What's new

Coronavirus pandemic - World News

Russia's coronavirus case tally passes 900,000

Russia's confirmed coronavirus case tally, the fourth largest in the world, rose to 902,701 after officials reported 5,102 new infections.

Authorities said 129 people had died in the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll to 15,260.
 
Australia has seen its deadliest day of the pandemic yet with 21 new deaths linked to Covid-19 reported on Wednesday. It's a sobering moment for a country once hailed as a pandemic success story.

The new deaths were all recorded in the state of Victoria, where a state of disaster was declared earlier this month after a spike in new infections.

The previous highest daily death toll was 19, recorded a day earlier. On Wednesday, a further 410 cases of coronavirus were recorded by health authorities in Victoria.

Despite Wednesday’s rise, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said there were signs that new infections were starting to level off.

"If you look at the average over the last seven days we are seeing the line come down," he said.
 
The UK has officially fallen into recession for the first time in 11 years due to the impact of the pandemic

The 20.4% fall in the second quarter is the largest reported by any major economy so far

Chancellor Rishi Sunak warns of a further wave of job losses, saying "hard times are here"

Fast rising case numbers are worrying governments in western Europe, who are warning people to take more precautions

France is reporting 2,000 new cases per day compared to 1,000 three weeks ago, the prime minister says
Spain, meanwhile, is in a "critical situation", with the worst infection rate in Europe, experts say

Russia's approval of an "effective" Covid-19 vaccine is met with scepticism internationally
 
Concerns grow over rising cases in Germany

Thousands of Germans protest against coronavirus restrictions
The number of infections in Germany hit a three-month high as the government urged citizens to keep their guard up and stick to public health guidelines.

The country's disease control authority reported 1,226 new infections, the highest number since early May, although the figure has topped 1,000 in several days recently.

"This is worrying, without doubt," Health Minister Jens Spahn told a local radio. "And it can naturally lead to a new dynamic, if we don't all now exercise caution," he said adding that smaller and mid-sized outbreaks have occurred in almost all regions, largely driven by travelers returning from abroad and people partying or having family gatherings.
 
Coronavirus in Europe: Infections surge in France, Germany and Spain

Germany has recorded its biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases in more than three months as European countries struggle to curb a surge in infections.

More than 1,200 cases were reported in Germany in the past 24 hours. Officials said the rise was due, in part, to people returning from holidays.

It came as Germany warned against non-essential trips to parts of Spain.

Meanwhile, France had 2,524 new cases in 24 hours, the highest daily rise since its lockdown was lifted in May.

The German foreign ministry said it had added a partial travel warning to the Spanish capital Madrid and the Basque region on Tuesday amid rising infections there. Warnings were already in place for the regions of Aragon, Catalonia and Navarra.

Germany has recorded more than 9,000 coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic began.

A 'critical moment' for Spain

Spain is facing the worst coronavirus infection rate in Western Europe. It recorded 1,418 new infections in its latest daily count on Tuesday and said there were 675 "active outbreaks" in the country.

Salvador Macip, an expert in health sciences at Catalonia's Open University, told AFP news agency the country was at a "critical moment".

"We are right at a point where things can get better or worse. This means we have to pull out all the stops to curb outbreaks before they become more serious," he said.

In total, Spain has recorded more than 326,000 cases - the highest number in Western Europe and the 11th highest in the world.

Mask-wearing compulsory in Brussels
Wearing a face mask became compulsory in all public areas in Brussels on Wednesday amid a rise in cases.

The order applies to those aged 12 and above. People were previously only required to wear masks in crowded public spaces and enclosed areas of the Belgian capital, such as shopping centres.

Authorities said the enhanced rules were introduced because of a rise in infections, with Brussels recording an average of 50 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants per day over the past week.

Police checks are being ramped up to ensure that people follow the new rules.

The mask-wearing regulation is one of the strictest currently in place in Europe.

Belgium has recorded more than 75,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 9,800 deaths, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University.

Paris cancels rescheduled marathon
This year's Paris marathon has been cancelled as France battles a spike in coronavirus cases, organisers said on Wednesday.

The marathon was originally due to take place on 5 April but was then postponed to 15 November because of the pandemic.

Organisers said they had "tried everything to maintain the event" but felt "obliged" to call it off.

"There will be great disappointment among those who have sacrificed time training for what had become an autumn marathon," they said.

Organisers are now working on the 2021 marathon.

The announcement came after Paris became the latest French city to make face masks compulsory in busy outdoor areas. Face masks were already compulsory nationwide in enclosed public spaces.

A government spokesman on Wednesday said France would gradually ramp up police checks to ensure that people were respecting social distancing and wearing masks where required.

"We're at a tipping point... We're going to mobilise polices forces to make checks," Gabriel Attal told journalists.

France has now recorded a total of 206,696 cases of the virus.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53747852
 
Summary
Here’s a quick look back at the latest coronavirus-related stories from the past few hours:

Coronavirus pushing much of the world into record financial slumps. The pandemic has pushed most of the world’s major economies into unprecedented contractions in the second quarter, except for China which escaped a recession.

WHO concerned about coronavirus in Lebanon as it seeks $76m aid after Beirut blast. The World Health Organization has appealed for $76m in aid for Lebanon after last week’s massive explosion in Beirut destroyed or damaged hospitals, clinics and medical supplies.

Russia says first batch of Sputnik V vaccine ready in two weeks. Russia said on Wednesday the first batch of its Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine would be ready within two weeks and rejected safety concerns over its rapid approval as ‘groundless’.

UK’s Covid-19 official death toll lowered by over 5,000 after methodology change. Britain’s official death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic has been lowered by to 41,329 as the government adopted a new way of counting fatalities, after concerns were raised that the old method overstated them.

Greece posts its highest daily number of virus cases. Greece has registered 262 new Covid-19 infections, the highest figure since the pandemic began and part of a steadily rising trend this month.

Germany: government says people must keep guard up as new infections hit three-month high. Germany’s government has urged citizens to keep their guard up and stick to public health guidelines, as new Covid-19 infections hit a three-month high and schools reopened in the country’s most populous state.

‘Archbishop’ of Florida church selling bleach ‘miracle cure’ arrested with son. The self-styled “archbishop” of a purported church in Florida that sells industrial bleach as a “miracle cure” for Covid-19 has been arrested with his son in Colombia and faces extradition to the US.
 
UN chief Antonio Guterres warned the coronavirus pandemic not only threatens gains in fighting poverty and building peace, but also risks exacerbating old conflicts and generating new ones.

President Vladimir Putin says Russia has developed the first vaccine offering "sustainable immunity" against the coronavirus, but the WHO said it does not have enough information on the vaccine to evaluate it.

Worldwide coronavirus cases have surpassed 20.4 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. More than 12.7 million have recovered, and more than 745,000 have died,
 
Mexico and Peru inch towards half a million cases each

Mexico and Peru, which are Latin America's worst-affected countries after Brazil, are both expected to surpass more than half a million confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday.

