Celebrations for Anzac day in Australia and New Zealand have had to be altered amid the virus outbreakImage caption: Celebrations for Anzac day in Australia and New Zealand have had to be altered amid the virus outbreak
Thanks for joining our live page today. That's a wrap until tomorrow - but before we go, here's a recap of some of the day's top stories.
The UK government website for key workers to apply for coronavirus tests has reopened for bookings, after it was shut down due to "significant demand". Some 16,000 bookings have already been made on the website.
China has rejected calls for an independent international investigation into the origin of the coronavirus, as an EU report accuses the country of spreading disinformation about the crisis
The US death toll passed 50,000, as parts of the US reopened after weeks of lockdown. Some hair salons, bowling alleys and other businesses opened on Friday in Georgia, Alaska and Oklahoma
Across Australia and New Zealand, thousands of people have stood outside their homes at dawn to mark Anzac Day, after households were urged to pay tribute even amid the coronavirus lockdown. It marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) during World War One.
There are now more than 2.7 million cases reported worldwide, with deaths nearing 200,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Today's live page was written and edited by our journalists in Australia, Singapore, India, the UK and US: Frances Mao, Tessa Wong, Andreas Illmer, Yvette Tan, Anna Jones, Krutika Pathi, Kevin Ponniah, Jasmine Taylor-Coleman, Alex Kleiderman, Pat Jackson, Gareth Evans, Sophie Williams, Alexandra Fouche, Rebecca Morton, George Bowden, Joshua Nevett, Emlyn Begley, Jonathan Jurejko, Matt Henry, Lucy Webster, Emma Harrison, Holly Honderich, Ritu Prasad, Hugo Bachega and Helier Cheung.
Infant daughter of New York firefighter dies of virus
GoFundMeCopyright: GoFundMe
Jay-Natalie La Santa, pictured here with her parents, is one of the youngest people to die of Covid-19 in the USImage caption: Jay-Natalie La Santa, pictured here with her parents, is one of the youngest people to die of Covid-19 in the US
The five-month-old daughter of New York City firefighter Jerel La Santa and Board of Education employee Lindsey La Santa died earlier this week of Covid-19, after a month in hospital, her family says.
The baby, Jay-Natalie, had a preexisting heart condition, her grandmother, Wanda La Santa told US media, and was first admitted to a New York hospital on 21 March with a fever.
"She was a little angel with the most beautiful smile," Wanda told NBC News. "Jay-Natalie had everybody wrapped around her finger."
After early signs of improvement, Jay-Natalie's condition quickly deteriorated, Wanda said. "My granddaughter fought a big battle for a whole month in the hospital."
Jay-Natalie is one of the youngest people to die of Covid-19 in the US. According to a report from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, just three children between the ages of one and 14 had died of the virus as of 2 April.
Both of the baby's parents tested negative for the virus.
Jose Prosper, president of the Hispanic Society of FDNY said that Jay-Natalie's father - who joined the force the same month she was born - called her his "warrior princess".
"Please keep the La Santa family close in prayer," Prosper wrote.
What do we know about at-home virus tests?
The commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Stephen Hahn, said at the White House briefing today that the agency had approved the US's first at-home virus test.
So what do we know about the test?
The FDA gave more details earlier this week. A nasal swab kit called Pixel will be made available first to health care workers and first responders, and is expected to go on sale to consumers - with a doctor's order - in most US states in the next few weeks.
Patients will collect their own samples using the swab and then submit to a LabCorp lab for analysis.
Each test kit costs $119 (£90). Buyers will have to complete a survey about their eligibility, with questions like if they are a healthcare worker, where they live, and if they have any virus symptoms.
Navy recommends reinstating captain who raised alarm
Tara McKelvey
BBC News, Washington
Brett Crozier, the commander of the Theodore Roosevelt, sounded an alarm about infections on board his ship last month. In a letter to navy officials, he pleaded for additional resources to protect his crew.
The letter was leaked to a newspaper, and afterwards he was removed from command. But now the chief of naval operations, Admiral Michael Gilday, and the acting navy secretary, James McPherson, have recommended that Crozier be reinstated as commander.
