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Live Reporting

Edited by Kevin Ponniah

All times stated are UK

  1. We're pausing our live coverage

    Thank you for following our updates - we're now wrapping up the live page for today but before we go, here's a quick recap of Thursday's main developments:

    You've been kept up to date today (from morning in Asia to evening in the UK) by a team of writers and editors in Singapore, Sydney, Delhi and the UK. They are: Yvette Tan, Andreas Ilmer, Frances Mao, Krutika Pathi, Anna Jones, Owen Amos, Joel Gunter, Tom Spender, Georgina Rannard, Kevin Ponniah, Vicky Baker, Yaroslav Lukov, Tom Gerken, Alice Evans, Matt Henry, Michael Emons, Steve Sutcliffe, Matt Cannon and Ella Wills.

  2. The UK's eighth clap for carers

    Watch as people across the United Kingdom clapped for carers, NHS staff and other key workers earlier tonight.

    Video content

    Video caption: Coronavirus: UK's eighth clap for carers
  3. Tracking the pandemic

    Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world, with more than four million confirmed cases in 188 countries.

    Global coronavirus cases

    With more than 1.3 million cases, the US has the highest number of confirmed infections in the world. It has also recorded more than 80,000 deaths.

    The state of New York has been particularly badly affected, with more than 27,000 deaths.

    Coronavirus cases by US states
    Daily cases and deaths in the US

    Here are our latest charts and other visuals tracking the global outbreak.

    In the UK, another 428 deaths were announced on Thursday, bringing the official total number of deaths to 33,614.

    But the average number of daily deaths reported has been trending downward for weeks now. Nonetheless, as experts have said, the curve shoots up quickly but takes a much longer time to come down.

    All the latest data on the UK outbreak can be found here.

    Chart showing daily deaths in the UK trending downwards
  4. Concern over pandemic taking hold in war-torn Yemen

    A checkpoint in Aden, Yemen
    Image caption: A checkpoint in Aden, Yemen

    There have been 385 deaths over the past week of people with "coronavirus-like symptoms" in Aden, Yemen, according to figures reported by the Save the Children organisation.

    The group said such deaths in Aden appeared to have increased fivefold in a week.

    Only 72 cases and 13 virus-related deaths have officially been confirmed in the war-ravaged country but Save the Children said it appeared the pandemic was "getting a grip" on Yemen. The testing rate is extremely low with only four labs nationwide able to carry out the diagnostics.

    “Our teams on the ground are seeing how people are being sent away from hospitals, breathing heavily or even collapsing. People are dying because they can’t get treatment that would normally save their lives," the group said in a statement.

    It added that there were only 500 ventilators in Yemen.

  5. Bamboo shortage forces Canadian zoo to return pandas to China

    Video content

    Video caption: Coronavirus: Bamboo shortage forces Canadian zoo to return pandas to China

    Two giant pandas will be returned to China from a Canadian zoo because of a lack of bamboo to feed them.

    Calgary Zoo said flight disruptions related to the coronavirus pandemic had caused delays in bamboo supplies, which were flown in directly from China.

    The pandas consume about 40kg of bamboo each day.

  6. McDonald's outlines guidelines for reopening US dining

    People waiting outside McDonald's in New York City's Times Square yesterday
    Image caption: People waiting outside McDonald's in New York City's Times Square yesterday

    McDonald's has released guidelines for how its restaurants should reopen dining areas in the US.

    Staff will wear masks and gloves, child play areas will be closed, and some seating will be inaccessible to promote social distancing.

    Some of the fast food restaurants will even offer masks to customers in cities where they are required.

    Despite the guidelines, McDonald's has not said when it will reopen eating areas across the US.

    In the UK, the fast food chain yesterday reopened 15 of its branches for delivery, and it plans to open some drive-thrus next week.

  7. More than one in four patients who died in England had diabetes

    Figures released by NHS England have provided a breakdown of specific pre-existing health conditions among those to have died with Covid-19.

    It showed that more than one in four (26%) patients who died with Covid-19 in hospitals in England between 31 March and 12 May had diabetes. Of the 22,332 patients who died, 5,873 had the condition.

    Meanwhile, 18% of those who died had dementia, 15% had chronic pulmonary disease, and 14% had chronic kidney disease.

  8. Church sues Zoom after Bible study porn 'zoombombing'

    A church in the US is suing Zoom after a hacker allegedly hijacked a virtual Bible study class to post pornography and child abuse images.

    Saint Paulus Lutheran Church in California said a person hacked into its Zoom video call and played "sick and disturbing videos".

    The church's leaders contacted Zoom for help, but the company "did nothing", it claimed.

    Zoom declined to comment.

    A person uses Zoom on their phone
    Image caption: Zoom has recently gone from 10m users a day to 200m
  9. The five countries with highest death tolls

    Indigenous people attend the funeral of their chief in Manaus, Brazil. Photo: 14 May 2020
    Image caption: Indigenous people attend the funeral of their chief in Manaus, Brazil

    More than 300,000 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded around the world, according to Johns Hopkins (JH) University.

    The US university - which started compiling its data soon after the outbreak began in China late last year - says there have been more than 4.4 million confirmed cases, with 1.5 million people who have recovered.

