Summary

  • President Trump says he's confident US hospitals will have enough ventilators to meet 'peak' of crisis

  • Italy's death toll rises to 11,591 as the lockdown is extended to 12 April

  • New York governor Andrew Cuomo pleads for health workers from other states to help out

  • UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announces a deal with airlines to rescue stranded Britons

  • 180 more people have died in the UK, bringing total virus deaths to 1,408

  • The Spanish foreign minister says the upward rise in Spanish cases appears to be flattening out

  • The Hungarian government has been granted the power to rule by decree

  1. Confusion over UK testing numberspublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Jessica Parker
    BBC political correspondent

    There’s some confusion over the number of tests being carried out each day to see if people have coronavirus in the UK.

    On Sunday Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove suggested there had been 10,000 tests the previous day.

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock likewise tweeted that the 10,000 test figure had been reached - with the aim of reaching 25,000 within weeks.

    But now Social Care Minister Helen Whately says the government has in fact achieved the “capacity” for 10,000 tests – with the actual number carried out on the day in question being more like 7,000.

    Adding to the confusion, Public Health England has tweeted, external that the latest figure, as of 09:00 GMT on Saturday, was 9,114.

    We’re checking the figures with the government and Public Health England.

    Testing is a sensitive matter, with the government under scrutiny over whether it has been aggressive enough in its approach.

    So any apparent anomaly in the figures could raise further questions about whether ministers have a handle on this critical issue - and whether the claims they’re making on ramping up testing are all that they seem.

  2. Syria reports first deathpublished at 10:12 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Children cover their faces as White Helmet health workers disinfect a building in Binnish in rebel-held Idlib (26/03/20)Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Displaced people in rebel-held areas could be particularly vulnerable

    Syria has reported its first official death from Covid-19, amid fears the country is at grave risk if the disease spreads.

    A woman patient died in hospital, state media say, without specifying where.

    The official number of cases has grown from five to nine but reports suggest the true number in government-controlled areas could be in the hundreds.

    Syria recently imposed restrictions to try to confine the virus but the UN has warned it is at particular risk because its healthcare system has been ravaged by nine years of war.

    There have also been warnings that the flow of Shia Muslim pilgrims to holy sites in Syria, as well as the continued arrival of pro-government Shia fighters from Iraq, has increased the chances of exposure to the disease.

  3. What the Mercedes F1 breathing aid looks likepublished at 09:52 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Photo of a patient using a newly developed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) breathing aidImage source, PA Media

    Earlier we reported about a breathing aid that can help keep coronavirus patients out of intensive care.

    It was built by the Mercedes Formula One team together with University College London.

    Pictures of the device were released this morning.

    The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device pushes a steady flow of air-oxygen mix into the mouth and nose of patients.

    Photo of the newly developed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) breathing aidImage source, PA Media

    CPAPs are already used in hospitals in China and Italy but are in short supply. The new model was developed in less than a week.

    Photo of the newly developed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) breathing aidImage source, PA Media
  4. How deadly is the virus?published at 09:37 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Coffins of people deceased from the Covid-19 novel coronavirus are being blessed inside the church of San Giuseppe in Seriate, Italy, on March 28, 2020Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    A priest blesses coffins of people who died with Covid-19 in northern Italy

    It's hard to say. Until we know for sure how many cases there have been globally, it's impossible to be certain of the death rate.

    At the moment, after more than 30,000 deaths worldwide, estimates say that around 1% of people infected with the virus die. But that rate could be lower if there are large groups of asymptomatic patients.

    Will there be fewer cases this summer? Can you get the virus twice? There are still dozens of questions left unanswered.

  5. Migrant workers self-isolate up a treepublished at 09:28 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    In one of the more unusual ways to self-isolate, seven Indian migrant workers have started quarantining themselves for two weeks up a tree.

    They're doing so because they say they don't have separate rooms in their homes, ANI news agency reports.

    These photos of the migrant workers have gone viral amid news that hundreds of thousands of Indian workers stranded across state lines have been forced to endure gruelling day-long walks in order to get back home from major cities like Delhi and Mumbai.

    A note from an unnamed Indian doctor on social media argues that social distancing and lockdowns are a privilege: "It means you can afford to be at home. Most of the ways to ward off the coronavirus are accessible only to the affluent."

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  6. UK workplaces 'unsafe', employees fearpublished at 09:21 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    People sitting at desksImage source, PA Media

    Some UK workers have been raising concerns about employers ignoring social distancing rules in the workplace.

