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The Malaysian government's decision to allow only "the head of the family" to leave the house to shop as part of measures to suppress the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak has had unintended consequences.

Some men are unexpectedly finding themselves responsible for the grocery shopping and suddenly having to distinguish between bewildering varieties of vegetables, spices and herbs.

"Govt allowing a man to shop unsupervised? Disaster, external," was the immediate jokey conclusion of one woman on Twitter.See here for more on Malaysian men struggling with their new responsibilities.

European leaders are discussing the best response to the growing pandemic in a video summit, as official figures record the growing death toll across the continent.

Here are the latest developments:

• Italy’s death toll rose by 662 to a total of 8,165, and the total number of infected rose to 80,539. It’s a mixed picture: while the one-day rise in deaths is slightly lower than in previous days, the rate of infection has risen again. As the BBC’s Rome correspondent Mark Lowen puts it, “still a mountain to climb”, external
• A total of 4,089 people have died in Spain, with 56,188 confirmed cases across the country. The Spanish parliament has agreed to extend the country’s state of emergency until at least 12 April to tackle the outbreak – but the newspaper El Pais reports that new testing kits sent over by China were not working
• Belgium recorded its highest numbers for the spread of the virus in a single day. In just 24 hours it recorded 1,298 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 6,235. The death toll so far is 220. Health officials told the BBC they are preparing for an “explosion in patient numbers”
• And on 25th anniversary of the Schengen Area coming into force, nearly all nations in Europe have enforced some border controls. Europe’s border agency Frontex tweeted a map, external showing the restrictions

Helen Catt
Political correspondent

In Westminster, they were looking for two things from this announcement - how much was the chancellor going to offer for the self-employed and how quickly he would get it to them.

The measures, in terms of how much he is going to pay, will be largely welcomed here in Westminster.

The announcement the self-employed will not be able to access the money until the beginning of June will raise some eyebrows.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak concludes the press conference by saying: "Today was about providing reassurance to the millions of people who are self-employed and are anxious about their security and livelihoods."

He says the package is "one of most generous and comprehensive ways to support the self-employed anywhere in the world".

And he adds: "To all of those who are self-employed, you haven't been forgotten, we will not leave you behind and we are all in this together."

There's a question about the economic effects of measures to combat the virus, amid a surge in claims for benefits under universal credit.

Mr Sunak replies that the measures put in place by the government will make "an enormous difference".

He adds that they have also been drawn up "with incredible speed".

However, he says the government is trying to prioritise helping the NHS to cope, adding that this is the "right strategy".

The chancellor says the government has been "designing these things at pace", so, while schemes may have flaws, "given the circumstances, we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good".

He promises the government have limited some of the risks for the self-employed, scheme such as making it for people who have an actual tax return - "the genuine self-employed, not just telling us out of the blue".

Jenny Harries is then asked about testing again and why it isn't being done more broadly.

Referring to the comments of the World Health Organisation - calling on countries to "test, test, test" - say says: "The clue is in the name. It is a world health organisation and it is addressing all and very different health infrastructures."

Dr Harries says the UK has an "extremely well developed public health system" and the government is continuing to follow its "very clear plan" right the way through, "consistent with the science".

"If there was infinite testing facilities... then most of the public [would be tested], but we need to be careful and focusing where clinically most valuable," she adds.

There's a question about the support available to self-employed people before support - paid as a lump-sum - arrives in June.

Rishi Sunak says although the money will paid paid in one go, there are "multiple avenues of support" as well, including help from councils and plans to defer tax payments.

There's also a question about whether telling people to stay at home could have an adverse effect on their mental and physical health.

England’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries says the vulnerable who are self-isolating have been given information as to how they can receive mental health support.

She adds that with "more free time" because they aren't travelling into work, those working from home may be more able to exercise every day.

When it comes to testing and concerns it isn't happening fast enough, Dr Jenny Harries says a brand new virus brings brand new problems.

She says: "What the public will recognise is it is a brand new event and every single country is ordering the same [tests] at the same time.

"Many of the items that are used are coming from a single source and international suppliers, who have also been affected [by the virus]."

The deputy chief medical officer says there has not been "a lack of forethought in planning unprecedented event".

But she also says it is "vitally important" to be sure the tests we are using work.

When it comes to people who have only just begun working as self-employed, Rishi Sunak says they will look at whatever accounts they have to work out their entitlement.

But for the self-employed the government don't know about "there is nothing we can do", he says, telling them to look at Universal Credit.

On tax, Mr Sunak says he wants to make a "broader point rather than be too specific about future tax policy".

He says there is "currently an inconsistency" between what the employed and self-employed pay, despite the actions taken "treating them the same".

The chancellor adds: "It does throw into light the question of inconsistency and if that is fair."

