COVID-19: Global infections reach 3.7m, as UN appeals for $4.7bn more to fight pandemic

The number of people infected with the novel COVID-19 disease which was first recorded in Wuhan, China, has now reached 3.7 million people, according to data provided by the Johns Hopkins University.

More than 260,000 people have died of the virus even as Poland has been forced to postpone its May 10 presidential election after COVID-19 lockdown threw preparations for the poll into disarray.

Meanwhile, the United Nations is issuing a new appeal for $4.7bn in funding to “protect millions of lives and stem the spread of coronavirus in fragile countries”.

The money is on top of the $2bn the UN already called for when it launched its global humanitarian response plan on March 25. It has received about half of that money so far.

“The most devastating and destabilising effects” of the novel coronavirus pandemic “will be felt in the world’s poorest countries,” says UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock. “Extraordinary measures are needed.”

In a related development, forensic experts are picking bodies of COVID-19 victims off the streets for burial in the Ecuadorian capital.

The body of a 65 year-old was seen picked up on Tuesday and placed in a coffin for burial.

Experts say the country is yet to see its worst days despite recording nearly 1600 deaths and 31000 covid-19 cases.

Residents of indigenous communities have reportedly fled into the amazon rainforests for fear of being wiped out by the virus.