Summary for Thursday, 4th June
Welcome back to our rolling coverage of the global coronavirus pandemic. Here’s are the latest developments and hotspots we are watching:
Iran has begun lifting some of its restrictions but the government warned they might have be reimposed if there is a "second wave".
“If in any part of the country these warnings aren’t taken seriously and God forbid the outbreak of illness peaks again, the authorities will have to reimpose restrictions,” President Hassan Rouhani said.
Iran had been one of the first hotspots outside of China before the pandemic broke out in Europe and later the US. In early May numbers dropped to a two-month low but in June have begun accelerating again.
The country’s health minister said he was concerned “that people have become completely careless regarding this disease”.
Speaking today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison described it as "heartbreaking" and "something that I never wanted to see happen in Australia ever again".
Data shows that the economy shrank by 0.3% in the first three months of the year, amid bushfires and the early stages of the outbreak.
But Mr Morrison insists Australia is well placed to recover economically amid low numbers of infections. Australia has five people with the virus currently in intensive care, according to official figures.
"There are many lives and livelihoods that are going to be impacted by the dreadful impact of the coronavirus, both on the health impact and on the economic impact - jobs lost, businesses closed. But Australia is reopening," Mr Morrison said.
Political opponents have criticised some stimulus measures as privileging the wealthy – such as government grants for those who spend A$150,000 (£82,000; $103,000) or more on home renovations.
Daily infections were also at an all-time high of 3,912 - the overall number of confirmed infections now stands at 101,238.
Officials have said that the real numbers are expected to be much higher and the government is facing growing criticism for opening up parts of the economy over the past days. The car industry, mining and construction have all returned to work this week.
The Pan American Health Organisation has asked Mexico not to open its economy too fast because of the risk of accelerating infections.
China's civil aviation regulator says it will allow foreign airlines currently not permitted to operate international flights into China to start once-a-week routes from June 8, state media said.
A report in the Shanghai publication The Paper cites an order from the Civil Aviation Administration of China that said qualifying airlines can choose one destination to which they want to fly.
It comes after the US ordered the suspension of all flights by Chinese carriers into the US because Beijing had barred US airlines from coming into China.
India is gradually unlocking its economy after a shutdown that lasted more than two months. But it's unlikely to be business as usual for millions of retailers, small enterprises and factories.
By all accounts, reversing the disruption caused by India's lockdown will be a long haul - and the price businesses, especially small firms, have paid is just starting to become clear.
“At least 20% of neighbourhood mobile shops that sell smartphones may never reopen again,” says Arvinder Khurana, president of India's mobile retailers association.
The reasons are many, he adds - on the one hand, owners have fled the cities and are yet to return, and on the other, with job losses mounting and banks averse to offering consumer loans, there is no demand for high-end phones.
Read more here.
That's contingent on state borders reopening as expected, says chief executive Alan Joyce.
The airline and its budget carrier, Jetstar, will welcome back some furloughed staff. But "the majority" of those 25,000 employees will remain stood down for now, the company said.
"We know there is a lot of pent up demand for air travel and we are already seeing a big increase in customers booking and planning flights in the weeks and months ahead," Mr Joyce said in a statement.
"We can quickly ramp up flying in time for the July school holidays if border restrictions have eased more by then."
It comes after the Associated Press yesterday reported that there had been "considerable frustration" among WHO officials who were not getting the information they needed.
The report claimed that the WHO were lauding China in public because they wanted to coax more information out of the government, citing obtained recordings.
"I can assure you certain reports were seriously inconsistent with facts," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian at a media briefing, according to a Global Times report.
"China's coronavirus response is open to the world, with clear data and facts that can stand the test of time and history."
For the second day running Brazil has posted a record death toll – 1,349 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the total to more than 32,500. Brazil also has nearly 600,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
The country's death toll is soaring – yet in the middle of this pandemic, it still doesn’t have a permanent health minister.
Eduardo Pazuello was confirmed as interim minister on Wednesday after nearly three weeks in the job – a sign for many people that the federal government is not taking the issue seriously enough.
