COVID-19 outbreak

A newly detected coronavirus causes an outbreak of pneumonia.

Report list

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  44 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection reported on Chinese mainland

  Doctors examine a patient at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University on Jan 28, 2020. (File photo: China Daily)Chinese health authority said Sunday it received reports of 44 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 27 deaths on Saturday on the Chinese mainland.The 27 deaths were in Hubei Province, according to the National Health Commission.Meanwhile, 84 new suspected cases were reported, said the commission.Also on Saturday, 1,661 people were discharged from hospital after recovery, while the number of severe cases decreased by 225 to 5,264.The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 80,695 by the end of Saturday, including 20,533 patients who were still being treated, 57,065 patients who had been discharged after recovery, and 3,097 people who had died of the disease.The commission said that 458 people were still suspected of being infected with the virus.The commission added 23,074 close contacts were still under medical observation. On Saturday, 4,021 people were discharged from medical observation.Also on Saturday, three imported cases of novel coronavirus infection were reported on the mainland, including two in Beijing and one in Gansu Province. By the end of Saturday, 63 imported cases had been reported, said the commission.By the end of Saturday, 109 confirmed cases including two deaths had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), 10 confirmed cases in the Macao SAR, and 45 in Taiwan including one death.Fifty-five patients in Hong Kong, 10 in Macao and 13 in Taiwan had been discharged from hospital after recovery.

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  China's Hubei reports 41 new confirmed coronavirus cases

  File photoWUHAN, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Hubei Province, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, reported 41 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 27 deaths on Saturday, the provincial health commission said Sunday.All the new infections were in Wuhan, the provincial capital.The latest report brought the total confirmed cases in the hard-hit province to 67,707 and that of total deaths to 2,986.Wuhan reported 21 deaths on Saturday. In total, the city has registered 49,912 confirmed cases and 2,370 deaths.The province also saw 1,543 patients discharged from hospital after recovery on Saturday, bringing the total number of discharged patients in the province to 45,011.Among the 17,078 hospitalized patients, 4,206 were still in severe condition and another 934 in critical condition.The commission also said Hubei had 295 suspected cases, after 48 suspected cases were ruled out while 42 new suspected cases were reported on Saturday.

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  Chinese mainland reports 3 new imported COVID-19 cases

  File photoBEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported three new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Saturday outside Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, according to the National Health Commission Sunday.All of the three cases were imported from outside the Chinese mainland. The Chinese mainland had seen 63 imported COVID-19 cases as of the end of Saturday, according to the commission.The commission said it received reports of 44 new confirmed cases Saturday from 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, including 41 from Hubei.

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  Beijing reports 2 imported COVID-19 cases from Italy and Spain

  File photoBEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Beijing reported two new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection on Saturday, both of which were imported cases, from Italy and Spain, respectively, local health authorities said Sunday.The two confirmed cases have been transferred to designated medical institutions for treatment in Beijing, said the municipal health commission.As of Saturday, a total of 428 infections had been reported in Beijing, including 13 imported cases from overseas.No new confirmed cases have been reported in 12 of the 16 districts in Beijing for more than 14 consecutive days.On Saturday, three imported cases of novel coronavirus infection were reported on the Chinese mainland. By the end of Saturday, 63 imported cases had been reported, according to the National Health Commission.

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  Last COVID-19 patient cured in Xinjiang

  File photoURUMQI, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The last patient infected with COVID-19 in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has been cured and discharged from hospital on Sunday.This has brought the total confirmed case in the region, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, to zero.Xinjiang reported its first coronavirus infection on Jan. 23 and a total of 76 confirmed cases have been reported in the autonomous region and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. No new infections have been reported for 18 days in a row.Both the autonomous region and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps have downgraded their emergency response toward the novel coronavirus outbreak from level two to level three.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 31)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Thursday, there have been 80,773,033 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,783,619 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, file photo, head waitstaff Laurie Mitchell, right, talks with a customer at Rodds Restaurant, in Bristol, Conn, amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 31):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 347,254 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 20,093,242 ns, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Thursday.India has confirmed a total of 10,244,852 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 148,439.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,619,200 with 193,875 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has recorded 3,100,018 confirmed cases and 55,692 deaths.France has confirmed 2,657,624 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 64,508.The UK has reported 2,440,202 COVID-19 cases and 72,657 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Turkey with 20,642 deaths from 2,194,272 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 73,604 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 2,083,689.A total of 1,910,218 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 50,689.Germanys confirmed cases have increased to 1,719,912, with the number of deaths at 32,665, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  First US Congressmember dies of COVID-19

  A representative-elect from Louisiana died of COVID-19 Tuesday, the first member of Congress to succumb to the disease.Luke Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, and two young children. (Photo: Luke Letlow Facebook)Republican Luke Letlow, 41, had been elected to Louisianas 5th district and was due to be sworn in on Sunday."It is with heavy hearts that @FirstLadyOfLA and I offer our condolences to Congressman-elect Luke Letlows family on his passing after a battle with COVID-19," Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards tweeted."I am heartbroken that he will not be able to serve our people as a U.S. Representative, but I am even more devastated for his loving family," Edwards said.Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, and two young children."The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time," his family said in a statement to US media. "A statement from the family along with funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time."Edwards said he has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of Letlows funeral.Letlow had announced on December 18 that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and was quarantining at home. He was hospitalized three days later.Letlow is the first member of the US Congress to die of Covid-19.The US has seen a troubling surge in coronavirus cases in recent months. As of Monday evening, the country had recorded 19,526,228 cases with 337,918 deaths, both by far the worst tolls in the world.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 30)

  Globally, as of 10:30 am BJT on Wednesday, there have been 80,155,187 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,771,128 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A pedestrian wears a mask while passing by a window display in a clothing store late Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in downtown Denver. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10:30 am BJT, December 30): Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 343,407 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 19,841,339 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10:30 am BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 10,224,303 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to148,153.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,563,551 with 192,681 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has recorded 3,073,923 confirmed cases and 55,107 deaths.France has confirmed 2,631,110 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 64,204.The UK has reported 2,389,963 COVID-19 cases and 71,675 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Turkey with 20,388 deaths from 2,178,580 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 73,029 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 2,067,487.A total of 1,893,502 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 50,442.Germanys confirmed cases have increased to 1,692,109, with the number of deaths at 31,655, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  Chinese mainland reports 24 new confirmed COVID-19 cases

  The Chinese mainland reported 24 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, seven locally transmitted and 17 imported, the National Health Commission said on Wednesday.Medical workers carry out door-to-door nucleic acid sampling on the elderly who have difficulty in moving in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 28, 2020. (Photo: AP)Five locally transmitted cases were detected in Liaoning and one each in Beijing and Heilongjiang. Seven new imported cases were reported in Shanghai, three in Tianjin, and two each in Inner Mongolia and Fujian, one each in Zhejiang, Shandong and Guangdong, the National Health Commission said in its daily report.A total of 3,978 imported cases had been discharged from hospitals after recovery while 269 remained hospitalized, including three in severe conditions, the commission said.

