New South Wales will relax its coronavirus shutdown this week to allow people to see their friends. From Friday, groups of two adults — and their children if they have any — will be able to visit other households for social gatherings.

Around the world, New Zealand has scaled back its COVID-19 restrictions, which were some of the strictest globally, and Chinese students have returned to school.

This story was updated regularly throughout Tuesday. You can also stay informed with the latest episode of the Coronacast podcast.

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Tuesday's top stories

Trump vows to hold China to account as US states lift lockdown orders

Donald Trump has blamed China over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. ( AP: Alex Brandon )

US President Donald Trump has threatened to hold China accountable for the spread of the coronavirus, which he said could have been stopped before it swept across the world.

At his latest White House briefing, he said his administration was conducting "very serious investigations" into what happened.

"We are not happy with China," Mr Trump said.

"There are a lot of ways you can hold them accountable.

"We believe it could have been stopped at the source. It could have been stopped quickly and it wouldn't have spread all over the world."

Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised China over its handling of the disease, which he has called the "Chinese virus".

His remarks come as more parts of the US are beginning to lift lockdown orders, even though health officials are warning social distancing will be necessary for many months to come.

Just three days ago the US saw its largest single day spike in cases. About a million US citizens are now confirmed to have contracted COVID-19.

Yet a number of less-affected states have now started to reopen, with governors allowing lockdown orders to expire.

Georgia, Alaska, Montana, Minnesota and Tennessee are among the places gradually lifting social distancing restrictions.

But health officials have warned much more testing is needed and they worry COVID-19 cases could again surge rapidly, if states aren't careful.

Bondi Beach reopens as NSW eases restrictions

Bondi Beach has reopened to locals from Waverly Council for exercise only. ( ABC News: Jesse Dorsett )

Coronavirus restrictions in New South Wales will be slightly relaxed this week, allowing people to visit friends in their homes.

From Friday, up to two adults will be able to visit "anybody" in other households. They will also be able to take children with them.

NSW Premier Glady Berejiklian said there was an "inherent risk" to easing restrictions but she was "absolutely confident that people will be responsible".

"Don't take risks — we don't want to see the numbers suddenly spike up because people are being irresponsible," Ms Berejiklian said.

"If you have the mildest sniffle, do not go and visit anybody [or] if you're feeling slightly unwell or fatigued, don't risk it."

The easing of restrictions comes as Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beaches reopen to locals for exercise.

Bondi Beach was closed last month after thousands of people breached social-distancing restrictions.

It has now reopened to people who live in the Waverly Council area, with rules about time limits in the water and physical distancing being enforced.

Brazil shaping up as next big coronavirus hot spot

Brazil has officially reported about 4,500 deaths and almost 67,000 confirmed infections but some experts believe the true numbers are far larger. ( AP: Eraldo Peres )

Brazil is emerging as potentially the next big hot spot for the coronavirus despite President Jair Bolsonaro's insistence it is just a "little flu" and there is no need for the sharp restrictions seen around the world.

The intensifying outbreak in Brazil — Latin America's biggest country, with 211 million people — has pushed some hospitals to the breaking point, with signs that a growing number of victims are now dying at home.

"We have all the conditions here for the pandemic to become much more serious," said Paulo Brandao, a virologist at the University of Sao Paulo.

Brazil has officially reported about 4,500 deaths and almost 67,000 confirmed infections.

But the true numbers there, as in many other countries, are believed to be vastly higher given the lack of testing and the many people without severe symptoms who have not sought hospital care.

Some scientists said over 1 million in Brazil are probably infected.

The country is heading into winter, which can worsen respiratory illnesses.

#Japan

Olympics fate linked to vaccine, Japanese health body says

The Olympics would be "scrapped" if they could not take place in 2021. ( Reuters: Athit Perawongmetha )

It is too early to consider lifting Japan's state of emergency over the novel coronavirus, the head of the Japan Medical Association (JMA) said on Tuesday, adding Tokyo would find it tough to host next year's Olympics without an effective vaccine.

The nationwide emergency which is due to end on May 6, and while new daily infections have declined, testing is still not sufficient to prove that contagion is under control, JMA president Yoshitake Yokokura told a media briefing.

Mr Yokokura blamed a lack of protective clothing for the spread of the virus in hospitals, and urged the Government to help speed development of treatments and vaccines to preserve any hope of holding the Olympics next year.

"I am not saying that Japan should or shouldn't host the Olympics, but that it would be difficult to do so," he said.

"Unless an effective vaccine is developed, I expect hosting the Olympics will be difficult."

The announcement last month of a one-year delay in the 2020 Olympic Games was a major blow for Japan, which has spent $13 billion on preparations. The Olympics would be "scrapped" if they could not take place in 2021, Tokyo 2020 president, Yoshiro Mori, said in an interview published on Tuesday.

