Coronavirus news – live: England and Wales death toll passes 40,000 as WHO warns countries lifting lockdowns risk ‘immediate second peak’

Worldwide coronavirus cases pass 5.5 million

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections across the world has passed 5.5 million.

Researchers at Maryland's Johns Hopkins University, which has been tracking global cases, reported a new tally of 5,508,904 in an update a few minutes ago.

More than a quarter of those cases are in the US, which has reported more than 1.6 million infection. Brazil has reported 374,898, with Russia's tally of 362,342 the third highest.

There have been 346,612 coronavirus deaths across the world, according to the university's tracker.

How Hong Kong avoided any coronavirus case in care homes

Coronavirus has ravaged care homes across Europe and America, killing tens of thousands, but in Hong Kong, not a single resident in care has even contracted Covid-19.

Its apparent success offers vital lessons – ones that the city learned the hard way almost two decades ago, Laurel Chor reports:

Thailand extends emergency powers

Thailand's cabinet has extended an emergency decree to fight the coronavirus to 30 June, with a government spokeswoman denying opposition suggestions that the country's prime minister is seeking a return to unchecked powers.

The state of emergency was first declared in late March came against the backdrop of student protests against the banning of a party opposed to prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

With new cases now dwindling, some opposition figures have suggested the emergency decree should be allowed to expire.

"The prime minister would like to say that since the beginning of the emergency decree's usage and every extension, we have based this on public health reasons and not political ones," government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said after a cabinet meeting today.

Thailand was the first country outside to China to report a case of coronavirus, on 13 January.

Montenegro to open borders after declaring itself virus-free

Montenegro, the first European country to declare itself free of coronavirus infections, is to open its borders to citizens of some European countries - but not its neighbour and former ally Serbia.

Dusko Markovic, Montenegro's prime minister, said the borders would be opened from 1 June for nationals of the countries that have no more more than 25 Covid-19 patients per 100,000 population.

He said Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Albania and Greece met that criteria, set by Montenegrin health officials.

Mr Markovic did not mention neighbouring Serbia, triggering an angry rebuke from Belgrade despite Serbia not meeting the criteria.

India reports record jump in cases for seventh day

For a seventh consecutive day, India has reported its biggest jump in coronavirus cases.

The country's health ministry today confirmed 145,380 new infections, an increase of 6,535 from the day before, and 4,167 deaths.

But officials said the recovery rate had also risen above 40 per cent.

Most of the cases are concentrated in two neighbouring states in central India, Maharashtra, home to financial hub Mumbai, and Gujarat, prime minister Narendra Modi's home state.

An uptick in cases has also been reported in some of India's poorest eastern states as migrant workers returning to native villages from cities have begun arriving home on special trains.

India's virus caseload has been climbing as lockdown restrictions have eased. Domestic flights resumed on Monday after a two-month hiatus, though at a fraction of normal capacity.

Portugal and UK in talks over tourism 'air bridge'

Portugal and the UK are in talks over a potential "air bridge" for tourists that would allow British visitors to avoid two weeks of quarantine upon arriving back in the UK, Reuters is reporting.

Portugal's tourism-dependent economy has been hard hit by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns at home and abroad, and authorities are trying to save at least part of the crucial summer season.

The UK is the leading source of tourism for Portugal and is introducing a 14-day quarantine order for travellers arriving from abroad - including Britons arriving from overseas - from 8 June.

Reuters cited two Portuguese sources, who said the talks with the UK were at an early stage.

Portugal's death toll of 1,330 and total cases at 30,788 are just a fraction of neighbouring Spain, where 27,000 people have died and more than 235,000 have been infected.

Human trials of coronavirus vaccine underway in Australia

An experimental coronavorus vaccine candidate developed by a US biotechnology firm has been injected into 131 human volunteers in Australia.

The vaccine, created by Maryland company Novavax, has been formulated using an alternative method from others being developed around the world, reports Andrew Naughtie:

Spain declares 10 days of mourning

The Spanish government has declared 10 days of mourning from tomorrow to honour the nearly 30,000 people who died from the coronavirus pandemic in one of the world's worst-hit countries.

During the mourning period, flags will fly at half-mast all over the country's public buildings and navy ships, government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero told a briefing after a cabinet meeting today.

The period will end with an official ceremony led by the head of state in remembrance of the 26,834 fatalities recorded in the country.

Spain has reported a total of 235,400 confirmed cases of the disease.

JK Rowling to publish fairy tale for children in lockdown

JK Rowling will publish a fairy tale called The Ickabog free online so that children on lockdown can read it, with the first chapter to be published today.

"Over 10 years ago, I wrote a stand-alone fairy tale called The Ickabog," Rowling said. "Until very recently, the only people whoâd heard the story of The Ickabog were my two younger children."

The Harry Potter author said the mostly handwritten manuscript had been stored in her attic until a few weeks ago. She said she had done some rewriting in recent weeks.

"Iâve decided to publish The Ickabog for free online, so children on lockdown, or even those back at school during these strange, unsettling times, can read it or have it read to them," she said.

Restrict access to coast until lifeguard patrols return, government told

The chief executive of the RNLI has called on the UK government to restrict access to the coast until lifeguard patrols are back on beaches.

Mark Dowie issued an open letter following the deaths of two people - including a 17-year-old girl - in separate incidents along the Cornish coastline on Monday.

"With thousands flocking to English beaches now lockdown restrictions have been eased, we must choose between keeping the public or our lifeguards safe," Mr Dowie wrote.

"Safety advice and warnings will only go so far when people are desperate to enjoy some freedom after weeks of lockdown.

"As a lifesaving charity, the RNLI cannot stop people going to beaches - but the government can - before more lives are lost around our coast this summer."