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  Belarus, Argentina start vaccinations with Russian shots

  Belarus and Argentina launched mass coronavirus vaccinations with the Russian-developed Sputnik V shot on Tuesday, becoming the first countries outside Russia to roll out the vaccine, which has faced criticism over the speed with which it was approved.Dr. Estefania Zevrnja gets a shot of Russias Sputnik V vaccine for COVID-19 at Dr. Pedro Fiorito Hospital in Avellaneda, Argentina, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. (Photo: AP)The first batch of Sputnik V arrived in the former Soviet republic of Belarus on Tuesday and the vaccination effort began almost immediately."A new stage starts in Belarus today with mass vaccinations against COVID-19. Medical staff, teachers, and those who come into contact a lot of people due to their jobs will be the first to get vaccinated. Vaccination will be entirely voluntary," Belarus Health Minister Dmitry Pinevich was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his ministry and Russian health authorities.Hours later, a similar campaign kicked off in South America as Argentine medical workers began receiving the vaccine and officials insisted it was safe. President Alberto Fernández called it the largest vaccination campaign in the countrys modern history.Teachers, those with complicating medical conditions and people over 60 were to be next in line in Argentina, which so far has received 300,000 doses, which also will be free and voluntary.Argentina, a country of 45 million people, has recorded nearly 1.6 million infections with the new coronavirus and almost 43,000 deaths.Belarus conducted its own trial of Sputnik V among 100 volunteers and gave the shot regulatory approval on Dec. 21, two days before Argentina did. Russia has been widely criticized for giving the domestically developed Sputnik V regulatory approval in August after the vaccine only had been tested on a few dozen people. An advanced study started shortly after the vaccine received the Russian governments go-ahead. Russian health authorities say the study ...

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  UK hospitals struggle; tougher rules eyed to fight variant

  British officials are considering tougher coronavirus restrictions as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients surpasses the first peak of the outbreak in the spring.Ambulances outside the Royal London Hospital, in London, Tuesday Dec. 29, 2020. (Photo: AP)Authorities are blaming a new, more transmissible variant of the virus, first identified in southeast England, for the soaring infection rates. An area home to almost half of the people in England is under tight restrictions on movement and everyday life in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. Nonessential shops are shut along with gyms and swimming pools, indoor socializing is barred and restaurants and pubs can only offer takeout.Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to hold a meeting of his COVID-19 crisis committee later Tuesday. Health Secretary Matt Hancock is scheduled to update Parliament on Wednesday on whether more areas will be put into Tier 4 — the top level of lockdown measures — and whether the restrictions could be tightened even further. Hospitals in the worst-hit areas of London and southern England are becoming increasingly overstretched, with ambulances unable to unload patients at some hospitals because all beds are full. A growing number of National Health Service staff are off work because they are sick with the virus or self-isolating.England had 20,426 coronavirus patients in hospitals as of Monday morning — the last day for which figures are available — compared to its previous high of 18,974 on April 12. Britain has recorded more than 71,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths, the second-highest death toll in Europe after Italy.A further 414 deaths were reported Tuesday, along with a record 53,135 new cases, although that figure may include a backlog from the Christmas holiday period.Steve Hams, a chief nurse at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in western England, said medical staff were becoming "increasingly exhausted.""We felt during April that there woul...

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  Iranian women's group empowers amid pandemic by making masks

  As the coronavirus pandemic ravages Iran, home to the Mideasts worst outbreak, a womens group hopes to empower its members by helping them make and sell face masks.Maliheh Rahimi crochets at a workshop of Bavar charity in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. (Photo: AP)The organization called "Bavar," or "Belief" in Farsi, formed in 2016, allowing women looking for work to make handicrafts with donated sewing machines. It gave widows and others a way to earn cash in a country whose anemic economy only worsened since, two years later, President Donald Trump withdrew from Irans nuclear deal with world powers. Sara Chartabian, the founder of Bavar, said the group tries to teach women to be self-sufficient as unemployment and inflation remain high."We teach them fishing instead of giving them a fish," Chartabian said.The pandemic, however, has seen the demand for handicrafts drop. Iran has 1.2 million reported cases of the virus, with about 1 million recoveries and over 55,000 deaths — with officials acknowledging the true toll could be far higher. Meanwhile, the women in need still had to earn money to support their families. So the women at Bavar decided to begin making cloth face masks. Today, some 50 women sit with their sewing machines, creating two-ply cloth masks. A third layer can be added with material sold in local pharmacies. Elham Karami, a 41-year-old woman who works five days a week to support her two sons, said she makes around 10,000 rials (3 U.S. cents) for each face mask she sews. Clients for Bavar include companies and others. "I am grateful for this (organization) because they turned me to a skilled tailor for free," Karami said. "They allowed me to use a sewing machine to learn how to sew. They also provided materials for me to work on."Depending on the order size, Bavar then sells the masks for as much as 250,00 rials (96 U.S. cents) apiece.In Iran, where the capital of Tehran has bee...

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  First reported US case of COVID-19 variant found in Colorado

  The first reported U.S. case of the COVID-19 variant thats been seen in the United Kingdom has been discovered in Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis announced Tuesday. A waitperson wears a face mask while tending to a patron sitting in the outdoor patio of a sushi restaurant, late Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in downtown Denver. (Photo: AP)The variant was found in a man in his 20s who is in isolation southeast of Denver and has no travel history, state health officials said.The Colorado State Laboratory confirmed the virus variant, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was notified.Scientists in the U.K. believe the variant is more contagious than previously identified strains. The vaccines being given now are thought to be effective against the variant, Colorado health officials said in a news release.Public health officials are investigating other potential cases and performing contact tracing to determine the spread of the variant throughout the state."There is a lot we dont know about this new COVID-19 variant, but scientists in the United Kingdom are warning the world that it is significantly more contagious. The health and safety of Coloradans is our top priority, and we will closely monitor this case, as well as all COVID-19 indicators, very closely," Polis said. Polis and state health officials are expected hold a news conference Wednesday.The discovery of the new variant led the CDC to issue new rules on Christmas Day for travelers arriving to the U.S. from the U.K., requiring they show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.Worry has been growing about the variant since Saturday, when Britains prime minister said a new strain of the coronavirus seemed to spread more easily than earlier ones and was moving rapidly through England. The nations first variant case was identified in southeast England.Dozens of countries barred flights from the U.K., and southern England was placed under strict lockdown measures. Scientists say there is r...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 29)

