That's it for our Wednesday live page coverage.

Here's a look at some of the most significant developments from around the globe:

• More than 1.5m people have been infected with Covid-19 worldwide and at least 88,338 people have died
• Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "improving" after two nights in intensive care with coronavirus, now sitting up in bed and "engaging positively" with his medical team
• For a second consecutive day, deaths in Spain have risen - reaching nearly 15,000 - after earlier hope that the country's daily toll was declining
• A Saudi Arabian-led coalition fighting Houthi forces in Yemen has declared a ceasefire, according to officials, amid a growing virus threat in Saudi Arabia

• The director general of the WHO warned of politicising the coronavirus pandemic, saying it would result in “many more body bags", apparently in response to criticism from US President Donald Trump
• Mr Trump renewed his criticism of the WHO on Wednesday, saying the US would reevaluate its current funding

We'll be back with further coverage on Thursday.

Image source, Getty Images

In his briefing, Trump addressed "this evil beast" of a disease, while maintaining an optimistic outlook for Americans who "keep on fighting to victory".

What else did he say today?

• Trump doubled down on comments yesterday that the US will reevaluate its funding for the WHO, accusing the global body of being "China-centric". "I think they have to get their priorities right," Trump said of the agency. It’s worth remembering in this row that the US did not use Covid-19 tests shipped to dozens of countries by the WHO, and instead tried to produce its own one. But the kit developed by the nation’s top public health agency, the CDC, turned out to be faulty. This blunder spawned a huge testing backlog as the virus spread like wildfire, and the US has been playing catch-up ever since

• Vice-President Pence urged African-American families to "practise the guidelines" in response to data showing how black Americans are being disproportionately harmed by the virus
• Four clinical trials are underway to study the impact of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine on treating Covid-19. "I hope it works," Trump says. "I'm not a doctor but I'm a person with common sense."
• Dr Anthony Fauci - often the face of the US response - said "we know now for sure" that the social distancing guidelines are working, "but you don’t see it until weeks later"

Tara McKelvey
BBC News, Washington

On Wednesday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) experts offered the kind of guidance that the president likes to hear. The CDC experts said that healthy individuals who have been exposed to someone with the virus can go back to work if they wear a mask, take their temperature twice daily and heed other precautions.

Previously these healthy individuals had been told they should quarantine themselves for two weeks. Speaking in the White House briefing room, a place where some journalists are now wearing masks, the CDC’s Robert Redfield explained that the guidance applies to those who work in “critical” fields such as healthcare.

He spoke with guarded optimism about the individuals who will be able to work again, looking to the future when others will also be able to return to offices, factories and other work sites, too. The president has been gunning for the US to return to normal, and the new CDC guidelines get one step closer to his goal.

Vice-President Mike Pence has urged African Americans to abide by social distancing guidelines after data showed how disproportionately black communities have been harmed by the coronavirus.

"To all of our African-American family members, now more than ever, practise the guidelines," he says. "Look after those most vulnerable.”

The White House task force will meet on Thursday with African-American leaders, Pence said.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, echoed the vice-president's plea to the African-American community to focus on virus mitigation.

Stark US statistics have underscored the heavy toll of coronavirus on black Americans.

The president - who has described himself as a wartime leader during the coronavirus emergency - adopts the kind of stirring tone one usually only hears from him in a campaign speech or State of the Union address.

"The daring and determination of our people in this crisis reminds us that no matter how hard it gets, no matter what obstacles we must overcome, Americans will keep on fighting to victory and we will secure the glorious future that our citizens so richly deserve, especially after going through this nightmare, this evil beast."

Image source, Getty Images

Trump says his administration has begun distributing the drug hydroxychloroquine in "large amounts". He says there are 30 million doses in the national stockpile.

Trump has touted the drug as a potential treatment for the novel coronavirus, though studies are inconclusive. Tablets containing chloroquine have long been used in the treatment of malaria, and there is hope that they can inhibit the virus that causes Covid-19.

"I hope it works," Trump says. "I’m not a doctor but I’m a person with common sense."

