The Queen has issued a message to the nation in which she says the UK is “entering a period of great concern and uncertainty”.

The statement was issued by Buckingham Palace after she began her Easter break earlier than planned.

Her message says: “At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal.

“We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services; but now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals - today and in the coming days, weeks and months.

“Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part.”

Helen Briggs
BBC News

I’m sitting in front of the World Health Organization (WHO) website, external which has a huge amount of information on it, and it’s not just for scientists and doctors. In fact, there’s a series of myth-busters, external that have been developed by WHO.

There is a lot of misinformation out there – people look at social media feeds and see all sorts of stories. But often it’s just a case of looking at where the story has come from and whether it’s an accredited organisation. Look for information from WHO or from your own individual country’s public bodies.

And of course, you can find all the latest coronavirus information on the BBC News website.

Image source, Reuters

We are expecting a news conference from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson soon as he continues his daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak.

While we wait, here is a recap on the situation in the country:

• The total number of deaths from the coronavirus in the UK reached 137
• The government is expected to release a list of “key workers” who can still send their children to school after closures were announced on Wednesday
• Exams in Scotland were cancelled for the first time
• Downing Street dismissed suggestions of a travel ban in London but dozens of tube stations were closed
• The Bank of England cut interest rates from 0.25% to 0.1% - the lowest level in history

Helier Cheung
BBC News

It’s not clear right now how long this outbreak could go on for – or how long social distancing measures will be needed.

Ooi Eng Eong, a professor in emerging infectious diseases at the National University of Singapore, says he is “optimistic” as infection numbers started falling within two to three weeks in Hubei province after China began an extreme lockdown there.

However, “the way China did the shutdown was pretty drastic, and they combined the shutdown with active screening and removing infected cases [into quarantine]”. In places with softer measures he imagines it could take “slightly longer”.

By contrast, Benjamin Cowling, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Hong Kong, says “we can’t really relax until there’s a vaccine” – which could take about 18 months or two years.

When a lockdown ends, there’s still a risk that local transmissions will start again and a “second wave” of infections begins, he adds. “Prolonged lockdowns are really damaging for the economy, while an epidemic is really damaging to public health… there’s not a lot of good choices.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged people in the city to follow expert advice and avoid the transport network.

"People should not be travelling by any means unless they absolutely must," he told the London Assembly.

It follows the announcement that up to 40 London Underground stations will close until further notice as the city attempts to reduce the effect of the coronavirus outbreak.

Transport for London (TfL) announced there would be a partial shutdown of the network from Thursday morning.

From then on services will be gradually reduced in a move designed to allow only critical workers to make essential journeys.

Additionally, there will be no night Tube and bus services will also be reduced, TfL said.

The stations on the closure list are:

• Bakerloo Line: Lambeth North, Regents Park, Warwick Avenue, Kilburn Park, Charing Cross
• Central Line: Holland Park, Queensway, Lancaster Gate, Chancery Lane, Redbridge
• Circle Line: Bayswater, Great Portland Street, Barbican
• District Line: Bow Road, Stepney Green, Mansion House, Temple, St James's Park, Gloucester Road
• Jubilee Line: Swiss Cottage, St John's Wood, Bermondsey, Southwark
• Northern Line: Tuffnell Park, Chalk Farm, Mornington Crescent, Goodge Street, Borough, Clapham South, Tooting Bec, South Wimbledon, Hampstead
• Piccadilly Line: Caledonian Road, Arsenal, Covent Garden, Hyde Park Corner, Bounds Green, Manor House
• Victoria Line: Pimlico, Blackhorse Road

TfL has advised passengers to check the website, external for live updates.

Philippa Roxby
Health reporter, BBC News

Scientists are clear that the younger you are the more likely you are to have mild symptoms from the new coronavirus but that doesn’t mean young people aren’t affected at all.

“Some young people have ended up in intensive care,” say the UK’s chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty. “It’s not a trivial infection for everybody, even if they are young.”

In the US, new data on 2,500 of the first recorded cases in the country shows that while the oldest patients were more likely to end up in hospital and die from Covid-19, 38% of the hospitalised were aged between 20 and 54.

Data from China shows that death rates were lowest among under-30s who had the virus but there were still some deaths – eight in 4,500 cases to be precise.

Underlying health conditions in young people could play a part in the figures but are healthy, young people also being too complacent about this virus?

The message is that everyone has to be careful and do their bit to stop mixing in crowded pubs and restaurants.

Children and young people may not be experiencing symptoms but they could still be passing it on. If they are walking around with the infection, that affects everybody in their community.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA

As we said earlier, he has tested positive for coronavirus but his condition is not believed to be a cause for concern.

Only on Tuesday, the prince had announced reforms to curb the spread of the virus in the tiny state which he has ruled since the death of his father, Prince Rainier, in 2005.

The son of Hollywood star-turned-princess Grace Kelly, the 62-year-old has a fortune estimated at some €2bn (£1.8bn; $2.4bn).

House of Commons
Parliament

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said a post-Brexit UK-EU trade deal can still be done by the end of the transition period in December 2020.

Speaking to the Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr Raab said there was "plenty of scope" for talks "to be done through teleconferencing and remotely".

"We don't want to extend - we want to get this done," he told MPs.

"We also feel that with the political declaration, there is enough of a series of guidelines now, followed up by the negotiating texts, to enable this to be done in time."

Talks due to be held this week were put on hold because of the coronavirus outbreak.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says he will not order a lockdown of the city amid a coronavirus spike.

“And I’m telling you I’m not doing it,” he said.

