Coronavirus summary: deaths and cases - 7 May
Coronavirus live global updates: - cases, deaths and news, 7/8 May
Global totals and country news
Confirmed worldwide cases: 3.8 million +
Confirmed worldwide deaths: 268,000 +
(source Johns Hopkins University)
AS English will be taking a break from our live coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic but the morning team will be back shortly to keep you up to date with all developments and news as it breaks on Friday 8 May.
US death toll passes 75,000
According to figures from Johns Hopkins University, the death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic in the USA has now passed 75,000.
Mexico coronavirus infections rise to 29,616 cases and 2,961 deaths
(Reuters) Mexico's health ministry on Thursday reported 1,982 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 257 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 29,616 cases and 2,961 deaths.
The government has said the real number of infected people is significantly higher than the confirmed cases.
Queensland records zero coronavirus cases in 24 hours
Australia recently announced it had successfully flattened the coronavirus curveand on 7 May Queensland reported no news cases of Covid-19 across the entire state.
Portugal extends housing contract deal
(Reuters) - In a move aimed at ensuring people had a roof over their heads for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak, Portugal's government on Thursday extended a measure stating contracts could not expire or be cancelled to the end of September.
But housing associations fear the move fails to tackle their key concern with the country's emergency housing schemes during the pandemic: rising tensions and accumulating debts by tenants to landlords.
The measure, in place since mid-March and originally due to expire next month, prevents landlords from terminating lease agreements if the tenant does not agree to it and from kicking out renters even if their contracts are due to run out before Sept. 30.
Europe's patient zero?
Bloomberg take a look at the undiagnosed patient thought to have brought the coronavirus to France last December.
Could llamas hold the key to Covid-19 vaccine?
According to a recent study published in the journal Cell, llamas’ antibodies could play a key role in the fight against the coronavirus researchers have found.
Hydroxychloroquine trials suggest drug is uneffective
The malaria drug hydroxychloroquine has proven to be ineffective in treating patients with Covid-19, according to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
France to keep borders closed until at least June 15
French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that following the lifting of the coronavirus lockdown in France on May 11, the country's borders would remain closed until further notice.
"Since the start of the crisis the closure of the borders is the rule, and the authorisation to cross a border is the exception. We have to keep this protection in place, this will not change soon," Castaner told a televised news conference.
He said that the restrictions would remain in place until at
least June 15.
Italy nears 30,000 death milestone
The Italian government have confirmed that 274 people have died in the past 24 hours from the Covid-19 virus. Today's figure takes the nation close to the 30,000 mark with a total number of 29,958 fatalities in the country.
Juventus back in training
The Italian league leaders were just one of many Serie A sides being put through their paces as confirmation as to when and how the season resumes is still outstanding.
Younger people sadder and lonelier
People under 35 have been made sadder and lonelier than older adults as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, a European survey found, concluding that the strain of being separated from friends and family was taking a tougher toll on the young.
The report, from an online survey of 85,000 people across the continent by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, found a sharp deterioration in reported quality of life among all ages. With most Europeans confined to their homes by the coronavirus outbreak, 16% said they were lonely 'all or most of the time' over the past two weeks, up from just 6% who described themselves as lonely in surveys before the crisis.
There were differences across countries, which may reflect how long they have been in lockdown or how severe the crisis has been. Greeks and Bulgarians reported the lowest level of life satisfaction. Loneliness was most common among the French. Optimism was below average in countries hardest-hit by the virus, including France, Italy, Belgium and Spain.
Paris to follow
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Thursday France would gradually end its lockdown from Monday 11 May, but some restrictions would remain in place in the Paris region where the new coronavirus is still circulating.
'From Monday we will progressively unwind the lockdown that started on March 17... but the country is cut in two, with the virus circulating more quickly in some regions, notably in the Ile de France region, which is very densely populated,' he said.
In other parts of France, secondary schools, cafes and restaurants may open from early June if the infection rate remains low.
Greek artist protest
Police stands in front of the Greek Parliament as protestors hold a muppet at the Syntagma square, in central Athens during a demonstration organised by artists, musicians and actors to ask for help to the Greek government for the financial loses due to the lockdown. (Photo by Louisa GOULIAMAKI / AFP)
Unemployment report in US: 7 May - millions more claim
Lowest US unemployment rise...
...but still 3.17 million people were added to a total that stands at 33.5 million.
