Coronavirus updates: data, infections, deaths USA, India and UK on 3 April
Coronavirus live: latest Covid-19 updates - Friday 3 April 2020
Worldwide coronavirus figures
Three minutes' silence for victims in Wuhan
People stopped what they were doing to pay their respects for those who have perished as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic as three minutes of silence was observed in Wuhan, China this morning. The seafood market in Wuhan, were several people were infected with the Covid-19 virus in December, has remained closed since the end of last year and is now sealed off by two-metre steel fences. Some restrctions have been lifted in Wuhan, which has been in quarantine since January.
Anti-parasite drug ivermectin shown to be effective against coronavirus
Ivermectin reduces viral load up to 5,000-times in 48 hours
A study in Australia shows it reduces viral load massively in vitro. More testing to be done...
Spanish tourists arrive back home
The first wave of Spanish citizens to be repatriated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrived at Terminal 4 of Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez airport on Friday. Spaniards returning from Casablanca, Morocco are seen here arriving back in Madrid. Over 3,000 Spanish citizens have been trapped abroad by the coronavirus crisis. The government has laid on planes to bring them back from Cuba, India and Peru. More are expected to arrive on Saturday from Buenos Aires.
Cover your face, says US CDC
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending Americans should cover their faces when outside. US President Trump undermined that guidance by saying: “I’m choosing not to do it.”
What’s the latest scientific thinking on the protection afforded by masks, both to the wearer and those around them? This is good article from David Heymann, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. In it he says that if someone with Covid-19 wears a mask they can prevent other people from being infected, and it’s fundamental for health workers to wear them. What’s not so clear is whether the public should wear them…
China, Italy and Spain - key events that contributed to the Covid-19 crisis and the current situation
China, Italy and Spain quickly became the epicentres of the Coronavirus crisis. The first reported case in China was in December, with cases appearing in Italy and Spain at more or less the same time. We take a look at some of the key events which might have played a part in spreading the virus in all three countries, how the epidemic evolved, at what rate and where they are now...
Meanwhile, New York has also issued an emergency alert seeking additional health care workers to help with the outbreak.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken the measure of signing an executive order to commandeer ventilators from the private health sector as coronavirus cases rise in the city.
Coronavirus: US citizens buying more guns amid pandemic
People in the United States are purchasing record-breaking numbers of guns amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to government data.
Protective masks could become the norm in Spain, like Japan
Spain's Health Ministry announced this evening that wearing protective masks in public could be compulsory once quarantine restrictions are relaxed to counter the possibility of a second wave of Covid-19 infections. Health Minister Salvador Illa told reporters in this evening's press briefing, "We are presently studying a number of measures. The daily use of masks will probably be among the measure that we will recommend but I cannot confirm that at this moment". One of the problems facing authorities in Spain at the moment is the lack of protective clothing - face masks and gloves. Consignments have been ordered but for now, medical workers are the priority.
Spain's government is expected to approve the proposal to extend the lockdown restrictions which the country has been under since 14 March when the cabinet meets tomorrow. Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez is likely to announce that the lockdown, which was due to end on 11 April, will continue for a further 15 days, until 26 April.
Coronavirus: how will stimulus checks work in the United States?
US citizens will receive $1,200 per person from the coronavirus stimulus bill signed by President Donald Trump. We take a look at how it will work.
Coronavirus: Serie A sides propose giving 2019-20 season up
Torino, Udinese, Sampdoria, Genoa, Spal and Brescia have suggested calling it a day in Serie A as the league meets to try and find a way of finishing the campaign.
Italy's coronavirus numbers continue to slow down
The death toll from an outbreak of the coronavirus in Italy has climbed by 766 to 14,681, the Civil Protection Agency said on Friday, marginally higher than the daily tally of 760 fatalities registered a day earlier. The number of new cases was slightly lower, growing by 4,585 from a previous 4,668, bringing total infections since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21 to 119,827.
Friday was the fifth consecutive day in which the number of new cases remained within a range of 4,050-4,782, confirming government hopes that the epidemic has hit a plateau, ahead of an expected decline in the near future.
Italy hit a daily peak of 6,557 new cases on March 21. The daily death toll has been between 727 and 766 for the last three days, down from 837 on Tuesday and a peak of 919 on Friday of last week.
Spain's death tally rises to 10,935
On Friday, Spain’s death total rose to 10,935 with 932 people losing the battle against coronavirus. It’s the first drop in numbers, however, since Tuesday. On Thursday, the number rose to 10.4% before dropping to 9.3% on Friday.
Premier League donates £20 million to the NHS
The Premier League has released a statement about a meeting today with its shareholders. They say the league will not restart in May and will only do so when it is safe with no timeframe given. Read the full statement here.
Is China out of quarantine?
China has lifted quarantine measures in some provinces but life is not yet back to normal as the government fears another outbreak of coronavirus.
UK death toll rises by 684 in a day as new hospital opens
A further 684 people have died with coronavirus in the UK over a day, bringing the UK's death toll to 3,605.
Meanwhile, a temporary hosptial was opened at the ExCel exhibition centre in London, which will have capacity for 4,000 coronavirus patients.
Opening the hospital via videolink, Prince Charles, who has now recovered from COVID-19, said: "I want to say a very big thank you to the planners, the builders, the armed forces, the generous companies and organisations that have donated equipment and services and all the support staff who have made this possible."
African players hit out at testing-ground idea
Several African footballing figures have been enraged by a proposal by two French doctors on live TV to use Africa as a testing ground for coronavirus vaccines. The incident has also cause outraged throughout France...
Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic
Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic
All the information you need to understand the coronavirus and ways to stay safe during the Covid-19 pandemic:
Coronavirus: Thermal imaging shows importance of face mask
Thermal imaging shows importance of face mask
This video filmed using a thermographic camera shows how a face mask prevents actions such as coughing and sneezing from spreading the coronavirus.