Indeed, just this week, Jair Bolsonaro reacted to the rise in fatalities saying death was the destiny of everyone, once again blaming the media for causing panic among Brazilian people.
Cafes and restaurants reopened in the capital Tehran late last month after more than two months of closure
Traffic too has returned to the streets
Some people are wearing masks outside...
...but others have chosen not to wear masks in public settings, and social distancing is not widely enforced everywhere.
"As of tomorrow there will be no more checks to enter Austria," its foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg said at a press conference on Wednesday, according to an AFP report.
He said the controls on the Italian border would be evaluated again next week, adding that they were considering the possibility of allowing entry from Italian regions where infection figures are low.
Austria which closed its borders in mid-March has around 16,000 virus cases.
Those that have been approved to travel between the two countries will be exempt from rules that require travellers to serve a quarantine period of up to 14 days upon landing.
However, they must first agree to be tested and bear the costs of this - if they are found to be infected, they will have to be hospitalised and pay for their own treatment either in Singapore or China, said a report by the Straits Times. The new Singapore-China "fast lane" agreement is meant to help facilitate essential business travel between both countries - it will only apply to business and official travel for flights between Singapore and six places in China: Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
The BBC's Visual and Data Journalism team has put together a special site where you can always track the global development of the pandemic.
Click here to see their analysis and many graphics that illustrate how the virus spread, which countries have managed to flatten the curve and where cases are still on the rise.
The reduced home quarantine will apply to those arriving via flights, trains and buses, reported local media.
The change in rules comes just as Delhi witnessed a rise in cases this week as lockdown relaxations kicked in, including the reopening of salons and barbershops.
The capital has reported more than 23,000 cases so far and the city has over a 100 containment zones.
Meanwhile India's death toll crossed 6,000 on Thursday as its total tally of infections jumped beyond 200,000, according to health ministry data.
More than 40% of cinemas in China could go bust according to a bleak report by the China Film Association.
Having been temporary closed during the virus pandemic, audiences may struggle to return, the association says.
Millions of Chinese have enjoyed watching movies online during cinema closures thanks to a wide range of streaming services.
And with a lack of blockbuster movies on their way, thousands of outlets could shut permanently.
Read more here
"We deserve to smile, to be cheerful, after weeks of great sacrifice," he said, adding that now was the time for the country to enact economic reforms.
His comments came the same day as the country entered its final phase in easing lockdown restrictions, allowing domestic travel between regions and opening its international borders.
With more than 33,600 fatalities and almost 234,000 cases since the coronavirus outbreak began, Italy has been one of the hardest-hit countries.
- Mexico reports more than 1,000 daily deaths for the first time
- Brazil sets a new record of 1,349 daily deaths
- In the UK, Business Secretary Alok Sharma is self-isolating
- Prince Charles says he "got away quite lightly" when diagnosed in March
- Austria is reopening almost all its borders on Thursday
- Globally there have been 6.4m infections since the outbreak began, and 383,000 deaths
Welcome back to our rolling coverage of the global coronavirus pandemic. Here’s are the latest developments and hotspots we are watching:
- Iran has reported more than 3,000 daily infections for the second day in a row. It was one of the first places globally to suffer a major outbreak of the virus earlier this year, but after a drop in daily cases, number have been rising again
- Mexico reported 1,092 virus deaths yesterday – the highest daily toll so far. The number of deaths was more than double a previous record, and daily infections were also at a high of 3,912
- Over in Europe, Austria is scrapping entry checks at its land borders for all its neighbouring countries – except Italy. This means travellers will no longer be quarantined or subject to testing requirements
- Globally, almost 6.4 million people have been infected with the virus, with the US responsible for a vast majority of these cases. The global death toll now stands at 384,463
Iran fears 'second wave' of infections
Virus infections are seeing a renewed spike in Iran with more than 3,000 new cases for the second consecutive day. Officials said there were 3,134 positive tests, taking the total to over 160,000. There were also 70 new fatalities linked to the virus and the country’s overall death toll is now at 8,012.Iran has begun lifting some of its restrictions but the government warned they might have be reimposed if there is a "second wave".
