The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 24,898 on Thursday after new infections were confirmed in the country.

The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 9:04pm, May 7, is as follows:

Total confirmed cases: 24,898

• Sindh: 9,093

• Punjab: 9,195

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 3,956

• Balochistan: 1,663

• Islamabad Capital Territory: 521

• Gilgit-Baltistan: 394

• AJK: 76

Deaths: 591

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 209

• Sindh: 171

• Balochistan: 22

• Gilgit-Baltistan: 3

• Punjab: 182

• Islamabad Capital Territory: 4

Officials have recorded more than 3.77 million cases and more than 262,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.

Read on for the latest updates from Pakistan and around the world.

Disclaimer: There may be some discrepancy in the number of confirmed cases reported at the country level due to differences in figures quoted by federal and provincial authorities.

Geo News is constantly gathering fresh information from concerned authorities and striving to keep our readers up to date with the most accurate information available.

Orange: General updates coming in from Pakistan

Red: Reports on new cases in Pakistan

Maroon: Reports on new deaths in Pakistan

Green: Reports on recovered patients in Pakistan

END OF LIVE UPDATES FOR MAY 7

Live updates for May 8 will begin here.

12:00pm — Ottawa, Canada — State to help fund pay hikes for essential workers

Canada and the country’s 10 provinces will boost pay for essential workers such as employees in seniors’ residences, which are linked to 80% of coronavirus deaths, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, Reuters reported.

“If you’re risking your health to keep this country moving and you’re making minimum wage, you deserve a raise,” he told a daily briefing.

The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Canada rose by just over 4% to 4,280 on Thursday from 4,111 a day earlier, the public health agency said, further evidence that the outbreak has peaked. The number of positive diagnoses edged up to 63,895 from 62,458.

Quebec, the province hardest hit by the coronavirus, has unveiled plans to gradually restart its economy but on Thursday pushed back for the second time the date when businesses can reopen in Montreal, Canada’s second biggest city.

Premier Francois Legault cited shortages of personnel in hospitals and said Quebec would offer higher pay to part-time medical workers to cover the shortfall. Montreal firms can now open on May 25, not May 11 as originally planned.

Trudeau made his announcement a day before Statistics Canada releases unemployment data for April. Analysts say they expect around 4 million people to have lost their jobs after a record 1 million were thrown out of work in March.

Under the deal with the provinces, Ottawa will contribute C$3 billion ($2.1 billion), representing 75% percent of the total cost of the increased wages, the government said in a statement. Trudeau earlier told reporters the amount was C$4 billion.

11:52pm — Washington, US — Trump'spersonal tests positive for coronavirus, raising concerns about President's possible exposure

11:40pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — US Ambassador Paul Jones announces to donate $5mn inEhsaas Emergency Cash Program

11:38pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — President summons NA session on May 11

11:37pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Governor Sindh tests positive for COVID-19 once more

11:35pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP cabinet member recovers from COVID-19

11:28pm — West Bengal, India — Tigers play with park Rangers during virus lockdown

11:22pm — Dublin, Northern Ireland —Deputy First Minister says 'no headroom' to lift COVID-19 restrictions now

Northern Ireland does not plan to soften restrictions designed to curb the spread of COVID-19 at this time due to the high infection rate, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said, Reuters reported.

“We have no headroom for change at this moment in time,” O’Neill told a press briefing, saying that the reproduction rate, or R0, of the disease in the British province was 0.8-0.9 compared to around 0.5 in both England and Ireland.

Why Pakistan's youth must be part of the response to COVID-19

11:20pm — Paris, France — COVID-19 death toll reaches 25,987

France reported 178 more COVID-19 deaths taking the country's death toll to 25,987.

According to a report several new patients are being admitted in France's hospitals everyday.

11:15pm — London, UK — Britain's COVID-19 death toll rises 539 to 30,615

Britain’s COVID-19 death toll has risen by 539 to 30,615, according to figures announced by foreign minister Dominic Raab, Reuters reported.

The figures, collated by government agency Public Health England and equivalents in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, comprise deaths in all settings following positive coronavirus tests and cover the period up to 1600 GMT on Wednesday.

Another dataset published by Britain’s Office for National Statistics published on Tuesday showed a higher toll. This included deaths where coronavirus is mentioned on the death certificate, and the data is only published weekly.

11:08pm — Rome, Italy — Daily coronavirus death toll falls, new cases broadly stable

Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 274, against 369 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new infections declined marginally to 1,401 from 1,444 on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on February 21 now stands at 29,958, the agency said, the third highest in the world after the United States and Britain.

The number of confirmed cases amounts to 215,858, the third highest global tally behind the United States and Spain.

People registered as currently carrying the illness in Italy fell to 89,624 from 91,528 the day before.

There were 1,311 people in intensive care on Thursday, down slightly from 1,333 on Wednesday and maintaining a long-running decline. Of those originally infected, 96,276 were declared recovered against 93,245 a day earlier.

