COVID-Informer: The time when a COVID-19 case rise of 12 per cent is good news

Now, a few months later, overnight news that thousands of people test positive during a global pandemic feels uncomfortably "good" because it's a few hundred less than yesterday.

Such was the case in Italy where a decreasing number of new infections was reported. The same scenario was reported in mainland China and even Spain.

A near total lockdown to contain the virus has been in place in Spain since March 14, with residents only allowed to leave their homes for work, essential food and medicine purchases, or to care for relatives.

Following the introduction of those restrictions, the trend in daily infections had changed. New cases are rising at about 12% a day, compared with 20% before March 25.

That said, Spanish hospitals remain on the edge of collapse.

Impressed by the relative arrest of the slide, authorities pushed that near-lockdown out until April 9.

Nigeria and Kenya have climbed aboard the lockdown wagon this week; India and South Africa continue to restrict movement and Finland added another month to its lockdown period - it now extends until May 13.

In the US President Trump retreated Sunday from his earlier hope to get the country back to normal by Easter and extended federal guidelines urging social distancing through April 30.

On a brighter note, the UK has sent out its first care packages to 1.5 million people being shielded from the coronavirus. Not everyone was happy as not everyone received the pack with a high chocolate component, but ... you know, the something is better than defence holds up pretty well here.

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