Coronavirus Pandemic: Latest updates

Death toll crosses 160,000

The worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 160,952 yesterday, according to a tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University at 1000 GMT. More than 2,331,099 declared cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. In the United States, now the epicentre of the pandemic, the death toll stood at 39,090 with 735,287 infections.  Italy is the next most-affected country with 23,227 deaths from 175,925 infections. It is followed by Spain with 20,639 fatalities from 194,416 confirmed infections, France with 19,349 deaths and 152,978 infections and Britain with 15,498 deaths from 115,317 cases.

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'Lowest' deaths in NY

New York state, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, has experienced its lowest one-day death toll in two weeks, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday. Cuomo said 540 people had died in his state of 20 million inhabitants in the preceding 24 hours, and he suggested New York may now be on the downslope after a recent plateau in deaths.

Israel eases restrictions     

Israel on Saturday approved some easing to its tight coronavirus restrictions while pointedly avoiding announcing the first stage of an exit from lockdown. In a televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined "a responsible and gradual" plan which would allow the return of some workers to offices and industry. He also promised to reopen some high street shops and allow a return to school for children with special educational needs, in groups of up to three.

Only 8 cases in S Korea

South Korea yesterday reported single digit new coronavirus cases for the first day in two months with eight new infections. Of the new cases, five were imported from overseas. The figure brings its total infections to 10,661.

'Captain Tom' raises $31m

Captain Tom Moore, a 99-year-old British war veteran, has now raised more than 25 million pounds ($31.3 million) for the health service by walking 100 laps of his garden. The World War Two veteran, who has used a walking frame with wheels since breaking his hip, set himself the target of walking the 25 metres around his garden 100 times before his 100th birthday on April 30. He completed his task on Thursday.