Key developments in the global coronavirus outbreak today include:
Global death toll passes 130 000
According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, at least 133 572 people have died since the outbreak began and at least 2 049 888 have been infected.
The figures are being compiled from official releases and media reports from around the world. Due to suspected underreporting and differing testing regimes, the figures are likely to underestimate the true scale of the pandemic.
US reports more than 25 000 new cases
Washington’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a new total of 605 390 cases – an increase of 26 385 cases from its previous count – and says the number of deaths has risen by 2 330 to 24 582.
France reports more than 1,400 more deaths
Paris says 1 438 more people have died, including 924 from care homes, bringing the total death toll from the coronavirus outbreak to 17 167.
Prof Jérôme Salomon, the head of the health authority, also announces 2,632 new confirmed cases, bringing the total tally of infections to 106 206 so far.
Paris-Beijing row deepens
The diplomatic spat between France and China widens as French senators demand to know why the article that sparked it is still on the Chinese embassy’s website, despite Beijing’s envoy having been summoned by the French foreign minister.
EU to block executive bonuses at state-rescued firms
Companies rescued by EU state share-buying programmes during the pandemic will be barred from paying executives bonuses, according to a leaked document from the European commission seen by the Guardian.
The restrictions, which would extend to a ban on dividend payments and share buybacks, could be imposed on companies where the government has taken an equity stake in order to keep the business afloat through the global pandemic.
24 die in single English care home
Public Health England is working to support a nursing home where 24 residents have died, including eight who tested positive for Covid-19. Staffordshire county council says there have been 24 deaths in just over three weeks at the home, including 16 who were not tested for the virus.
Lone migrant children relocated from Greek camps
Accelerated by fears over Covid-19, children who have migrated to Greece are being evacuated from the country. The first unaccompanied children, forced to endure appalling conditions in overcrowded Aegean island camps, have been relocated to Luxembourg. The 12 youngsters flew out of Athens today in what is seen as a poignant moment for the resettlement of minors to other EU member states.
UK hospital death toll rises by 761
The Department of Health and Social Care says a total of 12,868 people have now died in hospitals around the UK. The 761 new deaths announced on Wednesday represent a fall in the equivalent figure reported yesterday, which was 778. The figure is likely to rise once deaths in other settings are taken into account.
The chief medical officer for England, Prof Chris Whitty, says he thinks the death toll is probably reaching its peak, though high numbers of deaths will continue to occur.
G20 suspends debt payments
G20 finance ministers agree to suspend poorer countries’ debt payments from 1 May until the end of the year as they prepare for increased spending on healthcare systems.
NB*Additional information sourced from The Guardian
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