by Summary for Friday, 22nd May
Hello and welcome back to our rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. We’re writing to you out of Singapore, where we’ll be joined by our colleagues across Asia, and later today in London and Washington DC. And as we reach the end of another week, here’s a quick glance at what’s happened overnight:
“Australia has led the world in the successful containment of Covid-19, which clearly means that travellers coming from Australia would pose a low risk to the rest of the world,” said Trade Minister Simon Birmingham.
Australia had been one of the first countries to shut borders in February, and its infection rate drastically tailed off after it imposed a mandatory 14-day quarantine on returning travellers in March. To ensure compliance, the government took travellers directly from airports to paid accommodation in hotels.
The nation is now well into its phased re-opening, with schools, restaurants and retail shops all back up and running.
But the request also reflects the Commonwealth nation’s close relationship with the UK, one underpinned by a shared heritage and common values.
Nearly eight million Australian residents have UK ancestry and the nations both have thousands of expats as residents. Around 700,000 Australians visit the UK each year and vice versa.
Typically, the NPC is closely watched to see what budgets it approves, what economic target it unveils and what legislation passes through.
China has just announced that it will not set any specific targets for economic growth this year as a result of the crisis.
"This is because our country will face some factors that are difficult to predict in its development due to the great uncertainty regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and the world economic and trade environment," said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
Instead, it widened its budget deficit target to more than 3.6% of GDP, implying a larger shortfall than 2019's target of 2.8%.
He told reporters he took off the facial covering at the Ford car plant because he "didn't want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it", and he was about to make a speech.
Despite Michigan's attorney general urging the president to comply with health guidelines, the president insisted it was unnecessary because he is regularly tested for coronavirus.
However, he added that "at present,the epidemic has not yet come to an end, while the tasks we face in promoting development are immense".
It's likely that the meeting will further expand on what steps will be taken to prevent a possible second wave of the virus outbreak in China.
Following her virus response, Ardern has become the country's most popular leader of the past century. Her personal approval rating in recent weeks has surged to 65%, while opposition leader Simon Bridges' dwindled to 5%.
Bridges had been accused of being combative and tone-deaf when he could have been more bipartisan in the country's lockdown response. He's been turfed out for Todd Muller, a former businessman.
Ardern's Labour party is set to win the upcoming election in landslide if the popularity is maintained. Over 90% of the public supported Ardern's fast virus response - which included a severe lockdown that kept cases to around 1,500 and only 21 deaths.
The new filings bring the total since mid-March to roughly 38.6 million - almost a quarter of the workforce.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned this week that the US risked "permanent damage" if the lockdowns continued.
The unemployment figures have declined since peaking at almost 6.9 million but remain high.
I’ve been reporting in China since 2006 and we’ve always been allowed into the Great Hall of the People for the opening of the National People’s Congress.
Not this year, we’re watching it on television monitors like everyone else. The reason: coronavirus.
Apart from a few flashpoints, the crisis does seem to be under control in most of China but, given that this assembly includes the entire Chinese political and military leadership inside one cavernous room, the risks of infection have necessitated limiting media access.
We expected this Congress to be dominated by the virus and a seemingly ever deteriorating China-US relationship as the global emergency continues to paralyse economic growth worldwide.
However, on day one that’s been overshadowed somewhat by the introduction of national security legislation meaning protestors in Hong Kong, rather than being charged with rioting and assembly crimes, could soon face much more serious laws relating to subversion, succession and treason.
This is bound to see demonstrations in the city which, following last year’s summer of rebellion, had gone quiet as the pandemic hit there like everywhere else.
That said it has been remarkable for there to be no GDP target for China in 2020. Premier Li said this was due to the "great uncertainty" facing his country’s economy and, frankly, who could fault this? It’s hard enough to try to predict the next few weeks under Covid-19, let alone 12 months.
China put a temporary ban on the trade of wildlife back in February, as a measure to control the spread of the virus - it has promised new legislation to make this ban permanent.
It has since taken other measures to clamp down on the trade, like encouraging wildlife farmers to move to other agricultural practices like growing fruit or vegetables.
The city where the virus first emerged last year, Wuhan, as well as major cities like Shanghai have already banned the consumption of wild animals.
All this comes as many have pinned the source of the pandemic to a seafood market in Wuhan that is believed to have sold wild animals - however, this has never been proven.
In fact the entire front two rows - filled by the upper echelons of the government - were maskless. The rest of China's parliamentary committee, however, were decked out in their usual masks.
This year's parliamentary committee was earlier postponed for more than two months due to the virus outbreak
In just over a week, Sydney's bars, restaurants, and cafes can operate again with up to 50 people inside (as long as everyone gets 4 sq m personal space). Some social life, finally!
Currently, venues are open but can only have 10 guests inside - so it's not really a vibe.
For example, my friends and I want to go out this weekend but the problem is where? Most of the restaurants open are serving only set banquets to be profitable - and that's about A$90 (£48;$58) a head. Then getting onto the 10-person bookings sheet is a whole other thing.
So this expansion is very welcome. Yes we'll still have to abide by distancing rules: "no mingling, no standing around" as per NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian's orders. But we can forego cutlery buckets and buffets for that much-missed convivial setting.
It's also obviously fantastic news for hospitality workers - the worst-hit in lockdown. This re-opening is coming much quicker than expected, but Australia's most-populous state is determined to get its economy back as soon as possible.
From 1 June, art galleries, libraries and swimming pools will also be back. We're also being encouraged to travel and take holidays outside of the city this winter.
India has decided to open counters in some cities to allow people to book tickets for at least 200 trains scheduled to run from 1 June.
Online booking for these trains had already started, but it’s the opening of the counters that is the real deal.
If you have travelled in India, you would know that trains are the country’s lifeline. Millions depend on them every day, and a large number of those people go to counters to book tickets because they don’t have smartphones to do it online.
The decision is likely to bring some relief to tens of thousands of migrant workers who want to go home and had to take arduous journeys on foot. The ministry says norms like social distancing will be followed, but it’s going to be challenging.
When authorities opened a temporary counter for migrant workers earlier this week in Ghaziabad city, thousands gathered and there was hardly any space between people jostling to get a ticket.