Mexico registered 6,686 new cases on Wednesday to reach 498,380. The capital, Mexico City, has the highest number of infections, followed by the surrounding Mexico state, Guanajuato and Tabasco.

The country has also seen its unemployment rate rise as a result of the pandemic. Official figures suggest that on average more than five jobs have been lost every minute between March and July.

Peru had a new daily record high with 8,875, reaching 498,555 on Wednesday. Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti said the number of children who've been infected has gone up since the lockdown was lifted. She said that in total 81 children had died of Covid-related diseases from the 23,000 children who had tested positive.

She also announced that a total lockdown would be in force on the next two Sundays to curb the spread of infections.
 
Worldwide coronavirus cases have surpassed 20.6 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. More than 12.8 million have recovered, and more than 750,000 have died.
 
Portugal keeps Lisbon under stricter COVID curbs until end of August

The Portuguese capital and its surrounds will remain under tougher anti-coronavirus restrictions than the rest of the country until at least the end of August, the government said.

Greater Lisbon will stay under the so-called state of contingency, meaning most commercial spaces, excluding restaurants, must shut by 8 PM.

There is also a 10-person limit for gatherings, compared to 20 across the rest of the nation.

Portugal has reported 53,223 infections and 1,764 deaths from the coronavirus, much lower than many other European countries including neighbouring Spain, where more than 28,500 have died.
 
The United Kingdom says all arrivals from France and the Netherlands will be subject to a 14-day quarantine starting on Saturday, prompting Paris to warn of a "reciprocal measure".

The World Health Organization (WHO) says "people should not fear food, or food packaging" as there was "no evidence" of coronavirus spreading via the food chain.

Worldwide coronavirus cases surpass 20.7 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 12.9 million people have recovered, and more than 752,000 have died.
 
Peru surpasses 500,000 cases

Peru surpassed half a million coronavirus cases on Thursday and now has Latin America's highest rate of death, according to health ministry data.

The Andean country has 507,996 confirmed cases and 25,648 related fatalities. Peru's death rate stands at 78.6 per 100,000 people, according to a Reuters tally, a number higher than hard-hit regional neighbors Chile and Brazil.
 
The French health ministry reported more than 2,500 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, setting a new post-lockdown daily high for the third day in a row, and taking the country's cumulative total of cases to 249,611.

An Australian inquiry into the virus-infected Ruby Princess cruise ship said health officials made a "serious and material error" in allowing passengers to disembark from the vessel.

Worldwide coronavirus cases surpassed 21 million, according to Johns Hopkins University, while more than 13 million people have recovered. More than 763,000 people have died.
 
France has warned it will take "reciprocal measures" while the Netherlands warned against all but essential travel to the UK once the restrictions came into force on Saturday

Crime in South Africa dropped by up to 40% during the first three months of its lockdown, official figures show

New Zealand has reported seven new cases of the virus in Auckland after a lockdown was extended for almost two weeks in the city

The Australian state of Victoria has recorded 303 new cases and four deaths - state authorities have urged continued vigilance despite signs the outbreak is past its peak
 
New Zealand's outbreak grows

New Zealand reported seven new cases of COVID-19 as a lockdown in the country's biggest city, Auckland, was extended in response to the Pacific nation's first coronavirus outbreak in months.

Six of the seven new cases have been linked to the cluster responsible for all the previous community cases, while one case was being investigated, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a media briefing in Wellington.

The new cases bring New Zealand's total infections since the start of the year to 1258, while the number of currently active cases stands at 56. Twenty-two people have died so far.
 
Which countries have not reported any coronavirus cases?

In December 2019, the coronavirus was seemingly confined to China. But, a few weeks later, the virus, which causes the illness known as COVID-19, became a global pandemic.

The virus, which leads to a respiratory illness that can be transmitted from droplets of bodily fluids - such as mucus and saliva, has now been reported in at least 188 countries.

Scientists, health officials and governments across the world have encouraged citizens to practise physical distancing and to avoid going out unless for necessary purposes.

According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, more than 20.9 million people have been infected, and the global death toll is more than 760,000. Nearly 13 million patients have recovered.

Here are a few countries that have not reported any cases of the coronavirus so far:

Kiribati

Marshall Islands

Micronesia

Nauru

North Korea

Palau

Samoa

Solomon Islands

Tonga

Turkmenistan

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/countries-reported-coronavirus-cases-200412093314762.html
 
Worldwide coronavirus cases surpassed 21 million, according to Johns Hopkins University, while more than 13 million people have recovered. More than 766,000 people have died.

The French health ministry reported more than 2,500 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, setting a new post-lockdown daily high for the third day in a row, and taking the country's cumulative total of cases to 249,611.

An Australian inquiry into the virus-infected Ruby Princess cruise ship said health officials made a "serious and material error" in allowing passengers to disembark from the vessel.
 
Turkey confirms 1,256 new coronavirus cases in the country which is the highest daily amount since June.
 
France says 4,857 people are in hospital with Covid-19 including 376 people in intensive care units.
 
France is to propose that masks be worn in workspaces as it grapples with a rebound in coronavirus cases that rose again in the past 24 hours to more than 3,000 - marking a post-lockdown high for the fourth day in a row. The UK has imposed a 14-day quarantine for people arriving from France.

South Korea's new coronavirus cases jumped to 279 on Sunday, topping the 200 level for the first time in five months, due mainly to sporadic local infections in the greater Seoul area.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that stringent coronavirus regulations would be eased on Monday as the country's infection rate falls.

Worldwide coronavirus cases surpassed 21.35 million, according to Johns Hopkins University, while more than 13.36 million people have recovered. Almost 769,000 people have died.
 
The WHO says 294,237 cases have been recorded in 24 hours

New Zealand's deputy prime minister calls for an election delay as Covid-19 reappears in the country
South Korea records its biggest outbreak of new cases in five months

The UK exams regulator reviews guidance on how to appeal against exam grades issued after public exams were cancelled

South Africa's president says infections appear to have peaked in the country

More than 21.4 million cases and over 771,000 deaths are registered globally - latest Johns Hopkins University tally
 
Italy hits record daily Covid-19 case since May

Italy has registered more than 500 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours for a third consecutive day, reaching record daily figures since May.

Most of those who have tested positive have been returning from Croatia, Spain, Greece and Malta. According to the health ministry, Italy registered 629 new coronavirus cases on Saturday.

The health minister, Roberto Speranza, announced he had signed an ordinance requiring holidaymakers returning from Spain, Croatia, Malta and Greece to be tested for the coronavirus. He said:

"We need to maintain the utmost caution in order to defend what we have achieved so far. People returning from these countries will now be subject to swabs."

For most of the summer, contact tracing and compliance with safety measures helped Italy maintain a stable, low rate of new Covid-19 infections, but one hot week in August may prove to be enough to undo all of the country’s previous successes.
 
Faced with an uptick in coronavirus cases, Italy orders mask wearing in public from 6pm - 6am and a three-week closure of all dance venues.

