Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus. The prime minister said he had “mild symptoms”. It came as London’s NHS scrambled to avert “armageddon” as a surge of cases in the capital was recorded. Last night the UK death toll hit 578, seeing its biggest daily increase of 115.
In the US, the number of cases has now passed China’s, for the highest total anywhere in the world. Early on Friday morning Donald Trump insisted he had “much respect” for China’s response to Covid-19, tweeting: “China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together.”
And food suppliers have warned that fresh fruit and vegetables could become scarce in Europe due to disruption in the supply chain.
Please allow a moment for the blog to load
Raab to become acting PM if Johnson incapacitated
Dominic Raab will be acting prime minister if Boris Johnson is incapacitated by coronavirus - but so far Mr Johnson has said he will continue to lead the UK's fight against Covid-19.
Here's our story from a few days ago on what happens if he is no longer able to do that.
Dominic Raab will be acting prime minister if Boris Johnson is incapacitated by coronavirus - but so far Mr Johnson has said he will continue to lead the UK's fight against Covid-19.
Here's our story from a few days ago on what happens if he is no longer able to do that.
Boris Johnson tests positive - full story
Tube still packed
Photos tweeted by an NHS worker show that the London Underground was still busy during this morning's rush hour.
The user called for ID checks for travellers.
Photos tweeted by an NHS worker show that the London Underground was still busy during this morning's rush hour.
The user called for ID checks for travellers.
Johnson tests positive for coronavirus
The PM has mild symptoms, he said on Twitter.
The PM has mild symptoms, he said on Twitter.
Supermarkets to prioritise deliveries to vulnerable
Several supermarkets have said they are going to access the government’s list of vulnerable people so they are able to better prioritise online deliveries for those most in need, writes Sabrina Barr.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, many supermarkets have been introducing measures to help customers who are elderly or vulnerable purchase food and household essentials without difficulty.
Several supermarkets have said they are going to access the government’s list of vulnerable people so they are able to better prioritise online deliveries for those most in need, writes Sabrina Barr.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, many supermarkets have been introducing measures to help customers who are elderly or vulnerable purchase food and household essentials without difficulty.
Hungary lockdown
Hungary is imposing a two-week lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which is expected to peak in the country in June or July, prime minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.
Citizens will be allowed to go to work, shop and take limited exercise outside during the lockdown, which starts on Saturday, but should keep distance from each other, the right-wing leader said on public radio, adding that restrictions would be enforced by police.
Hungary is imposing a two-week lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which is expected to peak in the country in June or July, prime minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.
Citizens will be allowed to go to work, shop and take limited exercise outside during the lockdown, which starts on Saturday, but should keep distance from each other, the right-wing leader said on public radio, adding that restrictions would be enforced by police.
Spain death toll jumps
Spain's death toll from coronavirus has risen by 769 in the country’s largest single-day surge.
Spain's death toll from coronavirus has risen by 769 in the country’s largest single-day surge.
Police forced to defend shaming walkers in drone footage
A police force has defended the use of drones to shame people it said were flouting coronavirus lockdown rules by walking in the Peak District.
Derbyshire Police filmed people in pairs rambling in the Curbar Edge area of the beauty spot on Wednesday, saying travelling to remote areas for exercise did not count as "essential travel". It posted the footage to Twitter.
The move attracted criticism, with UK civil liberties group Big Brother Watch branding the move "sinister" and "counter-productive".
But Superintendent Steve Pont told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We wanted to reinforce the message of stay home and a number of people aren't staying home, they're finding excuses or loopholes, reasons not to stay home - and we just wanted to illustrate that this is the wrong thing to do."
A police force has defended the use of drones to shame people it said were flouting coronavirus lockdown rules by walking in the Peak District.
Derbyshire Police filmed people in pairs rambling in the Curbar Edge area of the beauty spot on Wednesday, saying travelling to remote areas for exercise did not count as "essential travel". It posted the footage to Twitter.
The move attracted criticism, with UK civil liberties group Big Brother Watch branding the move "sinister" and "counter-productive".