  Globally, as of 10:30 am BJT on Tuesday, there have been 79,673,754 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,761,381 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A woman seeking asylum in the United States and living at a camp in Matamoros, Mexico, waits for COVID-19 antibody test result at a clinic, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10:30 am BJT, December 29):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 339,999 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 19,676,421 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10:30 am BJT on Tuesday.India has confirmed a total of 10,207,871 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 147,901.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,504,833 with 191,570 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has recorded 3,047,335 confirmed cases and 54,559 deaths.France has confirmed 2,619,616 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 63,235.The UK has reported 2,336,688 COVID-19 cases and 69,732 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Turkey with 20,135 deaths from 2,162,775 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 72,370 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 2,056,277.A total of 1,879,413 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 50,122.Germanys confirmed cases have increased to 1,672,643, with the number of deaths at 30,508, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  Amid pandemic, Pacific islands work to offset food shortages

  Coronavirus infections have barely touched many of the remote islands of the Pacific, but the pandemics fallout has been enormous, disrupting the supply chain that brings crucial food imports and sending prices soaring as tourism wanes.This July 2020 photo provided by Fijis Ministry of Agriculture shows staff members of the Suva Christian School, Louisa John, left, and her colleague working in their garden in Suva, Fiji. (Photo: AP)With a food crisis looming, many governments have begun community initiatives to help alleviate shortages: extending fishing seasons, expanding indigenous food gathering lessons and bolstering seed distribution programs that allow residents greater self-reliance."We initially started with 5,000 seeds and thought we would finish them in nine months time. But there was a very big response, and we finished distributing the seeds in one week," said Vinesh Kumar, head of operation for Fijis Agriculture Ministry.The project provides residents with vegetable seeds, saplings and basic farming equipment to help them grow their own home gardens.Fiji resident Elisabeta Waqa said she had contemplated starting a garden before the pandemic, but -- with no job, extra time at home and seeds from the ministry and friends -- finally took action. Looking to have "zero financial investment," Waqa collected buckets, crates and other potential planters discarded on the side of the road and in the trash. Soon her yard transformed into containers of green beans, cucumber, cabbage and other produce."When I started harvesting about two, three weeks later, thats when I realized: My gosh, this is a hobby people have had for so long. I thought about just how much money I could save my doing this," Waqa said. Geographically isolated with limited arable land and increased urbanization, many of the Pacific island countries and territories have seen their populations shift from traditional agriculture-based work to t...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 28)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Monday, there have been 79,232,555 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,754,493 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Administrative worker Veronica Esparza, right, hands a COVID-19 testing kit to a woman at a testing site in Los Angeles, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 28):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 338,352 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 19,430,496 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Monday.India has confirmed a total of 10,187,850 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 147,622.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,484,285 with 191,139 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has recorded 3,019,972 confirmed cases and 54,080 deaths.France has confirmed 2,616,510 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 62,867.The UK has reported 2,295,228 COVID-19 cases and 70,860 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Turkey with 19,878 deaths from 2,147,578 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 71,925 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 2,047,696.A total of 1,854,951 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 49,824.Germanys confirmed cases have increased to 1,658,637, with the number of deaths at 30,033, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  Chinese mainland reports 21 new confirmed COVID-19 cases

  The Chinese mainland reported 21 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, 15 locally transmitted and six imported, the National Health Commission said on Monday.A citizen receives nucleic acid test for the prevention of COVID-19 pandemic late at night in Suifenhe City, northeast Chinas Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 10, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)All six locally transmitted cases were detected in Liaoning. Six new imported cases were reported in Inner Mongolia, three in Zhejiang, two in Shanghai, and one each in Beijing, Tianjin, Guangdong and Sichuan, the National Health Commission said in its daily report.A total of 3,948 imported cases had been discharged from hospitals after recovery while 270 remained hospitalized, including three in severe conditions, the commission said.

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  EU begins vaccinations to end Covid 'nightmare'

  EU countries on Sunday embarked on a vaccination campaign to defeat the "nightmare" of Covid-19, with the first to be immunised expressing emotion after their jab and leaders hailing a milestone in the fight against the pandemic.Polls have shown many Europeans are unwilling to take the vaccine, which could impede its effectiveness in beating the virus. (Photo: AFP)The vaccine is a glimmer of hope for a continent yearning for a return to normal from a pandemic that has killed 1.76 million people worldwide since emerging in China late last year and caused at least 80 million confirmed cases, according to an AFP tally.But polls have shown many Europeans are unwilling to take the vaccine, which could impede its effectiveness in beating the virus, while it will take months for large chunks of the population to be immunised."It is with deep pride and a deep sense of responsibility that I got the vaccine today. A small gesture but a fundamental gesture for all of us," said Claudia Alivernini, 29, an Italian nurse who was the first in her country to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech jab Sunday morning.In Greece, the first in line was nurse Efstathia Kampissiouli who flashed a V-sign while being vaccinated and later told Ert TV it was "a great honour for me but also for those working on the front line."European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen hailed the campaign start as a "touching moment of unity and a European success story", adding the process will "help to get our normal lives back gradually."Countries are however showing different strategies, with Italy focusing on health workers, France the elderly and in the Czech Republic, Greece and Slovakia political leaders at the front of the queue.- Things might actually get worse - But the introduction of the vaccine worldwide is far from the end of the crisis. In a bleak assessment, top US government scientist Anthony Fauci warned Sunday that "as we get into th...

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  British tourists sneak out of Swiss ski resort

  Hundreds of British tourists forced into quarantine in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier fled in the night rather than seeing their holidays go downhill, the local municipality said Sunday.Switzerlands ski resorts were set to boom with snow-seeking British tourists -- but a flight ban due to the new Covid-19 variant raging in England put those plans on ice. (Photo: AFP)Around 200 of the 420 or so affected British tourists in the luxury Alpine ski station quit under the cover of darkness, the SonntagsZeitung newspaper reported.Switzerlands ski resorts were set to boom with snow-seeking British tourists -- but a flight ban due to the new Covid-19 variant raging in England put those plans on ice.The drastic ruling by the Swiss government also included a 10-day retroactive quarantine for anyone who arrived from Britain since December 14, following the discovery of a new variant of the coronavirus which experts fear spreads more quickly.Some of the British tourists affected in Verbier left immediately, while others stuck it out for a bit before quitting."Many of them stayed in quarantine for a day before they set off unnoticed under the cover of darkness," Jean-Marc Sandoz, spokesman for the wider Bagnes municipality, told SZ.He called the whole situation "the worst week our community has ever experienced".British tourists normally make up 21 percent of the Verbier clientele, and most start pouring in just after Christmas.Voted Switzerlands best ski resort for the past two years, Verbier markets itself as offering "adrenaline-packed thrills, simple pleasures and a chic lifestyle". The Verbier Tourist Office has been holding daily crisis cell meetings to try to deal with the ever-changing coronavirus picture.- Breakfast untouched -"It was when they saw the meal trays remained untouched that the hoteliers noticed that the customers had gone," Sandoz told ATS news agency.He said that according to a Saturday survey of the ...

