Key developments in the global coronavirus outbreak today include:
Global coronavirus death toll approaches 230,000
The total number of fatalities around the world is at least 228,908, according to Johns Hopkins University, which has tracked the spread of the virus during the pandemic.
The US has the highest number, at least 62,200, followed by Italy with 27,682. The UK’s death toll is 26,097 and Spain has lost 24,543 lives.
Denmark says partial reopening has not accelerated virus spread
Authorities in Denmark said the spread of Covid-19 has not accelerated since it became the first country outside of Asia to ease lockdown measures a fortnight ago. Daycare centres and schools began reopening two weeks ago, followed by hairdressers and other small businesses on 20 April.
“There are no signs that the Covid-19 epidemic is accelerating,” said Denmark’s State Serum Institute, which is responsible for preparedness against infectious diseases.
Further 674 deaths in the UK as Johnson says country is ‘past the peak’
There have been a further 674 recorded deaths from coronavirus, Boris Johnson said in his first Downing Street daily briefing in more than a month. He said the figure included deaths outside of hospital, bringing the total number of deaths to 26,771.
Johnson said the UK was “past the peak of this disease” and “on the downward slope”.
UK government likely to miss testing target
The government will probably fail to reach its target of testing 100,000 people per day for coronavirus by the end of April, the justice secretary, Robert Buckland, has admitted.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, had previously promised to meet the goal by the end of Thursday.
Buckland said 52,000 people were being tested per day and capacity was rising. He said of the target: “Even if we don’t hit it, and it’s probable that we won’t, we will in the next few days.”
Buckland added: “If he [Hancock] hadn’t set a target, he would have been criticised for being unambitious.”
US unemployment continues to grow
A further 3.8 million people lost their jobs in the US last week. The pace of layoffs appears to be slowing, but in six weeks 30 million Americans have now sought unemployment benefits.
US unemployment remains on course to reach levels not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Spain to allocate times slots for outdoor activities
Health authorities said time slots for specific outdoor activities would be used to help avoid confusion and further contagion when adults are allowed out to exercise from Saturday for the first time since mid-March.
Children in Spain have been allowed out to exercise with a parent or guardian since last Sunday.
The transport minister, José Luis Ábalos, said trips outside would be “sequenced” to prevent what he called “an explosive exit”.
The number of fatalities related to Covid-19 recorded overnight in Spain fell to 268, the lowest in nearly six weeks, the health ministry said.
Italy enters recession
Italy has joined France in recession after recording its worst slump in decades. Italian GDP shrank by 4.7% in the first quarter of 2020, figures from ISTAT show, its worst performance since the data series began in 1995. There was a 0.3% contraction in October to December, meaning Italy has notched up two consecutive quarters of contraction and is in recession.
South Korea records no new domestically transmitted cases
South Korea reported no new domestic coronavirus cases on Wednesday for the first time since February, the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
It reported four new infections, all imported cases, taking the national tally to 10,765. The death toll rose by one to 247.