The agency said 1.564 million people had been tested for the virus against 1.550 million the day before, out of a population of around 60 million.

11:02pm — Istanbul, Turkey — Coronavirus death toll reaches 57

The number of people who have died from COVID-19 in Turkey has risen by 57 in the last 24 hours to 3,641, Health Ministry data showed, Reuters reported.

The overall number of cases rose by 1,977 to 133,721, the data showed, the highest total outside Western Europe, the United States and Russia. The number of daily deaths and new cases has fallen sharply from peaks recorded last month.

A total of 82,984 people have so far recovered from the coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease COVID-19.

The number of tests conducted in Turkey in the past 24 hours stood at 30,395, bringing the total number of tests during the outbreak to 1.27 million.

10:57pm — Oslo,Norway — High schools, bars, and most of society to reopen by mid-June

Norway aims to reopen by mid-June most of the public and private institutions that have been closed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said, Reuters reported.

“Thanks to our common efforts since March, we have brought the contamination under control,” Solberg told a news conference. “We can therefore, over time, lighten the toughest measures.”

Kindergartens reopened on April 20, primary schools from first to fourth grade on April 27, but middle schools and high schools have remained closed. They will now resume from Monday.

The government also aims to allow the Norwegian football league to resume on June 16 and planned events with up to 200 participants one day earlier.

Bars and amusement parks could reopen on June 1, while private gatherings of 20 people, rather than five, will be allowed on Thursday.

“We are now in a control phase (of the outbreak),” said Solberg.

10:52pm — New York, US — UN triples coronavirus appeal to $6.7 billion to help poor countries

The United Nations more than tripled its appeal to help vulnerable countries combat the spread and destabilizing effects of the coronavirus pandemic, asking for $6.7 billion to help 63 states mainly in Africa and Latin America.

While the United States and Europe are in the grip of the outbreak, UN aid chief Mark Lowcock warned that the virus was not expected to peak in the world’s poorest countries until some point over the next three to six months.

“In the poorest countries, we can already see economies contracting as export earnings, remittances and tourism disappear. Unless we take action now, we should be prepared for a significant rise in conflict, hunger and poverty,” he said.

“The spectre of multiple famines looms,” Lowcock warned.

The new coronavirus, which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, has infected some 3.7 million people globally and more than 263,000 have died, according to a Reuters tally. The virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

The United Nations initially appealed for $2 billion for the global humanitarian response plan at the end of March. As of May 5, the world body said it had received some $923 million.

10:35pm — Gilgit, Pakistan — District wise distribution of COVID-19 cases

10:30pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — 'Universities to take future decisions with autonomy'

Federal Minister Shafqat Mahmood said universities will draft their future policies with autonomy and that the government does not need to intervene in their matters.

Speaking in Geo News' programme 'Aaj Shahzaib Khanzada Kay Sath' he said: "They run on semester systems so there is no need for us to intervene [...] The universities have autonomy and it would be better if they exercise it.

10:25pm — New Delhi, India — Huge queues outside liquor shops as country eases lockdown restrictions

10:20pm — Kabul, Afghanistan — Large number of COVID-19 cases among Afghan medics spark alarm

More than a third of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Afghan capital have been among doctors and other healthcare staff, two senior health officials said on Thursday, in a sign that the war-torn country is struggling to deal with the pandemic.

The officials cited a lack of protective equipment for medics as well as a lack of awareness among some medical staff of the precautions needed to avoid infection.

The high rate of infection among healthcare workers has sparked alarm among medics and some doctors have closed their clinics.

However, it is not clear whether the apparently disproportionate rate of infection might be at least in part because medical staff are more likely to be tested for the illness. Few people with the classic COVID-19 symptoms of high fever and respiratory problems are being tested in Afghanistan, because of a shortage of testing kits.

The total of 925 confirmed cases in Kabul has included some 346 medical staff, a government health official and an Afghan doctor who is on the board of a government-led pandemic task force said.

Read complete story here.

10:15pm — Abu Dhabi, UAE — Death toll reach 165, infections tally jumps to 16,240

The UAE registered 502 new COVID-19 infections, with 8 new deaths, taking the death toll to 165 and overall cases to 16,240, Gulf News reported.

"The ministry said that 213 coronavirus patients have fully recovered — more than double the daily average reported in the past few days — bringing the total recoveries to 3,572," the publication reported.

10:11pm — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Gatherings of more than five people banned

Gatherings of more than five people have been banned in the Kingdom, interior ministry said, according to Arab News.

"The ministry also announced a new police unit had been formed to enforce the fresh regulations on social distancing, in place to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19)," the publication wrote.

Congregations of individuals in malls or shops and gatherings of individuals who do not live in the same house are also both banned.

