The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic
The UK's job retention scheme, which pays 80 per cent of furloughed employees' wages up to £2500 a month, will be extended for four months until October. Rishi Sunak, the chancellor of the exchequer, said that from August employees will be allowed to work part-time while furloughed, but the government will require companies to shoulder some of the costs of furlough payments. The scheme currently covers the salaries of 7.5 million workers, a quarter of the UK's workforce, and costs the UK government about £14 billion a month.
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Coronavirus numbersPeople in England can return to work if they can't work from homeRestrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus are being eased slightly in England this week, but many have criticised the government for creating confusion with a new slogan telling people to "stay alert", which replaces previous advice to "stay at home." In a video message broadcast on Sunday evening, prime minister Boris Johnson announced the following changes to the government's policy in England, which are listed in full online and will come into effect from Wednesday 13 May :
Some London Underground platforms were packed with passengers this morning following last night's announcement. Other coronavirus developmentsTwo people who work in close proximity to US president Donald Trump and vice president Mike Pence have tested positive for coronavirus , and several senior staff including government health adviser Anthony Fauci are now self-isolating for two weeks. The White House said that vice president Pence will not alter his routine or self-quarantine.
Doctors in the US have reported a wide range of possible effects of covid-19 on the body, including damage to the kidneys, heart and brain . The death toll in the US could reach 137,000 by early August according to researchers at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Many states are continuing to ease restrictions despite failing to meet White House criteria for reopening businesses . The covid-19 pandemic is causing a decline in routine childhood vaccination in the US, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parents' concerns about potentially exposing their children to covid-19 may be a contributing factor. Wuhan, China, has detected its first new cases of coronavirus since its lockdown lifted in early April. Five cases were confirmed in a single residential community on 10 May.
Coronavirus numbersCoronavirus restrictions are gradually being eased in a growing number of European countries. People in France are now allowed to walk outside without a permit and in some parts of Spain people can now meet in bars and restaurants with outdoor spaces. In New Zealand restrictions will be further eased this week with domestic travel resuming and restaurants, shops, gyms and playgrounds reopening. The country is very close to wiping out covid-19 entirely .
Black people in England and Wales almost twice as likely to die from covid-19The study showed that even after accounting for age, levels of deprivation in different areas and how healthy people said they were at the time of the 2011 census, black people are still more likely to die of covid-19. People from Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities were found to have between a 30 and 80 per cent higher risk than white people.
Coronavirus numbersOther coronavirus developmentsUS president Donald Trump has said the coronavirus pandemic is an "attack" on the US worse than Pearl Harbor or 9/11 and blamed China for not doing more to stop it. Trump and his secretary of state Mike Pompeo both recently claimed that the virus came from a laboratory in Wuhan. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said this week that the virus was not manufactured, and that it "evolved in nature and then jumped species." The official daily death toll in the US is predicted to rise to more than 3,000 by 1 June. Nearly 3.2 million US citizens filed for unemployment over the last week, bringing the total to 33 million since the country's covid-19 shutdowns started in mid-March. The Bank of England said that the UK economy could shrink by 14 per cent this year, the country's sharpest ever recession. UK prime minister Boris Johnson said the government will move cautiously in its consideration of easing coronavirus restrictions. Johnson will outline the government's plans for the next three weeks at 7PM BST on Sunday, but any changes are expected to be relatively minor . 400,000 personal protective equipment gowns flown into the UK from Turkey to meet NHS demand have failed to meet safety standards and will be returned. The first of more than 60 flights to repatriate almost 15,000 Indian citizens from 12 different countries is expected to take off today. Citizens wishing to return will need to pay for their own tickets and will only be able to board if they aren't showing covid-19 symptoms. International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, has said there will be no "meaningful return to service" until July . Passenger demand is not expected to recover to 2019 levels until at least 2023. London's Notting Hill Carnival, one of the UK's largest annual events, has been cancelled for the first time since it began 54 years ago .
Prime minister Boris Johnson during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London on 6 May.
Of the 50 named scientists, 38 have expertise in virology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, medicine, public health or statistics, according to New Scientist analysis. Five people with expertise in psychology or behavioural science have also been involved.
UK government hits 100,000 daily tests target by including unanalysed testsA draft of the UK government's plan to ease social distancing restrictions and allow more people back to work has been published by , which includes staggered working hours and relaxing the requirement to stay more than 2 metres away from other people.
UK health secretary Matt Hancock said that the government carried out 122,347 coronavirus tests yesterday, hitting his target of performing 100,000 daily coronavirus tests by the end of April. However, according to Health Service Journal , the government changed the count to include tests that haven't yet been taken or analysed. As many as 52,000 of the tests which the government said happened on 30 April were merely sent out by post.
Global CO2 emissions could fall 8 per cent in 2020 due to drop in energy demandAccording to the government's own numbers, the actual number of people who were tested yesterday was 73,191. The government states that the 122,347 figure includes tests processed through government laboratories, plus tests sent to satellite labs or posted to individuals.