    The five nations with highest death tolls currently are:

    • the US - more than 85,000 (JH)
    • the UK - 33,614 (Department for Heath and Social Care)
    • Italy - 31,368 (Civil Protection Agency)
    • France - 27,425 (Health authorities)
    • Spain - more than 27,300 (JH)

    However, scientists point out that global comparisons are difficult to make because every country counts deaths differently. They say a fuller picture may only emerge over a longer period of time.

  10. Company warns of shortage of plastic for protection screens

    Plastic screens at a supermarket

    There is a shortage of the plastic sheets used to make clear screens that employers have been advised to install for workplace safety, the BBC has learned.

    Supermarkets have fitted screens at checkouts and government guidance has advised other workplaces, from labs to factories, to take a similar approach, but a spike in demand has led to shortages of plastic sheets.

    Chris Marmion, managing director of Plastic Shop Screens, told the BBC's Wake up to Money: "It's quite simple. There isn't enough [plastic] coming into the country to meet the current demand. Come a couple of weeks, I think there may definitely be a shortage."

  11. Austria's leader Kurz in social distancing row

    Bethany Bell

    BBC News, Vienna

    Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been criticised by opposition parties, after he visited a small Alpine community and a crowd of locals, disregarding social distancing rules.

    Gatherings of more than 10 people are not permitted under Austrian regulations.

    It was Mr Kurz’s first official trip outside Vienna for weeks. He was visiting Kleinwalsertal, a remote Austrian valley that has been particularly isolated during lockdown, as it is only accessible via a road through Germany.

    There has been widespread criticism of Mr Kurz on social media.

    View more on youtube

    In a Facebook post, Mr Kurz said residents had “gathered spontaneously”.

    He said that his chancellery would work to try to prevent such situations happening in future.

  12. 'It shows how much this nation can be united'

    Annemarie Plas pictured during the applause
    Image caption: Annemarie Plas, who came up with the idea for the applause, spoke to the BBC during tonight's clapping

    During the UK's applause for carers, NHS staff and other key workers earlier, the BBC spoke to Annemarie Plas, the founder of the weekly show of gratitude, outside her home in Streatham, south London.

    She said: "Being inspired from what I saw back home in the Netherlands - and [seeing] it was happening in Spain and Italy - I thought if the Dutch can do it, then the Brits can do it as well.

    "I feel very proud. It shows how much this nation can be united and be as one - we're all in this together."

  13. Burundi expels WHO representative and the latest from Africa

    A men is tested for coronavirus in Kenya. Photo: May 2020

    Here's a quick round-up of major developments from across Africa:

    • Mauritius has declared victory in the battle against coronavirus - but says it has not yet won the war
    • Burundi has expelled the World Health Organization representative in the country and three other health experts - reportedly because the government is unhappy about supposed "interference" in its virus response
    • Tanzania has rejected US criticism that it is not doing enough to halt the outbreak
    • Football club TP Mazembe are declared champions as the season is brought to an end in the Democratic Republic of Congo
  14. Qatar: Fail to wear a mask, risk jail

    A man wears a protective face mask in Doha, Qatar. Photo: March 2020

    Qatar has made the wearing of face masks compulsory, warning that anyone defying the order could face up to three years in prison or be fined more than $50,000 (£41,000).

    The Gulf state has currently more than 28,000 infections, with 14 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University's worldwide tally.

    More than 2.5 million people live in Qatar, one of the world's richest countries.

  15. Applause for carers, NHS staff and other key workers

    Medics at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London during the clap for carers, NHS staff and other key workers
    Image caption: Medics at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London during the clap for carers, NHS staff and other key workers...
    Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool
    Image caption: ...here are some members of staff from the Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool
    River Lee
    Image caption: A member of the public applauds from their boat on the River Lee in Hackney Wick, London
    Local residents applaud in support of NHS workers and other key workers on May 14, 2020 in Northampton, United Kingdom
    Image caption: And these residents of Northampton turned out with their pans to make some noise and show their appreciation
  16. Fears over first cases in Rohingya refugee camp

    Rohingya refugees at the Kutupalong camp, southern Bangladesh. Photo: March 2020
    Image caption: Rohingya refugees live in the congested and cramped camps in southern Bangladesh

    As we reported earlier (see our 15:48 post), the first cases of coronavirus have reached the world’s largest Rohingya refugee camp, in Bangladesh's Cox’s Bazar southern district.

    A government doctor confirmed to the BBC that there have been two positive cases. Both people are now in health facilities run by non-governmental organisations.

    It is believed some 1,900 other people came into contact with the two cases, and officials are now beginning the process of contact tracing.

    There are significant fears of a wider outbreak.

    “Health facilities are already crowded and overwhelmed, without the sufficient equipment, health staff or physical space necessary to treat cases," said Manish Agrawal, Bangladesh country director at global humanitarian organisation the International Rescue Committee.

  17. What's the latest in sport?

    Ben Stokes

    The sporting calendar is continuing to come to terms with the coronavirus crisis, with more cancellations announced and some sports taking steps to resume.

  18. Labour leader joins in national clapping

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer applaud for key workers outside their home
    Image caption: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer applaud for key workers outside their home in London
  19. Answers to questions you might have

    Feeling a little unsure about the latest coronavirus news and guidelines? These explainers we've put together might help answer some of your questions.

  20. PM applauds from 10 Downing Street

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiance Carrie Symonds clap for carers, NHS staff and other key workers who have been on the frontline of this pandemic
    Image caption: Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds clap for carers, NHS staff and other key workers who have been on the frontline of this pandemic