As the day unfolded: Global COVID-19 cases surpass 1 million, Australian death toll hits 30

The Sydney Morning Herald photographers have been documenting the impact of coronavirus on our city.

As they continue to bring you images from the world beyond your living room as you stay at home to flatten the curve of COVID-19, check out their amazing work over the last week here. 

Here is a great shot from Janie Barrett of the wedding of Brigette Leech and Matthew Selby, who were recently married while upholding strict social distancing measures.

Easter Sunday was celebrated a few days ago in St Paul’s Cathedral, but something was not quite right.

There were no worshippers celebrating Christ’s resurrection in this beautiful, 129-year-old Flinders Street building. No festive flowers and no 40-voice choir.

But hang on, it wasn’t even Easter Sunday yet, which this year falls on April 12. What was going on?

It was Thursday, April 2 and, for the first time, the St Paul’s Easter Sunday service was being pre-recorded on video. It’s an insurance policy.

Cathedral dean Dr Andreas Loewe said that if a complete shutdown of city buildings is announced, which will mean no one is allowed in the Cathedral to conduct even a live streamed service on April 12, this pre-recorded one can be screened on the Anglican Cathedral’s Facebook page and on YouTube.

Read more here. 

Jeremy Fleming's Sydney company Stagekings may have pulled off the ultimate scene change.

In the last 10 days, the Kurnell company switched from making giant pop-up stages for Miley Cyrus and other big events to designing, manufacturing and selling stand-up desks and other 'isolation' office furniture.

Stageking's former business was building "very large stages really really quickly," Mr Fleming, the company's managing director, said.

This included a life-size replica facade of the Edinburgh Castle for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, giant themed sets for shows like Ninja Warriors, pop up versions of Shakespeare's Globe across Australia, and staging for the Commonwealth Games.

Read more here. 

Mexicans fretted about beer supplies on Friday after Dutch brewer Heineken said it will suspend production at its seven plants in Mexico to comply with coronavirus containment measures.

The news comes following a similar announcement by rival Modelo.

On Twitter, the phrase "MexicoSinCerveza," or Mexico without beer, was trending on Friday, with many beer fans across the nation devastated by the move.

Heineken Mexico, which employs 16,000 workers, said its decision was a response to the government's decision to halt non-essential economic activity to contain the new coronavirus.

Grupo Modelo, producer of the Corona, Modelo and Pacifico brands, on Thursday announced similar measures.

US supplies of Corona and Pacifico appear safe, with US brewer Constellation Brands, which makes Modelo's brands for the American market, stating that its Mexican plants continued operating, though they were respecting local restrictions.

Reuters

At 3am Sunday the clocks go back one hour, which means one extra hour of sleep tomorrow morning.

But the shift to the darker months can also impact mental wellbeing. Greg Murray, director of Swinburne University's Centre for Mental Health, says almost one in three people experience depressive symptoms during this time.

While those prone to winter blues are ordinarily advised to maintain their summer lifestyle by scheduling plenty of social engagements and exercise, COVID-19 restrictions add a further challenge as we are urged to stay home, maintain social distance and keep outdoor gatherings to a maximum of two people.

Professor Murray says we can still get the sunshine we need in a time of reduced daylight hours and coronavirus restrictions. It may just mean getting out earlier – and taking a warm jacket and umbrella with you.

"We can still go outdoors, and the daylight available in winter is sufficient to keep our biological clock synchronised," he says.

"Try to get daylight earlier in the morning, and ideally combine it with some exercise."

Refugees at a makeshift detention centre in inner Brisbane are worried about the spread of COVID-19 given the cramped conditions they're living in.

Dozens of refugees on Saturday protested on the verandah of a Kangaroo Point hotel which houses refugees transferred from offshore detention to receive specialist medical treatment.

They called for better protection amid the coronavirus pandemic with one 27-year-old refugee, who asked not to be named, saying the group of 120 people deserved the same rights as everyone else in Australia.

"There's no distancing here which is really dangerous for us," he told AAP on Saturday.

"If one guy was infected here, then all of us would be infected."

They called on the Morrison government to give them a safe place in the community to live where they can practise social distancing.

AAP