France will propose face masks in workspaces as it grapples with a coronavirus rebound to more than 3,000 in the past 24 hours - a post-lockdown high for the fourth day in a row.

South Korea's new cases jumped to 279 on Sunday, rising above 200 for the first time in five months, due mainly to sporadic local infections in the greater Seoul area.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that stringent coronavirus regulations would be eased on Monday as the country's infection rate falls.

Worldwide coronavirus cases surpassed 21 million, according to Johns Hopkins University, while more than 13 million people have recovered. At least 771,000 people have died.
 
Cases in France surpass 3,000 for second day

The French Health Ministry has reported 3,015 new coronavirus infections over the past day, the second day in a row in which new cases have surpassed the 3,000 mark.

However, the daily count was below the 3,310 cases reported on Saturday, when a new post-lockdown high was reached, the ministry's data showed.
 
India reported a daily jump of 57,981 infections, taking the total to nearly 2.65 million, third only behind the United States and Brazil, while the death toll jumped by 941, with the total of 50,921.

Australia has reported the deadliest day of the pandemic with 25 fatalities from the coronavirus in the last 24 hours and 282 new cases in the state of Victoria, according to the government on Monday.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday postponed the general election by four weeks to October 17 but ruled out delaying it any further, as the country tackles a new outbreak of the coronavirus.

The United States has surpassed 170,000 coronavirus deaths, according to the latest Johns Hopkins University tally, as health officials express concerns about COVID-19 complicating the fall flu season. More than 5.4 million people in the US have been infected, while 1.8 million have recovered.

Worldwide coronavirus cases surpassed 21.6 million, according to Johns Hopkins University, while more than 13.6 million people have recovered. Almost 774,300 people have died.
 
Record daily high in Peru and other news from Latin America

Peru registered its highest number of daily cases on Sunday with 10,143 confirmed infections. In total, there have been more than 525,000 cases. Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti said that without the strict lockdown the government imposed early on in the pandemic, more than half a million people would have died rather than the 26,000 who have lost their lives until now.

Here are some of the other developments in the region:

Bolivia, Peru's southern neighbour, passed the 100,000 total cases mark on Sunday - but experts warn that the pandemic there is not expected to reach its peak until September.

Among the more than 4,000 people who have died of Covid-related diseases in Bolivia is Esther Morales, the sister of former President Evo Morales, who died in hospital on Sunday

The government of Chile has launched a $34bn (£25.9bn) recovery plan, which aims to create 250,000 jobs to counteract some of the losses incurred during the pandemic. The number of jobs lost during the pandemic in the country is estimated at 1.8 million
 
Thousands of South Korean church members told to quarantine

More information now about the virus cluster linked to a South Korean church. Cases associated with the church have now reached 319, an increase of 70 from Sunday, according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters.

Pastor Jun Kwang-hoon, who leads the Sarang Jeil Church, has reportedly himself tested positive.

The government is asking thousands who attended an illegal rally held by the church at the weekend to now quarantine. Some 3,400 have already been identified and placed in quarantine, Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said in a press briefing.

The country has previously been a global leader in successfully managing outbreaks of the virus.

Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-53803011
 
UK PM Boris Johnson is under pressure to end the row over A-level grading in England

A clarification on results is expected - amid reports model used to calculate grades for cancelled exams will be abandoned

All students in Wales and Northern Ireland are now to be given grades predicted by their teachers, after a similar decision in Scotland

Some 315 people connected to South Korea's Sarang Jeil Church test positive in the country's biggest outbreak for months

No new domestic cases reported in China for the first time in more than a month

The scaled-down Democratic party convention begins later in the US, largely held online

Globally more than 775,000 people have died and 21.6m cases have been reported, according to Johns Hopkins University
 
The WHO says younger people - those in their 20s, 30s and 40s - are the ones now driving the coronavirus pandemic and many don't know they have the virus.

Hopes are growing in Australia that a second wave outbreak in Victoria may finally be easing after the state reported the lowest number of daily cases in a month.

New Zealand has ruled out frozen food and freight as the origin of the coronavirus outbreak that pushed Auckland back into lockdown.

The number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world now exceeds 21.8 million, and more than 774,000 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 13.9 million people have recovered from the disease.
 
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern has told Donald Trump his remarks on her country’s coronavirus cases were “patently wrong”. Trump sparked uproar in NZ when he told a crowd in Minnesota that the Pacific country was in the grip of a “terrible” upsurge of Covid cases, having earlier succeeded in eliminating the disease. “Big surge in New Zealand, you know it’s terrible. We don’t want that,” Trump said. On Tuesday NZ recorded 13 new cases. Ardern said there was no comparison between New Zealand’s handful of new cases a day and the “tens of thousands” reported in the United States.

India has carried out nearly 900,000 coronavirus tests in a single day, a record for the country. The health ministry said 899,000 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to Tuesday. Only the US has ever carried out more daily tests, conducting 926,876, on 24 July. India’s tests returned 55,079 cases positive cases, taking its total tally to more than 2.7 million – behind only the US and Brazil. The daily death toll of 876, took total fatalities in the country to 51,797.

In Australia the vast majority of the cases of Covid-19 in Victoria can be traced back to a single family that returned to Australia in mid-May who were kept in hotel quarantine at the Rydges Hotel in Melbourne, an inquiry has heard. Dr Charles Alpren, an epidemiologist with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, said over 90% of cases since the end of May could be linked to the one outbreak at the Rydges Hotel.

Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says he would be among the first to receive a Russian coronavirus vaccine if it is shown to be effective. “I would be the first to get vaccinated, because it matters a lot to me, but we have to ... ensure that it’s something effective and that it’s available to everyone,” Lopez Obrador said.

More than 400 coronavirus cases have been identified in relation to a church in northern Seoul as of Tuesday, the news agency Yonhap reported. The Sarang Jeil cluster is now believed to be South Korea’s second biggest after the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the city of Daegu was identified in February, where 5,214 were infected. It prompted the country’s first major lockdown of the pandemic.

Lebanon’s health minister has warned that hospitals are reaching maximum capacity to treat coronavirus patients after the deadly Beirut blast either damaged or overwhelmed clinics and triggered a spike in Covid cases. “Public and private hospitals in the capital in particular have a very limited capacity, whether in terms of beds in intensive care units or respirators,” the minister, Hamad Hassan, told a press conference.

Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, said the city was “still in a very severe situation as far as the Covid-19 epidemic is concerned” as she unveiled a third round of pandemic stimulus funding. Strict social distancing measures currently in place were extended for at least another week.

Malta will close its bars and nightclubs once again after a surge in coronavirus cases. On Monday, Italy closed nightclubs for three weeks due to a surge in cases.

China reported 22 new cases on Tuesday, the same as a day earlier, the health authority said. All were imported cases, making it the second straight day for zero new locally transmitted cases. There were no new deaths.
 
Russia confirms 4,748 new cases

Russia reported 4,748 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, pushing its nationwide tally to 932,493, the fourth largest in the world.

