Coronavirus news you may have missed overnight: Covid-19 'could be yet to peak' in care homes, as British Airways to make up to 12,000 workers redundant

Pandemic has now infected more than 3.11 million people worldwide and almost 217,000 deaths have been recorded

The global coronavirus pandemic has now infected more than 3.11 million people worldwide and almost 217,000 deaths have been recorded.

In the UK, more than 161,145 people have been confirmed to have contracted the disease, while the country’s hospital death toll has reached 21,678.

Here is your morning briefing of everything you may have missed overnight.

Coronavirus ‘could be yet to peak’ in care homes

Health secretary Matt Hancock refused to apologise to the relatives of elderly residents who died of coronavirus in care homes, as fresh figures showed more than 5,000 fatalities in England alone.

The new figures from the Office for National Statistics and Care Quality Commission put the UK on track for a higher overall death toll than Italy, Spain or France, lagging only behind the US.

And experts warned deaths in care homes may not yet have reached their peak, with one suggesting they could be running at as much as 400 a day – around the same as are occurring in hospitals.

British Airways to make up to 12,000 workers redundant

British Airways is to make up to 12,000 staff redundant in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The airline has cut 94 per cent of its flights and its parent company, IAG, lost almost half a billion pounds in the first three months of 2019, with much heavier losses expected.

As a result, British Airways has begun consulting with unions representing pilots, cabin crew and ground-based staff over redundancies for almost 30 per cent of employees.

Trump says US ‘very close’ to 5m daily coronavirus tests as cases pass 1m

Donald Trump said the United States “soon” would be able to test 5 million people a day for coronavirus, and claimed his administration has done an “incredible job” dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in New York state despite at least 17,600 deaths there.

“We’re going to be there very soon ... We’re really doing ... a great job on testing,” the president told reporters following an event at the White House, which replaced his daily evening Covid-19 briefing.

There have been at least 57,600 Covid-19 deaths on US soil and more than 1 million confirmed cases. Experts say both figures are likely higher.

Spain to phase out coronavirus lockdown and partially reopen bars

Spain has announced a four-phase plan to lift one of the toughest coronavirus lockdowns in Europe and return to normality by the end of June.

Prime minister Pedro Sanchez said the lifting of the restrictions that have halted public life since 14 March and nearly paralysed the economy will begin on 4 May and vary from province to province.

During the initial phase, hairdressers and other businesses that operate via appointment will open, while restaurants will be able to offer takeaway services.