Coronavirus latest: at a glance

Key developments in the global coronavirus outbreak today include:

Global coronavirus cases pass 1.5 million mark

The total number of coronavirus cases across the world has reached at least 1,502,618, according to Johns Hopkins University, which has tracked the spread of the virus during the pandemic. The US has the highest number of cases, around 440,000.

The number of cases of coronavirus registered globally passed 1,000,000 on 3 April.

UK Covid-19 death toll rises to 7,978

Some 243,421 people in the UK have now been tested for Covid-19. Of them, 65,077 have tested positive and the number of people admitted to hospital with symptoms stands at 16,784.

Of those who have contracted the virus, 881 died in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total to 7,978.

‘UK still hasn’t reached Covid-19 peak’

Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, said now is not the time to ease up on lockdown rules. During the daily briefing from Downing Street, he said: “We haven’t reached the peak of the virus, so it’s still too early to lift the measures we’ve put in place.

“Let’s not undo the gains we’ve made, let’s not waste the sacrifices so many people have made.”

Boris Johnson ‘continues to improve’, Downing Street says

Johnson’s spokesman said: “Boris Johnson had a good night and continues to improve in intensive care at St Thomas’ hospital. He is in good spirits.”

The prime minister continues to receive standard oxygen treatment and is able to be in contact with No 10 if required, but is not currently doing any work.

His chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, is not yet back at work either, although he is in “contact with No 10”, and Sir Edward Lister, the PM’s strategic adviser, is still working from home.

US unemployment rises 6.6m in a week

More than 6.6 million Americans lost their jobs last week, taking the total of job losses to 16m in the last three weeks as the coronavirus pandemic brings the US economy to a standstill.

The US labour department said that around 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits as shutdowns across the country led employers to furlough workers in nearly every corner of the job market. Economists had expected 5.25 million Americans to file for unemployment benefits for the week ending 4 April.

Coronavirus death toll in Spain passes 15,000

The number of people killed by the coronavirus in Spain passed 15,000, but the daily death toll fell to 683 after two consecutive days of figures over 740.

Health department statistics suggested that the spread of the virus was continuing to slow. Between Wednesday and Thursday, the rise in the number of new cases was 3.9%, compared with a daily average of 12% at the end of March and 20% in mid-March. To date, Spain has confirmed 152,336 cases of the virus and 15,238 deaths.

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said: “The fire starts to come under control This war against the virus will be a total victory.”

Italy’s death toll rises by 610

Italy’s coronavirus curve has been flattening but is yet to show signs of a definitive decrease as deaths rose by 610 on Thursday, 68 more than Wednesday. The figures from the civil protection authority showed new infections rising by 1,165, or 1.7%.

Italy has registered 143,626 confirmed cases of the virus to date, including 18,279 deaths and 28,470 survivors. The country’s lockdown is due to end on 13 April, but is likely to be extended by another two weeks.

Black box seized from Ruby Princess ship at centre of Australia outbreak

Australian police have seized a black box data recorder from a ship as part of a homicide investigation into 15 deaths and more than 600 cases of coronavirus.

Authorities were criticised for allowing the 2,700 passengers aboard the Ruby Princess to disembark last month without health checks. Hundreds later tested positive and 15 died, representing more than a quarter of the country’s 51 fatalities.

Police wore full protective gear as they boarded the ship at Port Kembla, south of Sydney, to collect evidence and interview the captain.

Iran Covid-19 death toll passes 4,000

The official death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Iran has passed 4,000, the country’s health ministry reported, after 117 more people were confirmed to have died from the disease in 24 hours.

Kianoush Jahanpour, the health ministry spokesman, said the total death toll in the Islamic republic was now 4,110, while 32,309 had recovered, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

In total, the country has reported 66,220 confirmed cases since the outbreak – the worst so far in the Middle East – began. Of those, 3,918 people are still in a critical condition, Jahanpour said.

Botswana’s president and 63 MPs self-isolate

The president of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, and 63 of the country’s MPs are to self-isolate after a nurse assigned to screen legislators for coronavirus tested positive for it herself.

The health minister, Lemogang Kwape, told parliament that some legislators at a special session on had interacted with a health worker who later tested positive for the virus. This includes Masisi and all 63 MPs of the ruling and opposition parties. It is the second time in less than a month that Botswana’s leader will have been quarantined.