The video of the incident went viral, and that will be on everybody’s mind when counters open from Friday.
Cyclone Amphan, the first super cyclone to form in the Bay of Bengal since 1999, devastated coastal villages, tore down power lines and flattened houses.
The virus has made it harder for emergency and relief efforts to be carried out - social distancing measures has meant mass evacuations can't be carried out as shelters cannot be used at full capacity.
Then there's the fact that resources now have to be diverted to running not one but two disasters. It comes as virus cases across India continue to grow, the country now has over 118,000 virus cases according to JHU data.
Read more about the impact of the cyclone here.
Here's a quick breakdown of the countries reporting the highest number of cases:
It's hard to believe that it was just over a month ago, on 2 April, when the total number of cases passed one million.
The true number of cases is thought to be much higher than the reported figures, as many of those with milder symptoms have not been tested and counted.
This year, amid the pandemic, celebrations were expected to be more muted, including in Muslim-majority South Asian nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh.
However, this has not exactly been the case.
Pakistan officials have announced that shops and markets can remain open for longer hours so that people can finish their Eid shopping, despite concerns over a rise in infections in the country. Large crowds are reportedly congregating at shops with little thought for social distancing.
And in Bangladesh, local media reported that there was "total disregard for the lockdown" as thousands of people began heading to their villages for the festival.
Most thought South Korea and Germany had done a good job - better than their own country.
But most also gave China and Italy the worst marks - saying they hadn't handled the outbreak well at all. Italy was the country worst-hit by the pandemic in March, after China succeeded in flattening its curve.
These surveys might reflect the rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who has been aggressively blaming China for the virus' spread. Some critics say this is an attempt to divert attention from his own government's own failures to contain the virus domestically.
The US, which now has more than 1.5 million known cases, overtook both China and Italy's death toll in mid-April.
What are the other main views in America? Read the main takeaways here.
For most children here in New South Wales it has been more than two months out of the classroom.
But from next Monday that will change, with students told to go back at school. Unlike other states there is no staggered introduction by year group and anyone not attending will be marked down as an unauthorised absence.
This is a quicker return then had initially been flagged for state schools. And that’s because while there have been far more Covid 19 cases in NSW than elsewhere in Australia (3,082 at time of writing and 47 deaths) - there’s a very low number of new cases confirmed (just two in the past 24 hours for example).
Some parents say things are happening too quickly. Some teachers agree it is too rushed. And a positive case in a Sydney private school this week underlines the risks of further outbreaks.
But most parents I’ve spoken to are fairly confident that their children can return to the classroom safely. And after weeks and weeks of juggling home-schooling with work, it’s fair to say that many of them are pretty relieved too.
The Bandung zoo, which usually earns about 1.2 billion rupiah ($81,700: £67,000) a month from visitors, shut on 23 March. It is now solely relying on donations to keep its animals alive but says it is contemplating a "worst case" scenario.
A spokesman said it needed more than 400kg of fruit per day and 120kg of meat every other day to feed its 85 animals, and had already started cutting down the portions.
“We have around 30 dotted deer, and we have identified the old and unproductive ones to be slaughtered to save the carnivores, such as the Sumatran tiger and Javan leopard,” said Sulhan Syafi’i.
Syafi'i said the animals were getting enough food but noticing the decrease.
“The food is finished, but they still want to eat,” said orangutan keeper Saepudin, who said the primates could go into a rage and throw things.
Experts have warned that Brazil is still a few weeks away from reaching the peak of the outbreak, and that insufficient testing means the official figures don't show the true picture.
President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down the risks of Covid-19. He has urged state governors to lift lockdowns and promoted the benefits of the unproven anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a remedy.
Only 20 of 99 English councils to respond to a BBC Breakfast survey said they were advising schools to open more widely on Boris Johnson's target date.
Of the 99 who responded, two thirds (68), could not guarantee schools would reopen to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.
There are concerns the wider opening of schools could lead to a second spike in Covid-19.
Teaching unions also called for a more regional approach, with local authorities being given the final call.
Read more about the concerns over school openings here.
And with outbreaks in Mexico, Chile and Peru, there are now fears that the region could become the next epicentre of the pandemic.
The virus was first identified in Brazil on 26 February and has since spread to every country in the region.
Its two most populous nations - Mexico and Brazil - have seen the highest number of deaths, but researchers say even this could be significantly under reported.
And in Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the virus. So is Latin American on course to become the new epicentre of the pandemic? Read more here.
As part of the plans, all arrivals would be asked to fill in a form with their contact information.
Any passengers arriving in the UK by plane, ferry or train would need to provide UK Border Force officials with an address where they will self-isolate, otherwise accommodation will be arranged by the government.
Under this, health officials would be able to carry out spot checks at private addresses to check whether people were complying.
The new rules are not expected to come into force until next month.
Read more here.
An examination of blood samples from some of the most severely ill patients revealed extremely low numbers of a specific virus-fighting immune cell, called a T-cell.
The trial will look into whether a drug called interleukin 7 - which is known to boost the number of T-cells - can aid patients' recovery.
It is being carried out by a team from Guy's and St Thomas' hospital in London.
Read more here.
Remdesivir was originally designed as an Ebola treatment. It works by attacking an enzyme that a virus needs in order to replicate inside our cells.
A recent clinical trial in the US showed the drug helped shorten the recovery time for people who were seriously ill.
However, it did not significantly improve survival rates. Experts have warned that the drug should not be seen as a "magic bullet" for coronavirus.
But in the absence of any clear treatment for Covid-19, many countries are willing to try remdesivir.
Beximco's production of the generic version will ensure quick supply of the drug to many countries in the South Asia.
Unconfirmed reports say that Beximco is likely to find manufacturing partners in India and Pakistan as well.
The figure is predicted to have jumped to £62.1 billion ($75.8 billion) after heavy spending to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said borrowing was £51.1 billion more than in the same month in 2019.
Speaking to the BBC, Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician for economic statistics at the ONS, said: “What we are seeing is unprecedented.
