A coronavirus guidelines banner is displayed by an entrance to Victoria Embankment Gardens in London, April 15, 2020. (MATT DUNHAM / AP)

BELFAST / BERLIN / PARIS / LONDON / ROME / WARSAW / NEW YORK / WASHINGTON / TRIPOLI / BRUSSELS / GENEVA / PORT-AU-PRINCE / OTTAWA / ZAGREB / CAIRO / ATHENS / NAIROBI / CARACAS / MEXICO CITY / SAN SALVADOR / MOSCOW / BUDAPEST / AMSTERDAM / KIEV / LAGOS / ADDIS ABABA / MINSK/ DUBLIN - Europe is in eye of the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of cases nearing a million, and should move with extreme caution when considering easing lockdowns, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional director said on Thursday.

“Case numbers across the region continue to climb. In the past 10 days, the number of cases reported in Europe has nearly doubled to close to 1 million,” the WHO’s European director, Hans Kluge, told reporters in an online briefing.

This meant that about 50 percent of the global burden of COVID-19 was in Europe, Kluge said. More than 84,000 people in Europe have died in the epidemic, he said.

ALSO READ: Global COVID-19 infections surpass 2m, deaths top 128,000

As some countries start to consider whether restrictions may be eased and whether schools and some workplaces might start to reopen, he said it was critical to understand the complexity and uncertainty of such transitioning.

Polio vaccine

The WHO does not recommend oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) for preventing COVID-19, according to its daily situation report released Wednesday.

The WHO said that there was no evidence that OPV, primarily used against polio, protects people against COVID-19, the disease caused by a novel coronavirus.

A clinical trial addressing the effectiveness of the vaccine has been planned in the United States, and the WHO will evaluate the evidence when it is available.

"There are experimental signals from various studies over the years that OPV has non-specific effects on the immune system," the WHO said. 

According to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, there are more than 2.06 million confirmed cases globally and more than 136,000 deaths.

Globally, the United States has the highest COVID-19 death toll with more than 30,000 fatalities. Spain has reported 18,812 deaths and Italy 21,645, according to the data.

UK

Britain has given regulatory approval to a ventilator which will be made by a group of companies including Airbus, Ford and McLaren, the first such go-ahead as part of efforts to combat the coronavirus.
The United Kingdom's novel coronavirus outbreak is starting to peak but it is too early to lift the lockdown because the virus would "run rampant" if the government eased social distancing measures, Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday.

"We think it is too early to make a change," Hancock said. "While we've seen a flattening of the number of cases, and thankfully a flattening of the number of deaths, that hasn't started to come down yet."

We think it is too early to make a change. While we've seen a flattening of the number of cases, and thankfully a flattening of the number of deaths, that hasn't started to come down yet.

Matt Hancock, UK health minister

The United Kingdom’s death toll from COVID-19 in hospitals rose 861 to 13,729, as of 1600 GMT on April 15, the health ministry said. It was the biggest daily rise in five days. The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain reached 98,476.

The United Kingdom has the fifth highest official death toll from COVID-19 in the world, after the United States, Italy, Spain and France.

A 106-year-old lady, Connie Titchen, is believed to be Britain's oldest patient to have recovered from the virus, according to the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top medical adviser, Chris Whitty, said on Wednesday that data on the extent and impact of the outbreak was encouraging but that it was too soon to focus the next phase of the government's response.

The British government is widely expected to announce on Thursday that it will extend the most far-reaching restrictions on daily life in Britain's peacetime history.

READ MORE: UK must set out plan to exit lockdown, Labour Party says

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland, which has 1,967 confirmed cases and 134 deaths, will keep coronavirus restrictions in place for another three weeks, First Minister Arlene Foster said on Wednesday.

A city worker wearing protective gear  uses a megaphone to announce to pedestrians at the Plaza de Armas that the city is under quarantine, in Santiago, Chile, April 15, 2020. (ESTEBAN FELIX / AP)

France

Around 20 French sailors remain in hospital following a large outbreak of the coronavirus on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle's naval group, a spokesman for the French navy said on Thursday.

"There are about 20 at the moment in hospital. Out of the 20, one is in the re-animation ward and in a stable case," spokesman Eric Lavault told RMC radio.

On Wednesday, the French armed forces ministry said 1,767 marines - nearly all from the Charles de Gaulle carrier itself - had been evaluated and at least 668 had tested positive for the virus.