Nearly half the global workforce - more than 1.6 billion people - could lose their livelihoods due to coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns, according to a UN International Labour Organization report. These include many informal workers, such as domestic workers, agricultural workers and street vendors, who may not have worker benefits or social protection. "For millions of workers, no income means no food, no security and no future," said the organisation's director general Guy Ryder. "As the pandemic and the jobs crisis evolve, the need to protect the most vulnerable becomes even more urgent," he said. Other coronavirus developments
Worldwide confirmed cases pass 3 millionUS GDP fell 4.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2020, the largest quarterly fall since the 2008 financial crisis and exceeding economists' forecasts of a 4 per cent decline.
Almost a third of the confirmed cases are in the US, which remains the worst affected country with more than 56,000 deaths. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) modelling indicates that deaths are likely to continue to rise in the US in coming weeks but could be substantially slowed by increased social distancing. Several states including Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Hawaii and Alaska have already begun to ease social distancing restrictions . Other coronavirus developments
A third of all coronavirus deaths in England and Wales are happening in care homes, according to figures from the UK's Office for National Statistics for the week ending 17 April. The daily death toll in hospitals has been falling since 8 April. Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that all people aged over 70 who are admitted to hospital will now be tested for covid-19. Sturgeon also said that should be worn while shopping or using public transport. France will only ease coronavirus restrictions on 11 May if the number of new confirmed coronavirus cases falls to less than 3000 per day, French prime minister Edouard Phillippe told parliament today. There were 3743 new confirmed cases in France today, although the average number of daily confirmed cases over the past 2 weeks is 2162. The postponed Tokyo Olympics will be cancelled if they cannot take place in 2021 because it will be too "difficult to hold the games unless the pandemic is over in the rest of the world", according to Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori. The games are currently scheduled to run from 23 July to 8 August next year. Germany has agreed a £7.8 billion ( € 9 billion) rescue package to help the airline Lufthansa , which, like many other airlines, has been affected by pandemic travel restrictions. Coronavirus numbers
All covid-19 patients discharged from Wuhan hospitalsUK contact tracing target: The UK government has set a new target of recruiting an army of 18,000 coronavirus contact tracers by the middle of May, to be in place for the launch of the NHS contact tracing app.
Wuhan, where the coronavirus pandemic began, has discharged the outbreak's last covid-19 patient. The whole of China reported fewer than 12 new coronavirus cases on Saturday. Social distancing restrictions are still in place, but are being gradually reduced, with almost 50,000 high school students returning to class in Beijing today.
An analysis by the Financial Times suggests the global death toll for covid-19 may be almost 60 per cent higher than official counts according to excess death statistics from 14 countries.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will focus "almost entirely" on the coronavirus pandemic in the near future. "This has the foundation's total attention," Bill Gates told the . The foundation, which has a $40 billion endowment, has already committed $250 million to fighting the pandemic.
UK's coronavirus science advisors to be revealed: A list of people who have been giving scientific advice to the UK government during the coronavirus crisis is set to be published imminently, following concerns over a lack of transparency.
Other coronavirus developmentsWorld leaders launch covid-19 plan without US involvementGlobal leaders are launching an initiative with the World Health Organization (WHO) to accelerate the development of coronavirus drugs, tests and vaccines and ensure equal access to all countries, but the US is not involved. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel were among leaders participating in a video conference to announce the plan. US president Donald Trump recently criticised the WHO's handling of the pandemic and announced a withdrawal of US funding to the organisation .
Up to half of Europe's coronavirus deaths have been in care homesUp to half of those who have died from covid-19 in Europe were in care homes, according to Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Europe. Describing the finding as "deeply concerning" , Kluge said that many care homes may be "providing pathways for the virus to spread" and the problem has been made worse because care home workers are "overstretched, underpaid and unprotected." Yesterday, the UK government's chief medical adviser Chris Witty said it was hard to prevent deaths in care homes "sadly because this is a very vulnerable group."
Deaths due to malaria could double in sub-Saharan Africa this year compared to 2018, because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on access to mosquito nets and anti-malarial drugs. "Countries have a critical window of opportunity now to ensure malaria services are maintained even as the virus spreads," said WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. More than 15 per cent of the US workforce has now filed for unemployment benefits. An additional 4.4 million US citizens filed jobless claims in the last week, bringing the total since mid-March to 26.4 million. The US house of representatives will vote today on an additional $480 billion coronavirus relief package for small businesses and hospitals. The UK's budget deficit is expected to see "an absolutely colossal increase to a level not seen in peacetime," according to Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank. The deficit is expected to reach as high as £260 billion, he said. German chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany is ready to make "significantly higher" EU budget contributions to help member states cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. EU leaders are expected to sign off a new €540 billion emergency fund for the most severely affected countries but details are yet to be finalised. China has pledged to donate an additional $30 million to the WHO to help support the global fight against the covid-19, according to a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary has said Ryanair will not return to flying if the airline is forced to leave the middle seat empty to comply with social distancing rules. "Either the [Irish] government pays for the middle seat or we won't fly," he said. Coronavirus numbers
Warning of a second coronavirus wave in the USA second wave of coronavirus cases in the US could be even worse than the first, according to the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Robert Redfield. He said a second wave would coincide with the flu season and put "unimaginable strain" on the US healthcare system . The US has more than 820,000 confirmed cases and more than 45,000 deaths from covid-19, the highest in the world, according to the most recent figures from Johns Hopkins University .
