Image source, Reuters

France begins to relax its lockdown restrictions next week. But authorities will use video cameras to check people are complying with social distancing rules, and wearing masks in public.

The resort city of Cannes on the Côte d'Azur has trialled the monitoring software, installed at outdoor markets and on buses.

It is not clear how many other cities will adopt this digital surveillance. You can read more about it here.

Image source, Indep

The Mexican government has auctioned off the villa of drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes to raise funds for the public health service and its fight against coronavirus.

Carrillo Fuentes, who was known as the "Lord of the Skies", died in 1997 after botched plastic surgery.

His former house went for more than $2m (£1.6m) and the auction - which also included cars, planes and jewellery - raised more than $4.5m in total, all of it going to tackle Covid-19.

Read more about Amado Carrillo Fuentes here.

Pallab Ghosh
Science correspondent, BBC News

There are no surprises on the list of experts on the UK's Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage). There have been assertions the group might be too insular or have too many people on the government’s payroll to be able to stand up to ministers and tell them hard truths.

But the individuals on both the main Sage committee and its subgroups are mostly experts in their fields from a variety of universities.

The list comes amid mounting criticism over secrecy and the involvement of the PM’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings at meetings, which raised the suspicion that, rather than the government’s policy being “guided by the science”, it was the other way round.

The publication should bring some much-needed transparency, with the aim of restoring trust in the Sage process.

One of the many criticisms is that Sage treated Covid-19 as if it were flu for too long rather than the more deadly disease it has turned out to be.

Scientists outside the group have said lockdown was imposed several weeks too late and that there was insufficient consideration to stopping the outbreak in care homes.

The BBC's orchestras and singers are asking the public to join them for a mass rendition of Candi Staton's gospel classic You Got The Love.

Participants are invited to dust off their instruments and film themselves playing along to the track.

Those without musical skills can submit paintings, videos and photos showing their creativity during the lockdown.

The results will be edited together into a performance which will premier on TV and radio on 14 May.

You can find out more details here.

Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks on Sunday about the origins of the novel coronavirus echoed those of President Donald Trump. But the US secretary of state was more emphatic, claiming there was "enormous evidence" of an accidental lab release of the virus from China.

Some observers note that the administration is also under fire for its response to the pandemic and may be seeking to focus blame on China to divert criticism.

There is some confusion about what the words "lab origin" means. Theories about the virus being a bioweapon, or genetically engineered, aren't taken seriously by scientists. One study analysed the virus's molecular structure and concluded it was entirely natural in origin.

The potential accidental release of a naturally occurring bat coronavirus from a research institute in Wuhan is another matter, but there is no evidence of any kind that the Sars-CoV-2 virus (which causes Covid-19) was released accidentally from a lab.

A great number of scientists favour the theory of a natural "spillover" for the origins of Sars-CoV-2, without the involvement of a lab accident. Under this scenario, encroachment on animals' habitats, along with the wildlife trade, created the conditions for a virus prevalent in bats to "jump" the species barrier into humans, perhaps via another unknown animal species.

Yet lab accidents have happened in the past. An error at a laboratory in Singapore in 2003 led to a graduate student being infected with Sars, while in another case two researchers at a Beijing institute were infected when measures intended to inactivate the Sars virus failed.

Image source, Getty Images

The number of people in Germany who have been infected with Covid-19 could be more than 10 times the number of officially confirmed cases, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Bonn estimate that about 1.8 million have contracted the coronavirus. Germany has about 160,000 confirmed cases.

The study - which has yet to be peer reviewed - focused on a sample of 919 people living in a town in the municipality of Heinsberg, one of the worst-hit areas of the country.

The study also found that more than one in five people infected showed no symptoms.

Germany is starting to ease its lockdown measures. Zoos, museums and hairdressers have reopened, with some students also returning to school.

She was a 56-year-old ER nurse from New Jersey - a single mum to two boys who took three jobs to keep her family going. Pamela Orlando treated coronavirus patients until one day she became one.

Orlando started recording a video diary as a way of documenting her fight with the virus. On the first two days, she filmed herself at home. On the third day she was taken to hospital.