"It is the highest value we have seen. If I compare to April last year borrowing now is about six times more. We are talking about significant changes in the government finances."
The government's job retention scheme amounted to around £14 billion of the total increase.
Read more here.
Indonesia's President Joko Widodo will not open the presidential palace to the public during Eid, which falls on Sunday in the country, due to social distancing rules.
The tradition, referred to as open house, sees the president meet the public for a brief period of time. People can usually shake hands with the leader and first lady and eat a light meal at the palace afterwards.
Last year, thousands of people waited their turn to meet the president. Those waiting were hosted by palace staff in an air-conditioned tent, complete with snacks and entertainment.
With this year's pandemic, the tradition simply wouldn't fit with the government's own recommendations to stay at home and maintain social distancing in public places.
Muslims in the country have also been urged to forgo mass Eid prayers at mosques or open fields. They have been told not to return to their hometowns or villages and to move their celebrations with their loved ones online.
Indonesia recorded its biggest daily jump of positive Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total cases to 20,162.
Around the world there have been long queues as drive-through restaurants reopen. In the UK, pubs and bars have sold takeaway pints and supermarket deliveries remain elusive for many.
But what are the risks if you get a takeaway or a delivery?
Covid-19 is a respiratory illness; there is no evidence it can be spread via any food or food packaging. Good restaurant kitchens are most likely to be geared towards professional, hygienic food preparation, meaning there would be minimal risk from a freshly cooked takeaway meal.
And delivery slots permitting, a home food drop is less risky than a trip to a supermarket as you will avoid other shoppers.
You can read more about the risks here.
Mortgage holidays were introduced in March. They allow people to defer payments without affecting their credit rating.
That respite from payments was set to end for the first applicants in June, and the Treasury said the extension would provide certainty for those affected.
But it said borrowers should still pay their mortgages if they were able.
Read more here.
Earlier this week, Facebook said it was planning to shift towards a more remote workforce as a long-term trend.
And New Zealand's PM Jacinda Ardern suggested a four-day working week, partly to boost tourism in the country.
As offices begin to gradually reopen after lockdown, more employers are looking at news ways of working.
You can read about some of the new approaches - and which companies are planning to introduce them - here.
In other developments from around the continent:
The memorial book, called Remember Me, will open online from Friday.
Family members, friends and carers of anyone who has died can submit their name, photograph and a short message.
The deceased person must be British or have been living in the UK.
The Prince of Wales said the virtual memorial was a chance to mark "our loss and sorrow, but also to be thankful for everything good that those we have loved brought into our lives".
You can sign the book here
Santwon Antonio Davis, 34, is accused of giving a forged doctor's note to his employer in the US city of Atlanta.
As a result the company halted business, sanitised its workplace and had some employees quarantined. It continued to keep staff on its payroll - costing the firm $100,000 (£81,900).
The FBI is investigating the case, according to a statement.
It is the latest case to be brought forward by a government task force that is combating criminal fraud relating to the pandemic.
"This case is a reminder that we remain vigilant in detecting, investigating and prosecuting any wrongdoing related to the crisis," FBI Special Agent Chris Hacker said.
Ten cabinet ministers in South Sudan are now confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus.
Information Minister Michael Makuei has told the BBC that all members of the high-level task force on coronavirus - apart from the health minister - have tested positive for Covid-19.
But he has denied reports that President Salva Kiir - who was also a member of the team - had tested positive.
It comes just days after Vice-President Riek Machar announced he had tested positive alongside his wife, Defence Minister Angelina Teny.
All of the infected ministers are now in self-isolation and the government says they are in good health.
South Sudan has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in recent days with more than 300 confirmed cases and six deaths.
There are fears the virus could cause havoc given the healthcare system is barely functioning following decades of conflict.
Under a new draft law, every working Egyptian will have 1% deduced from their pay while the elderly will have a half percent cut from their pensions.
The measures will be introduced for a year from July. People with a monthly income of less than $125 (£102) will be exempt.
People who work in tourism, which has been particularly badly affected, may also be excluded.
Eid celebrations this Sunday are going to be very different. And not in a good way for many.
The feast after the fasting month of Ramadan is all about the coming together of family and friends. It’s really significant for members of the Muslim community in the diaspora who are away from their relatives.
Big gatherings are a main feature of the celebrations and they are the very thing that won’t be possible this year.
With only 10 people allowed to gather outdoors in Australia for example, families will have to divide their time between friends and may not be able to see them all on the first day.
For many of us the only way we’ll get to celebrate Eid with our families will be online.
For children (and many adults) Eid is also about showing off the new clothes they bought especially for the occasion. Here, Covid-19 restrictions have been slightly eased only last week and shops aren’t allowed to have more than one customers at a time. So it’s a last minute rush for many to shop.
One crucial absence will be that of the massive communal Eid prayers. Muslims won’t gather in mosques at dawn after the holy month of Ramadan or if they do, the numbers are expected to be smaller because they’d have to keep a safe enough distance. For many this will be a rather sad beginning for a normally happy occasion.
My friends have been posting their attempts at making homemade Eid cookies and sharing the recipes some saying, "Covid-19 won’t stop us if we can’t go out and shop for it we’ll make it at home".
Yet, there’s a big debate among some of my relatives back home in Egypt about braving the (mostly crowded) streets to buy the all important Eid cookies. My husband insists he’s capable of baking the cookies - called kahk - and I’ve resisted his offer so far. But with limited options this year I might just let him try.
Charging for bus travel in London will resume on Saturday, Transport for London (TfL) has announced.
The requirement to touch-in a contactless, Oyster or concessionary card when boarding will initially be required on 85 routes and will be rolled out across all buses "once further safety measures have been introduced to protect bus drivers".
Twenty-nine London bus drivers have died after being infected with coronavirus, according to TfL.
Passengers have not needed to present their payment card since 20 April in a bid to boost the safety of drivers.
But the government is requiring TfL to resume the collection of bus fares as part of the £1.6bn bail out agreed last week.
Bus services were ramped up to 85% of normal frequencies this week and TfL is working towards reinstating 100% of its timetables "as soon as possible".
A new test that shows whether someone currently has the virus is also being trialled. More than 10 million antibody tests will start being rolled out next week, the government says.
