is much better," he said.
While the US has conducted more tests by volume than any other country, it is not first in the world on a per capita basis, according to Our World in Data, a scientific publication based at Oxford University.
Its chart ranks the US as 16th globally in terms of tests per 1,000 people, ahead of South Korea, but less than the likes of Iceland, New Zealand, Russia and Canada.
The US has 1.5 million coronavirus cases and nearly 92,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Qantas to fly with no seat distancing
Qantas, Australia's national carrier, says when it resumes normal operation next month it will run flights with no physical distancing. It will offer masks and hand sanitiser to passengers but masks won't be mandatory.This model- understandably - has made many nervous and some are questioning whether the airline is prioritising costs over health risks. Qantas says were it to enact personal space guidelines, planes would only have 22 passengers and airfares would be up to 10 times higher.
In defending the plan, chief executive Alan Joyce also said Qantas had run several full repatriation flights for the government with no issues. There were also few confirmed cases globally of the virus being contracted on a plane, he said.
He claimed pressurised plane cabins were safer environments than other transport. This is because passengers sit the same way, high seats act as barriers and the filtered "air flow is top to bottom".
However, several health experts in Australia have said they're still cautious of air travel, and would not sit close to a stranger in a contained space.
Virus response to be investigated
The member states of the World Health Assembly met online
World Health Organization (WHO) member states have agreed to set up an independent inquiry into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The resolution, approved without objection by the WHO's 194-member annual assembly meeting virtually in Geneva, also allows for the inquiry to look into the health body's own role.
The United States in particular has been highly critical of its response.
The EU presented the resolution on behalf of 100 nations.
Read the full story here.
South Korean seniors return to school
Hundreds of thousands of high school seniors are returning to school in South Korea today - but things aren't exactly going to be the same.For one, they'll have to get their temperatures checked, hands sanitised and don a mask before they're able to step into school premises.
If a case is confirmed within a school, the school will switch back to online classes immediately.
The country is implementing a phased return to the classroom - all of the country's students will eventually get back to school by 8 June.
Scientists fear car surge will see CO2 rebound
Daily global emissions of CO2 fell by 17% at the peak of the shutdown because of measures taken by governments in response to Covid-19, scientists say.Industry has temporarily closed down and demand for energy all over the world has crashed. China has been responsible for the biggest drop, followed by the US, Europe and India.
The most comprehensive account yet published says that almost half the record decrease was due to fewer car journeys.
But the authors are worried that, as people return to work, car use will soar again. They fear CO2 emissions could soon be higher than before the crisis.
Brazil's Bolsonaro pushes chloroquine use
Katy Watson - BBC South America correspondentBrazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro will finally have his way – helped by his new interim health minister, an army general, happy to take orders from his boss.
Speaking live on Facebook, Bolsonaro said that Eduardo Pazuello would sign the new protocol which widens the use of the anti-malarial drug chloroquine beyond just critical patients – this, despite there being no evidence that it helps treat or prevent Covid-19.
He announced the decision on the same day that Brazil saw a record number of deaths and new cases.
Bolsonaro also mentioned that he kept a small box of chloroquine in case his 93-year-old mother needed it.
It was only a few days ago that Brazil’s previous health minister resigned, reportedly because he felt under pressure to sign the new guidelines.
Read more about chloroquine here.
India prepares for cyclone amid Covid-19
The cyclone is expected to make landfall on Wednesday on India's eastern coast
India is preparing for a "severe cyclonic storm" - one of the biggest in decades - which will make landfall on the country's eastern coast this afternoon or evening.
Cyclone Amphan is expected to bring heavy rains and winds gusting up to 185km/h (115mph).
Millions are being evacuated in coastal villages in Orissa and West Bengal states, with the latter likely to experience the brunt of the storm.
Both states have turned government schools and other buildings into shelters as they need extra space to accommodate people with social distancing norms - and they are short of them as many existing shelters are already being used as quarantine centres.
The storm comes as India's confirmed Covid-19 cases crossed the 100,000 mark.
Venezuela files claim for its gold reserves
Venezuela's central bank has made a legal claim to try to force the Bank of England to hand over €930m ($1bn; £820m) worth of gold it holds.Venezuela, already suffering under US and British sanctions, says it wants to use the gold's value to tackle coronavirus.