The pandemic has already caused at least 41,000 deaths in the UK , according to a Financial Times analysis of "excess deaths" data from the country's Office for National Statistics . The government death toll stands at 18,000 deaths as of 22 April.
The US state of Missouri is attempting to sue the Chinese government over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Missouri attorney general Eric Schmitt says residents have suffered significant economic damages because China did not do enough to stop the spread of the virus. A spokesperson from China's foreign ministry says US courts have no jurisdiction over the Chinese government. Spain's parliament is debating whether to extend the country's state of emergency for a third time to 9 May. Prime minister Pedro Sanchez says the lockdown could start to be gradually phased out towards the end of May. Spain has the most confirmed coronavirus cases of any European country. A potential vaccine for covid-19 developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has been given regulatory approval for human testing. There are at least 70 vaccine candidates at exploratory or pre-clinical stages, but only a small number have been given the greenlight for clinical testing, and development of a viable vaccine is expected to take at least a year . Netflix gained nearly 16 million new subscribers in the first quarter of 2020, twice as many as predicted by analysts, as people turned to streaming to provide entertainment amid coronavirus travel restrictions. Coronavirus numbers
Mental health during the pandemic : From social isolation to working on the front line, the mental health challenges of the pandemic are wide reaching. We ask experts how to protect ourselves. Protect chimps, says Jane Goodall : We must protect chimpanzees from being exposed to covid-19, Goodall told New Scientist . "It is a big worry," she says. "Once the virus gets into them, which I pray it won't, then I don't know what can be done." Zoom call misunderstandings : Video calling on platforms like Zoom is growing in popularity as the world adapts to travel restrictions. But not getting enough sleep may make you misread emotions on video calls.
Pandemic likely to increase the number of people facing hungerThe covid-19 pandemic will double the number of people with acute hunger , according to the United Nations World Food Programme. If no action is taken to support people in low and middle-income countries, more than 265 million people will be in crisis and will find it difficult to source or pay for food by the end of 2020, up from 135 million in 2019.
Confirmed cases of coronavirus have more than doubled in Singapore since last week, rising to more than 9000, the highest in southeast Asia. Many of the new infections have been reported in government-built dormitories that house up to 200,000 migrant workers, some with up to 20 people in a single room. More than 28,000 coronavirus deaths may be "missing " from official government death tolls, according to a New York Times analysis of data from 11 countries and regions including Spain, England, Wales, France and New York City.
Oil prices continue to fall worldwide , with the price of a barrel of Brent crude falling to below $20 today, the lowest price since 2002. Australia's second biggest airline Virgin Australia has entered administration due to the impact of the coronavirus but is continuing to operate all scheduled flights. In the UK, entrepreneur Richard Branson, a 10 per cent owner of Virgin Australia, is seeking financial aid from the UK government to support Virgin Atlantic. Coronavirus numbers
Pro-gun groups promote social distancing protests in the USOn Friday, US president Donald Trump posted a series of tweets endorsing protests against social distancing measures in Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia. Over the weekend, more protests took place, including in Denver, Colorado, where nurses stood in the road to block drivers on the way to gatherings.
An investigation by the Washington Post found that the protests were promoted using Facebook groups set up by a small group of far-right, pro-gun activists with ties to the husband of education secretary Betsy DeVos. More than 95 per cent of Democrat and 70 per cent of Republican voters support stay-at-home measures , according to recent polling.
The UK government has been criticised for its response to the coronavirus pandemic after the Sunday Times reported that Boris Johnson missed five Cobra meetings about the virus between January and the start of March. The Department of Health and Social Care has issued a lengthy response .
Death toll in Wuhan revised up by 50 per centChina has revised the covid-19 death toll in Wuhan up by 50 per cent to 3869 from 2579, saying the total number now accounts for deaths at home and delays in reporting. The Chinese government has denied any cover-up in its handling of the crisis or sharing of data.
Other coronavirus developmentsChina's economy shrank by nearly 7 per cent in the first quarter of this year, as factories and businesses were forced to close due to the coronavirus outbreak. This is the first reported drop in the country's GDP since the 1970s.
Donald Trump has issued guidance to state governors recommending a three-phase approach to reopening their economies, but acknowledged that it is up to individual state governors to decide how to relax restrictions. Germany's health minister Jens Spahn has said the country's coronavirus outbreak is now "controllable" and that the German healthcare system has "at no time been overwhelmed."