But Superintendent Steve Pont told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We wanted to reinforce the message of stay home and a number of people aren't staying home, they're finding excuses or loopholes, reasons not to stay home - and we just wanted to illustrate that this is the wrong thing to do."
Tesco limiting size of online orders
Tesco will limit the number of items customers can buy online to 80 during the coronavirus emergency, it said on Friday.
The chain said a typical online order before the crisis contained than 60 items - but that the average had massively increased due to the number of very large orders of more than 100 items.
Tesco will limit the number of items customers can buy online to 80 during the coronavirus emergency, it said on Friday.
The chain said a typical online order before the crisis contained than 60 items - but that the average had massively increased due to the number of very large orders of more than 100 items.
Nursing homes hard-hit
Nursing homes have accounted for one-third of all new coronavirus infections in an Italian region’s daily count, officials said, writes Zoe Tidman.
The number of infections in central Lazio rose by 195 on Thursday, with more than 60 of these recorded in care homes.
Nursing homes have accounted for one-third of all new coronavirus infections in an Italian region’s daily count, officials said, writes Zoe Tidman.
The number of infections in central Lazio rose by 195 on Thursday, with more than 60 of these recorded in care homes.
Pressure mounts on retailers to curb online business
Pressure is piling up on large online retailers to temporarily close after Next halted its delivery business to protect workers in its warehouses from the coronavirus, writes Ben Chapman.
Asos will find itself under particular scrutiny after some employees at its warehouse in Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire expressed anger this week about working conditions which the GMB union alleges are unsafe
Asos strongly denies that workers are put at risk and says adequate social distancing measures are in place, but the company's business-as-usual stance is increasingly at odds with some rivals.
Fellow online fashion retailer Boohoo, which owns Pretty Little Thing, has also shown no indication it intends to slow down because of the Covid-19 emergency. In fact the company has launched a promotional push and a sale on dresses.
It underlines an ambiguity in the government's lockdown advice which says that people should only go out for work where there is no way that that work can be done at home.
At the same time, ministers have said that all unnecessary social contact should be avoided.
Is fast fashion necessary? Clearly the UK could survive without it, at least for a few months. So should warehouse be shut down to halt the coronavirus outbreak and protect workers? At the moment, that call is being left for businesses to make themselves.
Pressure is piling up on large online retailers to temporarily close after Next halted its delivery business to protect workers in its warehouses from the coronavirus, writes Ben Chapman.
Asos will find itself under particular scrutiny after some employees at its warehouse in Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire expressed anger this week about working conditions which the GMB union alleges are unsafe
Asos strongly denies that workers are put at risk and says adequate social distancing measures are in place, but the company's business-as-usual stance is increasingly at odds with some rivals.
Fellow online fashion retailer Boohoo, which owns Pretty Little Thing, has also shown no indication it intends to slow down because of the Covid-19 emergency. In fact the company has launched a promotional push and a sale on dresses.
It underlines an ambiguity in the government's lockdown advice which says that people should only go out for work where there is no way that that work can be done at home.
At the same time, ministers have said that all unnecessary social contact should be avoided.
Is fast fashion necessary? Clearly the UK could survive without it, at least for a few months. So should warehouse be shut down to halt the coronavirus outbreak and protect workers? At the moment, that call is being left for businesses to make themselves.
Come on, lads
American men are taking coronavirus less seriously than women, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between 18 and 24 March.
Women are more likely to support aggressive steps to combat Covid-19, as well as take personal, proactive measures such as avoiding physical contact and washing their hands more often.
And while US men are nearly as likely as women to say they are familiar with the virus that has killed more than 1,100 Americans, the national poll of nearly 4,500 American adults found that they were more likely to dismiss its potential to hurt them.
American men are taking coronavirus less seriously than women, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between 18 and 24 March.
Women are more likely to support aggressive steps to combat Covid-19, as well as take personal, proactive measures such as avoiding physical contact and washing their hands more often.
And while US men are nearly as likely as women to say they are familiar with the virus that has killed more than 1,100 Americans, the national poll of nearly 4,500 American adults found that they were more likely to dismiss its potential to hurt them.
