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Coronavirus latest: at a glance

Key developments in the global coronavirus outbreak today include:

Confirmed global cases pass 1.5 million

According to researchers from Johns Hopkins University, at least 1,504,971 people have been infected and at least 87,984 have died since the outbreak began. They have also counted 318,068 who were infected and have now recovered.

Fifteen care home residents die

In the UK, 15 people from the same care home have died, with five of them having tested positive for Covid-19, authorities confirm. A consultant in health protection at PHE East said experts were working closely with the home providing advice to stop the virus spreading.

Virus fears prompt Yemen ceasefire plan

Concerns about a potential outbreak in Yemen, where no cases have been reported so far, are partly behind a decision to call a halt to the military action there that has left tens of thousands dead and spread hunger and disease, a Saudi-led coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki says.

Malta suffers first death

The deputy prime minister, Chris Fearne, says a 92-year old woman with underlying health issues has died. “Unfortunately, this will not be the first and last death. We can see what is happening across the world and Malta is no exception,” he says.

Nations extend lockdown measures

France announces it will maintain nationwide restrictions for a second time, meaning they will now run beyond 15 April. In Cyprus, measures will be extended through Orthodox Easter to the end of April. And the state of emergency in Peru is extended for two more weeks to 26 April.

US to seize exports of medical supplies

Shipments of key protective medical gear bound for export from the United States will be seized, two federal agencies announce. The measures will be in place until Washington determines whether or not the equipment is needed in the US.

The US has been accused of hijacking shipments of medical supplies bound for other countries by offering higher prices to suppliers even as consignments were being prepared for dispatch.

UK suffers deadliest day

Official figures show that 938 more people have died in UK hospitals, taking the overall total to 7,097 and marking the deadliest single day since the outbreak began. The true death toll is likely to be significantly higher once those who have died outside such facilities are taken into account.

The UK government says it has tested 232,708 people, 60,734 of whom were positive, and that 19,438 people have been admitted to hospital.

Boris Johnson’s condition improves

The UK’s prime minister has been sitting up in bed and “engaging positively” with the clinical team, the UK’s chancellor has said. In a daily media briefing, Rishi Sunak says the prime minister remained in an intensive care unit, where his condition was “improving”.

US records highest one-day death toll

According to the latest figures, 1,858 people died in America on Tuesday, meaning it too suffered its worst death toll for a 24-hour period.

The new peak was propelled by New York City, which remains the most stricken part of the country, recording 806 fatalities. The city has now registered more than 4,000 deaths.

Italy records 542 new deaths, but rate slows slightly

Deaths in the country rise by 542 on Wednesday, 62 less than on Tuesday, according to official figures. The number of currently infected people increased by 1,195, or 1.3%. There was also a record day-to-day increase – 2,099 – in the number of people who have survived the virus, taking the total to 26,491.