KINGSTON, Jamaica — The number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infections worldwide neared four million, while 274,617 people across 195 countries and territories have died. Approximately 1,293,700 people have recovered from the virus, as some countries slowly begin to lift lockdowns in an effort to return to normalcy.

— In Jamaica the number of confirmed cases rose to 490 after two more samples tested positive for the virus.

— The St Vincent and the Grenadines government says schools, which have been closed as part of the lockdown of the island in keeping with the efforts to curb the spread of the virus, could be re-opened later this month.

— The British Government says it is providing £5 million in support to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in the Caribbean.

— Brazil, Latin America’s hardest hit country, announced on Friday it had reached a new daily record for COVID-19 fatalities with 751 deaths.

 — The United States recorded 1,635 coronavirus deaths in the 24 hours, bringing the country’s death toll to 77,178.

— A five-year-old boy in New York state has died from a rare inflammatory disease believed to be caused by the new coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Friday.

—Britain now has the second highest death toll with over 31,000 deaths. Italy, at one time the epicentre in Europe, has registered 30,201 deaths, Spain has recorded 26,478 fatalities and France 26,230. 

Read the full stories here:

Two new positives put COVID-19 cases at 490, as four more recover

St Vincent hoping to re-open schools by month end

Brazil has one-day record of 751 coronavirus deaths

US adds 1,635 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: tracker

UK coronavirus toll passes 31,000: Gov’t

New York child dies from rare disease linked to COVID-19

ARE WE FLATTENING THE CURVE?here for interactive chart* with details on Jamaica’s numbers.here for a look at the numbers globally.

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*Data mined from various sources around the world.