So what is this drug, and does it really work?

Trump responds to reports that his son-in-law Jared Kushner is developing a national coronavirus tracking system for patients who have been diagnosed.

"It doesn't sound like a bad idea, actually, but I haven't heard about it," Trump says. "I have to see it."

"It sounds very scientific... but it also has to do with rights and lots of different constitutional questions."

"I would have known about it," he adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Trump claims that the World Health Organization has gotten the pandemic "wrong". The WHO must "get its priorities right", he says, adding that the US is going to do "a study, investigation" to determine if it will continue to fund the agency.

"Everybody has to be treated properly," Trump says, "and it doesn’t seem that way", as he repeats his assertion that China is unfairly favoured by the global body.

The comments continue a spat between the US president and the WHO.

On Wednesday, appearing to call out Trump, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus defended the WHO's work and called for an end to the politicisation of Covid-19.

Also answering questions on Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the administration was “reevaluating our funding with respect to the World Health Organization”

“Organisations have to work. They have to deliver the outcomes for which they were intended,” Pompeo said.

Trump says his government is "eliminating bureaucratic barriers" for ventilators and masks.

"We will permanently produce enough ventilators in the future," Trump says. "We’re going to have a big stockpile when we’re finished."

The president says that 300 million new face masks have been ordered to the US, to arrive in May.

President Trump says he has spoken to representatives of the UK about Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who remains in intensive care with coronavirus.

“I think that their great prime minster is doing much better today, or at least better,” said Mr Trump.

“But certainly he’s had a tough bout and he’s still going through a tough time, but he seems to be doing better and that’s good, and we send our regards to Boris and his family, and his friends, all of the people that really love him.

“He’s become a very popular, before this happened, became a very popular prime minister, he’s doing an excellent job, he loves their country, he loves our country, so we appreciate everything he’s done, hopefully he’s going to be OK.”

Yesterday, Trump said that he had spoken to leading US drug companies to see if there were any viable treatments for Johnson's condition.

A resident at a Michigan nursing home who had tested positive for Covid-19 pleaded with her Amazon Alexa device to help her cope with her pain before dying alone, recordings have revealed.

LouAnn Dagen, 66, asked the device for help nearly 40 times, according to the recordings given by her sister to local station WOOD-TV

"Alexa, help me," Dagen is heard saying. "Can you help me cope with the pain? Oh, Alexa, I'm going to hurt."

Dagen was one of 31 residents and five staff at the Metron of Cedar Springs who tested positive for the coronavirus, according to WOOD-TV.

Her sister, Penny Dagen, told the station that the home - where she had lived for almost 10 years - had already given LouAnn pain medication.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you more. I'd take your pain away," Penny said.

Image source, Getty Images

President Donald Trump and his White House coronavirus task force will take the podium shortly.

So what's the latest?

• The US suffered its highest daily death toll from Covid-19 on Tuesday, with 1,858 fatalities bringing the total to 14,262
• New York state - the epicentre of the US crisis - is "flattening the curve", Governor Andrew Cuomo said, despite also reporting another single-day death toll record
• The US now has at least 423,135 confirmed cases of the virus
• The WHO's director general appeared to hit back at President Trump's recent comments suggesting that the global health agency "missed the call" on the threat in China. "Please don't politicise this virus," Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, without naming Trump. "That's the way if we want to win."

Authorities in Greenland have confirmed that all 11 residents who tested positive for coronavirus are now in recovery.

Latest figures show 770 people - roughly 1% of the population - have been tested in the Danish autonomous territory.

Greenland has not reported any new cases in four days, but the government's chief medical officer, Henrik Hansen, cautioned against declaring any victory.

"It is quiet right now, but we can never be sure that the spread of infection has stopped," he said, quoted by local newspaper Sermitsiaq AG.

"It can take up to 14 days for any symptoms to show, so before we start to ease the many restrictions, we need to be sure that nothing new is happening around the spread of infection."

