Direct kindness to tens of millions of american households. And in south africa to patrol the stop of a total lockdown a correspondent reports from the streets of africas most industrialized nation. Im anthony held welcome to the program set another record for the most deaths from corona virus in a single day almost 1000. 00 people have died in the last 24 hours bringing the total death toll to 9000 thats the highest number of any country and Health Officials say the worst may be yet to come hospital wards are still full doctors say the number of patients is now stating contagion rates appear to be slowing giving hope that the strict social controls. Working at the lockdown is hitting the Italian Economy homeless are among among the most affected churches and charities are over loaded with people looking for basic supplies. Well earlier we spoke to journalists in the gupta who is following the events from the run we asked her how authorities have been explaining these record numbers of fatalities its shocking figures really but earlier on friday you had representatives from Italys National Health Institute essentially saying it cautiously optimistic despite the cement speak is because they say that of contagion is flattening any has been just slow ever so slightly since march 20th insult you even had the governor of the region saying that the region needs start to see a decline in infections in the next few days the long before recall is the hardest reach hit region in the north of italy so were nowhere near the peak in terms of number of it didnt factions and were not in a declining phase either here in italy but there is a sign that days are diminishing in terms of the number of infections and still containment theyre saying its even more important now for everyone to stand tall and stick to those knock down measures of azima gupta in rumble as the global death toll climbs the World Health Organization has announced trials for a new drug and that treating those who already suffer from corona virus a large number of countries are said to be involved in a study which will compare the safety and effectiveness of various drugs and different combinations of medications this is a historic trial which will dramatically cut the time needed to generate robust evidence about what drugs work. More than 45. 00 countries are contributing to the trend and more have expressed interest the more countries we join the tram the faster we would have the results we have one humanity wiese one common enemy no country can fight alone we can only fight together u. S. President donald trump has signed a 2 trillion dollar Coronavirus Relief bill into law following its passage through the house of representatives. April approved the legislation in a dramatic voice vote its the biggest economic stimulus bill in the nations history and passed with strong support from both republicans and democrats ilia this way it had already passed the senate. Bill that comes as the number of confirmed cases of corona virus in the United States is now past 100000 early on friday President Trump issued an order forcing General Motors to produce ventilators and he also defended his administrations handling of the emergency the medias been pretty good and the governors have been really good except for a couple and with them its just political has trumped or well i dont know you know thats because we have done we have done a job the likes of which nobody seems so. You can sort of think you very appreciative because you know what when theyre not appreciated to me theyre not appreciative to the army corps theyre not appreciative defame its not right lets go now to our washington correspondent stefan seaman stephan we heard donald trump there calling for appreciation from the states whats the status of that crucial relationship. Yeah the president needs is the in need of some law from the governors in the states and then ive given it to him the way he thinks they should because again on the ground in those states and for those governors they are looking at a set of problems and that is we are still at the beginning of a major crisis here theres no peek inside yet not for new york not for a new wall and not for other cities like chicago or detroit theyre all looking at models and data. Which do not look really really good for those metropolitan areas and states and they need again ventilators ventilators ventilators to be prepared for whats coming their way and protective gear for their Health Care Workers for the nurses for the for the doctors the president wants to be appreciated for what he and the federal governments do or or what their what the government is going to do for those states but that doesnt help them right now and this is where the disconnect is sia while thats going on and unprecedented 2. 00 trillion dollars relief package is now whats driving this ratio of unity in congress. Desperation thats the unifying drive and motivation here and that is the economy had to be shut down because of the coronavirus as the president said before and everybody else had been for a life saving life saving life saving comes 1st then we restart the economy democrats and republicans had no other choice and no other chance as working together on this relief package or aid package for the for the economy there are grants made sure that a few points there are really eager about having in there are actually even then this is control about where this money will be spent how it will be spent by big corporations and businesses and businesses their interests do not want a repeat of 2008 where Big Companies used relief and bailout money to increase c. E. O. Salaries and buy back program for stock so this is not happening both parties had a little bit weaker room and found a compromise and now we have a 2 trillion relief package President Trump has now reversed course and is forcing a giant General Motors to quickly produce much needed vangelis how are americans viewing hes management of this crisis now. It was for a week plus now a lot of head scratching why the president would come out and say im invoking the defense production act and then the day or 2 later saying i just invoked it but im not going to use it now finally a week later and this is