Latest update: 06/05/2020 08:48
More than 3.67 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 255,848 have died, according to a Reuters tally, as of 0510 GMT on Wednesday.
DEATHS AND INFECTIONS
For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread, click here.
EUROPE
Confirmed cases in Germany increased by 947 to 164,807. The death toll rose by 165 to 6,996.
Deaths in Italy climbed by 236 on Tuesday, against 195 the day before.
France reported more than 300 coronavirus-linked deaths for the second day running on Tuesday.
The United Kingdom has overtaken Italy to report the highest official death toll from the new coronavirus in Europe, figures released on Tuesday showed.
Spain reported its third day in a row of under 200 deaths.
AMERICAS
More than 1.21 million people in the United States have been infected and 71,130 have died, according to a Reuters tally, as of 0510 GMT on Wednesday.
The White House coronavirus task force will wind down as the country moves into a second phase that focuses on the aftermath of the outbreak, U.S. President Donald Trump said. Separately, he urged China to be transparent about the origins of the virus.
The U.S. economy could start to recover in the second half of the year after what is shaping up to be the worst recession in decades, but growth is likely to be slow and uneven, several top Federal Reserve policymakers indicated on Tuesday.
Brazil said on Tuesday it recorded 6,935 new cases since Monday evening and 600 new deaths, while São Luis became Brazil’s first major city to begin a “lockdown” with another, Fortaleza, saying it would follow suit on Friday.
Confirmed cases in Peru have now exceeded 50,000.
The Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) will loan Argentina $4 billion to help finance projects to combat the growing economic impact of COVID-19.
Mexico registered 1,120 new cases and 236 new deaths, bringing the total in the country to 26,025 cases and 2,507 deaths. Separately, its Foreign Minister Marcel Ebrard said the U.S. government has sent Mexico a plane loaded with ventilators.
ASIA-PACIFIC
China reported two new cases for May 5 and 20 new asymptomatic cases. This compared with one new case and 15 new asymptomatic cases reported a day earlier. The country’s total cases tally now stands at 82,883, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,633.
Hong Kong said it will relax restrictions on public gatherings and allow gyms, cinemas and beauty parlours to re-open this week.
Authorities in Houthi-held north Yemen confirmed their first case, while the government in the south of the war-torn nation reported nine new infections.
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Turkey’s death toll has risen by 59 in the last 24 hours to 3,520.
Tunisian banks have lent the government 1.2 billion dinars (around $410 million) in foreign currency to tackle the crisis.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas extended to June 5 a state of emergency declared in areas under his administration in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
ECONOMIC FALLOUT
Shares struggled and the yen gained, with markets in China faltering on their return from a long holiday as investors fretted over Sino-U.S. tensions, while oil ended an extended winning streak on oversupply risks amid weak demand.
The U.S. trade deficit increased by the most in more than a year in March as a record drop in exports offset a shrinking import bill, suggesting the novel coronavirus outbreak was upending the global flow of goods and services.
Slovenia’s GDP could fall this year by 15% or more if its lockdown lasts longer than now estimated.
South Africa’s tax revenue losses could reach $15.5 billion this fiscal year.
New Zealand’s jobless rate rose to 4.2% in the first quarter.
(Reuters)
Pictured: A man and a child wearing protective face masks are seen during a protest to demand support from the government for small businesses and easing of lockdown measures, which were introduced amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Kiev, Ukraine May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