    The BBC has been told that more than 1,000 people in Manchester, north-west England, have complained that their workplace isn't safe., external

    The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burham, recently urged workers to blow the whistle on their boss if government restrictions were being ignored.

    Companies were "nowhere near observing" distancing rules, he said.

  7. Why we should be social distancingpublished at 09:12 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Going out to the shops, stopping by a friend's, taking a stroll through the garden on a nice day - these are all things that come very naturally to us, actions we rarely think twice about

    But here's why our actions do matter - and how much of a difference they could make:

    Graphic
  8. Plans to send 2,500 US Marines to Australia scrappedpublished at 09:04 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Simon Atkinson
    BBC News, Sydney

    An annual rotation of about 2,500 US Marines to northern Australia has been pulled because of Covid-19 concerns.

    Voices were building in the Northern Territory against the event because of fears that troops with the virus would pass it to others.

    Plans had been made for the marines to stay in their barracks for 14 days on arrival.

    But it has just been announced, external the mass movement of troops won’t happen at all.

    There are particular concerns in the Northern Territory, which is home to many remote indigenous communities. As we reported recently, these groups are particularly vulnerable to any pandemic because of poor healthcare facilities, overcrowding and above average levels of underlying medical conditions.

  9. Fact-checking fake virus storiespublished at 08:56 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter logos

    Did you come across an alleged message from Bill Gates about Covid-19? Have you seen a video about food donations? Received fake text messages claiming to be from the UK government?

    Be careful what sources you trust. There's a lot of information on social media that is fake and misleading, trying to tap into people's fear and uncertainty.

    The BBC's Reality Check team has looked at some of those stories making the rounds.

  10. India breathes cleanest air amid coronavirus lockdownpublished at 08:47 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    In a bittersweet twist of fate, air pollution in India plunged to its lowest levels over the past few days - but no-one could enjoy it!

    It’s the sixth day of a nationwide lockdown, and the unprecedented move has had at least one positive side effect.

    In the national capital, Delhi, which dominated headlines last year for having the worst air pollution in the world, residents woke up to clear blue skies over the weekend.

    Air quality apps on phones showed that AQI was below 50 - or "good” air quality - which is a rare occurrence in Delhi.

    Some 90 Indian cities witnessed record-levels of minimal air pollution, external, reported local media.

    Particulate matter pollution in major Indian cities is also at an all-time low, external, according to Quartz. In comparison to the same time last year, the air quality is significantly better right now.

    Environmentalists have urged the government to take note, calling it a "wake-up call" to usher in concrete policy that will help tackle hazardous levels of air pollution.

    But the real question is whether India can sustain such levels once the lockdown is lifted.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post 2

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post 2
  11. 'Early signs' spread slowing down in UKpublished at 08:39 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    The spread of coronavirus in the UK is showing "early signs" of slowing down since the lockdown, according to a leading government adviser.

    Strict measures came into place across the country a week ago.

    Prof Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, says some indicators, such as the numbers of new hospital admissions per day, suggest the spread does "appear to be slowing down a little bit".

    He told the BBC's Today programme that the numbers hadn't "plateaued" yet and were still increasing each day, "but the rate of that increase has slowed".

    However, he added that this pattern hadn't been reflected in the number of deaths - but these usually lagged a long way behind.

  12. Why are people stealing UK hospital supplies?published at 08:32 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Female surgeon putting on surgical face mask before operationImage source, Getty Images

    It's an outbreak that has already brought with it a whole range of challenges for medical staff - shortages of equipment, and even doctors and nurses falling ill.

    As if that wasn't enough, there's a new challenge officers have to contend with - people stealing medical equipment.

    Read more about this here.

  13. Self-isolating when you have dementiapublished at 08:17 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Mike Brookes, an RAF veteran, has been living with dementia for nine yearsImage source, Liz Brookes

    Many people are struggling to adapt to being told to stay at home, but it can be particularly challenging for those living with dementia.

    Mike Brookes, 77, was diagnosed nine years ago and has been isolating with his wife Liz for three weeks in their home just outside Manchester, in north-west England.

    Liz says her husband has had a difficult time adjusting to his new routine. She says he struggles to remember to wash his hands and not to open the door.

    "People with dementia may not always understand what's going on but they understand emotions, and that worry and anxiety has been passed on to Mike," she says.

    Read more about his story here.

  14. Australian NRL teams to receive AUS$20mpublished at 08:07 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    William Kennedy of the Sharks makes a break during an NRL matchImage source, Getty Images

    The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has announced that it will give AUS$2.5m ($1.53; £1.2m) to every club in the National Rugby League (NRL).