The carrier, which had most recently been taking part in exercises with northern European navies in the Baltic Sea, arrived home in Toulon two weeks earlier than expected after about 40 crew members showed signs of COVID-19 symptoms.

At least 668 out of 1,767 sailors assigned to the Charles de Gaulle’s naval group have tested positive for the coronavirus, the armed forces ministry said

Crew from the Charles de Gaulle and the frigate Chevalier Paul were now in confinement within their naval base, while the pilots of the carrier’s warplanes and helicopters were also in quarantine.

Nationwide, the health ministry said the death toll in France jumped by 1,438 to 17,167 in the biggest single-day increase as a number of nursing homes reported cumulative tolls following the three-day Easter weekend. 

The number of people who died in hospitals rose by 514 to 10,643, less than the 541 reported on Tuesday, but the cumulative death toll in nursing homes rose by 924 to 6,524, compared with 221 on Tuesday.

Health Ministry Director Jerome Salomon said the COVID-19 pandemic is still highly active and called on French people to strictly respect confinement measures.

ALSO READ: Virus: EU presents roadmap for lifting containment measures

But he also reported that for the first time since the start of the epidemic, the number of people in hospital for COVID-19 had fallen by 513 to 31,779 in a sign that the infection rate is slowing and that confinement is working.

This photo provided on April 10, 2020 by the French Navy (Marine Nationale) shows sailors wearing face masks aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, in the Atlantic Ocean, April 8, 2020. (Y. BISSON / MARINE NATIONALE VIA AP)

In another sign that the infection rate is slowing, the number of reported coronavirus cases in France rose by 3,217 to a total of 133,470. The number of confirmed cases rose to 106,206.

Spain

The total number of people who have died from the new coronavirus in Spain rose to 19,130, the Spanish health ministry said on Thursday.

Over the past 24 hours, 551 people died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, up from 523 the previous day, the ministry said.

The overall number of cases of those infected in the country rose to 182,816, from 177,633 on Wednesday.

US

The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in the United States surged past 30,000 on Wednesday as governors began cautiously preparing Americans for a post-virus life that would likely include public face coverings as the "new normal."

The governors of Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania each issued orders or recommendations of varying severity that residents wear face masks as they emerge from isolation in the coming weeks.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that he will require all people in the state to wear face coverings in public when people cannot keep six feet away from each other.

A total of 683,111 cases have been reported with 30,844 deaths in the country so far, according to CSSE tally, which shows a rise of 2,494 in death toll over the past 24 hours.

President Donald Trump said data suggested the country had passed the peak on new infections with coronavirus, and he planned to announce new guidelines for reopening the economy at a news conference on Thursday.

READ MORE: Trump: Reopening economy difficult call

Italy

Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy rose by 578 on Wednesday, down from 602 the day before, while the number of new cases slowed to 2,667 from a previous 2,972, continuing the recent downward trend.

The number of new cases was the lowest since March 13 but the daily tally of deaths remains stubbornly high.

It has hovered between 525 and 636 for the last 11 days, except for a steep drop to 431 on Easter Sunday, which was immediately reversed the following day.

The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on Feb 21 rose to 21,645 the Civil Protection Agency said, the second highest in the world after that of the United States.

The number of officially confirmed cases climbed to 165,155, the third highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain.

Germany

German carmakers including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz will restart production at some German factories next week after the country eased restrictions designed to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Germany's new coronavirus infections rose for a second consecutive day by 2,866, pushing the tally to 130,450, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Thursday.

The reported death toll has risen by 315 to 3,569, the tally showed.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that Germany has achieved a "fragile intermediate success" in its the fight against the coronavirus and will take small steps out of lockdown with the partial reopening of shops next week and schools from May 4.

Social distancing rules would remain in place until May 3 under the measures that Merkel and the governors of Germany's 16 states agreed at Wednesday's meeting. They plan to meet again on April 30 to review how to proceed after May 3.

Under Wednesday's agreement, retailers whose shops are up to 800 square meters will be allowed to open next week, along with car and bicycle dealers, and bookstores, though they must practice strict social distancing and hygiene rules.

The federal and state governments "strongly recommended" Germans wear face masks on public transport and when shopping.

In a document outlining their agreement, the federal and state leaders said they would support voluntary use of a contact tracing App, when available, so people can quickly learn when they have had been exposed to an infected person.

Russia

Russia is set to spend more than 2 trillion roubles (US$26.96 billion) on its anti-crisis program to counter the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said on Thursday.