Their recommendation is a significant development in a story that has transfixed military people and others across the US, and it could mark the beginning of a dramatic turnaround for Crozier.
It is extremely rare for a commander to be sacked, explains Gary Solis, a retired Marine Corps judge, and even more rare for his reputation to be restored. Like many who served in the military, Solis does not approve of the way Crozier addressed the problems on his ship. But Solis says his heart was in the right place.
“It’s clear that he had the best interests of the ship and the crew - and also national defence - in mind,” Solis says.
The Pentagon said in a statement that Defence Secretary Mark Esper would "thoroughly review" the preliminary inquiry into the virus outbreak onboard before meeting with Navy leaders to determine next steps.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The USS Theodore Roosevelt is docked at Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor on 10 April, 2020Image caption: The USS Theodore Roosevelt is docked at Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor on 10 April, 2020
How will Americans spend their $1,200?
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Millions of Americans have been promised a stimulus cheque of up to $1,200 (£970) as part of the federal government's rescue package.
So how will they spend it? Some BBC readers told us.
For some - it will go to necessities.
"I will buy what we need, not spending it all at once," wrote Pearl Quintal, a grandmother from Hawaii. "I will save some to make ends meet as far as $1,200 will carry myself and my two grandsons that I have been taking care of."
For others, it will be spent on something more specific: a bidet.
"Toilet paper shortages have convinced me that the Japanese and most Europeans had it right all along," Dirk Ducharme of Auburn, California told the BBC.
Belgium will gradually lift coronavirus restrictions during May, allowing businesses, schools and social life to resume in several phases.
Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes says the lockdown will start to be eased from 4 May, when restrictions on open-air sports and public transport will be lifted.
All businesses will be allowed to reopen from 11 May and schools from 18 May. Beyond that, other public venues, such as cafes, bars, restaurants, may be reopened gradually in June.
Wilmes said the spread of the virus had slowed in Belgium, but stressed that the situation was still evolving day-by-day.
"Nothing is etched in stone," Wilmes said.
Belgium declared a nationwide lockdown over the coronavirus crisis on 18 March, following the example of several European countries.
As of Friday, there were 44,293 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 6,679 deaths related to the disease in the country, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Report: Trump 'may pare back virus briefings'
President Trump may cut back on his coronavirus taskforce briefings, according to news site Axios, citing four unnamed sources.
A number of Trump's advisers have reportedly urged the president to curb his daily appearances - which have often lasted for more than an hour.
Trump has previously boasted about the "ratings" for his White House briefings, comparing them to viewership for NFL games and reality show The Bachelor.
But the president faced intense backlash for his comments on Thursday's briefing, where he suggested that ingesting disinfectant could potentially treat the virus. His comments were heavily criticised by doctors, while disinfectant producers warned consumers not to inject or ingest their products.
On Friday, Mr Trump said that his comments at the briefing had been made "sarcastically".
Vice-President Pence concludes briefing in record time
Vice-President Pence celebrates the "extraordinary and rapid progress" made by governors in their coronavirus response.
This is "one team, one mission", Pence said, listing progress across US states, like New York, New Jersey and Missouri.
"We are slowing the spread. We are protecting the most vulnerable," Pence says. "The day will soon come when we will heal our land."
He says that "social distancing efforts" are really making an impact, and thanks the "millions of Americans who put the guidance into practice".
He and Trump leave the briefing without taking any questions from reporters.
The coronavirus taskforce briefing lasted just over 20 minutes - which is unusually short compared to previous briefings, some of which have lasted more than 2.5 hours.
Trump and Pence appeared without either Dr Anthony Fauci or Dr Deborah Birx, top US health experts and coronavirus response co-ordinators.
US agency approves first at-home test
Dr Stephen Hahn, who heads the US food and drug agency, says the president tasked him with cutting down "as many barriers as we possibly could to get products into the medical community".
"We have done that, of course recognising the urgency of the situation," Dr Hahn says.
Dr Hahn announces the agency has authorised the first "at-home test" for diagnosing Covid-19.
"This is a test where, under certain circumstances with a doctor's supervision, a test can be mailed to a patient, and the patient can perform the self-swab and mail it back and get the results."
He says the agency has approved 63 tests thus far, and is currently working with over 400 test developers to authorise their products.