10:05pm — Washington, US —Spirit 'never been stronger', says Trump on National Day of Prayer

10:00pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — FM Qureshi discuses COVID-19 with Kuwaiti counterpart

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasir Al-Muhammad Al Sabah, a statement said.

The COVID-19 pandemic and other issues of mutual interest were discussed. Foreign Minister Qureshi lauded the timely and pro-active measures taken by the Kuwaiti government to control the spread of the pandemic.

He also briefed Foreign Minister Dr Ahmad on the latest situation in Pakistan and the steps taken by the government to contain the virus.

The Foreign Minister underscored that the pandemic was one of the greatest challenges to confront humanity in the century.

9:50pm —Tokyo, Japan — Emergency could be lifted early in some areas

Japan’s state of emergency over the novel coronavirus could be lifted early in some areas of the country that have seen declines in new infections, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said, Reuters reported.

Nishimura told a news conference it was possible the emergency would be removed for some areas around May 14. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe extended the nationwide state of emergency until May 31.

9:40pm — Karachi, Sindh — NA lawmakers from province to get tested before NA session: sources

The national assembly lawmakers belonging from Sindh will be tested for COVID-19, sources said.

The Sindh government has directed deputy commissioners to get all the members tested before the May 11 session.

According to sources, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto will also be tested for the pandemic.

9:35pm — New Delhi, India — Infected tally surpasses 52,900

9:30pm — Jakarta, Indonesia — 338 new coronavirus cases, 35 deaths reported

Indonesia reported 338 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number to 12,776, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto told reporters, Reuters reported.

Thirty-five more people who tested positive for the virus have died, taking the total number of deaths to 930, the highest death toll in East Asia outside China.

As of Thursday, 96,717 people had been tested and 2,381 had recovered.

9:25pm — Bangkok, Thailand — Country to expand coronavirus testing as new cases dwindle

Thailand plans to expand coronavirus testing for critical groups as the number of new cases is dwindling into single digits and some business are reopening, a senior official said, Reuters reported.

The government aims to reach a total of 400,000 tests from the current level of around 230,000, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration.

“This is about 6,000 tests for every million individual ... and considered a moderate amount globally,” Taweesin said.

The criteria for testing will be expanded to include flu-like symptoms without a fever or the loss of the sense of smell, which will account for 85,000 new tests, he said.

There will also be additional testing for high-risk professions such as medical personnel, screening authorities, migrant workers, public transportation drivers and delivery workers - but not widespread random testing in the population.

“The theory of casting a wide net will not work, but this approach is effective,” Taweesin said.

9:20pm — Madrid, Spain — Daily coronavirus death toll falls again on Thursday

Spain’s coronavirus daily death toll fell to 213 down from 244 the day before, the health ministry said, Reuters reported.

The overall number of coronavirus deaths rose to 26,070, up from 25,857 on Wednesday. The number of diagnosed cases of coronavirus in the country rose to 221,447 from 220,325 the previous day.

9:15pm — Paris, France — Borders to remain close until at least June 15

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that following the lifting of the coronavirus lockdown in France on May 11, the country’s borders would remain closed until further notice, Reuters reported.

“Since the start of the crisis the closure of the borders is the rule, and the authorization to cross a border is the exception. We have to keep this protection in place, this will not change soon,” Castaner told a televised news conference.

He said that the restrictions would remain in place until at least June 15.

9:02pm — Gilgit, Pakistan — GB reports new COVID-19 cases

9:00pm — Moscow, Russia — Kremlin says Trump offered to send coronavirus medical aid to Russia

US President Donald Trump offered during a phone call with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to send medical aid to Moscow to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, the Kremlin said Reuters reported.

In a readout of the phone call, the Kremlin said the two presidents had also discussed global oil markets, noting their support for last month’s output deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers, something they said had helped stabilise oil prices.

8:55pm — London, UK — PM Johnson to proceed with 'maximum caution' in coronavirus response

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will proceed with maximum caution as he looks to the next phase of the government’s response to the coronavirus, a spokesman from his office said, Reuters reported.

“The Prime Minister spoke to opposition party leaders today to update them on the government’s strategy to combat coronavirus,” the spokesman said.

“He told them the government would approach the next phase with ‘maximum caution’ and his priority above all else would be to ‘save lives’.”

8:50pm — Jakarta, Indonesia — Team says it has created $1,000 ventilator for COVID-19 fight

A team of Indonesian engineers working around the clock says it has produced in two months a compact ventilator to sell at a fraction of the usual cost, hoping to accelerate the fight against east Asia’s second-deadliest COVID-19 outbreak, Reuters reported.

Using household materials such as plastic drinking tumblers to make parts, the 40 engineers from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) developed the Vent-I ventilator that is the size of a mini-oven, said team leader Syarif Hidayat.

The institute aims to sell the machines for less than 15 million rupiah ($1,000) each, one-twentieth or less than the typical $20,000 to $25,000, he said.

