Premier League players have launched an initiative called #PlayersTogether, which will funnel part of their salaries to the National Health Service to support the U.K.'s front-line workers during the coronavirus crisis.

Why it matters: This decision came at the conclusion of a protracted argument between players, clubs and even government officials over who should bear the brunt of lost revenue in the midst of the pandemic.

1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 8 a.m. ET: 1,612,646 — Total deaths: 96,787 — Total recoveries: 361,377 — Map.
2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 8 a.m. ET: 466,299 — Total deaths: 16,686 — Total recoveries: 26,522 — Map.
3. 2020 latest: Republicans are getting worried about President Trump's daily briefings and his eventual plan to restart the economy.
4. Business latest: The auto industry is sharing detailed return-to-work guidelines on how to shield employees from the coronavirus.
5. Public health latest: The U.S. has expelled thousands of migrants under a CDC public health order.
6. Timeline: How the U.S. fell behind
7. What should I do? Hydroxychloroquine questions answered — Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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Coronavirus lockdowns have led to a decline in murders in some of the world's most violent countries, the Los Angeles Times reports.

By the numbers: El Salvador went 48 hours without a single homicide last month amid a nationwide lockdown. Gangs are warning people to stay off the streets to stop the spread.

Europeans and Americans are desperate to move beyond the worst of the crisis and return to something approximating normality, but the World Health Organization is cautioning that moving too fast will undermine the sacrifices made so far.

Where things stand: Nearly every country on Earth is still seeing their caseload increase, and a recent uptick in Singapore shows that apparent victory over the virus can be fleeting. But several countries are providing reason for optimism.

Few aspects of life bring as many people together as religion.

Why it matters: In most crises, that is a blessing. In a pandemic, it can be dangerous.

A debt standstill looks unworkable in the U.S., but it might yet be possible in Africa.

Driving the news: The biggest names in African finance are urging the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to announce a "standstill" on the continent's external debt obligations.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved out of intensive care but is continuing to be monitored at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.

Why it matters: It's a sign of improvement after Johnson spent three nights in intensive care for the coronavirus. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab remains in charge of the government.

Angela Merkel has managed to unify Germany during the coronavirus crisis, but her response is proving far more divisive at the European Union level.

The big picture: Merkel returned from self-quarantine to the chancellery this week, and her steady, trusted leadership has some wishing she'd stay there forever. However, some of Merkel's EU colleagues consider her a roadblock to Europe's long-term health.

New York state, the epicenter of the coronavirus in the U.S., has reported more cases of the virus than the most-affected countries in Europe as of Wednesday, per data from the state and Johns Hopkins.

Why it matters: New York again broke its record on Wednesday for its highest COVID-19 death toll in a single day, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. But hospitalizations are going down as the "curve" of coronavirus spread flattens, he said.