Minute of silence observed in UK to remember health workers

A hospital worker holds up a piece of paper with the names of her colleagues who have died from coronavirus after a nationwide minute's silence. ( AP: Matt Dunham )

Millions of people in the UK have paused for one minute's silence to honour those who've died from COVID-19 because they were exposed due to their work in frontline services.

More than 100 people in frontline health services, including nurses, doctors, bus drivers and cleaners, have died from coronavirus in the UK.

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the families of the people who've died while working on frontline services will receive around $115,000 in compensation.

Meanwhile, new figures in Britain have shown the impact of coronavirus on care homes, with one third of all COVID-19 deaths now occurring there.

With the updated figure, this means more than 25,000 people have died across the UK.

The Office for National Statistics says that while hospital deaths fell in a week, the number of those dying in care homes doubled.

Coronavirus flight passengers to be quarantined on Rottnest Island

Many people flying into Perth from South Africa will be taken to Rottnest Island. ( Supplied: method.cosmo/Flickr )

More than 250 Australians due to arrive on a flight from South Africa will be quarantined on Rottnest Island, West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has confirmed.

The plane is scheduled to arrive at Perth Airport from South Africa on Wednesday morning and includes West Australians and interstate passengers.

The 257 people aboard will go through a health assessment at the airport and be placed in quarantine for the mandatory 14 days.

Mr McGowan said most are families and would be taken to Rottnest.

"If their health condition is good they'll be going back out to the island, where it is, I think, a much better environment than one of the hotels," he said.

Eleventh resident dies at Western Sydney aged care home

A further four residents have died from COVID-19 at the Western Sydney aged care home where an employee worked six shifts despite displaying mild symptoms of the virus.

In a statement, Anglicare Sydney said it was "deeply saddened" about the deaths, which occurred at Newmarch House in Caddens.

There have now been 11 deaths at the facility.

Earlier today, NSW Health confirmed another resident, an 89-year-old woman, died at the facility last night.

That brings the death toll in Australia to 88, with 41 of those in NSW.

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Chinese students get creative with social distancing restrictions

Students at Yangzheng Primary School have got creative with strict restrictions as they return to school. ( Weibo: Mengwachengzhangji )

Students are returning to school in China's biggest cities under strict control measures.

Those at the Yangzheng Primary School in the city of Hanghou have come up with their own method of making sure they stay 1.5 metres apart.

Wearing colourful headwear made to look like planes, animals or simply horns, children are keeping their distance in classrooms and on the playground.

Students and teachers in reopening schools have their temperature checked before entering their classrooms, and again at lunchtime. They must also wear masks, and go straight home after school.

Schools are also disinfecting classrooms twice a day and keeping the windows open for at least 30 minutes three times a day.

New Zealand begins scaling back COVID-19 restrictions

Jacinda Ardern says to eliminate the virus, NZ authorities must hunt down the last few cases. ( AP: Nick Perry )

New Zealand has moved from level four to level three restrictions, opening some non-essential businesses and resuming some healthcare and education activities.

About 400,000 people will return to work today and New Zealanders will be able to go fishing, surfing, hunting and hiking for the first time in more than a month as some of the world's toughest restrictions begin to ease.

While shops and restaurants will remain closed, takeaway and delivery services will resume.

However most people will still be required to remain at home at all times and avoid social interaction.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand had stopped community transmission of COVID-19.

"We must make sure that we do not let the virus run away on us again," she said.

"To succeed, we need to hunt down the last few cases of the virus."

Three million cases worldwide

More than 3 million cases of COVID-19 have been detected around the world.

According to figures complied by Johns Hopkins University, nearly one-third of those cases are in the United States.

The latest 1 million cases have been detected in the past two weeks.

Officials in countries around the world believe the actual number of global infections could be higher than what has been detected.

More than 207,000 people are known to have died after having COVID-19, while nearly 880,000 have recovered.

Coronavirus forces delay in US extradition case against Assange

Julian Assange's stay in a London prison will be extended. ( PA: Victoria Jones via AP )

Court proceedings against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will not go ahead in England next month as planned due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The 48-year-old is in prison in London where he is fighting extradition to the US where authorities want him to stand trial on charges of conspiring to hack government computers and espionage.

Mr Assange was dragged from the Ecuador embassy in London in April last year after a seven-year stand-off.

In February, hearings took place for a week and the case was adjourned until May 18 for a further three weeks of arguments, but Britain has since imposed restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus.

"Remote attendance by the parties in this case will not be appropriate. Mr Assange and the lawyers on both sides will need to be physically present in the courtroom," Judge Vanessa Baraitser said.

She adjourned the case until May 4 when a new date will be fixed.

UK investigating possible link between COVID-19 and other illness

Britain is concerned about symptoms in children that might have a link to COVID-19. ( Reuters: Borja Suarez )

Britain is examining whether there is a link between COVID-19 and an inflammatory disease which severely affects children, a health official has said.

Health Minister Matt Hancock said he was "very worried" about reports of children struggling with severe symptoms that might have a link to COVID-19.