“The structure of this ventilator is much simpler compared to the ventilator that we see in the intensive care unit,” said Hidayat, a 57-year-old lecturer at the university.

A key feature of the Vent-I, Hidayat said as he displayed the machine in his lab 150 km (90 miles) southeast of the capital Jakarta, is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), which is vital for a steady supply of air to the lungs of people with COVID-19.

8:45pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — Five at medical university test positive for COVID-19

Five employees from Khyber Medical University test positive for COVID-19, KMU's vice-chancellor Dr Rashid Javed said.

Dr Javed said that the infected include doctors, technicians, etc. "The patients have been quarantined and are being taken care of."

8:39pm — Stockholm, Sweden — COVID-19 deaths pass 3,000: Public Health Agency

Deaths in Sweden from COVID-19 passed 3,000, the Public Health Agency said, far more than in neighbouring Nordic countries, Reuters reported.

The official death toll has now reached 3,040, up from 2,941 on Wednesday.

Sweden has taken a softer approach to fight coronavirus, leaving most schools, shops, and restaurants open and relying on voluntary measures focused on social distancing and good hygiene.

Deaths in Sweden have been far higher relative to the size of the population than in Denmark, Norway, and Finland, where authorities have taken a stricter approach. But they have been lower than in Britain, France, and Spain, where there have also been lockdowns.

8:34pm — Kohat, Pakistan — Army to continue assisting institutions in fight against coronavirus: COAS Bajwa

Pakistan Army shall continue assisting other institutions in fighting the pandemic, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said.

The army chief visited Kohat where he was provided a detailed briefing on the army's assistance against coronavirus in the area. Gen Bajwa interacted with troops who were busy in relief activities in the area and appreciated their morale and operational readiness as well as vigilance, said the ISPR.

Later, the army chief visited the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) hospital in Kohat to inspect the COVID-19 facility. He instructed army officers to "reach out to people particularly those affected by COVID-19 for bringing comfort in this hour of distress".

8:28pm — Islamabad,Pakistan — PM Imran determined to save people from COVID-19, hunger

8:22pm — Amnesty International demands 'greater transparency' about number of infected prisoners in Pakistan

Social distancing not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do

8:15pm — Paris, France — Region will end lockdown more slowly than rest of France, PM says

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Thursday France would gradually end its lockdown from Monday, May 11, but some restrictions would remain in place in the Paris region where the new coronavirus is still circulating, Reuters reported.

“From Monday we will progressively unwind the lockdown that started on March 17... but the country is cut in two, with the virus circulating more quickly in some regions, notably in the Ile de France region, which is very densely populated,” he said.

In other parts of France, secondary schools, cafes and restaurants may open from early June if the infection rate remains low.

8:04pm — Washington, US — FDA clears vaccine for coronavirus to proceed to second phase of study

7:57pm — Quetta, Balochistan — Apex meeting expresses concerns over alarming spread of COVID-19

Coronavirus lockdown hits younger people harder, European survey finds

People under 35 have been made sadder and lonelier than older adults as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, a European survey found, concluding that the strain of being separated from friends and family was taking a tougher toll on the young, Reuters reported.

The report, from an online survey of 85,000 people across the continent by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, found a sharp deterioration in reported quality of life among all ages.

With most Europeans confined to their homes by the coronavirus outbreak, 16% said they were lonely “all or most of the time” over the past two weeks, up from just 6% who described themselves as lonely in surveys before the crisis.

The foundation’s report noted that the effect was much sharper among those under 35, 20% of whom now said they were lonely, up from just 4% in normal times.

“This probably implies that young people feel they have been more affected by the restrictions than other age groups, with social events being cancelled and their inability to meet their friends and family outside the household,” Eurofound said.

7:40pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP reports six deaths, 244 new cases

7:37pm —Moscow, Russia— Lockdown measures in capital extended till May 31

Restrictions aimed at containing the spread of the novel coronavirus in Moscow have been extended until May 31, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Thursday in a blog post on his personal website, Reuters reported.

Some measures in place since late March will be eased from May 12, he said, including the return to work for industrial and construction companies. But Sobyanin added it was still too early to reopen sports facilities, restaurants and theaters.

Moscow is the epicenter of Russia’s coronavirus crisis, with 92,676 of the country’s 177,160 cases, though Sobyanin said earlier the real number of cases in the capital was around 300,000.

7:05pm — Warsaw, Poland — Country to test 1,000 miners a day as coronavirus grips coal region

Poland plans to test 1,000 miners a day at drive-through sites to check whether they have been infected with the coronavirus as data show rapid growth in new cases in the coal region, Reuters reported.

“I have become acquainted with the situation in Silesia. It is very complicated, because it is a large agglomeration, with a huge density of workplaces,” the Chief Sanitary Inspector said in a statement.