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  Israel enters third nationwide lockdown as vaccinations ramp up

  Israel began Sunday its third coronavirus lockdown, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced optimism that a "world record" vaccination drive will restore a degree of normality within weeks.(File photo: AFP)After a sharp resurgence of detected infections, Netanyahus government announced three days ago that it would re-impose the strict measures that had previously helped limit transmission.The lockdown, which began at 5:00 pm (1500 GMT) on Sunday, forces most people to stay within 1,000 metres (yards) of their home.There are a range of exceptions, including grocery shopping, seeking medical care, attending legal proceedings or exercising.A key difference in Israels third lockdown compared to previous versions relates to schools, with students able to attend classes.Instead of near total closures, Israel is keeping schools open but subject to limitations, with most children combining days in class with learning from home.The alleys of Jerusalems Mahane Yehuda open-air market, normally relatively dormant on a Sunday, were full of shoppers making last-minute food purchases before the lockdown kicked in.A vendor in the markets Neeman spice store shrugged when asked whether they would be allowed to operate during the lockdown."As far as were concerned, were open," he said. "Nobody told us whats happening yet."- World record -Israel meanwhile ploughed ahead with its vaccination campaign, which as of Sunday night, had reached 360,000 people who got their first shot of the required two, according to what health ministry director Hezi Levi told public broadcaster Kan."National pride: Israel is the worlds champion in vaccinating!" Netanyahu tweeted earlier Sunday, showing a chart indicating the Jewish state had the hightest vaccinations per capita.Speaking late Saturday, Netanyahu said Israel was hoping to vaccinate a quarter of its population, or roughly 2.25 million people, against ...

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  Central African Republic votes amid fears of unrest

  Central African Republic held presidential and legislative elections Sunday amid fears of violence after a campaign period marked by fighting between rebels and government forces. People cast their votes for presidential and legislative elections, at the Lycee Boganda polling station in the capital Bangui, Central African Republic Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. (Photo: AP)Voters came out in large numbers in the capital, while in other parts of the country fewer people went to polling stations because of fears of violence or boycotts by the rebel coalition. Some polling stations remained open late to allow more voters to cast their ballots. Despite calls from the opposition to delay the vote amid the insecurity, the Constitutional Court rejected a postponement. President Faustin-Archange Touadera, seeking a second term, tried to reassure candidates and voters that the voting would be secure. This is the central African countrys first election since a peace deal was signed between the government and 14 rebel groups in February 2019, although fighting continues."The vote is a right, a right for Central Africans. Each person has the power in the constitution of this country ... each citizen has the right to freely choose his leaders," Touadera said after casting his ballot. "This is quite important for the Central African Republicans who are searching to get out of these moments of crisis ...the right way ... for the development, the well-being of our country and our population. It is democracy, it is the free choice of the leaders by the people."Touadera criticized the perpetuation of violence, saying it has dragged the country into chaos and adding that measures will be taken accordingly.Three peacekeepers from Burundi were killed and two others wounded Friday by armed combatants. The U.N. retook the town of Bambari last week from rebels. Rebel groups have also seized several towns near the capital, Bangui, and after forming a coalition, boycotted the...

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  South Africa on verge of new virus rules as it hits 1M cases

  South Africas COVID-19 spike has taken the country to more than 1 million confirmed cases on Sunday and President Cyril Ramaphosa called an emergency meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council.Members of the Saaberie Chishty Burial Society prepare the body of a person who died from COVID-19 at the Avalon Cemetery in Lenasia, Johannesburg Saturday Dec. 26, 2020. (Photo: AP)The countrys new variant of the coronavirus, 501.V2, is more contagious and has quickly become dominant in many areas of the resurgence, according to experts.With South Africas hospitals reaching capacity and no sign of the new surge reaching a peak, Ramaphosa is expected to announce a return to restrictive measures designed to slow the spread of the disease."We are not helpless in the face of this variant," infectious disease specialist Dr. Richard Lessells told The Associated Press. "We can change our behavior to give the virus less opportunities to spread." He said its most important to avoid contact with others in indoor, enclosed spaces.South Africa announced a cumulative total of 1,004,431 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday evening. That number includes 26,735 deaths in a country of 60 million people."One million cases is a serious milestone, but the true number of cases and deaths is almost certainly much higher," Lessells said."We have seen the new variant spread rapidly," he said, pointing out that genomic sequencing shows it has become dominant in the coastal provinces of Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It is not yet certain if the variant is as dominant in the inland Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg and is the countrys most populous province."As people return from holidays at coastal areas, we can expect them to bring the variant with them," said Lessells. "We can also expect travelers to take the variant with them across the borders to other African countries."The ...

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  Fauci: US taking hard look at variant of coronavirus

  U.S. health officials believe the coronavirus mutation that set off alarms in parts of Britain is no more apt to cause serious illness or be resistant to vaccines than the strain afflicting people in the United States but it still must be taken "very seriously," the governments top infectious disease expert said Sunday.In this Dec. 22, 2020, file photo Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, prepares to receive his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. (Photo: AP)Dr. Anthony Fauci endorsed the decision of U.S. officials to require negative COVID-19 tests before letting people from Britain enter the U.S. He declined to weigh in on whether that step should have been taken sooner. He said the variant strain is something "to follow very carefully" and "were looking at it very intensively now." He said: "Does it make someone more ill? Is it more serious virus in the sense of virulence? And the answer is, it doesnt appear to be that way." British officials are telling their U.S. colleagues it appears that the vaccines being rolled out will be strong enough to deal with the new variant but, Fauci said, "were going to be doing the studies ourselves."Fauci said the U.S. is at a critical phase of the pandemic, with the worst probably still ahead. He predicted the general population would be getting immunized widely by late March or early April — beyond the front-line workers, older people and certain other segments of the public given priority for the vaccines.Fauci spoke on CNNs "State of the Union."

