Coronavirus live updates: deaths and cases - UK, Australia, Canada, Spain... news today
Coronavirus live global: latest Covid-19 news - 6 May
Global summary and country reports
Total worldwide confirmed cases: 3.7 million +
Total worldwide confirmed deaths: 260,000 +
Consult the latest global figures from Johns Hopkins University
A pause...
We're going to take a break from our live coronavirus coverage for a few hours, but we'll be back before you know it to bring you the latest news and figures in the Covid-19 crisis throughout Thursday. Thanks for following us.
Coronavirus: New, dominant strain could beat vaccines
New, dominant coronavirus strain could beat vaccines
According to a study carried out at a lab in the US, the mutation that has occurred in the dominant strain of the virus makes it particularly dangerous.
Full story:
Bundesliga to return this month
Germany's Bundesliga is set to resume this month after plans to return to action were given the green light by the country's government.
On Wednesday, chancellor Angela Merkel cleared the competition to resume in May.
"We talked about the Bundesliga, which from the second half of May will again be able to run the game under the approved and indeed tested rules," she said at a news conference.
You'll find the full story on that here.
(Text: Perform)
"Corona will lose, the world will win"
A Buddhist monk wearing a protective mask holds a placard with a message of hope in the fight against coronavirus in front of a statue of Lord Buddha on the eve of his 2564nd birth anniversary at a monastery in Bhopal, India. The Buddha Purnima festival, which falls on the full moon night in the month of Vaisakha (either in April or May), commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world. (Photo: EFE/EPA/SANJEEV GUPTA)
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:
Bolsonaro's mouthpiece positive
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's spokesman has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, his office said on Wednesday, raising further questions about the president's exposure to the virus.
Spokesman Otavio do Rego Barros, 59, is currently quarantined in his home and has no coronavirus symptoms, his office said in a statement. His staff is awaiting test results for the virus in their homes, the office added.
Wuhan conspiracy
When the President of the United States points the finger at another major world power, it gets tongues wagging. Buzzfeed has a look into Trump's latest claim.
Obamas, Lady Gaga, LeBron James join forces for U.S. virtual graduations
Former U.S. President Barack Obama, Lady Gaga, LeBron James and K-Pop band BTS are among dozens of celebrities and world leaders who will salute the class of 2020 in virtual U.S. graduation ceremonies replacing the traditional end of high school and college. Obama, with his wife Michelle, will headline two separate graduation events announced on Tuesday.
Thailand's pet groomer reopens as new coronavirus cases slow
Chewy and Miley, both two-year-old Schnauzer dogs, are getting their hair cut at a groomer in Bangkok for the first time since the new coronavirus outbreak began in Thailand in January.
Pet grooming shops are among a handful of businesses that the Thai government allowed to reopen this week, following the decline in the number of new coronavirus cases.
Golfing 'royalty' impacted
The Covid-19 pandemic has led the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews to break with tradition and nominate, for only the second time in 266 years, its captain to serve for two successive terms.
Clive Edginton, 68, took office last September but the club said in a statement that past captains had nominated him to continue 'due to the disruption' caused by the new coronavirus. The only other captain to serve successive terms at the club founded in 1754 was Major John Murray Belshes, who held the position in 1835 and 1836.
The role is mainly ambassadorial, supporting the R&A in developing golf around the world and attending its professional and amateur championships. This year's 149th Open Championship due to be held at Royal St George's has been cancelled because of the pandemic. The 2021 event was to have been held at St Andrews but will now return to the 'home of golf' in 2022 with St George's hosting it next year instead.
Turkey send aid to Palenstine
"Turkey will continue its support to the Palestinian people to help fight coronavirus. Our support to the Palestinian leadership, government and people will never stop."
The Palestinian Health Ministry received a medical aid shipment from Turkey to help in the fight against coronavirus. Full story
App down under
Despite ministers’ repeated assurances that Australia’s Covidsafe contact tracing app was functioning well, the government has finally admitted that the app doesn’t work properly on iPhones.
NHS nurse gets Banksy treatment
A young boy chooses a nurse as the superhero he wants to play with over Batman and Spiderman in a new artwork by Banksy that encapsulates the gratitude Britons have felt toward the country's National Health Service during the coronavirus crisis.
The painting by the secretive street artist was unveiled at University Hospital Southampton, in south England, on Wednesday. An image of the work was also posted on Banksy's Instagram page with the caption 'Game Changer'.
Hospital chief executive Paula Head said: 'So proud to reveal this amazing piece of art 'Painting for Saints', created by #Banksy as a thank you to all those who work with and for the NHS and our hospital.' 'An inspirational backdrop to pause and reflect in these unprecedented times,' she added on Twitter.
EU looking to strengthen position
European Union leaders sought on Wednesday to bolster ties at a summit with their six Balkan counterparts whose praise for Chinese and Russian support during the coronavirus crisis has ruffled feathers in the bloc, officials and diplomats said.
The EU says it has not been given enough credit for the 3.3 billion euros ($3.6 billion) it is providing, which officials said outweigh medical supplies Beijing and Moscow sent to Serbia and Bosnia in the early phase of the epidemic.
The summit, planned for the Croatian capital Zagreb 20 years after the first ever EU-Balkan gathering, got under way by video, linking the heads of Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and North Macedonia with the 27 EU leaders.