The world's biggest trial of drugs to treat covid-19 patients, with over 5000 participants, has been set up in the UK and hopes to have answers about whether or not some drugs improve outcomes "within weeks." Coronavirus numbers
Millions more claim unemployment benefits in the US Other coronavirus developmentsUK's coronavirus science advice won't be published until pandemic ends: "It's disgraceful," says Allyson Pollock, director of the Institute of Health and Society at Newcastle University, UK, who was one of dozens of experts who published a letter in The Lancet medical journal last month arguing that government advisors should be more transparent.
Coronavirus crisis could cut UK electricity needs : The coronavirus-led shutdown of large parts of the economy is likely to cut the UK's electricity needs dramatically this summer, potentially by as much as a fifth.
The UK will need to keep a "significant level" of social distancing until a coronavirus vaccine has been found, according to Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist advising the government whose research previously influenced changes to the UK's coronavirus policy . However, Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh, UK, that waiting for a vaccine wasn't a good plan: "I do not think waiting for a vaccine should be dignified with the word 'strategy'. It's not a strategy, it's a hope."
Why are men more likely to get worse symptoms and die from coronanvirus? The difference does not appear to be caused by differential rates of infection: a New York study, for example, found that equal numbers of men and women catch the virus. But men are more likely to progress to severe illness and death.
Worldwide coronavirus cases pass 2 millionThere have now been more than 2 million confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University , although the true number of cases will be much higher . The total number climbed from 1 million to 2 million confirmed cases in less than two weeks, and more than 600,000 cases have been recorded in the US alone. Other coronavirus developments
India will relax restrictions for people working in farming, banking and public works, but transport services and most other businesses are to remain shut. The country's national lockdown was recently extended and will now end on 3 May. In some cities, news of the extension prompted thousands of migrant workers to take to the streets in protest , demanding that they be allowed to return home to their villages. Coronavirus numbers
Relationships during lockdown : Robin Dunbar has spent decades studying relationships, social bonding and the importance of touch and grooming in forging and sustaining our ties to others. As much of the world remains in lockdown, unable to meet loved ones and friends in person, New Scientist caught up with him to ask what implications this might have.
Other coronavirus developmentsSome European countries begin easing restrictionsSome European countries are allowing certain non-essential workers to return to their jobs this week, most notably in Spain, which has been one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic. More than 300,000 people who work in construction and manufacturing who cannot work from home will be allowed to return, but schools and restaurants will remain shut.
Worldwide cases pass 1.5 millionIn the US, which has the most confirmed cases and deaths of any country in the world, president Donald Trump has said he wants to ease restrictions from In a press conference yesterday he claimed he had "total" authority to lift the lockdown, drawing criticism from state governors including New York governor Andrew Cuomo who said Trump was acting like a "king".
Other coronavirus developmentsMore than 1.5 million confirmed cases have been infected with the coronavirus and at least 90,000 people have died, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University . Yesterday more than 2000 deaths were recorded in the US for the second day in a row, while in the UK the daily death toll hit a record 938 . Spain, the country with the highest number of detected cases in Europe, reported 683 deaths - lower than the previous two days.
Lockdown lifted in WuhanMore than 6 million people filed for unemployment benefits in the US last week, bringing the total number of claims in the last three weeks above 16 million. Two people in the US have been charged with terrorism offences after threatening to spread the coronavirus. US president Donald Trump has threatened to cut government funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) and criticised the organisation's response to the pandemic for being "China centric" and for withholding information. Lawrence Gostin, a public health law professor at Georgetown University, said its annual budget was insufficient for its role and should be increased. Italy's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, has warned that the European Union (EU) risks failing as a political project unless member countries share the financial cost of the coronavirus crisis. Conte called upon the EU to rise to the challenge of "the biggest test since the Second World War." UK prime minister Boris Johnson has now spent three nights in intensive care with covid-19. People from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK are being disproportionately impacted by the outbreak according to the non-profit Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre. A similar pattern seems to be occurring in the US.
Other coronavirus developments Coronavirus numbersPeople with a "green" code on a government-issued smartphone health app are now allowed to leave the city, and train, road and rail connections have reopened. Some limits on transport remain and schools will stay closed for now.
China reported no new coronavirus deaths today for the first time since the outbreak started. Concerns remain about a second wave of infections being brought into China by people arriving from abroad. A total of 32 new cases were confirmed in China today, all of whom had arrived from other countries. There are hopes that the outbreak may be starting to plateau in New York . The state reported 599 deaths yesterday, on par with previous days. Over 4800 people have died of coronavirus in New York, nearly half the national death toll. Other coronavirus developmentsThe UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, spent the night in intensive care with covid-19, and is reported to be in a stable condition in hospital. Although he did receive oxygen support, he did not require ventilation, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said this morning . US president Donald Trump has said he asked US pharmaceutical companies working on experimental coronavirus drugs to approach Boris Johnson's doctors and offer their help. People in Wisconsin are casting their votes in the Democratic presidential primary today, as well as electing a state supreme court judge. The state's governor tried to call off the election because of the risk to public health, but his decision was overruled by the state supreme court. African-Americans may be disproportionately affected by covid-19, according to data from some states, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not releasing data on race or ethnicity at a national level.