When asked about antibody tests - which determine if someone has already had the virus and may be immune - Dr Hahn says they have authorised four and "more are in the pipeline".
The lack of testing has been a key issue with the country's Covid-19 response. Governors across the nation have been requesting more tests in recent weeks, and initial tests put forth by the Centers for Disease Control were inaccurate.
Existing drug administration regulations also made it harder at the onset for hospital laboratories across the country to develop new diagnostic tests.
Vice-President Pence: 5.1 million Americans tested
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
"Testing is in the forefront of our minds," says Vice-President Mike Pence, taking the podium after President Trump.
“One month ago, all of the testing that had been done in America: 80,000 Americans had been tested," he says. "But as of this morning, 5.1 million Americans have been tested for the coronavirus.”
Pence urges Americans not to be "discouraged" by rising number of cases as testing increases.
"We continue to see positive progress," he says.
Trump: US sending ventilators to countries in need
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Trump says his administration is sending ventilators to other countries in need as the US now has a "tremendous capacity" of its own.
"They're asking if we can send them ventilators and I'm agreeing to do it," Trump says of other countries.
"The federal government has 10,000 ventilators and we could have a lot more if we wanted to do that but we're helping Mexico, Honduras, Indonesia, France...We're sending to Spain, we're sending to Italy," Trump says.
Trump talks stimulus package
The president begins by saying the country is beginning to work on re-opening and asks Americans to "maintain vigilance and hygiene, social distancing and voluntary use of face coverings".
Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act today - the fourth economic stimulus package passed by Congress due to Covid-19.
Trump notes that $30bn (£24bn) of the funds will be reserved for smaller financial institutions and "those that serve minority and distressed communities", like African American and Hispanic American small business owners.
The legislation also includes $75bn for hospitals.
Trump also says more than 80 million Americans have already received their economic relief payments from the federal government.
The typical family of four will get $3,400 he says. "That's great, and you deserve it."
US President Donald Trump has started his daily coronavirus task force update, initially scheduled for 17:00 EST (22:00 BST).
He is joined by Vice-President Mike Pence.
Fashion brands step up efforts to supply NHS
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Fashion houses Burberry, Mulberry and Barbour have all turned their focus from the catwalk to the UK's NHS.
Burberry has announced its trench coat factory in Yorkshire is now a production line for surgical gowns, subject to sign-off by the government.
Meanwhile, it is using its supply chain to secure 100,000 medical masks for the NHS. It also said it would not use the government's furlough scheme to pay staff who cannot work due to the virus.
Handbag maker Mulberry said it would make 8,000 reusable gowns for the NHS in Bristol and outdoor brand Barbour has sent disposable gowns to a hospital in the north east of England.
UK virus deaths continue gradual decline
The UK death toll has risen by 768. The highest daily increase in recorded deaths in UK hospitals was 980 on 10 April. Since then, the daily increase has gone down slightly and then plateaued.
Day-to-day there are often considerable variations in figures, but displayed in a graph like this it is possible to see the overall trend downwards.
The line highlighted is the seven-day rolling average and this graphic includes the most recent figures reported earlier today.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Thousands rally in Wisconsin against stay home orders
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Wisconsin's protest against stay-at-home orders is thought to be the largest so far in the USImage caption: Wisconsin's protest against stay-at-home orders is thought to be the largest so far in the US
Thousands of demonstrators in Wisconsin descended upon the state capitol in Madison earlier to protest against the governor's stay-at-home-orders, now extended until 26 May.
Some wore face coverings in accordance with government guidance, many did not. Several carried signs critical of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, others boasted banners in support of President Trump.
The protest is thought to be the largest of its kind so far in the US.
It comes almost three weeks after Wisconsin held an in-person election for the Democratic presidential nominee, among other state races. Since the 7 April election. at least 19 people who voted in person or volunteered as poll workers have tested positive for Covid-19.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Protesters gather at Wisconsin's state capitol on FridayImage caption: Protesters gather at Wisconsin's state capitol on Friday
Parks and Recreation to return for special
NBC has announced the stars of US sitcom Parks and Recreation are to reunite for a one-off coronavirus special.
The half an hour show will raise money for Feeding America, a non-profit organisation that runs a network of food banks.
