More than 4.2 million people have been infected by Covid-19 worldwide, including at least 291,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. If you’re just joining us, here are the latest developments from around the globe:
Virus hits British business: The UK economy shrank by 2% in the first quarter of 2020, with GDP contracting by 5.8% in March alone — the biggest monthly fall since the data series began in 1997, the Office for National Statistics said.
Pakistan’s highest spike: More than 2,250 new coronavirus infections were recorded on Tuesday — the highest spike in daily infections yet. The total number of confirmed cases in Pakistan officially stands at over 34,000.
South Korea nightclub cluster grows: Nearly 120 cases have been linked to an outbreak in Seoul’s Itaewon nightlife district. With fears of a second wave, authorities have tested more than 20,000 people in relation to the outbreak.
Chinese province tightens restrictions: Six more people have become infected with coronavirus in northeastern China, prompting authorities to implement tighter lockdown measures in parts of Jilin province, which borders North Korea.
Smoking danger: Smokers and former smokers, including e-cigarette users, have a significantly greater risk of developing severe cases of Covid-19 and dying from the illness than their non-smoking counterparts, according to a new study.
Russia cases surge: The country is reporting the second highest number of infections in the world, with more than 232,000 officially confirmed. Tuesday was the 10th consecutive day that Russia reported more than 10,000 new cases.
US death toll could rise substantially: A key coronavirus model often cited by the White House has again raised its coronavirus death projection, now predicting there could be 147,000 deaths in the United States by August 4.
