Latest on coronavirus: Global cases pass 6.1m, over 372k dead

Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows over 6,170,500 people have so far been infected with the new coronavirus around the world, while more than 372,000 others have died of the viral disease, known as COVID-19.

At least 2.64 million patients have so far recovered from the disease globally, the data shows.

In the US, the world’s largest COVID-19 hotspot, there have been over 1,789,300 confirmed cases of infection and more than 104,000 deaths, according to the figures.

While new deaths and cases are falling in the US, Europe and Asia, the virus is spreading quickly in Latin America, with around one million infections and over 50,000 deaths reported across the region’s 33 states.

Here are the latest updates on the pandemic:

Russia partially lifts virus restrictions in Moscow

For the first time in nine weeks, Russia partially lifted restrictions in the capital Moscow on Monday, allowing residents to leave their homes to take a stroll.

The capital — which has a population of 12.7 million and is the worst-hit Russian region in terms of the volume of confirmed cases — was placed under lockdown in late March.

Residents had been told to stay at home except to buy food, seek medical attention or to work if their employers were given special dispensation.

Russian officials are reporting thousands of new cases every day across the country.

In Moscow, 2,595 new cases were recorded on Sunday. The number of confirmed cases of infection in the entire country reached 405,843 on Sunday, with 4,693 fatalities reported so far.

President Vladimir Putin has warned of the risk of a second outbreak in the fall, but said the situation overall is now stable.

Italy reports 75 new deaths

Italy on Sunday reported 75 new deaths, compared to 111 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new cases fell to 355 from 416 on Saturday.

The death toll now stands at 33,415, and the number of confirmed cases has reached 233,019, the agency said.

A senior Italian doctor said that the virus is losing potency and has become less lethal.

“In reality, the virus clinically no longer exists in Italy,” said Alberto Zangrillo, the head of the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan in the northern region of Lombardy.

“The swabs that were performed over the last 10 days showed a viral load in quantitative terms that was absolutely infinitesimal compared to the ones carried out a month or two months ago,” he added.

Italy has the third highest deaths in the world after the United States and Britain. It is also the sixth in terms of confirmed cases after the United States, Russia, Spain, Britain and Brazil.

Germany records 333 new cases

Germany also recorded some 333 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 181,815, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed Monday.

The reported death toll rose by 11 to 8,511, the tally showed.

Spain will guarantee health safety to travelers

Spain said Monday that it will guarantee health safety to foreign travelers when the country reopens its doors to tourists from next month.

“This will be our strength,” Industry and Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto said.

Spain has been under strict lockdown since the coronavirus hit the country three months ago.

Restrictions are now being gradually eased, but Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday that he will ask the parliament to agree to a last two-week extension of the state of emergency lockdown until June 21.

The country’s death toll stands at 27,127, as the number of confirmed cases reached 239,479 on Monday.

Brazil’s cases surpass half million

Brazil, which has reported most of the deaths in Latin America, recorded a total of 514,849 cases of infection on Sunday, up from 498,440 the previous day.

The Health Ministry registered 480 new deaths on Sunday, taking the total number of fatalities to 29,314.

The country — whose president Jair Bolsonaro has played down the outbreak as a “little flu” — has now the second-highest number of cases in the world after the US and the fourth-highest fatalities after the US, UK and Italy.

Meanwhile, the US has sent two million doses of hydroxychloroquine for use against COVID-19 in Brazil.

This is while the anti-malaria drug has not been proven effective against the coronavirus.

The World Health Organization has suspended trials into the drug because of the risk of serious side effects.

Chile death toll passes 1,000

The death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 1,000 in Chile on Sunday.

The Health Ministry reported 99,688 confirmed cases of the disease, of which 1,054 have been fatal.

Japan considers letting in some travelers

Meanwhile, Japan is considering re-opening its borders to travelers from selected countries which have low numbers of coronavirus infections after it opened schools, cinemas, sports clubs and department stores in the capital Tokyo on Monday.

The government is reportedly planning to allow travelers from Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand into the country in the coming months.

 Japan has recorded around 17,000 coronavirus cases as of early Monday, with roughly 900 deaths.

Singapore records 408 new cases

Singapore confirmed 408 new coronavirus cases on Monday, its Health Ministry said, bringing the city-state’s tally to 35,292. With no additional deaths, the figure of fatalities remains at 23.

Turkey eases restrictions

Turkey on Monday lifted inter-city travel restrictions as authorities say the virus outbreak is now under control.

It also re-opened restaurants, cafes, gyms and swimming pools, beaches, parks, libraries and museums.

Restrictions on the movements of people aged over 65 and under 18 will, however, remain in place.

The government has been easing lockdown measure gradually over the past few weeks.

The outbreak has claimed more than 4,500 lives in the country, and infected more than 160,000 others.

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