COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 16 April

1. How COVID-19 is impacting the globe

2. Another 5.2 million Americans file for unemployment benefits

The number of Americans to have lost their jobs during the coronavirus crisis has climbed to 22 million, according to government figures released today.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly across the US, leaving over 30,000 dead and an unprecedented number out of work. The US Labour Department announced that 5.24 million people filed for unemployment benefits in the last week, taking the total number of claims since 14 March - when nationwide stay-at-home orders were announced - to 22.2 million.

3. WHO officials respond to US funding cut: ‘We regret the decision’

World Health Organization (WHO) officials responded to news that the United States would temporarily halt funding to the agency at a briefing Wednesday.

“We regret the decision of the President of the United States to order a halt in funding to the World Health Organization,” said Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The WHO said it would review its current funding capabilities and work with partners to fill any financial gaps to ensure the agency’s work continues uninterrupted. “For now, our focus, my focus, is on stopping this virus and saving lives,” said the Director-General. “The WHO is getting on with the job.”

4. How China’s 'Colour Codes' system could reopen the economy after the pandemic

Chinese local officials have worked with the widely-used apps Alipay and WeChat to launch a new virtual passport. The apps evaluate the public health risk a person might bring to their community thanks to a range of data points: a state-issued ID number, address, travel history and self-reported health status. The apps then assign users a corresponding QR code and colour: typically green for good-to-go, yellow for a seven-day or shorter quarantine, and red for a 14-day quarantine. Once the system is in place, shops, mass transit stations and offices may ask residents to show or scan their codes before granting them entry.

5. Why forest loss could make diseases like COVID-19 more likely
A new study finds that as natural habitats are transformed into agricultural land, viruses that jump from animals to people, like the one responsible for COVID-19, will likely become more common. Zoonotic—or animal-to-human—diseases increase when people go to forests for resources and when animals leave their habitats.

According to the researchers, small buffer zones near biodiversity-rich forests such as tree farms could lessen the likelihood of transmission. Providing humans with alternatives to wood for fuel can also discourage humans from seeking out resources in forested areas.

6. How people without running water can wash their hands
Handwashing is key to stopping the spread of coronavirus. However, access to running water is difficult to come by in many developing countries. The WHO has released guidance on ways countries can create washing stations to keep their populations safe, such as this simple 'tippy tap' constructed with basic containers, sticks and rope.