“If in any part of the country these warnings aren’t taken seriously and God forbid the outbreak of illness peaks again, the authorities will have to reimpose restrictions,” President Hassan Rouhani said.
Iran had been one of the first hotspots outside of China before the pandemic broke out in Europe and later the US. In early May numbers dropped to a two-month low but in June have begun accelerating again.
The country’s health minister said he was concerned “that people have become completely careless regarding this disease”.
Australia's recession 'heartbreaking', PM says
It was confirmed yesterday that Australia's much-envied streak of 29 years without a recession was coming to an end.Speaking today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison described it as "heartbreaking" and "something that I never wanted to see happen in Australia ever again".
Data shows that the economy shrank by 0.3% in the first three months of the year, amid bushfires and the early stages of the outbreak.
But Mr Morrison insists Australia is well placed to recover economically amid low numbers of infections. Australia has five people with the virus currently in intensive care, according to official figures.
"There are many lives and livelihoods that are going to be impacted by the dreadful impact of the coronavirus, both on the health impact and on the economic impact - jobs lost, businesses closed. But Australia is reopening," Mr Morrison said.
Political opponents have criticised some stimulus measures as privileging the wealthy – such as government grants for those who spend A$150,000 (£82,000; $103,000) or more on home renovations.
Mexico reports highest daily deaths so far
Mexico has reported 1,092 novel coronavirus deaths for the past day, the country's highest daily toll so far, taking the total fatalities to 11,729.Daily infections were also at an all-time high of 3,912 - the overall number of confirmed infections now stands at 101,238.
Officials have said that the real numbers are expected to be much higher and the government is facing growing criticism for opening up parts of the economy over the past days. The car industry, mining and construction have all returned to work this week.
The Pan American Health Organisation has asked Mexico not to open its economy too fast because of the risk of accelerating infections.
China to allow foreign airlines in
China's civil aviation regulator says it will allow foreign airlines currently not permitted to operate international flights into China to start once-a-week routes from June 8, state media said.
A report in the Shanghai publication The Paper cites an order from the Civil Aviation Administration of China that said qualifying airlines can choose one destination to which they want to fly.
It comes after the US ordered the suspension of all flights by Chinese carriers into the US because Beijing had barred US airlines from coming into China.
Recession looms in India
Nikhil Inamdar - BBC News, MumbaiIndia is gradually unlocking its economy after a shutdown that lasted more than two months. But it's unlikely to be business as usual for millions of retailers, small enterprises and factories.
By all accounts, reversing the disruption caused by India's lockdown will be a long haul - and the price businesses, especially small firms, have paid is just starting to become clear.
“At least 20% of neighbourhood mobile shops that sell smartphones may never reopen again,” says Arvinder Khurana, president of India's mobile retailers association.
The reasons are many, he adds - on the one hand, owners have fled the cities and are yet to return, and on the other, with job losses mounting and banks averse to offering consumer loans, there is no demand for high-end phones.
Read more here.
Qantas plans to 'ramp up' Australian flights
Australian airline Qantas says it hopes to increase domestic flights to 40% of pre-pandemic levels by August, up from 5% currently.That's contingent on state borders reopening as expected, says chief executive Alan Joyce.
The airline and its budget carrier, Jetstar, will welcome back some furloughed staff. But "the majority" of those 25,000 employees will remain stood down for now, the company said.
"We know there is a lot of pent up demand for air travel and we are already seeing a big increase in customers booking and planning flights in the weeks and months ahead," Mr Joyce said in a statement.
"We can quickly ramp up flying in time for the July school holidays if border restrictions have eased more by then."
China 'did not delay releasing virus data': FM
China's foreign ministry has refuted claims that Beijing delayed releasing coronavirus data to the WHO, saying this was "seriously inconsistent" with the facts.It comes after the Associated Press yesterday reported that there had been "considerable frustration" among WHO officials who were not getting the information they needed.
The report claimed that the WHO were lauding China in public because they wanted to coax more information out of the government, citing obtained recordings.
"I can assure you certain reports were seriously inconsistent with facts," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian at a media briefing, according to a Global Times report.