"We have become aware in the last few days of reports of severe illness in children which might be a Kawasaki-like disease," Stephen Powis, national medical director for England, said, referring to a rare syndrome which causes inflammation of blood vessels.

"I've asked the national clinic director for children and young people to look into this as a matter of urgency … We're not sure at the moment. It's really too early to say whether there is a link."

World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, meanwhile, expressed concern the coronavirus pandemic was taking a toll on children's vaccination programs.

"Children may be at relatively low risk from severe disease and death from COVID-19 — the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus — but can be at high risk from other diseases that can be prevented with vaccines," Dr Tedros said.

UK citizens can ask politicians for COVID-19 answers

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 51 seconds 1 m 51 s Boris Johnson says there will be no swift lifting of the lockdown in the UK

The British Government says it will give the public the chance to ask ministers and health experts a question during its daily coronavirus briefing.

Just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to give the public "the maximum possible transparency" over ministers' thinking on measures to ease the coronavirus lockdown, the Government asked the public to get involved.

"The coronavirus is the biggest health crisis the UK public has faced in a generation. We know people across the UK are making significant sacrifices every day in order to stay at home," a spokesman for Mr Johnson said.

"We recognise the huge disruption it is having on their lives, jobs and businesses, so it's absolutely right that the public get the chance to put their questions on the virus and the measures that we've put in place directly to the Government and to its experts."

Only one question from members of the public will be chosen each day.

The Government said anyone aged over 18 could submit a question.

Adidas suffers 611 million Euro sales drop

Adidas's net profit from continuing operations fell 97 per cent. ( AP: David Zalubowski, file )

Sports clothing and shoe company Adidas has recorded a sharp fall in first-quarter profits, with the pandemic forcing the closure of 70 per cent of its stores.

Its net profit from continuing operations fell 97 per cent to 20 million euros ($33 million) from 631 million euros in the same period a year ago.

E-commerce picked up as shutdowns were implemented, rising 55 per cent in March.

"Our results for the first quarter speak to the serious challenges that the global outbreak of the coronavirus poses even for healthy companies," Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted said.

The company said the pandemic was causing so much uncertainty it could not provide an earnings outlook for the full year.

"Despite the current situation, I am confident about the attractive long-term prospects this industry provides for Adidas," Mr Rorsted said in a statement.

"Consumers are developing an increased appreciation of wellbeing. They want to stay fit and healthy through sports."

Controversy swirls over French tracing app

French MPs have accused their own Government of shutting down a privacy debate on a coronavirus app. ( AP: Michel Euler )

MPs from France's ruling party have accused their own Government of withdrawing a vote on a planned coronavirus tracing app, saying they have been robbed of a chance to raise privacy concerns.

The Government last week bowed to pressure by promising a parliamentary debate and vote on the StopCovid smartphone software, which was designed to warn users if they came into contact with infected people.

But over the weekend, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe wrote to the Lower House Speaker, saying he wanted to broaden the debate scheduled for April 28–29 to cover the Government's entire strategy on ending coronavirus lockdowns.

"Marginalising and erasing the debate about digital tracing shows how illegitimate using it will be," Sacha Houlie, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron's party, wrote on Twitter.

A Government source defended the decision on Monday (local time), telling Reuters the Government needed to move quickly with its plans. Commentators said the move would avoid a public display of division in the ruling party over the app.

Some across France's political divide have said the software raises serious issues about state surveillance and privacy. Civil liberties groups have raised similar questions about apps like it being considered and used across the world.

Yemen's COVID-19 mystery

Yemen's state of conflict makes it highly vulnerable in the event of a coronavirus outbreak. ( AP: Hani Mohammed )

Mystery surrounds how a Yemeni port official — the nation's only coronavirus case — became infected.

Health officials have been scrambling to identify the more than 150 people who met and dealt with the 60-year-old man known only as Saleh in the two weeks before his diagnosis.

"All the close contacts were monitored and some showed some symptoms but were negative when they were tested," Ali al-Walidi, the head of the national coronavirus committee, said.

The information gap is reflective of Yemen's inability to detect, let alone repel, an infection humbling far wealthier nations.

The country is split into rival power centres and its medical infrastructure is in tatters due to war.

Russia tallies more cases than China

Russia shares a vast border with both China and Europe. ( Reuters: Shamil Zhumatov )

Russia overtook China in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases on Monday when its tally climbed above 87,000, as pressure rose on the Government to consider easing lockdown restrictions for businesses to help shore up the rattled economy.

Russia, the world's largest country by territory, has been in lockdown since President Vladimir Putin announced the closure of most public spaces on March 25.

These measures are due to expire on April 30 and Mr Putin has not yet said if he plans to extend them, but the head of a safety watchdog said the lockdown should continue until May 12.

On Monday, the authorities reported 6,198 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 87,147, with 794 deaths.

Mainland China, where the virus first emerged, reported a total of 82,830 cases on Monday. China is now fighting an increased number of new cases coming from Russia.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 20 minutes 20 m The Virus

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