World steps up efforts to tackle COVID-19, as number of people who have died from the virus in China exceeds 3,000.

The US Congress has voted for a $8.3bn emergency funding package to fight the coronavirus as Italy closes schools, and cancels public events and countries around the globe report more cases.

The US move came as the country reported a total of 11 deaths, including one in California, the first outside Washington state. More cases have also emerged in New York and Los Angeles with California declaring a state of emergency. 

Globally, more than 93,000 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the vast majority of them in China where the virus originated late last year.

The country's National Health Commission announced on Thursday that a further 31 people had died from the illness pushing the death toll above 3,000.

The country has now confirmed 80,409 people with the virus although many have now recovered.

This is Mersiha Gadzo in Doha taking over for Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.

Here are all the latest updates.

06:30 GMT - IMF: Virus will slow global economic growth this year

The spread of the coronavirus will hold 2020 global output gains to their slowest pace since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday.

The IMF now expects 2020 world growth to be below the 2.9 percent rate for 2019 and revised forecasts will be issued in the coming weeks.

The IMF is making available $50bn in emergency funding to help poor and middle-income countries with weak health systems respond to the epidemic, Georgieva said after a call with the IMF's steering committee.

SOURCE: ALJAZEERA