What you need to know about COVID-19 today, Thursday April 16.

World condemns Trump’s WHO funding cuts.

US President Donald Trump’s move to halt funding to the World Health Organisation, over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, has prompted condemnation from world leaders who appealed for cooperation and unity.

Trump, who has reacted angrily to accusations his administration’s response to the worst epidemic in a century was haphazard and too slow, had become increasingly hostile towards the UN agency before announcing the halt on Tuesday.

WATCH: Trump halting funding to the WHO. Post continues after video.

The WHO, which is based in Geneva, had promoted China’s “disinformation” about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak than otherwise would have occurred, Trump said.

A US official told Reuters that Trump made the move despite pushback within his administration, especially from top health advisers.

The WHO has been appealing for more than $A1.6 billion to fund operations against the pandemic.

Stronger Together!

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 15, 2020

The United States is the biggest overall donor to the WHO, contributing more than $US400 million ($A632 million) in 2019, roughly 15 per cent of its budget.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was not the time to reduce resources for the WHO.

“Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences,” he said in a statement.

“This decision weakens the WHO’s capability and harms international cooperation,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Twitter: “Deeply regret US decision to suspend funding to WHO. There is no reason justifying this move at a moment when their efforts are needed more than ever”.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said apportioning blame did not help.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the WHO was essential to tackling the pandemic.

“At a time like this when we need to be sharing information and we need to have advice we can rely on, the WHO has provided that,” she said. “We will continue to support it and continue to make our contributions.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he sympathised with Trump’s criticisms of the WHO, especially its “unfathomable” support of re-opening China’s “wet markets”, where freshly slaughtered, and live, animals are sold.

“But that said, the WHO also as an organisation does a lot of important work including here in our region in the Pacific and we work closely with them,” Morrison told an Australian radio station.

“We are not going to throw the baby out of with the bathwater here, but they are also not immune from criticism.”

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has penned a scathing editorial in The Economist, slamming the roles the US and China have played in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

He describes Trump’s cutting of funding as a “lunatic decision” and suggests Germany, Japan, France, Britain and Canada form a core group of nations to defend global institutions.

President Trump’s attack on the World Health Organisation is an attempt to take attention away from his lack of domestic preparedness in the US. This is damaging, despite WHO failings, given what’s still to come with this virus. pic.twitter.com/Ywe1EAIlRX

— Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) April 15, 2020

School safety up for discussion.

Authorities will consider ways to make Australian schools safer as national cabinet meets for the first time in a week, with the prime minister wanting attendances to increase.

Scott Morrison is worried about too many students being forced into distance learning.

“I’m very concerned about the quality of education that’s going to be delivered to our kids this year,” he told 6PR radio yesterday.

Deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth says the leaders will look at how to make schools safe, but added that won’t include teachers being made to wear personal protective equipment such as face masks.

Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton maintains schools should undertake remote learning for term two, which has just started in the state.

News.com.au reports one of the plans to be discussed today includes a mass exodus of older teachers aged over 60 and pregnant women from the nation’s schools, which would be enforced for the next six months.

At risk teachers would be asked to work from home, which could mean shortages of up to one in five likely to be in those categories.

The nation's death toll rose to 63 yesterday, with a woman in her 60s becoming the ACT's third victim after catching the virus while travelling on the Ruby Princess cruise ship.

So far, 6447 Australians have caught the disease, with more than 3600 recovered.

The current COVID-19 figures.

Jacinda Ardern takes 20 per cent pay cut.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that her cabinet will take a 20 per cent pay cut for the next six months to reflect the tough economic conditions during the COVID-19 crisis.

"I absolutely accept this is not going to change the government books but for us it's about leadership," she said.

"It's an acknowledgement of the hit many New Zealanders are taking right now."

 

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A post shared by Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern) on Mar 14, 2020 at 2:48am PDT

The pay cut will effect every minister as well as chief executives with the public service.

Upon being informed of the decision the leader of the opposition also volunteered for a pay cut.

Ardern takes home an annual wage of $NZ 470,000. A six month reduction will see her forgo roughly $47,000.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ruled out a pay cut for himself and federal staff here. He says the government preferred the current pay freeze for politicians and top ranking public servants, rather than a cut.

Health officials in New Zealand announced a further 20 cases of the virus yesterday, bringing their total to 1386 and nine deaths.

Local news outlet Stuff reports a man who tested positive has died in his home, but his death is yet to be officially verified.

Racist attacks in Queensland.

Queensland police have laid 22 charges for racially motivated offences, following 16 complaints that range from wilful damage and public nuisance, to robberies and assaults.

Chinese Australians have been targeted by abuse because of COVID-19, with verbal abuse and graffiti among the offences.

READ: 'People wait for the next lift to avoid me.' I'm being racially-abused because of coronavirus.

Aussies turning to booze.

One in five Australians are buying more alcohol than usual during the coronavirus pandemic.

70 per cent are drinking more than normal, and one third are consuming alcohol every day, confirms a YouGov poll of more than 1000 Australian adults.

People reported drinking to cope with stress, with many drinking alone.

They also admitted to drinking more than planned and starting earlier in the day.

UK outbreak 'peaking.'

Britain's coronavirus outbreak is probably peaking officials say.

So far 12,868 people have died in the UK, with some warning the country may end up with the worst death rate in Europe.

The government is expected to announce today that it will extend its current lockdown restrictions which have been in place since March 23.

G20 to freeze debt for poorest countries.

Finance officials from the Group of 20 major economies have agreed to suspend debt service payments for the world's poorest countries through the end of the year, a move quickly matched by a group of hundreds of private creditors.

The actions to freeze both principal repayments and interest payments will free up more than $US20 billion ($A32 billion) for the countries to spend on improving their health systems and fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The debt standstill offer is open to the world's poorest and least-developed countries, as defined by the World Bank and the United Nations.

- With AAP.

Feature image: Getty.

To protect yourself and the community from COVID-19, keep at least 1.5 metres away from other people, regularly wash your hands and avoid touching your face.

If you are sick and believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your GP ahead of time to book an appointment. Or call the national Coronavirus Health Information Line for advice on 1800 020 080. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.

To keep up to date with the latest information, please visit the Department of Health website.