Coronavirus Pandemic: Latest updates

OVER 2.25M CORONAVIRUS CASES

More than 2,251,690 declared cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Of these cases, at least 497,600 are now considered recovered.  In the United States, now the epicentre of the pandemic, the death toll stood at 37,079 with 706,779 infections. At least 59,672 patients have recovered. Italy is the next most-affected country with 22,745 deaths and 172,434 confirmed infections. It is followed by Spain with 20,043 fatalities and 191,726 confirmed infections, France with 18,681 deaths and 147,969 infections and Britain with 14,576 deaths and 108,692 cases.

THAI PREMIER MOCKED

An appeal to Thailand's 20 richest tycoons for help in easing the impact of the pandemic by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been mocked online by social media users, who accused the kingdom's premier of running a "beggar government". Thailand's tourism and export-reliant economy has been hit hard by the outbreak, with the state bank predicting growth will contract by five percent this year -- the worst result since the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

SPAIN REPORTS 20,000 DEATHS

The death toll from the coronavirus in Spain, the country hit hardest by the pandemic after the United States and Italy, moved past 20,000 yesterday, the health ministry said. A total of 20,043 people have now succumbed to the disease, which killed 565 people in Spain in the past 24 hours, slightly down on the 585 reported on Friday. The number of declared cases has risen to 191,726, the ministry said. However, the increase in infections has slowed in recent days while the number deemed cured has risen to nearly 75,000.

HIMALAYAN TREKKERS STRANDED

Around 1,000 foreign adventurers are stranded in Nepal's capital, stunned to discover the scale of the coronavirus pandemic, after being rescued from their Himalayan treks. The country's lockdown caused authorities to close the isolated trails and trekkers were ushered down to pick-up points and airports. Most of the group are now stuck in Kathmandu's tourist district, where a few hotels have stayed open and some restaurants prepare free food.

SINGAPORE INFECTIONS SURGE

Singapore announced more than 900 new cases of coronavirus Saturday, a new record high, with nearly all infections traced to packed dormitories housing foreign workers. Around 200,000 mostly South Asian workers live in 43 dorms across the island, forming an essential part of the country's workforce.

UK QUEEN FOREGOES BIRTHDAY GUN SALUTE

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will not celebrate her birthday on Tuesday with a traditional gun salute due to the coronavirus crisis, Buckingham Palace said yesterday. The queen, who turns 94 on Tuesday, made a rare national address at Easter, saying that "we know that coronavirus will not overcome us" and that "we will meet again" after the country's lockdown is lifted.

Source: AFP, reuters