An independent panel appointed by the World Health Organisation to review its co-ordination of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic has said it will have full access to any necessary internal UN agency documents, materials and emails.

Covid-19 is a “tornado with a long tail” and increased case counts among young people could ultimately see the virus passed on to more vulnerable older people and cause an uptick in deaths, the World Health Organisation’s chief for Europe has warned.

The chief of the World Health Organisation has condemned US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for “untrue and unacceptable” comments, responding to reported allegations that included the health agency chief having been “bought” by China.

The head of the World Health Organisation has said the coronavirus pandemic is “accelerating” and that more than 150,000 cases were reported on Thursday — the highest single-day number so far.