Coronavirus cases exceed 8 million worldwide: Live updates

The US has by far the highest number of cases and deaths, but Brazil's outbreak now the second worst in the world.

  • More than 8 million people have been confirmed to have the coronavirus around the world. More than 3.8 million have recovered, while at least 435,662 have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The US, Brazil and the UK have reported the most deaths.
  • WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned countries need to "stay alert to the possibility of resurgence" as new clusters of cases emerge in Beijing and more than 100,000 cases of coronavirus are reported across the world every day. 

Here are the latest updates:

Tuesday, June 16

04:10 GMT - US airlines threaten ban for passengers who refuse to wear masks

Major US airlines have warned passengers who refuse to wear masks that they could be banned.

Carriers could prevent anyone who is not covering their nose and mouth from boarding although they would provide masks to passengers without one.

Airlines with the stricter policy include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, Airlines for America said in a statement.

The airlines will clearly inform passengers about their individual policies on face coverings before flying, followed by an announcement with specific details onboard, it said.

Each carrier will decide the appropriate consequences for passengers who fail to comply, up to and including being put on that airline's no-fly list.

US aviation
A passenger walks through Reagan National airport in Washington DC. Airlines are saying passengers could be banned if they refuse to wear a face mask [File: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]

03:50 GMT - Beijing officials say Xinfadi market outbreak "very grim"

City officials in Beijing have described the coronavirus outbreak centred on the Xinfadi market as "very grim" according to the Global Times.

The state tabloid says nine of 11 districts in Beijing have reported confirmed cases, with the area of Fengtai, which is around the market, the worst affected. 

"We need to make an all-out fight, taking epidemic prevention and control as the most important and urgent task at present... and taking the most determined, decisive and strict measures to contain the epidemic," the Global Times quoted officials as saying.

Beijing expects to complete a citywide inspection and sanitation campaign targeting wholesale and vegetable markets, as well as restaurants and canteens on Wednesday. All vendors and business operators will have to undergo nucleic acid tests. 

03:30 GMT - Shanghai imposes quarantine for some domestic visitors

Shanghai says it will impose a 14-day quarantine on all people arriving in the city from medium to high-risk COVID-19 areas elsewhere in China.

Wu Jinglei, the director of Shanghai's health commission, says those arriving from high-risk places will have to complete a centralised quarantine, and will undergo nucleic acid testing twice.

02:30 GMT - Beijing imposes curbs on more districts after outbreak linked to market

Beijing is imposing coronavirus restrictions on more districts after an outbreak linked to the capital's wholesale food market.

There are now 22 districts deemed 'medium-risk' with local authorities setting up checkpoints, stepping up social distancing and closing schools. 

City officials reported 27 new cases for June 15, taking the total for the latest spike to 106, as the authorities track down close contacts of those known to have the virus.

Other cities in China have also responded to the outbreak with some imposing quarantines or stepping up their own preventative measures.

After cluster infection was found in 's markets, started three-day inspection of the city's supermarkets, wet and vegetable markets on Saturday. All 6,178 samples took from those markets, including chopping boards, kitchen knives, tested negative for

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02:15 GMT - China president to convene COVID-19 'solidarity' summit with Africa

China's president Xi Jinping is to hold a "solidarity" summit with Africa over the coronavirus pandemic.

Xi will deliver a keynote speech at the summit on June 17, according to Chinese state media.

02:00 GMT - New Zealand reports two new cases in travellers returning from UK

New Zealand has confirmed two new cases of coronavirus, both connected with travel to the United Kingdom and both connected.

New Zealand lifted all coronavirus restrictions last week, but is keeping its borders to closed to everyone except citizens and special cases.

00:00 GMT  - More than 8 million coronavirus cases recorded worldwide

Some 8,005,294 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed around the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The actual figure is likely to be much higher because countries often have different criteria for testing, and milder and asyptomatic cases may go undetected.

These are the five countries with the most cases:

1. US - 2,111,622 

2. Brazil - 888,271

3. Russia - 536,484

4. India - 332, 424

5. United Kingdom - 298,315

These are the five countries that have recorded the most deaths:

1. US - 116,114

2. Brazil - 43,959

3. United Kingdom - 41,821

4. Italy - 34,371

5. France - 29,439

23:30 GMT - Coronavirus more likely to kill those with chronic conditions: CDC

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found people with chronic illnesses including heart disease and diabetes are 6 times more likely to be admitted to hospital, and 12 times more likely to die than COVID-19 patients with no underlying conditions. 

The CDC based its analysis on 1.32 million confirmed cases of coronavirus that it received between January 22 and the end of May.

Although information on underlying conditions was available for only 22 percent of those patients, the CDC found that of those, 32 percent had a heart-related illness, 30 percent had diabetes and 18 percent a chronic lung condition including asthma.

Underlying medical conditions
People with underlying health conditions including asthma are at a far higher risk from COVID-19 than otherwise healthy people according to a new CDC report [File: David McNew/Getty Images via AFP]

The CDC said that age remained a major risk. The percentage of intensive care admission was highest among people aged at least 60 and over with underlying conditions. People over the age of 80 were the most likely to die, even if they didn't have a chronic illness.

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