Daily death tolls decline in Europe's worst-hit countries as US braces for "peak death week"Scientists have warned that a large stock of 17.5 million home antibody testing kits ordered by the UK government could be unreliable , failing to detect up to half of coronavirus cases.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent last night in hospital for tests after testing positive for coronavirus 10 days ago.
Europe is seeing a drop in air pollution similar to that seen in China during lockdown. Scientists detected a drop in nitrogen dioxide emissions over several cities including Paris, Milan and Madrid.
Coronavirus death toll has little meaning : With all the unknowns about covid-19, any numbers you hear about the global death toll or how long restrictions will last should be taken not just with a pinch of salt but with a sack of it. The 2011 film is one of the few Hollywood productions that realistically portrays the process of science - both its successes and frustrations. Scientists race to develop ways of fighting back against a fictional deadly virus, which kills people within days of infection.
There have now been more than one million confirmed coronavirus cases diagnosed across the globe, though the true number of cases will be much higher. More than 55,000 people have died from covid-19. UK government faces questions over testingUK health secretary, Matt Hancock, has pledged to have 100,000 people in England tested per day by the end of the month, following criticism of the UK's coronavirus testing strategy. Last month, Boris Johnson promised to move up to 25,000 tests a day with a goal of 250,000, but the UK is still only carrying out around 10,000 coronavirus tests per day . The new testing target for England includes the introduction of antibody tests , to check whether people have already had the virus, in addition to the existing swab tests, which determine whether a person is currently infected. Antibody tests are still being validated and the government says they won't roll them out if they aren't effective. Other coronavirus developmentsFollowing widespread debate over whether people should wear masks in public spaces, a new study has found that surgical face masks could prevent people with symptoms from spreading seasonal human coronaviruses and influenza viruses. It is not yet clear whether these findings could be extended to more severe coronaviruses , such as the covid-19 virus, as the study did not include any participants with covid-19, SARS or MERS. The White House is expected to advise US citizens in coronavirus hotspots to wear non-medical cloth masks or scarves in public places to help limit the spread of the virus. Authorities in Mumbai, India, are concerned about the spread of coronavirus in Dharavi slum , one of the planet's most densely populated areas where up to 1 million people live in cramped and unsanitary conditions. A North Korean official has claimed that "not one single person" in the country is infected with coronavirus. The claim has been met with significant scepticism, given that North Korea shares borders with China and South Korea - two of the worst affected countries globally. There are concerns that the Cheltenham Festival in the UK may have contributed to the spread of coronavirus across the country. More than 250,000 people attended the horseracing meeting between 10 and13 March.
China's wildlife trade : China's ban on eating and trading wildlife due to the coronavirus crisis could become law within the next three months, according to conservationists. Best sci-fi to stream : Looking for something to do during lockdown? These are the best science fiction TV shows to stream right now. Getting the health benefits of nature : Going out into the natural world is good for your health and mind, and you can still get some of the same benefits even when stuck inside.
A record 6.6 million US citizens applied for unemployment benefits last week , reflecting thehuge impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy. The job losses have mostly affected people who work in retail, restaurants, travel, hotels and leisure industries. The previous weekly unemployment record was set a week earlier, at 3.3 million. State services across the US have been overwhelmed with the large numbers of people filing for benefits. Other coronavirus developmentsThe Indian government has launched a coronavirus tracker app that alerts people if they have crossed paths with someone infected with the virus. The app, called Aarogya Setu or "bridge to health", uses the smartphone's location data and Bluetooth to check where infected people are and to alert users in their vicinity. Similar technology has been used in China. The US coast guard is directing cruise ships registered in the Bahamas to seek aid there first , even if they are owned by Miami based companies. All ships with more than 50 people on board have been advised that they may be sequestered indefinitely. Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has announced that parents will be offered free childcare . The government has pledged A$1.6 billion to ensure childcare centres remain open, provided they do not charge parents. A preliminary study has suggested that countries with mandatory TB vaccination have fewer coronavirus deaths , but more research is needed to confirm the link. The TB vaccine is being tested to see if it protects people against covid-19. Amid the lockdown, photographers have captured the world's silent streets and stations with photographs taken in various cities at midday.
Deaths in Italy plateau, while deaths in US and UK continue to accelerateGovernments around the world are considering whether to recommend that everyone wears face masks in their daily lives. Taiwan has made these mandatory on trains and buses, and Austria plans to make masks compulsory for supermarket shoppers. The US Coronavirus Task Force is considering suggesting that everyone wears face masks, as is . In the UK, there is continuing concern over the low levels of coronavirus testing . The government has blamed a global shortage of the required chemicals, but the UK Chemicals Industry Association have said there is no shortage . A leaked government briefing note seems to disagree with World Health Organization advice about testing. Amid uncertainty about the pandemic, Saudi Arabia has asked Muslims planning to take part in the annual Hajj pilgrimage to delay booking their trips . Data security and privacy concerns have been raised about Zoom , the videoconferencing app now being used by millions of people as more countries are under lockdown. Elon Musk announced yesterday that Tesla has purchased FDA-approved ventilators , which he said the firm would give them to hospitals worldwide for free, within Tesla delivery regions.
