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Coronavirus: Confirmed global cases pass one million
Healthcare services around the world have been overwhelmed by the pandemic
More than a million cases of coronavirus have been registered globally, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University – another grim milestone as the world grapples with the spreading pandemic.
More than 51,000 people have died and more than 208,000 have recovered, according to the university’s figures.
The US accounts for the most cases; Italy the highest death toll.
The disease, Covid-19, first emerged in central China three months ago.
Though the tally kept by Johns Hopkins records one million confirmed cases, the actual number is thought to be much higher.
On Thursday, Spain said 950 people had died in the previous 24 hours – thought to be the highest number of deaths of any country in one day.
How did we get here?
At the end of December, 34-year-old ophthalmologist Dr Li Wenliang tried to send a message to other medics warning them about a new virus in Wuhan, in China’s Hubei Province.
He was later visited by the police accused of scaremongering.
On 3 January we wrote our first news report about a “mystery virus” in Wuhan. At the time, 44 cases had been confirmed, 11 of which were considered severe. There had been no deaths yet, but many feared we would see a repeat of the 2003 Sars outbreak that killed 774 people. By 18 January the confirmed number of cases had risen to around 60 – but experts estimated the real figure was closer to 1,700.
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Just two days later, as millions of people prepared to travel for the lunar new year, the number of cases more than tripled to more than 200 and the virus was detected in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
Military trucks transporting COVID-19 corpses in Italy
On 23 January, Wuhan went into lockdown. At tha point, 18 people had died – 17 in Hubei, and one in Beijing – and 570 others had been infected, including in Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, South Korea and the United States.
Ten days later, a 44-year-old man in the Philippines died of the virus – the first death reported outside of China.
On 6 February Dr Li Wenliang himself succumbed to the virus.
A week later, an 80-year-old tourist died in France – Europe’s first coronavirus death. The virus appeared in Iran five days later – two people died within hours of their diagnosis being announced. Iran would later become a hotspot for the virus.
Italy saw a major surge in cases on 23 February, and 10 towns in Lombardy went into lockdown. On 10 March the lockdown was extended to the whole of Italy.
On 23 March, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a three-week lockdown in the UK.
Three days later, on 26 March, the US officially overtook China as the country hardest-hit by the coronavirus outbreak, with more than 86,000 confirmed cases. By 2 April, this had risen to more than 217,000 – almost double the number of cases in Italy.
…..What are the latest developments from around the world?
Spain has passed 10,000 deathsBoth Spain and the United States announced huge hikes in the number of unemployed as the economic impact worsened
Boris Johnson Tested positive for COVID-19
Russia’s President Putin has extended the period for Russians to stay away from work to the end of April.
Belgium’s death toll has passed 1,000. In Iran more than 3,100 deaths have been officially confirmed. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government needed to “massively ramp up” testing amid growing criticism over its responsePhilippines’
President Rodrigo Duterte warned people they could be shot dead if they caused trouble over restrictions, saying the police and the military had the authority to shoot if their lives were in danger.
In China, the city of Shenzhen has banned the eating of cats and dogs following the outbreak. Dharavi, a huge slum in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, has reported its first death linked to the coronavirus. More than a million people live in extremely overcrowded conditions in Dharavi, believed to be the biggest slum in Asia
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By Elizabeth Okwe| April 30, 2025
In what many have described as a timely and courageous step, Hon. Yahaya Umar, the lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, is receiving accolades for raising the alarm over the environmental and public health crisis caused by coal mining in his constituency.
The motion, which called for an immediate suspension of all mining activities in Omala Local Government Area, has drawn commendation from across the state — most notably from the Convener of the Kogi Professionals Network and seasoned development administrator, Dr. James Odaudu.
Reacting to the motion, Dr. Odaudu described Hon. Umar’s action as “a courageous stand in defence of environmental justice,” saying it was refreshing to see a legislator so passionately defending the health and welfare of his constituents.
According to him, “These mining companies were licensed to support Nigeria’s electricity development goals, yet instead of power, they have brought pollution, contaminated rivers, and destroyed farmlands in host communities.”
He praised the Kogi State House of Assembly for backing the motion and setting up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter, describing it as “how democracy is supposed to work — responsive and people-centered.”Dr. Odaudu, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, also issued a passionate appeal to the Government of Kogi State to move swiftly beyond legislative action and implement practical relief measures for affected communities.
Dr. James Odaudu
Convener, Kogi Professionals Network
“We urge the State Government to begin immediate clean-up of polluted water sources in Omala and surrounding areas, while putting in place a sustainable plan to provide potable water as a long-term solution,” he stressed.
He further emphasized the need for mining companies operating in the state to honor their corporate social responsibilities and sign enforceable Community Development Agreements (CDAs) with the local government administrations in line with global best practices.
“Profiteering must not come at the expense of our people’s lives and their future, We trust that the government of Governor Usman Ododo will do the needful as usual ” Dr. Odaudu added.
The coal mining controversy in Omala and other parts of Kogi State has stirred increasing public concern, with calls for stronger regulation, corporate accountability, and community protection gaining momentum.
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