The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg also says she has been inundated with messages from people who do not feel safe at work.

The deputy chief medical officer, Jenny Harries, says the majority of employers have been "extraordinarily supportive" to workers.

But she calls on others to "stick to normal principles of workplace health".

Dr Harries will not predict the exact timing of when she thinks the virus will peak.

She says we are "only just starting to see a bite" from social distancing measures, so it is "too early" to say.

She adds: "We are looking for change in the slope, rather than very steep... a more gentle [growth].

"But we must not take our foot off pedal and in the last few days the public has understood this is very serious and their actions will save lives."

The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg asks what will happen to people not covered by the scheme.

Rishi Sunak says it will cover 95% of people who make the majority of their wages through being self-employed.

He says the last 5% have average incomes of £200,000, adding: "It is a very generous scheme and treats them with same parity as the employed."

Mr Sunak says government support for the self-employed constitutes an "unprecedented level of support".

He says ministers have worked to make sure it is "targeted at those who need it the most".

However, he also has a warning that the government will not be able to “protect every single job or protect every single business".

Mr Sunak says the scheme will only be open to those who are already self-employed and have a self-assessment tax return for 2019.

It will apply to those with trading profits up to £50,000 a year, he adds.

He says 95% of those who are majority self-employed will benefit.

He says he hopes people will be able to "access" the scheme "no later than June".

The latest figures from Italy have just been released: 662 people died from coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 8,165. There are now 80,539 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the country,

Rishi Sunak says self-employed people facing financial difficulties will be able to have 80% of their monthly wages covered by the government.

He says this will be calculated using average monthly profits over last three financial years.

He says support will be capped at £2,500 per month, and will initially last three months.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has begun the daily press conference from the UK government.

He is joined by deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries.

Mr Sunak begins by saying he would announce "the next step in the economic fight" against the pandemic with help for the self-employed.

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

Image source, Thinkstock

As we await news from the chancellor about help for the self-employed, one group who are particularly nervous are supply teachers.

Do they count as employees, because they have tax deducted from their pay at the source, and therefore could claim 80% of their wages from the government?

Probably not, they fear, as they are hired ad-hoc and often work through agencies.

But they are not self-employed, either.

Speaking to those who represent teachers, they make the point that supply teachers could prove crucial in the coming weeks and months in the effort to keep schools open for the children of key workers, as staff teachers take time off with the virus.

They are very alive to this issue - and they are pressing the government for clarity.

Image source, Getty Images

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he was “disappointed” with the $2tn (£1.6tn) aid bill passed by the US Senate on Wednesday.

“The congressional action, in my opinion, simply failed to address the governmental need,” Cuomo said at his daily press briefing.

“I find it irresponsible, I find it reckless.”

New York state remains the epicentre of the outbreak in the US.

As of Thursday, 37,258 people in New York have been diagnosed with Covid-19 - accounting for more than half the cases throughout the country. At least 385 people in the state have died from the virus.

The aid package - the largest economic stimulus bill in US history - includes direct payments of $1,200 to most American adults and aid to help small businesses pay workers.

New York received $5bn from the aid package, Cuomo said, as the state faces $10bn-$15bn in revenue loss as a result of coronavirus.

Amid country-wide shortages of medical supplies, Cuomo said New York had enough personal protective equipment for the immediate future - around 1-2 weeks.

But that any “realistic” scenario will “overwhelm hospitals”, he said. “You cannot get the curve down low enough.”

Danny Shaw
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

New emergency legislation in the UK says no one in the country is allowed to leave their home “without reasonable excuse”.

Several new activities which are permitted have been added to a list outlined by the Prime Minister on Monday.

They include moving house, fulfilling legal obligations, accessing critical public services and to escape injury, illness or the risk of harm.

There is no limit in the legislation on the number of times each day a person may leave their premises.

Police now have powers to “direct” and “remove” people to their homes and use “reasonable force” to do so, if they’re not complying with the new laws.

Fixed penalty fines can be imposed on people who flout the rules on being at home or gathering in groups of three or more by community support officers, local authority wardens, as well as police officers.

The legislation says prosecutions may be brought.

The measures - which last six months - must be reviewed every three weeks.

Image source, Getty Images

We will soon be hearing from the UK government about its latest measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

But what is the current situation in the country?

• The number of deaths in the UK has risen to 465, out of 9,500 confirmed cases. An update to the UK-wide figures is expected later
• New laws come into force to give police more powers to fine people who do not stick to isolation measures
• About 170 Britons stranded in Peru have returned to the UK on the first government-chartered flight
• The government extends its target for volunteers to help the NHS to 750,000, after an "amazing" 560,000 people signed up since Tuesday
• People in the UK are being asked to stand at their windows to applaud NHS workers at 20:00 GMT