"China's coronavirus response is open to the world, with clear data and facts that can stand the test of time and history."
'Brazil's death toll is soaring'
Katy Watson - BBC South America correspondentFor the second day running Brazil has posted a record death toll – 1,349 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the total to more than 32,500. Brazil also has nearly 600,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
The country's death toll is soaring – yet in the middle of this pandemic, it still doesn’t have a permanent health minister.
Eduardo Pazuello was confirmed as interim minister on Wednesday after nearly three weeks in the job – a sign for many people that the federal government is not taking the issue seriously enough.
Indeed, just this week, Jair Bolsonaro reacted to the rise in fatalities saying death was the destiny of everyone, once again blaming the media for causing panic among Brazilian people.
Scenes from life in Iran
Iran has reported a second day of more than 3,000 virus cases - sparking fears of a second wave of mass infections. But Iran continues to ease restrictions for many in the country:Cafes and restaurants reopened in the capital Tehran late last month after more than two months of closure
Traffic too has returned to the streets
Some people are wearing masks outside...
...but others have chosen not to wear masks in public settings, and social distancing is not widely enforced everywhere.
Austria lifts virus-related border restrictions
Austria is lifting coronavirus-related border restrictions for all neighbouring countries - except Italy."As of tomorrow there will be no more checks to enter Austria," its foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg said at a press conference on Wednesday, according to an AFP report.
He said the controls on the Italian border would be evaluated again next week, adding that they were considering the possibility of allowing entry from Italian regions where infection figures are low.
Austria which closed its borders in mid-March has around 16,000 virus cases.
Tests for those travelling between Singapore and China
We've got more information now about a "fast lane" travel agreement between Singapore and China, which is set to start next Monday.Those that have been approved to travel between the two countries will be exempt from rules that require travellers to serve a quarantine period of up to 14 days upon landing.
However, they must first agree to be tested and bear the costs of this - if they are found to be infected, they will have to be hospitalised and pay for their own treatment either in Singapore or China, said a report by the Straits Times. The new Singapore-China "fast lane" agreement is meant to help facilitate essential business travel between both countries - it will only apply to business and official travel for flights between Singapore and six places in China: Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Tracking the global pandemic
While the easing of lockdowns around the globe might suggest the pandemic is on its way out, there are still hotspots in Latin America and new spikes for instance in Iran. And every country is worried about a false sense of security leading to a second wave.The BBC's Visual and Data Journalism team has put together a special site where you can always track the global development of the pandemic.
Click here to see their analysis and many graphics that illustrate how the virus spread, which countries have managed to flatten the curve and where cases are still on the rise.
Delhi reduces quarantine for asymptomatic arrivals
Those arriving in Delhi, India's capital, will now need to quarantine themselves for seven days instead of 14.The reduced home quarantine will apply to those arriving via flights, trains and buses, reported local media.
The change in rules comes just as Delhi witnessed a rise in cases this week as lockdown relaxations kicked in, including the reopening of salons and barbershops.
The capital has reported more than 23,000 cases so far and the city has over a 100 containment zones.
Meanwhile India's death toll crossed 6,000 on Thursday as its total tally of infections jumped beyond 200,000, according to health ministry data.
China's cinemas could face widespread closures
Justin Harper - Business reporter, BBC News SingaporeMore than 40% of cinemas in China could go bust according to a bleak report by the China Film Association.
Having been temporary closed during the virus pandemic, audiences may struggle to return, the association says.
Millions of Chinese have enjoyed watching movies online during cinema closures thanks to a wide range of streaming services.
And with a lack of blockbuster movies on their way, thousands of outlets could shut permanently.
Read more here
Italy's 'time to smile’ as travel allowed again
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has offered a hopeful message as the country moved to its final stage in easing lockdown restrictions."We deserve to smile, to be cheerful, after weeks of great sacrifice," he said, adding that now was the time for the country to enact economic reforms.
His comments came the same day as the country entered its final phase in easing lockdown restrictions, allowing domestic travel between regions and opening its international borders.
With more than 33,600 fatalities and almost 234,000 cases since the coronavirus outbreak began, Italy has been one of the hardest-hit countries.