"I feel horrible. Almost like I'm not going to make it," she said on her fifth day. On 16 April, 24 days after falling ill, she died.

"I begged my mother to not go to work, I really did, but that's not who my mum was," her son Reid told CBS News. "This is a woman who had everything to lose - but she still went out on the front line saving lives."

Hear more of Pamela's story here. , external

Michelle Roberts
Health editor, BBC News online

Image source, Getty Images

As coronavirus continues to spread around the world and claim more lives, there is an ever-pressing need for a vaccine to stop the disease.

Currently, there is no proven prevention or cure. But there is hope that could change. Today, Europe is hosting a virtual conference for world leaders and philanthropists in an effort to raise €7.5bn (£6.6bn; $8.3bn) to drive vaccine research.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is co-hosting the event, is expected to ask countries to pull together.

Johnson will explain how a coronavirus vaccine is “the most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetime”. There are more than 90 vaccine candidates being tested around the world, but only some will become front-runners.

Even with more financial commitment, it will take time to know which ones might work and how well. Most experts think it could take until mid-2021, about 12-18 months after the new virus first emerged, for a vaccine to become available.

England's National Health Service (NHS) has reported a further 204 people with confirmed coronavirus have died in hospitals.

It brings the total number of patient deaths linked to Covid-19 in England to 21,384, the NHS said.

Meanwhile, a further five deaths have been reported in Scotland, taking the total there to 1,571.

A further 14 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Wales, taking the total number of deaths to 997. While six more deaths have been recorded in Northern Ireland, taking the total there to 387.

The Department of Health said UK-wide figures on deaths in all settings would be published later.

The pandemic has left nearly 30 million people in the US unemployed. Now, many like Brenda Zuniga are turning to charities for help.

On a hot day in San Antonio, Texas, thousands of cars lined up for hours to get some food. Families have become dependent on this kind of help to get by on a reduced income. Watch them tell their stories here:

Can the virus survive in the Sahara desert? How does the body fight it off? What does the 19 stand for in Covid-19?

We asked children for their questions about coronavirus and got a virologist to answer them. Adults might learn a thing or two as well.

Image source, Getty Images

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing the US Supreme Court to adopt some extraordinary changes.

Over the next two weeks, America's highest court will hear court arguments over the phone for the first time in its history. Audio from the proceedings will also be live-streamed.

Most lawyers will be making their cases from the comfort of their homes - though the government's lawyers will be in the office of the Solicitor General, a few blocks from the court.

And in a nod to formality, they'll wear their usual formal attire during the proceedings.

Several high-profile cases are scheduled to go ahead, including one about President Trump's financial records.

Image source, EPA

• Iran has allowed the re-opening of mosques in 132 cities that have been consistently free of the coronavirus and are considered "low risk". The capital Tehran and the Shia holy city of Mashhad are not among them. The step is part of a phased relaxation of activities that has been under way for weeks. President Hassan Rouhani has nevertheless warned Iranians to prepare for “bad scenarios”. More than 6,200 people with Covid-19 have died in Iran
• Lebanon is letting restaurants and hairdressers operate again, but only at 30% capacity. People will also be allowed to go for walks on seaside promenades during the day
• Egypt has permitted a limited re-opening of its hotels for domestic tourists. The hotels must operate at no more than 25% capacity and implement a range of health measures
• Expo 2020 Dubai has been postponed until October 2021, organisers say. The six-month fair is now "gearing up to help shape a post-pandemic world and create a better future for all"

Howard Johnson
Philippines Correspondent, BBC News

The normally empty blue expanse of Manila Bay currently resembles a small city, as 11 towering cruise ships undergo Covid-19 quarantine measures enforced by the Philippine Coastguard.

Ten of the ships belong to the company Carnival Corporation and one to Dream Cruises. The bay has become busy because of the large number of returning Filipinos who work in the cruise ship industry.

Non-Filipino crew members had hoped they would be able to leave through the country’s main international airport in Manila after undergoing a 14-day quarantine. But at the weekend the Philippine government suspended international flights into the country for a week.

One crew member told me: “Many of them have not seen families in a long time. We've worked for months and months now. If only one country would let us go from the ship, to their airport and fly out. Nobody wants to be anywhere other than home.”