New breathing aid developed for covid-19 patientsA new breathing aid to help keep covid-19 patients out of intensive care will soon undergo clinical trials in several London hospitals. The device can deliver oxygen to the lungs without the need for a ventilator . It was designed and built in under a week as part of a collaboration between engineers and doctors at University College London and Mercedes Formula One. The new device has already been approved by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and, if trials are successful, up to 1000 could be produced per day . Restrictions extendedUS president Donald Trump has said restrictions in the country will be extended until at least 30 April. This follows a warning from the US government's leading infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, over the weekend that the coronavirus could kill as many as 200,000 people in the US . It could be six months before life in the UK returns to "normal" , according to the UK's deputy chief medical officer. UK prime minister Boris Johnson said that 20,000 former UK National Health Service (NHS) staff have returned to work to help in the fight against the virus. Virgin Atlantic and EasyJet flight attendants are being offered work at the new NHS Nightingale Hospital in east London. EasyJet's entire fleet of aircrafts has been grounded due to the pandemic. Other coronavirus developmentsHungary's parliament has granted the country's prime minister Viktor Orban that some argue amount to a suspension of the country's democracy . Elections will be stopped, parliament will not sit and the government will be able to imprison people for charges such as "spreading fake news."
As a result of India's lockdown, thousands of migrant workers have been facing day-long walks to get back home from cities like Delhi and Mumbai, and at least 22 people are reported to have died . At the weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the nation's forgiveness for imposing the sweeping lockdown . New dates for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games have been set for 23 July to 8 August 2021, while the Paralympics will happen from 24 August to 5 September 2021.
What you can do to help : The new coronavirus is upending our lives, but simple actions can slow its spread, help our neighbours, foster a sense of togetherness and rejuvenate our immune systems. A message from Greta Thunberg : We must fight the climate crisis and pandemic simultaneously, Thunberg told New Scientist .
US overtakes China with highest number of casesThe US now has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases of any country with 86,000 positive tests, overtaking China. Worldwide confirmed cases passed half a million yesterday. China will ban entry of non-nationals including those with valid Chinese visas and residence permits from tomorrow in an effort to limit the import of new coronavirus cases. In Italy, there are fears that the south could become the country's next hotspot . The most recent numbers from the northern region of Lombardy indicate that the epidemic there may be slowing down. Other coronavirus developmentsThe G20 has pledged to inject over $5 trillion into the global economy .
The UK department of health is reported to have previously rejected high-level medical advice about providing healthcare workers with certain protective equipment during a flu pandemic, because of the cost of stockpiling it. The UK's privacy watchdog approved the use of data from people's mobile phones to track and monitor behaviour to fight the spread of coronavirus. The world's top condom producer has expressed concerns about a potential global shortage after a lockdown in Malaysia, where the company's factories are based. Malaysia is South East Asia's worst affected country. UK prime minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the coronavirus and is now self-isolating. He says he will continue to lead the government's response remotely. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has also tested positive for the virus, while Chris Witty, the chief medical adviser, also says he has experienced symptoms and is now self-isolating at home. Coronavirus cases
Latest on coronavirus from New ScientistAntibody test : The UK has ordered 3.5 million antibody tests designed to reveal whether people have been infected with the new coronavirus, but will a home antibody test for covid-19 really be a game changer?
Covid-19 impact will be "worse than the global financial crisis"The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the global economy will be worse than the 2008 recession , according to the World Trade Organization's director general, Roberto Azevêdo.
Singapore's economy has experienced its largest contraction in a decade in the first quarter of this year, according to data released on 26 March. The country is planning for a deep recession. Numbers released from the US Labor Department today revealed that a record 3.3 million US citizens filed for unemployment last week. The US Senate recently passed a stimulus bill of approximately $2 trillion. In India, the government announced a $22 billion bailout for people in urgent need of financial support. This comes amid concerns about the prospects for the millions of daily-wage earners in the country, after it went into lockdown earlier this week. The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, says self-employed people will have up to 80 per cent of their wages covered by the government during the pandemic. Other coronavirus developmentsA study of 33 newborns born to mothers with covid-19 in Wuhan , China, found that 9 per cent of the infants had covid-19 symptoms but no deaths were reported. It remains unclear whether the virus can transmit from a mother to a fetus during . China's Civil Aviation Administration has announced they will significantly reduce the number of flights in and out of the country to prevent a second coronavirus outbreak. The UN's food body has warned that protectionist measures brought in by national governments during the pandemic could lead to food shortages around the world . This year's Tour de France may go ahead without spectators, according to France's sports minister. The race is due to start on 27 June.
How long does the coronavirus stay on surfaces? : Research conducted on the new coronavirus and others similar to it, such as SARS, suggest the virus can spread through particles in the air and via contaminated surfaces. How does this happen?
