Police have gained the power to fine people up to £960 or arrest them if they repeatedly break coronavirus lockdown rules, while Boris Johnson has been urged to explain why he declined cooperation with the EU in purchasing medical equipment.
Rishi Sunak has announced long-awaited state help for the self-employed, following figures that showed nearly one-quarter of them had been living in relative poverty even before coronavirus struck. The measures, while welcomed for their content, have been criticised after the chancellor said payments may be delayed until June.
Meanwhile the UK death rate has increased by more than 100 across 24 hours for the first time, leading to a total of 578 deaths and 11,658 infections. In the US, infection rates have risen beyond that of any other country in the world.
The NHS has now asked for 750,000 volunteers to help it tackle coronavirus, after more than half a million people signed up overnight. In another show of solidarity, people across the nation applauded from their homes at 8pm to praise healthcare workers.
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States turn on New York amid surging death rate
Several states are mandating two-week quarantines for residents who recently travelled to New York, which has emerged as the "epicentre" of the coronavirus spread in the US.
Texas Governor Greg Abbot issued an executive order on Thursday requiring people flying into Texas from the tri-state area as well as New Orleans to quarantine for 14 days.
Alex Woodward has more:
States begin to turn on New York as its death toll jumps by more than 100
Texas among those ordering quarantines for travellers coming from New York, where fatalities have spiked to nearly 400The Liberal Democrats have suspended their leadership campaign for a year, citing the impact of coronavirus.
The opposition party had been due to open the process for replacing Jo Swinson, who was forced to step down as leader after losing her seat at the December general election, in May and announce a successor in July.
President Mark Pack said: "The country is currently going through our biggest crisis since 1945.
"Our party has decided that we must put all our attention into dealing with fallout from coronavirus.
"The Liberal Democrats have always put the national interest first and I am proud of the role we have played in championing NHS and care workers, as well as sticking up for the self-employed.
"We will continue to scrutinise Government policy and fight for the most vulnerable in our society."
DC insiders are worried Trump might have a coronavirus quid pro quo up his sleeve - Andrew Feinberg
More than 1,000 Americans have now died from the illness the World Health Organization has dubbed Covid-19, and almost 75,000 have been infected.
Additionally, more than 3.3 million Americans have now been put out of work by the social distancing measures which medical experts have found to be the only reliable method of slowing the spread of the virus.
But, Andrew Feinberg writes, "Donald Trump isn't interested in any of that".
More below:
DC insiders are worried Trump might have a coronavirus quid pro quo up his sleeve
'It's worse than 9/11, it's worse than Pearl Harbor'Court closures could lead to 'car crash backlog'
Enforced court closures due to the coronavirus outbreak could prompt a "car crash" of an extra backlog in cases, lawyers have warned.
The concerns were raised as fresh figures revealed outstanding cases waiting to be heard in crown courts already jumped 13% in the last year.
Caroline Goodwin QC, chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, said: "The crown court sitting days budget cuts imposed on the financial year 2019/20 just ending have proven to be a shambolic miscalculation and now we have a car crash of an extra backlog building up from the Covid-19-enforced courts closure to deal with.
'Hearing the clapping told us that people out there know how hard everyone has been working'
A doctor in London said the public's applause for the NHS on Thursday night was a welcome boost "as we head into the storm".
Up and down the country, members of the public put their hands together for NHS workers and others who have been battling the coronavirus pandemic.
Tom, 42, a consultant anaesthetist, heard the applause on his way home from work at a London hospital.
"It was really touching to hear the applause," he told the PA news agency.
"We're all so worried about whether we're going to be able to be there for all the patients who are going to need us over the coming weeks and months, and knowing that the public have got our backs was much needed.
"Hearing the clapping told us that people out there know how hard everyone has been working to get ahead of the coming surge as much as we can, and that has given us a boost - a reminder that there's a world outside the frantic bubble of Covid-related work we've all been living in for weeks now."
Trump administration eases environmental regulations during pandemic
The Trump administration has decided to ease enforcement of environmental regulations covering polluting industries to help them cope with impacts from the coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday.
The decision follows requests by the oil lobby and other industry groups for regulatory relief.
"EPA is committed to protecting human health and the environment, but recognises challenges resulting from efforts to protect workers and the public from Covid-19 may directly impact the ability of regulated facilities to meet all federal regulatory requirements," EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a press release.
17-year-old dies in US
The Louisiana Department of Health has reported that a 17-year-old from New Orleans has died of coronavirus, the youngest fatality from the virus in the state.
The teenager is one of 18 deaths announced in the state on Wednesday, bringing the total to 83.
17-year-old dies of coronavirus in Louisiana
It is unknown whether the teenager had any underlying health conditionsVenezuela has confirmed the country's first death from the novel coronavirus, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said in comments broadcast over state television.
The Prince of Wales has been seen for the first time since testing positive for coronavirus.
Clarence House posted a video in their Instagram Stories of heir to throne Charles joining in with the round of applause for the NHS from Birkhall.
The prince, who appeared to be indoors, clapped along.
Donald Trump said the US being the most infected nation worldwide was a "tribute to our testing" while implying China may have lied about the infection rate in the country.
Donald Trump took a veiled jab at New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, beloved by the far left, calling her a "little grandstander" over her threats to delay passage of a coronavirus economic aid package.
Trump makes thinly veiled attack at AOC during coronavirus briefing
Donald Trump took a veiled jab at New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, beloved by the far left, calling her a "little grandstander" over her threats to delay passage of a coronavirus economic aid package.Donald Trump has said he has heard "loud and clear" that people "want to go back to work".
US the most infected nation worldwide
As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases reaches more than 80,000, including at least 1,100 deaths, the US now has more cases than any other country.
John Hopkins Univseristy confirmed the number of patients eclipsing those hard-hit countries as the nation struggles with a consistent response after delayed efforts to take the mounting crisis seriously.
More below:
US now has most coronavirus cases in the world, report says
As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases reaches more than 80,000, including at least 1,100 deaths, the US now has more cases than any other country, according to data collected by The New York Times.The number of people signing up for the NHS volunteer programme had reached 670,663 by 9pm, with the Government increasing the target to 750,000, three times the initial goal.
Ireland deaths more than double
Ireland reported 10 deaths from Covid-19 infections on Thursday, more than doubling the total number of fatalities to 19, Ireland's Department of Health said.
The country also reported an additional 255 confirmed infections to bring the total to 1,819, the department said in a statement.
Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said he was particularly concerned about infections in nursing homes and healthcare settings and the increase in the number of people being admitted to intensive care.
Trump plan to reopen economy will rank states by risk
The White House has sent governors the outlines of a process by which Donald Trump intends to reopen parts of the country by classifying individual counties into three risk categories, contending "enhanced testing" is allowing his government to "isolate" the virus and stop its spread.
The president sent the letter the same week he has been pushing hard to get all or part of the United States "open for business" by 12 April.
Here is John T Bennett with more:
