Some news on the global front now:

Johson: Things could have gone either way

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that “things could have gone either way” in his struggle against coronavirus in a video recorded after he left hospital following intensive care treatment.

“I hope they won’t mind if I mention in particular two nurses who stood by my bedside for 48 hours when things could have gone either way,” he said, as he praised his medical team at London’s St Thomas’ Hospital.

Spain ‘far from victory’ in virus fight – PM

Spain is “far from victory” in its fight against the coronavirus, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned on Sunday as the country’s death toll from the pandemic rose again after falling for three days in a row.

The nation registered 619 new deaths in the last 24 hours from Covid-19, bringing the death toll to 16 972, the health ministry said, the highest in the world after the United States and Italy. The toll was 510 on Saturday, the lowest since March 23.But the number of new infections continued its slow, rising by 4 167 to 166 019, a smaller increase than was recorded on Saturday.

Although health chiefs say the pandemic has peaked, they have urged the population to strictly follow a national lockdown which was put in place on March 14 in order to reduce the spread of the virus.

“We are still far from victory, from the moment when he will recover normality in our lives,” Sanchez said during a televised address.

“We are all keen to go back out on the streets… but out desire is even greater to win the war and prevent a relapse,” he added.His comments come as Spain braced for the reopening of some sectors of its economy, with some factory and construction workers set to return to work on Monday.

US could start reopening in May, top virus advisor says

The United States may be ready to start gradually reopening next month, the government’s top infectious diseases expert said Sunday, as signs grew that the coronavirus pandemic is peaking.

President Donald Trump had earlier wanted the world’s largest economy to be “raring to go” by Sunday, but most of the country remained at a standstill and churches took Easter celebrations online to halt the spread of the virus that has killed more than 20 000 people in the US.

Trump has cast the decision on when to ease the lockdown as the biggest of his presidency as he faces competing pressures from public health experts and businesses along with some conservative allies who want a swift return to business as usual.

Anthony Fauci, the veteran pandemic expert who has quietly sought action to stem infections, said in a televised interview that parts of the country could begin easing restrictions next month – but was cautious.

Tourists forced to write ‘sorry’ 500 times over India lockdown breach

Ten foreigners who broke a coronavirus lockdown in an Indian town made famous by the Beatles, were forced to repent by writing “I am so sorry” – 500 times, officials said Sunday.

The nationwide lockdown was imposed near the end of March, with residents permitted to leave their homes only for essential services such as buying groceries and medicine.

The travellers – from Israel, Mexico, Australia and Austria – were caught taking a walk in Rishikesh, where the Beatles sought spirituality at an Ashram in 1968.