New Zealand confirmed Thursday there are now 13 local cases linked to the four who tested positive for COVID-19, ending 102 days with no community spread. Auckland locked down Wednesday for 72 hours and the rest of NZ is under lesser restrictions.
By the numbers: Over 749,400 people have died of the novel coronavirus globally and over 20.6 million have tested positive, per Johns Hopkins. More than 12.8 million have recovered from the virus.
- Brazil has the world's second-highest number of deaths from COVID-19 (over 104,200) and infections (more than 3.1 million) after the U.S., which has reported 166,000 deaths and almost 5.2 million cases.
What's happening:
- France reported on Wednesday more than 2,500 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours — the largest single-day number since May. French officials said the situation was "clearly worsening," per France 24.
- The Netherlands' top health official told parliament Tuesday that 4,036 additional cases had been confirmed in seven days — a rise of 55% on the previous week, the Guardian notes.
- The United Kingdom slumped into recession on Wednesday, as its gross domestic product GDP shrank 20.4% compared with the first three months of the year.
- Australia's Victoria reported another 410 new cases and 21 deaths — a national record. The Northern Territory announced Tuesday an extension to border restrictions on Aussie coronavirus hot spots until 2022.
- Lebanon reported a record 309 new cases on Tuesday, as the UN and World Health Organization warned the displacement of some 300,000 people from deadly explosion in Beirut's port could lead to a surge in cases.
- Mexico reported Tuesday 6,686 new cases and a "near-record" 926 additional deaths from COVID-19 in 24 hours, AP notes. Almost 54,000 people have died from the virus and over 492,500 have tested positive in the country.
- Russia announced Tuesday it has registered a coronavirus vaccine before it completing clinical trials. NIAID director Anthony Fauci has joined scientists around the world who've cast doubt on the unproven vaccine's effectiveness.
- Israel has called on its army to take over COVID-19 testing operations, per the Washington Post. The military's expanded role includes the deployment of 3,000 additional soldiers and civilian staff.
Between the lines: Policy responses to the crisis have been every-country-for-itself and — in the case of the U.S. and China — tinged with geopolitical rivalry. But the scientific work to understand the virus and develop a vaccine has been globalized on an unprecedented scale.
Coronavirus symptoms include: Fever, cough, shortness of breath, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headaches, sore throat and a loss of taste or smell.
Editors note: The graphic includes "probable deaths" that New York City began reporting on April 14. This article has been updated with new details throughout. Check back for the latest.
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