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What have we learnt from today's UK briefing?

The UK government's daily briefing has just come to a close, so what have we learnt?

• Education Secretary Gavin Williamson began by thanking schools, nurseries and children's services for the "vital role" they are playing
  
• But he said he could not give a date for when schools would re-open
  
• Williamson listed a number of measures the government was introducing for disadvantaged children trying to learn at home, including buying laptops for those preparing for exams and giving 4G routers for those without internet
  
• The minister said there was a "national effort" to ensure NHS staff and careworkers got the protective kit they needed
  
• He also said PM Boris Johnson has been leading from the front, despite criticism that he had missed early meetings on the pandemic
  
• Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, said it was difficult to make like-for-like comparisons with other countries
  
• She said the UK would need to wait 12 months or more to look back and examine what had led to the differences in death rates
  

UK government waits for more data before acting on schools

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson put it bluntly - he can’t tell parents, pupils and teachers when schools will re-open.
There’s been a lot of speculation that this could be one of the first steps the government takes on the path back to normal life.
But ministers say it’s still too soon to say when that could happen.
There are many options to consider, including whether younger pupils and those with exams next year could return to the classroom first.
The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is plateauing or falling in most areas. But ministers are waiting for more scientific data before acting.
Other countries are starting to lift restrictions and the UK will be watching and learning from their experiences.
For now, they don’t want to dilute the message that staying at home and social distancing must continue.

Pandemic forces US bomb memorial online

Staff placed fresh flowers on the memorial chairs since their loved ones could not

On 19 April 1995 a bomb attack killed 168 people in Oklahoma City.
Every year survivors and loved ones usually gather at the memorial site to pay tribute and pledge never to forget. But this year, because of coronavirus, the 25th anniversary plans had to change dramatically.
A special pre-recorded remembrance ceremony was shown at 09:00 local time (14:00 GMT) online and on local television instead.
Those watching were encouraged to use the hashtag #WeRemember to feel connected. The recording included 168 seconds of silence and each of the victims' names was also read aloud.
“We gather virtually, not coming physically together, so hopefully lives may be saved,” Reverend Michael B Curry said. “We gather virtually so that our health may be preserved and the health of others – even people we don’t know.”
“We gather virtually as an act of love,” he added.
You can read more about the attack here:

• The day terror came to Oklahoma
  

Wuhan's quarantined footballers return home

Michael Bristow - BBC World Service Asia Pacific Editor
A football team from the Chinese city where the coronavirus originated last year has arrived home, after they were unable to return for more than three months.
The players of Wuhan Zall were greeted by hundreds of chanting fans as they arrived at the city's railway station at the weekend.
When Wuhan was placed under lockdown, the squad decided to stay on at their winter training camp in Spain.
When they did return to China, via an extended layover in Germany, they were told to go into quarantine.The squad then had to wait for Wuhan to re-open to the rest of the country before they could finally return.Team members will now spend several days with their families before they resume training, although it's not clear when the postponed Chinese Super League will begin.

New York couples can now tie the knot over Zoom

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed an order allowing virtual weddings as in-person weddings are cancelled amid social distancing restrictions.
"There's now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage. No excuse," Cuomo joked at his daily briefing on Saturday. "You can do it by Zoom. Yes or no."
Couples in New York will be able to apply for marriage licenses online, with clerks conducting the ceremonies virtually.
Cuomo's announcement follows the news that New York State - epicentre of the US outbreak - will extend its lockdown measures until 15 May.
Similar measures have been introduced in the US state of Colorado, where couples are allowed to apply for marriages online.

Baseball game boils over in Taiwan

Fubon Guardians' Henry Sosa (second left) made a few enemies on Sunday

To melee or not to melee during the age of Covid-19? That is the question for sports teams embroiled in a tense battle.
On Sunday, players from two Chinese Pro Baseball League teams opted for the former after Fubon Guardians pitcher Henry Sosa struck the backside of Rakuten Monkeys pitcher Kuo Yen-Wen.
Rakuten players left their bench incensed while their Fubon counterparts came rushing over from the other side of the field.
The game in Taiwan's Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium featured no fans because of social distancing measures... although it seems the players threw caution to the wind for a few moments.