UK housing market shuts down
House buyers and renters have been urged to postpone their imminent property moves during the nationwide lockdown, as the government effectively put the UK’s home real estate market on hold, writes Samuel Lovett.
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick issued the plea on Thursday, adding that it was “especially important to try and delay” for those who are socially isolating or “being shielded”.
House buyers and renters have been urged to postpone their imminent property moves during the nationwide lockdown, as the government effectively put the UK’s home real estate market on hold, writes Samuel Lovett.
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick issued the plea on Thursday, adding that it was “especially important to try and delay” for those who are socially isolating or “being shielded”.
Labour MP has virus
A Labour MP has contracted Covid-19. Angela Rayner made the announcement on Friday.
A Labour MP has contracted Covid-19. Angela Rayner made the announcement on Friday.
Iran toll
The death toll in Iran has now hit 2,378, the health ministry says. There have been 32,332 confirmed cases.
The death toll in Iran has now hit 2,378, the health ministry says. There have been 32,332 confirmed cases.
Russia tells 145 million to stay home
Russia has urged all of its citizens to refrain from travelling and asked people to stay at home in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus, the Interfax news agency cited prime minister Mikhail Mishustin as saying.
Russia has urged all of its citizens to refrain from travelling and asked people to stay at home in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus, the Interfax news agency cited prime minister Mikhail Mishustin as saying.
US solicits visa applications from foreign doctors
The US State Department has urged doctors abroad to apply for visas to help America tackle Covid-19.
Just a few short weeks ago Donald Trump was insisting that the US had this outbreak under control.
The US State Department has urged doctors abroad to apply for visas to help America tackle Covid-19.
Just a few short weeks ago Donald Trump was insisting that the US had this outbreak under control.
Russia closes state hotels
Russia has ordered its vast network of state-run hotels, resorts and recreational facilities to shut down from 28 March until 1 June, as its number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose past 1,000.
The official tally of confirmed cases jumped by a record daily amount for the third consecutive day on Friday.
Russia has ordered its vast network of state-run hotels, resorts and recreational facilities to shut down from 28 March until 1 June, as its number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose past 1,000.
The official tally of confirmed cases jumped by a record daily amount for the third consecutive day on Friday.
Government warning on Covid-19 fake cures
The government has issued a warning over the spread of disinformation on coronavirus as conspiracy theorists, extremists and fraudsters exploit the pandemic, writes Lizzie Dearden.
Fake medical advice and dangerous “cures” are being shared widely on social networks, alongside fake videos being used to target racial and religious minorities.
The government has issued a warning over the spread of disinformation on coronavirus as conspiracy theorists, extremists and fraudsters exploit the pandemic, writes Lizzie Dearden.
Fake medical advice and dangerous “cures” are being shared widely on social networks, alongside fake videos being used to target racial and religious minorities.
Staying at work good for miners, Australian companies say
Australia's iron ore giants want to reduce coronavirus's threat to their operations by pushing workers to spend weeks on site and away from their families - relocating them from the eastern seaboard.
Company and union officials made the announcement on Friday.
Rio Tinto, BHP Group and Fortescue are moving workers who would usually commute from major cities by aeroplane to stay on site for a minimum of two weeks, they said in separate statements.
Fortescue workers would move to a roster of two weeks on and two off, or four weeks on and two off, cutting staff movement by 40 per cent for a "significant decrease" in risk, the world's fourth biggest iron ore miner said.
The measures are expected to last for at least three and as many as six months.
Australia's iron ore giants want to reduce coronavirus's threat to their operations by pushing workers to spend weeks on site and away from their families - relocating them from the eastern seaboard.
Company and union officials made the announcement on Friday.
Rio Tinto, BHP Group and Fortescue are moving workers who would usually commute from major cities by aeroplane to stay on site for a minimum of two weeks, they said in separate statements.
Fortescue workers would move to a roster of two weeks on and two off, or four weeks on and two off, cutting staff movement by 40 per cent for a "significant decrease" in risk, the world's fourth biggest iron ore miner said.
The measures are expected to last for at least three and as many as six months.
