Covid-19: Global virus deaths pass 150,000

Passengers wearing face masks ride a commuter train with chairs marked for social distancing as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus outbreak in Bangkok on Saturday (April 19). - AFP

BEIJING/TOKYO/WASHINGTON/PARIS: Covid-19 (coronavirus) deaths have surged past 150,000 worldwide with nearly a quarter of them in the United States, where President Donald Trump lent his support to protestors rallying against lockdown orders.

Evidence is mounting that social distancing successfully slowed the pandemic after more than half of humanity -- 4.5 billion people -- were confined to their homes.