April 6 coronavirus news

By Helen Regan, Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton, Amy Woodyatt and Meg Wagner, CNN

Updated 9:18 p.m. ET, April 6, 2020

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12:01 a.m. ET, April 6, 2020

It's midnight in New York and midday in Beijing. Here's a global breakdown of the coronavirus pandemic

Bodies are moved to a refrigerator truck serving as a temporary morgue outside of Wyckoff Hospital in Brooklyn, New York on April 4. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to batter much of the world, with total global cases past 1.27 million.

The US now has more than four times China's total cases, and is the worst-hit country.

This is how the pandemic looks around the world:

Chaos in the US: The US has more than 337,000 cases, with New York at the epicenter. Most of the country is under movement restrictions, with people ordered to stay at home except for essential reasons. Emergency personnel and medical staff have spoken of insufficient resources, war-like conditions, exhaustion and fear. In one New York hospital, six patients went into cardiac arrest and four died within 40 minutes.
China returns to normal life: The past few weeks have seen the rate of new daily cases drop dramatically in mainland China, according to government figures. Yesterday, China reported 39 new cases nationwide and just one death -- a striking contrast to the thousands of new cases reported each day during the peak in February. Restrictions are now lifting and people are returning to normal life; photos this weekend show hikers crammed onto a famous mountain.
Controversy in Japan: The daily count of new coronavirus cases in Japan has doubled in the past week. Many have criticized the government's handling of the crisis: the Prime Minister has repeatedly refused to declare a state of emergency or lock down Tokyo, and patients have had difficulty getting tested. To make things worse, people are reluctant to work from home, continue to gather outside, and are commuting during rush hours.
Slowdown in parts of Europe: Spain, Italy, Germany, and France are the four countries with the highest number of cases after the US. But evidence suggests the worst may have passed for some of these places; yesterday Spain saw the lowest rise in deaths since early March. Meanwhile, the mood in the UK is grim, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted to hospital and the Queen giving a rare national address.
Cases spike in Iran: Iran, which became the epicenter of the Middle East outbreak in March, is still seeing high numbers -- 2,483 new cases in 24 hours were reported yesterday. Despite this, the President said yesterday that foreign media "exaggerate the issue," and that some restrictions will be lifted this week, allowing "low-risk businesses" to return to work.

11:43 p.m. ET, April 5, 2020

Britain's Queen called for unity in a rare address to the nation

A woman watches Queen Elizabeth II's televised address to the nation on April 5, in Glasgow, Scotland. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II offered reassurance to the British public and called for unity on Sunday in a rare televised speech.

"Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it," the Queen said. " I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge."

The address comes as UK authorities warn people to stay at home, and as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to the hospital for tests, after days of coronavirus symptoms. Johnson tested positive for the virus on March 27.

It's extremely rare for the Queen to address the nation like this: She typically only speaks to the country during an annual televised Christmas message and when a new parliament is installed.

She's only held these types of emergency national addresses a handful of times in history -- one time during World War Two, which she alluded to during her speech on Sunday.

"It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety," the Queen said, adding "today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones."

The Queen, 93, concluded by again calling for unity saying, "we will succeed."

11:26 p.m. ET, April 5, 2020

Singapore reports its biggest daily jump in cases, locks down two worker dormitories

From Eric Cheung in Hong Kong

Ambulances are seen at the National Center for Infectious Diseases, where coronavirus patients are being treated, in Singapore on April 3. Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images

Singapore has reported 120 new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours -- its biggest daily jump of reported infections since the coronavirus outbreak began -- the country's Ministry of Health said in a statement.

The cases were reported from 12 p.m. Saturday to 12 p.m. Sunday, Singapore time.

Of the new infections, 116 were identified as local cases with no recent travel history.

Fifty cases were linked to existing clusters, while contact tracing is ongoing for the remaining 66, the statement said.

Dormitories locked down: On Sunday, Singapore said that it has locked down two foreign worker dormitories as the number of reported cases continued to rise, according to another notice posted by the Ministry of Health.

The dormitories, the S11 Dormitory @ Punggol and Westlite Toh Guan dormitory, have been declared isolation areas. Foreign workers are banned from moving between blocks or reporting to work for 14 days, but will continue to receive their salary during this period.

The S11 Dormitory @ Punggol, has 13,000 resident workers, while Westlite Toh Guan has 6,800.

11:10 p.m. ET, April 5, 2020

India has closed its railways for the first time in 167 years. Now trains are being turned into hospitals

From Hema Ramaprasad for CNN

Laborers work on train coaches that will be used as temporary isolation wards in preparation for coronavirus-infected patients at a workshop in Allahabad on April 4, 2020. Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25, Indian Railways took the unprecedented move of suspending passenger trains across the country until April 14.

It was the first time in 167 years that Asia's oldest rail network had been suspended.

Now the railway network has decided to convert as many as 20,000 old train carriages into isolation wards for patients as the virus spreads.