Legal documents say the bank wants the transfer made "as a matter of urgency" to buy supplies like food and medicine. They say the bank has agreed to transfer the money directly to the United Nations to administer for that purpose.
Britain does not recognise the government of Nicolas Maduro as legitimate.
The Bank of England acts as a gold custodian for a number of developing nations.
Parents see premature babies via app in lockdown
Because of the lockdown, parents in the UK, like in many other countries, are unable to visit their newborns regularly if the babies have to stay in hospital.But the parents of Kai - who was born prematurely - are getting to see him through an app on their phone.
Every morning Kai's mother wakes up to a message updating her on how her son slept, and a real-time picture of him - and the updates continue throughout the day.
Double disaster for Australian fire-hit towns
Mogo was among towns hit hard by Australia's bushfires
As bushfires ravaged the small town of Mogo on New Year's Eve, all that many residents could do was flee.
When they returned, almost 500 homes in the town and surrounding shire had been razed.
In the following weeks, the Business Council of Australia announced funding for a pop-up mall and 10 temporary buildings. It was hoped that local businesses could find their feet again, but the virus has crippled the community once more.
The BBC's Shaimaa Khalil was able to visit the town, observing distancing rules.
"It's heart-breaking and soul destroying," one business owner, Lorena Granados, told her. "Our motivation went from a hundred to nothing."
Read more of Shaimaa's report.
World Bank warns of 60m falling into 'extreme poverty'
Up to 60m people will be pushed into "extreme poverty" by the coronavirus warned the president of the World Bank.David Malpass said the bank expects global economic growth to shrink by 5% this year as nations deal with the pandemic.
This has already led to millions losing their jobs and businesses failing, with poorer countries feeling the brunt.
"Millions of livelihoods have been destroyed and healthcare systems are under strain worldwide," he said.
The World Bank defines "extreme poverty" as living on less than $1.90 (£1.55) per person per day.
Read our full story here.
Reality Check: Does hydroxychloroquine work?
US President Donald Trump has praised it for weeks and says he's taking it himself. And now Brazil is also pushing for it to be used on a widespread level.Hydroxychloroquine (and a similar drug chloroquine) is an anti-malaria drug and some anectodal evidence has suggested it might work against Covid-19 as well. Scientific studies are ongoing but so far, no study has confirmed that it has any effect against the coronaviurs.
In fact, there are warnings over serious and even fatal side effects the medication can have.
The BBC's Reality Check team has looked in depth at what the concerns over the drug are, why some people are promoting it and which countries have authorised its use against Covid-19.
Australia's biggest state opens up holiday travel
From June, New South Wales, the most-populous state, will allow its residents to travel across the region for holidays. Currently, only care visits are allowed.Most of the state's eight million residents live in Sydney and other coastal cities, so this is aimed at getting city residents out into the country and boosting tourism.
NSW is also encouraging interstate visitors - a message which optimistically belies the fact that besides Victoria, all other states are still keeping their borders shut. (They moved quickly when it became clear most of Australia's infections were in NSW and Victoria.)
Still, NSW residents will have plenty of room to wander in a state which is three times the size of the UK.
New South Wales is encouraging residents to take local holidays
Global numbers edge towards 5 million
There are now 4,893,195 confirmed infections worldiwde, 1,686,487 of which have recoverd while 322,861 have died.If you want to keep track of the global outbreak, we have just the place for you. Our visual and data journalism team has put together a special page where you can see:
- How many cases and deaths are in which countries
- Which countries are past their peaks and which are not
- How the pandemic spread around the world
- Where death tolls are rising the fastest
- Which countries have managed to flatten the curve
Sense of disappointment in Singapore
Yvette Tan - BBC NewsSingapore has announced that it will end its partial state of lockdown on 1 June - but there's no rejoicing yet.
The country, which entered its "circuit breaker" on 7 April, will still continue to adhere to strict regulations - with measures to be progressively lifted in three phases.
In the first phase, which begins on 2 June, more people will be allowed to return to their workplaces, to visit their parents and schools will gradually reopen.
The second phase - where businesses like retail outlets and gyms may reopen - could take weeks or even months, depending on how successful phase one is.