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 25)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Friday, there have been 77,530,799 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,724,904 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A young boy, part of several asylum seeking families participating in a Las Posadas event at the US -Mexico border wall, peers into the US from Agua Prieta, Mexico Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, seen from Douglas, Ariz. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 25):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 334,108 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 18,989,620 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Friday.India has confirmed a total of 10,123,778 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 146,756.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,423,945 with 189,982 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has recorded 2,934,695 confirmed cases and 52,434 deaths.France has confirmed 2,584,333 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 62,389.The UK has reported 2,195,144 COVID-19 cases and 69,732 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Turkey with 19,115 deaths from 2,100,712 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 70,900 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 2,009,317.A total of 1,854,951 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 49,824.Germanys confirmed cases have increased to 1,614,336, with the number of deaths at 29,085, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 24)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Thursday, there have been 76,858,506 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,711,498 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A flight crew member walks through a Delta terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, in Atlanta. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 24):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 331,397 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 18,783,933 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Thursday.India has confirmed a total of 10,099,066 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 146,444.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,365,517 with 189,220 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,905,196 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 51,810.France has recorded 2,562,615 confirmed cases and 62,098 deaths.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 2,155,914, with the number of deaths at 69,156, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Turkey with 18,861 deaths from 2,082,610 infections.A total of 1,991,378 people in Italy have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 70,373.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 49,698 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,842,289.Germany has reported 1,587,903 COVID-19 cases and 28,527 deaths from the virus so far.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 23)

  Globally, as of 10:30 am BJT on Wednesday, there have been 76,250,431 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,699,230 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Benny Yun, owner of Yang Chow restaurant, left, talks to a fellow cafe owner Michael H., in Los Angeles, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10:30 am BJT, December 23):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 328,037 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 18,555,051infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 10:30 am BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 10,075,116 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 146,111.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,318,821 with 188,259 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,878,382 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 51,274.France has recorded 2,547,577 confirmed cases and 61,821 deaths.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 2,116,608, with the number of deaths at 68,409, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Turkey with 18,602 deaths from 2,062,960 infections.A total of 1,977,370 people in Italy have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 69,842.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 49,520 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,829,903.Germany has reported 1,556,708 COVID-19 cases and 27,590 deaths from the virus so far.

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  Trump rejects COVID relief bill, calling it 'a disgrace'

  US President Donald Trump called the bipartisan Covid stimulus package "a disgrace," and demanded that lawmakers increase the amount of relief payments to Americans. (Photo: AFP)President Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected a massive Covid economic relief package passed by Congress, branding it "a disgrace" in an act of political brinkmanship less than a month before he must leave office and when millions of Americans are suffering fallout from the pandemic.Trump dropped the bombshell via a pre-recorded statement made in the White House and sent out on Twitter.It came just a day after his Republicans and the Democrats finally agreed overwhelmingly to a $900 billion bill meant to throw a lifeline to businesses and people struggling to keep heads above water.In his address, Trump said he would refuse to accept the bill as it is and demanded changes, notably a big increase in the proposed $600 direct payments to less well-off Americans."I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000, or $4,000 for a couple," he said, referring to relief checks.Tapping into his nationalist "America First" brand, Trump also castigated measures added onto the bill during complex negotiations that would provide funding for projects benefiting US partners abroad and other non-Covid related items like the environment."It really is a disgrace," he said. "Im also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation, and just send me a suitable bill."Trump has not yet received the bill and he did not explicitly say he would not sign. If he actually vetoed the package, Congress would almost certainly quickly override that, given the bipartisan support.In what is widely expected to be only a portion of a slew of presidential pardons and commutations issued in the dying days of the administration, the White House also announced late Tuesday that 20 p...

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  Chinese mainland reports 15 new confirmed COVID-19 cases

  The Chinese mainland reported 15 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, one locally transmitted and 14 imported, the National Health Commission said on Wednesday.(File photo: Xinhua)One locally transmitted case was detected in Liaoning Province. Twelve new imported cases were reported in Shanghai, one in Guangdong and Zhejiang respectively, the National Health Commission said in its daily report.A total of 3,883 imported cases had been discharged from hospitals after recovery while 280 remained hospitalized, including four in severe conditions, the commission said.

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  Biden says will push Congress for another Covid relief bill

  President-elect Joe Biden said Tuesday he will ask Congress for another Covid-19 relief bill when he takes office, insisting that Americans want Republicans and Democrats to work together again after Donald Trump goes.US President-elect Joe Biden was speaking a day after lawmakers approved a $900 billion relief package for millions of Americans and businesses battered by the pandemic. (Photo: AFP)Biden cast himself as a leader eager to work for the whole country during a national health and economic crisis, in contrast to Trumps divisive style."Theres a clear understanding that these issues go beyond any ideology. People are desperately hurting and the Republicans are hurting as badly as Democrats," he told reporters in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, where he is preparing his transition to power on January 20.Congress passed a $900 billion economic relief bill on Monday after months of wrangling.But coronavirus deaths are rocketing and the economy remains at risk after a year of severe disruption. Biden said more assistance for businesses, the unemployed and healthcare facilities is needed -- and quickly."Congress did its job this week. And I can and I must ask them to do it again next year," Biden said during a pre-holidays speech to the nation before taking questions from journalists."This bill is just a first step -- a down payment -- on addressing the crisis were in. We have a lot more work to do."Asked how he intends to bridge the Republican-Democratic divide in the post-Trump era, Biden said members of Congress would welcome his offer of leadership."You have a different team in town. Im not going to villainize the opposition. Im going to stand and say This is what weve got to do, because they know it," he said."This is life and death. Thats why I believe well get it done.""We need to work in a bipartisan way," he said, adding: "Thats t...

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  Performing in the pandemic, by zoom, drive-in and doorstep

  A good way to hear what weve missed this year is to listen to Sam Cookes landmark live album, "Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963." On a warm January night in downtown Miami, Cooke was well into his torrid set when, in the middle of "Bring it on Home to Me," he asks the audience to join in.Comedian Daphnique Springs performs to an empty room during a "Laughter is Healing" stand-up comedy livestream event at the Laugh Factory comedy club, Monday, April 20, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo: AP)"Let me hear you say yeah," coos Cooke.The "Yeah!" that follows — instant, exuberant, loud — is one of the great call-and-responses in music, a euphoria of performer and audience as one. Anything like that blissful moment has been painfully out of reach in 2020. Music halls have been closed since March. Broadway is shuttered. Comedy clubs empty. Live studio audiences mostly sent home. Cinemas with only "Wash your hands" on the marquee. The entertainment world has trudged on, by live-streaming, zooming and improvising. But its in-person soul was nearly snuffed out, and with it a lifeblood of human connection.The pandemic has upended entertainment industries, driving thousands out of work, reshaping time-tested institutions and accelerating digital transformations. For the arts, which are predicated on bringing people closer together if only for a song or a few acts, a year of isolation and social distancing goes against nature. Yet despite gathering being nearly impossible in 2020, many have found ways to connect nevertheless — even if applause is on mute, and standing ovations are sounded by car honks.The show isnt the same, but it goes on. After a month of practicing and playing inside, Los Angeles Philharmonic members Cathy and Jonathan Karoly decided they had had enough. Cathy, a flutist, and Jonathan, a cellist, began playing on the porch of their Pasadena, California, home. At first, they didnt te...

