The number of patients in intensive care because of coronavirus in Italy has dropped for the first time, says the head of the country's civil protection division.

Italy confirmed 681 more deaths on Saturday, taking its total to 15,362, but Angelo Borrelli said the number of critical patients has fallen from 4,068 on Friday to 3,994.

"This is a very important data point because the figure is decreasing for the first time," Mr Borrelli said.

"It is important because it allows our hospitals to breathe. This is the first time that this figure has fallen since we started managing the emergency."

The Italian government's scientific council head, Franco Locatelli, said the drop in critical care patients "is a strong signal, but it should absolutely not be read as a sign that we have overcome the critical stage".

"It shows that the measures that we have been applying have had success," he added.

The number of daily recorded cases has also steadied, with 2,886 new cases on Saturday and 88,274 in total, a figure that does not include those who have died or the 20,996 people who are said to have recovered from the virus.

Marianna Spring
Specialist disinformation and social media reporter

We reported earlier about two mobile phone masts torched in England, amid online rumours linking 5G technology to coronavirus. The conspiracies have been debunked by technology and health experts.

Now Merseyside Police has told the BBC that it is launching an investigation after a telecommunications box was set on fire in Aigburth, South Liverpool, on Friday evening. But it's unclear whether the box has anything to do with 5G technology.

A video of what appears to be the incident has been shared on social media, linking it to a conspiracy theory that 5G causes coronavirus. Verification from the BBC's disinformation team suggests that the video is authentic.

This fire is different to the one involving a 5G mast tower in the village of Melling, North Liverpool, which also occurred on Friday. Merseyside Fire Service has confirmed to BBC News that this incident is also now under investigation.

Videos of the fires have been shared on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Some of the user accounts are verified and have hundreds of thousands of followers.

Many of those sharing the post are pushing a conspiracy theory which falsely claims 5G technology is somehow responsible for coronavirus. Some are also encouraging further arson attacks on phone masts.

French health officials have reported another 441 deaths in the past 24 hours but these relate to a total of 5,532 fatalities in hospital.

The number of hospital deaths has remained stable in recent days. Official they have also been giving details of deaths in care homes for the elderly and that number has risen to 2,028.

Taken together, France has now seen 7,560 deaths. Of the 28,143 people being treated in hospital, 6,838 are in intensive care.

Separately, Turkey has just reported that it has had 501 deaths so far and that the number of infections is close to 24,000.

Katy Austin
Business correspondent, BBC News

Image source, Gett

British retailer Cath Kidston has announced that it intends to appoint restructuring specialists Alvarez & Marsal as administrators.

A spokesperson said the move was part of an ongoing process to explore all options for the company, which employs more than 800 people.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Cath Kidston was mid-turnaround plan. It could now join the list of companies, including Carluccio's restaurants and rent-to-own business Brighthouse, to call in administrators.

The notice of intent provides breathing space from any potential claims by creditors.

The chain sells home furnishings, clothes and accessories in trademark floral and vintage prints. It has 60 shops in the UK and a presence in 200 globally. Founded in 1993, it was bought by Baring Private Equity Asia in 2016.

After the coronavirus outbreak forced store closures, Cath Kidston has stayed open online. But most employees were furloughed on 22 March.

An urgent review of the business began last month, and there has been interest from possible buyers.

It's thought a so-called pre-pack administration is now the most likely outcome.

Most countries are now either in the middle of some form of lockdown, or are preparing to come out of one.

But how much of a difference does staying at home really make?

Find out in our video below.

The coronavirus pandemic has plunged much of our everyday life into uncertainty. It’s a stressful time for people all around the world for different reasons.

If you feel that worrying about the virus, or the constant news updates about its spread, is taking a toll on your mental health you can read some useful tips to support your wellbeing here.