The country's coronavirus crisis response centre said 132 people had died of the disease in the last 24 hours, bringing the official coronavirus death toll to 15,872.
 
France says masks to be made compulsory in most work places

Masks will be compulsory in workplaces in France, apart from individual offices where only one employee is present, the French employment ministry said on Tuesday, as the government looks to fight against a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ministry added in a statement that working from home would remain its recommended option for employees.
 
Global coronavirus cases approach 22 million

The tally for confirmed cases of Covid-19 around the world reached 21.95 million on Tuesday, and the global death toll rose to almost 776,000.

According to data collated by John Hopkins University, the United States leads the world with over 5.45 million cases and more than 170,000 lives lost.

Brazil is the country with the second highest number of registered cases and deaths with 3.36 million cases and 108,536 deaths.

It’s followed by India, which has recorded 2.7 million cases, and Mexico which has confirmed 57,023 fatalities.
 
Australia signed a deal to secure a COVID vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca should it pass clinical trials. PM Scott Morrison says vaccine should be compulsory for all 25 million Australians.

South Korea has reported the highest daily number of cases since March, many linked to churches in the capital.

More than 22 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world now, some 14 million people have recovered and more than 779,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.
 
Global caseload exceeds 22 million

More than 22 million cases of coronavirus have now been reported around the world, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The first cases were reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

The US has now confirmed the most cases, followed by Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa. The US has also recorded the most deaths.

Coronavirus cases

US - 5,481,557
Brazil - 3,407,354
India - 2,702,742
Russia - 930,276
South Africa - 592,144
Coronavirus deaths

US - 171,687
Brazil - 109,888
Mexico - 57,023
India - 51,797
UK - 41,466
 
Australia says it has secured access to a promising coronavirus vaccine and will offer free doses

The country's PM Scott Morrison backtracks after saying the vaccine should be "as mandatory as you can possibly make it"

The vaccine, being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, is in advanced clinical trials

South Korea's capital Seoul closes museums, nightclubs and karaoke bars after cases spike

US stocks hit a new high after the coronavirus crash despite continuing worries about the economic impact

Ministers in England are under pressure to lift limits on the numbers studying medicine at university after the school exam grading system was changed
 
Pope Francis says the world's poorest people must have access to a coronavirus vaccine if one becomes available

Australia says it has secured access to a promising coronavirus vaccine and will offer free doses

The country's PM, Scott Morrison, backtracks after saying the vaccine should be "as mandatory as you can possibly make it"

The vaccine, being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, is in advanced clinical trials

South Korea's capital Seoul closes museums, nightclubs and karaoke bars after cases spike

Ministers in England are under pressure to lift limits on the numbers studying medicine at university after the school exam grading system was changed
 
The number of coronavirus cases recorded around the world passed 22.2 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. Deaths from the virus stand at more than 782,000. The US and Brazil still lead the way in coronavirus deaths and cases.

Iran surpassed 20,000 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus, the health ministry said, the highest death toll for any Middle East country. The announcement came as the Islamic Republic went ahead with university entrance exams for over 1 million students. Iran is also preparing for mass Shiite commemorations later this month.

Spain reported 3,715 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said. According to Reuters it marks a new daily record since the country came out of a strict lockdown in late June. Cumulative cases, which include antibody tests on patients who may have already recovered, rose by 6,671 to 370,867, the ministry said.

Italy recorded 642 new infections in a day, hitting a new record since May when the country cautiously emerged from one of the longest lockdowns in the world after more than 30,000 Covid-related deaths. Seven more people have died with the virus. The overall tally of cases has now risen to 255,178. The death toll now stands at 35,412.

South Korea’s health ministry has warned that the country is facing a “desperately dangerous crisis” of spreading coronavirus, after the country reported its highest daily rise in cases since early March. On Wednesday, officials asked people in Seoul, the capital, to stay at home if they could, warning that testing, tracing and isolation measures were insufficient.

The Pope has warned that the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating inequalities between the rich and the poor, as he called for universal vaccine provision. “It would be sad if, for the vaccine for Covid-19, priority were to be given to the richest,” said Francis during his traditional Wednesday audience broadcast live from his private Vatican library.

Millions of women around the world have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services because of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to warnings of a baby boom. Across 37 countries, nearly 2 million fewer women received services between January and June than in the same period last year, Marie Stopes International says in a new report.

Global trade in goods suffered an unprecedented fall in the second quarter of 2020, as fear of the coronavirus pandemic shut down large parts of the world economy, according to the World Trade Organization. The WTO said on Wednesday that its goods trade barometer had hit a record low. The barometer reading of 84.5 was down 18.6 points from the same period last year.

Australia’s prime minister has hurriedly backtracked after announcing he would make a potential Covid-19 vaccine “mandatory”, saying instead it would be “encouraged”. Scott Morrison said the aim was to get 95% of the population to have the jab and that he was expecting that it would be compulsory except on medical grounds. But by the afternoon he had changed his language.

Strict coronavirus restrictions have imposed on Mykonos, the Greek island. The measures, which also cover the coastal area of Chalkidiki in northern Greece, include a complete ban on live parties and festivities, a limit of nine people in all public and private gatherings and compulsory mask wearing in closed and open spaces. They will come into effect from 21 August.
 
India, the third worst-affected country in the world, has reported a record number of cases for coronavirus.

Brazil has expressed cautious optimism that the country's coronavirus outbreak could be about to slow, with cases and deaths on a weekly basis falling from their late July peaks.

Kamala Harris accused US President Donald Trump of a "failure of leadership" for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as she accepted the nomination as vice president.

South Korea has reported a seventh day of triple digit cases with infections growing outside Seoul.

More than 22 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world, and more than 14 million have recovered. More than 786,000 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
 
Countries across Europe are reporting a surge in coronavirus cases, with several posting their highest figures in months:

Spain reported 3,715 new infections in its daily count on Wednesday - the highest figure since the country came out of a strict lockdown in late June

Italy reported 642 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, marking its highest daily jump since late May

Germany's daily figures on Thursday showed 1,707 new cases, in its highest toll since April

Several European countries have introduced travel restrictions in addition to measures on social distancing and mask-wearing in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.
 
Latest Headlines

Germany confirmed 1,707 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since April, official figures showed.

India, the third worst-affected country in the world, has reported a record number of cases of coronavirus.

Brazil has expressed cautious optimism that the country's coronavirus outbreak could be about to slow down, with cases and deaths on a weekly basis falling from their late July peaks.

South Korea has reported a seventh day of triple-digit cases with infections growing outside Seoul.

