Covid-19 outbreak like a nuclear explosion, says archbishop of Canterbury –as it happened
Italy death toll approaches 3,000; Portugal declares state of emergency; worldwide cases pass 200,000. This blog is now closed.
12.34am GMT
That's it from this blog for today. We've started a new liveblog where you can keep up to date with the very latest coronavirus pandemic news here:
Related: Coronavirus live news: WHO calls Covid-19 'enemy against humanity' as Italy deaths jump
11.54pm GMT
Reuters is reporting that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will pardon 10,000 prisoners including political ones in honour of the Iranian new year on Friday, state TV reported.
"Those who will be pardoned will not return to jail ... almost half of those security-related prisoners will be pardoned as well," judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told state TV on Wednesday.
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