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  Britain finds itself isolated over new version of the virus

  Over 2,800 stranded truck drivers hoped to get the green light Tuesday to leave Britain and get back home for Christmas as the country found itself increasingly isolated and its trade bottled up, cut off by neighbors afraid of a new version of the coronavirus circulating in England.Trucks are parked in Dover, whilst the Port remains closed, in Kent, England, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. (Photo: AP)More than 630 trucks snaked along a major highway in southeast England near the English Channel ports, while almost 2,200 others crowded into an unused airport on Day 2 of an ordeal that began when dozens of nations banned flights from the U.K. and France barred entry to its trucks.Frances prime minister said Tuesday evening that he expected a solution to the standoff in a matter of hours.The precautions that France and others imposed were prompted by a new variant of the virus that is believed to be more contagious, though experts say it does not appear to be more deadly or vaccine-resistant. A similar one has emerged in South Africa.On an island nation that relies heavily on its commercial links to the continent, the travel bans stoked fears of Christmastime food shortages.At the same time, Britain is witnessing an alarming rise in infections, with a record 36,800 reported on Tuesday, and is facing deep uncertainty over its final exit from the European Union in less than two weeks. Despite the looming deadline, the country has yet to work out its post-Brexit trade arrangements with the EU."What is so bad to me, is not just this new mutation, but the fact that we have been so bad at dealing with the pandemic, and it now looks like were heading for whats called a perfect storm with the mutation 70% more infectious and Brexit all at the same time," said 73-year-old Jim Gibson of London."People are really struggling to get their heads round one of these, let alone both — and now were being told we may have eaten our last lettuce for three month...

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  As small businesses await new US aid, it's too late for some

  Clay Reynolds is starting to make peace with a gut-wrenching reality: He may have to once again close his business, Arrichion Hot Yoga and Circuit Training. This Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, photo shows a line of empty chairs bearing the names of workers who have lost their jobs during the pandemic, outside Crumbs restaurant in Danville, Calif. (Photo: AP)The $900 billion pandemic relief package that Congress has just approved contains billions in aid directed specifically at struggling small companies like Reynolds. Arrichion received a loan last spring from the governments earlier economic aid program. But Reynolds, a co-owner, needs another. Business was down 75% in the third quarter. The fourth quarter will likely be worse.Like other independent fitness studios and gyms, his has lost many longtime members who feared working out alongside others indoors or dont want to wear a mask while exercising. And after being forced to close during the spring, Reynolds worries that the surge in virus cases will bring new government restrictions."Theres a good chance this type of business will be shut down again in the next few weeks," said Reynolds, whose studios are in North Carolina and Utah.Americas entrepreneurs welcomed Congress long-delayed relief package, which provides $325 billion in aid to small companies and makes it easier for them to gain access to grants and loans under its renewed Paycheck Protection Program. But the rescue comes too late for tens of thousands of businesses that have already closed or may have to soon, a consequence of a pandemic that has kept away diners, shoppers and customers since early spring. The National Restaurant Association, for example, estimates that 110,000 U.S. restaurants — 17% — have shut down indefinitely or for good, doomed by restrictions on their hours or capacity and by Americans reluctance to eat out."If you closed already, it doesnt help you a bit, said Henry Per...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 22)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday, there have been 75,704,857 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,690,061 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Shoppers wear protective face masks as they look for Black Friday deals at the Ellenton Premium Outlet stores Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, in Ellenton, Fla. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 22):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 323,960 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 18,322,063 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday.India has confirmed a total of 10,055,560 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 145,810.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,263,619 with 187,291deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,850,042 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 50,723.France has recorded 2,535,716 confirmed cases and 61,019 deaths.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 2,079,678, with the number of deaths at 67,718, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Turkey with 18,351 deaths from 2,043,704 infections.A total of 1,964,054 people in Italy have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 69,214.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 49,260 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,819,249.Argentina has reported 1,547,138 COVID-19 cases and 41,997 deaths from the virus so far.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 21)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Monday, there have been 75,110,651 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,680,395 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Travellers wait for trains on the concourse at Kings Cross station in central London, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 21):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 322,484 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 18,145,699 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Monday.India has confirmed a total of 10,031,223 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 145,477.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,238,600 with 186,764 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has recorded 2,821,125 confirmed cases and 50,242 deaths.France has confirmed 2,529,756 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 60,665.The UK has reported 2,046,161 COVID-19 cases and 67,503 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Turkey with 18,097 deaths from 2,024,601 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 68,799 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 1,953,185.A total of 1,797,236 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 48,926.Argentinas confirmed cases have increased to 1,541,285, with the number of deaths at 41,813, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 18)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday, there have been 72,851,747 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,643,339 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A woman wearing a face mask to curb the spread of coronavirus walks past the Sondheim Theatre in central London, which has had to temporarily stop showing its production of "Les Miserables: The Staged Concert" as the British government have moved London into coronavirus Tier 3 restrictions, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, December 18):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 315,258 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 17,406,729 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday.India has confirmed a total of 9,979,447 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 144,789.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,110,434 with 184,827deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,764,843 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 49,170.France has recorded 2,483,524 confirmed cases and 59,733 deaths.It is followed by Turkey with 17,364 deaths from 1,955,680 infections.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 1,954,268, with the number of deaths at 66,150, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 67,220 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 1,906,377.A total of 1,785,421 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 48,777.Argentina has reported 1,524,372 COVID-19 cases and 41,534 deaths from the virus so far.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 17)

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Thursday, there have been 72,556,942 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,637,155 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A Russian medical worker finishes the procedure after administering a shot of Russias Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, December 17):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 312,054 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 17,166,907 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 7 pm BJT on Thursday.India has confirmed a total of 9,956,557 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 144,451.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 7,040,608 with 183,735 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,736,727 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 48,568.France has recorded 2,465,126 confirmed cases and 59,472 deaths.It is followed by Turkey with 17,121 deaths from 1,928,165 infections.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 1,918,736, with the number of deaths at 65,618, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 66,537 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 1,888,144.A total of 1,773,290 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 48,596.Argentina has reported 1,517,046 COVID-19 cases and 41,365 deaths from the virus so far.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 16)

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Wednesday, there have been 71,919,725 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,623,064 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.People walk beneath illuminated signs above Carnaby Street in London, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, December 16):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 308,344 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 16,928,551 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 7 pm BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 9,932,547 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 144,096.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,970,034 with 182,799 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,708,940 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 47,994.France has recorded 2,447,457 confirmed cases and 59,182 deaths.It is followed by Turkey with 16,881 deaths from 1,898,447 infections.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 1,893,436, with the number of deaths at 65,006, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 65,857 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 1,870,576.A total of 1,762,212 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 48,401.Argentina has reported 1,510,203 COVID-19 cases and 41,204 deaths from the virus so far.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 15)