There are at least 2,469 confirmed cases of the virus in New York City - a leap from the 1,339 recorded on Wednesday. Across the state, 4,152 people have tested positive so far, of 9,415 confirmed cases countrywide.

“In many ways, the fear is more dangerous than the virus,” Mr Cuomo said.

The city has ordered 75% of the non-essential workforce to work from home.

“It will change almost everything going forward,” Mr Cuomo said of the virus. “It will. That is a fact.”

Image source, Getty Images

Social media and WhatsApp in Britain are buzzing with pictures and videos of troops and tanks, purportedly showing them moving in and around London - you may have received the images too. But the pictures are not what they seem, report our colleagues.

One image shows military vehicles driving along a road, and some people on social media claim it’s showing preparations around London. But the vehicles are driving on the right-hand side of the road. The photo first appeared on online in Ukraine earlier in the week and are at least three days old – they only surfaced on British social media accounts yesterday.

In another photo, which appears to show tanks under covers, the number plates aren’t British.Emergency planning is taking place in the UK but beware rumours circulating online. The Telegraph reported that the capital might be locked down “by the weekend”. Ministers say that there are no plans to do this at the moment but Boris Johnson said he would “rule nothing out” when asked about a possible London shutdown.

As always, be cautious about what you see on social media and WhatsApp.

Coronavirus and ibuprofen: Separating fact from fiction

The state department will reportedly announce its most serious travel warning in response to the coronavirus pandemic, advising all Americans in other countries to return home or shelter in place.

Under the advisory, as reported by the Politico news website, external, US citizens would be told to avoid international travel.

The advisory has been approved by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the website reports. It is not clear when the advisory is expected be issued.

Read our latest story on the coronavirus outbreak in the US:

• Trump puts US on war footing to combat outbreak

We had some details on this earlier this week - but the UK government has now published the full legislation setting out new emergency powers to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

Under the proposed law, airports could be shut and people held on public health grounds, while immigration officials could place people in isolation.

The powers would be time limited to two years under the proposals.

MPs plan to debate and vote through the measures early next week.

Read more.

If you've just joined us - welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

It has been another day of grim statistics and images as the virus spreads in Europe: Spain saw 209 deaths in just 24 hours while reports from a town in Italy suggest the army is now being used to ferry the coffins of the dead, there are so many.

Markets dropped further and countries stepped up action to control the crisis:

• The confirmed number of deaths globally was close to 9,000 and cases rose above 220,000
• The World Health Organization warned Asian countries to expect a rise in cases
• Italy and France said their lockdowns would extend beyond the initial 14-day quarantines
• The British government promised clarity about what would happen to pupils due to sit exams this summer after school closures were announced, and the Bank of England cut interest rates to 0.1%, the lowest ever
• In hard-hit Iran, the authorities hoped people would stay home for Nowruz (Persian New Year) instead of going to public celebrations

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, EPA

A United Nations human rights expert has expressed concern about the potential impact of Covid-19 on the Palestinian territory the Gaza Strip.

“Its healthcare system was collapsing even before the pandemic. Its stocks of essential drugs are chronically low. Its natural sources of drinkable water are largely contaminated. Its electrical system provides sporadic power. Deep poverty amid appalling socio-economic conditions is prevalent throughout the Strip,” said Michael Lynk.

“Gaza’s population is also a physically more vulnerable population, with malnutrition on the rise, poorly controlled non-communicable diseases, dense living and housing conditions, an elderly population without access to proper nursing care and high smoking rates.”

The Palestinian Authority has reported 47 cases of Covid-19 in the West Bank, most of them in Bethlehem, and almost 4,000 Palestinians have been placed in quarantine.

The militant group Hamas has not reported any cases in Gaza, which it controls. But it has taken protective measures desugned to combat the spread of Covid-19, such as disinfecting public areas.

Mr Lynk urged Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas to live up to their international legal responsibilities to provide essential health services for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

The number of people who have died from Covid-19 in England has risen to 128.

The 29 latest patients to have died were aged between 47 and 96 years old and had underlying health conditions, NHS England said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered his nation of 1.3 billion people to observe a curfew on Sunday from 07:00 to 21:00 as a test of its ability to face the coronavirus crisis.

India so far has four deaths and more than 170 cases, and Mr Modi said it was "in the interest of the country to follow and prepare us for future challenges".

He urged citizens over 65 to stay at home in the coming weeks and told people not to panic buy or burden the health service with routine checks.

Image source, Reuters

Prince Albert II of Monaco has tested positive for coronavirus, the royal palace says.

His condition is not a cause for concern, according to a palace statement reported by French media.

Switzerland has reported a rise in coronavirus deaths from 21 to 33, with confirmed Covid-19 cases increasing by more than 400 on the previous day.

The number of confirmed cases is now at 3,438 people, Swiss health authorities said on Thursday, external. A further 450 people are under evaluation, waiting confirmation after an initial positive result.

Switzerland has the ninth highest number of cases after China, Italy, Iran, Spain, Germany, the US, France and South Korea, according to a tally by John Hopkins University, external. It has the tenth highest number of deaths, the figures show.

• Europe looking to extend virus lockdowns

Image source, Getty Images

The Bank of England has cut interest rates again in an emergency move as it tries to support the UK economy in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is the second cut in interest rates in just over a week, bringing them down to 0.1% from 0.25%.

Interest rates are now at their lowest level in history.

The Bank said it would also increase its holdings of UK government bonds.

While we keep you updated with the latest headlines, we're also running another live blog to field any questions you have about the coronavirus.

We are taking questions from all over the world. If you want us to answer your question, get in touch:

• Email YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk
• Tweet using the hashtag #BBCYourQuestions, external
• Use the form at the bottom of this story