Robert Cuffe
BBC head of statistics

You might be looking out of your window at sunshine and wondering if you really have to follow the government's instruction to stay home.

Well, this is what lies behind the government's thinking:

• Scientists currently believe each person infected with Covid-19 infects a further 2.5 people over the course of around five days
• That means that 30 days after the first infection, 406 people will have the virus
• If we reduce our exposure by half, that first infection would only have led to 15 other infections in 30 days - less than 5% of 406.

Of course, it's not guaranteed that we can reduce our exposures by half, and it takes a few weeks for the effect of any intervention to show up.

But if we reduce exposure by, say, a third, the reduction is just over 85% (or 53 infections).

Look at the graphic below, which may make the maths a little clearer.

Also, here is our guide on self-distancing, and how to do it. You're probably going to need it.

Staff at an emergency food hub in Wolverhampton are busy this weekend preparing and delivering food parcels to the most vulnerable residents in the city.

The hub is being run 24/7 and will have the capacity to deliver 30,000 parcels a week if needed:

Tanya Gupta

Social distancing has become "impossible" on Brighton seafront because of the number of people gathering there, the council has said.

Brighton & Hove City Council tweeted: "Too many people are using the seafront to meet up with friends.

"We know it's hard being inside and not seeing friends and family but..."

A forecast of warm weather had led authorities across the country to warn people to stay away from coastal areas, national parks and other visitor destinations.

Adam Smith
BBC Local Live, Yorkshire

A war memorial in Leeds has been targeted by vandals during the coronavirus lockdown.

Image source, Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) said it was "saddened" by the damage at Harehills Cemetery.

Recently laid turf was ripped up and thrown at the Cross of Sacrifice and a wall bearing the names of the war dead.

However, no graves were damaged or disturbed during the vandalism, believed to have taken place on Tuesday.

James King, from the CWGC, said: "At a time when everyone is concentrating on doing their bit to control the spread of coronavirus, it beggars belief that someone would cause wanton damage to a cemetery like this."

The CWGC is currently in discussions with contractors about how to carry out repairs amid current restrictions on movement.

Up to 4,000 prisoners in England and Wales are to be released in an effort to control the spread of coronavirus.

Inmates with two months or less still to serve will be released on temporary licences in stages, the Ministry of Justice has said.

The selected low-risk offenders will be electronically tagged and can be recalled at the first sign of concern.

Sex offenders and those convicted of violent offences, as well as anyone who is a national security concern or a danger to children, will not be considered for release, the Prison Service said.

Image source, Getty Images

The coronavirus pandemic has caused daily difficulties for everyone. But what if you are visually impaired?

Blind journalist Kate Pounds has been exploring the particular challenges the virus has thrown up.

Kate talks about having to touch objects and surfaces much more than your average person, while discussing the difficulty in finding a bathroom or alcohol gel point when you want to wash your hands.

Chairman Fanos Hira says Worcestershire may be able to cope better with the coronavirus crisis than some of English cricket's generally wealthier counties.

Cricket lovers should have seen the start of the County Championship season on Easter Sunday but instead the 2020 campaign has been put on hold until 28 May at the earliest.

Image source, Getty Images

"In the past where it has probably been disadvantageous to counties with non-Test match grounds, now we're not reliant on the vast amounts of hospitality income or big functions that occur in these vast venues," Hira told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"So, in many respects, although the impact on us is great, for many other counties with higher fixed costs that impact could be a lot greater. Perhaps it's an advantage to us during this period of enormous uncertainty."

Parks across Bristol have been "very busy" this lunchtime, according to the city council.

While they are unable to close parks, the council has urged people only to use them once a day for "short exercise", and otherwise follow government instructions to stay at home.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

London mayor Sadiq Khan has urged people to pay heed to social distancing warnings as the capital faces the warmest weather so far this spring.

The message issued by all authorities is the same - if people do venture outside they must keep two metres away from one another to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The temperature will average 15C today but Sunday is expected to see highs of 21C, according to BBC Weather.

The virus is spreading around the world, but what is it and what are the symptoms?

BBC Radio London presenter Eddie Nestor has spoken about his family's experience of coronavirus.

