The number of people with Covid-19 who have died in the US has passed 1,000, according to a running total from Johns Hopkins University.
The most recent total was 1,050 deaths with 69,171 cases.
Tokyo warns of ‘explosion’ in infections
Authorities in Tokyo have urged people to stay at home on the weekend, warning the city might otherwise see an “explosion” of new infections. Wednesday had seen a record 41 new cases discovered.
The Japanese capital has so far been spared the draconian measures seen in other major global cities, but governor Yuriko Koike said the city was at a “critical stage”.
“We urge people at all costs to refrain from going out this weekend if it’s not urgent,” she said, encouraging residents to work from home during weekdays and refrain from going out at night.
“Starting this week, there are increasing concerns that we could see an explosion of infections,” Koike warned.
Across all of Japan, around 1,200 people have tested positive, including some 200 in Tokyo, and 43 people have died.
