As the day unfolded: Global COVID-19 cases surpass 1.9 million, Australian unemployment rate to spike mid-2020 as nation's death toll stands at 62

Also, one of the country's largest media companies has announced plans to shed 200 staff.

New Zealand has been in a strict lockdown for nearly three weeks and all restaurants, including those serving fast food, have been temporarily closed. Company receivers KordaMentha said Tuesday they hope to sell dozens of Burger King restaurants to a new franchise owner and get them reopened after the lockdown ends.

NZME, which runs a number of radio stations and newspapers, announced to the New Zealand stock market it is reducing its workforce by 15% through layoffs and by not filling vacant positions. NZME stock is down by more than 60% over the past year.

Earlier this month, German company Bauer Media announced it was closing its New Zealand operation and would no longer publish many of the country's weekly magazines.

AP

The southern African nation last month published lockdown regulations, which included jail terms of up to 20 years for people who spread falsehoods regarding the outbreak.

National police spokesman Paul Nyathi said more than 5,000 people had been arrested for venturing outside their homes without permission.

Mnangagwa said his cabinet would meet this week to decide whether to end, adjust or extend the 21-day lockdown.

The authorities have said three people have died and 17 people have been infected in the country of 15 million people. Just over 600 people had been tested by Monday night.

In the past week, Zimbabwe has deployed the army to help the police enforce the restrictions.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) group said this had resulted in an increase in cases of residents being beaten by security forces for defying the lockdown.

Police spokesman Nyathi said police had not received any official complains of abuse from residents.

ZLHR has approached the High Court on behalf of two Zimbabweans who said they were abused by security forces.

"This application seeks an order to protect residents from heavy-handed action by police and soldiers who are invading peoples homes/yards and assaulting people ordering them to stay indoors," ZLHR said in a statement.

Zimbabwe's security forces have a history of using heavy handed tactics when enforcing the law and against opponents of the government.

In an editorial on Monday, the state-owned Herald newspaper criticised the police for harassing journalists doing their work during the lockdown, including forcing some to delete pictures and video that captured abuses by security forces.

Nyathi said he was not aware of the incidents.

Reuters

Muller said the government would decide on the lifting of further curbs on Wednesday or Thursday.

Last week the authorities extended a lockdown on schools until April 26 and businesses until April 19. Limits for air and rail transport have also been extended. Poland's borders will remain closed until May 3.

The May 10 elections are now expected to be held exclusively by post in an effort to curtail the risks associated with coronavirus. Opposition politicians and critics say the election risks not being free or fair and some have called for voters to boycott the ballot altogether.

Szumowski said on Tuesday that he is waiting on the General Sanitation Inspectorate to judge the safety of carrying out the elections by post before he will issue his own recommendation.

Human rights officials, international organisations and European Union Commissioner Vera Jourova have criticised the Polish ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party's push to hold elections by post.

Reuters

Tasmania has closed two hospitals at Burnie in the northwest where a virus outbreak has hit 66 people including 45 healthcare workers.

The island state had recorded 150 cases as of Tuesday afternoon, with almost a third of those coming over the Easter holidays in the northwest outbreak.

AAP