Poland’s biggest coal group, PGG, which employs around 40,000 people, has reported 384 cases of coronavirus among its workers, its spokesman said, adding that 1,516 were in quarantine. In total 481 miners are infected in Poland, which generates most of its electricity from coal.

“Miners drive up their cars to a tent, do not leave the vehicles, just open the window, and medical staff efficiently take a throat swap,” Silesian authorities said in a statement.

7:00pm — Nairobi, Kenya — How the COVID-19 coronavirus is changing daily life

6:55pm — Tokyo, Japan — Govt approves Gilead Sciences' remdesivir as COVID-19 drug

Japan approved Gilead Sciences Inc’s remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19, making it the country’s first officially authorised drug to tackle the coronavirus disease.

“There has so far been no coronavirus medicine available here so it is a significant step for us to approve this drug,” a Japanese health ministry official said at a press briefing. Remdesivir will be give to patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms, he added.

Gilead says the drug has improved outcomes for people suffering from the respiratory disease and has provided data suggesting it works better when given in the early stages of infection.

6:49pm — Cairo, Egypt — Nationwide nighttime curfew extended until end of Ramadan

Egypt extended a nationwide nighttime curfew until end of the holy month of Ramadan to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said, Reuters reported.

6:42pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — 150 Pakistanis infected with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

Nearly 150 Pakistanis have been infected, while 30 have died of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia, a meeting presided over by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was informed.

FM Qureshi, in the meeting with Pakistanis residing in the Kingdom, said that the virus has spread to 209 countries and that 3.8 million had been infected with the virus so far.

6:35pm — London, UK — Black, some other ethnic groups more at risk from COVID-19

Black people and men of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin are nearly twice as likely to die from the COVID-19 disease than whites, even when adjusting data for deprivation, a new British report said.

The statistics chimed with reports in other Western nations, from Finland to the United States, that non-white ethnic groups have been worse hit by the new coronavirus which has killed nearly 263,000 people worldwide.

"The risk of death involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) among some ethnic groups is significantly higher than that of those of white ethnicity," the government's Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a new report. (here)

Without adjusting for factors including poverty, education and health, Britain’s ONS found that black males were 4.2 times more likely to succumb to a COVID-19-related death and black females were 4.3 times more likely than white counterparts.

Males of Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnicity were 1.8 times more likely to die, and females from those groups 1.6 times, according to the adjusted model.

6:30pm — Athens, Greece — Ancient monuments to reopen this month as coronavirus baneases

to reopen After standing empty for two months, Greece’s ancient sites, including the Acropolis hill towering over Athens, will reopen to visitors on May 18, authorities said, Reuters reported.

The ancient monuments were closed along with museums in mid-March in Greece’s lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Restrictions have gradually been eased this week.

Museums will open again in mid-June while open-air performances will resume in mid-July, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said. Distance and safety rules will apply.

The many historical sites are one of the mainstays of Greece’s vital tourism sector and efforts will now kick in to encourage visitors after travel restrictions and widespread closures caused a collapse in bookings.

6:25pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Train services to not resume from May 10

Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid, taking back an earlier announcement by his ministry, said that train services will not resume services from May 10.

The train services across the country had been suspended in a bid to curb coronavirus.

"A consensus could not be developed between the provinces [...] I hope that Prime Minister Imran Khan allows resumption of train services before Eid," he added.

6:20pm — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Police unit formed to enforce coronavirus curbs on social gatherings

Saudi Arabia has formed a police unit to monitor violations of rules banning gatherings of more than five people imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the state news agency SPA said, Reuters reported.

The kingdom had previously said such gatherings were prohibited and said on Thursday that those breaching the rules would be punished by law. It also encouraged people to report in breach of the restrictions.

Almost a quarter of all babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic will be from South Asia

6:05pm - London, UK — UK will announce very limited easing of lockdown: PM Johnson's spokesman

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce a very limited easing of Britain’s coronavirus lockdown next week, adopting a cautious approach to ensure there is no second peak of infections, his spokesman said on Thursday.

Johnson is due to announce the next steps in Britain’s battle to tackle the novel coronavirus on Sunday following a review by ministers of the current measures that have all but shut the economy and kept millions at home.

At a cabinet meeting of his top ministers, Johnson said Britain would advance “with maximum caution” and be guided by the science and data when considering whether any of the strict social distancing measures could be eased.

“Any easement to the guidelines next week will be very limited,” the spokesman told reporters.

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6:05pm - US asks creditor countries to be transparent

6:00pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Private schools federation rejects govt decision to close schools till JUly 15

President of All Pakistan Private Schools Federation Kashif Mirza rejected the government’s decision to close down schools till July 15.

“Private schools are being economically murdered,” said Mirza in a statement. He added that the teachers’ income is fixed and 90% of schools rent out their premises.

