US reports 2,108 coronavirus deaths in a day
Spain, the European country with the most reported coronavirus infections, has confirmed 510 new deaths, the lowest daily toll since March 23, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
Meanwhile, the United States has reported 2,108 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, the highest daily increase in the country since the outbreak began, pushing the total US death toll to 18,781. Cases in the US topped 503,000 on Saturday.
The worldwide death toll is now over 104,000, with the number of infections worldwide topping 1.7 million, including more than 390,000 recovered patients.
Saturday, April 11
16:50 GMT – UK minister ‘sorry’ for front line PPE failings
Britain’s interior minister said she was sorry if health workers felt there had been failings to get personal protective equipment (PPE) to the front line.
Doctors and nurses have complained that there have been PPE shortages for frontline staff and when asked directly if she would apologise for this, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “I am sorry if people feel there have been failings.”
“It is inevitable that the demand and pressures on PPE and the demand for PPE are going to be exponential, they are going to be incredibly high,” she said.
15:24 GMT – US reports highest daily death toll
The US became the first country to report more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in a single day.
It recorded 2,108 deaths, pushing the total death toll to 18,781. The US will soon overtake Italy, which has a death toll of 18,849.
Cases in the US surpassed 501,000.
15:05 GMT – Netherlands calls for software proposals
The Dutch government issued a call for proposals to develop smartphone apps or software that could be used to battle the coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement, the health ministry announced it was looking for proposals on how to conduct “contract tracing” of people who may have been exposed to the virus, while maintaining individual privacy.
The deadline is noon on April 14.
14:35 GMT – Singapore reports 191 new cases
Singapore’s health ministry confirmed 191 new coronavirus cases, increasing the total number of infections to 2,299.
14:30 GMT – UK deaths near 10,000
The UK recorded 917 deaths in the last 24 hours, authorities said, raising the total death toll to 9,875.
“269,598 people have been tested of which 78,991 tested positive,” the Department of Health reported.
Read more here.
14:06 GMT – NYC public schools remain closed for rest of school year
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said public schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year.
“Having to tell you that we cannot bring our schools back for the remainder of this school year is painful, but I can also tell you it is the right thing to do,” he told a news conference.
De Blasio ordered public schools closed from March 16 to curb the spread of the coronavirus, with an initial goal of reopening by April 20.
But the mayor said it soon became clear that goal was unrealistic as New York City has emerged as a major coronavirus hot spot.
12:40 GMT – Expert leading Oxford team: Vaccine could be ready in six months
A vaccine for the coronavirus could be ready by September, Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at Oxford University told the Times newspaper.
Gilbert’s team is one of dozens worldwide working on a vaccine. She told the newspaper she is “80 percent” certain the the vaccine her team is developing could be effective and could possibly be ready by September.
Scientists have previously said a coronavirus vaccine would likely take 12 to 18 months.
12:20 GMT – UK PM making very good progress in recovery, office says
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is making “very good progress” in his recovery from COVID-19, his office has said.
Johnson was moved out of intensive care after three nights on Thursday and Downing Street said on Friday he had managed to start walking, although his recovery was at an early stage.
“The Prime Minister continues to make very good progress,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
