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Summary
- The global coronavirus death toll has passed 259,000. There are more than 3.7 million known cases of infection but more than 1.2 million people have recovered, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally
- In Australia, the death toll stands at 97 and there have been 6875 confirmed cases
- President Donald Trump says the White House coronavirus taskforce will continue "indefinitely" but focus on COVID-19 treatments and safely reopening the US economy
- UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he wants some lockdown measures to be eased as soon as Monday
- Trials are starting at Heathrow Airport aimed at setting a global common standard for health screening that would enable international travel to restart
More than 200 coronavirus mutations found in London study
A genetic study of samples from more than 7500 people infected with COVID-19 suggests the new coronavirus spread quickly around the world after it emerged in China sometime between October and December last year, scientists say.
Scientists at University College London's Genetics Institute found almost 200 recurrent genetic mutations of the new coronavirus - SARS-CoV-2 - which the researchers say shows how it is adapting to its human hosts as it spreads.
People wait at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan in China, where the coronavirus outbreak is believed to have originated.Credit:Getty Images
ACT announces staged return to school
The ACT has become the latest Australian region to announce a plan to return school students to classrooms.
From Monday May 18, students in preschool, kindergarten, year 1, year 2 and year 7 will return to classrooms full-time. Students in year 11 and 12 will attend a combination of campus and remote learning from that date.
Then, on Monday May 25 students in year 3, year 4 and year 10 will return to school. The remaining grades will start on Tuesday June 6.
Remote learning will still be available for students with chronic health conditions of compromised immune systems.
The announcement leaves Victoria and Tasmania as the only two jurisdictions without a plan to return children to classrooms.
NSW and Queensland students will begin a staggered return to on-site learning from May 11.
The ACT approach mirrors that of Queensland, returning entire year groups at a time. In NSW, all students will begin attending school one day a week, with senior students encouraged to return full-time.
'A recession of historic proportions': Europe's hit will be long-lasting
By Bevan Shields
Europe will experience a "recession of historic proportions" that dwarfs the global financial crisis, according to new forecasts which warn of a collapse in investment, surge in government debt and spike in unemployment that leaves one in five people jobless in some countries.
European Commission economy commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said the wildly uneven distribution of the coronavirus-induced damage across the continent posed a threat to the European Union's single market as well as the eurozone, its monetary union.
New forecasts show economic activity will sink by a record 7.7 per cent across the eurozone in 2020, and 7.4 per cent across the larger political grouping, the European Union.
In a blow to hopes of a rapid recovery once lockdowns are wound back, the lost ground will not be fully regained until at least 2022.
Today's front page
Global death toll passes 260,000
By Latika Bourke
Good morning, if you are just joining us here are the main developments overnight:
The global death toll from coronavirus passed 260,000. There are more than 3.7 million known cases of infection but more than 1.2 million people have recovered, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally
In Australia:
- The AFP is investigating after the government's early access super scheme was fraudulently accessed
Read more from reporter Sarah Keoghan: ATO investigating fraudulent activity of government's super scheme
- An Emirates-linked company, dnata, is threatening to quit Australia because its Australian employees are ineligible to access JobKeeper support because the company is backed by a foreign state-government
Overseas:
- US President Donald Trump reversed his decision to wind down the White House coronavirus taskforce, saying he didn't realise how popular it was
- Mike Pompeo changed tack on the Wuhan lab theory, saying there was no certainty COVID-19 came from a lab. On Sunday, the US Secretary of State claimed there was "enormous evidence" to support the theory although provided none
Read more from US correspondent Matthew Knott: 'Enormous evidence? Show us': US, China clash over coronavirus origins
- The UK became only the second nation to record more than 30,000 deaths from coronavirus; Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would announce an easing of the national lockdown, which he hoped would take effect from Monday
- Trials are starting at Heathrow Airport aimed at leading to setting a commons standard for public health screening - a key in kickstarting international travel
- In Geneva, the World Health Organisation said it was up to member states and not the Director-General to decide on whether Taiwan should participate in the upcoming World Health Assembly's meeting
- Spain extended its lockdown by another two weeks
- Germany's soccer league is set to restart in mid-May
And that's it from me. I'm handing over to Mary Ward in Sydney who will take you through the day's developments.
Latika Bourke signing off.
Nurse, with cape, is superhero in new Banksy artwork
By Latika Bourke
Artist Banksy has depicted a nurse as a superhero in a new artwork that has been hung in a hospital in Southampton, England.
The work depicts a boy selecting a model nurse from a basket containing toy superheroes, including a Batman figurine.
The nurse has a cape flowing behind her and her arm outstretched in a superman pose.
She wears a mask and her red cross on her apron is the only colour in the image.