Kerry Allen
BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst

In China’s southern Guangdong province, laws have kicked in across nine service industries (including public transport, hospitality, catering and the medical sector), preventing workers from discriminating against foreigners.

It follows multiple claims of mistreatment, driven by public fears that imported cases could prompt a second wave of coronavirus infections in China.

The South China Morning Post newspaper notes that China has recently seen “consistent reports of racism against African people”, external.

In early April, a branch of fast food chain McDonalds caused outrage by refusing entry to black people.

Hundreds of Africans were also evicted from hotels and apartments amid online rumours that the coronavirus was spreading among African people.

According to the national Global Times newspaper, external, taxi and bus drivers could now be punished if they refuse foreign customers, and landlords are banned from attempting to cancel or modify tenancy agreements.

Image source, Getty Images

A number of countries in Africa are beginning to ease lockdown restrictions.

In Nigeria, businesses have reopened to try to restart the continent's largest economy.

Rwanda has loosened restrictions after 45 days of lockdown, even though a nationwide night-time curfew will be enforced and movement in and out of the capital, Kigali, is prohibited.

In South Africa people have been allowed to return to work but must continue to observe distancing, the wearing of masks and washing hands.

In Kenya, the health ministry has recorded a low turnout in its mass testing campaign after encountering unwillingness among members of the public.

In Tanzania, videos of night burials have been circulating on social media causing some to call into question the government's approach to the coronavirus pandemic. See here for more on the controversy surrounding the country's night burials during the coronavirus

The rule saying people should stay two metres apart is "solid" and has not changed, Downing St has insisted.

The prime minister's spokesman said suggestions that other measures could be put in place in workplaces where such distancing was not possible were simply "reflecting existing advice", which says the distance should be maintained "wherever possible".

The BBC has seen one of seven plans drafted by the government, which says additional hygiene procedures, physical screens and the use of protective equipment should be considered where maintaining a distance of two metres between workers is impossible.

The government is expected to review the UK's lockdown at the end of the week.

James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News

At the heart of the UK’s strategy for tackling the coronavirus has been the advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).

However, it has been criticised for a lack of transparency, including by a former chief science adviser to the government - Sir David King.

Sir David is also concerned there are too many government and not enough independent scientists on Sage, so he is currently chairing an "Independent Sage" meeting of scientists and broadcasting it on YouTube.

Their conclusions will be made public later and sent to the government.

Meanwhile, the government has now published a list of its advisory group's membership, external - though some attendees have chosen to remain anonymous.

Image source, Getty Images

In case you're just joining us, here are some of the main headlines so far today:

• Italy is easing some of its restrictions, with deaths at their lowest level since just after its lockdown began two months ago
• But the virus is rapidly spreading in Russia, with 10,000 new infections for the second day running
• European leaders have pledged support for a plan to raise €7.5bn (£6.6bn; $8.3bn) to find a coronavirus vaccine in a jointly signed open letter
• The UK Government is exploring options to allow workplaces to reopen gradually. According to a draft plan, staggered shift times, home working and and reduced hot desking are among a range of things being considered
• Japan has extended its state of emergency until the end of May after a government meeting late on Monday
• Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is optimistic about having a vaccine by the end of the year. But is this likely? You can read more on that here.

Lauren Moss
Health correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The Nightingale Hospital in London is being "stood down" in the coming days.

The Abu Dhabi-owned ExCeL Centre in London's Docklands was turned into a field hospital for coronavirus patients and opened on 3 April by Prince Charles via video link, a week after he had tested positive for Covid-19.

The BBC understands there are fewer than 20 patients being treated there at the moment and once they've been discharged, the UK government has confirmed that the 4,000-bed hospital will be placed on standby with staff and some equipment redeployed and redistributed.

In a briefing to staff, Charles Knight, chief executive of the new hospital, said: "Thanks to the determination and sacrifice of Londoners in following the expert advice to stay home and save lives we have not had to expand the Nightingale's capacity beyond the first ward."

Mr Knight added that the hospital would be "placed on standby, ready to resume operations as and when needed in the weeks and potentially months to come".