According to data compiled by tracking site Worldometer, as of April 2, 9 p.m. GMT, more than one million people worldwide tested positive for the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) – the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease – with the death toll of 53,216 affecting 204 countries and territories.
The global fatality rate due to COVID-19 as of April 1 is at about 5%, with different countries registering varying fatality rates. This figure is currently at 2.16% in the United States and towards the end of March, at 11% in Italy, for instance.
US figures
In the US, New York State has recorded a spike in cases in the past few days, bringing the total number of cases to 93,053 and its state death toll to 2,538 as of April 3. On April 1, US President Donald Trump warned citizens that the next two weeks would be more challenging in terms of the surge in coronavirus cases.
Projections presented at the White House revealed that 100,000 to 240,000 total deaths are to be expected nationwide during the extended lockdown period. Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said that without precautionary measures – such as social distancing, staying home and washing hands – these numbers could have been in the neighborhood of 1.5 to 2.2 million deaths as a worst-case scenario.
Italy extends lockdown
Italy extended its lockdown until April 13. As of April 3, the country has recorded a total of 13,915 coronavirus-related deaths since the outbreak began in the country.
Officials say that the number of patients being hospitalized has been slowly decreasing, while 61% of patients are in home isolation with no or mild symptoms. The infection rate has also decreased in the worst-hit region in Lombardy, as 1,292 new cases were registered on April 2, compared to 1,565 registered cases on April 1.
Nursing home deaths in France
On April 2, France reported 884 additional deaths that had occurred in nursing homes and other care facilities over the past weeks. The French health ministry originally did not include these deaths in their official count.
France currently has 59,105 coronavirus-related cases, with 5,387 deaths as of April 3.
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