Coronavirus news you might have missed overnight: Boris Johnson warns tougher lockdown may be needed in letter as Trump U-turns on New York quarantine

Food parcels in UK are delivered to vulnerable people

The coronavirus pandemic continues to cause chaos around the UK and around the world.

Here’s your morning briefing of everything you may have missed over night.

Boris Johnson will write a letter to every household in the UK to encourage people to stay at home, saying he might have to impose stricter lockdown measures unless the government’s advice is followed.

According to a statement from Downing Street, Mr Johnson, who is currently self-isolating after he tested positive for coronavirus earlier this week, will write: "We know things will get worse before they get better.”

"But we are making the right preparations, and the more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost and the sooner life can return to normal," he will add.

The letter will be sent to the UK’s 30 million households and will contain a leaflet listing the government’s advice.

Britain has so far reported 17,089 infections and 1,019 deaths from the disease.

Food parcels have started to arrive at the homes of vulnerable people to help shield them from the coronavirus pandemic.

The first 2,000 packages arrived over the weekend for those who are self-isolating because of the virus, but who have little support from family and friends.

The parcels contain essential items such as pasta, fruit, tinned goods and toilet paper.

The government has said it expects to deliver another 50,000 care packages this week.

A total of 1.5 million people in the UK are classified as extremely vulnerable during the pandemic.

President Donald Trump has announced he will not be ordering a quarantine for coronavirus hotspots like New York.

Mr Trump, who had been considering the move, said a travel advisory would be issued instead.

This advisory told residents in New York, Jersey and Connecticut to avoid non-essential travel for two weeks.

Earlier, Andrew Cuomo, the mayor of New York, had said that roping off states would signify “a federal declaration of war”.

On Saturday, Trump signed into law the $2.2 trillion aid package.

Italian authorities have announced a further 889 coronavirus deaths, bringing the death toll in the country to 10,023.

Officials also confirmed almost 6,000 new infections in the country, increasing the number of people who have tested positive for the disease to 92,742.

Earlier this week, the WHO expressed hope that the rate of infections might be slowing down in Italy.

However, experts have said it is too early to tell for certain.

Coronavirus-hit cruise ship allowed through Panama Canal

A ship struck by coronavirus has been allowed to continue its journey through the Panama Canal, after being stranded off the coast of Panama.

Four “older guests” have died on the ship, MS Zaandam, according to the operator Holland America Line.

Their cause of death has not yet been made known.

MS Zaandam, which has more than 200 British nationals on board, has been at sea since 14 March.

Chile previously refused to allow it to dock in its territory.

On Saturday, Panama’s government announced they would give those on board “humanitarian aid” and allow the ship to pass through the canal.

It added, however, that none of the 1,243 passengers or the 586 crew members could enter Panamanian soil.