WORLD-WIDE COVID-19 DEATH TOLL

The confirmed global death toll from the COVID-19 virus is now at least 400,000. The United States leads the world with nearly 110,000 confirmed virus-related deaths. Europe has more than 175,000 Italy and Spain, with over 60,000 combined deaths, have acknowledged that their death count is probably larger. Brazil’s government has stopped publishing a running total of coronavirus deaths and infections. Russia had nearly 9,000 new cases over the past 24-hours, and China has reported its first non-imported case in two weeks. Pope Francis cautioned people in countries emerging from lockdown to keep following authorities’ rules on social distancing, hygiene and limits on movement.