Global number of deaths tops half a million

More than 500,000 people worldwide have now lost their lives as a result of the COVID19 pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University in the US.

Since the virus emerged in China late last year, there have been more than 10 million cases.

Half the world’s cases have been in the US and Europe.

The virus is also affecting South Asia and Africa, where it is not expected to peak until the end of July.