Speaking to the BBC, Prof John Newton, who is coordinating Public Health England's testing programme, described the 20-minute antibody test as “very promising” and said they could help with contact tracing and allow rapid decisions in hospitals and in research.
So where can you get tested in the UK? What is antibody testing? And why is testing so important?
If you want answers to all those questions read more here
Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sir Paul Nurse, chief executive of the Francis Crick Institute and patron of scientists for Labour, said the country had "not been getting it right".
"I get a sense the UK has been rather too much on the back foot, increasingly playing catch-up, firefighting us through successive crises," he said.
He added there needed to be "a much clearer publicly-presented strategy".
Sir Ian Boyd, who is a member of the government's scientific advisory body Sage, said he would have liked to see the government act "one or two weeks earlier" suggesting "it would have made quite a big difference" to the death rate.
Responding to Sir Paul on Radio 4's Today programme Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: "We do follow the best advice that is out there from both the scientific advisers, our chief medical advisers and the teams there - but ultimately it is the ministers who make decisions."
There is no evidence that teachers are at an increased risk of dying from coronavirus compared with people in other professions.
In last week’s Office of National Statistics analysis of Covid-19 deaths by occupation the death rate among male “teaching & education professionals” was 6.7 per 100,000. It was 3.3 among their female counterparts.
This compares to a rate of 9.9 and 5.2 deaths per 100,000 among working age males and females respectively.
The teaching rates do look a bit lower, but the numbers are too small to conclude that there’s a real difference there.
The ONS analysis is of deaths registered in England and Wales before 20 April.
Since it takes an average of three weeks for an infection to end in death, this describes deaths caused by infections that happened before lockdown, when schools were still open.
- Brazil's death toll hits 20,047 as fears grow Latin America could become the pandemic's next epicentre
- Countries including Mexico, Chile and Peru are also struggling to contain major outbreaks
- UK arrivals could face fines if they break isolation rules that are set to be announced
- But Australia says its travellers should be exempt from the planned two-week quarantine
- The plan to reopen schools in England on 1 June is questioned by local councils
- UK government borrowing reaches £62.1bn ($75.8bn) in April, a record high
- Globally, there have been 5.1 million confirmed cases and nearly 333,000 deaths
Hello and welcome back to our rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. We’re writing to you out of Singapore, where we’ll be joined by our colleagues across Asia, and later today in London and Washington DC. And as we reach the end of another week, here’s a quick glance at what’s happened overnight:
- Australia is seeking an exemption from moves in the UK to bring in a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all new arrivals. It said it had successfully handled the crisis which meant "travellers from Australia would pose a low risk to the world"
- Brazil has recorded another record daily death toll, bringing the latest figure to more than 20,000 deaths. President Jair Bolsonaro continues to oppose social distancing measures and previously dismissed Covid-19 as a "little flu"
- More than 2.4 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, with the job market remaining grim even as restrictions are slowly lifted across certain parts of the country
- The number of people infected with the virus worldwide has now reached 5.1 million, with the death toll standing at 332,876, according to data from Johns Hopkins University
'Virus success' Australia asks to be let into UK
A little more first on Australia asking to be exempt from any impending UK policy to quarantine all international travellers, as the nation has largely contained the virus. There are just over 600 active cases in the country, and only a dozen new cases presenting per day on average.“Australia has led the world in the successful containment of Covid-19, which clearly means that travellers coming from Australia would pose a low risk to the rest of the world,” said Trade Minister Simon Birmingham.
Australia had been one of the first countries to shut borders in February, and its infection rate drastically tailed off after it imposed a mandatory 14-day quarantine on returning travellers in March. To ensure compliance, the government took travellers directly from airports to paid accommodation in hotels.
The nation is now well into its phased re-opening, with schools, restaurants and retail shops all back up and running.
But the request also reflects the Commonwealth nation’s close relationship with the UK, one underpinned by a shared heritage and common values.
Nearly eight million Australian residents have UK ancestry and the nations both have thousands of expats as residents. Around 700,000 Australians visit the UK each year and vice versa.
China will not set economic growth target this year
Around 3,000 delegates are meeting in China this morning at its annual parliamentary meeting, the National People's Congress.Typically, the NPC is closely watched to see what budgets it approves, what economic target it unveils and what legislation passes through.
China has just announced that it will not set any specific targets for economic growth this year as a result of the crisis.
"This is because our country will face some factors that are difficult to predict in its development due to the great uncertainty regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and the world economic and trade environment," said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
Instead, it widened its budget deficit target to more than 3.6% of GDP, implying a larger shortfall than 2019's target of 2.8%.
Trump removes mask during factory visit
President Donald Trump says he wore a mask in a "back area" during a factory tour in Michigan, but removed it before facing the cameras.He told reporters he took off the facial covering at the Ford car plant because he "didn't want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it", and he was about to make a speech.
Despite Michigan's attorney general urging the president to comply with health guidelines, the president insisted it was unnecessary because he is regularly tested for coronavirus.
China making 'major achievements' against virus
In his opening speech at the National People's Congress, China's parliamen, Premier Li Keqiang has praised China for making "major strategic achievements" in its response to the outbreak.However, he added that "at present,the epidemic has not yet come to an end, while the tasks we face in promoting development are immense".
It's likely that the meeting will further expand on what steps will be taken to prevent a possible second wave of the virus outbreak in China.
NZ's opposition picks new leader to face Ardern
New Zealand's opposition Nationals party has just dumped its leader and elected a new one, in an attempt to contest popular PM Jacinda Ardern in the general election in September.Following her virus response, Ardern has become the country's most popular leader of the past century. Her personal approval rating in recent weeks has surged to 65%, while opposition leader Simon Bridges' dwindled to 5%.
Bridges had been accused of being combative and tone-deaf when he could have been more bipartisan in the country's lockdown response. He's been turfed out for Todd Muller, a former businessman.
Ardern's Labour party is set to win the upcoming election in landslide if the popularity is maintained. Over 90% of the public supported Ardern's fast virus response - which included a severe lockdown that kept cases to around 1,500 and only 21 deaths.