Mirza demanded PM Imran Khan to announce an ‘education relief package’ for the private schools. He asked the government to issue SOPs and reopen the schools from June 1.

5:45pm - Washington, USA — Millions more Americans join the unemployment line

Millions more Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, suggesting layoffs broadened from consumer-facing industries to other segments of the economy and could remain elevated even as many parts of the country start to reopen.

The Labor Department’s weekly jobless claims report on Thursday showed initial jobless claims for state unemployment benefits totaled a seasonally adjusted 3.169 million for the week ended May 2, down from a revised 3.846 million in the prior week.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 3.0 million claims in the last week compared to the previously reported 3.839 million in the week ending April 25.

The data supported economists’ views of a protracted recovery of the economy, which is reeling from nationwide lockdowns to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The economy shrank in the first quarter at the steepest pace since the Great Recession of 2007-2009.

The weekly claims report followed news on Wednesday that private payrolls fell by a record 20.2 million in April, which set up the overall labor market for historic job losses.

5:40pm - Moscow, Russia — Putin warns global market rivalry rising amid coronavirus pandemic

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that international rivalry on global markets was rising because of a fall in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Against the backdrop of falling global demand, the struggle for international markets for deliveries of fuel and raw material goods, food, and other products has intensified,” Putin said at a government meeting broadcast on state television.

5:25pm - Quetta, Pakistan — Cases in Balochistan may cross 300,000 in July: DG health

Balochistan’s Director General of Health Department Dr Saleem Abro warned that if the lockdown is not followed then the province may have more than 300,000 cases by July.

“I am warning if safety precautions are not followed then the coronavirus cases may reach 9.5 million by December,” Dr Abro said in a press conference.

The DG also shared that there has been a rise on the locally transimiited cases in the province.

Dr Abro warned that the number of positive cases in the province are increasing, adding that the situation may turn worse if people do not take it seriously.

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FM Qureshi discusses COVID-19 with Iran, Bahrain, Oman, Switzerland, Finland, New Zealand FMs

5:15pm - Zurich, Switzerland — Calls to domestic violence hotlines soar amid lockdowns, WHO Europe says

Calls to domestic violence hotlines in Europe are up by as much as three-fifths as alcohol and drug abuse combine with close confinement in coronavirus lockdowns to fuel abuse of the most vulnerable, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday.

The stress and anxiety bred by weeks of restrictions on public life have made uncertainty, separation, and fear part of daily life for many, WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said.

Kluge cited reports from many countries including Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Russia, Spain and Britain of increases in violence against women and men by an intimate partner and against children because of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Although data is scarce, member states are reporting up to a 60% increase in emergency calls by women subjected to violence by their intimate partners in April this year compared to last,” he told an online briefing from Copenhagen.

Online enquiries to violence prevention hotlines had increased by up to five times, the agency said, calling the issue a global problem.

5:11pm — Tbilisi, Georgia — coronavirus lockdown of capital to be lifted on May 11

Georgia will lift its lockdown of the capital Tbilisi on May 11 and allow shops to reopen next week as part of a gradual easing of coronavirus-related restrictions, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said.

He told a televised cabinet meeting that a lockdown imposed in another large Georgian city, Rustavi, would be lifted on May 14, and that the ex-Soviet republic of 3.7 million people would reopen to foreign tourists from July 1.

Georgia reported 615 cases of coronavirus infections as of Thursday, with nine deaths.

4:55pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Countrywide death toll rises to 585

Death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 585 after Punjab reported new deaths.

According to Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, the province recorded 7 deaths in the last 24 hours to take the provincial death toll to 182.

4:55pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab reports new cases, nationwide tally rises to 24,648

Confirmed cases in the country jumped to 24,648 on Thursday after Punjab reported new cases in the province.

According to Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, 504 new cases were reported in the province taking the tally to 9,195.

The department added that 22 of these patients were in critical condition.

Watch: Art centre tests corona-proof private dining space

4:40pm - Hanoi, Vietnam — Vietnam reports 17 new coronavirus cases, all imported

Vietnam reported 17 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, all of whom were imported infections involving Vietnamese citizens repatriated from virus-hit areas, health ministry said.

The Southeast Asian country has registered a cumulative total of 288 infections and has recorded no deaths, the ministry said. Nearly 21,000 people have been quarantined.

4:35pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — Govt to bring back 40,000 stranded Pakistanis next week: SAPM

Prime Minister's Special Assistant on National Security Division Moeed Yousaf has announced that 40,000 stranded Pakistanis will be brought back in the next week.

In a press conference, along with PM Imran, Yousaf said all the stranded Pakistanis will be brought back.

"So far, 20,000 overseas Pakistanis have been brought back from various countries," said the SAPM.

4:30pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — Educational institutions to remain closed till July 15: minister

Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood has announced that said educational institutions will remain closed till July 15 across the country.

