More than 3.1 million across the world people have been infected by the COVID-19 so far and at least 217,153 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University tally.
Here are the top 10 global developments this morning:
1. The number of people infected by the coronavirus in the US crossed one million and the fatalities jumped to nearly 59,000.
2. US President Donald Trump took executive action to order meat processing plants to stay open amid concerns over growing coronavirus cases and the impact on the nation’s food supply, Associated Press reported.
3. China on Wednesday reported a jump in imported cases of coronavirus, but no new deaths. Out of 22 new cases, 21 were brought from abroad and one was a result of local transmission in the southern industrial province of Guangdong, the National Health Commission reported.
4. Brazil has confirmed more than 5,000 deaths from COVID-19, the health ministry announced, pushing the toll above that of China, AFP reported.
5. Japan reported 273 new coronavirus cases and 13 deaths today, the country’s health ministry said. The total number of cases now stands at 14,564, including 402 deaths, CNN reported.
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6. Spain announced a four-phase plan to lift one of the toughest coronavirus lockdowns in Europe and return to normality by the end of June as the daily death toll fell to 301, less than a third of a record high of 950 in early April, Reuters reported.
7. Russia has extended the nation’s partial economic shutdown through May 11 as its total coronavirus cases reached 93,558 with 867 deaths.
8. China “rebuffed” US efforts to get experts on the ground at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak to help contain its spread, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has alleged.
9. Australia has secured 10 million COVID-19 test kits, Health Minister Greg Hunt said today, as Canberra begins widespread testing.
10. France will make face masks compulsory on public transport and in secondary schools when it starts easing its coronavirus lockdown on 11 May, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said.