Coronavirus antibody test could be available within daysLife-or-death choices : If there's a shortage of ventilators, how will doctors decide which covid-19 patients get one? This is the grim question doctors around the world are currently grappling with.
The UK government has ordered more than 3 million finger prick antibody tests that could be . The tests could reveal whether someone had covid-19, but they are ready in a matter of days being checked first to show that they work properly. It is also still not known whether it's possible to develop long-lasting immunity to the coronavirus . Travel restrictions lifted in Hubei province
China's Hubei province lifted all travel restrictions today, with the exception of Wuhan, where restrictions won't be eased until 8 April. In Malaysia, which is currently the worst-hit country in South East Asia, the lockdown has been extended for two more weeks. Other coronavirus developmentsFacebook usage has surged in countries under lockdowns. It's estimated that a quarter of the world's population is currently under lockdown and, although Facebook usage is up, the tech giant's advertising revenue is falling. The White House and the Senate have agreed a stimulus package worth more than $1.8 trillion to help ease the economic impact of coronavirus in the US. Some prisoners could be temporarily released in several countries, including England and Wales, to ease pressure on jails caused by more staff taking sick leave and self-isolating, the BBC reports. Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson gave evidence to the UK's parliamentary select committee on science and technology today as part of an inquiry into the nation's response to the pandemic. He said that he is "reasonably confident" that the health service will be able to cope during the predicted peak of the epidemic in two or three weeks, because of expected increases in National Health Service capacity and on-going travel restrictions. This comes as the UK government has confirmed that it is not participating in European Union efforts to secure more personal protective equipment and ventilators for the NHS. Prince Charles has tested positive for covid-19. He has mild symptoms but is otherwise in good health, according to a spokesperson.
Plans to lift lockdown in WuhanThe coronavirus pandemic is accelerating, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said today in a press briefing as the number of deaths from covid-19 passed 15,000.
A prominent member of the International Olympic Committee says the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be postponed. Australia and Canada have already announced they won't be sending teams to compete. Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook has donated 720,000 to healthcare workers in the US. Over the weekend, the billionaire co-founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma, millions of face masks, testing kits and other equipment to countries in Africa. Coronavirus cases
How hand sanitiser works : Alcohol-based hand sanitisers, with at least 60 per cent alcohol, destroy the coronavirus by damaging its fatty outer layer.
UK government to cover affected workers' wagesThe UK Chancellor said wages would be covered for employees at companies affected by the virus
BBC
The UK government has announced that it will pay 80 per cent of wages up to £2,500 a month for employees who are not working during the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme will last at least three months, backdated to 1 March, and it could be extended for longer if necessary. UK pubs and restaurants will also close, mirroring moves in other countries around the world.
China reports no new local casesFor the first time since the outbreak began in late December, China reported that yesterday there were no new local cases of the coronavirus. The lockdown could be lifted in Wuhan, China, once there are no new cases for 14 days, according to the China Daily newspaper . In Italy, the number of people who have died has overtaken China .
On-going lockdowns in France and Italy may be extended into April. India's population of 1.3 billion have been asked to observe a on Sunday to test the country's ability to respond to the coronavirus crisis.
Comment: UK politicians are invoking science to defend their policies but even the 'best science' doesn't have the final word on covid-19.
Germany joined France, Spain and Italy in closing schools, closing non-essential shops and urging its citizens to stay at home as much as possible. As the EU's new 30-day travel ban came into effect today, at Germany's largest airport, Frankfurt Am Main. to Venezuela. The thousands of passengers were stopped Traffic was backed up for more than 60 kilometres on the motorway at the German-Polish border as Poland introduced border controls. The FT reports that London could be "locked down" imminently with similarly strict rules on being outdoors to that seen in Spain and Italy. Several countries in Africa have also announced travel bans , including Nigeria, and, in South America, Brazil has closed its border US-Canada border will also close temporarily.
Governments around the world, including in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Norway and the United Arab Emirates, are now urging their citizens to return home as the coronavirus spreads.
The UK has announced that it is closing schools from Friday, except for the children of key workers in the NHS, police and supermarkets. Schools will be asked to make provisions for the children of these key workers and to look after the most vulnerable children. Exams have also been cancelled for the year.
The Trump administration has outlined a to support the US economy. This follows the UK government announcement of a $1 trillion package £330 billion stimulus package yesterday. Despite this, share prices in Europe, the US and Asia continue to fall.
Several foreign countries have cancelled or postponed their national team training camps for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games which are still scheduled to take place in July. T he International Olympic Committee (IOC) told the they are committed to finding a solution with the least negative impact for the athletes, while protecting the integrity of the competition and the athletes' health.
A drug used in Japan to treat new strains of influenza appears to be effective at treating the coronavirus, but it doesn't appear to be effective in more severe cases, medical authorities in China have said. Following confusion over the use of ibuprofen by people with suspected or confirmed covid-19, the UK's National Health Service has now advised people to take paracetamol to treat coronavirus symptoms, unless their doctor has told them otherwise. In a statement, they said "there is currently no strong evidence that ibuprofen can make coronavirus (covid-19) worse."
