After four full days, US District Judge Alison Nathan said a positive coronavirus case would "(put) at risk our ability to complete this trial".

On Wednesday, the jurors asked Judge Nathan for transcripts of five witnesses' testimony and for her to clarify whether they should expect to deliberate through the New Year holiday on Friday and Saturday.

During deliberations over the past days, they had previously asked for a white board and different coloured sticky notes, as well as more transcripts of evidence - indicating that they may still have work to do before coming to a decision.

They asked US District Judge Alison Nathan for a definition of the word "enticement", which is part of the charges.

According to CNN, the judge wrote the word means to "attract, induce or lure using hope or desire".

She also referred them to the legal instructions that she had read to them just before they began deliberations a week ago.

Before sending the jury home for the night on Monday, Judge Nathan said that when they return on Tuesday, if they do not reach a verdict, they should consider deliberating until 6pm - one hour later than usual.

But she added: "I don't mean to pressure you in any way. You should take all the time that you need."

What are the charges?

Maxwell faces a total of eight charges - including six counts of enticing minors and sex trafficking over a 10-year period.

The charges involve four alleged underage victims and multiple locations between 1994 and 2004. The youngest alleged victim was 14 years old at the time.

Maxwell also faces two counts of perjury which will be tried separately.

She denies all the charges and has pleaded not guilty.

Maxwell could be sentenced to 80 years in prison if found guilty of all counts.

Epstein killed himself in his prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex abuse charges.

What does Maxwell say?

She has pleaded not guilty to all the six counts she is charged with.

Her lawyers have argued that prosecutors are scapegoating her because Epstein is dead, and say that the accusers' memories cannot be relied upon.

Included among the six charges is a sex trafficking count that carries a potential penalty of up to 40 years in prison.