Russia reported 3,448 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus on Thursday, up from 3,388 the day earlier.

The overall number of cases reached 27,938. 

Thirty-four people died in the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 232, the Russian coronavirus crisis response centre said.

Hungary

Hungary is extending lockdown measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus by one week from Saturday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said at a media conference on Thursday.

The government would review the need to maintain the lockdown each Wednesday, Gergely Gulyas said.

Municipal governments would be allowed to impose special restrictions at the weekend again to ensure local communities are protected.

Netherlands

A study of Dutch blood donors has found that around 3 percent have developed antibodies against the coronavirus, health authorities said on Thursday, an indication of what percentage of the Dutch population may have already had the disease.

The head of the National Institute for Health (RIVM), Jaap van Dissel, disclosed the results during a debate with parliament.

"You can calculate from that, it's several hundred thousand people" in a country of 17 million, Van Dissel said.

There are 28,158 confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands, but only the very ill and healthcare workers are currently being tested.

Ukraine

Ukraine's COVID-19 fatalities reached 116 on Thursday and the number of confirmed cases rose to 4,161, the Health Ministry reported.

Over the last 24 hours, 397 people tested positive for the coronavirus, including 104 among health workers, bringing the tally to 788.

Poland

Poland will reopen parks and forests on Monday and then revise the rules on the number of customers allowed in shops, as the country starts to loosen its coronavirus lockdown, State Assets Minister Jacek Sasin said on Thursday.

Poland's prime minister is expected to announce later the details of the government's plan for easing restrictions on public life.

Sasin said it was too early to talk about reopening of schools.

The Polish Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved the provisions which make mask-wearing obligatory in public spaces starting Thursday.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Poland reached 7,582 with 286 deaths, the Health Ministry said Wednesday.  

People keep a distance as they queue to enter a supermarket in Brussels, Begium, April 14, 2020. (ZHANG CHENG / XINHUA)

Belgium

Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes announced on Wednesday an extension of lockdown until May 3 to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The restrictions were slightly alleviated, with the prime minister announcing that garden centers and DIY stores will reopen under the same conditions as food stores.

Residents of nursing homes, care homes, and centers for the disabled will also be able to arrange visits.

Health authorities reported a total of 33,576 coronavirus cases with 4,440 deaths as of Wednesday. 

Belarus

Belarus reported 476 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the country's tally to 4,204.

The country's health ministry said that 65 patients currently require assisted ventilation and that 40 patients with chronic diseases died from COVID-19.

As of Tuesday, over 81,000 tests for coronavirus infection have been conducted in Belarus.  

El Salvador

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on Wednesday he would not accept several Supreme Court rulings meant to stop him from enforcing some measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but it was not immediately clear if he could challenge them.

Bukele is among the Central American leaders who have taken swift and strict measures against the virus, despite comparatively fewer regional cases, with El Salvador reporting 159 infections and six deaths.

According to Wednesday's rulings, the government cannot arrest people accused of having failed to comply with a mandatory household quarantine nor confiscate vehicles or property.

The five magistrates of the Constitutional Chamber said Bukele was not authorized to deprive people of liberty nor send them to confinement centers unless Congress approves a formal law empowering the measure.

Nigeria

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria has risen to 407 after 34 new cases were reported, the country's disease control center said.

In an update released late Wednesday, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said so far 12 people have died and 128 patients have been discharged from hospital.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 92 after seven more cases were confirmed, the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health said in a statement Thursday.

The Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health also said that 15 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have so far recovered from the virus.

The ministry has previously reported that three patients have died due to COVID-19 related illnesses.

Ecuador

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ecuador has reached 7,858, including 388 deaths, Interior Minister Maria Paula Romo said on Wednesday.

In the past 24 hours, healthcare workers detected 255 new infections and 19 patients have died.

The actual death toll is probably closer to 1,000, said Romo, noting that 582 deaths are suspected of being virus-related, but have not been verified by tests.

Statistics show the epidemic may have reached its peak in Ecuador, according to Romo.

"The indicators are dropping. We have fewer people showing up in the emergency rooms, and fewer people calling 911 and 171 (emergency numbers). This phenomenon is the same throughout the country," said Romo.

These indicators are key to deciding when and how commercial and industrial activities can resume a month after a general lockdown went into effect, she said.

Haiti

Haiti will reopen its key textile industry next week, Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe said on Wednesday.