The streets of Singapore have now fallen silent
It's clear that Singapore is taking an extremely cautious approach to reopening- eager to avoid the same outcome as several countries that have seen a new surge in cases after easing their lockdown.
But the sentiment among Singaporeans seems to be a feeling that the partial lockdown was being lifted more in name than in practice, as most social regulations remain in place.
And with no clear end in sight there's a sense of disappointment in the air.
Many were looking forward to getting on with their daily lives, but now feel stuck in this period of waiting. Others are worried that businesses will not be able to sustain themselves until phase 2 ends - whenever that might be.
Though community cases has been low in recent days, an outbreak amongst its huge migrant worker community - who have now been quarantined - means hundreds are still testing positive for the virus each day.
Scenes from South America as pandemic escalates
For days Brazil has made headlines for its steady increase in daily deaths and infections. After China, Europe and the US, South America is now seeing a sharp escalation of the pandemicBrazil just saw its highest daily death toll of 1,179. With almost 18,000 new daily infections, the pandemic is rapidly gaining pace in the country - the most populous in the region.
In Peru, a traditional Andean harlequin is reminding people to wear face masks. The country has around 100,000 infections and 3,000 deaths.
In Venezuela, this karate professional has to train in isolation on his rooftop. The country has confirmed only around 600 cases but the lockdown is adding to the already crippling economic crisis.
With fewer than 9,000 confirmed cases, Argentina fares a lot better than its neighbour Brazil. But medics are bracing for things to get worse and are practicing their response.
Chile has had 50,000 cases and 500 deaths so far. On Tuesday soldiers and riot police clashed with demonstrators angry about food shortages and job losses.
NZ's Ardern raises four-day work week idea
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has encouraged flexible working arrangements such as a four-day work week as the nation comes out of lockdown.A longer weekend, or just more flexibility, would allow Kiwis to travel more around the country - boosting tourism and the economy while the nation's borders remain shut.
The PM made the comments during a Facebook live chat, filmed on her way back from Rotorua, a popular tourist destination. She's become known for her casual online addresses.
“I hear lots of people suggesting we should have a four-day work week. Ultimately that really sits between employers and employees,” the PM said.
“I’d really encourage people to think about that if you’re an employer and in a position to do so."
The exciting prospect adds to the global discussion about what work-life balance might look like after the pandemic.
Ms Ardern has been globally praised for leading New Zealand out of the virus crisis, with 21 deaths recorded in the 5-million population. Polls released yesterday show that she is the nation's most popular leader of the past century.
India records highest spike despite strict lockdown
India recorded more than 5,200 new infections on Tuesday - its biggest spike so far in a single day. Its tally of confirmed cases is now over 106,000, with 61,149 active infections.The spike comes as the country begins to ease one of the world's most severe lockdowns, in which almost everything except essential services such as healthcare and food supplies was shut.
While European countries have already peaked, experts have said that's yet to happen in India. Dr Randeep Guleria, director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, has said that cases could peak in June-July, which is also the flu season.
But other epidemiologists believe the peak may vary from state to state, as the progress of the disease has also differed widely across regions.
Maharashtra state alone, for instance, accounts for nearly 40% of India's confirmed cases - and along with Gujarat it makes up nearly 70% of the national death toll from the pandemic.
China sees new cases in northeast cluster
China on Wednesday reported four new confirmed cases in the northeastern province of Jilin and one imported case - bringing the total number of cases to 82,965.Earlier this month, an infected laundry worker in Shulan city was found to have spread the virus to 11 others.
Shulan was declared a high-risk area and has entered a state of lockdown - all outbound transport has been stopped.
Several cases were later recorded in Jilin city and the province has now seen a total of 133 confirmed locally transmitted cases, according to state media.
There are now fears that the province could emerge as the centre of new infections in China - even as life starts to go back to normal for the rest of the country.
Ministers under pressure over schools - UK latest
Good morning if you are just joining us in the UK. Here's some of the latest global developments:- Ministers are facing further pressure from council leaders and teaching unions to reconsider plans to reopen English primary schools to some pupils from 1 June.
- Captain Tom Moore is to be knighted after raising more than £32m for National Health Service charities by completing 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday in April.
- Brazil has become the country with the third-highest number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the world, after registering a total of more than 250,000 cases.