Parks and Recreation came to an end five years ago.
The special episode will centre around the character Leslie Knope, who is played by Amy Poehler.
Knope is determined to stay in touch with her friends while social distancing measures are in place.
Maryland hotline gets surge of calls on consuming disinfectant
The US state of Maryland has sent out an emergency alert after receiving more than 100 calls to the state's emergency hotline about the use of disinfectant related to the coronavirus.
“We have received several calls regarding questions about disinfectant use and Covid-19,” the state's emergency agency wrote on Twitter. "This is a reminder that under no circumstances should any disinfectant product be administered into the body through injection, ingestion or any other route.”
The suggestion from President Trump that disinfectant could be used inside the body to treat the virus has been rejected extensively by scientists and medical experts. Trump later defended his comments, saying they were "sarcastic".
Maryland has 16,616 confirmed cases to date, with 798 deaths.
US stock markets rally after turbulent week
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The US stock markets rallied on Friday at the end of a turbulent week.
Three major indexes - S&P, Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite - all climbed, although they remain down for the week overall.
Dow was up 1.1% at 23,775.27, S&P 500 climbed 1.4% to end at 2,836.74, while Nasdaq finished 1.7% higher at 8,634.52.
The coronavirus pandemic is still expected to cause deep damage to the American economy.
President Donald Trump shut down the country last month but some states are beginning to reopen parts of their economies.
Celebrities urge young people to seek help
Celebrity supporters of the Prince’s Trust charity have joined forces to urge young people in the UK to seek help during the pandemic.
Singer Craig David and James Bond star Naomie Harris are some of the famous faces who have appeared in a video calling for those who need support to contact the charity.
The Prince’s Trust is offering grants to young entrepreneurs who may be struggling to keep their businesses afloat. It also has an online live chat and advice to help with finances, wellbeing and professional skills.
Live Reporting
Edited by Helier Cheung
All times stated are UK
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Celebrations for Anzac day in Australia and New Zealand have had to be altered amid the virus outbreakImage caption: Celebrations for Anzac day in Australia and New Zealand have had to be altered amid the virus outbreak -
The UK government website for key workers to apply for coronavirus tests has reopened for bookings, after it was shut down due to "significant demand". Some 16,000 bookings have already been made on the website.
- China has rejected calls for an independent international investigation into the origin of the coronavirus, as an EU report accuses the country of spreading disinformation about the crisis
-
The US death toll passed 50,000, as parts of the US reopened after weeks of lockdown. Some hair salons, bowling alleys and other businesses opened on Friday in Georgia, Alaska and Oklahoma
-
Across Australia and New Zealand, thousands of people have stood outside their homes at dawn to mark Anzac Day, after households were urged to pay tribute even amid the coronavirus lockdown. It marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) during World War One.
-
There are now more than 2.7 million cases reported worldwide, with deaths nearing 200,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
GoFundMeCopyright: GoFundMe Jay-Natalie La Santa, pictured here with her parents, is one of the youngest people to die of Covid-19 in the USImage caption: Jay-Natalie La Santa, pictured here with her parents, is one of the youngest people to die of Covid-19 in the US 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images The USS Theodore Roosevelt is docked at Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor on 10 April, 2020Image caption: The USS Theodore Roosevelt is docked at Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor on 10 April, 2020 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images - One case lays bare America's testing failure
- Can the US catch up on testing?
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
ReutersCopyright: Reuters 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Wisconsin's protest against stay-at-home orders is thought to be the largest so far in the USImage caption: Wisconsin's protest against stay-at-home orders is thought to be the largest so far in the US 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Protesters gather at Wisconsin's state capitol on FridayImage caption: Protesters gather at Wisconsin's state capitol on Friday View more on instagramView more on instagram 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images View more on twitterView more on twitter
Latest PostWe're pausing our coverage
Thanks for joining our live page today. That's a wrap until tomorrow - but before we go, here's a recap of some of the day's top stories.
