More than 60,000 deaths

More than 1,130,204 cases of infection, including 60,457 deaths, have been reported in 190 countries and territories around the world since the virus first emerged in China in December, according to an AFP tally compiled around 1330 GMT yesterday based on official sources. Italy has the highest official death toll with 14,681 fatalities. Spain follows with 11,744, the United States with 7,159, France with 6,507 and Britain with 4,313.

China pauses for victims

China came to a standstill yesterday to mourn the more than 3,000 lives claimed by the virus on the mainland. Nationwide at 10 am (0200 GMT) the country observed a three-minute silence. Cars, trains and ships sounded their horns, air-raid sirens rang out and flags flew at half-staff.

Economic cost surging

The pandemic could cost the global economy $4.1 trillion, equivalent to 4.8 percent of worldwide output, as it ravages major economies, the Asian Development Bank warns. In the US, employment plunged by 701,000 in March and the jobless rate surged to 4.4 percent. Latin America is heading into "a deep recession" in 2020, the UN says.

'Hope' or 'worst yet to come'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the latest figures which show the spread of the coronavirus is slowing in Germany are a cause for "hope", but that it is too early to relax restrictions on public life. However UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says "the worst is yet to come," and COVID-19 is just arriving in theatres of conflict like Syria, Libya and Yemen, repeating his call for a global ceasefire.

UK Queen to address nation

Britain reported 708 more deaths from COVID-19 in a new daily high, as the number of confirmed cases rose to nearly 42,000. Queen Elizabeth II will make a rare special broadcast on Sunday to Britain and the Commonwealth on the coronavirus pandemic. It will be her fourth such broadcast in her 68-year reign.

Virus contagion slows in Iran

Iran's new cases of coronavirus have dropped for the fourth consecutive day, official figures released showed. Iran registered 2,560 new infections of COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours. It is the fourth consecutive drop in new cases since Tehran declared 3,111 on March 31.

Confinement order for under-20s

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a mandatory confinement order for everyone aged under 20 starting from midnight, as part of tougher measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus in Turkey. In a television address, Erdogan also announced that vehicles would no longer be able to leave or enter 31 towns and cities, including Istanbul and Ankara, for 15 days.