World coronavirus dispatch: Global total rises by 1 mn in less than 2 weeks

From UK's record budget deficit, to a fashion major using robots at warehouses, job cuts at Nissan and IBM, and US allowing tent encampments by homeless - read these and more in today's world dispatch

The total count of coronavirus infections globally has crossed the 5-million mark: That figure is just one of the measures for the pandemic’s global toll. Its persistent rise — the number had crossed passed four million less than two weeks ago — reflects not just pathogen’s pernicious spread but also an increase in testing. The average number of daily new cases worldwide in the past week was more than 91,000, higher than ever, even as the average weekly number of fatalities has been declining. More than 329,000 people have died so far. Read more here.

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