New Delhi: According to data by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE), John Hopkins University the global number for positive cases of COVID-19 recorded worldwide has reached over 2 million. The CSSE has given the total number of cases worldwide as 2,157,108 and the death toll has reached 144,047. The United States is still the global hotspot with over 670353 positive cases. Spain and Italy come next with 184,948 and 168941 cases respectively.

In the United States where cases continue to rise, Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York City, extended the lockdown till May 15. New York has become the worst affected by COVID-19 pandemic in the US with 223,231 cases and 14,198 deaths. Cuomo made the announcement on Thursday before US President Donald Trump's scheduled videoconference with governors to discuss easing restrictions to restart the economy and issue new guidelines. Cuomo said that he decided to extend the restrictions known as ‘NY on Pause’ as the state has not yet regained control and there were still new cases of infection. The lockdown in New York was supposed to be lifted by April 29. Despite the coronavirus cases, the US President Donald Trump is planning to lift the lockdown in phases and activate the economy. According to reports, Trump said that the US has passed the peak and can develop new guidelines for social distancing and also reopen the economy.

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In Italy, the death toll has reached over 22,000. The Civil Protection Department Chief Angelo Borrelli on Thursday confirmed that there were 1,189 new active coronavirus infections compared to Wednesday, bringing the nationwide total to 106,607. There were around 127 doctors among the dead.

Due to increasing cases, the UK has also decided to extend the lockdown which had started last month. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced a three-week extension of the lockdown. He said any relaxations now will harm both public health and the economy. The announcement came as the UK recorded another 861 coronavirus deaths in the hospital, taking the total to 13,729. Strict restrictions, such as requiring people to stay at home, shutting many businesses and preventing gatherings of more than two people - were introduced on March 23, as the government tried to limit the spread of coronavirus.

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