New Zealand's borders will be closed to everyone but citizens and residents, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.
Stunning images have surfaced on social media showing the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, lit up with the flags of all the countries that have been hit by Covid-19.
The 38-metre tall statue was lit up with images of each flag on Wednesday for amass led by the Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Dom Orani Tempesta, in honour of the victims of the virus around the world.
The illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro performs a mass in honour of the victims of Covid-19 around the world. Photo / Getty Images
There are more than 219,000 cases of coronavirus around the world and the number continues to rise.
The illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer. Photo / Getty Images
Nearly 9,000 people have died from Covid-19 and the virus is in 157 countries.
Pray together.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is lit up in the colors of the countries that are affected by the #COVID19 outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 18, 2020. Sergio Moraes, Reuters pic.twitter.com/BGpH50s9we
The statue, which last year saw almost two million visitors, closed at day's end on Tuesday and won't reopen for at least a week.
To contain the virus' spread, Brazil's Chico Mendes Institute on Tuesday ordered the closure of all national parks it oversees, including the one that's home to the Christ.
Brazil has recorded more than 500 cases of Covid-19, including four deaths.