2.4m Americans filed for unemployment last week
Around 2.4 million people in America sought unemployment benefits last week, despite hopes that easing lockdown restrictions would help restart the US economy.The new filings bring the total since mid-March to roughly 38.6 million - almost a quarter of the workforce.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned this week that the US risked "permanent damage" if the lockdowns continued.
The unemployment figures have declined since peaking at almost 6.9 million but remain high.
A parliamentary meeting in a time of coronavirus
Stephen McDonell - BBC News, China correspondentI’ve been reporting in China since 2006 and we’ve always been allowed into the Great Hall of the People for the opening of the National People’s Congress.
Not this year, we’re watching it on television monitors like everyone else. The reason: coronavirus.
Apart from a few flashpoints, the crisis does seem to be under control in most of China but, given that this assembly includes the entire Chinese political and military leadership inside one cavernous room, the risks of infection have necessitated limiting media access.
We expected this Congress to be dominated by the virus and a seemingly ever deteriorating China-US relationship as the global emergency continues to paralyse economic growth worldwide.
However, on day one that’s been overshadowed somewhat by the introduction of national security legislation meaning protestors in Hong Kong, rather than being charged with rioting and assembly crimes, could soon face much more serious laws relating to subversion, succession and treason.
This is bound to see demonstrations in the city which, following last year’s summer of rebellion, had gone quiet as the pandemic hit there like everywhere else.
That said it has been remarkable for there to be no GDP target for China in 2020. Premier Li said this was due to the "great uncertainty" facing his country’s economy and, frankly, who could fault this? It’s hard enough to try to predict the next few weeks under Covid-19, let alone 12 months.
China to further enforce wildlife hunting laws
China will severely punish people for illegally hunting and trading wild animals, it said in a government work report issued on Friday.China put a temporary ban on the trade of wildlife back in February, as a measure to control the spread of the virus - it has promised new legislation to make this ban permanent.
It has since taken other measures to clamp down on the trade, like encouraging wildlife farmers to move to other agricultural practices like growing fruit or vegetables.
The city where the virus first emerged last year, Wuhan, as well as major cities like Shanghai have already banned the consumption of wild animals.
All this comes as many have pinned the source of the pandemic to a seafood market in Wuhan that is believed to have sold wild animals - however, this has never been proven.
President Xi goes maskless at NPC
China's top leadership - including President Xi Jinping and his second-in-command Li Keqiang - were seen not wearing masks in Beijing today.In fact the entire front two rows - filled by the upper echelons of the government - were maskless. The rest of China's parliamentary committee, however, were decked out in their usual masks.
This year's parliamentary committee was earlier postponed for more than two months due to the virus outbreak
Restaurant life to return soon in Sydney
Frances Mao - SydneyIn just over a week, Sydney's bars, restaurants, and cafes can operate again with up to 50 people inside (as long as everyone gets 4 sq m personal space). Some social life, finally!
Currently, venues are open but can only have 10 guests inside - so it's not really a vibe.
For example, my friends and I want to go out this weekend but the problem is where? Most of the restaurants open are serving only set banquets to be profitable - and that's about A$90 (£48;$58) a head. Then getting onto the 10-person bookings sheet is a whole other thing.
So this expansion is very welcome. Yes we'll still have to abide by distancing rules: "no mingling, no standing around" as per NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian's orders. But we can forego cutlery buckets and buffets for that much-missed convivial setting.
It's also obviously fantastic news for hospitality workers - the worst-hit in lockdown. This re-opening is coming much quicker than expected, but Australia's most-populous state is determined to get its economy back as soon as possible.
From 1 June, art galleries, libraries and swimming pools will also be back. We're also being encouraged to travel and take holidays outside of the city this winter.
India allows rail ticket counters to open
Vikas Pandey - BBC News, DelhiIndia has decided to open counters in some cities to allow people to book tickets for at least 200 trains scheduled to run from 1 June.
Online booking for these trains had already started, but it’s the opening of the counters that is the real deal.
If you have travelled in India, you would know that trains are the country’s lifeline. Millions depend on them every day, and a large number of those people go to counters to book tickets because they don’t have smartphones to do it online.
The decision is likely to bring some relief to tens of thousands of migrant workers who want to go home and had to take arduous journeys on foot. The ministry says norms like social distancing will be followed, but it’s going to be challenging.
When authorities opened a temporary counter for migrant workers earlier this week in Ghaziabad city, thousands gathered and there was hardly any space between people jostling to get a ticket.
The video of the incident went viral, and that will be on everybody’s mind when counters open from Friday.
Cyclone complicates India's fight against Covid-19
A powerful cyclone has left a trail of destruction across India, killing dozens and leaving thousands homeless, at a time when the country is already struggling to deal with a global pandemic.Cyclone Amphan, the first super cyclone to form in the Bay of Bengal since 1999, devastated coastal villages, tore down power lines and flattened houses.
The virus has made it harder for emergency and relief efforts to be carried out - social distancing measures has meant mass evacuations can't be carried out as shelters cannot be used at full capacity.
Then there's the fact that resources now have to be diverted to running not one but two disasters. It comes as virus cases across India continue to grow, the country now has over 118,000 virus cases according to JHU data.
Read more about the impact of the cyclone here.
A global look at the virus
The number of confirmed cases around the world has now reached the staggering amount of more than 5.1 million, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Here's a quick breakdown of the countries reporting the highest number of cases:
- US: 1.5 million
- Russia: 317,554
- Brazil: 310,087
- The UK: 252,246
- Spain: 233,037
It's hard to believe that it was just over a month ago, on 2 April, when the total number of cases passed one million.
The true number of cases is thought to be much higher than the reported figures, as many of those with milder symptoms have not been tested and counted.
Pakistan and Bangladesh prepare for Eid
Muslims around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid over the weekend. The festival marks the end of the holy Ramadan month.This year, amid the pandemic, celebrations were expected to be more muted, including in Muslim-majority South Asian nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh.
However, this has not exactly been the case.
Pakistan officials have announced that shops and markets can remain open for longer hours so that people can finish their Eid shopping, despite concerns over a rise in infections in the country. Large crowds are reportedly congregating at shops with little thought for social distancing.