Spain surpasses Italy in number of Covid-19 cases
In the latest figures published by the health Ministry, Spain’s total number of coronavirus cases rose to 117,710 and has now surpassed Italy to become the country with the second highest number of cases behind the U.S.
In the last 24 hours, Spain registered 932 deaths, bringing the total to 10,935. As the number of cases and deaths continue to grow, the Spanish government is considering extending the current National State of Emergency beyond the current April 12 deadline. The country has been on lockdown since March 14.
PM Narendra Modi's full speech: message about coronavirus in India today
PM Modi urges Indians to show coronavirus "the power of light"
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on the country’s people to turn off the lights in their homes for five minutes at 21:00 IST on Sunday, and to display lamps, candles and mobile-phone torchlights in a show of the nation’s collective determination to beat the coronavirus pandemic.
Since Tuesday last week, India's population of 1.3 billion has been under a 21-day lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19, which has so far registered just over 2,500 cases in the country, leading to 72 deaths.
Speaking on Friday, Modi said: “This Sunday, on 5 April, we must all together challenge the darkness spread by the corona crisis, introducing it to the power of light. On this 5 April, we must awaken the superpower of 130 crore* Indians. We must take the super resolve of 130 crore Indians to even greater heights.”
*Commonly used in India, ‘crore’ is a unit of measurement equal to 10 million
Corona beer production to be halted
Production of Corona beer is being temporarily halted during the coronavirus pandemic.
Although the brewer behind the beer, Grupo Modelo, has stated that move has nothing to do with falling sales due to the company’s unfortunate name.
After being declared a non-essential business by the Mexican government, Grupo Modelo will stop production of all its beverages, including Corona, from Sunday to April 30.
Mexico has so far reported more than 1,500 cases of COVID-19 and 53 related deaths.
Japanese PM encouraged to declare state of emergency
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Friday that Japan declaring a national state of coronavirus emergency would send a "strong message" that could help dodge an explosive outbreak, her most explicit nudge so far for the government to make the call.
Amid growing clamour for tighter curbs on people's movements to stem a rising tide of infections, the government has so far been reluctant to pull the trigger, warning of the heavy damage that could ensue in the world's third-biggest economy, already close to recession.
Instead, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has urged school closures and called on citizens to avoid unnecessary and non-urgent gatherings and outings while preparing to roll out an economic stimulus plan next week - even as he acknowledged the country was barely avoiding a major jump in infections.
"If the country makes a move, it would send a strong message to people," Tokyo Governor Koike said at a news conference. "If that is coupled with the economic stimulus package being prepared, it would give Tokyo a big boost" in dealing with the epidemic, she said.
Japan has so far been spared the kind of explosive surge seen in parts of Europe, the United States and elsewhere, with about 2,800 cases and 73 deaths. Globally, coronavirus cases surpassed 1 million on Thursday, while deaths have topped 50,000.
(Text: Reuters)
What is the name of the coronavirus: Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2...
Covid-19 and SARS-CoV-2: the names for the coronavirus
The coronavirus pandemic currently affecting 204 countries and territories around the world, and which has caused nearly a million cases and over 50,000 deaths, is commonly referred to as simply ‘coronavirus’, but what is its official name?
Full story:
Brescia president threatens to forfeit matches if Serie A resumes
Brescia president Massimo Cellino has threatened to forfeit the club's remaining matches if the season resumes.
"This season doesn't make sense any more," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday.
"We've stopped, no team will return as before, the matches will be behind closed doors, plus there's a risk to the health of the athletes. For me, to go back to business is pure madness."
German death toll past 1,000
The coronavirus death toll in Germany has passed the 1,000 mark, according to figures published by Johns Hopkins University. A total of 1,107 people have now died from Covid-19 in the country, which has registered 84,794 cases in all.
Germany's mortality rate of 1.3% remains significantly lower than many other countries - Spain's, for example, sits at 9.2% - but, quoting figures released by the Robert Koch Institute, the media outlet DW reported on Friday morning that the latest 24-hour death count is 145 higher than the previous day.
Empty skies amid coronavirus pandemic
This air-traffic image taken earlier this morning shows just how empty the skies are as the world battles to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic: there is not a single aircraft flying over any of Spain, Portugal or Morocco.
(Image: Colectivo de los Controladores Aéreos)
Coronavirus conspiracy theories: Is it man-made? or caused by 5G frequencies?
Coronavirus conspiracy theories: Is it man-made? or caused by 5G frequencies?
With global cases of Covid-19 infection now over one million, the conspiracy theorists have been out in force - is it a man-made virus? Is it caused by 5G?
Full story:
Latest coronavirus numbers
Here is a selection of the latest worldwide coronavirus figures, correct at 09:15 CEST, courtesy of Johns Hopkins University:
Spain: 112,065 cases; 10,348 deaths
UK: 34,173 cases; 2,926 deaths
US: 245,573 cases; 6,058 deaths
Italy: 115,242 cases; 13,915 deaths
China: 82,464 cases; 3,326 deaths
India: 2,567 cases; 72 deaths
Nigeria: 184 cases; 2 deaths
World: 1,016,534 cases; 53,164 deaths
Coronavirus: global confirmed cases of Covid-19 pass 1,000,000
Covid-19 surpasses 1,000,000 milestone
Here is the full story from last night on the news that the number of coronavirus cases across the globe is now into seven figures:
Coronavirus live: good morning
Hello and welcome to our daily live blog on the coronavirus pandemic, which has now registered over 1,000,000 cases worldwide.
We'll endeavour to bring you all the key latest developments and numbers as they come in throughout the day.