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Italy's coronavirus death toll has seen its biggest day-to-day rise, with its total number surpassing China's, the initial epicentre of the outbreak.
This story is being updated throughout the day.
Saturday's key moments
Australian coronavirus cases pass 1,000
There are 1,051 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia.
Here is a state-by-state breakdown of confirmed coronavirus cases:
- NSW: 436 (six deaths)
- Victoria: 229
- Queensland: 221
- WA: 90 (one death)
- SA: 50
- Tasmania: 11
- ACT: 9
- NT: 5
The figures come from state and territory databases of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The latest update was at 2:30pm AEDT on Saturday, March 21.
Funding boost to rapidly develop new test
Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced $15.6 million in funding to help researchers develop a new coronavirus test "within weeks".
Mr Hunt defended the amount of testing that was being currently conducted in Australia, despite criticism from Opposition Health Spokesman Chris Bowen.
He said Australia had one of the highest coronavirus testing rates globally.
"On the latest advice I have — and this will be updated over the course of the weekend — [we have performed] 115,000 tests, which is one of the highest in the world and, in particular, one of the highest per capita rates of testing in the world," he said.
"That means we have had over a 99 per cent negative rate. So for every 100 tests, well over 99 have been negative."
He said more testing kits had been ordered from overseas.
Four cruise ships to dock in Australia
A 30-day ban on foreign cruise ships was announced last week but an exemption had been made for the four already heading to Australian ports.
This week 2,647 passengers disembarked from the Ruby Princess at Sydney's Circular Quay and four people from the vessel have tested positive for COVID-19.
More than 1,000 Ruby Princess crew members remain quarantined on the ship.
A second cruise ship is arriving in the West Australian port of Fremantle today and a third is set to dock in Darwin this week.
Foreign passengers are not allowed to disembark unless they have arrangements to travel home.
Australian citizens and residents will be allowed off, but will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
Bondi Beach closed after 'unacceptable' gathering
The New South Wales Government has banned people from going to Bondi Beach.
Other NSW beaches will also be shut down if social distancing advice is ignored.
The news of Bondi's temporary closure came a day after the beach was packed with people appearing to flout health advice about social distancing and avoiding gatherings.
Images of the busy beach left many fuming and started a social media storm.
Hundreds of locals and tourists were back at the famous beach on Saturday morning but it was closed just before 1:00pm AEDT.
Health Minister Greg Hunt had asked people to stop gathering at Bondi to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Mr Hunt said Australians were taking enormous strides when it came to social distancing, but what happened at Bondi was unacceptable.
Italy's death toll continues to rise
Italy, the European country hardest-hit by COVID-19, has reported 627 new deaths, its biggest day-to-day increase since the outbreak began.
It has recorded over 4,000 deaths — more than China — and 47,000 infections.
The soaring numbers have come despite a nationwide lockdown.
The World Health Organisation has noted the dramatic speed of the virus's spread, pointing out it took more than three months to infect 100,000 people but only 12 days to reach another 100,000.
Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus outbreak
Australians head home as countries lock down
Australian citizens, residents and their families are rushing home from overseas, concerned future travel bans could block their path.
Tighter border controls kicked in on Friday night.
Under the changes, non-citizens and non-residents cannot enter Australia, and Australian Border Force officers have been placed at foreign airports to enforce the rules.
Australians can still return from overseas but they are required to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving.
Visa holders already in Australia can remain in the country.
UK to help pay salaries
With cafes, pubs, restaurants, gyms and cinemas across the UK ordered to shut, the British Government has said it will help employers pay workers' wages.
British employers will be able to access a grant aimed at covering up to 80 per cent of an employee's wage to prevent them being laid off.
The grants are worth up to 2,500 pounds ($5,000) a month.
Treasury chief Rishi Sunak called the economic intervention an "unprecedented" response by a British Government.
Keeping the love alive
With couples around the world quarantined together and forced to spend more time in close quarters than ever before, lawyers are predicting an increase in divorces.
Stress levels will be up and some therapists are already seeing coronavirus have more direct impacts on intimate relationships.
The current pandemic may be unprecedented, but research on natural disasters might provide some clues as to how intimate relationships could be affected in the coming weeks and months.
While such crises undoubtedly put enormous strain on couples, experts say it's important to keep in mind they can also lead to positive growth.
Dire warning for Brazil
Brazil's health system will collapse by the end of April, the country's Health Minister has warned.
Luiz Henrique Mandetta said Sao Paulo was at the start of the coronavirus whirlwind, and the number of cases there would jump next week.
Speaking to business leaders by video conference, the nation's President Jair Bolsonaro said measures to deal with coronavirus's spread needed to be taken but he warned against actions that would cause "hysteria".
He said closures of airports and roads was not advisable and would cause panic.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
Two Pentagon cases confirmed
The Pentagon has confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus.
One of the infected individuals was an active-duty airman who worked at the Defence Health Agency in Falls Church, Virginia, and had been inside the Pentagon on Monday, the US Air Force said.
He has received medical treatment and is in self-quarantine at home.
The other infected person is an Air Force defence contractor who works in the Pentagon. He has been self-quarantined since March 7, according to the Air Force.
The cases were revealed as New York authorities joined their Californian counterparts in ordering all non-essential workers to stay home.
The pandemic has upended life in much of the United States, shuttering schools and businesses, prompting millions to work from home, forcing many out of jobs and sharply curtailing travel.
"This is the most drastic action we can take," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference, revealing all non-essential businesses in his state must also close.
US, Mexico stop some border crossings
All "non-essential" travel between Mexico and the United States is set to be prohibited.
The two countries, as well as Canada, have agreed to turn back anyone trying to cross their borders illegally.
US officials said unchecked entries posed a risk amid the coronavirus pandemic.
US President Donald Trump said: "The actions we are taking together with our North American partners will save countless lives."
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
Peak US sports body calls for Olympics reset
USA Swimming's CEO is urging the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to push for the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics until next year.
Tim Hinchey wrote to USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland on Friday to advocate on behalf of his governing body's 400,000 members.
Mr Hinchey said athletes' worlds had been turned "upside down" and they were struggling to find ways to prepare and train for the Games.
"Pressing forward amidst the global health crisis this summer is not the answer," he wrote.
He said going ahead with the Olympics this year would call into question "the authenticity of a level playing field for all".
ABC/wires
Topics: infectious-diseases-other, respiratory-diseases, covid-19, australia, italy, indonesia
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