And in Bangladesh, local media reported that there was "total disregard for the lockdown" as thousands of people began heading to their villages for the festival.
What do Americans make of everyone else's response?
Here's some fascinating research on American attitudes. The Pew Research Center surveyed around 11,000 Americans on other countries' responses to the pandemic.Most thought South Korea and Germany had done a good job - better than their own country.
But most also gave China and Italy the worst marks - saying they hadn't handled the outbreak well at all. Italy was the country worst-hit by the pandemic in March, after China succeeded in flattening its curve.
These surveys might reflect the rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who has been aggressively blaming China for the virus' spread. Some critics say this is an attempt to divert attention from his own government's own failures to contain the virus domestically.
The US, which now has more than 1.5 million known cases, overtook both China and Italy's death toll in mid-April.
What are the other main views in America? Read the main takeaways here.
Schools set to go back in Australia's biggest state
Simon Atkinson - BBC News, SydneyFor most children here in New South Wales it has been more than two months out of the classroom.
But from next Monday that will change, with students told to go back at school. Unlike other states there is no staggered introduction by year group and anyone not attending will be marked down as an unauthorised absence.
This is a quicker return then had initially been flagged for state schools. And that’s because while there have been far more Covid 19 cases in NSW than elsewhere in Australia (3,082 at time of writing and 47 deaths) - there’s a very low number of new cases confirmed (just two in the past 24 hours for example).
Some parents say things are happening too quickly. Some teachers agree it is too rushed. And a positive case in a Sydney private school this week underlines the risks of further outbreaks.
But most parents I’ve spoken to are fairly confident that their children can return to the classroom safely. And after weeks and weeks of juggling home-schooling with work, it’s fair to say that many of them are pretty relieved too.
Zoo might have to kill animals to feed others
An Indonesian zoo has said it may have to resort to slaughtering some of its animals to feed others, according to a Reuters report.The Bandung zoo, which usually earns about 1.2 billion rupiah ($81,700: £67,000) a month from visitors, shut on 23 March. It is now solely relying on donations to keep its animals alive but says it is contemplating a "worst case" scenario.
A spokesman said it needed more than 400kg of fruit per day and 120kg of meat every other day to feed its 85 animals, and had already started cutting down the portions.
“We have around 30 dotted deer, and we have identified the old and unproductive ones to be slaughtered to save the carnivores, such as the Sumatran tiger and Javan leopard,” said Sulhan Syafi’i.
Syafi'i said the animals were getting enough food but noticing the decrease.
“The food is finished, but they still want to eat,” said orangutan keeper Saepudin, who said the primates could go into a rage and throw things.
Brazil records more than 20,000 deaths
Brazil has become the sixth country to record more than 20,000 coronavirus deaths - reporting nearly 1,200 in the past day, a record high.Experts have warned that Brazil is still a few weeks away from reaching the peak of the outbreak, and that insufficient testing means the official figures don't show the true picture.
President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down the risks of Covid-19. He has urged state governors to lift lockdowns and promoted the benefits of the unproven anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a remedy.
English school reopening plan questioned by councils
Many local councils in England have now said they cannot guarantee primary schools will reopen on 1 June, throwing government plans to get pupils back to class into chaos.Only 20 of 99 English councils to respond to a BBC Breakfast survey said they were advising schools to open more widely on Boris Johnson's target date.
Of the 99 who responded, two thirds (68), could not guarantee schools would reopen to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.
There are concerns the wider opening of schools could lead to a second spike in Covid-19.
Teaching unions also called for a more regional approach, with local authorities being given the final call.
Read more about the concerns over school openings here.
Is Latin America the next centre of the pandemic?
With more than 20,000 dead, Brazil now has the sixth highest number of deaths in the world from the pandemic.And with outbreaks in Mexico, Chile and Peru, there are now fears that the region could become the next epicentre of the pandemic.
The virus was first identified in Brazil on 26 February and has since spread to every country in the region.
Its two most populous nations - Mexico and Brazil - have seen the highest number of deaths, but researchers say even this could be significantly under reported.
And in Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the virus. So is Latin American on course to become the new epicentre of the pandemic? Read more here.
Friday's latest developments
If you're just joining us in the UK this morning, here are some of the latest developments to look at:- International travellers could be fined £1,000 if they fail to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in the UK, the government is expected to announce
- Australia says its travellers should be exempt from the UK's planned two-week quarantine
- Scores of local councils in the UK say they cannot guarantee primary schools will reopen on 1 June, throwing government plans into chaos.
- NHS fees in the UK are to be scrapped for overseas health staff and care workers
- China will not set an economic growth goal for 2020 as it deals with the fallout from the pandemic
- Brazil records another record daily death toll, taking the total to over 20,000
- In France at least 50 healthcare workers were fined and three people were arrested in a protest to demand better funding for a Paris hospital
- New figures show another 2.4m US job losses in the previous week with over 38 million now claiming unemployment benefits
UK arrivals could face fines if they break quarantine
International travellers into the UK could be fined £1,000 if they fail to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in the UK, the government is expected to announce.As part of the plans, all arrivals would be asked to fill in a form with their contact information.
Any passengers arriving in the UK by plane, ferry or train would need to provide UK Border Force officials with an address where they will self-isolate, otherwise accommodation will be arranged by the government.
Under this, health officials would be able to carry out spot checks at private addresses to check whether people were complying.
The new rules are not expected to come into force until next month.
Read more here.
UK begins T-cell immunotherapy trial
Researchers in the UK are beginning the trial of an immunotherapy treatment that could help the recovery of people with the most severe form of Covid-19.An examination of blood samples from some of the most severely ill patients revealed extremely low numbers of a specific virus-fighting immune cell, called a T-cell.
The trial will look into whether a drug called interleukin 7 - which is known to boost the number of T-cells - can aid patients' recovery.
It is being carried out by a team from Guy's and St Thomas' hospital in London.
Read more here.
