Coronavirus Pandemic: Latest updates

Cases surpass 4 million

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 279,185 people do far, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT yesterday. At least 4,035,470 cases of coronavirus have been registered in 195 countries and territories. The US has the highest number of total deaths with 78,794. Britain has the second highest toll followed by Italy with 30,395 deaths, Spain with 26,621 fatalities and France with 26,310 deaths.

Russia's cases top 200,000

The number of people confirmed to have the coronavirus in Russia has exceeded 200,000, official data showed yesterday. The total number of cases increased to 209,688 after another 11,012 tests came back positive in the last 24 hours, it showed, with the total number of people dying since the outbreak began remaining relatively low at 1,915.

Lanka to partially reopen

Sri Lanka will partially reopen from Monday, ending a 52-day lockdown as the community spread of the coronavirus had been brought under control, the health minister said. Pavithra Wanniarachchi said state and private companies would be allowed to open, as authorities seek to revive the island's tourism-dependant economy that has been battered by lockdown since March 20. Public transport will remain closed for two more weeks, however.

US officials in self-isolation

Three key US officials guiding the coronavirus response were in self-quarantine on Saturday after coming into contact with someone who had tested positive for COVID-19. Anthony Fauci, a high-profile member of the White House coronavirus response team, is considered to be at relatively low risk based on the degree of his exposure. Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield and US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn were also in self-quarantine.

Rare syndrome kills 3 NY kids

Three children in New York have died from a rare inflammatory syndrome believed to be linked to the novel coronavirus, a development that may augur a pandemic risk for the very young. Governor Andrew Cuomo told a daily briefing that he was increasingly worried about a syndrome that shares symptoms with toxic shock and Kawasaki disease, which he said included inflammation of the blood vessels and potentially fatal damage to the heart. He said three children - including a five-year old disclosed on Friday - have died from such symptoms while also testing positive for COVID-19 or related antibodies, suggesting a link that was still not fully understood.