Coronavirus vaccine : Researchers are racing to develop a vaccine against covid-19 within 12 to 18 months. This will mean relying on untested techniques - and that comes with its own risks. Travel restrictions : Australia has announced major restrictions on overseas travel, large gatherings, and visits to aged care homes in an effort to limit the spread of covid-19. The country is still in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said today a combination of actions by governments including more testing and contact tracing could save lives. "The experience of China and others shows testing and contact tracing, combined with social distancing measures and community mobilisation, when put in place quickly and effectively, can prevent infections and can save lives," said Hans Kluge at the WHO, during an update on the situation in Europe.
He said the virus could be beaten back by solidarity within communities and between countries. "These are unprecedented times. It is important that countries work together, learn from each other and harmonise the efforts." Asked by New Scientist about the new measures announced by the UK yesterday, he said he applauded them. "We are pleased to see the UK is getting into the mainstream and stepping up its efforts."
The UK's chief scientific advisor Patrick Vallance said today there were probably around 55,000 cases in the country, as official cases jumped to 1950, up 407 on yesterday. By comparison to the roughly 8000 annual deaths from the flu he said it would be a "good outcome" if the UK's new measures kept coronavirus deaths to below 20,000.
"But I mean it is still horrible; that's still an enormous number of deaths and an enormous pressure on the health service," Vallance told MPs on the health and social care committee. Asked why schools had not closed yet as they have in other countries, he said it did not have as much impact as other measures at slowing the virus's spread, and it had "complicating effects", including children mixing with grandparents, and the impact on the National Health Service workforce. But he said: "It's absolutely still on the table."
The chief executive of the NHS, Simon Stevens, said in response to the crisis the health service was freeing up 30,000 of 100,000 acute care beds for coronavirus patients. He also announced the NHS was stopping all non-urgent surgery from 15 April for three months. Stevens added the UK had access to more than 8000 ventilators for intensive care now, and would soon have around 12,000. But he would not be drawn on whether that would be enough to cope with the peak of the epidemic.
A strict travel lockdown came into force in France at midday, requiring anyone leaving their home to sign a document declaring that they are doing so for a permitted purpose, including exercise or buying food.
Human volunteers have been injected with an experimental covid-19 vaccine for the first time as a clinical trial in Seattle gets under way, and the first commercial tests for the virus have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, which should greatly increase testing capacity.
Amazon says it will hire an extra 100,000 workers to respond to a surge in demand for online services.
France's health ministry has suggested that popular anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen could worsen the effects of the coronavirus . Experts say more evidence is needed.
The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has promised £330 billion worth of government-backed loans and guarantees and additional measures to support businesses and households including small cash grants and mortgage holidays. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the UK government must act like a war-time government.
The worldwide death toll has passed 7500. Keep up with the best data on the global cases with this map and dashboard from Johns Hopkins University.
Analysis suggests UK still not doing enough: The UK is introducing stronger measures to tackle the spread of the coronavirus, but some of the science that helped inform this approach suggests it still won't be enough to avoid a large number of deaths.
The UK government has announced that everyone in the country should avoid "non-essential" travel and should voluntarily avoid pubs, clubs and theatres.
Governments around the world continued to limit travel and close borders. In Europe, Germany partially closed its borders with five countries. The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed that there should be a ban on all non-essential travel from outside the European Union for 30 days with exemptions for long-term residents, family members of EU nationals and diplomats.
South Africa and Kenya have imposed strict bans on travel from the worst affected countries.
Coronavirus casesIn the US, flight bans that were extended to the UK and Ireland came into effect. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut forced the closure of restaurants, bars and cinemas. Australia's prime minister said all travellers arriving in the country would have to self-isolate for 14 days, or risk prison and fines.
Latest on coronavirus from New ScientistIn Italy, Lombardy's governor says the growth of new cases has slowed slightly, but cases in Italy and Spain are still increasing much more rapidly than they did in China, as this (log scale) chart from the Financial Times shows.
The worldwide death toll has passed 6500. Keep up with the best data on the global cases with this map and dashboard from Johns Hopkins University.
Testing is key: The WHO's assistant director general Bruce Aylward tells New Scientist that effective quarantine is essential for tackling the coronavirus, but this cannot happen without extensive testing for covid-19. Read our full interview with Bruce Aylward.
Pregnancy and babies: According to initial reports based on small numbers of people, pregnant women and their babies do not seem to be more vulnerable to covid-19 than other groups of people, but doctors warn that it is too early to know for sure. Early reports suggest the virus doesn't pass from mother to baby via breast milk, but health bodies are advising new mothers who are infected with the virus to take precautions while breastfeeding, such as washing their hands and wearing a facemask.
Psychological responses: When facing uncertainty, we are motivated to take actions that increase our sense of control over the situation, explains psychologist Rachel McCloy. Unfortunately, this can lead to behaviours such as panic buying, which do not actually help to control the virus and may make the situation worse.
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