Global cases of coronavirus pass 1.5 million as death toll nears 90,000

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Luke O'Reilly9 April 2020

More than 1.5 million people have tested positive for Covid-19 around the world.

The number of global Covid-19 cases passed the grim milestone at around 3pm on Thursday, according to John Hopkins University.

Figures from the university also suggest there have been nearly 90,000 deaths globally from coronavirus.

By Wednesday, 430,000 cases of Covid-19 had been confirmed in the United States, with its death toll passing 14,700.

Beds separated by black fabric are set up as a temporary field hospital for Covid-19 patients in Queens, New York
AFP via Getty Images

Officials have warned Americans to expect alarming numbers of coronavirus deaths this week.

"We are in the midst of a week of heartache," Vice President Mike Pence said during a White House briefing on Wednesday, but added, "we are beginning to see glimmers of hope."

In the UK, Wednesday saw a rise of 938 in the number of deaths in hospitals of patients who tested positive for Covid-19, the highest new total so far.

The Department of Health said, as of 9am on Wednesday, 232,708 people have been tested for Covid-19, of which 60,733 tested positive.

Coronavirus has seen thousands of deaths in Italy
AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Italy has so far seen around 140,000 cases and 19,000 deaths, the most deaths of any country in the world.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte is expected to announce in the coming days how long the country's lockdown will remain in place amid expectations that some restrictions could be eased.

Spain remains under lockdown for the time being
Reuters

In Spain, which has tallied more than 14,000 dead and around 150,000 cases, Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero said Spaniards will progressively regain their "normal life" from April 26 onwards.

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However, she warned that the "de-escalation" of the lockdown will be "very orderly to avoid a return to the contagion."

Elsewhere, the virus has claimed more than 10,000 lives in France and Austria has recorded around 13,000 confirmed cases.

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