"All the board examinations have been cancelled and students will be promoted to the next class and they can get admission in colleges and universities on the basis of their previous result," said the minister.

4:05pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Lockdown to be lifted in phases starting Saturday: PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that the lockdown in the country will be lifted in phases starting Saturday.

“The decision to ease the lockdown was taken in consultation with all the provinces to ease the life of the public,” he said while briefing the media.

He added that the labourers, ordinary people and small business had suffered a lot due to the lockdown which prompted the government to the ease the curbs.

The premier further said that there was a lack of consensus on the opening of public transport. “There was a disagreement among provinces over this matter and we did not want to open this sector without everyone on the same page,” he added.

Read more here.

3:40pm — London, UK — Black, Indian and Pakistani people more likely to die from COVID-19: stats

Black people and those of Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnicity have a significantly higher chance of dying from COVID-19 than white people, the British statistics office said on Thursday.

"The risk of death involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) among some ethnic groups is significantly higher than that of those of White ethnicity," the Office for National Statistics said.

"People of Bangladeshi and Pakistani, Indian, and Mixed ethnicities have a statistically significant raised risk of death involving COVID-19 compared with those of White ethnicity," the ONS said.

3:30pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Happy we didn’t have a coronavirus peak like Europe did: PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he is thankful the country did not hit the coronavirus peak like Europe where hundreds were dying every day.

“There healthcare was under immense pressure,” PM Imran said while addressing the nation after a meeting of the National Coordination Committee.

Speaking about the extension in lockdown, the prime minister said, “Entire world has been observing lockdown, but I had concerns about the daily labourers. I had to think about those who could not feed their children.”

“Our lockdown is different, our informal economy is suffering as our workers who are not registered constitute for 70 to 75 % of the workforce,” he added.

3:15pm — Karachi, Pakistan — PIA announces schedule of special flights from US

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has said initially two flights will operate from US to Pakistan on May 10 and 13.

“A flight for Islamabad will depart on May 10, while the flight for Karachi will leave on May 13,” a spokesperson of the national carrier said.

The spokesperson added another flight has been scheduled from New Jersey to Lahore. The dates for the flight will be announced soon.

“The government is working on three more charted flights from US,” the spokesperson added.

Global coronavirus cases top 3.77 million, death toll crosses 262,700

More than 3.77 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 262,714 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

3:00pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Schools likely to remain closed till July 15: sources

Schools across the country are likely to remain closed till July 15, a meeting of the National Coordination Committee decided on Thursday, according to sources.

Sources added, a decision to reopen school or to extend holidays will be taken on June 1.

2:50pm — Moscow, Russia — Russia reports new record daily rise in coronavirus cases

Russia on Thursday reported 11,231 new cases of the novel coronavirus, a record daily rise that pushed the national case total to 177,160.

Russia's coronavirus taskforce said 88 people had died overnight, bringing the coronavirus death toll to 1,625. Moscow, the worst-hit area, also reported a record overnight case increase of 6,703 new cases.

UK health secretary busts Trump's lie, says 'have seen no evidence virus is man-made'

2:30pm — Beijing, China — China accuses Pompeo of telling lies over its handling of coronavirus

China has accused US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of telling one lie to cover up another in his continued attacks against Beijing over the coronavirus pandemic.

The remarks were made by Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, who reiterated that Beijing has been transparent about the COVID-19 outbreak and that US politicians are making baseless accusations against China.

2:15pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — NCC meeting underway to discuss easing lockdown

A meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) is underway in Islamabad with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair.

The meeting is discussing recommendations made by the National Command and Operation Centre regarding reopening of small businesses and educational institutions by easing lockdown curbs in the wake coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting is being attended by federal ministers, chief ministers and the prime minister of Azad Kashmir and other senior officials.

2:00pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh reports deadliest day with 14 deaths

Death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 578 after Sindh recorded its highest single-day death tally.

According to Sindh Chief Minister, the province recorded 14 deaths in the last 24 hours to take the provincial death toll to 171.

Sindh had previously recorded 12 deaths from the virus on April 29.

1:50pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh reports 453 new cases, nationwide tally jumps past 24,500

Confirmed cases in the country jumped to 24,530 on Thursday after Sindh reported new cases in the province.

According to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, 453 new cases were reported in the province taking the tally to 9,093.

"7,069 patients are under treatment for the virus at the moment of which, 5,858 are at home, 683 in isolation centres and 528 in hospitals across the province," he said.

Shah added that 87 of these patients were in critical condition while 14 were on ventilators.

1:30pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Five flights to bring Pakistanis stranded in Qatar from next week: Zulfi Bukhari

Special Assistant to PM for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari has said five flights will bring back 5,500 Pakistanis stuck in Qatar starting next week.

“Seats in the plane will be given on merit,” Bukhari said during a video teleconference with Pakistani envoy in Qatar.

