The number of coronavirus cases has reached one million in just over three months. Among those cases there have been more than 51,000 deaths. More than 210,000 patients have recovered. China first informed the World Health Organisation about coronavirus on December 31, and it has since spread to most nations and regions. As leaders desperately try to stop the virus, governments have put in place lockdowns of varying degrees, from no movement out of a region to social distancing, where people are told to keep 2 metres apart. <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/world/gcc/coronavirus-saudi-arabia-puts-makkah-and-madinah-under-24-hour-curfew-1.1000875">Saudi authorities</a> tightened a curfew in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah on Thursday to 24 hours a day to control the spread of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, Emirates airline, has been given approval by the UAE to begin flying a limited number of passenger flights. Etihad Airways will continue to offer such services, and from April 5 will operate a regular flight to some countries, starting with Seoul Incheon. Global air travel as been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic as countries took measures to stop the spread of the disease. The UAE confirmed <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/coronavirus-210-new-cases-of-covid-19-in-uae-as-total-reaches-1-024-1.1000923">210 new cases</a> on Thursday evening and two more deaths for a total of 1,024 patients. Ninety-six have fully recovered. In Italy, large tracts of the country’s north have been no-go areas as the death toll closes in on 14,000 and in Spain another 10,000 have died. In the US, with 5,620 deaths, New York has suffered the most with 1,374.<br/> Across the sporting world, it has postponed or cancelled almost every major event, including horse racing, football, tennis and the Olympics.