The network, which is the world's fourth-largest rail operator and India's biggest employer, already operates 125 hospitals across the nation, so has the expertise to expand into mobile beds.

While India's hospital system isn't overwhelmed yet, the repurposed trains could ease some of the pressure if the number of coronavirus patients begin to rise.

For more on how India is turning train carriages into turn into hospitals, read here:

India has closed its railways for the first time in 167 years. Now trains are being turned into hospitals

10:58 p.m. ET, April 5, 2020

A heated disagreement broke out in the US Situation Room over a malaria drug

From CNN's Jim Acosta and Kaitlan Collins

There was a heated disagreement in the Situation Room this weekend over the efficacy of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine -- but multiple sources say it was mostly one-sided.

President Donald Trump's top trade adviser Peter Navarro feuded with other officials inside the coronavirus task force over the unproven drug's treatment for the virus.

Medical experts have repeatedly explained to the President that there is a risk in touting the drug in case ultimately it doesn't work. But other aides and outside advisers have sided with Trump, including Navarro, who is still not a formal part of the task force but has wedged himself into the meetings.

What happened: While discussing the latest on hydroxychloroquine this weekend, Navarro lashed out at Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert and one of those advisers who has urged caution about the drug, a person familiar with the meeting told CNN.

Not data: Navarro had brought a stack of paperwork with him into the Situation Room on the drug, arguing it was proof that it could work to treat coronavirus, which Fauci disagreed with because it was not data.

Not a proven treatment: A source close to the task force said Fauci is not backing off of his belief that hydroxychloroquine is not a proven treatment for coronavirus. When CNN’s Jeremy Diamond asked Fauci to comment on the matter Sunday night, Trump stepped in and didn’t allow Fauci to answer. But a source said the doctor has already offered his opinion on the drug in other venues and would continue to do so.

The argument highlights how deep the divide runs over the task force's response to the coronavirus outbreak: Another source told CNN that despite the disagreement in the Situation Room with Fauci and Navarro, Fauci continues to have a good relationship with Trump and Vice Presdient Mike Pence, though some staffers have shown irritation when his opinions differ.

Read more here:

Heated disagreement breaks out in Situation Room over hydroxychloroquine

10:44 p.m. ET, April 5, 2020

UN secretary-general says violence against women during coronavirus quarantine must stop

From CNN's Richard Roth in New York

United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said there has been a "horrifying global surge in domestic violence" and urged governments to make women’s safety a key part of their national coronavirus response plans.

Lockdowns and quarantines are essential for stopping Covid-19 but they can trap women with abusive partners," Guterres said. "In some countries the number of women calling support services has doubled. Meanwhile healthcare providers and police are overwhelmed and understaffed. Local support groups are paralyzed or short of funds. Some domestic violence shelters are closed; others are full.

Watch his address here:

Akila Radhakrishnan, president of the Global Justice Center, said the call "recognizes how violence and crisis situations exacerbate existing inequalities in society and emphasize the need to center those most impacted in responses."

"However, to date, we have consistently seen that Covid-19 responses have inadequately taken women’s rights and human rights into account. And there’s been a lack of inclusivity in the groups responsible for crisis response and decision-making," she said.

10:33 p.m. ET, April 5, 2020

China sends 1,000 ventilators to New York, as the city grapples with coronavirus horror

Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at a news conference on March 30 at the Javits Center in New York, which is being used as a temporary hospital. Albin Lohr-Jones/Sipa USA via AP

New York City is the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, with emergency frontline workers saying they are facing "battlefield conditions."

“We’re now in a major triage mode. Battlefield conditions," said Michael Greco, Vice President of the FDNY EMS union. "We're in wartime mode."

The city now has a total of 64,955 cases and 2,472 deaths, according to the government site.

Hopeful signs: After a few weeks of social distancing and business shutdowns, the number of deaths has begun dropping "for the first time," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday -- but he cautioned that it's too early to tell whether this means New York has passed the peak.

In the meantime, China is stepping in to help. The Chinese government has facilitated a donation of 1,000 ventilators that were scheduled to arrive at JFK Airport on Sunday, Cuomo said.

"This is a big deal and it's going to make a significant difference for us," he said.

10:22 p.m. ET, April 5, 2020

At least 337,274 coronavirus cases in the US

From CNN’s Hollie Silverman

Health workers transport a patient to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City on April 4. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

There are at least 337,274 cases of coronavirus in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally.

At least 9,633 people have died in the US from coronavirus.

As of Sunday, there have been at least 25,029 new cases and at least 1,137 new deaths reported in the US.

Over the weekend:

Friday: 1,169 new deaths reported in the US.
Saturday: 1,344
Sunday: 1,137

The total includes cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as all repatriated cases.

Wyoming is the only state not reporting a death from coronavirus.

CNN is keeping track of coronavirus cases across the US and an interactive map can be found here:

Tracking Covid-19 cases in the US

10:11 p.m. ET, April 5, 2020