The coronavirus pandemic has reached a grim landmark, with more than one million cases confirmed worldwide.
Almost a quarter of that number (236,000) are people diagnosed with COVID-19 in the US, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Italy and Spain make up nearly another quarter between them (225,000), with China, Germany and the UK also having a high number of cases.
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A woman is taken into a hospital in northern Spain
On Thursday, Spain’s death toll rose above 10,000 after a record 950 people died overnight – but health officials are encouraged by a slowdown in daily increases in infections and deaths.
Spain has the world’s second-highest number of deaths after Italy at 10,003 – but today’s one-day toll is the highest for any country since the start of the pandemic.
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A COVID-19 patient in the ICU at Casalmaggiore Hospital in Italy
Italy recorded 760 more deaths, and now has a total of almost 14,000 – the worst of any nation – but new infections continued to level off.
More than 10,000 medical personnel in the country have been infected, and 69 doctors have died.
COVID-19 – the respiratory illness that is caused by the coronavirus – originated in China late last year and, over the past four months, has spread to almost every country in the world.
In the UK, another 569 people have died after being diagnosed – meaning the total number is 2,921.
The number of deaths, tallied in the 24 hours up to 5pm on Wednesday, is Britain’s largest daily increase so far.
The Department of Health said as of 9am on Thursday, 33,718 people had tested positive across the UK.
Hancock: Aim is 100,000 daily COVID-19 tests
Meanwhile, in the US, President Donald has warned Americans to expect a “painful two weeks” as coronavirus deaths in the US peak – before suggesting people wear scarves as face masks in the fight against the virus.
The White House has projected between 100,000 and 240,000 people will die in the US from the pandemic, if social distancing guidelines are maintained.
Canada faces “a critical week” – Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Thursday, after the country saw the number of deaths rise to 161, from 105 yesterday, while it is reported the number of confirmed cases jumped to 11,131 from 9,017.
Canada’s public health agency is particularly concerned by the spread of the coronavirus in seniors’ residences, which are turning into hotspots in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia – the three biggest provinces by population.
The Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, has said anyone caught walking within two meters (6ft) of another person in a public park in the city, or square, will be fined up to $5,000 (around £2,850), claiming the public has been warned many times.
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He also said he does not want Toronto to become New York, which has been the epicentre of the outbreak in the US.
There is no proven vaccine for COVID-19, but pharmaceutical companies in various countries have joined the race for a vaccine.
The World Health Organisation said on Wednesday evening that 74 countries had also volunteered to take part in trials to find a cure for the virus.