He added that 700 Pakistanis who have lost their jobs in UAE due to the pandemic will fly back free of cost and will be given jobs through Kamyab Jawan Programme.

1:15pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP has increased coronavirus testing by 10%: health minister

1:00pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah’s secretary tests positive

Asad Khokar, the secretary to Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah has tested positive for coronavirus, a notice released by the court said on Thursday.

“Asad Khokar underwent tests on May 4 and 6 after he complained of a fever. He had not been coming to the office for the past few days,” the notice said.

It added the secretary’s office has been sealed and that Khokar has been asked to self-quarantine at home.

The notice added, CJ Minallah along with other judges will also undergo tests for the virus.

Read more on this here.

12:40pm — Singapore, Singapore — 741 new cases reported

Singapore has registered 741 new coronavirus infections, its health ministry said on Thursday, taking the city-state's total number of COVID-19 cases to 20,939.

The vast majority of the new cases are migrant workers living in dormitories, the health ministry said in a statement.

12:20pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Pakistan records 38 deaths, 1,523 new cases during 24 hours

Pakistan recorded 38 deaths and 1,523 new confirmed cases of coronavirus during the last 24 hours, data from the National Command and Operation Centre showed on Thursday.

According to the data, confirmed cases in the country have mounted to 24,077, of which 8,640 have bee reported in Sindh, 9,077 in Punjab, 3,712 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,663 in Balochistan, 521 in Islamabad Capital Territory, 388 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 76 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Over 6,400 patients have recovered in the country from the virus.

12:00pm — Peshawar, Pakistan— 33 patients have recovered from virus at Lady Reading Hospital so far: director

Director Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital has announced that 33 patients admitted due to the coronavirus have recovered till now.

According to the director, there are 52 patients under treatment at the LRH’s corona complex at the moment. “We have 39 confirmed cases of the virus,” the director said.

“Till now we have discharged 23 patients who tested negative for the virus,” the director added.

11:45am — Berlin, Germany — Chancellor Merkel's chief of staff says pandemic to last least for rest of year

The coronavirus pandemic will last for at least the rest of this year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff told Deutschlandfunk radio on Thursday.

"We are not living after the pandemic now— rather we are living in the middle of a pandemic, one that will be with us for a while— at least for this year and that's being very optimistic," Helge Braun said.

Bread baking on the rise during lockdown

11:30am — Islamabad, Pakistan — NCC to make final decision on easing lockdown restrictions today

Prime Minister Imran Khan will give final approval to the recommendations about easing lockdown restrictions in the country in a meeting of National Coordination Committee (NCC) today.

The NCC meeting, chaired by PM Imran, will review the current situation of the coronavirus pandemic in the country and take a final decision about which sectors should be opened first as the number of patients surged past 24,000.

The National Command and Operations Centre on Wednesday had proposed easing in lockdown restrictions after May 9.

Read more here.

11:15am — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab CM meets vice-chairman overseas commission

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar met with the vice-chairman of the Punjab overseas commission to discuss the issues being faced by repatriated citizens.

During the meeting, the two discussed steps to be taken to solve the issues faced by overseas Pakistanis.

The chief minister also approved food delivery to hotels and quarantine centres after complaints of sub-standard food being provided.

WATCH: Drone delivers rings at wedding amid lockdown in Washington, US

10:15am — London, UK— Cancer specialist Dr Tariq Shafi loses life to virus

Cancer specialist Dr Shafi has passed away after battling coronavirus in the United Kingdom.

According to Geo News, Dr Shafi was under treatment at St Thomas Hospital. He had also served as a lecturer at Shakut Khanum Hospital.

10:00am — Islamabad, Pakistan — FM Qureshi stresses on need to devise National Action Plan to tackle pandemic

9:40am — Islamabad, Pakistan — NCC meets today to discuss opening educational institutions from June 1

A meeting of the National Coordination Committee chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad today will discuss the reopening of educational institutions from June 1.

In a meeting chaired by Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood on Wednesday, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan had proposed continued closure of schools due to fear of coronavirus spread.

However, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has suggested opening schools to mitigate the loss of education.

9:30am — New Delhi, India — Coronavirus cases jump to 52,952, death toll rises to 1,783

The number of coronavirus infections rose to 52,952 in India, up by 3,561 over the previous day, the health ministry said on Thursday, with no signs of abating despite a strict weeks-long lockdown in the world's second-most populous country.

The death toll was up by 89 to 1783 which officials said was because the government imposed the stay-at-home order on 1.3 billion people much earlier in the cycle.

The spurt in cases has come from the densely packed metropolises of Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad

9:05am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Islamabad records 36 new cases

Confirmed cases in the country jumped to 24,077 after new cases were detected in Islamabad.

According to the national dashboard, 36 new cases were detected in the city, taking the total confirmed cases to 521.

For our May 6 coverage of coronavirus click here.