The government’s handling of the crisis is facing mounting criticism from both opposition leaders and parties that previously backed Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Critics say officials were too slow to react, didn’t consult enough with people outside the administration and haven’t been aggressive enough in tackling the virus.

Madrid remains the worst-hit region, with 3,865 deaths and nearly 30,000 cases, leaving hospitals and mortuaries overwhelmed.

By early Wednesday, the US death toll topped 4,000, more than double the number from three days earlier, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The number of confirmed US cases reached 189,510, the most in the world.

Guterres said that the scale of the crisis was due to “a disease that represents a threat to everybody in the world and... an economic impact that will bring a recession that probably has no parallel in the recent past.”

“The combination of the two facts and the risk that it contributes to enhanced instability, enhanced unrest, and enhanced conflict are things that make us believe that this is the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War.”

“A stronger and more effective response... is only possible in solidarity if everybody comes together and if we forget political games and understand that it is humankind that is at stake.”

Here are the developments:

Singapore’s total infections rise to 1,000

Infection numbers in Singapore have been rising steadily with a corresponding increases in patients who do not seem to have known links with existing Covid-19 patients or recent travel history.

About 500 patients remain in public hospitals with 24 in intensive care, while 291 patients who are clinically well but have tested positive are being isolated elsewhere. Three people have died from the illness and 245 people have recovered.

China reports 130 asymptomatic cases

China’s National Health Commission reported 130 people over the past day who were infected with the novel coronavirus but don’t have symptoms, a sign that the group of people who can spread the virus without being detected is sizable.

The commission also reported 36 new Covid-19 cases - and all but one of the new cases in mainland China was imported from abroad. Seven more deaths from the disease had been reported over the previous 24 hours. China, where the virus was first detected in December, has recorded a total of 81,554 cases of Covid-19 and 3,312 deaths from the disease. A total of 76,238 have recovered, according to official figures.

11-year-old Indonesian girl dies of Covid-19

The girl, who was also suffering from dengue fever, was admitted to hospital on Madura Island off the coast of Java on March 19.

She had a fever and breathing difficulties, and died the following day. Tests only confirmed this week that the girl also had Covid-19.

“Her immune system was quite poor,” said Joni Wahyuhadi, an official at East Java’s virus task force.

“She was battling two illnesses at once so that’s why her condition worsened.”

Indonesia said on Wednesday its death toll from the illness had reached 157 - including 11 frontline doctors - compared with 58 a week ago. Infections have more than doubled over the same period to 1,677.

Japan to quarantine all visitors

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday the government was expanding a ban on the entry of non-Japanese people to cover 73 countries as policymakers try to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The number of countries was increased by 49, including the United States, China and South Korea, he said. Abe also said that everyone entering the country, including Japanese nationals, will be asked to go into a voluntary two-week quarantine. Both measures will be effective from Friday.

The premier said he has asked airlines to curb the number of international flights.

Bangkok orders shop closures

Bangkok city hall has ordered all restaurants and stores to close from midnight to 5am in its latest move to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Apart from late-night shutdown of businesses, all parks will be permanently closed starting from Thursday to April 30, according to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang.

The shutdown add tiers to state-of-emergency rules imposed nationwide by the government last week, under which non-essential businesses are shut and inter-provincial travel is discouraged. Group gatherings are also banned.

Bangkok hasn’t announced a curfew like other some provinces but will ask for cooperation from people to stay home. Checkpoints will be set up across the capital city to enforce the rules, Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said.

Wimbledon cancelled due to pandemic

“It is with great regret that the main board of the All England Club and the committee of management of the championships have today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic,” the AELTC said in a statement.

“The 134th Championships will instead be staged from June 28 to July 11, 2021.”

It marks the first time in 75 years that the grasscourt Grand Slam will not be held after the second World War prevented organisers from holding the tournament between 1940-1945.

Over 100 countries ask South Korea for testing help

South Korea’s massive testing campaign, backed by intensive contact tracing, has been credited with helping slow the spread of coronavirus in the country.