- President Donald Trump has argued it is "a badge of honour" that the US has the world's highest number of infections. "It means our testing is much better," he said.
Fiji wants to join Australia-NZ 'bubble'
The Pacific Island nation of Fiji is keen to be included in the "bubble" between Australia and New Zealand when travel resumes in the coming months.Both nations have succeeded in containing the virus' spread, while Fiji, which counted only 17 cases, has reported no new cases in the past month.
Like other small Pacific Island nations, it has succeeded in stopping the virus spread to its corner. But with an economy heavily reliant on tourism - and particularly the dollar of the Australian and Kiwi tourist - it's keen to resume that soon. It's even running trials of a tracing app as part of preparations.
Vanuatu is also in talks with Australia over travel openings.
Cambridge University lectures online-only until summer 2021
There will be no face-to-face lectures at the University of Cambridge over the course of the next academic year because of the coronavirus, the university has announced.Lectures will be available to students online and "it may be possible to host smaller teaching groups in person" if they meet social distancing requirements, the university said.
It follows a similar move by the University of Manchester, which said its lectures would be online-only for the next term.
University campuses across the country have been closed by the Covid-19 outbreak. Earlier this week, the university watchdog said students applying for university places in England must be told with "absolute clarity" how courses will be taught - before they make choices for the autumn.
Masks at school as South Korean seniors return
Julie Yoon - BBC KoreanSome South Korean students have returned to their classrooms after an unprecedented five-month break, as schools re-open in stages with high school seniors returning first.
Thermal scanners welcomed students entering through school gates. Smiling under their masks, students and teachers greeted each other.
Cho Sung-jin, a homeroom teacher at Chungam High School told the BBC that teaching a lesson while wearing a mask was tough. “It is very difficult to breathe with a mask on when you are trying to project your voice”, said Mr Cho.
“It’s also not easy to identify and recognise my students because they were all wearing identical masks.”
Schools spaced out desks and fitted them with plastic partitions. Class times and lunch hours were also being staggered.
A high school senior in a new partitioned canteen
At Chungam High School, students were also advised to “avoid unnecessary chitchat.”
“Students were very co-operative today,” said Mr Cho. “Both students and teachers have looked forward to this day and we were happy to see each other in the flesh.”
South Korea reported 32 new cases as of midnight Tuesday.
Plastic partitions separate students at lunch
Doubts over schools reopening - UK papers review
Several of this morning's UK front pages raise questions about the government's plans to open English primary schools for some pupils on 1 June.The Times suggests the date has been "thrown into doubt" by a senior scientific adviser, who has indicated that a track and trace system needs to be in place first.
A government clarification that this is the earliest schools should open leads the Times to speculate whether the government's position is "softening in the face of a revolt".
The Guardian reports that up to 1,500 primary schools in England will remain shut while at least 18 councils refuse to sanction the plans.
Many papers have pictures of Captain Tom Moore, the 100-year-old war veteran who has been awarded a knighthood after raising more than £32m for charity.
Wash your hands 'at least six times a day'
How many times have you washed your hands today? A study by UK researchers now suggests you should be doing it at least six times a day.The study looked at data from 2006-09 on viruses that were structurally very similar to the new coronavirus strain.
It found that the 1,663 participants were much less likely to be infected if they washed six times a day.
Hand washing more than 10 times a day however did not seem to cut the risk of infection further.
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that mostly cause mild illness such as the common cold. All of them, including the one that causes Covid-19, can be killed by soap and water.
Virus contact tracers' emails shared by accident
Ross Hawkins - Political correspondent, BBC Radio 4 TodayOutsourcing firm Serco has apologised after accidentally sharing the email addresses of almost 300 contact tracers in the UK.
The company, which is training staff to trace cases of Covid-19 for the government, said it made the error when it emailed new recruits to tell them about training.
Serco said it had apologised and would review its processes "to make sure that this does not happen again".
It comes as the programme to train thousands of contact tracers has been described as shambolic and inadequate by recruits, according to a report in the Guardian. Contact tracing is a system used to slow the spread of infectious diseases like coronavirus. It is already being used in other countries including Singapore and Germany.
Singapore court sentences man to death via Zoom
A Malaysian man has been sentenced to hang by a court in Singapore via a Zoom video call - the city-state's first case in which the death penalty was announced remotely.Punithan Genasan, aged 37, was found complicit in heroin trafficking back in 2011, court documents show.
