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Americans have been told to prepare for a week of mass fatalities on the same scale as the Pearl Harbor and 9/11 attacks as COVID-19 deaths mount.
This story is being updated regularly. You can also stay informed with the latest episode of the Coronacast podcast.
Monday's key stories:
Americans told to brace themselves for tragedy
US Surgeon General Jerome Adams has told Americans to brace themselves for what he said was going to be "the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives" because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The United States is entering one of the most critical weeks so far in the coronavirus crisis, with the death toll rising sharply in New York, Michigan and Louisiana, as some governors call for a national order to stay at home.
New York is the hardest-hit state with more than 40 per cent of all US deaths, and nearly 115,000 reported cases on Saturday.
The US currently has more than 320,000 confirmed cases in total, and over 9,100 deaths, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr Adams, the Trump administration's top public health authority, told Fox News that the coming days were likely to bring a generation-defining level of tragedy.
"This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localised," Dr Adams said.
"It's going to be happening all over the country. And I want America to understand that."
Dr Adams also called on US state governors who had not yet imposed shelter-in-place orders to do so, even if they were comparatively shorter stay-at-home orders.
"If you can't give us a month, give us what you can. Give us a week. Give us whatever you can to stay at home during this particularly tough time when we're going to be hitting our peak over the next seven to 10 days," he said.
"There is a light at the end of the tunnel if everyone does their part for the next 30 days."
Radical Indonesian cleric asks for early release
The alleged mastermind of the Bali bombings, Abu Bakar Bashir, has formally asked for early release from prison to avoid falling ill with coronavirus in Indonesia's crowded jail system.
His lawyers have written to authorities requesting he be among the up to 50,000 prisoners being released early, due to fears of a coronavirus outbreak in the country's prisons.
Most are prisoners convicted of lesser crimes who have served at least two-thirds of their sentences, but authorities have agreed to consider freeing elderly prisoners.
The 81-year-old radical Islamic cleric was the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah, which carried out the 2002 Bali bombings.
His lawyers said he should be given priority because of his age and vulnerability to the virus.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
Bashir has served 10 years of a 15-year sentence for terror-related activities, although he has never been convicted of any bombing attack.
One senior Indonesian minister, Mahendra Siregar, says his release is unlikely because of the seriousness of his crimes — the Government has so far ruled out freeing those convicted of corruption, terrorism or serious drugs crimes.
Pope celebrates Palm Sunday mass without the public
Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday Mass without the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, which he said should focus people's attention on what's most important: using one's life to serve others.
Looking pensive, he led the first of several solemn Holy Week ceremonies that will shut out rank-and-file faithful from attending, as Italy's rigid lockdown measures forbid public gatherings.
Normally, tens of thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims clutching olive tree branches or palm fronds would have flocked to an outdoor Mass led by the pontiff.
Instead, Francis celebrated Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica, which seemed even more cavernous than usual because it was so empty: besides his aides and the choir, only a few invited prelates, nuns and laypeople were present, sitting solo in the first pews and staggered far apart.
In his homily, Pope Francis urged people to hold fast to "what really matters in our lives."
"The tragedy we are experiencing summons us to take seriously the things that are serious, and not to be caught up in those that matter less, to rediscover that life is of no use if not used to serve others," Pope Francis said,
The Vatican has said there are seven cases of COVID-19 among the residents or employees of the tiny independent city state.
Elton John launches fund for HIV/AIDS amid crisis
Elton John has launched a US$1 million ($1.7 million) emergency fund to help organisations working with people living with HIV or AIDS, so they are not "left behind" during the coronavirus crisis.
With the coronavirus pandemic putting pressure on health systems globally, the British musician said the Elton John AIDS Foundation would give cash to organisations for solutions to keep HIV and AIDS care up and running.
"Distributing medicines, testing and preventative treatment is not as simple as it was a few weeks ago," Sir Elton, 73, said in a video from his home in Los Angeles, which he posted to Twitter.
"Our new COVID-19 emergency fund will help frontline partners to prepare for and respond to the pandemic and its effects on HIV prevention and care for the most marginalised communities."
While the new coronavirus is not considered a threat to HIV-positive people who are on medication, it could pose a higher risk to those who have weakened immune systems or are unaware of their status, health experts and campaigners have warned.
The singer's non-profit said it would fund solutions for "specific challenges" facing people with or at risk of HIV/AIDS who now face additional threats from coronavirus.
Ardern criticises Australian visa changes
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has taken aim at Australia's new ruling on temporary visa holders, announced over the weekend.
Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge told out-of-work temporary visa holders it was "time to go home", if they did not think they would be able to support themselves over the next six months.
Thousands of New Zealanders could potentially be among them, and Ms Ardern called on the Government to do more to support them during the coronavirus crisis.
"What [Mr Tudge would] do well to remember is that if they wish for Australia to be in a position to gear up in the aftermath of the outbreak, they now need a workforce to do that," she said.
"New Zealanders make up that workforce ... They, on average, earn more and pay more taxes than others. They are a key part of the Australian economy and I would have thought they wouldn't want to be so quick to lose them."
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
While New Zealanders who arrived in Australia before 2001 have access to Centrelink benefits, that leaves many Kiwis who can't receive welfare payments.
New Zealanders who were in permanent, full-time or part-time work before the outbreak will be able to access the JobKeeper scheme, those in casual work will not.
Topics: infectious-diseases-other, respiratory-diseases, covid-19, united-states, new-zealand, australia, indonesia