The industry would start running at 30 percent of its capacity to ensure social distancing in the workplace.

So far, Haiti has only registered 41 cases and 3 deaths, compared to 3,614 cases and nearly 200 deaths in neighboring Dominican Republic.

Haiti has carried out relatively few tests - 453, according to the health ministry - meaning the incidence of the virus could actually be higher.

Jouthe said the initial term of the state of emergency expires shortly and the government was considering whether to extend it. 

Canada

A total of 1,010 people have died from COVID-19 across Canada as of Wednesday evening, and the number of confirmed cases has surpassed 29,000, official data showed.

The French-speaking province of Quebec so far has 487 COVID-19 deaths, the highest number among all provinces in the country.

The largest province of Ontario reported 51 more fatalities on Wednesday, bringing its total deaths to 385.

Quebec has by far the most confirmed cases at 14,860, eclipsing the caseload of 8,447 in Ontario. The two provinces combined account for 85 percent of Canada's total confirmed cases of 29,379 as of Wednesday evening.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced expanded eligibility rules for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit so that part-time and seasonal workers can claim the benefit.

Trudeau added that he was also working with the provinces to boost wages for essential frontline staff to keep them on the job.

Brazil

Despite Brazil's backlog of more than 90,000 specimens awaiting coronavirus testing and a rising death toll, laboratories are idle due to a lack of materials, the agriculture ministry said.

In an emailed response to questions from Reuters, Brazil's Health Ministry did not directly address why the available labs were not being used.

The public health system has performed 89,000 tests for COVID-19, according to the health ministry statement. 

The government on Wednesday reported 28,320 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Brazil and 1,736 deaths.

The health ministry said 451,432 tests have been distributed to states but did not specify if any of these would be used in the agriculture ministry's labs.

Meanwhile, a two-month-old baby born to Warao indigenous refugees from Venezuela has tested positive for the coronavirus, the mayor's office in the Brazilian city of Manaus said .

READ MORE: Bolsonaro expected to fire defiant Brazilian health minister

A medical staff at work at a COVID-19 testing point in Johannesburg, South Africa, April 15, 2020. (YESHIEL / XINHUA)

South Africa

South Africa on Wednesday reported seven more deaths from COVID-19, pushing the death toll to 34.

It was the highest death toll reported in a single day since the country recorded its first death on March 5.

Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed cases in the country surged to 2,506, up by 91 from Tuesday's announcement, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.

Tunisia

The Tunisian Ministry of Health reported Wednesday 33 new cases of COVID-19 following 722 lab tests, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 780.

In its daily report, the ministry also announced one more death, bringing the toll in the country to 35.

Libya

The Libyan National Center for Disease Control on Wednesday announced 13 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total in the country to 48 with one death.

The center said in a statement that it tested 62 suspected samples, 49 of which were negative and 13 positive.

With two more patients having recovered from the virus, it said, the count of recoveries was now 11.

The UN-backed government of Libya on Wednesday declared a 24-curfew in the country to fight COVID-19 pandemic starting on Friday and lasting for 10 days.

ALSO READ: G20 countries agree debt freeze for world's poorest countries

Mexico

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday said his government would concentrate disbursement of public money to stimulate the economy in May and June to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
Mexico could force the closure of companies in non-essential sectors if they refuse to suspend operations during a state of emergency to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a top health official said on Wednesday.

The announcement comes after a group representing US manufacturers told President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that an economic shutdown over the virus could weaken North America's response to the pandemic.

Mexico reported 448 new infections and 43 deaths, taking its tally to 5,847 cases and 449 deaths on Wednesday, although Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said last week as many as 26,500 people could be infected.

Health officials also said that a two-year-old girl with Down Syndrome, who suffered from congenital heart disease has died of the virus, Mexico's first death of someone younger than 25.

North Macedonia

The peak of COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia is expected by the end of April or onset of May, Health Minister Venko Filipce said on Wednesday.

According to Filipce, the imposed measures and recommendations given by the government are giving the desired effects.

A total of 66 people tested positive for COVID-19 in North Macedonia in the last 24 hours, health authorities reported on Wednesday.

The accumulative number of confirmed cases climbed to 974 with 98 recoveries and 45 fatalities in the country. 

Croatia

Croatia's Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Wednesday that the country will extend the coronavirus lockdown that expires on Sunday.

Bozinovic said during an interview with RTL news channel that the Civil Protection Headquarters is following the advice of epidemiologists who believe that the number of new COVID-19 cases should be in a downfall for five to seven days before the country is ready to ease preventive measures.

