COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 22 April

1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

2. Will COVID-19 lead to the global resurgence of other deadly diseases?

COVID-19 could indirectly spark an increase in many other deadly diseases. That's because 14 major vaccination campaigns targeting polio, measles, cholera, meningitis and other diseases have been postponed thanks to efforts to combat coronavirus, according to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

“Children missing out now must not go their whole lives without protection from disease,” says Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi. “The legacy of COVID-19 must not include the global resurgence of other killers like measles and polio.”

3. Why gig workers are among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic

According to AppJobs – an online platform to compare app-based jobs around the world - many gig workers have needed to quit their jobs due to a lack of demand, or to protect their own safety. Almost 70% of gig workers said they now have no income, and only 23% have some money saved. While gig work offers flexibility, these workers have limited access to benefits that would cushion the blow of the current downturn, including unemployment benefits, health insurance and sick leave.

4. This is how COVID-19 is changing the nature of grief
While consolation from friends and family is common after a death, isolation measures brought on by COVID-19 are making this impossible, notes Lucy Selman, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Bristol. Selman encourages those in mourning to reach out to others however they can – by telephone calls to friends or even through bereavement support channels offered by mobile apps, web forums and virtual peer-support meetings.

"As COVID-19 progresses over the coming months," writes Selman, "our personal, professional and collective compassion will be put to the test. But with open hearts, a willingness to connect, and the courage to acknowledge and express grief and sorrow, we can help our communities heal."

5. Celebrities are helping the UK's schoolchildren learn during lockdown

Lockdowns have closed schools, forcing more and more parents to homeschool their children. The UK’s national broadcaster, the BBC, has stepped in to help, expanding its Bitesize educational platform to offer lessons based on the national curriculum. A team of 200 teachers developed offerings that will include the appearance of some famous names from music, sports and science. Sir David Attenborough will give lessons on the oceans and mapping the world, while Argentina football star Sergio Agüero will teach counting in Spanish.