World coronavirus dispatch: The UK-NZ-Germany success, and Korea's haste

From carmaker Renault laying off 14,600 people, to S&P's downgrading Rolls-Royce to junk, and the third type of coronavirus transmission - read these and more in today's world dispatch

After some recovery in cases, South Korea had allowed schools to open. But it has now quickly rushed to close them back again amid another outbreak. On Thursday, the country reported 79 new cases within 24 hours — its highest number in two months. More than 200 schools across South Korea were forced to return to online teaching just days after being allowed back in classrooms. Most of the affected schools are in an area outside of Seoul, which has seen a fresh outbreak of the virus. Read more here

Let’s look at the global statistics

• Total confirmed