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Tuesday, there have been 71,051,805 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,608,648 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Decoraters put a special offer advertising for the next two days at a shopping window in the city center of Essen, Germany, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, December 15):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 305,354 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 16,717,899 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 7 pm BJT on Tuesday.India has confirmed a total of 9,906,165 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 143,709.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,927,145 with 181,835 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,682,866 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 47,410.France has recorded 2,433,859 confirmed cases and 58,391 deaths.It is followed by the UK with 64,500 deaths from 1,874,867 infections.Turkeys confirmed cases have increased to 1,866,345, with the number of deaths at 16,646, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 65,011 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 1,855,737.A total of 1,751,884 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 48,013.Argentina has reported 1,503,222 COVID-19 cases and 41,041 deaths from the virus so far.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 14)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Monday, there have been 70,461,926 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,599,704 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Workers handle boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as they are prepared to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, December 14):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 303,984 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 16,504,180 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 6:30 pm BJT on Monday.India has confirmed a total of 9,884,100 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 143,355.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,901,952 with 181,402 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,656,601 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 46,846.France has recorded 2,430,612 confirmed cases and 58,015 deaths.It is followed by the UK with 64,267 deaths from 1,854,490 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 64,520 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 1,843,712.Turkeys confirmed cases have increased to 1,836,728, with the number of deaths at 16,417, according to the JHU virus tracker.A total of 1,730,575 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 47,624.Argentina has reported 1,498,160 COVID-19 cases and 40,766 deaths from the virus so far.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 11)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Friday, there have been 68,165,877 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,557,385 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.People wearing protective masks exit the Fordham Road subway station Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in New York. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 11):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 297,272 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 15,865,395 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Friday.India has confirmed a total of 9,767,371 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 141,772.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,781,799 with 179,765 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has recorded 2,546,113 confirmed cases and 44,769 deaths.France has confirmed 2,391,643 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 57,044.The UK has reported 1,792,605 COVID-19 cases and 63,179 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Italy with 62,626 deaths from 1,787,147 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 47,344 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,720,056.A total of 1,482,216 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 40,431.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,399,911, with the number of deaths at 38,484, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 10)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Thursday, there have been 67,780,361 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,551,214 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Street musicians perform in front of a store that has a For Rent sign, in down town Mexico City, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 10):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 294,400 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 15,649,964 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 10 am BJT on Thursday.India has confirmed a total of 9,735,850 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 141,360.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,728,452 with 178,995 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,518,551 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 44,220.France has recorded 2,377,913 confirmed cases and 56,752 deaths.It is followed by the UK with 62,663 deaths from 1,771,544 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 61,739 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 1,770,149.A total of 1,712,101 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 47,019.Argentina has reported 1,475,222 COVID-19 cases and 40,222 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,392,133, with the number of deaths at 38,308, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  Hospital staff 'truly exhausted,' says Texas doctor in viral hug photo

  Through multiple masks, a face shield and a protective suit he likens to those worn by astronauts, Dr Joseph Varon bends over his Covid-19 patient and waves into the phone she is holding up.Chief of Staff Joseph Varon smiles and waves to Gloria Garcias family as she video calls them from the Covid-19 ward at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas on December 4, 2020. (Photo: AFP)At the other end of the video call, several loved ones express their delight at seeing the man who helped save Gloria Garcia from the disease that has killed more than 278,000 people in the US and counting.Varon, the chief of staff at United Memorial, a small hospital that primarily treats minority patients in a low-income north Houston neighborhood, made headlines when a photo of him hugging an elderly Covid patient on Thanksgiving went viral.The hug was a candid moment of empathy. And Varons wave to Garcias family is enthusiastic.But make no mistake: the doctor is exhausted.When AFP accompanied Varon on his rounds on Friday, it was his 260th straight day of work.Even the few hours he steals at home each day are interrupted by endless phone calls. He sleeps, he says, no more than one or two hours a night."Dont ask me how I can do this," he adds.Donuts play a role. He displays a box, adding: "Whatever they bring is what I will eat because you dont know when youre going to eat again." He says he has gained 35 pounds (15 kilograms).Outspoken and frustrated, Varon complained to the media as far back as July that he and his staff were running "on fumes.""My staff is very tired. My nurses, they will start crying in the middle of the day. They will break down because they are so overwhelmed with the number of cases were getting that they are truly exhausted," he tells AFP.- Reinforcements -Inside the critical care Covid ward, the beds are full. Staff take vitals and check on patients. Varon does his daily rounds....

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 9)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday, there have been 67,210,778 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,540,777 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, file photo, Daisha Graf, 34, pauses for photos wearing a face mask with a message that reads "If you can read this, youre too close," in Los Angeles. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 9):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 291,311 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 15,426,635 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 9,703,770 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 140,958.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,674,999 with 178,159 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,492,713 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 43,674.France has recorded 2,363,196 confirmed cases and 56,453 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 61,240 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 1,757,394.It is followed by the UK with 62,130 deaths from 1,754,881 infections.A total of 1,702,328 people in Spain have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 46,646.Argentina has reported 1,469,919 COVID-19 cases and 40,009 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,384,610, with the number of deaths at 38,158, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 8)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday, there have been 66,422,058 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,532,418 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A school administrator, left, asks a student if his parents have completed a form granting permission for random COVID-19 testing as he arrives at P.S. 134 Henrietta Szold Elementary School, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in New York. (Photo: AP) Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 8):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 288,170 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 15,171,033 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday.India has confirmed a total of 9,677,203 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 140,573.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,623,911 with 177,317 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,466,961 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 43,122.France has recorded 2,349,059 confirmed cases and 55,613 deaths.It is followed by Italy with 60,606 deaths from 1,742,557 infections.The UK has reported 1,742,524 COVID-19 cases and 61,531 deaths from the virus so far.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 46,646 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,702,328.A total of 1,466,309 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 39,888.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,377,101, with the number of deaths at 37,995, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  Chinese mainland reports 12 new confirmed COVID-19 cases

  The Chinese mainland reported 12 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Monday, including two locally transmitted and 10 imported cases, the National Health Commission said on Tuesday.File photo: XinhuaThe new locally transmitted case were all detected in Sichuan province, said the commissions daily report.Four new imported cases were reported in Shanghai, three each in Guangdong and Sichuan respectively, the National Health Commission said in its daily report.A total of 3,716 imported cases had been discharged from hospitals after recovery while 242 remained hospitalized, including three in severe conditions, the commission said.

