Coronavirus latest: at a glance
Key developments in the global coronavirus outbreak today include:
Known global cases pass 6.3m
According to researchers from Johns Hopkins University, at least 6,309,107 people are known to have been infected, while at least 376,445 are known to have died since the outbreak began.
The figures, which are based on official and media reports, are likely to significantly underestimate the scale of the pandemic due to differing testing and recording regimes, as well as suspected underreporting.
Iran records more than 3,000 new cases in 24 hours
Iran confirms its second highest number of new cases in a 24-hour period since its outbreak began, with the country’s health ministry saying 3,117 people have tested positive. The number of new daily infections in Iran has now returned to levels previously seen at the peak of its outbreak in late March.
Germany lifts travel warning for Europe
Germany’s travel warning for Europe will be lifted on Wednesday, its foreign minister, Heiko Maas, announces. The worldwide travel warning still applies. But, for the countries of the EU and associated states, the warning will be replaced by travel advice that will give travellers detailed information about the situation in each state.
Pandemic exposes “endemic inequalities”, says UN rights chief
The pandemic is exposing “endemic inequalities” that must be addressed, according to the UN human rights chief, who highlights the protests triggered by George Floyd’s death.
Michelle Bachelet references the situation in the US and a series of other countries, saying data shows the crisis has had a worse impact on members of racial and ethnic minority groups in those countries.
Official UK coronavirus death toll passes 50,000
The UK’s official death toll surpasses 50,000 as the Office for National Statistics releases its latest figures. The total differs from the government’s daily counts, which only include deaths in hospitals and care homes where the person had tested positive.
UK statistics watchdog criticises government’s testing data
Whitehall’s use of testing data appears to be aimed more at making it look like a lot is being done than actually painting a clear picture, the chairman of the UK Statistics Authority warns the health secretary, Matt Hancock.
In a strongly worded letter, Sir David Norgrove says the government’s use of the data remains “far from complete and comprehensible”.
Wuhan doctor dies after four-month illness
A Wuhan doctor who worked with the whistleblower Li Wenliang died of the virus last week, state media reports. Hu Weifeng, a urologist at Wuhan central hospital, reportedly became China’s first Covid-19 fatality in weeks when he died on Friday after being treated for more than four months.
Chinese officials delayed releasing virus genome
Chinese officials sat on releasing the genetic map of the coronavirus for more than a week after multiple government labs had fully decoded it, according to an Associated Press report.
Unemployment rise slows in Spain
The number of new jobseekers in Spain was close to 27,000 in May, about 10 times lower than in March and April during the country’s lockdown, the labour ministry says.
Spain imposed a nationwide lockdown on 14 March to slow the spread of the virus, and that month it counted more than 302,000 new jobseekers, followed by another 280,000 in April. But, as the lockdown was gradually eased in May, the government counted a total of 26,573 new jobseekers.