“We’re getting so many requests from various countries as we have built experience from the early outbreak. The number, which is now 121 countries, is rising by the day,” the official said asking not be named citing diplomatic sensitivity.

South Korea has set up a task force to determine how it can offer assistance, either with exports of kits or other humanitarian aid, the ministry official said.

The official did not name the countries but South Korean test kit makers have contracts to supply US states and countries including Italy. South Korean biotech firms that supply the kits have expanded production capacity to meet the surge in demand.

Russian plane heads to US with medical supplies

A Russian military plane carrying medical equipment has departed for the United States, the defence ministry in Moscow said on Wednesday.

The Antonov-124, “with medical masks and medical equipment on board”, left for the US overnight, a statement said.

Video released by the ministry showed the cargo plane loaded with boxes preparing to take off from a military airbase near Moscow early Wednesday morning. Russia has previously sent medical supplies and experts to coronavirus-hit Italy as part of a humanitarian effort that analysts said carried geopolitical overtones.

Denis Protsenko, who met with Putin last week as the Russian leader visited the Kommunarka hospital in Moscow, said on Tuesday he had been infected with the coronavirus but was feeling well.

“The president prefers these days to work remotely,” Kremlin spokesman said.

“We are taking all precautionary measures,” he said, adding that Putin was at the presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow.

Edinburgh arts festival called off

The Edinburgh Fringe, which bills itself as the world’s largest arts festival, became the latest event to be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers said in a statement on their website that the gala, due to be held on August 7-31, would not be held. They earlier had postponed the publication of the schedule until July in the hope the situation would improve. Refunds will be offered to participants who had registered.

“Today’s decision that the Fringe will not go ahead as planned was not taken lightly,” Chief Executive Shona McCarthy said in a statement. “However, in light of present circumstances it was unavoidable.”

Together with an international arts festival and a book event the Fringe attracts tens of thousands of people to Scotland’s capital, packing everywhere from spare rooms to hotels and restaurants. With its mix of cabaret, dance, comedy and street performers, the Fringe is an annual platform that’s launched the careers of many artists. It started in 1947.

Iran slams US as death toll crosses 3,000

Iran’s death toll from the coronavirus has passed 3,000, the health ministry said on Wednesday, as President Hassan Rouhani accused Washington of missing a “historic opportunity” to lift sanctions.

Tensions between the arch-foes have soared since President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear agreement in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions.

Tehran has repeatedly called on Washington to reverse its policy, which has been opposed by US allies, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said the coronavirus death toll in Iran now stood at 3,036 following 138 new fatalities in the past 24 hours. He added that 2,987 new cases had been confirmed, bringing the total to 47,593, with 15,473 of those hospitalised having recovered and been discharged.

“This was the best, historic opportunity for the Americans to reverse their wrong path and for once, tell their nation they are not against the Iranian people,” Rouhani said in televised comments at a cabinet meeting.

They “did not learn their lesson even during this difficult global situation,” he said.

Virus-hit cruise ship urged to leave Australia

Authorities are urging a German-operated cruise ship to leave Australian waters amid concerns that a coronavirus outbreak on board could overwhelm already-strained local hospitals.

The state government in Western Australia wants the MS Artania to leave the port of Fremantle and is asking the federal border force to resolve a standoff. Operator Phoenix-Reisen GmbH is refusing to leave for 14 days so it can first determine whether any more people on board are infected, and wants the vessel to be thoroughly cleaned, ABC reported.

“If the ship needs to be cleaned, well, clean it and then get it on its way,” Premier Mark McGowan told reporters on Wednesday. “I’d urge the Australian Border Force to get the ship on its way. It has to get back to Germany.”

Passengers were evacuated on mercy flights to Frankfurt on Sunday, according the operator’s website. The ship still has 12 passengers and 450 crew on board, ABC said. A total of 41 passengers and crew are already being treated in West Australian hospitals for Covid-19, according to the report.

Reuters, Agence France-Presse, DPA, Tribune News Service and Associated Press