Ambulances stand by to load patients affected with coronavirus aboard a medicalised TGV train in Strasbourg Photograph: Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images
Ireland has reported another 10 deaths due to coronavirus, taking the total to 19.
Health officials on Thursday announced 255 more cases in the country, taking the total to 1,819.
Here’s a video showing more of the Clap for Carers applause in the UK, which took place at 8pm on Thursday in support of the NHS workers helping to fight against coronavirus.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak and prime minister Boris Johnson applauding outside 10 Downing Street in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff who are trying to battle coronavirus. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PAPeople across the UK have taken part in a mass round of applause for the frontline NHS heroes who are risking their own lives battling the coronavirus pandemic.
The Clap For Carers initiative saw residents applauding from their doorsteps, windows and balconies at 8pm, with some venturing into the streets, and motorists joining in by tooting their horns. Others set off fireworks.
Boris Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak took part in the applause while standing outside 10 Downing Street.
Meanwhile notable buildings were lit up in blue for the salute as part of the lightitblue campaign which has been organised by members of the events and entertainment industry as a way to say thank you.
The very emotional moment we heard clapping and cheering from our headquarters in Waterloo.
— London Ambulance Service #StayHomeSaveLives (@Ldn_Ambulance) March 26, 2020
In these extraordinary times, the Guardian’s editorial independence has never been more important. Because no one sets our agenda, or edits our editor, we can keep delivering quality, trustworthy, fact-checked journalism each and every day. Free from commercial or political bias, we can report fearlessly on world events and challenge those in power. Your support protects the Guardian’s independence. We believe every one of us deserves equal access to accurate news and calm explanation. No matter how unpredictable the future feels, we will remain with you, delivering high quality news so we can all make critical decisions about our lives, health and security – based on fact, not fiction. Support the Guardian from as little as CA$1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you. Make a contribution - The Guardian
Authorities in Greece have given their strongest hint yet that the stringent restrictions enforced to curb the spread of coronavirus are likely to extend beyond 6 April.
The measures, as of Monday, have included a lockdown that with few exceptions has ordered residents to remain at home.
“If the measures are lifted the scenes we have seen in Italy will ensue,” the health ministry spokesman, Prof Sotiris Tsiodras, told reporters, announcing confirmed coronavirus cases have risen to 892 – an increase of 71 overnight.
The death toll on Thursday stood at 26. Some 54 patients diagnosed with the novel virus are in intensive care.
Tsiodras, an expert in infectious diseases, said that while Greece appeared to be containing an explosion of the virus working its way through the population, the coming weeks were critical. “We have to continue to be vigilant even if we are not seeing an aggressive increase in cases in our country,” he said.
Had a very interesting conversation with @NAChristakis about our action plan for COVID-19 and our health system. We're basing our strategies on sound scientific advice, and Greece is very privileged to have such eminent scientists to call upon, wherever they may be.
Turkey’s death toll from coronavirus increased by 16 to 75 on Thursday, as the number of confirmed cases rose by 1,196 to 3,629, health minister, Fahrettin Koca, said.
He said on Twitter that 7,286 tests had been conducted in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of tests carried out in Turkey to around 40,000.
Costa Rica is battling the second largest outbreak of the disease in Central America behind Panama, which has imposed a 24 hour curfew. As of Wednesday evening, eight people had died and 558 cases had been recorded.
Rio de Janeiro’s town hall is reportedly trying to convince elderly favela residents to abandon their homes and move into hotels in a bid to shield them from coronavirus.
The local newspaper O Globo reports that social workers have today been knocking on doors in Rocinha, one of Latin America’s largest favelas, and asking the elderly to move into temporary accommodation.
The town hall has reportedly rented 1,000 rooms in three hotels to house those people. They will not be able to receive visitors while there.
Rio’s densely populated redbrick favelas are home to about two million of the city’s seven million residents and often lack basic services such as sanitation and water. For that reason there are fears about the toll coronavirus could have on such areas. This week it emerged that gangs in some favelas had imposed curfews and were handing out soap in a bid to stop its spread. Favela activists are also promoting donation and awareness campaigns.
Police in the UK have defended using a drone to shame people into staying away from a national park during the lockdown.
Derbyshire police tweeted footage taken near Curbar Edge in the Peak District, insisting members of the public should not be driving there to walk their dogs or take photographs.
“It’s not Big Brother,” a spokesman said. “It’s just to illustrate the fact that people are going out and making these journeys against the government’s rules.”
Police drone footage shames people using national park during UK lockdown – video
A healthcare worker stands outside the Severo Ochoa hospital in Leganes, Spain. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty ImagesSam Jones and Ashifa Kassam have the latest from Madrid:
The Spanish government has defended its response to the coronavirus pandemic as the death rate in the country slowed for the first time in a week, insisting its actions have always been firmly rooted in scientific advice. Spain recorded 655 deaths from Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 4,089, the health ministry said on Thursday. The number of confirmed cases stands at 56,188.
Ambulances stand by to load patients affected with coronavirus aboard a medicalised TGV train in Strasbourg Photograph: Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images