More than 22 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world, and more than 14 million have recovered. More than 787,600 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
 
More headlines from around the world:

Cases are rising in Europe. Germany has reported its highest daily infection rate since April, while Spain and Italy logged their highest daily figures in months. Cases are also steadily rising in France

It looks like the UK will impose quarantine measures on people arriving from Croatia, the BBC has learned

In the US, more than 1.1 million people filed new claims for unemployment benefits. The US still has the highest death toll and total number of infections in the world

Australian airline Quantas has reported an annual loss of almost A$2 billion (£1 billion; $1.4 billion) as it struggles with the fallout of global lockdown measures and travel restrictions

In India, 69,652 new cases of the virus were reported on Thursday, taking the total number of cases up to 2.84 million

South Korea has tightened restrictions after a spike in new cases, most of which have been linked to a church

More than 788,000 people have died globally, and more than 22.4 million people have tested positive for the virus
 
If you’re just joining us, here’s a quick recap of the latest coronavirus-related developments over the last few hours:

France reports new post-lockdown record daily cases. The country has reported 4,711 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, a new post-lockdown record and a level last seen during the height of the epidemic in France.

Airbnb bans parties at sites listed on its platform in Covid-19 fight. The short-term home rental company Airbnb has imposed an indefinite global ban on all parties and events at places listed on its platform as it tries to enforce social-distancing norms due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Africa reports ‘hopeful’ daily drop in coronavirus cases. Average daily cases of coronavirus in Africa fell last week, a “hopeful sign” for the continent’s fight against the disease, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Russia to begin Covid-19 vaccine trials on 40,000 people next week. Mass testing of Russia’s first potential Covid-19 vaccine to get domestic regulatory approval will involve more than 40,000 people and will be overseen by a foreign research body when it starts next week.

Belgian schools to reopen in September with masks mandatory for older children. Schools will reopen on 1 September when the academic year starts, with children above 12 years old and teachers required to wear masks, prime minister Sophie Wilmes said.

China faces questions over ‘vaccinated’ workers sent overseas. China is facing demands to explain why a state-backed firm claimed it had vaccinated dozens of staff against the coronavirus before sending them back to work at a mine in Papua New Guinea.

Portugal added to UK Covid-19 safe travel list. Portugal is being added to the UK’s travel corridor list, meaning arrivals from the country will no longer have to quarantine, but Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago are being removed.

Estée Lauder plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs globally after profits dive during the pandemic. The makeup, skincare and perfume company, which also owns brands such as Joe Malone, Clinique, La Mer and MAC, said it intended to shut between 10% and 15% of its freestanding stores, with job cuts amounting to about 3% of its global workforce.

Northern Ireland reduces number of people allowed to meet in new Covid-19 restrictions. Outdoor gatherings are now limited to 15 people, reduced from 30, while indoor gatherings in private dwellings are now limited to six individuals from two households, from 10 previously.

Italy hits new daily record in Covid-19 infections since 16 May. Italy has reported another sharp rise in Covid-19 infections, as the country registered 845 new coronavirus cases, 203 more than Wednesday.

Performers could sing or play softly to reduce Covid risk, study shows. Sing softly and don’t shout to reduce the risk of Covid-19 spread, new research suggests, offering a ray of hope for musicians who have been restricted from performing in public.
 
South Korea reported 324 cases, its highest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases since March 8, and authorities urged people who attended a massive rally in Seoul to come forward for testing.

Morocco's king warned of a return to a full lockdown amid a surge in cases, while authorities in Myanmar's restive Rakhine imposed a stay-at-home order in the state capital, Sittwe.

Peru and Argentina posted huge falls in economic growth as the total number of coronavirus deaths in Latin American surpassed 250,000.

More than 22.5 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world, and more than 14.4 million have recovered. More than 790,500 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
 
South Korea sees 324 new cases of coronavirus, its highest single day total since March, with most cases traced to churches

US Democratic White House nominee Joe Biden attacks Donald Trump's coronavirus response, saying "he failed to protect us"

UK holidaymakers race to return home before quarantine rules kick in for Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago

A ban on landlords evicting tenants in England and Wales ends this weekend, sparking concern from homelessness charities

Australia's PM hails "a week of increased hope" after its lowest increase in cases in five weeks
 
Why is South Korea experiencing a spike in virus cases?

Let's dig deeper into our headline story this morning - South Korea reporting its biggest increase in Covid-19 cases since March.

The country managed to control the pandemic early on, and was viewed as one of the world's success stories. But a new spike in cases in and around the capital Seoul has led to fears the country could be on the brink of a major outbreak.

What's behind the spike?

One factor could be that some church members are reluctant to comply with Covid-19 measures - many new cases have been linked to Sarang Jeil Church, where members have attended rallies despite warnings from health officials.

It's also a reminder that the virus is hard to contain - many countries in the world are experiencing a second rise in cases.

8b548e06-cfa7-4b3c-b0da-203c26cea150.png


South Korea added 324 cases on Friday, bringing it to a total of 16,670 confirmed cases.

It has already tightened restrictions by closing museums, nightclubs and karaoke bars. Now health officials are warning they may have to go further, limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people and closing school premises.
 
What's happening around the world?

Lebanon has begun a two-week partial lockdown, including a night-time curfew, following a spike in cases. Infections have doubled since a devastating blast in the capital Beirut killed hundreds and injured thousands more on 4 August, placing massive strain on medical facilities

Doctors in most public hospitals in the Kenyan capital Nairobi have gone on strike in protest against unpaid wages and a lack of protective equipment

South Korea, Poland and Slovakia are among the countries to record their highest single-day increase in new cases, with 324, 903 and 123 cases respectively. Other countries in Europe, including Spain and France, have also announced dramatic rises in recent days

An Irish minister has resigned after attending a golf dinner with more than 80 people, a day after the government announced restrictions on indoor gatherings
 
The coronavirus pandemic is stabilising in Brazil and any reversal of its rampant spread in the vast country would be "a success for the world", the World Health Organization said on Friday.

India approached towards the three million mark for coronavirus cases, reporting 68,898 new infections in the last 24 hours.

More than 22.5 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world, and more than 14.4 million have recovered. More than 790,500 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
 
India has reported a record daily rise of 69,652 in infections, bringing the total to close 3m confirmed coronavirus cases. The death toll in the country is 55,794, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU). The rise comes as Hindus in India celebrate the major festival Ganesh Chaturthi.

British tourists have been rushing home from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago to try and beat new quarantine travel rules, which kicked in at 04:00. As of today, travellers in these countries will need to self-isolate for 14 days on their return to the UK. However, Portugal has now been added to the safe list - and searches for flights there have risen.

Meanwhile, tighter restrictions in parts of Blackburn and Pendle in north-west England have also come into force today. Residents in those areas are now not allowed to socialise with anyone from outside their household - although workplaces, childcare facilities and businesses will remain open.

Still in the UK, the pandemic has forced student travel agent STA Travel out of business. About 500 UK jobs are thought to be at risk from the collapse.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, has said he hopes the pandemic will be over in under two years. Speaking in Geneva, he said the Spanish flu pandemic of 2018 took two years to overcome - but that thanks to advances in technology, we could halt the coronavirus “in a shorter time”.

The US has now passed 175,000 deaths linked to coronavirus - the highest death toll in the world. It has also had more than 5.5m confirmed cases.

