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The latest figures from the US make grim reading, with more than 1,100 deaths in a single day - the highest total for a 24-hour period anywhere in the world.

New York state remains the worst affected area with fatalities climbing to 2,935 on Friday from 2,373 the day before. State Governor Andrew Cuomo has appealed for help from other parts of the country.

"New York is in crisis. Help New York. And then pick up, decamp, and then go to the next place as this rolls across the country," he said at a news conference.

The US has so far confirmed 278,458 cases of Covid-19 and more than 7,000 deaths, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Prof Neil Ferguson, one of the UK government's top scientific advisers, has held out the prospect of restrictions being eased within a few weeks.

"There's a great deal of work underway to look at how we can substitute some of the intense social distancing in place with a regime more based on testing," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"We need to get case numbers down, we can't do it when we have as many people being infected as we have now," he said.

"So the key thing is to get case numbers down. And then I'm hopeful, whilst we don't have all the answers about how we'll do it yet. But I'm hopeful that in a few weeks' time we'll be able to move to a new regime - that will not be normal life, let me emphasise that - but it will be somewhat more relaxed in terms of social distancing and the economy, but relying on testing."

Vladimir Bykovsky left his flat for one minute to take the rubbish out. Within half an hour he says police were at his door. Find out how police are using facial recognition technology to enforce lockdown measures in Russia's capital.

Here in the UK, police and health officials are concerned the rise in temperatures this weekend will bring people out to parks and beauty spots.

England's chief nursing officer Ruth May has appealed to people to think of two nurses who died of the virus, Areema Nasreen and Aimee O'Rourke.

"Please stay at home for them," Ruth May told a briefing on Friday.

Temperatures could hit 20C in south-east England on Sunday, while in southern Scotland it could reach 16C.

Read more here.

British people stuck in the Philippines will be flown home on four flights, the British Embassy in the country has said.

On 7 April the Philippine Airline flights will leave from airports in Palawan, Cebu, Bohol and Siarago - areas that have been identified as having the highest concentrations of stranded UK tourists. They will connect in Manila, where two planes will fly back to London Heathrow.

Each passenger will need to pay £1,000 ($1,227) for the flight package, regardless of where they're flying from. The most vulnerable passengers, including the elderly, people with serious health conditions, or people who are running out of medicine, will be given priority.

Ambassador Daniel Pruce says "many hundreds" of UK nationals are stranded in the Philippines after a number of travel routes out of the country were closed.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) initially advised stranded tourists to take available commercial flights home - but people have complained that this was impossible, because of cancelled flights, closed airspace in many countries, and the exorbitant cost of the tickets that were available.

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Here are the latest headlines on the outbreak from the UK:

• Another 684 people died, bringing the UK death toll to 3,605. The total number of cases is now 38,168
• The government has told people to stay at home this weekend, as the weather is expected to turn warm
• Following the deaths of two nurses with the virus, England's chief nursing officer asked the public: "Please stay at home for them."
• Health Secretary Matt Hancock has called for volunteers to take part in three major clinical trials that include looking at how existing drugs could be used to treat the virus
• The Labour Party is to announce its new leader - at 10:45 BST - but amid the outbreak, a planned ceremony has been scrapped. Instead, candidates Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy will learn the outcome over email. Each of them has been asked to pre-record victory speeches - only one of which will be released
• The Queen is to address the nation in a broadcast on Sunday evening

Because Covid-19 is a new respiratory disease, scientists and governments all around the world are trying to work out the best way to fight it. Vaccine development is under way but for now they say the best protection is thought to be regular and thorough handwashing.

You should also:

• Avoid contact with people who are unwell
• Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues
• Throw away any used tissues and wash your hands
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

Many places are also recommending and implementing social distancing measures.

You can read the latest UK advice here and click here to find out more about the symptoms and how to protect yourself.

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People in China are paying their respects to their dead ancestors for the Qingming festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day.

Usually the festival is a time when people spruce up the graves of their late friends and family, and make offerings to their spirits.

But with the coronavirus still posing a real threat in the country, and a lockdown still in place in Wuhan, cemetery staff have been carrying out the ceremonies on people's behalf - and live-streaming them.

Read more about how China is honouring its dead in these unusual times here.

Good morning, if it's morning in your time zone - and good afternoon to our readers in Asia and Australia. Welcome back to our rolling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

Here’s the latest:

• People in China paid their respects to dead ancestors for the Qingming festival. It’s usually a time when people visit the graves of their late friends and family, to spruce up the area and make offerings to their spirits - but with the coronavirus still very much a threat, many people marked the day digitally instead. The few cemeteries that were open only allowed people to visit if they had pre-booked a slot
• The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday that if countries rush to lift their restrictions, it will prolong the crisis
• In the US, President Donald Trump said the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended that face masks should be worn in public - but added that he wouldn’t be wearing one
• New York State, the worst hit state in the US, had its highest increase in deaths for one day - 562, bringing the total there to 2,935
• Confirmed cases in Spain have neared those of Italy, but the number of deaths fell on Friday from the previous day

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