As cases of Covid-19 across the globe surpass 1.1 million and deaths go above 62,000, here is today's key news:

• The UK has reported another 708 deaths - including a five-year-old child. Hospital admissions have gone up in the Midlands and elsewhere and the head of NHS England said there was a long road ahead and appealed to everyone to remain at home wherever possible
• A record number of virus deaths has also been recorded in the state of New York, which has seen another 630 deaths reported in the past 24 hours
• But there are signs of hope in Spain, as the number of reported fatalities dips below 900 for the first time in three days

• There's positive news in Italy too, where there has been a drop in the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care
• Meanwhile in China, where the outbreak began, a day of remembrance has been held to honour those who died

Jonny Dymond
BBC royal correspondent

Image source, AFP

It was always a question of when, not if, the Queen would speak.

The Royal Family has had a low profile in this period of national crisis, Palace officials are aware of that. Partly it has been of necessity - the Queen and Prince Charles are both over 70 and have had to follow government advice to self-isolate.

The Queen and the Royal Family have many roles: constitutional, ceremonial, the fun stuff like Garden Parties, visits to towns and cities, support for charitable causes.

But over all of it hangs one idea, to unify. To provide a rallying point of some form in a nation of startling variety.

When the nation is divided, the Queen does not speak, that is for the government and opposition to thrash out.

There was no broadcast during the Iraq War in 2003, nor during the invasion of Egypt in the Suez Crisis of 1956. Both involved the Armed Forces that serve in the Queen's name.

But both saw bitter divisions in the country. Calls for unity at such times could easily be interpreted as supporting one side or another.

But the situation today is very different.

Read Jonny Dymond's full analysis here

It's a little off the rails, some might think. But earlier on we brought you news that one of the world's biggest horse races was being televised, and staged virtually, as the pandemic forced the real event's cancellation.

The bookmakers took bets and Potters Corner won the virtual race, with favourite Tiger Roll coming in fourth.

Read all about it here.

Image source, Getty Images

Background checks for gun sales in the US reached an all-time monthly high of 3.7 million in March, as coronavirus fears led to long queues outside firearm stores across the country.

The sales figures far surpass those recorded in March 2019, of 2.6 million, and are the highest since the FBI’s criminal background check system, external was launched in 1998.

Weapons stores have been included as non-essential businesses and ordered to shut in some states, though this has resulted in legal challenges over whether this contravenes the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

The number of background checks does not mean that an equal number of guns were sold, as the overall figure does not include whether the person passed the background check successfully.

But the record number does indicate that demand has increased dramatically, with some firearm stores across the US inundated with buyers and long lines, such as this queue in Long Island, New York.

West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust has issued a statement following the news that Watford General Hospital was asking patients to stay away, except for women expecting to give birth.

The hospital north of London has declared a critical incident and earlier urged any emergency patients to go to other hospitals with accident and emergency units.

The Trust said the decision was taken as a "result of a technical issue with our hospital's oxygen equipment".

It added that the problem did not "pose any risk to our patients".

"A small number of patients are being transferred to other hospitals in the area, with each patient being fully assessed in line with existing safety guidelines before they are moved," it added.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Rachel Schraer
Health Reporter

NHS England medical director Stephen Powis talked of “reasons to be hopeful”. He pointed to some of the reductions in infections and hospitalisations, which it's hoped will feed through into falling numbers of deaths in the coming days and weeks.

But in today’s government briefing, he pushed back at the idea of an “exit strategy” from lockdown.

He made it clear there was a long road ahead, and tackling the virus would require a combination of social distancing, testing, developing pharmaceutical treatments and, down the line, hopefully a vaccine. That may still be 18 months away.

Mr Powis gave the comparison of HIV as a virus which over time we have learnt to manage and deal with.

A lot of the briefing, though, was used to emphasise some familiar lines – that the most important thing was for people to continue with social distancing measures. And that this would help to ensure the NHS could cope with demand.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, too, pointed to various ways the government was building up capacity in the NHS, for example by buying in more ventilators. But he made clear the UK was not out of the woods and, what’s more, that it is not really clear when that point would come.

Carrie Symonds, the girlfriend of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, says she has spent several days in bed with coronavirus symptoms.

