Live US Election updates: Donald Trump and Joe Biden battle for final key states

Democrat Joe Biden says he had no doubt he would defeat incumbent President Donald Trump and win the US presidency, and asked everyone to stay calm as votes are counted.

Biden says he has received a briefing on the state of the Covid pandemic in the USA and its economic effects.

In a short speech, hinting at his growing readiness to take on the presidency, he said that he and his running mate Kamala Harris had been receiving high-level briefings.

“We are nearing 240,000 deaths from the pandemic. Our hearts go out to each and every family affected.”

He then urged Americans to remain calm and patient as the votes are still being counted in five key states.

“In America, the vote is sacred. It is the will of the voters – no-one else – who chooses the president, so every vote must be counted.

“Democracy is sometimes messy. It requires patience.”

He said that his camp remains confident about the state of the race.

“We continue to feel very good about where the vote stands.”

Under America’s devolved electoral system, candidates must reach 270 electoral college votes. Biden is currently at 253, President Donald Trump 214, as voting continues in key states including Pennsylvania, one of the so-called “blue wall” states of America’s industrial north. It has 20 electoral college votes at stake.