Today's live page was written and edited by our journalists in Australia, Singapore, India, the UK and US: Frances Mao, Tessa Wong, Andreas Illmer, Yvette Tan, Anna Jones, Krutika Pathi, Kevin Ponniah, Jasmine Taylor-Coleman, Alex Kleiderman, Pat Jackson, Gareth Evans, Sophie Williams, Alexandra Fouche, Rebecca Morton, George Bowden, Joshua Nevett, Emlyn Begley, Jonathan Jurejko, Matt Henry, Lucy Webster, Emma Harrison, Holly Honderich, Ritu Prasad, Hugo Bachega and Helier Cheung.
Infant daughter of New York firefighter dies of virus
The five-month-old daughter of New York City firefighter Jerel La Santa and Board of Education employee Lindsey La Santa died earlier this week of Covid-19, after a month in hospital, her family says.
The baby, Jay-Natalie, had a preexisting heart condition, her grandmother, Wanda La Santa told US media, and was first admitted to a New York hospital on 21 March with a fever.
"She was a little angel with the most beautiful smile," Wanda told NBC News. "Jay-Natalie had everybody wrapped around her finger."
After early signs of improvement, Jay-Natalie's condition quickly deteriorated, Wanda said. "My granddaughter fought a big battle for a whole month in the hospital."
Jay-Natalie is one of the youngest people to die of Covid-19 in the US. According to a report from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, just three children between the ages of one and 14 had died of the virus as of 2 April.
Both of the baby's parents tested negative for the virus.
Jose Prosper, president of the Hispanic Society of FDNY said that Jay-Natalie's father - who joined the force the same month she was born - called her his "warrior princess".
"Please keep the La Santa family close in prayer," Prosper wrote.
What do we know about at-home virus tests?
The commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Stephen Hahn, said at the White House briefing today that the agency had approved the US's first at-home virus test.
So what do we know about the test?
The FDA gave more details earlier this week. A nasal swab kit called Pixel will be made available first to health care workers and first responders, and is expected to go on sale to consumers - with a doctor's order - in most US states in the next few weeks.
Patients will collect their own samples using the swab and then submit to a LabCorp lab for analysis.
Each test kit costs $119 (£90). Buyers will have to complete a survey about their eligibility, with questions like if they are a healthcare worker, where they live, and if they have any virus symptoms.
Navy recommends reinstating captain who raised alarm
Tara McKelvey
BBC News, Washington
Brett Crozier, the commander of the Theodore Roosevelt, sounded an alarm about infections on board his ship last month. In a letter to navy officials, he pleaded for additional resources to protect his crew.
The letter was leaked to a newspaper, and afterwards he was removed from command. But now the chief of naval operations, Admiral Michael Gilday, and the acting navy secretary, James McPherson, have recommended that Crozier be reinstated as commander.
Their recommendation is a significant development in a story that has transfixed military people and others across the US, and it could mark the beginning of a dramatic turnaround for Crozier.
It is extremely rare for a commander to be sacked, explains Gary Solis, a retired Marine Corps judge, and even more rare for his reputation to be restored. Like many who served in the military, Solis does not approve of the way Crozier addressed the problems on his ship. But Solis says his heart was in the right place.
“It’s clear that he had the best interests of the ship and the crew - and also national defence - in mind,” Solis says.
The Pentagon said in a statement that Defence Secretary Mark Esper would "thoroughly review" the preliminary inquiry into the virus outbreak onboard before meeting with Navy leaders to determine next steps.
How will Americans spend their $1,200?
Millions of Americans have been promised a stimulus cheque of up to $1,200 (£970) as part of the federal government's rescue package.
So how will they spend it? Some BBC readers told us.
For some - it will go to necessities.
"I will buy what we need, not spending it all at once," wrote Pearl Quintal, a grandmother from Hawaii. "I will save some to make ends meet as far as $1,200 will carry myself and my two grandsons that I have been taking care of."
For others, it will be spent on something more specific: a bidet.
"Toilet paper shortages have convinced me that the Japanese and most Europeans had it right all along," Dirk Ducharme of Auburn, California told the BBC.
Read about how more Americans plan to spend their money.
Belgium to ease lockdown from May
Belgium will gradually lift coronavirus restrictions during May, allowing businesses, schools and social life to resume in several phases.
Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes says the lockdown will start to be eased from 4 May, when restrictions on open-air sports and public transport will be lifted.