He explained that the extension of the lockdown might last shorter than 30 days, but he cannot say when it would end.

There are currently 1,741 cases of COVID-19 in Croatia. So far, 33 people have died from the disease, while 473 people have recovered.

Cyprus

The Cypriot cabinet approved on Wednesday a plan for an exit from the current coronavirus crisis, which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said would impact the economy by 6.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides said.

According to the minister, the plan with three stages provides for the gradual lifting of restrictions and the reopening of vital businesses from early May, provided the epidemiological data allow it.

A ministerial committee chaired by the finance minister will be preparing the strategy and an action plan by the end of this month.

Greece

Greece is preparing for a muted Orthodox Easter this year after the authorities strictly forbade the traditional spirited celebrations of mass church attendance, firecrackers and large family gatherings.

The authorities have imposed additional restrictions on gatherings and transit for the Easter period, which this year is from April 17-19. Extra controls will be in place at toll posts and ports, and only those with a permanent residency in the area will be allowed to travel to prevent trips to visit relatives or second homes in the countryside.

"This virus doesn't distinguish days, whether it's a celebration or not," said Nikos Hardalias, deputy civil protection minister.

As of Thursday, officials reported 2,192 cases and 102 deaths, one of the lowest rates in Europe.

Egypt

The Egyptian Health Ministry reported on Wednesday 155 new COVID-19 cases and five more deaths , raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 2,505 and the death toll to 183.

The five additional fatalities mark a sharp decline in Egypt's single day fatalities, which have been more than 10 daily deaths since April 9.

Morocco

The Moroccan Ministry of Health reported Wednesday 136 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,024.

The death toll of the novel coronavirus in the country stands at 127, it said.

Kenya

Kenya's Ministry of Health on Wednesday confirmed nine new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 225.

Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary for health, said one more patient has died, bringing the death toll to 10.

"You will notice that 144 cases, that is, 64 percent of our cases are imported," Kagwe said, urging Kenyans to stick to the rules and guidelines that were earlier given by the government to contain the spread of the virus.

Venezuela

Venezuela's government is employing harsher measures in one of Caracas' largest barrios to ensure residents comply with a coronavirus quarantine, as many poor Venezuelans continue to head outside in search of scarce food and water.

Over the past few days, local Socialist party councils have issued permits to thousands of families living in the Catia barrio that allow only one family member out at a time, and deployed a feared special police unit to enforce the measure, community leaders and residents told Reuters.

In Catia, however, many residents flouted the order and continued to congregate in public markets and squares.

The Venezuelan government so far has confirmed 181 cases and 9 deaths.

Peru

A total of 1,172 new cases were reported in Peru, bringing the number of infections to 11,475 with 254 deaths, the Health Ministry said Wednesday.

"We have tested 109,385 people for COVID-19, obtaining 11,475 positive results and 97,910 negative results," the ministry said in a statement.

Seven legislators are among those who have tested positive, according to the statement.

Chile

Chile's Health Ministry said Wednesday that a total of 8,273 cases have been reported with 94 deaths.

In the past 24 hours, 356 new infections have been detected with three deaths, all of which are in the Santiago Metropolitan Region or in the La Araucania Region, the two most affected regions in Chile.

Some 743 healthcare workers out of a total of 360,000 have been infected with the virus and have been quarantined, according to the ministry.

Argentina

Argentina reported 128 new cases of COVID-19 across the country within the past 24 hours, with the total infections reaching 2,571, the Ministry of Health said Wednesday.

Switzerland

Switzerland will start gradually relaxing from April 27 the drastic restrictions it brought in last month to tackle the spread of the new coronavirus, the government said on Thursday. Hospitals will be allowed to perform all procedures, even elective surgeries, while hair salons, massage parlours and cosmetic studies will be allowed to reopen. This will be followed by compulsory schools, shops and markets from May 11, it added. 

Ireland

When Ireland is able to begin relaxing stay-at-home restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, the measures will be rolled back over a number of months, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Thursday. “I don’t yet know if we’ll be able to relax restrictions on May 5, but I do know that if we can at all, it is going to be gradual and happen over a number of months,” Varadkar told parliament. 

“I don’t yet know if we’ll be able to relax restrictions on May 5, but I do know that if we can at all, it is going to be gradual and happen over a number of months,” Varadkar told parliament.