Bangladesh produces first generic version of remdesivir
Bangladesh-based Beximco Pharmaceuticals has become the world’s first company to produce a generic version of the antiviral drug remdesivir, originally developed by US-based Gilead Sciences.Remdesivir was originally designed as an Ebola treatment. It works by attacking an enzyme that a virus needs in order to replicate inside our cells.
A recent clinical trial in the US showed the drug helped shorten the recovery time for people who were seriously ill.
However, it did not significantly improve survival rates. Experts have warned that the drug should not be seen as a "magic bullet" for coronavirus.
But in the absence of any clear treatment for Covid-19, many countries are willing to try remdesivir.
Beximco's production of the generic version will ensure quick supply of the drug to many countries in the South Asia.
Unconfirmed reports say that Beximco is likely to find manufacturing partners in India and Pakistan as well.
UK government borrowing reaches record high
UK government borrowing in April was the highest of any month on record, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).The figure is predicted to have jumped to £62.1 billion ($75.8 billion) after heavy spending to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said borrowing was £51.1 billion more than in the same month in 2019.
Speaking to the BBC, Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician for economic statistics at the ONS, said: “What we are seeing is unprecedented.
"It is the highest value we have seen. If I compare to April last year borrowing now is about six times more. We are talking about significant changes in the government finances."
The government's job retention scheme amounted to around £14 billion of the total increase.
Read more here.
Here is the latest on the coronavirus in the UK
For those of you who are keeping an eye on what is happening in the UK, here are some of the latest developments:- UK government borrowing in April was the highest of any month on record, according to the Office for National Statistics
- International travellers could be fined £1,000 ($1,220) if they fail to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in the UK, the government is expected to announce later
- NHS fees in the UK are to be scrapped for overseas health staff and care workers
- UK scientists are to begin testing a treatment it is hoped could counter the effects of Covid-19 in the most seriously ill. The drug involved is known to boost a patient's stock of T-cells - immune cells that clear infection from the body
- Scores of local councils in England say they cannot guarantee primary schools will reopen on 1 June, throwing government plans into chaos
- Some pupils in Northern Ireland will return to school in late August with a phased return for the remainder, says the nation’s Education Minister Peter Weir
- Lockdown restrictions in Scotland are likely to be relaxed slightly from 28 May, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed
- Police in Wales say money and thousands of pounds' worth of drugs have been seized as an “indirect consequence” of vehicle checks during lockdown
Indonesian president's Eid 'open house' cancelled
Resty Woro Yuniar - BBC News, Jakarta
Indonesia's President Joko Widodo will not open the presidential palace to the public during Eid, which falls on Sunday in the country, due to social distancing rules.
The tradition, referred to as open house, sees the president meet the public for a brief period of time. People can usually shake hands with the leader and first lady and eat a light meal at the palace afterwards.
Last year, thousands of people waited their turn to meet the president. Those waiting were hosted by palace staff in an air-conditioned tent, complete with snacks and entertainment.
With this year's pandemic, the tradition simply wouldn't fit with the government's own recommendations to stay at home and maintain social distancing in public places.
Muslims in the country have also been urged to forgo mass Eid prayers at mosques or open fields. They have been told not to return to their hometowns or villages and to move their celebrations with their loved ones online.
Indonesia recorded its biggest daily jump of positive Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total cases to 20,162.
How safe are takeaways and deliveries?
Victoria Gill - Science reporter, BBC News
Around the world there have been long queues as drive-through restaurants reopen. In the UK, pubs and bars have sold takeaway pints and supermarket deliveries remain elusive for many.
But what are the risks if you get a takeaway or a delivery?
Covid-19 is a respiratory illness; there is no evidence it can be spread via any food or food packaging. Good restaurant kitchens are most likely to be geared towards professional, hygienic food preparation, meaning there would be minimal risk from a freshly cooked takeaway meal.
And delivery slots permitting, a home food drop is less risky than a trip to a supermarket as you will avoid other shoppers.
You can read more about the risks here.
Mortgage holidays extended
Homeowners in the UK who are struggling financially due to the pandemic will be able to extend their mortgage payment holiday for a further three months or cut their payments.Mortgage holidays were introduced in March. They allow people to defer payments without affecting their credit rating.
That respite from payments was set to end for the first applicants in June, and the Treasury said the extension would provide certainty for those affected.
But it said borrowers should still pay their mortgages if they were able.
Read more here.
Flexible working will be the new normal
Justin Harper - Business ReporterEarlier this week, Facebook said it was planning to shift towards a more remote workforce as a long-term trend.
And New Zealand's PM Jacinda Ardern suggested a four-day working week, partly to boost tourism in the country.
As offices begin to gradually reopen after lockdown, more employers are looking at news ways of working.
You can read about some of the new approaches - and which companies are planning to introduce them - here.
Latest from around Europe
Denmark was among the first European countries to start opening up and now cinemas, theatres, museums, zoos and art galleries are free to reopen providing social distancing is enforced.In other developments from around the continent:
- Italy's death toll in March and April could be 19,000 higher than official figures suggest, its social security agency says. The recorded toll for that period is almost 28,000
- Germany's health minister has given details of plans to carry out preventative tests in care homes and hospitals whenever anyone is admitted or moved. The country's outbreak continues to decline
- Tonight, German football sees its first Berlin derby since the lockdown began as Hertha take on FC Union at 20:30 (18:30B)
- The first round of France's mayoral elections took place in March but the second round was cancelled - it's now set to go ahead on 28 June
- Meanwhile, Serbia's Prime Minister Ana Brnabic says the country's internationally renowned Exit music festival should be allowed to take place in August rather than July
Online book of remembrance opened by St Paul's
An online book of remembrance to commemorate those who have died from coronavirus has been organised by St Paul's Cathedral in London.The memorial book, called Remember Me, will open online from Friday.
Family members, friends and carers of anyone who has died can submit their name, photograph and a short message.
The deceased person must be British or have been living in the UK.
The Prince of Wales said the virtual memorial was a chance to mark "our loss and sorrow, but also to be thankful for everything good that those we have loved brought into our lives".
You can sign the book here
US man accused of 'faking virus sick note'
Federal prosecutors have charged a man with faking a coronavirus diagnosis to skip work.Santwon Antonio Davis, 34, is accused of giving a forged doctor's note to his employer in the US city of Atlanta.