Spain's tourism crash
The number of international visitors to Spain plunged 64.3% in March from the same month a year ago as hotels and apartments emptied of guests due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Spain, which had recorded seven consecutive years of record tourist arrivals and ranks as the world's second most popular holiday destination, received just 2 million visitors in March, the National Statistics Office said on Wednesday.
UK daily briefing
As Boris Johnson sets a new testing (capacity) target or 200,000 by the end of May, we'll bring you a summary of the latest comments at today's briefing shortly.
If you'd like to watch it live you can do here.
The Director General of the WHO is speaking about the pandemic as it progresses and continues to devastate countries, cities and families.
"An internal document from the Madrid health department has revealed that 100,000 fast coronavirus tests destined for health workers are not as reliable as the regional government claimed them to be," says a report in El País on Wednesday.
Study suggests coronavirus spread swiftly around world in late 2019
A genetic analysis of samples from more than 7,500 people infected with COVID-19 suggests the new coronavirus spread quickly around the world late last year and is adapting to its human hosts, scientists said on Wednesday.
A study by scientists at University College London's (UCL) Genetics Institute found almost 200 recurrent genetic mutations of the new coronavirus - SARS-CoV-2 - which the researchers said showed how it may be evolving as it spreads in people.
Francois Balloux, a UCL professor who co-led the research, said results showed that a large proportion of the global genetic diversity of the virus causing COVID-19 was found in all of the hardest-hit countries.
That suggests that the virus was already being transmitted extensively around the globe from early on in the epidemic.
"All viruses naturally mutate. Mutations in themselves are not a bad thing and there is nothing to suggest SARS-CoV-2 is mutating faster or slower than expected," said Balloux. "So far, we cannot say whether SARS-CoV-2 is becoming more or less lethal and contagious."
Heathrow trialling passenger temperature checks
The boss of Heathrow Airport has told MPs that it is trialling large-scale temperature checks as the aviation industry struggles with coronavirus adding that they are already being carried out at departure gates on people going to places where this is a requirement.
Russia Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova tests positive
Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova is now the third Russian cabinet official to catch the coronavirus after the construction minister and the prime minister confirmed their cases last week.
Spanish daily death toll increases
After a series of days with a daily figure below the 200 mark, the Spanish government have confirmed that the fatality total relating to the past 24 hours of Covid-19 related deaths is at 244.
When will LaLiga, Serie A, Premier League etc. return?
When will LaLiga, Serie A, Premier League etc. return?
Professional soccer leagues around Europe are gearing up for a return to action following the coronavirus stoppage, but some are more advanced than others. Here is a round-up of the state of play.
Anxious about the kids homework output during lockdown...watch this... you are not alone
UK Comedian Romesh Ranganathan relays his experience dealing with maths problems in lockdown!
South Korea K-League starts on Friday
The K-League is one of the first major global football leagues to start after the pandemic. The virus is now deemed to be suitably under control that the league can commence albeit with games played behind closed doors.
Jeonbuk Hyundai vs Suwon Samsung open the 2020 campaign with the game set to be shown live globally via Twitter
Spain seeks to extend state of alarm
The Spanish government will seek to extend the current state of alarm through to 24 May with the parliament set to vote on the motion this morning. The coalition government can count on the support of the Ciudadanos party with Catalan nationalist party ERC set to vote against the coalition with a majority for the Sanchez led government no guarantee.
Qatar Airways planning substantial job cuts
Qatar Airways is planning to cut a significant number of jobs because travel has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, and told cabin crew to prepare for redundancies.
The state-owned airline, one of few global carriers still operating scheduled services, said in March it was burning through its cash reserves and would eventually seek government aid.
“We have to face a new reality, where many borders are closed, rendering many of our destinations closed and aircraft grounded as a result, with no foreseeable outlook for immediate, positive change,” Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said in the notice to cabin crew.
UK broadcaster ITV's advertising revenue falls 42% in April
ITV, Britain's biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster, said the coronavirus pandemic had hit advertising, with ad revenue last month down by 42%, and an uncertain outlook meant it could not give guidance for the rest of the year.
The company, which paused the majority of its studio productions in mid-March and has furloughed around 800 workers, said it had withdrawn its 2019 final dividend.
Coronavirus and sport: the impact of Covid-19 on sporting events around the world
How has the pandemic affected global sport?
The situation in sport around the world: Football, cricket, rugby, surfing, Olympics, golf, tennis, cycling, athletics, motor sports, swimming, baseball, NFL, NHL, baseball, basketball...
One new positive case in New Zealand
Considered by many as a leading example of a nation tackling the pandemic in a positive manner, New Zealand recorded one positive case yesterday. A total of 1,488 individuals have tested positive with 21 deaths recored in the nation.
UK posts highest Euro deaths
The UK has overtaken Spain as the European nation with the highest death toll as a result from Covid-19 cases. The total in the island nation rose to 29,501 surpassing the Italian death toll off 29,300.
Coronavirus live coverage: welcome
Hello and welcome to our daily live blog on the global coronavirus pandemic, which has now registered over 3.6 million confirmed cases worldwide. We'll endeavour to bring you the latest developments and statistics as they emerge throughout the course of the day.