He denies any involvement and is expected to appeal.
Earlier this month, a man in Nigeria was sentenced to death via Zoom for a murder in 2018.
Human Rights Watch described that verdict as "inherently cruel and inhumane".
Brazil sees highest daily rise in cases and deaths
Brazil has recorded its highest daily rise in infections and deaths since the coronavirus outbreak began in the country.Health officials reported a further 17,408 cases and 1,179 deaths in the past 24 hours.
In total, 271,628 infections and 17,971 deaths had been confirmed as of Tuesday, health officials said.
The country, which is the epicentre of the pandemic in Latin America, has the third highest number of infections worldwide, after Russia and the US.
Health experts say the true figure may be far higher due to a lack of testing in the country. They fear the outbreak could overwhelm Brazil’s health system in the coming weeks if cases continue to rise.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the threat of the coronavirus and criticised governors and mayors for adopting strict restrictions to curb its spread.
San Francisco to open more 'sleeping villages' for homeless
San Francisco has announced two more "safe sleeping villages", where homeless people can set up tents while practising social distancing.
The first site opened near City Hall earlier this month amid public outrage over a rise in homelessness during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The sites come equipped with toilets and hand-washing stations, and meals will also be provided, officials say.
The city has so far confirmed 2,179 coronavirus cases.
At the last count in 2019, the city had more than 8,000 homeless people
There has been a surge in the number of tents on pavements and street corners as homeless people struggle to find space.
The shelters that they normally turn to are running out of space, or are under quarantine.
The number of tents in the Tenderloin district has surged
The effect is most visible in the Tenderloin area, which has a history of homelessness. Residents say there are now more than 430 tents in the neighbourhood.
It's unclear how widespread the virus is in these areas as testing has been low.
Holidays and face masks - the latest from Europe
Summer holidays could be on the cards after all and Spain makes face masks compulsory for everyone over six years old. Here’s the latest from Europe:- Greece is expected to announce plans later that would allow in visitors from other European countries as early as 1 July. The move comes as EU tourism ministers meet this afternoon to discuss how countries can reopen their borders for the summer holidays
- Spain has made it mandatory for everyone over the age of six to wear a face mask in places such as shops, restaurants and public transport, and outdoors as well if social distancing isn’t possible. The rules come into effect on Thursday
- Russia has announced a record number of daily deaths, jumping by 135 in the past 24 hours to a total of 2,972. The country has the second highest number of confirmed cases in the world - surpassing 300,000 on Wednesday - and some believe the true death toll is much higher
- French charity Hand in Hand (Main dans la Main) has created a clear face mask to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The mask isn’t commercially available yet, but the group thinks it could ensure everyone can still communicate under new face covering rules
- Authorities in the Netherlands say it’s “plausible” a worker at a mink farm caught the virus from one of the animals. Research is under way to confirm the link
Dutch worker may be first confirmed animal to human transmission
Anna Holligan - BBC News Hague correspondentThe Dutch government says it is "plausible" that an employee at a mink farm contracted Covid-19 from one of the animals.
The details were shared in a report uploaded to the government website late on Tuesday night. Further research is being conducted.
If the "likely" scenario proves conclusive it would appear to be the first confirmed case of animal to human infection in the world. Experts suspect - but have not confirmed - that Covid-19 originated by crossing from an animal to a human in China.
Measures are being put in place at mink farms across the Netherlands to try to prevent any spread.
"These new research results have a major impact on the owners, families and employees of mink companies as well as on local communities. I am therefore in close contact with all these parties involved," said agriculture minister Carola Schouten.
How do footballers do social distancing? The latest from sport
English Premier League teams have started non-contact training, with markers helping to keep the players apart and some wearing face masks.Watford captain Troy Deeney says he will not return yet because he has fears for his family's health. Three of six positive tests among the league's players and staff were at Watford.
In other developments in sport:
- Depression and thoughts of self-harm have affected more than a fifth of current and former footballers surveyed by the players' union during the coronavirus pandemic
- Pakistan plan to send a 25-man squad to England in July to meet the demands of playing an entire cricket tour behind closed doors in a "bio-secure" bubble
- The French government's decision to revoke approval for a resumption of horse racing at some tracks has been described as "inexplicable" by France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild.