In recent weeks the government has banned gatherings of more than 10 people, grounded most transport and closed all borders to non-Danes. The sale of alcohol in the capital, Nuuk, has also been barred in an effort to reduce domestic violence during the lockdown.

Cambridgeshire Police have called on residents to report anyone breaking lockdown restrictions.

The force has created an online form where people can file a complaint without calling the non-emergency line 101.

Last week, police in neighbouring Northamptonshire said they'd had a surge in calls from people reporting their neighbours.

Under new government rules, police can fine anyone found to be flouting the law.

Image source, Getty Images

The Manic Street Preachers will play two gigs in Cardiff in December for the NHS.

The first one on 4 December will be free for NHS staff, while the next day they will perform a ticketed show with profits going to NHS Wales charities. Both gigs will be at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena.

The Welsh rock band said in a statement, external: “We wanted to do something to show our appreciation, love and respect for the NHS and its amazing brave workers. One free show and one fundraising show seemed the best way for us to express our deep gratitude for all their heroic work.”

Image source, Getty Images

All Los Angeles residents entering essential businesses - like grocery shops and pharmacies - will soon have to wear a face covering or risk being refused service.

Beginning at midnight on Friday, all workers at such businesses must also wear a mask and could face a fine or prison if they don't comply. Business owners will have to provide the masks or reimburse employees for their own.

The order, from LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, is among the most aggressive mask-related policies across the US.

"Cover up, save a life - it's that simple," Mr Garcetti said.

Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the government's public health advisory agency, issued voluntary guidance recommending that Americans use cloth masks in public settings as an added barrier to existing social distancing guidelines.

Premier League footballers have announced the launch of a contribution fund called Players Together with money going towards the NHS's charity partner.

"The contributions that this initiative will generate will help NHS Charities Together (NHSCT) quickly grant funds to the front line," a statement said, external.

There are no details of how much money will be contributed.

NHSCT chief executive Ellie Orton said: "It will make a huge difference to us to have the players on board and sends an amazing message of support. It will also inspire many others to give donations."

Premier League players had previously been criticised by several government ministers for not taking pay cuts during the coronavirus crisis.

English football is indefinitely suspended.

Image source, @cumbriaroadspol

Cumbria Police say a family of six from Lancashire were ordered to return home after driving up to the county for a day out.

Two adults and four children were travelling in the car pictured above from Leigh in Lancashire.

Police stopped them at Windermere, in the Lake District, and escorted them back to the motorway.

Another driver of a camper van was also told to head home.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Slattery says people living in the Lake District have tipped off police about visitors seen moving into holiday homes.

He warns of the risk of tensions between visitors and locals, saying: "Animosity between sections of the community is counterproductive and we all need to work together if we are to beat this virus."

All routes into the Lake District are being policed and tourist website Visit Cumbria is telling the public to stay away.

A man has run a marathon under lockdown - without leaving his own living room.

Paul Holliday, who had been training for the Manchester marathon - which was postponed because of corornavirus - ran 4,500 lengths of his living room in the north-west of England to raise £2,000 for charity.

He celebrated with a hummus sandwich.

"I woke up, had a hearty breakfast and got under way at 9am," he told BBC Sport.

"It took me about four-and-a-half hours. I was planning on doing three hours 45 minutes but I couldn’t get much pace up in my house.

"It was quite strange. In an outdoor marathon you have the fresh air and people supporting you getting you through the difficult bits.

"My wife occasionally popped in to check on me today. I had a couple of windows open but there was no breeze."

There was one downside for Holliday, who is head of communications at Bolton Wanderers FC but currently on furlough.

"I was hoping the carpet would be threadbare at the end of it so I could rip it out. I’ve hated it since we moved in. Sadly it lives to fight another day."

Image source, Paul Holliday on Twitter

The latest data shows the number of confirmed cases and deaths in the UK remains lower than some other European countries.

Meanwhile, over half of UK deaths have been people aged 80 or older, with over 90% aged over 60.

Look at all of today's charts and graphics plotting the rise of coronavirus in the UK.

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