COVID-Informer: Thousands die overnight in UK and US

But overnight the World Trade Organisation detailed the upending of the global economy caused by coronavirus.

In a nutshell, damage could be worse than that of the financial crisis of 2008/09. World trade is expected to fall between 13 and 32 per cent in 2020.

North Africa and Asia are likely to be hardest hit and trade will likely fall steeper in sectors with complex value chains, particularly electronics and automotive products

Estimates of recovery in 2021 are equally uncertain and will depend largely on how long lockdown measures are enforced.

"These numbers are ugly - there is no getting around that. But a rapid, vigorous rebound is possible," WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said.

Overnight the numbers weren't just ugly but downright terrifying in the UK and New York state, too.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo admitted to the "very real possibility" of the the real figures being even worse due to the scale of the problem, but said: "Every number is a face, right. This virus attacked the vulnerable and attacked the weak and it's our job as a society to protect the vulnerable."

In the UK a £750 million coronavirus bailout package for charities was announced. That's not all - the government will match the BBC efforts during the "Big Night In" telethon later this month which has a £20 million goal.

And while the pandemic has caused economic chaos the world over, India is enjoying one unintended but delightful consequence - Delhi has blue skies again.

India has 14 of the 20 worst polluted cities in the world. But last week, Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index reading of 38, about as good as anywhere in the world. Residents are accustomed to readings in the range of 150 - on good days.

It's not just Delhi, but Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Ghaziabad. All across India, cities can suddenly breathe.

In other hard-hit COVID-19 centres - Los Angeles, New York, Beijing, Seoul and Milan, for instance - they too have experienced less pollution.

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