Summary

  • UK health secretary promises more protective equipment for NHS and social care staff

  • He also says more effective testing for coronavirus is being rolled out

  • Earlier, Boris Johnson said the UK could "turn the tide", but only if people followed official advice

  • The UK death toll has now risen to 144

  • The Queen issues a message to the nation, urging everyone to come together

  • Italy reports 427 more deaths, overtaking China's toll

  • EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier tests positive for virus

  • Asian countries see second wave of infections from people returning home

  • UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urges world leaders to work together

Live Reporting

Ashitha Nagesh, Jennifer Scott, Hazel Shearing, Victoria King, Paul Seddon, Andreas Illmer, Saira Asher, Anna Jones, Yvette Tan, Frances Mao and Jay Savage

  1. Australia's island state Tasmania to quarantine arrivals

    Map of Australia

    Tasmania, south of the Australian mainland, has announced the most stringent border measures in Australia so far.

    The island state has declared a mandatory quarantine on arrivals from Saturday to prevent the spread of the virus.

    This includes other Australians and locals heading home from the mainland. The only exceptions are for health and trade workers.

    The nation's smallest state currently has 10 cases, while there are more than 300 cases in New South Wales and 150 in Victoria - states which have 15 times larger populations.

  2. Welcome back

    Welcome back to our live coverage of the global coronavirus crisis. From our Asia bureau in Singapore we're giving you all the updates from around the globe and later will be joined by our colleagues in London.

    Here's a brief of where we're at:

    • Many Asian nations are facing an uphill battle to stem the spread of the virus. Singapore itself has seen a new spike and many countries in the region are seeing a rapid rise in confirmed cases.
    • In Europe, the worst-hit country Italy has seen a spike in deaths by 475 in one day, the biggest in one day. There are more than 35,000 cases in the country.
    • The UK has announced it will close all schools from Friday on. Many European countries have already done so.
    • The US and Canada have agreed to close their mutual border to all non-essential travel.
    • In Australia, Tasmania will close its borders to the rest of the country and flag carrier Qantas will suspend all international flights by the end of the month.