World Cricket News

US coronavirus death toll surpasses 10,000 The coronavirus death toll in the United States has now surpassed 10,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins. According to the university’s data, the US has recorded 10,335 deaths in connection to the pandemic. That is up from 846 just 12 days ago. The death toll is expected to steeply rise over the next several days, as health experts have warned this could be the worst week for the country since the crisis started.

Italy reports 636 new deaths from Covid-19 Angela Giuffrida There were  636 more deaths from coronavirus in Italy on Monday , 111 more than the number registered on Sunday, bringing the death toll in Italy to 16,523,  Angela Giuffrida  reports from Orvieto. The number of current new infections increased by 1,941, a rise of 2% since Sunday and the lowest day-to-day rise registered since 30 March. For the third day in a row, there was a decrease in the number of intensive care beds in use. The total number of coronavirus cases in Italy to date, including deaths and 22,837 people recovered, stood at 132,547 as of Monday, according to figures from Italy’s civil protection authority.

Medical experts discuss the risks and benefits of using donor plasma from Covid-19 survivors—a treatment known as convalescent plasma therapy— to help the very ill recover. Calling all Covid-19 survivors: Health experts believe that if you donate your blood, it might help save the lives of people infected with the coronavirus. If you’ve tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, and you’ve now recovered and are symptom-free, you may be able to help others by donating plasma. This is the liquid part of your blood that contains antibodies that contribute to your immune response. At least that’s the hope pinned on so-called convalescent plasma therapy, according to infectious disease and public health experts. What is convalescent plasma therapy? Convalescent plasma therapy involves taking donated blood from people who have recovered from Covid-19, and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate out the clear watery plasma that contains infection-fighti

Human trials will begin imminently – but even if they go well and a cure is found, there are many barriers before global immunisation is feasible Even at their most effective – and draconian – containment strategies have only slowed the spread of the respiratory disease Covid-19. With the World Health Organization finally declaring a pandemic, all eyes have turned to the prospect of a vaccine, because only a vaccine can prevent people from getting sick. About 35 companies and academic institutions are racing to create such a vaccine, at least four of which already have candidates they have been testing in animals. The first of these – produced by Boston-based biotech firm Moderna –   will enter human trials imminently . This unprecedented speed is thanks in large part to early Chinese efforts to sequence the genetic material of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. China shared that sequence in early January, allowing research groups around the world to grow the li

Eddie Jones is set to agree a new deal to continue coaching England through to the Rugby World Cup in France in 2023. The 60-year-old Australian's current contract expires in August 2021, but he has been in talks over an extension after guiding England to the World Cup final last year. Rugby Football Union boss Bill Sweeney said in December "conversations were ongoing" over a new contract. The RFU could make an announcement as early as Thursday. Jones was appointed in December 2015, replacing Stuart Lancaster after a disappointing home World Cup that autumn. He led England to a record-equalling unbeaten run, which included a Grand Slam in 2016 and a Six Nations title the year after. The team's form slumped in 2018, but Jones arrested the slide before the World Cup in Japan. There, superb victories over Australia in the quarter-finals and New Zealand in the semi-finals established Jones' men as favourites to beat South Africa in the final, bu

British Airways is expected to announce it will suspend around 36,000 staff. The airline, which grounded much of its fleet due to the coronavirus crisis, has been negotiating with the Unite union for more than a week. The two sides have reached a broad deal but are yet to sign on some details. The agreement means that up to 80% of BA cabin crewy, ground staff, engineers and those working at head office will have their jobs suspended but no staff are expected to be made redundant. The decision will affect all staff at Gatwick and London City Airport after the airline suspended its operations at both locations until the crisis is over. Those affected are expected to receive some of their wages through the government's coronavirus job retention scheme, which covers 80% of someone's salary capped at a maximum of £2,500 a month. It is thought that the Unite union has been pushing for staff to be paid more than that. BA has already reached a separate deal with its

Hospitals should use spare laboratory space to test NHS staff in England for coronavirus who are self isolating, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. The advice comes as the government faces growing criticism over a lack of testing for frontline staff. There is frustration that self-isolating staff could return to work if tested and cleared of having the virus. On Tuesday, Cabinet Office minister   Michael Gove admitted the UK had to go "further, faster" to increase testing . It came as a 13-year-old boy from south London who tested positive for coronavirus died. 'Very worrying' Testing so far has been focused on patients, though NHS England has told hospitals to use up to 15% of their testing capability on staff, if this is possible. Mr Hancock has now urged hospitals to go further and test as many staff as they can, with health officials saying laboratories have the capacity to take on more tests. The government has been repeatedly criti