A summary of the biggest developments in the global coronavirus outbreak

Austria announces lockdown will lift at end of April

The country will allow gatherings of up to 10 people, but the health minister, Rudolf Anschober, emphasised the importance of people continuing to follow distancing rules.

Care homes in England and Wales record more than 4,300 Covid-19 deaths in two weeks

More than 4,300 people in care homes across England and Wales died from Covid-19 in a fortnight, according to official figures which show a sharp increase in mortality outside hospitals. The latest figures mean that more than 25,000 people have died across the UK after contracting coronavirus. Data gathered by the care homes regulator showed that from 10-24 April care homes reported 4,343 deaths from coronavirus.

The German economy is expected to contract 6.6% in 2020 due to coronavirus

According to economic institute Ifo, Europe’s largest economy shrank by 1.9% in the first three months of 2020 and is expecting a 12.2% contraction in the second quarter.

British energy giant BP recorded a $4.4bn net loss in the first quarter

As the coronavirus pandemic crushes demand for oil, the company’s profits plunged, down from a profit after tax of $2.9bn in the first quarter of 2019.

Turkey has sent a planeload of medical equipment to help the US

The Turkish government has sent hundreds of thousands of masks, along with overalls, disinfectant and goggles to help the US as it grapples with the coronavirus outbreak. A Turkish military cargo carrying the medical equipment took off from an airbase near the capital, Ankara, on Tuesday, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. It was scheduled to land at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington later in the day.

Spain’s downward death trend continues

The country’s death toll rose to 23,822 after 301 deaths were recorded over the past 24 hours, but this is down from 331 on Monday. The prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, will outline Spain’s lockdown exit plan on Tuesday.

Some UK children die from disease feared to have Covid-19 link

Some children in the UK have died from a rare inflammatory syndrome which could be linked to Covid-19, The health secretary, Matt Hancock, said some children without underlying health conditions had died. Italian and British medical equipment experts are investigating a possible link between the coronavirus pandemic and clusters of severe inflammatory disease among infants who are arriving in hospital with high fevers and swollen arteries.

Egypt state of emergency extended for three months

The Egyptian president ordered the renewal for three months of a long-running state of emergency. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi cited health as well as security concerns for the extension of the state of emergency, which gives police broad powers of arrest and detention, and curtails constitutional rights such as freedom of speech and assembly.

China-Australia tensions escalate

Diplomatic tensions are escalating between Australia and China. Australia’s trade minister, Simon Birmingham, called for the Chinese ambassador to explain what Australia called a threat of “economic coercion” in response to Canberra’s push for an international inquiry into the source and spread of the coronavirus.

Airline SAS could cut 5,000 jobs

The Scandinavian airline, SAS, said it could reduce its workforce by up to 5,000 full-time positions.It said the move was due to plunging demand and travel restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak.

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