BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.

The following are the updates on the contagious illness.

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WARSAW -- A plane from China carrying protective gear for Polish medical services to fight the coronavirus epidemic has landed in Warsaw, the press office of the Polish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday in a statement.

According to the Twitter account of the Chinese Ambassador to Poland Liu Guangyuan, within the framework of Chinese humanitarian aid, the Chinese government provided 10,000 COVID-19 test kits, as well as 20,000 N95 respirators, 5,000 protective suits, 5,000 medical goggles and other protective materials needed in the fight against the coronavirus.

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HOUSTON -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday extended the social distancing protocols through the end of April to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Essential Services and Activities Protocols, all Texans must minimize non-essential gatherings and in-person contact with people who are not in the same household until April 30.

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PRAGUE -- The Czech government on Tuesday announced a lump sum payment for self-employed persons affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Finance.

Self-employed workers and entrepreneurs affected by business closures and other complications resulting from government actions to curb the spread of COVID-19 will receive a lump sum of 25,000 Czech crowns (1,008 U.S. dollars) if they meet some basic requirements, read a news release from the ministry.

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BRASILIA -- Brazil's Health Ministry on Tuesday reported that the death toll from COVID-19 has climbed from 159 to 201, as cases of infection rose from 4,579 to 5,717.

The figures show the country's COVID-19 fatality rate is 3.5 percent, said the ministry.

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UNITED NATIONS -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said that the COVID-19 pandemic is the most challenging crisis since the Second World War as it represents a threat to everybody.

The pandemic "represents a threat to everybody in the world and ... it has an economic impact that will bring a recession that probably has no parallel in the recent past," Guterres said at the virtual press launch of the UN report "Shared responsibility, global solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19."