Iran on Wednesday said it was close to "curbing" the new coronavirus outbreak even as it reported more than 2,000 fresh infections for the third day in a row.

"We have been progressing at every step in the past three months... in fighting this dangerous virus and are nearly on the verge of curbing this disease," said President Hassan Rouhani.

Sweden has taken a soft approach to virus restrictions and although its rules are likely to be in place longer than in other countries, officials are adamant their strategy is a winner in the long term.

Spain's government on Tuesday said it would seek parliament's approval to extend the state of emergency by another fortnight, until June 7, even as the number of new coronavirus cases keeps falling. 

Restaurants in Texas have been serving diners for more than two weeks, though at just 25 percent of capacity, and bars and many other businesses will open their doors this week.

Argentina's second city Cordoba has rolled back on the easing of lockdown measures following a sharp spike in coronavirus infections, authorities said Tuesday.

World Health Organization member states agreed Tuesday to an independent probe into the U.N. agency's coronavirus response as U.S. criticism mounted over its handling of the pandemic.

The number of coronavirus cases in Russia hit nearly 300,000 on Tuesday as authorities registered more than 9,000 new infections after saying the virus situation had stabilised.

British lawmakers on Tuesday heaped fresh pressure on the government for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, calling its testing regime "inadequate" in the early stages.

A Chinese laboratory has been developing a drug it believes has the power to bring the coronavirus pandemic to a halt.

The coronavirus pandemic should serve as a "wake-up call" to the world which must be more united in responding to the crisis, UN chief Antonio Guterres said Monday.