All businesses will be allowed to reopen from 11 May and schools from 18 May. Beyond that, other public venues, such as cafes, bars, restaurants, may be reopened gradually in June.
Wilmes said the spread of the virus had slowed in Belgium, but stressed that the situation was still evolving day-by-day.
"Nothing is etched in stone," Wilmes said.
Belgium declared a nationwide lockdown over the coronavirus crisis on 18 March, following the example of several European countries.
As of Friday, there were 44,293 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 6,679 deaths related to the disease in the country, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Report: Trump 'may pare back virus briefings'
President Trump may cut back on his coronavirus taskforce briefings, according to news site Axios, citing four unnamed sources.
A number of Trump's advisers have reportedly urged the president to curb his daily appearances - which have often lasted for more than an hour.
Trump has previously boasted about the "ratings" for his White House briefings, comparing them to viewership for NFL games and reality show The Bachelor.
But the president faced intense backlash for his comments on Thursday's briefing, where he suggested that ingesting disinfectant could potentially treat the virus. His comments were heavily criticised by doctors, while disinfectant producers warned consumers not to inject or ingest their products.
On Friday, Mr Trump said that his comments at the briefing had been made "sarcastically".
Vice-President Pence concludes briefing in record time
Vice-President Pence celebrates the "extraordinary and rapid progress" made by governors in their coronavirus response.
This is "one team, one mission", Pence said, listing progress across US states, like New York, New Jersey and Missouri.
"We are slowing the spread. We are protecting the most vulnerable," Pence says. "The day will soon come when we will heal our land."
He says that "social distancing efforts" are really making an impact, and thanks the "millions of Americans who put the guidance into practice".
He and Trump leave the briefing without taking any questions from reporters.
The coronavirus taskforce briefing lasted just over 20 minutes - which is unusually short compared to previous briefings, some of which have lasted more than 2.5 hours.
Trump and Pence appeared without either Dr Anthony Fauci or Dr Deborah Birx, top US health experts and coronavirus response co-ordinators.
US agency approves first at-home test
Dr Stephen Hahn, who heads the US food and drug agency, says the president tasked him with cutting down "as many barriers as we possibly could to get products into the medical community".
"We have done that, of course recognising the urgency of the situation," Dr Hahn says.
Dr Hahn announces the agency has authorised the first "at-home test" for diagnosing Covid-19.
"This is a test where, under certain circumstances with a doctor's supervision, a test can be mailed to a patient, and the patient can perform the self-swab and mail it back and get the results."
He says the agency has approved 63 tests thus far, and is currently working with over 400 test developers to authorise their products.
When asked about antibody tests - which determine if someone has already had the virus and may be immune - Dr Hahn says they have authorised four and "more are in the pipeline".
The lack of testing has been a key issue with the country's Covid-19 response. Governors across the nation have been requesting more tests in recent weeks, and initial tests put forth by the Centers for Disease Control were inaccurate.
Existing drug administration regulations also made it harder at the onset for hospital laboratories across the country to develop new diagnostic tests.
Read more on US testing:
Vice-President Pence: 5.1 million Americans tested
"Testing is in the forefront of our minds," says Vice-President Mike Pence, taking the podium after President Trump.
“One month ago, all of the testing that had been done in America: 80,000 Americans had been tested," he says. "But as of this morning, 5.1 million Americans have been tested for the coronavirus.”
Pence urges Americans not to be "discouraged" by rising number of cases as testing increases.
"We continue to see positive progress," he says.
Trump: US sending ventilators to countries in need
Trump says his administration is sending ventilators to other countries in need as the US now has a "tremendous capacity" of its own.
"They're asking if we can send them ventilators and I'm agreeing to do it," Trump says of other countries.
"The federal government has 10,000 ventilators and we could have a lot more if we wanted to do that but we're helping Mexico, Honduras, Indonesia, France...We're sending to Spain, we're sending to Italy," Trump says.
Trump talks stimulus package
The president begins by saying the country is beginning to work on re-opening and asks Americans to "maintain vigilance and hygiene, social distancing and voluntary use of face coverings".
Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act today - the fourth economic stimulus package passed by Congress due to Covid-19.
