LONDON: The global death toll in the coronavirus crisis soared past 60,000 on Saturday, as US calls for the public to cover their faces reignited debate about whether masks could be effective in stemming the pandemic.

The dubious milestone came as Britain recorded a new daily high in fatalities, including a five-year-old child believed to be the nation’s youngest Covid-19 victim. But hard-hit Spain recorded fewer deaths for a second straight day, providing a glimmer of hope in hard-hit Europe.

China, where the virus first appeared late last year, came to a standstill to mourn the patients and medical staff killed in the outbreak. Across the country, cars, trains and ships sounded their horns, and air-raid sirens wailed.

More than 1.1 million people have now fallen ill across the world and over 60,000 people have died, according to a tally based on official data.

Billions of people are living under some form of lockdown, with roughly half the planet confined to their homes as schools and businesses have closed in a bid to slow down the spread of the virus.

Europe continued to bear the brunt of the pandemic, but official figures suggested the unprecedented measures to restrict people’s movement were having an effect.

Although the picture was grim in Britain where the overall death toll climbed to more than 4,300 out of nearly 42,000 cases, other countries saw reason for cautious optimism.

Spain, which is under a near-total lockdown, saw a second successive daily fall in coronavirus-related deaths with 809 fatalities.

The total number of deaths in the country now stands at 11,744, second only to Italy. The number of new Spanish cases also slowed.

And Italy reported on Friday that the daily rise of officially registered infections dropped to a new low of just four per cent, while the number of people who had fully recovered was rising.

“The numbers are improving,” said Giuli Gallera, chief medical officer of Italy’s worst-hit Lombardy region.

“Our hospitals are starting to breathe.”

But the situation is rapidly deteriorating in the United States, where worst affected New York state reported a record 630 deaths in a single day.

President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday suggested simple masks or scarves might help stem the rocketing infection rate.

Several Western countries, including Germany and France have in recent days changed tack and are now encouraging even the use of homemade masks despite earlier telling citizens only carers needed to cover their faces.

The U-turn has angered and confused some citizens, and spurred a flurry of online tutorials for DIY masks. But Trump himself said he wouldn’t be covering up.

“It’s going to be really a voluntary thing,” the president said. “You don’t have to do it and I’m choosing not to do it, but some people may want to do it and that’s okay.”

Anthony Fauci, head of infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health, cited “recent information that the virus can actually be spread even when people just speak as opposed to coughing and sneezing.”

The World Health Organisation has been more cautious on the science, although it is reviewing its guidance. The US recommendation will likely worsen an already severe shortage of masks in the US and Europe, which both rely heavily on imports from China.

Officials in New York began advising people to wear masks some days ago.

“I am trying to protect me and my family. If everybody protects themselves, it’s better for all of us,” said Eddie Marrero, a 58-year-old handyman.

In Turkey, all those going to shops or markets must wear a face mask from Saturday.

Despite early indications that the lockdowns are starting to have an effect, European governments have warned citizens not to expect a loosening of the restrictions anytime soon.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2020