Image source, Getty Images

Best-known for phones and computers, Apple has now turned its hand to making face shields for medical workers.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook tweeted on Sunday that the company has designed and is now making the protective gear. The tech giant plans to make more than one million shields a week, which will be shipped first to US medical workers and then distributed globally.

It has also sourced 20 million face masks which it is donating worldwide to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Companies from electronics firms to carmakers have been shifting production to help make vital medical equipment and supplies for hospitals around the world.

Image source, Getty Images

Conspiracy theories around the pandemic are plenty. On the more bizarre end of the spectrum is the claim that somehow, the 5G technology which delivers faster mobile internet is linked to the spread of the virus.

This is obviously not true.

Yet several 5G mobile phone masts in Britain have been set on fire and video clips of that are circulating online - along with the conspiracy claims backed by several influential social media voices.

Medical experts and scientists are branding it as "complete rubbish" and "the worst kind of fake news".

Read our full piece debunking the 5G conspiracy theory here.

The number of confirmed virus cases around the world has reached 1,273,990, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, which has been keeping track of the developing data for months, external

The US still has the highest number of confirmed cases, with 337,274, followed by Spain and Italy at 131,646 and 128,948 respectively.

Italy has reported the highest number of deaths from the virus, a sobering 15,887 people.

There have been 69,444 deaths globally.

But it's worth remembering too that most people will recover. The university says 260,247 people have so far, the bulk of them in China.

Image source, Getty Images

Parts of Japan are expected to go into a state of emergency in the coming days. That's according to Japanese media, as the number of confirmed infections continues to rise despite measures to contain the virus.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to announce the move later on Monday though it's thought it won't come into effect that same day. It likely won't be for the entire country but for big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka only.

The decision would give the government the power to implement stricter measures to ask people to stay at home or to close businesses. It will not, though, give Mr Abe the power to impose full lockdowns like we've seen in China, or some European countries, where there are heavy fines for breaking the rules.

Japan has had more than 3,600 confirmed infections and 85 deaths. There's particular concern for Tokyo, where the number of people with confirmed infections has been sharply rising and now exceeds 1,000.

The Queen addressed the nation in a rare speech on Sunday night, acknowledging the grief and financial hardships Britons are facing and promising: "We will meet again."

Speaking from Windsor Castle, outside London, the Queen paid tribute to frontline workers and urged everyone to follow advice to stay at home.

She said the "painful sense of separation from their loved ones" that social distancing was causing for people reminded her of the experience child evacuees had during the Second World War.

"Now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do," she said, stressing the value of self-discipline and resolve.

"We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again."Watch her full speech below:

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Millions of people across India switched off their lights and lit up candles and lamps on Sunday night, in a gesture meant to "challenge the darkness" of Covid-19.

They were responding to an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go nine minutes without electricity at 21:00 local time on Sunday.

He said the symbolic gesture would "bring auspiciousness, health and prosperity, which destroys negative feelings".

Some, however, called the event a stunt, saying it distracted from the health and economic crisis caused by the outbreak.

One Indian MP said the move could also put unnecessary stress on the power grid.

The "unprecendented drop in electricity demand [followed by] an immediate surge... could cause the electrical grid to crash", said Shashi Tharoor on Twitter.

Read more about the situation in India here.

Frances Mao
Sydney

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We've been covering the Ruby Princess cruise ship disaster for weeks now - the vessel is the largest source of infections in Australia, accounting for 11 deaths and more than 600 cases.

On Sunday, New South Wales police announced they would begin a criminal investigation into how passengers were allowed to disembark when there were sick people on board.

• How did Australia's cruise ship debacle happen?

For weeks now, the ship had been stuck floating off Sydney's coast with about 1,000 crew on board. Last week, officials had to evacuate some who had fallen ill - and that number has now jumped to about 200.

Due to the crew's welfare and the police probe, the vessel was finally allowed to dock at a port south of Sydney this morning. Australia says it will take the sick crew to hospital, but no-one else will be allowed off.

It's the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian calendar, leading up the Easter Sunday. In the Catholic Church this is usually marked by a service in the Vatican attended by thousands.

But it was a very different scene this year, as Pope Francis delivered his Palm Sunday address to only a handful of people seated in the vast St Peter's Basilica.

Frances Mao
Sydney

After a fortnight of tight restrictions on Australian society, the curve appears to be flattening. But officials are urging people to remain vigilant and to stay indoors.

Here's the latest:

• Australia has had more than 5,700 cases, including 37 deaths
• Almost 300,000 tests have been conducted, in what PM Scott Morrison says is the highest testing rate per capita globally
• The Ruby Princess cruise ship is now the subject of a criminal investigation, after being linked to 11 deaths and more than 600 infections
• A limited number of MPs are returning to Canberra so parliament can resume on Wednesday to legislate response measures. Almost half of Australia's 227 lawmakers have been excused - in a bid to limit how many are travelling.

Here's a bit of good news this Monday morning.

The number of infections and deaths in the state of New York has dropped for the first time, say officials.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that the number of patients requiring hospital treatment was down for the first time in a week and that deaths were down from the previous day - from 630 deaths on Saturday to 594 on Sunday.

But he also added that it was too early to know how significant this data was.

There have so far been 4,159 deaths in New York, making it the hardest-hit area in the US.

Read more about what's happening in New York here.

There was a major political development in the UK last night, as it was announced that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been taken to hospital. Mr Johnson was confirmed to have the virus on Friday 27 March, and has been in isolation.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "On the advice of his doctor, the prime minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests.

"This is a precautionary step, as the prime minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after testing positive for the virus."

The prime minister remains in charge of the government, but the foreign secretary is expected to chair a coronavirus meeting on Monday morning.

Read more here: PM admitted to hospital over virus symptoms

Hello, and welcome to another day of live reporting on the global coronavirus pandemic. Coverage is starting here in Singapore and in Sydney, and later in the day we'll hand over to colleagues in the UK and then North America.

As with every day, news is moving very fast, so we'll be bringing you all the major developments as they happen, as well as useful information to protect yourself and your family, and some positive stories of communities helping each other out as well.