Coronavirus latest – from around the country and around the world

The South London Press takes a look at the latest coronavirus news from around the country and further afield

Second World War hero Captain Tom Moore, pictured above, completed the final 10 lengths of his garden on a zimmer frame – and raised a staggering £12million for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.The 99-year-old finished the last few steps of his 2,530-yard walk at his home in the village of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire with a beaming smile.

National reports suggested that Government ministers could be given the go-ahead to start plans for an exit from the UK’s lockdown in 10 days.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Witty said experts hoped to have enough evidence about the virus by then to be able to “judge how we go into the next phase”.

The news comes as it is expected that the Government will tonight extend the UK lockdown for a further three weeks.

Reports are suggesting that there was a possibility the coronavirus could have originated in a Chinese laboratory.

According to national press US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was investigating claims the virus escaped from a Wuham science laboratory as part of experiments to prove Chinese scientists were superior to Americans.

President Donald Trump said the US would be the “comeback kids” of the virus, predicting some states would reopen later this month.

The guidelines were expected to be announced late last night after President Trump said the US had “passed the peak” of the virus outbreak.

The President said: “We’ll be the comeback kids, all of us. We want to get our country back.”

The US has more than 30,000 Covid-19 deaths so far.

Germany was announcing plans to lift their lockdown, with Chancellor Angela Merkel saying plans to curb the virus had been successful.

The Chancellor announced small shops will open their doors next week with schools possibly opening next month.

However she said social distancing rules will stay in place until May 3 at the earliest.

Takeaway stores in the UK announced plans to start reopening after closing during lockdown.

KFC, Bret A Manger and Burger King are opening certain restaurants around the country for delivery only.

The Government says restaurants can prepare food for delivery – just not open for eat-in diners.

The chains decided on a temporary closure when lockdown was announced in the UK.