The number of confirmed cases of the virus in South Africa has now passed 600,000, according to the country’s Department of Health. A single-day increase of 3,398 new cases has pushed its total up to 603,338. More than 12,000 people have died.

The total number of people confirmed to have had the virus worldwide is almost 23m, while the global death toll is almost 800,000, according to figures kept by JHU.
 
Global deaths reach 800,000

At least 800,000 people have died with coronavirus worldwide, according to the latest tally by Johns Hopkins University in the US.

The US has seen the highest number of fatalities, with around 175,000 deaths, followed by Brazil, with 113,000.

Almost 23 million infections have also been recorded since the pandemic began.
 
India confirms 69,878 new infections - the fourth straight day above 60,000.

Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, said he would shut down the United States to contain its coronavirus outbreak if experts recommended such a measure.

Brazil's COVID-19 outbreak is stabilising and any reversal of the virus's rampant spread in the vast country would be "a success for the world", the World Health Organization said.

More than 22.9 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world, and more than 14.7 million have recovered. More than 799,000 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
 
India is generating the highest number of daily new cases in the world for the last 18 days, with over 50,000 fresh cases everyday.

More than 23.1 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world, and more than 14.91 million have recovered. At least 804,400 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Mexico's death toll has surpassed 60,000 - the third-highest in the world even as signs of hope emerge, with the government saying that the COVID-19 scourge is in "sustained decline".

The new coronavirus is circulating four times more among people under 40 in France than among over-65-year-olds, France's Health Minister Olivier Veran said as the country reported an additional 3,602 new COVID-19 cases .
 
Public Health England publishes study suggesting the risk of outbreaks in schools is low

Children are more likely to be harmed by not returning to school than if they catch Covid-19, the UK's chief medical adviser says
But Labour leader warns the government's commitment to reopen schools is at risk because of exams chaos

US presidential contender Joe Biden says if elected he would be willing to shut down US if scientists recommended it

At least 13 people die in Peru after trying to escape a police raid on a nightclub violating coronavirus restrictions

India, which has the highest number of new infections in the world, records a total of more than three million cases
The global coronavirus death toll stands at 800,000 people worldwide
 
Latest Headlines

The World Health Organization has recommended that children aged 12 and over wear a mask under the same conditions as adults

In Germany, a number of politicians are calling for a temporary ban on private parties after the highest rise in infections since late April

The UK's chief medical adviser has said children are more likely to be harmed by not returning to school than by catching coronavirus

India, which has the highest number of new infections in the world, has become the third country in the world to pass three million cases, after the US and Brazil

At least 13 people have died in Peru after trying to escape a police raid on a party at a nightclub that violated lockdown rules

US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has said he would be willing to shut down the country to control the spread of the virus if elected president and if scientists recommended it

There have been more than 23m cases and 805,000 deaths worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University
 
Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is in a serious condition with a fever, her party's spokeswoman has said.

Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has warned the country is on the brink of a nationwide outbreak following the highest daily number of coronavirus cases recorded since March.

India has had the highest number of daily new cases in the world for the last 18 days, with more than 50,000 new cases every day.

More than 23.1 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world, and more than 14.91 million have recovered. At least 804,400 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Coronavirus is circulating four times more among people under 40 in France than among those over 65, health minister Olivier Veran said, as France reported an additional 3,602 new COVID-19 cases.
 
Australia's second-most populous state of Victoria has reported the lowest daily rise in new infections in seven weeks.

Plasma treatment has been given the green light by the Food and Drug Administration in the US, the country worst-affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 23.3 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and more than 15 million have recovered. At least 806,500 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.
 
Argentina registers a record 8,713 new cases and 381 deaths as Latin America struggles to contain the virus

A 48-hour lockdown is in force across the Gaza Strip after the first infections were recorded among the public

Head teachers in England want to know whether staff and pupils will be allowed to wear face coverings when schools re-open

In Scotland's secondary schools, face coverings will be used in corridors and shared areas

Hundreds of thousands of young people receive vocational BTec qualifications after results were delayed
Scientists in Hong Kong say they've seen the first confirmed case of re-infection

More than 23.6m cases of Covid-19 have been reported globally, and 813,000 deaths
 
Round-up of today's main headlines

Secondary school pupils in Scotland will be required to wear face coverings in corridors and shared areas from Monday. Education Secretary John Swinney said the new guidance would be updated based on advice from the World Health Organization (WHO)

Argentina has reported a record 8,713 new cases and 381 deaths. Health officials warned that although quarantine measures had been tightened in the capital Buenos Aires and its suburbs, cases were now increasing in other regions

About 50,000 people worldwide are to be given shots of the Oxford University vaccine to test its safety and effectiveness. Prof Andrew Pollard, part of the group developing it, said it was "just possible that if the cases accrue rapidly, we could have that data to put before regulators this year"

South Korea is closing all schools and kindergartens in the greater Seoul area following a rise in cases. Students will now learn from home apart from high school students due to take the university entrance exam in December

The Gaza Strip is under a two-day lockdown after the first coronavirus cases were discovered outside its quarantine centres. An outbreak there could be catastrophic because of its fragile health care system

The Indonesian island of Bali will not open to foreign tourists again this year because of coronavirus concerns. The move is a blow to millions of Balinese who depend on the island's lucrative tourism industry
 
Doctors in South Korea have been ordered to return to work because of the continued surge in coronavirus cases, after they began a three-day strike on Wednesday over government plans to train more medical students.

The University of Cambridge is due to start vaccine trials in the coming months after securing government funding.

The Australian state of Victoria has reported its second-deadliest day of the pandemic with 24 deaths in the past 24 hours. Nearly 64 percent of deaths have taken place in homes for the elderly.

More than 23.8 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 15.4 million have recovered. More than 817,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
 
Countries across Europe have been looking at different measures to allow students and teachers to return safely

Pupils in England’s secondary schools will have to wear masks in corridors in local lockdown areas

Spain is to use 2,000 soldiers trained in tracking to help areas identify people exposed to the virus

Cases in the US have been falling as a result of the adoption of face masks and lower testing rates, experts say

North Korea's Kim Jong-un has chaired a meeting to assess preparations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus

Argentina reports a new record number of cases as the country prepares for the annual Tango World Championships

Germany has agreed to extend a scheme that tops up pay for workers affected by the pandemic by another year
 
Latest coronavirus figures

Russia: 970,865 cases (4,676), 16,683 deaths (115)

Germany: 236,429 cases (1,576), 9,280 deaths (3)

Philippines: 202,361 cases (5,277), 3,137 deaths (99)

Indonesia: 160,165 cases (2,306), 6,944 deaths (86)
 
Italy recorded its highest daily tally in coronavirus infections since May when the country was still in lockdown. A further 1,367 cases brought the total to 262,540. Despite the surge in infections, the government insists there are no plans for a new lockdown.

Croatia reported its highest number of daily cases amid the summer tourism season. New cases have risen since Croatia opened its borders to tourists for the summer, hitting more than 200 daily in late August and a record 358 on Wednesday. The government said it still hopes to tackle the crisis without curfews if people would “obey the rules and act responsibly”.

