Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
NEW YORK’S CORONAVIRUS death toll has topped 10,000 and the worldwide number of confirmed cases is closing in on two million as discussion moves to easing lockdown restrictions.
The brunt of the disease has been felt most heavily in New York, Italy, France, Spain and the United Kingdom, but grim projections of a virus that would spread with equal ferocity to other corners of America and the world have not yet materialised.
In Ireland, there are now 10,647 confirmed cases and 365 people have died here.
An online dashboard that tracks the global number of confirmed coronavirus cases, maintained by Johns Hopkins University, showed the number of cases passing 2,000,000 in the early hours today but the site was later adjusted to show 1.9 million cases worldwide, with the reasons for the change not immediately clear.
When it passes the 2 million mark, it’ll mean the number of cases have doubled worldwide in less than two weeks.
Many parts of the world have had heavy restrictions on freedom of movement to combat Covid-19, and officials around the world are worried that halting quarantine and social-distancing measures could easily undo the hard-earned progress.
However, there were signs countries were looking in that direction.
Spain permitted some workers to return to their jobs, while a hard-hit region of Italy loosened its lockdown restrictions.
Governors on both coasts of the US announced that they would join forces to come up with a coordinated reopening at some point, setting the stage for a potential conflict with US president Donald Trump, who asserted that he is the ultimate decision-maker for determining how and when to reopen.
In the US, about half of the more than 22,000 deaths reported are in the New York metropolitan area.
Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins’ tracking maps showed a dense patchwork of coronavirus cases along the Northeast corridor, as well as significant outbreaks corresponding to other major metropolitan areas – though nothing on the scale of what New York has endured.
Dr Sebastian Johnston, a professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London, said it appeared that Covid-19 had peaked in much of Europe, including France, Spain, Germany, Italy and the UK.
He was worried the virus might now start to take off in countries across Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia.
South Korea today reported its 13th day in a row with fewer than 100 confirmed cases of the virus, as infections continued to wane in the worst-hit city of Daegu and nearby towns.
Hot spots may yet emerge as states lift stay-at-home orders, said Dr Christopher Murray, director of the University of Washington institute that created widely cited projections of virus-related deaths.
He pointed to states where the number of Covid-19 cases is still climbing, such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida.
He said: “Don’t consider relaxing social distancing in the near term.
“You need to stay the course.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Seen a small child running on his ‘own’ and didn’t think to stop and check if he was with someone..?!!
Good point Derina… A couple of times I’ve been out walking my dog and I’ve seen young toddlers out walking on their own. I’ve stopped them and sure enough 20secs later their poor mother or father would be running down the street after them, panicked. The other problem nowadays is that people can be reluctant to interfere in case they are accused of something. Personally I wouldn’t care what people thought, a toddler out alone is in danger from all sorts of things so I’d make it my place to stay with them until Mammy/Daddy showed up or call the gardai.
Man approaches small child he doesn’t know with no parents nearby…
To be quite honest, I doubt I’d stop in those circumstances.
Have to say, sad state of affairs but I would have to agree with you and I think quite a lot of people would too.
That’s the thing Chris… As I said above, some people, men in particular would probably be afraid to stop and check. Sadly that’s the society we now live in. Fear of false accusation is terrible.
Very strange they did not stop and help, hold him until police came. ,What is wrong with folk today ?
Praying for the little boy’s safe return.
Agree with who
Chris
Thanks
There must be more to this story that the police aren’t saying.
It’s so sad I really hope he is found safe.
A few years ago I was walking home with my own son from the local shopping centre when I noticed a young boy of about 3 years old slowing walking along. I walked by him but I thought it strange him being on his own. He was about half a mile from the centre. I went back to him and I asked him where was his mum. He said he didn’t know. I brought him back to my house and I rang the security in the shopping centre on the off chance she was there. Sure enough his mother was frantically looking for him and had gone to security. She confirmed his name and what he was wearing. The security guy drove her to my house to collect him. The poor woman was hysterical I’ll never forget her face. To this day I’m so glad I went back to him, people shouldn’t be afraid to approach if it means saving a child’s life.
This story reminds me of Madeline McCann, I have a feeling the mother knows a lot more than she’s telling people
So Aaron u reckon Madeline Mc Canns mother knows more than she saying?
Yeah I do, both her and the father, always believed it from the start that they were keeping something to themselves about it
Ridiculous comment
They were questioned by both the Portuguese police and the British so Im sure if they had anything to do with it one or other would have seen through their stories
The Portugese named them as suspects and after swearing they’d never leave Portugal without Maddie they did a legger back to the UK on a private chartered flight within a couple of days.
Its pointless mentioning the British Police as they have about as much authority in the case as you and I do
Well the cadaver dog smelled a body in the boot explain that?
Just heard on news that its now believed he went missing sooner as he had not being to nursery school that day.
As someone said more this story then we are getting although hopefully Im wrong
Heard earlier today that there is now a possibility that he went missing before the timeframe previously given & if that is the case, the mother definitely knows something!!!!!
He might have found Narnia, or Captin Hook took him in the middle of the night.
But the story stinks.
There is something the mother knows that we don’t.
Yeh, I’d say she does. Like how it feels as a parent to have your child missing for 36 hours without knowing if the child is safe or alive? A sheer hell that many of us hopefully will never have to experience.
Whats this…the mother is in custody…
Archie +1
Mick Rooney 0
CALLED IT
I really hope the poor little fella is found safe & well .. I don’t know why she never checked on him before she went to bed .. He’s only 3 it should of been the last thing she done b4 going to bed ..
I really hope the little fella is found safe& well… I don’t know why his mother never checked on him before going to bed .. He’s only 3 it should of been the last thing she done ..
Omg kellie are u mad writing that here I said same thing yesterday and got abused
Maybe she went to bed at 9
I was wondering that, unless of course she went to bed at the same time. It’s just awful I hope he turns up safe and sound soon.
Heart sinks
Well I personally would check my girls at least twice in between my putting them to bed & going myself!!!!! All depends on what time his mother went to bed herself tho I suppose!!
Please god he will be found safely soon x
Rip lil man
Maybe she did!!!!!
R.I.P little mikaeel
Terrible news the little man has been found there are some sick people in this world …
have your say