Australia’s death toll rises to 80.
A 90-year-old man has become the tenth person to die from coronavirus in Tasmania, bringing Australia’s national death toll to 80.
The man, who was from the state’s northwest where a virus cluster has forced strict restrictions, died at the Mersey Community Hospital in Latrobe on Friday. Nine of Tasmania’s deaths have now been in the northwest, where an outbreak has been responsible for more than 130 of the island’s 207 cases and earlier this month forced the closure of Burnie’s two hospitals.
The man’s death comes after NSW recorded the fifth fatality from a western Sydney aged care home where more than 40 people have been infected.
The 96-year-old woman, a resident of Newmarch House in Caddens, died on Friday morning, operator Anglicare Sydney said.
She had multiple health issues and had tested positive for coronavirus.
NSW has ramped up its COVID-19 testing plans to check more than 8,000 people a day. Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday said anyone with symptoms, or who is concerned they have COVID-19, should come forward and get tested.
In Australia, as of the morning of April 25, there have been 6,687 confirmed cases in Australia, with 5,273 cases reported as recovered from COVID-19. There have been 20 new cases nationally since yesterday morning.
War vet’s COVID fundraising single tops the UK charts.
A World War II veteran who raised millions for charity has become the oldest person to top Britain's main music chart.
Captain Tom Moore also added a world fundraising record to his accolades, just days shy of his 100th birthday.
The veteran took the Guinness World Record title for the most money raised by an individual through a walk.
As of Friday afternoon, U.K. time, he had collected more than £28.6 million ($A55.4 million) for the National Health Service by walking laps of his garden.
He also went to No.1 on the music charts — with a little help from a friend.
The cover version of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' that Moore appears on with singer Michael Ball was on course to be pipped by The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights', until the Canadian star asked his Twitter fans to support Moore's record instead.
"What wonderful news to receive today, a No.1 single and a record breaker too - my grandchildren can't believe I am a chart-topper," the 99-year-old — who turns 100 on April 30 — told BBC Radio.
Moore said he felt honoured to receive the awards.
"My charity walk has raised more money than I could have possibly imagined and I am so thankful to those who have donated money ... for our incredible NHS during these difficult times."
"These really are Guinness World Records titles for all of us," he added.
Donald Trump insists his 'disinfectant' comment was sarcasm.
US President Donald Trump claims he was being sarcastic when he mused whether injecting disinfectants might treat COVID-19 patients, after his comments horrified medical professionals.
"I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you, just to see what would happen," Trump told reporters at the White House.
A day earlier, Trump suggested scientists should investigate inserting the cleaning agent into the body as a way to cure COVID-19.
An international chorus of doctors and health experts urged people not to drink or inject disinfectant on Friday.
University of East Anglia professor of medicine Paul Hunter said injecting disinfectants likely would kill anyone who tried it.
"This is one of the most dangerous and idiotic suggestions made so far in how one might actually treat COVID-19," he said.
"It is hugely irresponsible because, sadly, there are people around the world who might believe this sort of nonsense and try it out for themselves."
There were early signs that at least some Americans were preparing to act on Trump's comments.
A spokesman for Maryland's governor wrote on Twitter that the state's Emergency Management Agency had received more than 100 calls about the use of bleach to treat COVID-19.
Spain's recovery numbers surpass new cases.
Spanish health authorities are reporting that, for the first time since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak there, more people are being diagnosed as cured than those falling sick.
On Friday, there were 2,796 new infections confirmed while 3,105 overcame the infection.
"With all the effort that we have done, the evolution of the epidemic is obviously beginning to be where it should be," said Fernando Simon, the ministry's health emergency centre coordinator.
Spain has recorded 367 new deaths of patients with the coronavirus, to a total of 22,524, as the government mulls the way out of a strict confinement that has extended for more than 40 days.
World leaders join global COVID fighting initiative
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will help launch a global initiative to accelerate work to fight COVID-19, the World Health Organisation says, but the United States says it will not take part.
The WHO said it would announce a "landmark collaboration" on Friday to speed development of safe, effective drugs, tests and vaccines to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19.
"Today is a kind of political commitment from all these partners to make sure that when we have all these new tools no one is left behind, that those who can afford vaccines or therapeutics can buy them and (put) them at the disposal of the population," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told a UN briefing on Friday.
"It is very important to make sure that you have equitable access to quality, efficient, new tools for COVID-19," she said.
A spokesman for the US mission in Geneva told Reuters the United States would not take part.
"There will be no US official participation", he said in an email reply to a query.
US President Donald Trump has lambasted the WHO as being slow to react to the outbreak and being "China-centric" and announced a suspension of funding.
Asked to confirm whether the United States was going to be participating at the meeting, a WHO source said: "No, but almost everyone else is."
More than 2.7 million people have been infected with the disease, which has claimed nearly 190,000 lives since emerging in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.
To protect yourself and the community from COVID-19, remain in your home unless strictly necessary, keep at least 1.5 metres away from other people, regularly wash your hands and avoid touching your face.
If you are sick and believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your GP ahead of time to book an appointment. Or call the national Coronavirus Health Information Line for advice on 1800 020 080. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
To keep up to date with the latest information, please visit the Department of Health website.
- With AAP.
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