Russia is preparing to approve a second vaccine against Covid-19. Early-stage clinical trials on the vaccine, developed by the Vector virology institute in Siberia, would be completed by the end of September. Western experts have been sceptical about Russia’s approval of Sputnik V, warning against its use until all internationally approved testing and regulatory steps have been taken.

Germany will stop mandatory tests for travellers from high-risk areas and require them to quarantine for at least five days instead as it focuses its testing strategy on people with symptoms or possible exposure to patients with Covid-19. The change in strategy is partly down to Germany’s labs reaching the limits of their capacities.

The World Economic Forum has postponed its upcoming annual meeting in Davos until summer next year. Organisers said experts advised it would not be safe for the forum to go ahead as planned in January amid the pandemic.

Belgium revised down its Covid-19 death toll, just as it was about to pass the milestone of 10,000 fatalities. Health authorities reviewed figures from care homes in Flanders and found some Covid-19 deaths not reported as such, some recorded twice and some not caused by coronavirus. The net effect is a reduction of 121, bringing the tally to 9,878.

The French prime minister said life must return to some kind of normality whilst avoiding another nationwide lockdown. Jean Castex said his government wanted to ensure the French could return to school, get back to work and enjoy a social life “as normally as possible”. He added face masks would remain central to the government’s strategy after a surge in the rate of coronavirus infections in recent weeks.

Kenya extended a nationwide curfew for 30 days as coronavirus cases rose in areas outside the capital. The president Uhuru Kenyatta also ordered bars and nightclubs shut for another 30 days, but increased the number of people allowed to attend weddings, funerals and other events.

Ukraine has imposed a temporary ban on most foreigners from entering the country until 28 September. Lockdown measures have also been extended until the end of October to contain a recent surge in coronavirus cases.

Lebanon could ‘lose control’ of its coronavirus outbreak, the caretaker prime minister warned. Hassan Diab said that if cases continued to rise greatly, as they have in the wake of the Beirut explosion, “we will lose control of this epidemic”.

Myanmar ordered all schools to close after reporting a record daily rise in new coronavirus infections. The authorities are trying to tackle a resurgence of the virus - with 70 new cases recorded on Wednesday - following weeks without confirmed domestic transmission.
Iran’s death toll exceeded 21,000 as cases continue to rise. Another 119 infections took the tally to 21,020, prompting the government to urge people to “avoid unnecessary trips”.

A 61-year-old man died in Gaza after contracting the virus, as Palestinian authorities clamped down on an outbreak in the enclave. It was the first death among the general population since an infected woman died at a quarantine centre in March.
 
South Korea reports the highest number of daily coronavirus cases since March, and parliament forced to close amid expectations that authorities will impose tougher restrictions.

The U-turn by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on testing close contacts of people with COVID-19 raises concern among experts about asymptomatic spread of the disease.

The Australian state of Victoria has reported its lowest number of cases in nearly two months.

More than 24 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 15.8 million have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 826,000 people have died.
 
French Prime Minister Jean Castex has warned of an "undeniable surge" in new cases in the country, confirming that the number of departments where the virus is in active circulation has gone from two to 21. Masks will also become compulsory everywhere in Paris

The WHO has warned that Europe is entering a "tricky moment" as children begin going back to school

India has reported another hike in new daily cases - 76,000 on Wednesday

South Korea has registered 441 new infections - the biggest single-day rise in the country since March

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has defended changing its guidelines to say people who come into contact with others who have the virus are not required to be tested

A remote tribe in India's Andamans archipelago has recorded its first cases of the virus. A health official tells the BBC that 10 members of the Greater Andamanese tribe have tested positive over the past month

Victoria state, the epicentre of the outbreak in Australia, has reported its lowest daily rise in cases since early July - sparking hopes that a strict lockdown in the state is successfully containing the virus

There have now been more than 24.2m confirmed cases of the virus and more than 826,000 deaths worldwide, according to the tally kept by US-based Johns Hopkins University
 
France reports 6,111 new COVID-19 infections, second highest daily tally yet

PARIS (Reuters) - France recorded a daily tally of 6,111 new confirmed coronavirus infections on Thursday, the highest level since lockdown ended and the second-highest ever.

It was the most since a high of 7,578 set on March 30 during lockdown, at the height of the epidemic.

The French health ministry said the total number of confirmed infections now stood at 259,698. On Wednesday, the country recorded 5,429 new infections, which was a new post-lockdown record.

The number of deaths from coronavirus increased by 32 to 30,576 from Tuesday. On Wednesday, no death or hospital data had been reported due to a technical glitch.

Despite the surge in new infections - which the government says are mainly among young people, who usually show few symptoms - the number of people in hospital fell by 65 to a new post-lockdown low of 4,535 and the number of people in intensive care units fell by 29 to 381.

Since late July, the ICU numbers have largely stabilised after failing from a high of 7,148 in early April.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-second-highest-daily-tally-yet-idUSKBN25N2OS
 
Rules requiring Parisians to wear masks come into force as France reports 6,111 new cases - highest since peak of outbreak

In Spain, children as young as six will have to wear face coverings at school

Germans are told not to travel to high-risk countries and regions, as top state official says: "Corona is fully back in Germany"

UK government will encourage people to return to workplaces in a new campaign

New daily infections in the UK increased to 1,522 on Thursday - the highest since mid-June

US President Donald Trump pledges a vaccine before the end of the year, "or maybe even sooner"

India confirms 76,827 new cases in the last 24 hours - a record single-day increase for this month

About 24.5 million cases have officially been confirmed worldwide so far, with 831,000 deaths
 
France has recorded its biggest daily rise in coronavirus infections since March, as President Emmanuel Macron raised the possibility of another nationwide lockdown.

A further 7,379 cases were confirmed on Friday, bringing the country's total to 267,077.

It was the largest daily spike since 31 March, when 7,578 cases were tallied at the peak of the first wave.

France was seeing an "exponential" rise in cases, the health ministry said.

The ministry said Friday's rise follows daily increases of 6,111 on Thursday and 5,429 on Wednesday.

Despite the sharp rise, hospital numbers and daily deaths were relatively stable, as young people less vulnerable to the disease make up most of the new infections, the ministry said.

Another 20 people were confirmed to have died with Covid-19 on Friday, bringing France's overall death toll to 30,596.
 
Russia's coronavirus cases surpassed 980,000 after the country reported 4,829 new cases in the last 24 hours.

The number of coronavirus cases in Latin America surpassed seven million, as legislators in Argentina's capital passed a law allowing relatives to maintain a bedside vigil for patients dying of COVID-19.

South Korea extended social-distancing rules in the capital, Seoul, amid a triple-digit rise in cases, while India reported another record jump in daily cases. New Delhi has reported the world's highest single-day caseload every day since August 7.
More than 24.56 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 16 million have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 835,000 people have died.
 