Image source, Eddie Nestor

The drive-time host is now on a 14-day period of self-isolation after his mother's partner was diagnosed with the virus earlier this week.

In a video message on Facebook, external, he said his mother's partner was now believed to have improved and that "the worst is over".

But the presenter said he was now showing symptoms of Covid-19 and had lost his sense of smell and taste.

He has urged people to observe government advice on reducing the spread of the disease.

"This thing is real," he said.

Intensive care unit sister Laura Kirby-Deacon said the hearts could comfort families unable to see their loved ones.

Image source, Getty Images

You can find out how many people have confirmed cases in your area here.

The articles also uses charts and graphics to help understand the situation in England, showing how the authorities are responding.

The UK government has promised it will dramatically increase coronavirus testing to 100,000 a day by the end of the month.

It has been criticised for not testing more people already, as countries like Germany have managed to reach 50,000 tests a day.

Image source, Getty Images

Daily coronavirus testing passed 10,000 people a day across the UK on Thursday - and BBC health reporter Rachel Schraer looks at how capacity could be increased tenfold in just four weeks.

The actual Grand National may be off but a televised virtual version is happening later instead

Forty runners who would have been most likely to line up will take part, using CGI technology and special algorithms.

Image source, Inspired Entertainment

Bookmakers have odds, and profits will go to NHS Charities Together.

The virtual race will be broadcast by ITV from 17:00 BST today, and for a bit of fun you can find out what your racing name would be.

Simon Armstrong
BBC News

All council-run park and seafront car parks in Sunderland have been shut as the authority bids to deter visitors during the coronavirus outbreak.

The closures, which will be in place for the "foreseeable future", come amid fears people will travel to beauty spots this weekend and over Easter with warm weather and sunshine anticipated.

Fiona Brown, from Sunderland City Council, said: "Our parks and beaches all remain open, but we are taking this action to discourage people from travelling to them by car in line with government advice that people should not be making unnecessary journeys.

"Although most residents have been acting very responsibly, there have been issues with a large number of people driving to parks and the city’s beaches.

"We have also had reports that some children have been using the play areas, which no-one should be doing at the moment because all play areas are currently closed due to the need for social distancing to minimise the risk of the virus spreading."

Image source, Sunderland City Council

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Firefighters have saved NHS supplies and fuel which were destined for the Nightingale Hospital at London's ExCel Centre after a blaze at an industrial estate in Barking.

A range of shipping containers were badly damaged by the fire and two vans were destroyed, London Fire Brigade said.

Five people were helped from the building on Friday but there were no injuries.

Image source, London Fire Brigade

Group commander Dan Kipling said: “Firefighters worked to prioritise removing two pallets of NHS equipment and 72,000 litres of diesel so they didn’t become involved in the fire.

“Crews worked very hard and did a really good job in difficult circumstances to prioritise saving the stock and fuel, which has now left the site for the Nightingale Hospital.”

England netballer and trained doctor Layla Guscoth says she felt it was “her duty” to volunteer for hospital shifts during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds defender, 28, returned to the UK after Australia's Super Netball season was suspended.

Image source, Getty Images

She is treating Covid-19 patients at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

“It’s hard to think about netball and right now my focus is doing what I can do to help in hospital,“ Guscoth told BBC Radio 5 live.

Ben Taylor, who performs as Yorkshire Prose, recites a piece about coronavirus and life in lockdown composed in his regional dialect.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Singer-songwriter Jake Bugg will perform at a live-streaming music festival in support of artists whose livelihoods have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Light Hustle festival was due to take place in Bugg's home city of Nottingham but because of lockdown restrictions a virtual gig will take place instead.

Bugg will join more than 20 artists including cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason at the gig at 15:00 BST today.

Image source, Getty Images

The festival will see an emergency hardship fund launched in support of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire's creative freelancers as government support for the self-employed will not be available until June.

Bugg, who was born in Clifton, said: "With everything that is going on it is difficult for everybody, especially musicians out there, so I thought it was a nice thing to be part of."

Organisers Circle of Light and Hockley Hustle will stream the event on their respective Facebook pages.

Image source, Getty Images