Coronavirus surpasses a million cases worldwide

The number of coronavirus cases has passed the one million threshold, with the total number as of 9am (GMT) on Friday, now stands at 1,017,693.

According to the John Hopkins University, the total deaths now stands at 53,179, and 212,072 people have fully recovered from the virus.

It is believed the true number of cases globally is much higher as many countries are not testing all of their population.

America pushed the tally up as they now have 245,573 cases, with 6,058 deaths. Italy has 115,242 cases, with almost 14,000 deaths and Spain is creeping up with 112,065 cases and 10,348 deaths.

In the UK the total confirmed cases of coronavirus stands at 34,173, with 2,926 deaths and a 192 people have fully recovered, as of 9am Thursday morning.

During Thursday’s Downing Street press briefing, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced he has written off £13.4bn of historical NHS debt.

The debt wipe off will help the NHS to be in a “stronger position” to fight the coronavirus, for its long-term future.

Hancock also announced he is providing £300m for community pharmacies to fight the frontline.

NHS doctors face “grave decisions” over who lives and who dies according to new guidance issued over life saving treatment for coronavirus patients.

Should hospitals become overwhelmed with infected patients then doctors will have to make those decisions, the latest guidance from the British Medical Association (BMA) states.

The BMA guidance warns of decisions in rationing scarce resources of ventilators which means a large proportion of patients may not receive the lifesaving treatment.

An NHS doctor who is on the frontline has warned that her ward is full of young people and is urging people to strictly follow the lockdown laws.

Dr Ami Jones who works at the Royal Gwent Hospital as an intensive care consultant said the hospital is “very, very busy.”

“It’s not just the vulnerable and elderly that are getting poorly – my unit is full of 20, 30 and 40-year-olds.”