Berlin police have told thousands of demonstrators opposed to coronavirus restrictions to disperse

In France, a further 7,379 cases were confirmed on Friday in an "exponential rise"

Leaked report for the UK government predicts 85,000 Covid deaths this winter in a worst case scenario

South Korea sees another day of triple-digit rises, with 308 new cases registered on Saturday

Children can carry coronavirus in their noses for up to three weeks, study from South Korea suggests

The Tour de France finally gets under way today, after a two-month delay

More than 24.7 million cases registered worldwide, over 837,000 deaths - Johns Hopkins University
 
Record high new infections in Ukraine

A record 2,481 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Ukraine in the past 24 hours, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reports, quoting the National Security and Defence Council.

A total of 2,540 people have died there, according Johns Hopkins data.

Ukraine has banned foreigners from entering the country until 28 September and extended lockdown measures until the end of October.
 
Berlin protest broken up and other global stories

Police have told a crowded "anti-corona" rally in Germany to disperse - it attracted about 18,000 people but many refused to wear masks or keep a safe distance from others. Similar smaller protests are taking place in Paris and London

Cases continue to rise in Europe - France reported "exponential growth", the Czech Republic recorded its second highest increase since the pandemic began, and Ukraine broke its record for new infections

In Australia, police are patrolling beaches as warmer weather encourages people to leave their homes in search of sun after the winter

The South Korean health ministry has warned that its hospital capacity is reaching dangerously low levels, with just 4.5% of beds in the Greater Seoul area free

Riders have finally begun the Tour de France - it was delayed by two months due to the pandemic
 
Australia's Victoria state posts lowest COVID-19 case rise in two months

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia’s Victoria state on Saturday reported its lowest rise in new coronavirus cases in almost two months, but authorities warned there would be no rush to lift social distancing restrictions.

The Victorian state capital of Melbourne is four weeks into a six-week hard lockdown that was spurred by a second wave of infections in Australia’s second largest city.

State officials on Saturday reported 94 new COVID-19 infections and 18 deaths. It was the first time new daily case numbers have fallen below 100 in eight weeks, and continued a steady trajectory downward this week. Australia has recorded a total of around 25,500 cases and 601 deaths so far in the pandemic.

“Every day we see the strategy working is a good day but we just need a bit more time to be able to be confident that we are, in fact, defeating this and that we can open up, gradually, steadily, safely,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said at a televised news briefing.

The hard lockdown has restricted most people in the city to one hour of outdoor activity per day. Even if the current measures are eased at the end of the six weeks, some restrictions are expected to remain.

“There’s still a way to go so stay strong and keep going,” Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on his Facebook page. “Australians all around the country are backing you.”

In bordering New South Wales state, concerns were rising about a resurgence in cases after a cluster of more than a dozen people was identified at one of Sydney’s oldest clubs.

Neighbouring New Zealand, which has also seen a second wave of infections after three months of respite, reported 11 new community transmission cases on Saturday and two new infections in managed quarantine, bringing the country’s total number of cases to 1,376.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...ovid-19-case-rise-in-two-months-idUSKBN25P05S
 
Below is a summary of the latest coronavirus news from around the globe:

• Berlin police disbanded a mass protest in the German capital against coronavirus curbs a few hours after it had begun because marchers failed to keep their distance and wear masks as instructed. The protest came as infections rise across Europe and as public frustration at measures to contain the virus grows in some quarters. Similar events took place in Paris, London and elsewhere on Saturday.

• A further six people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,547, NHS England said on Saturday.

• Coronavirus has killed at least 838,271 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT on Saturday. At least 24,795,760 cases have been registered. Of these, at least 15,976,700 are now considered recovered. The US is the worst-hit country with 181,779 deaths from 5,918,381 cases. At least 2,118,367 people have been declared recovered.

• South Korea has recorded its 16th consecutive day of triple-digit rises in new coronavirus cases, heightening fears about a shortage of hospital beds in Seoul.

• In England, nationwide restrictions cannot be ruled out should there be a rise in coronavirus cases this winter, the health secretary said. Matt Hancock also hinted that restrictions may not be eased over Christmas to avoid an “uptick” in the number of Covid-19 cases.

• France reported a jump of 7,379 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours according to the Public Health France figures released on Friday evening. This is the highest figure for new cases since 31 March. A historic check of the government’s Covid-19 website suggests it is the second-highest since the figures began to be reported by the health authorities on 2 March.
 
Indonesia has reported its biggest rise in infections for a third successive day, while Ukraine and Myanmar have also registered a record daily rise in coronavirus cases.

Russia's coronavirus cases have surpassed 980,000 after the country reported 4,829 new cases in the last 24 hours.

The number of coronavirus cases in Latin America surpassed seven million, as legislators in Argentina's capital passed a law allowing relatives to maintain a bedside vigil for patients dying of COVID-19.

South Korea extended social-distancing rules in the capital, Seoul, amid a triple-digit rise in cases, while India reported another record jump in daily cases. New Delhi has reported the world's highest single-day caseload every day since August 7.

More than 24.7 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 16 million have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 837,000 people have died.
 
India's health ministry announced on Sunday at least 78,761 new infections in 24 hours, setting a new daily record worlwide.

More than 24.9 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 16.4 million have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 842,400 people have died.

Brazil's Ministry of Health has reported at least 758 additional coronavirus fatalities during the last 24 hours, with 41,350 new cases, bringing the death toll to 120,262, and the confirmed cases to 3,846,153.

Every Italian region reported new coronavirus cases after a record 99,000 tests turned up another 1,444 cases.
 
Number of coronavirus infections globally goes over 25m - Johns Hopkins University

More than 842,000 have died since the pandemic began

India set a new record for the biggest single-day rise, with more than 78,000 new cases

University students' return to campus could cause new wave of virus, UK teaching union warns

Children's life chances at risk if parents don't send them back to school, education secretary warns

German leaders condemn an attempt by 'anti-corona' protesters to storm the Reichstag
 
The total number of coronavirus cases in the United States is nearing six million, with states including Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota reporting daily records. More than 183,000 people have died from the disease in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The number of cases globally has gone past 25 million, with deaths exceeding 844,000. More than 16.5 million people have recovered

New Zealand has made face masks compulsory as it eases coronavirus restrictions in Auckland that were imposed after a sudden spike in cases.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Bhaag Viru Bhaag
HMPV: ICMR detects two cases of HMPV in Karnataka through routine surveillance
Replies
8
Views
260
Bhaag Viru Bhaag
Bhaag Viru Bhaag
BouncerGuy
Say hello to AI, goodbye to your doctor?
Replies
17
Views
383
mominsaigol
mominsaigol
Cricket Warrior
NCCIA busts German-led child sexual exploitation gang in Muzaffargarh
Replies
5
Views
265
The Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle
BouncerGuy
India-Linked Digital Espionage Crisis unfolding in the Gulf & Iran?
Replies
21
Views
582
Cpt. Rishwat
Cpt. Rishwat
The Bald Eagle
China begins building world's largest dam, fuelling fears in India
Replies
62
Views
968
BouncerGuy
BouncerGuy
Back
Top