COVID updates

 Biggest developments in the global  COVID19 outbreak

US Blame China and Italy for most cases

US has now overtaken China and Italy to have the most confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the world. The US has 82,404, with China’s total now 81,782. Italy is third with 80,589.

Global job losses could far exceed estimate of 25 million – UN

Global job losses from the coronavirus crisis could far exceed the 25 million estimated just days ago, UN officials said on Thursday, as US jobless claims surged to record levels. The International Labour Organization, a UN agency, estimated a week ago that the figure would rise by between 5.3 million and 24.7 million.

UK records biggest daily rise in deaths

The number of people who have died from coronavirus in UK hospitals has risen by 115 in a single day to 578, as of 5pm on Thursday. It is the biggest daily rise in deaths across the country since the outbreak began. As of 9am on Thursday, 11,658 out of 104,866 people who have been tested for the virus were confirmed as positive cases.

France death toll rises by 365

The number of deaths from coronavirus in France has risen by 365 in 24 hours, from 1,331 to 1,696, according to health officials. There are now 29,155 confirmed cases in the country, as of Thursday. A 16-year-old in the Ile de France region is one of those to have died.

US police enforcing social distancing

Police in the US are taking a lead role in enforcing social distancing, with Associated Press reporting that officers in Lakewood, New Jersey, broke up a wedding being held in violation of a ban on large gatherings. In New York City, police have been dismantling basketball hoops and in Austin, Texas, officers are encouraging people to call a hotline to report violators of the city’s orders for people to stay home.

South Africa enters lockdown

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South Africa came under a nationwide military-patrolled lockdown on Friday, joining other African countries imposing strict curfews and shutdowns in an attempt to halt the spread of the coronavirus across the continent. Some 57 million people are to be restricted to their homes during South Africa’s three-week total lockdown which began at midnight.

EU leaders clash over economic response

European leaders have clashed over how to pull their economies through the coronavirus crisis, as Italy accused other member states of a timid response to an unprecedented economic shock. Backed by France, Spain and seven other eurozone countries, Italy wants a “European recovery bond” or “coronabonds” – namely, EU-backed debt to lift member states out of a recession and increase spending on healthcare. But the idea of shared debt is opposed by Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.