Covid-19 - Face masks compulsory for shoppers

Food delivery drivers wait to pick up orders in “social distancing” chairs in Bangkok, Thailand. Photograph: Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images
New coronavirus study reveals increased risks from middle age.

The first comprehensive study of Covid-19 deaths and hospitalisations in mainland China has revealed in stark detail the increase in risk for coronavirus patients once they reach middle age.

France sees its worst daily death toll. 

French health authorities have reported 418 new deaths, taking the total to 3,024 or an increase of 16%. The country has become the fourth to cross the 3,000 fatalities threshold after China, Italy, and Spain.

Global cases pass three quarters of a million. 

Johns Hopkins University researchers, who have been keeping track of the spread of the virus, say the global number of cases is now at least 755,591.

Global death toll passes 37,000. 

According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, at least 37,140 people have now died as a result of the outbreak. The institution says it has counted 745,308 confirmed cases worldwide, while at least 156,875 people have recovered.

Italy records hundreds more deaths – but a slower infection rate.

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has climbed by 812 to 11,591, the country’s civil protection agency says, reversing two days of declines in the daily rate. But the number of new cases rose by just 4,050; the lowest nominal increase since 17 March. A total 101,739 people have now tested positive.

Virus poses ‘existential threat’ to South America’s indigenous communities. 

Indigenous leaders from across the continent are warning that the outbreak poses an “existential threat” to them. Tribes in the Amazon and Chaco regions are urging governments to ensure their territories are protected against outsiders possibly carrying the coronavirus.

Tens of thousands of people stranded abroad will be flown back to the UK by airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Titan Airways on chartered planes as part of a partnership between the government and private enterprise announced by the country’s foreign secretary, Dominic Raab.

Israeli prime minister in self-isolation. 

Benjamin Netanyahu and his key advisers isolate themselves after one of the prime minister’s aides tested positive for the coronavirus.

Concerns over powers secured by Hungary’s nationalist PM. 

Viktor Orbán secures sweeping new powers to fight the outbreak. The country’s parliament passed a law submitted by his governmenthanding Orbán an open-ended mandate, triggering criticism by the domestic opposition, human rights groups and the Council of Europe, Europe’s main rights forum, as it contains no clear timeframe.

Dubai’s Expo 2020 to be postponed. 

The six-month multibillion-dollar trade fair that organisers had hoped would attract 25 million visitors will not go ahead as scheduled in October. Dubai was pinning many of its economic forecasts on the trade it was expected to generate.

Austria makes face masks compulsory for shoppers. 

Introducing the requirement is a “necessary step” to help to prevent the airborne transmission of the virus, says the Austrian chancellor, Sebastian Kurz. Shoppers are to be handed masks covering their mouthes and noses at the entrance of supermarkets from Wednesday.