also a sign for the immense pressure this trumpet of ministration is under from the governors from the states he actually used the defense productive production act and ordering g. M. To produce ventilators because again ventilators is what this country needs to save lives thats what the experts say in the coming weeks stefanski months in washington thank you. All right time to take a look now at more of the latest developments in the corona virus pandemic and british Prime MinisterBoris Johnson has tested positive for coded 19 jumps and says he will be so fossilize in but will continue to lead the fight against the pandemic german chancellor Angela Merkel and u. S. President donald trump have agreed to explore possible cooperation on combating the corona Virus Outbreak and zimbabwe has announced a 3 total lockdown to stop on monday the measures will make life even more difficult for millions in the country which is already myatt in an economic crisis. Well meanwhile neighboring south africa has confirmed its 1st to run the virus deaths and the number of cases has risen to more than 1000. 00 the news comes at the start of a 3 week nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of hiv 90 the army has been deployed to help enforce the shut down the restrictions banned people from leaving their homes for anything but essential trips the double is a dream krrish reports from. Im right now on long street and the cent off cape town usually one of the busiest streets and town but right now as you can see is almost deserted the president ordered a lockdown after the corona virus cases slowly kept on increasing in south africa so possibly more than 1000 cases today and at the same time today it was reported that 2 people the 1st 2 people have died because of the virus here in the western cape region but let me take you on a ride through cape town to show you how it looks like here at the moment. So you can still see a few people on the road shockingly also dozens of Homeless People that i have seen of the president said that the government will take them will take them off the streets and make sure they will be taken care of seems that has not happened one time essential businesses are still open it allowed to operate supermarkets for example hospitals and people who have to go there are obviously allowed to go but this is it it is not allowed to have a walk around the corner it is not allowed to walk your dog or to go out for jogging so very strict measures are taking effect here. This is going to be a very difficult time he specially for People Living in townships and millions of south africans do live in tallinn ships very often in shacks in very difficult conditions the economy will be hard to hit already now every 2nd young person in south africa is on employed so were arriving in google to now one of the townships in cape town and you can see there still a lot of people on the street. Moving around lets ask them why they have to pay into is that kind of you wont be able to do this much they need to have an issue it is not i want them to stay indoors to sell and you know i think stiff and its fine for all of us some people need to go to work and some people actually like to take this seriously because they dont do anything to see him so they really need to be in the. Race is real but there was swine flu i mean there was. I feel like people only relate to it when someone in the yeah. But the president says these measures are necessary to protect the countrys Health Care System which could otherwise collapse of the number of cases will continue to increase the way it does at the moment south africa will have a serious problem but people here are hoping that the lockdown will help to flatten the kerf however experts believe it will take at least 2 weeks until we can see a decline in the new cases and this is only the best case scenario. A drink krrish in a cape town hall Spanish Football Club is to cut the wages of players and staff to save money during the Coronavirus Process in spite its not clear how big the cuts will be but boss of players did reject i suggested up to 70 percent earlier this week the leading spanish clubs are expected to follow suit meanwhile boss alone has offered its facilities to the cattle and Governments Health department to help deal with the crisis. Well just like the whole sporting sporting world rather has come to a standstill in. Many of its biggest names have used the free time to help out in the battle against the pandemic. Is the lightest step up with a 7 figure donation. Novak djokovic is a man more used to picking up 7 figure checks them to during the moat but the 17 time major winners pledge of 1000000 euros to buy medical equipment in his native serbia sees him join a growing line of sporting stars and institutions who are using their financial muscle to help battle the coronavirus pandemic in football by immunex prolific. Said goodbye to a few of his gold bonuses as he pledged a 1000000 euros to germanys fighting fund. A separate initiative called we kick. Teammates leone gorecki and yoshua commish raised more than 2500000 euros in its 1st few days in france paris and german raised over 200000 euros for local medical staff battling the coronavirus by selling out a new special edition strip bearing the words all united. Reigning european champions liverpool meanwhile had a simple message of support designed to give medical workers a much needed lift. Thank you to all the incredible people. Services. Who want out there. Believe what you are doing. On behalf of all of us from elop c i would like to say thank you. Germany. A typical show of solidarity from the club whose motto is being echoed across the sporting world youll never walk alone. This is the. A reminder that before we go you can always get all the latest news and information around the clock on our web site thats the w dot com that we more news coming at the top of the alpha now but im Anthony Howell the hof the team here in the she moved with. Combating the corona pandemic. Where does research stand. What are scientists learning. Background information and news our daily corona update. With 19 special next on d w. How does a virus spread. Why do we panic and when well. Just through the topic