Banksy captioned the work on Instagram: "Game Changer."
Paula Head, Chief Executive of University Hospital Southampton said the work was created as a thank you to NHS staff and would be "temporarily on display."
"So proud to reveal this amazing piece of art Painting for Saints, created by Banksy as a thank you to all those who work with and for the NHS and our hospital," Head said.
"An inspirational backdrop to pause and reflect in these unprecedented times."
Americans won't put up with lockdowns: Trump
By Latika Bourke
US President Donald Trump says he did not realise how popular the White House coronavirus taskforce was before announcing it would be wound down.
Trump gave the explanation after earlier tweeting that the taskforce would stay on, reversing his original decision less than 24 hours after making it.
But he said the taskforce would have new members added to it and shift its focus to reopening the US economy safely, as well as treatments.
Asked why he changed his mind, Trump said: "I had no idea how popular the taskforce is."
"It's very respected, people said 'we should keep it going,' so let's keep it going but we'll be adding people to it," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump also claimed he wore a mask "backstage" at the start of his visit to the Arizona mask-factory Honeywell but was told it was unnecessary.
President Donald Trump tours an N95 mask manufacturing plant in Phoenix, Arizona.Credit:AP
"There's nothing I can do to satisfy the media, the Democrats, or the Fake News," he said when pressed by reporters on the issue.
Trump also defended his haste to reopen the economy, saying the American people would not put up with the lockdowns for much longer.
"The country won't take it, it won't stand it, it's not sustainable," he said.
More than 30 million Americans have been thrown out of work since the pandemic began.
Queen to make VE address
By Latika Bourke
Buckingham Palace says the Queen will deliver her second televised address to the nation in less than five weeks.
The monarch rarely makes broadcasts outside of her Christmas message - this will be her only her fifth.
The "special broadcast" will mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day but is widely expected to also address the coronavirus pandemic.
VE Day marks the day when fighting against Nazi Germany came to an end on May 8 1945.
In her last address just after the UK went into lockdown, the 93-year-old recalled her wartime memories to remind Britons that today's tough times would also come to an end.
"We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again," she said in her message on April 6, in remarks that echo the lyrics of Dame Vera Lynn's famous World War II rallying anthem We'll Meet Again.
The VE Day address, which has already been recorded, was filmed in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle. It will air at 6:00am Saturday morning AEST.
Emirates catering company threatens to quit Australia
By Latika Bourke
A company connected to Dubai's Emirates Group says it is reviewing the viability of its Australian businesses after its workers were excluded from the federal government's JobKeeper program.
dnata handles Emirates' ground services including catering, retail and hospitality and employs 6000 Australians.
But because the company is foreign-owned, the federal government has made it ineligible to receive taxpayer funds that are being paid to companies to support jobs temporarily put on hold, due to to coronavirus restrictions.
Chef Balraj Kumar preapres hot meals in the kitchen of airline caterer dnata's facility in Canberra.Credit:Dion Georgopoulos
A dnata spokesman said in an emailed statement that the decision puts 4500 jobs at risk.
"The unintended consequence of the JobKeeper amendment is a loophole whereby thousands of Australian employees are not eligible for wage subsidies while stood down," the spokesman said.
"As a result, we are also forced to review medium, and long-term viability of dnata’s various Australian businesses."
Michael Kaine from the Transport Workers Union said he was hopeful the Australian government would rectify the loophole.
"This is a devastating blow for thousands of workers in Australia who have been assuming up to now that their jobs were secure and their income was certain because of the JobKeeper Payment," Kaine said.
"There are specific cases, such as the Emirates Group, where foreign governments retain a big stake in their aviation sectors which now employ many workers in Australians.
"We are hopeful the Government can recognise this situation and rectify it."
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been contacted for comment.
Boris Johnson wants lockdown easing to 'get going' on Monday
By Latika Bourke
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been questioned about his handling of the pandemic which is coming under increased scrutiny, with the UK overtaking Italy to record Europe's highest death toll.
The UK has recorded more than 30,000 deaths, the second-highest reported coronavirus toll in the world.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes a morning walk at St James's Park in London before returning to Downing Street, Wednesday May 6, 2020.Credit:PA
The UK was slow to carry out mass testing, which critics say is partly to blame for allowing the virus to spread and claim so many lives.
Johnson promised to double the UK's testing capacity to 200,000 per day by June, having achieved a target of carrying out 100,000 tests by May - however, this number has since declined.
Johnson is also accused of waiting too long before imposing an enforced lockdown, which eventually came into force on March 23.
The extended shutdown is due to expire on Thursday; Johnson confirmed he will make a televised address on Sunday to outline the first stages of the lockdown easing.
He said he hoped to "get going on some of these measures on Monday."
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