Mr Johnson himself tested positive for the virus last week and has been conducting cabinet meetings via video link.

Ms Symmonds adds that having Covid-19 symptoms while pregnant is "obviously worrying" and has posted some "reassuring" guidance on Twitter.

Italy has confirmed 681 more deaths from the coronavirus, taking the country’s total to 15,362. The reported number has been falling gradually in the past eight days and the number of new infections appears to have stabilised too,

There were 2,886 new infections reported in the past 24 hours, making a total of 88,274 current cases. In total 20,996 people have recovered from the virus. Both Spain and Italy have seen over 124,000 cases.

Image source, Reuters

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says he will sign an executive order allowing medical students who are about to graduate to begin practising now, after a further 630 coronavirus deaths were reported in the state. That is the biggest daily increase so far in the state.

"These are extraordinary times and New York needs the help," he tweeted.

Mr Cuomo also thanked the Chinese government for donating 1,000 ventilators, due to arrive at New York City's JFK airport later on Saturday.

"This is a big deal and it's going to make a significant difference for us," he said.

"I want this all to be over. It's only gone on for 30 days since our first case, it feels like an entire lifetime.

"This stresses this country, this state, in a way nothing else has, frankly, in my lifetime. The economy is stressed, social fabric is stressed. It's right across the board."

Mr Cuomo said that it was taking its toll on people and communities. "You can't even begin to quantify the effect on society and the effect on individuals and the burden that we're dealing with."

Another interesting line that emerged from the UK briefing involved the number of ventilators coming into operation.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the UK now had more than 8,000 and was aiming to get well over 8,000 more.

"The more that people observe social distancing, the more time we buy for the NHS and the more ventilator capacity we secure for the NHS," he said.

NHS director Stephen Powis said the health service had so far been able to keep ventilation capacity ahead of demand - and he also repeated the government's central message about staying at home and social distancing.

"If everyone complies with the measures that gives us the very best chance that demand does not exceed supply," he said.

Here’s what we’ve learned from the UK government’s daily briefing:

• Prof Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, says the death rate continues to be high and "this is likely to continue for a week or two"
• He says the virus is unlikely to be eradicated completely and it is too soon to talk of relaxing the lockdown
• Seven healthcare workers have now died after getting the virus, UK Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove says
• He said his thoughts were with the five-year-old whose death emerged on Saturday
• Hospital admission rates went up 47% in the Midlands and 35% in Yorkshire and the North East, but fell slightly from 1-2 April in London
• 300 ventilators from China arrived on Saturday and the first new British-made ventilators will be ready later this weekend
• Mr Gove said stories about 5G masts contributing to the spread of the disease were just “dangerous nonsense”
• He said Britons appeared to adhering to social distancing rules and knew the government was asking a lot of people

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK is on the rise, with nearly 42,000 people now testing positive across the country. A total of 4,313 people confirmed to have had the virus have so far died.

We have created some key graphics explaining how coronavirus has spread in the UK and the government's response.

• How many confirmed cases are there in your area?

"I think it's difficult to give a particular explanation as to why any particular part of the country has a higher rate at any one time," NHS England Director Stephen Powis said. Earlier in the briefing it emerged that there had been a 47% rise in hospital admissions in the Midlands. There has also been a 35% increase in admission rates in Yorkshire and the North East but a slight fall reported in London.

The NHS England medical director added that "perhaps unsurprisingly, London is a major urban centre [and] has an infection rate which is maybe a week or so ahead of the rest of the country".

He noted that it was normal for different areas of the country to experience different rates of infections during outbreaks, including with influenza in a normal year.

Conspiracy theories linking 5G communications technology to the pandemic are "dangerous nonsense", Mr Gove says.

Mr Powis says 5G infrastructure is critical both to the general population who are being asked to stay at home and to the healthcare response to the virus.

"I'm absolutely outraged and disgusted that people would be taking action against the infrastructure we need to tackle this emergency," he says, referring to incidents of 5G masts being set alight. You can read about those incidents here.