Covid-19 - Russia has passed China in the number of new infections

Confirmed cases worldwide approach 3 million

Cases are nearing the 3 million mark, according to Johns Hopkins University, with 2,981,592 confirmed. At least 206,803 people have lost their lives in the coronavirus pandemic, though the true toll is likely to be much higher due to under-reporting and some countries not including deaths among those with underlying conditions in their tolls.

European countries cautiously ease lockdowns

France is due to announce plans to ease its strict lockdown measures in promised “deconfinement plan”. Germany has urged states to “go carefully” with the lifting of restrictions. Primary school children inNorway have gone back to school after the government declared it had controlled the outbreak. Spain announced 331 more deaths as it begins to loosen lockdown rules. Greece is preparing to lift restrictions on movements to the islands. European stock markets have rallied.

Boris Johnson says the UK is beginning to turn the tide

The prime minister said the UK is turning the tide on tackling coronavirus but is still facing a moment of “maximum risk” and he will not be forced to end the lockdown prematurely. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, his first day back after recovering from coronavirus, he urged the public and business to contain their impatience to lift the restrictions.

Iran announces 96 more deaths

A further 96 people have died of coronavirus in Iran taking its death toll to 5,806, the ministry of heath announced. But Iran plans to go ahead with reopening of mosques in areas where the virus has not struck.

Russia has passed China in the number of new infections

Russia has confirmed 6,198 new coronavirus cases over the past day, bringing the total number in the country to 87,147 in all regions, the anti-coronavirus crisis centre reported on Monday. This is more than the 84,500 confirmed cases in China. Meanwhile, China has denied it is spreading disinformation about the virus.

New Zealand prepares to move out of its strict lockdown measures

The government reported only one new confirmed case of Covid-19 and said it had eliminated the virus. At 11.59pm on Monday, New Zealand will lift its level-4 lockdown which has been in place for more than four weeks. Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said the nation had “won the battle” against widespread community transmission.

More US states to end lockdown as economy crumbles

Colorado, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana and Tennessee will join other US states in the lifting of lockdown restrictions, as economists predict an unemployment rate of 16% or higher for the month of April. New York governor Andrew Cuomo said some regions of the state might qualify to open sooner “with certain precautions”, such as upstate New York, as the daily death toll was markedly lower on Sunday than it was on Saturday.