Bundesliga dates
Pop it in your diary, German top flight football - behind closed doors - is back soon.
Monkey vaccine progress
One of China's Covid-19 vaccine candidates has proven effective in protecting monkeys from the novel coronavirus, according to a report released on 6 May in Science magazine. This is the world's first report on animal trial results for the vaccine candidates.
According to the report, the researchers isolated 11 viruses from 11 patients, among whom five were from China, three were from Italy, one was from Switzerland, one was from the UK and one was from Spain. Full story
Country updates
Spain: the country's coronavirus daily death toll fell on Thursday to 213 down from 244 the day before, the health ministry reported. The overall number of coronavirus deaths rose to 26,070, up from 25,857 on Wednesday. The number of diagnosed cases of coronavirus in the country rose to 221,447 from 220,325 the previous day.
Russia: Russia's coronavirus case tally surged to 177,160 on Thursday after a record daily rise in infections, meaning it now has the fifth highest number of registered cases in the world and more cases than in Germany or France. The number of new cases of the novel virus jumped by 11,231 in the last 24 hours, the country's coronavirus taskforce said. More than half of all cases and deaths are in Moscow, the epicentre of Russia's outbreak, which on Thursday reported a record overnight increase of 6,703 new cases. Russia's official death toll, which remains far lower than in many countries, rose to 1,625 after 88 people died overnight, the taskforce said.
Hear from the vaccine trialists
Watch this video to see what it is like if you are one of those being used in the race to find a vaccine for Covid-19.
What lies ahead?
An image of London's financial district Canary Wharf as a man exercises in Greenwich Park in South London on March 23, 2020.
People have generally come to terms with the governments request for social distancing as the Covid-19 pandemic has gripped the UK. British economic output is set to crash 14 percent this year owing to the coronavirus, the Bank of England has said as it left its interest rate at 0.1 percent on 7 May. (Photo by BEN STANSALL / AFP)
Stuck in choc-down
When you need a little light relief in what is a very dark time for many, Twitter can provide for the most surprising debates.
Bundesliga return has its reputation on the line
With many of us longing for the 'safe' return of football, Germany announced yesterday that they may be the first major league to restart.
The Guardian's Andy Brassell looks at how there is a lot riding on it.
Nurse gets Banksy treatment
Anonymous street artist Banksy is back with his latest artwork, this time with a hard-hitting message. The artwork was unveiled at the University Hospital Southampton, in south England, on Wednesday.
Titled ‘Game Changer‘, the piece shows a little boy playing with a superhero toy that resembles a nurse, while the figurines of Batman and Spiderman lie idly in a basket nearby. The nurse can be seen wearing a cape, besides other medical accessories like a mask and a white apron with a red cross on it. Essentially, it summarizes the feelings of the people of Britain towards the country’s National Health Service amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. (IE)
The global economy remains in a volatile and unpredictable place. China's economy grew but there are warning signs that it won't stay that way.
The world of sport
In the world of sport, the Bundesliga got the all-clear to return at the end of May. Meanwhile, Premier League clubs are struggling to agree to return plans and New Zealand's prime minister has said that they could return to professional sport within days. Spanish football clubs returned to their training facilities on Wednesday to be tested for coronavirus with an eye on a return to action.
Rafael Nadal has said "2020 is practically lost" due to the virus.
Hotel industry up against 'the biggest challenge it has ever faced'
Holiday Inn-owner InterContinental Hotels said on Thursday it expects revenue per available room (RevPAR) to plunge 80% in April as the coronavirus crisis was the "biggest challenge the hotel industry has ever faced".
The Denham, UK-based company said the occupancy levels dropped to historic lows in March and April, with first-quarter global RevPAR slumping 25%.
Travel and leisure businesses have been among the worst hit by the pandemic, with hundreds of billions of dollars in business trips and holidays cancelled as countries impose sweeping restrictions.
The Crowne Plaza, Regent and Hualuxe operator said around 15% of its estate was closed by April-end, with half its hotels in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa being shut.
"In the U.S., our biggest market, our franchise portfolio of 3,750 mainstream hotels has seen lower levels of RevPAR decline than the industry, and as at the end of April we had ~90% of our estate open," the British hotel operator said.
Coronavirus live coverage: welcome
Hello and welcome to our daily live blog on the global coronavirus pandemic, which has now registered over 3.7 million confirmed cases worldwide. We'll endeavour to bring you the latest developments and statistics as they emerge throughout the course of the day.