Global virus cases near a million as Spain sees record deaths

Half the planet is under some form of lockdown as governments struggle to tamp down a virus that has killed tens of thousands of people

Confirmed coronavirus cases approached one million around the world on Thursday as Europe reeled from the pandemic and the United States reported record numbers of people out of work.

The virus claimed thousands more lives in its relentless march across the globe, including nearly 1,000 new deaths in Spain, despite more than half of the planet being subjected to some form of lockdown.