Myanmar: Pastor faces jail for defying restrictions
Nyein Chan Aye - BBC News BurmeseA pastor is being held in judicial custody in Myanmar (Burma) after appearing in court in the city of Yangon accused of breaching coronavirus control rules.
Canadian-Burmese pastor David Lah held multiple religious gatherings in Yangon after the regional government had banned all mass meetings on 13 March.
More than 70 people have been infected after attending religious events in Myanmar, accounting for about 40% of all confirmed cases in the country. Mr Lah has said there will be no infections among true followers of Jesus. However, the pastor - who is popular with celebrities - has himself recovered after testing positive for Covid-19.
If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to three years. Three other people were charged along with the pastor.
Freed UK-Iranian waits to hear if she'll return to jail
Caroline Hawley - BBC NewsThe British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is anxiously awaiting news of whether her temporary release from prison will be extended or not.
"The uncertainty is not good for her mental health," her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, told me today.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe was freed from Tehran's Evin jail on 17 March, along with tens of thousands of other prisoners, as Iran tried to curb its coronavirus outbreak.
She is due back in prison today - Wednesday - if her release is not extended again.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in 2016 at Tehran airport as she prepared to return to the UK from visiting her parents. She was jailed for five years after being accused of plotting against the regime - charges that British officials describe as "spurious".
For the past two months she has been at her parents’ home in Tehran, forced to wear an ankle tag and stay within 300 metres of the house.
"She’s pretty isolated because friends are too frightened to visit," said Mr Ratcliffe.
But she has been able to enjoy long video calls with her five-year-old daughter Gabriella.
"Gabriella is playing games with her, and showing her stuff - like her dolls, and they choose together which clothes to dress them in," Mr Ratcliffe said.
But the stress of not knowing what will happen next affects the whole family, including Gabriella, Mr Ratcliffe said.
"She picks up on moods. As we get more stressed, she gets more distressed."
Thousands of UK troops stood down from Covid-19 alert
Jonathan Beale - BBC defence correspondentThe Ministry of Defence is to scale back its military “Covid Support Force” by standing down thousands of troops who had been placed on high readiness.
More than 20,000 armed forces personnel from all three services were put on alert in March to help the government response to Covid-19.
However, only about 4,000 have so far been deployed – fulfilling tasks such as helping construct the Nightingale temporary hospitals, delivering protective equipment and carrying out testing. Their work will continue.
But thousands of other service personnel who have not been used will now resume normal duties. The MoD is expected to issue a statement later today confirming that the Covid Support Force will be reduced to fewer than 10,000 personnel.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's prison furlough extended
More on British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family has just said that her furlough from Tehran's prison has again been extended.
She was allowed temporarily release alongside tens of thousands of others from Iran's norotious Evin prison to limit the risk from coronavirus.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe is quoted as saying that the prosecutor's office told her she would stay free until a decision is made on her clemency.
Philippines police raid illegal hospital
Police in the Philippines have raided a small illegal hospital and a pharmacy that were secretly treating Chinese nationals suspected of having the coronavirus, the Associated Press reports, quoting police officials.Two people were arrested during the raid at a residential villa that had been converted into a seven-bed hospital, police said. One patient was found in the building.
More than 200 suspected coronavirus rapid test kits and syringes were also recovered from rubbish bins at the villa.
Those arrested were a Chinese hospital administrator and a person who manned the pharmacy, police said. The male Chinese patient has been moved to a local hospital.
The illegal facility, north-west of the capital Manila, is believed to have been in operation for about three months, officials said.
'Double the sentence' for people who cough on key workers
LBCHome Secretary Priti Patel told LBC radio that she plans to "double the sentences" for people convicted of deliberately coughing on key workers to put them at risk of catching Covid-19.
"They will feel the full force of the law," she said. "We’ve seen some people be convicted and rightly."
Ms Patel said she was looking "right now" to increase sentencing powers.
Coughing or spitting at someone if it is intended to cause harm or fear can be prosecuted as common assault, with a maximum sentence of six months in prison or two years if it is against an emergency worker on duty.
Last month, railway station worker Belly Mujinga died after being spat at by a man claiming to have Covid-19.