    The package, agreed after an emergency meeting on Monday, is intended to shore up the league's 16 clubs in light of financial uncertainty created by the coronavirus outbreak.

    Earlier this month, the NRL announced that it would be suspending its season until at least 31 May.

    As part of this latest deal, the NRL will cut staffing levels by 95% during the shutdown period and cut executive salaries by 25%.

  15. Plácido Domingo hospitalisedpublished at 08:03 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Plácido DomingoImage source, AFP

    Veteran opera star Plácido Domingo has been hospitalised with complications linked to Covid-19, US media are reporting.

    The 79-year-old is receiving hospital treatment in Mexico, with his spokesman cited as saying he'd "remain in the hospital as long as the doctors find it necessary" for a full recovery.

    On 22 March, he announced he'd tested positive and said he was "grateful and moved by the wave of messages I have received from so many people"

    The singer had recently resigned from the Los Angeles Opera after he was accused of sexual harassment.

  16. EasyJet grounds entire fleetpublished at 07:35 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    EasyJet planesImage source, Getty Images

    EasyJet says it has grounded its entire fleet of aircraft owing to the pandemic.

    In a statement on Monday morning, external, the airline said it had taken the decision because of "unprecedented travel restrictions" and there was "no certainty" about when flights would resume.

    "We will continuously evaluate the situation based on regulations and demand, and will update the market when we have a view,” the statement added.

    The pandemic has had a severe impact on airlines, with some warning they may not survive without government support.

    The boss of the UK's largest regional airline, Loganair, said his firm plans to ask for government help.

  17. German cases jump to over 57,000published at 07:28 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Germany's public health agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), reports that 57,298 people are currently infected around the country - up 4,751 from yesterday. The southern state of Bavaria, where the disease first appeared in Germany, has the highest number of cases.

    The national death toll stands at 455, a rise of 66 from Sunday.

    The RKI's figures, external are comprised of tallies by passed on regional authorities. Since these are passed on through official procedures, the RKI's numbers are sometimes delayed and lag behind those of Johns Hopkins University, considered one of the most authoritative sources for global figures.

    It comes soon after news that Thomas Schaefer - finance minister for the German state of Hesse - appears to have taken his own life over fears about managing the coronavirus crisis.

    State governor Volker Bouffier told local media that Mr Schaefer had been worried about "whether it would be possible to succeed in fulfilling the population's huge expectations, particularly of financial help."

    "I have to assume that these worries overwhelmed him," the governor added.

  18. Cabin crew offered coronavirus field hospital workpublished at 07:16 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    NHS NightingaleImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital is being set up at the ExCeL Centre in London's Docklands area

    Virgin Atlantic and EasyJet are appealing to cabin crew to step in and help at the NHS Nightingale hospital, which is being set up at the ExCel Centre in east London.

    Many airline staff are already first-aid trained and have security clearance, says NHS England.

    Those who sign up will be changing beds and performing other non-clinical tasks and helping doctors and nurses working on the wards, the NHS says..

    Read the full story here.

  19. NZ police informant website crashes from overusepublished at 06:56 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Like much of the world, New Zealand is under lockdown. And in order to ensure everyone sticks to the rules, the police set up a website where you can report anyone not doing their bit.

    Said website, though, received so much traffic that it crashed shortly after it was set up on Sunday.

    "We've had 4,200 reports of people believing others weren't complying," Police Commissioner Mike Bush told reporters. "It shows how determined Kiwis are that everyone complies with us."

    Mr Bush said breaches included a party of about 60 people at a backpacker hostel in Queenstown and tourists continuing to travel the country in campervans.

    Under the rules, people must stay at home or remain at least two metres (6.5ft) apart if they do go outside.

    With a population of about five million, New Zealand has more than 550 confirmed virus infections and one death.

  20. 20,000 NHS staff return to work in UKpublished at 06:50 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Some 20,000 former NHS staff have returned to work to help the fight against coronavirus, Boris Johnson has revealed.

    In a video, which the prime minister posted on Twitter, external, Mr Johnson thanked the doctors, nurses and other former professionals who have returned to the NHS, as well as the 750,000 members of the public who have volunteered to help the country through the pandemic.

    "One thing I think the coronavirus crisis has already proved is that there really is such a thing as society," he said.

    The statement references a quote by former Conservative PM Margaret Thatcher, who famously said "there is no such thing as society".

    Ambulance driverImage source, Getty Images