Latest global updates on COVID-19
Global coronavirus death toll exceeds 100,000
The worldwide death toll from the new coronavirus has surpassed 100,000 amid about 1.6 million cases and more than 368,000 recoveries.
This is according to the Johns Hopkins University tally.
Italy has registered the highest number of COVID-19 deaths, more than 18,000 as of Friday, while the United States has reported the majority of confirmed infections, nearly half a million.
Italy to extend lockdown until May 3
Giuseppe Conte, prime minister of hard-hit Italy, said he had taken the “difficult” decision to extend a weeks-long lockdown until May 3.
“We are extending the restrictions until May 3,” he said in an address to the nation. “It is a difficult but necessary decision for which I assume full political responsibility,
Italy’s world-topping coronavirus death toll stood at 18,849 as of Thursday.
France reports 987 deaths
France confirmed 987 more COVID-19 deaths registered in hospitals and nursing homes in a day, bringing the total toll to 13,197.
Speaking to reporters, top health official Jerome Salomon said a child aged under 10 infected with COVID-19 died, but the causes of the death were “multiple”.
In encouraging news, Salomon said there were now 62 fewer people in intensive care, continuing a trend first seen on Thursday.
Spain to hand out masks as people return to work
The Spanish government has announced plans to hand out out masks at metro and train stations on Monday as some companies re-open after a two-week “hibernation” period.
Spain on March 30 had toughened its nationwide lockdown, suspending all non-essential activities until after Easter. The measure particularly targeted the construction and manufacturing sectors.
Health Minister Salvador Illa said the masks will be distributed in metro or interurban train stations “where usage is recommended” and where work will resume after the Easter weekend “on Monday or Tuesday”.
But there would be no further easing of the lockdown, with Illa saying such measures would be enough to avoid “a resurgence of cases”.
Turkey’s coronavirus death toll rises to 1,006
Turkey’s confirmed cases of coronavirus increased by 4,747 and 98 people died in the last 24 hours, taking the total death toll from the disease to 1,006, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.
The total number of recovered cases stood at 2,423, with 281 recoveries in the last 24 hours, and the number of tests carried out in that time was 30,864, Koca said on Twitter.
Turkey’s total confirmed cases stood at 47,029, he added.
British coronavirus death toll rises to 8,958, up 980
The death toll from coronavirus in the United Kingdom rose by 980 to 8,958 people as of 16:00 GMT on April 9, health minister Matt Hancock said on Friday.
Boris Johnson able to do short walks
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been able walk short distances as part of the care he is receiving to aid his recovery, his office said.
Johnson came out of intensive care after three nights and is recovering on a hospital ward.
“The prime minister has been able to do short walks, between periods of rest, as part of the care he is receiving,” a Downing Street spokesman said. “He has spoken to his doctors and thanks the whole clinical team for the incredible care he has received.”
Ireland extends lockdown until May 5
Ireland extended stay-at-home restrictions designed to slow the spread of coronavirus until May 5, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.
“The restrictions we introduced two weeks ago were due to expire on Sunday. Today the expert recommendation is to extend them for a further three weeks,” he said in a televised address.
Ireland has shut bars, restaurants and non-essential retail and told people not to travel more than 2km (1.2 miles) from their home or visit friends and family.
Arsenal to provide free meals to aid coronavirus fight
Arsenal is set to provide more than 30,000 free meals as well as sanitary and personal hygiene products to vulnerable people in the local community as part of a response plan to the coronavirus pandemic, the Premier League club said.
The north London club also pledged to donate 100,000 pounds ($124,000) to local organisations and a further 50,000 pounds will go towards a COVID-19 Crisis Fund.
“The Arsenal Foundation has joined forces with HIS Church to deliver 15 tonnes of emergency supplies into Islington,” the club said in a statement. “This initiative forms part of our wider community response to COVID-19, which has seen Arsenal in the Community staff volunteer to transport frontline NHS workers.”
England’s coronavirus hospital death toll rises by 866 to 8,114
The coronavirus death toll in English hospitals rose over the past 24 hours by 866 to a total of 8,114, health officials reported.
Those who died were aged between 27 and 100, and 56 of them had no known underlying health condition.
