This is CNBC’s live blog covering all the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak. This blog will be updated throughout the day as the news breaks.
- Global cases: More than 3.93 million
- Global deaths: At least 274,900
- Most cases reported: United States (1,283,929), Spain (222,857), Italy (217,185), United Kingdom (212,629), and Russia (187,859).
The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University as of 1:17 p.m. Beijing time.
All times below are in Beijing time.
6:30 pm: Czech Airlines to restart some flights
Czech Airlines will resume part of its operations on May 18, the airline has said. Flights to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris and Stockholm will be among those reopened to begin with.
Passengers will be required to wear face masks during the flight and a distance of 2 meters between passengers will be observed; the cabin will undergo disinfection before and after each flight, the airline said. — Holly Ellyatt
6:10 pm: Spain’s daily virus death tolls falls to 179
Spain’s daily death toll from the coronavirus fell to 179 on Saturday, down from 229 on the previous day, the health ministry reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 26,478. The total number of cases has risen to 223,578. — Holly Ellyatt
5:20 pm: Britain could quarantine incoming travelers for 14 days, report suggests
The U.K. could introduce a 14-day quarantine period for almost everyone arriving into the country, The Times newspaper reported on Saturday, as it aims to lift some lockdown measures and to avoid a second wave of infections.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to address the nation on Sunday. The Times reported that passengers arriving at airports and ports, including Britons returning from abroad, will have to self-isolate for a fortnight. The measures are likely to come into force in early June. — Holly Ellyatt
4:40 pm: Tokyo reports 36 new cases on Saturday
Tokyo reported 36 new cases of coronavirus infections on Saturday, Japan’s TV Asahi said, Reuters reported. It’s the seventh consecutive day that new infections have remained below 100.
The latest data, for which the broadcaster cited unnamed sources, brings the total number of coronavirus infections in Japan’s capital to 4,846. — Holly Ellyatt
4:00 pm: Russia reports more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases
Russia has reported 10,817 new cases of the coronavirus in the last day, bringing the total tally to 198,676. Russia’s coronavirus response center said that 104 people had died, bringing the number of fatalities to 1,827.
It said the country had carried out 5.2 million tests; Russia has the fifth highest number of coronavirus cases, after the U.S., Spain, Italy and the U.K. — Holly Ellyatt
2:55 pm: Singapore reports 753 new coronavirus cases
2:30 pm: Russia’s Victory Day celebrations pared down
Russia marks the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two on Saturday, but the coronavirus outbreak in the country means that celebrations have been pared back massively.
Last month, President Vladimir Putin postponed the highlight of Victory Day celebrations, a massive parade on Red Square that showcases Russia’s military hardware, to a future date (which is not yet known). The postponement is a blow to the president, whose popularity ratings have fallen to a new low during the coronavirus epidemic. — Holly Ellyatt
Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets fly over central Moscow during a rehearsal for the forthcoming 9 May Victory Day air show.
Valery Sharifulin
1:50 pm: China offers North Korea help to fight virus
China has said it is willing to offer support to North Korea to fight the coronavirus epidemic, state television network CCTV said on Saturday, Reuters reported.
President Xi Jinping reportedly made the offer of help in a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Xi said he was very concerned about the situation in North Korea and the health of its people, and said he was pleased that its efforts to control the respiratory illness had achieved positive results, state television said. — Holly Ellyatt
12:16 pm: Australia’s largest states hold off on easing lockdown measures
New South Wales and Victoria, the largest states in Australia, held off from lifting lockdown measures on Saturday, Reuters reported.
It comes as other states begin easing restrictions on gatherings. The capital of Canberra started allowing people to visit one another again on Saturday, the news agency said. Gatherings with up to 10 people will reportedly be allowed. Outdoor dining and cafes will also be able to operate from Monday in South Australia, while pubs and bars in the Northern Territory will be allowed to reopen from Friday, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, New South Wales and Victoria, which make up about 57% of the country’s population, will outline measures for lifting restrictions next week, Reuters said.
Australia has been hailed for its early mitigation efforts in containing the outbreak. It has reported 6,927 cases and 97 deaths so far, according to Johns Hopkins University. — Joanna Tan
11:51 am: Germany reports more than 1,250 new cases and 103 deaths
Germany reported an additional 1,251 cases, bringing the cumulative cases in the country to 168,551, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. Europe’s largest economy also reported another 103 additional deaths, taking the total fatalities to 7,369.
Germany has the seventh highest number of reported cases in the world, data from Johns Hopkins University showed. — Joanna Tan
11:05 am: US State Department embarks on reopening plans
The U.S. State Department started implementing its reopening plan last week, internal documents obtained by CNBC showed.
In the plan, which began on May 1, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo detailed policies on travel, telework, face coverings, and social distancing measures.
Entitled “Diplomacy Strong,” it is a roadmap aimed at bringing back operations for 13,000 U.S. diplomats and 11,000 civil servants. The three-phased strategy complies with guidance from the White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the documents viewed by CNBC. — Amanda Macias
10:47 am: Famed magician Roy Horn dies from coronavirus
Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn, right, celebrate the first birthday of five of their tiger cubs at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage on May 12, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Denise Truscello | WireImage
“Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend,” Fischbacher said in a statement on Friday. “From the moment we met, I knew Roy and I, together, would change the world. There could be no Siegfried without Roy, and no Roy without Siegfried.”
Horn tested positive for the coronavirus in late April. The pair have entertained in Las Vegas for decades and are best known for their work with lions and tigers. — Joanna Tan
9:17 am: US lawmakers call for Taiwan to be included in WHO
Students wearing face masks as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus as they collect their lunch at Dajia Elementary School in Taipei on April 29, 2020
Sam Yeh | AFP | Getty Images
U.S. lawmakers are calling for more than 50 countries to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Organization as they urge nations to place the fight against the pandemic above politics, according to Reuters.
Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, due to China’s objections. As such, Taiwan is not part of the WHO, a UN agency.
“As the world works to combat the spread of the COVID-19, a novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, it has never been more important to ensure all countries prioritize global health and safety over politics,” leaders from the congressional foreign affairs committees said in a letter on Friday, according to Reuters. — Joanna Tan
All times below are in Eastern time.