As a result the company halted business, sanitised its workplace and had some employees quarantined. It continued to keep staff on its payroll - costing the firm $100,000 (£81,900).
The FBI is investigating the case, according to a statement.
It is the latest case to be brought forward by a government task force that is combating criminal fraud relating to the pandemic.
"This case is a reminder that we remain vigilant in detecting, investigating and prosecuting any wrongdoing related to the crisis," FBI Special Agent Chris Hacker said.
Ten South Sudan ministers test positive
Emmanuel Igunza - BBC News, NairobiTen cabinet ministers in South Sudan are now confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus.
Information Minister Michael Makuei has told the BBC that all members of the high-level task force on coronavirus - apart from the health minister - have tested positive for Covid-19.
But he has denied reports that President Salva Kiir - who was also a member of the team - had tested positive.
It comes just days after Vice-President Riek Machar announced he had tested positive alongside his wife, Defence Minister Angelina Teny.
All of the infected ministers are now in self-isolation and the government says they are in good health.
South Sudan has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in recent days with more than 300 confirmed cases and six deaths.
There are fears the virus could cause havoc given the healthcare system is barely functioning following decades of conflict.
Egypt to deduct 1% from workers' salaries
The Egyptian government has announced a raft of financial measures to help pay for the economic damage caused by the pandemic.Under a new draft law, every working Egyptian will have 1% deduced from their pay while the elderly will have a half percent cut from their pensions.
The measures will be introduced for a year from July. People with a monthly income of less than $125 (£102) will be exempt.
People who work in tourism, which has been particularly badly affected, may also be excluded.
Eid in Sydney: 'A sad beginning for a normally happy occasion'
Shaimaa Khalil - BBC News, SydneyEid celebrations this Sunday are going to be very different. And not in a good way for many.
The feast after the fasting month of Ramadan is all about the coming together of family and friends. It’s really significant for members of the Muslim community in the diaspora who are away from their relatives.
Big gatherings are a main feature of the celebrations and they are the very thing that won’t be possible this year.
With only 10 people allowed to gather outdoors in Australia for example, families will have to divide their time between friends and may not be able to see them all on the first day.
For many of us the only way we’ll get to celebrate Eid with our families will be online.
For children (and many adults) Eid is also about showing off the new clothes they bought especially for the occasion. Here, Covid-19 restrictions have been slightly eased only last week and shops aren’t allowed to have more than one customers at a time. So it’s a last minute rush for many to shop.
One crucial absence will be that of the massive communal Eid prayers. Muslims won’t gather in mosques at dawn after the holy month of Ramadan or if they do, the numbers are expected to be smaller because they’d have to keep a safe enough distance. For many this will be a rather sad beginning for a normally happy occasion.
My friends have been posting their attempts at making homemade Eid cookies and sharing the recipes some saying, "Covid-19 won’t stop us if we can’t go out and shop for it we’ll make it at home".
Yet, there’s a big debate among some of my relatives back home in Egypt about braving the (mostly crowded) streets to buy the all important Eid cookies. My husband insists he’s capable of baking the cookies - called kahk - and I’ve resisted his offer so far. But with limited options this year I might just let him try.
London bus fares to return as services increase
Charging for bus travel in London will resume on Saturday, Transport for London (TfL) has announced.
The requirement to touch-in a contactless, Oyster or concessionary card when boarding will initially be required on 85 routes and will be rolled out across all buses "once further safety measures have been introduced to protect bus drivers".
Twenty-nine London bus drivers have died after being infected with coronavirus, according to TfL.
Passengers have not needed to present their payment card since 20 April in a bid to boost the safety of drivers.
But the government is requiring TfL to resume the collection of bus fares as part of the £1.6bn bail out agreed last week.
Bus services were ramped up to 85% of normal frequencies this week and TfL is working towards reinstating 100% of its timetables "as soon as possible".
What tests are being done in the UK?
Everyone aged five and over in the UK with coronavirus symptoms can now be tested, Heath Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.A new test that shows whether someone currently has the virus is also being trialled. More than 10 million antibody tests will start being rolled out next week, the government says.
Speaking to the BBC, Prof John Newton, who is coordinating Public Health England's testing programme, described the 20-minute antibody test as “very promising” and said they could help with contact tracing and allow rapid decisions in hospitals and in research.
So where can you get tested in the UK? What is antibody testing? And why is testing so important?
If you want answers to all those questions read more here
UK 'playing catch-up', top scientist warns
Members of the scientific community have criticised the UK government for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sir Paul Nurse, chief executive of the Francis Crick Institute and patron of scientists for Labour, said the country had "not been getting it right".
"I get a sense the UK has been rather too much on the back foot, increasingly playing catch-up, firefighting us through successive crises," he said.
He added there needed to be "a much clearer publicly-presented strategy".
Sir Ian Boyd, who is a member of the government's scientific advisory body Sage, said he would have liked to see the government act "one or two weeks earlier" suggesting "it would have made quite a big difference" to the death rate.
Responding to Sir Paul on Radio 4's Today programme Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: "We do follow the best advice that is out there from both the scientific advisers, our chief medical advisers and the teams there - but ultimately it is the ministers who make decisions."
No evidence teachers at 'increased risk' of dying
Robert Cuffe - BBC Head of StatisticsThere is no evidence that teachers are at an increased risk of dying from coronavirus compared with people in other professions.
In last week’s Office of National Statistics analysis of Covid-19 deaths by occupation the death rate among male “teaching & education professionals” was 6.7 per 100,000. It was 3.3 among their female counterparts.
This compares to a rate of 9.9 and 5.2 deaths per 100,000 among working age males and females respectively.
The teaching rates do look a bit lower, but the numbers are too small to conclude that there’s a real difference there.
The ONS analysis is of deaths registered in England and Wales before 20 April.
Since it takes an average of three weeks for an infection to end in death, this describes deaths caused by infections that happened before lockdown, when schools were still open.
For those interested in the UK Briefing ... as it happened: (If not, skip to the summing up bits at the end of this section:
Reality Check
by 
61-BLUES
