Global cases top 4.3 million, death toll exceeds 296,000

More than 4.3 million people around the globe have now been infected with the coronavirus since an outbreak was first reported in China’s Hubei province late last year. At least 296,690 people have died from Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

WHO warns of ‘vicious cycle’ if countries reopen too early

If countries reopen too quickly and end up having to roll out restrictions again, society could be caught in a “vicious cycle” of economic and health disaster, World Health Organization officials said.

Executive director of the WHO’s emergencies program Dr. Mike Ryan urged caution in lifting restrictions, saying that countries need to have surveillance infrastructure in place before reopening. He said without widespread testing, officials won’t realize another outbreak is coming until they’re “counting the bodies in the morgue.

“In the U.S., dozens of states have already begun to reopen even as politicians and public health officials criticize the current testing apparatus as woefully inadequate. Some governors have announced reopening plans even as daily new infections in their states continue to rise.

Spain reportedly plans keeping borders closed until July

Spain is planning to keep borders closed to most travelers from abroad until July, two foreign ministry sources said on Wednesday, Reuters reported, in a bid to prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections.

Land borders with France and Portugal have been closed since a state of emergency was declared in mid-March and the country also imposed a two-week quarantine for foreign travelers.