Key developments in the global coronavirus outbreak today include:
Global infections pass 2.7 million
The total number of confirmed cases worldwide has passed 2.7m and the number of deaths stands at more than 190,000. The US has nearly 870,000 confirmed cases and almost 50,000 deaths. The next worst affected countries are Italy on 25,549 deaths, Spain on 22,157 and France on 21,856. The UK has just under 140,000 cases and around 18,700 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Doctors condemn Trump’s ‘disinfectant’ virus theory
Medical experts have widely condemned Donald Trump’s musings at the latest White House briefing about whether disinfectant and UV rays could be used on people to fight the virus. It followed a briefing by Bill Bryan, who heads the science and technology directorate at the Department of Homeland Security, presenting information on how the virus reacts to heat, humidity and light on surfaces and when it is airborne.
US may extend social distancing until summer
Trump also said he might extend federal social distancing guidelines to the summer. It came as Congress approved a $484bn coronavirus relief package, taking to nearly $3tn the money pledged so far. Also in the US, the Democratic senator, Elizabeth Warren, has revealed her older brother has died after contracting Covid-19.
Ramadan begins with some restrictions extended, others reduced
Strict non-essential travel measures are being enforced in Indonesia for Ramadan, including, enforced by police road blocks. There will also be a domestic and international air and sea travel, with some exceptions. The ban on air travel will be in place until 1 June, officials said, with a ban on sea travel in force until 8 June. Elsewhere, Ramadan restrictions have been lifted, including in the UAE, Egypt and Algeria, where curfews have been slightly shortened.
China reports low numbers of new cases again
China has published its daily coronavirus figures, reporting just 6 new cases and no new deaths.
Japan mayor says women take too long to shop
In Japan, the mayor of Osaka has come under fire for suggesting men should do grocery shopping during the coronavirus outbreak because women are indecisive and “take a long time”. Also in Japan, about 40 more crew on an Italian cruise ship docked in Nagasaki have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total to about 90.
The Philippines extends lockdown
The Philippines has extended its lockdown in the capital Manila until 15 May stretching to eight weeks one of the world’s strictest community quarantines to curb coronavirus infections.
Boris Johnson was treated like ‘any other patient’
The New Zealand intensive care nurse thanked by British prime minister Boris Johnson has revealed he was treated like “any other patient” – and originally thought his praise was a prank. “My first reaction was that it was a joke. I thought my friends were playing a joke on me … it was totally out of the blue,” Jenny McGee told TVNZ.
Ecuador case toll much higher than previously published
Ecuador’s health minister has said the country’s coronavirus case total is twice as high as previously confirmed, as authorities added 11,000 new infections that resulted from delayed testing. The new cases will be added to the confirmed total of 11,183 infections. The country has registered 560 deaths.
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon test positive
Four people in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon have tested positive for the coronavirus, a health official said, bringing total cases in the settlement to five. Residents of the Wavel camp in the eastern Bekaa Valley were tested after a Palestinian refugee from Syria was admitted to hospital in Beirut with symptoms.
Tom Hanks reaches out to boy named Corona
Tom Hanks has sent a letter and a Corona brand typewriter to an Australian boy who wrote to him about being bullied over his name, Corona. Corona De Vries, an eight-year-old from the Gold Coast in Queensland, wrote to the Hollywood star after he and his wife, Rita Wilson, spent more than two weeks in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19. Hanks told the boy: “You’ve got a friend in ME!” – a line made famous in the music in the animated film Toy Story, where Hanks voiced the main character, Woody.