Schools across the UK are set to close as early as Friday, in the latest attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus. In other UK news, Boris Johnson has promised the government will protect private renters after its £350bn coronavirus relief package was criticised for omitting them, and will also discuss the idea of a universal basic income with opposition parties.
Under further government plans police will have the power to detain people infected with coronavirus as efforts to tackle Covid-19 ramp up. Schools in Scotland and Wales are set to shut by the end of the week, while British supermarkets have begun rationing more products after shelves were picked clean by stockpilers.
Elsewhere, the virus has now been detected in all 50 US states, with the death toll passing 100; Donald Trump’s administration has said it will increase the availability of testing and urged all Americans to take steps to avoid infection. Global infections have now passed 200,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. Some 8,000 people have died and 82,000 have recovered.
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A coronavirus test that reveals who has had Covid-19 but not shown symptoms has been hailed as a "game-changer".
The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said Public Health England's (PHE) work on the antibody test is "progressing very fast", and will provide valuable insight into the pandemic.
Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said development of the test was not far away.
"The great thing about having a test to see whether you've had it enough, is suddenly a green light goes on above your head and you can go back to work safe and confident in the knowledge that you are most unlikely to get it again.", he said.
"So for an economic point of view, from a social point of view, it really could be a game-changer. You can really see the potential of that advance, which, as I say, is coming down the track."
Italy mulls outdoor exercise ban as deaths soar
The Italian government threatened to ban all outdoor exercise as the coronavirus death toll soared to 2,978 and frustration grew over the number of people defying the nation's lockdown.
Italy was the first Western country to impose severe restrictions on movement to contain the illness. But a week after the curbs were imposed, the disease is still spreading and hospitals in the north are at breaking point.
The northern region of Lombardy, on the frontline of the battle against the pandemic, has asked recently retired health workers to return to work and help colleagues overwhelmed by the crisis.
"I make a heartfelt appeal to all the doctors, nurses and medical personnel who have retired in the last two years...to help us in this emergency," regional Governor Attilio Fontana told a news conference.
Asked to comment on restrictions like those reported to be coming to the capital, Boris Johnson refused to rule anything out - even limiting when, where and how people travel around.
The PM said: "We live in a land of liberty as you know, and it's one of the great features of our lives that we don't tend to impose those sorts of restrictions on people in this country.
"But I have to tell you we will rule nothing out and we will certainly wish to consider bringing forward further and faster measures where that is necessary to suppress the peak of the epidemic to protect our NHS, to minimise casualties, and to minimise suffering."
"The Prime Minister is right to announce school closures to stop the spread of this virus", he said.
The House of Commons should have been shut down a week ago - Tom Peck
"Not even at the height of the Theresa May/Jeremy Corbyn years have the green benches been so empty for prime minister’s questions" Tom Peck writes.
"Only those on the order paper were allowed in, plus the front benches of all parties, and they sat two metres apart."
More below:
Coronavirus should have forced parliament to shut down a week ago - MPs have to lead by example | Tom Peck
If such a step is implemented, people might actually realise they need to take actionUK schools closed indefinitely from Friday and exams cancelled, government says
Schools in the UK will close from Friday until further notice and all exams have been cancelled, the government has announced.
Children of key workers and the most vulnerable pupils will still attend schools, education secretary Gavin Williamson has said.
More below:
UK schools closed indefinitely from Friday and exams cancelled, government says
Schools in the UK will close from Friday until further notice and all exams have been cancelled, the government has announced.Meghan and Harry share statement of solidarity
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared a message of solidarity and support amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a post shared on their Sussex Royal Instagram account, the couple wrote that in these “uncertain times”, it is important to remember that “we need each other”.
Here is Sabrina Barr with more:
Meghan and Harry share message of solidarity amid coronavirus crisis
The Independent‘We need each other for truth, for support, and to feel less alone,’ duke and duchess writeThe policy applies to all children except for those who are most vulnerable, and those whose parents are key workers.
Nurseries and colleges are expected to follow suit.
Children who receive free school meals will be given vouchers to compensate.
Ocado closes online store due to ‘staggering demand’
The number of people to have died across the UK after contracting the Covid-19 coronavirus has increased to 104 after NHS England said a further 32 people had died in England after testing positive.
The increase marks the largest single day jump in deaths in the UK since the epidemic began.
Anthony Cuthbertson has more:
Ocado closes online store amid ‘staggering demand’ during coronavirus outbreak
'We are fully booked for the next four days,' says online supermarketSchools in Northern Ireland will close to pupils from 5pm on Wednesday, although teachers will attend for another two days, Stormont sources have told the PA news agency.
Iraqi doctor warns country’s dismal hospitals may be keeping coronavirus patients away
Iraq’s hospitals are so dilapidated public health specialists are worried those suspected of carrying the coronavirus are avoiding them.
One doctor in Baghdad, who specialises in community health, said several of the 11 Iraqis who have died so far of coronavirus succumbed on the day they were admitted, suggesting they avoid care until they were deathly ill.
Here is Borzou Daragahi with more:
Iraqi doctor warns country’s dismal hospitals may be keeping coronavirus patients away
‘They are afraid to be put in quarantine – staying in an Iraqi hospital for 14 days is dangerous’, health specialist tells Borzou DaragahiLondon prepares for coronavirus lockdown after rise in new cases
Preparations are underway to put London in a lockdown similar to EU countries if experts decide it is the only way to cut coronavirus deaths, Downing Street says.
Measures including the closure of most shops and forcing all-but essential workers to remain at home are on the table – after an alarming rise in cases in the capital.
Rob Merrick has more
London prepares for coronavirus lockdown after rise in new cases
EU-style measures including closure of most shops and forcing almost everyone to remain at home on the tableThe new supermarket rules for the coronavirus outbreak
One of the biggest public concerns throughout the coronavirus outbreak has been whether essential food and household items will remain in good supply at supermarkets.
Despite supermarkets urging people to refrain from panic-buying and stockpiling, this hasn’t stopped consumers from going against advice in order to buy items in bulk.
Here is Sabrina Barr with more:
From rationing to ‘elderly hours’: The new supermarket rules for the coronavirus outbreak
Sainsbury’s recently implemented rationing on essential food and household itemsThe United States has confirmed at least 7,000 cases of coronavirus, according to the latest local and state data, as hospitals prepare to be potentially inundated with patients amid a severe shortage of critical supplies.
The number of people to have died across the UK after contracting the Covid-19 coronavirus has increased to 104, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed.
The increase marks the largest single day jump in deaths in the UK since the epidemic began.
More below:
UK Coronavirus death toll jumps to more than 100 in largest single day rise
The number of people to have died across the UK after contracting the Covid-19 coronavirus has increased to 104, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed.Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has urged citizens not to leave home until the coronavirus outbreak passes.
Ireland's foreign minister has a message for anyone still planning to go to the pub on Friday night.
Donald Trump has told a press conference that Fema, the federal emergency management agency, has been mobilised in all US states to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
