Summary

  • Trump on social distancing rules: "Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days."

  • US death toll - 3,415 - now larger than China's

  • US Navy captain pleads for help over outbreak on aircraft carrier

  • A 13-year-old boy has died in the UK after contracting Covid-19

  • Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, from Brixton in south London, died in hospital early on Monday

  • American Airlines, one of the world's richest carriers, to apply for $12bn (£9.7bn) in government aid

  • Global cases more than 800,000, with 38,000 dead; 170,000 have recovered

  • Spain records highest number of fatalities in a single day - 849

  1. Facebook takes down Bolsonaro postspublished at 03:24 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Jair BolsonaroImage source, Getty Images

    Facebook has removed several videos by Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro saying they promoted disinformation about self isolation during the pandemic. The social media platform explained that the posts on Facebook and Instagram violated its standards.

    In the deleted recording President Bolsonaro said people should go back to work to support the economy.

    Over the weekend, Twitter also deleted several posts by the president, saying the content violates its public health rules and exposed people to a greater risk of virus transmission.

    Mr Bolsonaro has over the past weeks frequently downplayed the danger the virus poses and has lashed out at state and municipal officials who implemented lockdowns and other measures.

    He has also accused the media of "fear-mongering" over the situation.

  2. Japan will bar entry from US - reportspublished at 03:15 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
    Breaking

    Japan is to ban entry for foreign nationals from the United States, China, South Korea and most of Europe, according to the state broadcaster NHK.

  3. World's biggest airline seeks $12bn bailoutpublished at 03:03 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    American Airlines aircraftImage source, Getty Images

    One of the major developments in the last few hours is that the world's biggest carrier in terms of passengers, American Airlines, is now seeking $12bn (£9.7bn) in support from the US government to help it through the crisis.

    The funds were allocated to the company in the $2.2tn economic stimulus package approved by the US government last week.

    American Airlines hopes the financial support means pay cuts and involuntary furloughs can be avoided.

    The carrier says there will be reduced flight schedules over the next few months and the company will therefore offer enhanced voluntary leave and early retirement options to its staff.

    With airlines around the globe practically grounded, there's growing concern how those companies can survive the next weeks.

  4. A quick look at today's virus figurespublished at 03:00 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    The US now has more than 3,000 virus related deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

    The total number of deaths worldwide has reached 37,638.

    The death toll out of Italy remains the highest at 11,591 - followed by Spain and China.

    There are currently over 784,314 confirmed virus cases across the world - the US has surpassed China with the most number of cases at 163,429.

  5. What’s happening in Australia?published at 02:55 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Frances Mao
    Sydney

    A police officer escorting a returned traveller to his hotel quarantineImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Police are out and about to make sure people follow the rules on isolation

    G’day from Sydney, where people have woken up to tough new penalties to ensure people stay indoors.

    • Australians are now banned from leaving their homes except for essential reasons e.g. a food shop, doctor visit or going to work. Gatherings are limited to two people or a single household
    • If you are caught outside “without reasonable excuse” – you can face six months in jail or an $A11,000 (£5,400; $6,700) fine. The New South Wales state penalties are being criticised as among the harshest in the world - we’ll have a look at this later
    • Australia now has over 4,300 cases including 18 deaths. The increase in new cases has dipped slightly but officials say it’s much too early to suggest the curve might be flattening
    • And more than 110,000 businesses have signed up for the government’s employee payments of A$1,500 per fortnight. It’s expected nearly half the workforce will be supported in this way
  6. Welcome backpublished at 02:42 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Welcome to the BBC's live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. We'll be updating you on events as they happen around the globe.

    Here's what you need to know as Asia wakes up this Tuesday morning:

    • The global number of infections has surpassed 780,000. With more than 163,000, the US now has more than twice the number of cases of China, where the outbreak first peaked
    • US President Donald Trump says the US will be in "a very good shape" in terms of the number of ventilators available at the peak of the outbreak
    • US carrier American Airlines is asking for $12bn in support from the government to help it through the corona crisis. The funds would come from the economic stimulus package approved last week. The airline is the biggest carrier in the world in passenger numbers
    • The Tokyo Olympics have been rescheduled to start on 23 July 2021
    • In Italy, the country with the highest death toll, 11,591 people have died and the number of confirmed infections stands at 101,739 as authorities extend the lockdown
    • In Europe's second worst-hit country Spain, the government says the number of new infections appears to be flattening