Trump notes that $30bn (£24bn) of the funds will be reserved for smaller financial institutions and "those that serve minority and distressed communities", like African American and Hispanic American small business owners.
The legislation also includes $75bn for hospitals.
Trump also says more than 80 million Americans have already received their economic relief payments from the federal government.
The typical family of four will get $3,400 he says. "That's great, and you deserve it."
Want to follow along? Watch our livestream here.
Trump begins daily briefing
US President Donald Trump has started his daily coronavirus task force update, initially scheduled for 17:00 EST (22:00 BST).
He is joined by Vice-President Mike Pence.
Fashion brands step up efforts to supply NHS
Fashion houses Burberry, Mulberry and Barbour have all turned their focus from the catwalk to the UK's NHS.
Burberry has announced its trench coat factory in Yorkshire is now a production line for surgical gowns, subject to sign-off by the government.
Meanwhile, it is using its supply chain to secure 100,000 medical masks for the NHS. It also said it would not use the government's furlough scheme to pay staff who cannot work due to the virus.
Handbag maker Mulberry said it would make 8,000 reusable gowns for the NHS in Bristol and outdoor brand Barbour has sent disposable gowns to a hospital in the north east of England.
UK virus deaths continue gradual decline
The UK death toll has risen by 768. The highest daily increase in recorded deaths in UK hospitals was 980 on 10 April. Since then, the daily increase has gone down slightly and then plateaued.
Day-to-day there are often considerable variations in figures, but displayed in a graph like this it is possible to see the overall trend downwards.
The line highlighted is the seven-day rolling average and this graphic includes the most recent figures reported earlier today.
Thousands rally in Wisconsin against stay home orders
Thousands of demonstrators in Wisconsin descended upon the state capitol in Madison earlier to protest against the governor's stay-at-home-orders, now extended until 26 May.
Some wore face coverings in accordance with government guidance, many did not. Several carried signs critical of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, others boasted banners in support of President Trump.
The protest is thought to be the largest of its kind so far in the US.
It comes almost three weeks after Wisconsin held an in-person election for the Democratic presidential nominee, among other state races. Since the 7 April election. at least 19 people who voted in person or volunteered as poll workers have tested positive for Covid-19.
Parks and Recreation to return for special
NBC has announced the stars of US sitcom Parks and Recreation are to reunite for a one-off coronavirus special.
The half an hour show will raise money for Feeding America, a non-profit organisation that runs a network of food banks.
Parks and Recreation came to an end five years ago.
The special episode will centre around the character Leslie Knope, who is played by Amy Poehler.
Knope is determined to stay in touch with her friends while social distancing measures are in place.
Maryland hotline gets surge of calls on consuming disinfectant
The US state of Maryland has sent out an emergency alert after receiving more than 100 calls to the state's emergency hotline about the use of disinfectant related to the coronavirus.
“We have received several calls regarding questions about disinfectant use and Covid-19,” the state's emergency agency wrote on Twitter. "This is a reminder that under no circumstances should any disinfectant product be administered into the body through injection, ingestion or any other route.”
The suggestion from President Trump that disinfectant could be used inside the body to treat the virus has been rejected extensively by scientists and medical experts. Trump later defended his comments, saying they were "sarcastic".
Maryland has 16,616 confirmed cases to date, with 798 deaths.
US stock markets rally after turbulent week
The US stock markets rallied on Friday at the end of a turbulent week.
Three major indexes - S&P, Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite - all climbed, although they remain down for the week overall.
Dow was up 1.1% at 23,775.27, S&P 500 climbed 1.4% to end at 2,836.74, while Nasdaq finished 1.7% higher at 8,634.52.
The coronavirus pandemic is still expected to cause deep damage to the American economy.
President Donald Trump shut down the country last month but some states are beginning to reopen parts of their economies.
Celebrities urge young people to seek help
Celebrity supporters of the Prince’s Trust charity have joined forces to urge young people in the UK to seek help during the pandemic.
Singer Craig David and James Bond star Naomie Harris are some of the famous faces who have appeared in a video calling for those who need support to contact the charity.
The Prince’s Trust is offering grants to young entrepreneurs who may be struggling to keep their businesses afloat. It also has an online live chat and advice to help with finances, wellbeing and professional skills.