Follow all the latest updates on COVID-19 and the response against it.
Summary of key developments
- The UK becomes worst-hit country in Europe as its COVID-19 death toll overtakes Italy's
- Government tally has the toll at 29,427 deaths but the Office of National Statistics put the figure beyond 30,000
- UK and US allege attempt to hack COVID-19 response operations
- Ryanair's O'Leary slams 'state aid junkies Lufthansa and Air France'
- Italian hairdressers angry as they remain under lockdown
- Will a coronavirus vaccine be accessible to all or for the privileged few?
- Britain rolled out its contact tracking app on Monday evening;
- France's government has said its own tracing app will be ready by June.
All the latest updates
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Virgin Atlantic cuts compound airline misery
Virgin Atlantic on Tuesday announced plans to cut operations at Gatwick Airport.
The airline, which employs about 10,000 people in total, will cut 3,150 jobs as it tries to secure government funding to help it to survive the coronavirus pandemic.
Virgin said its plans were designed to "reshape and resize (the) business to ensure that is it fit for the future, in response to the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, our nation and the travel and aviation industry".
Last week Ryanair announced plans to cut up to 3,000 jobs, while British Airways has said it intends to cut up to 12,000 posts.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has blamed "unfair" state aid given to large carriers such as Air France and Lufthansa.
'Too early to make international comparisons' - Raab on UK figures
More on the top story, that the UK has now surpassed Italy and has now the world's second highest death toll after the United States.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said at the daily coronavirus media briefing that 29,427 people have now died, an increase of 693 on the previous day.
Figures from the UK's Office of National Statistics have led to calculations that the number is over 32,000.
Raab told the media it was too early to make international comparisons as other countries may not be measuring fatalities in the same way.
He said the ONS was a "world leader" in gathering statistics and that the government wanted "full transparency" in relation to data collected in relation to the pandemic.
"We are confident and we believe that it's only if we get the full transparency that we'll be in the best place to tackle this virus," he said.
Another coronavirus case in German soccer before key meeting
Dominic Raab reveals UK COVID-19 cybersecurity threat
The UK foreign secretary hosting the UK briefing begins by giving the latest figures: 84,806 tests were carried out yesterday. Another 4,406 people tested positive for coronavirus.
The total number of confirmed deaths from the disease rose by 693 in the past 24 hours. The minister said it now stands at 29,427. However, earlier figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) led to calculations that the number had topped 32,000.
British and American security agencies have exposed malicious attempts to hack organisations involved in the response to the pandemic, Raab says. The agencies have published a joint statement.
Motives appear to range from fraud to espionage and the perpetrators -- who could include hostile states -- seem to be interested in stealing data, he adds.
Watch live: UK gives COVID-19 update
Lockdown lift: Italians document life outside after weeks of confinement
German court asks European Central Bank to justify key stimulus program
Lesotho to ease lockdown from Wednesday
New York state reports an additional 1,700 virus deaths in nursing homes
Coronavirus returns long-banned drive-in movies to Iran
Coronavirus: researchers in Belgium announce potential breakthrough using Llama antibody
UK's suspected COVID-19 deaths surpasses Italy's death toll
EU 'talking nonsense' on state aid, Ryanair CEO tells Euronews
"The transport commissioner should be out doing something effective about refunds instead of talking nonsense about these breaches of state aid and competition rules."
UK education providers offer hours of free online courses for all
Summer holidays will be 'between Europeans': Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters on Tuesday that "it is too early to tell you whether we will have a vacation this summer".
"What I can tell you is that we are going to limit major international trips, even during the summer holidays, and therefore we will remain between Europeans," he added.
Spanish death toll rises to 25,613
France's controversial tracing app StopCOVID ready by June, government says
The French app StopCovid, which aims to trace people who have tested positive for coronavirus in order to slow the spread of the illness, will be ready on 2 June, the French government announced on Tuesday.
"We will be ready on 2 June," French minister for digital technologies Cedric O said on TV channel BFM. "The testing phase will start next week."
Cedric O added that if the testing phase went as planned, a parliamentary debate on the app could be held "in the week of 25 May" to allow for a launch from 2 June.
Last week, the French government postponed a debate on the tracing app project after many questions were raised over privacy issues.
The French Prime Minister suggested that the app would be submitted to a specific vote but no date has been set yet.
"Questions concerning civil liberties seem to me to be well-founded. They have to be asked and discussed", Edouard Philipe told MPs on 27 April.
The app has been criticised by many, including MPs from the ruling party "En Marche".
Italian hairdressers angry as they remain under lockdown
As the month of May and the prospect of fewer restrictions neared, Italian hairdressers and beauticians got ready.
Masks, shoe covers, plexiglass barriers and sanitising machines were bought to prepare for the return of customers — an important investment for small business owners who've had to continue paying their rent or mortgage without any income stream for two months.
But their hopes were dashed when, unlike factories and other shops across the country, they were not allowed to reopen on May 4. Instead, they will have to wait until June 3.
Many have expressed anger over the delay and what they perceive as a lack of assistance from the state and flagged that some have taken to working illegally to make ends meet.
Job losses caused by lockdown restrictions push some on the streets
China dismisses White House claims that virus came from Wuhan lab
France's Macron visits primary school ahead of easing of lockdown measures
ONS revises UK COVID-19 death toll upwards
Britain's Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Tuesday that by April 24, at least 29,648 people had died from COVID-19 in England and Wales.
England recorded 28,272 of the deaths and Wales 1,376.
Hungarian football league to resume May 23
Spanish unemployment highest in four years
Over 10,000 new cases reported in Russia
Turkey to start easing restrictions on May 11
The government is also lifting entry and exit restrictions for seven cities where the coronavirus outbreak has been brought under control but it will remain in 24 other cities, including Istanbul and Ankara.
"If the rules aren't adhered to, and God forbid the outbreak spreads again, we will be forced to resort to tougher measures," Erdogan also said.
Trust in UK government reaches record level: Survey
- 52% of the public think the government is "taking the necessary actions to keep the economy from collapsing";
- trust in the UK’s government leaders has also jumped 25 points to 58%;
- but, only 24% think the government has done a good job on testing, 32% on medical supply distribution, and 33% on ensuring access to care in the poorest areas;
- Almost 3 in 5 also said the government had failed them by not acting in a decisive manner as soon as the threat of the virus became known;
Germany's death toll now at 6,831
Professional sport resumes in South Korea
China reports one new case
6.3 million jobs furloughed in UK
Australia, New Zealand unveil plans for "COVID-safe travel zone"
"A trans-Tasman COVID-safe travel zone would be mutually beneficial, assisting our trade and economic recovery, helping kick-start the tourism and transport sectors, enhancing sporting contacts, and reuniting families and friends," the Prime Ministers said in a joint statement.
"We need to be cautious as we progress this initiative. Neither country wants to see the virus rebound so it’s essential any such travel zone is safe. Relaxing travel restrictions at an appropriate time will clearly benefit both countries and demonstrates why getting on top of the virus early is the best strategy for economic recovery," they added.