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  Millions of Californians locked down, UK to start vaccinating

  An overwhelming majority of Californias residents went into lockdown Monday, putting 33 million people under stay-at-home orders as the United States battles record Covid deaths and Britain readied to vaccinate the elderly and frontline staff.A child wears a face shield while dancing after Sunday mass in San Gabriel, California -- 20 million people in the state were under stay-at-home orders from Monday. (Photo: AFP)The lockdown in Americas most populous state forced most offices to close and banned gatherings among different households, while bars and services such as hair salons were shut and restaurants only allowed to serve takeaways."The overwhelming majority of Californians are now in this new stay-at-home order protocol," said state Governor Gavin Newsom, who earlier warned that the state hospital system was at risk of being "overwhelmed."The United States floundering efforts to quell the Covid-19 pandemic have been widely criticized, with a daily death toll of over 2,500 for five days in a row last week.President Donald Trump and senior officials have repeatedly downplayed the risks while ignoring basic public health measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing at mass rallies and White House events.Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, 76, tested positive for Covid-19 and was hospitalized Sunday, the latest member of his inner circle to contract the disease.The former New York mayor has been crisscrossing the country -- often appearing maskless -- leading Trumps unsuccessful effort to undo Joe Bidens victory in the November 3 election.- Race for vaccine -Biden on Monday vowed that his incoming administration would be "ready on day one to mobilize every resource of the federal government... and restore the belief that there is nothing beyond Americas capacity."When the president-elect takes office on January 20, he will be immediately responsible for an immunization drive set to launch ...

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  Years of research laid groundwork for speedy COVID-19 shots

  How could scientists race out COVID-19 vaccines so fast without cutting corners? A head start helped -- over a decade of behind-the-scenes research that had new vaccine technology poised for a challenge just as the coronavirus erupted.In this Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020 file photo, blood samples from volunteers participating in the last-stage testing of the COVID-19 vaccine by Moderna and the National Institutes wait to be processed in a lab at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami. (Photo: AP) "The speed is a reflection of years of work that went before," Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, told The Associated Press. "Thats what the public has to understand."Creating vaccines and having results from rigorous studies less than a year after the world discovered a never-before-seen disease is incredible, cutting years off normal development. But the two U.S. frontrunners are made in a way that promises speedier development may become the norm -- especially if they prove to work long-term as well as early testing suggests."Abject giddiness," is how Dr. C. Buddy Creech, a Vanderbilt University vaccine expert, described scientists reactions when separate studies showed the two candidates were about 95% effective."I think we enter into a golden age of vaccinology by having these types of new technologies," Creech said at a briefing of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Both shots -- one made by Pfizer and BioNTech, the other by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health -- are so-called messenger RNA, or mRNA, vaccines, a brand-new technology. U.S. regulators are set to decide this month whether to allow emergency use, paving the way for rationed shots that will start with health workers and nursing home residents. Billions in company and government funding certainly sped up vaccine development — and the unfortunately huge number of infections meant scientists didnt...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated December 7)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Monday, there have been 65,870,030 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,523,583 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Nurses at the Royal Free Hospital, London, simulate the administration of the Pfizer vaccine to support staff training ahead of the rollout, in London, Friday Dec. 4, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, December 7):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 286,902 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 14,993,870 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Monday.India has confirmed a total of 9,644,222 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 140,182.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,603,540 with 176,941 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 2,439,163 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 42,675.France has recorded 2,345,648 confirmed cases and 55,247 deaths.It is followed by Italy with 60,078 deaths from 1,728,878 infections.The UK has reported 1,727,751 COVID-19 cases and 61,342 deaths from the virus so far.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 46,252 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,684,647.A total of 1,463,110 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 39,770.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,371,103, with the number of deaths at 37,808, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated November 29)

  Globally, as of 7:30 pm BJT on Sunday, there have been 61,654,661 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,444,596 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Certified Nursing Assistant Angelica Corral changes her personal protective equipment (PPE) as she travels from room to room at the El Paso Long Term Acute Care hospital, Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, in central El Paso, Texas. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7:30 pm BJT, November 29):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 271,917 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 13,474,075 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7:30 pm BJT on Sunday.India has confirmed a total of 9,392,919 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 136,696.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,290,272 with 172,561 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.France has recorded 2,260,789 confirmed cases and 52,212 deaths.Russia has confirmed 2,249,890 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 39,127.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 44,668 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,628,208.The UK has reported 1,609,141 COVID-19 cases and 58,127 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Italy with 54,363 deaths from 1,564,532 infections.A total of 1,413,375 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 38,322.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,299,613, with the number of deaths at 36,401, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  With no action by Washington, states race to offer virus aid

  Faulting inaction in Washington, governors and state lawmakers are racing to get pandemic relief to small-business owners, the unemployed, renters and others whose livelihoods have been upended by the widening coronavirus outbreak.Colorado Gov. Jared Polis speaks during a news conference about the states response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020, in Denver. (Photo: AP)In some cases, elected officials are spending the last of a federal relief package passed in the spring as an end-of-year deadline approaches and the fall COVID-19 surge threatens their economies anew. Democrats have been the most vocal in criticizing President Donald Trump and the GOP-controlled Senate for failing to act, but many Republican lawmakers are also sounding the alarm.Underscoring the need for urgency, the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the United States reached 205,557 on Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University – the first time its daily figure topped the 200,000 mark. Its previous daily high was 196,000 on Nov. 20.The total number of cases reported in the U.S., since the first one in January, has topped 13 million.The Democratic governors of Colorado and New Mexico convened special legislative sessions in the closing days of November to address the virus-related emergency. Earlier this week, the New Mexico Legislature passed a bipartisan relief bill that will deliver a one-time $1,200 check to all unemployed workers and give up to $50,000 to certain businesses.Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state took action to help residents “who have real issues about keeping food on their table, a roof over their head.”“While the United States of America is on fire, the Trump administration has left states to fight this virus on their own,” she said, noting state efforts alone simply are not enough. “It is clear no help is coming — not from this president, not from this administration. As we have done every day this year, New Mexico wi...

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  Turkey's new virus figures confirm experts' worst fears

  When Turkey changed the way it reports daily COVID-19 infections, it confirmed what medical groups and opposition parties have long suspected — that the country is faced with an alarming surge of cases that is fast exhausting the Turkish health system.In this Saturday, March 21, 2020, file photo, a municipality worker wearing a face mask and protective suit disinfects the area outside the historical Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as Blue Mosque, amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Istanbul. (Photo: AP)In an about-face, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government this week resumed reporting all positive coronavirus tests — not just the number of patients being treated for symptoms — pushing the number of daily cases to above 30,000. With the new data, the country jumped from being one of the least-affected countries in Europe to one of the worst-hit.That came as no surprise to the Turkish Medical Association, which has been warning for months that the government’s previous figures were concealing the graveness of the spread and that the lack of transparency was contributing to the surge. The group maintains, however, that the ministry’s figures are still low compared with its estimate of at least 50,000 new infections per day.No country can report exact numbers on the spread of the disease since many asymptomatic cases go undetected, but the previous way of counting made Turkey look relatively well-off in international comparisons, with daily new cases far below those reported in European countries including Italy, Britain and France.That changed Wednesday as Turkey’s daily caseload almost quadrupled from about 7,400 to 28,300.The country’s hospitals are overstretched, medical staff are burned out and contract tracers, who were once credited for keeping the outbreak under check, are struggling to track transmissions, Sebnem Korur Fincanci, who heads the association, told The Associated Press.“It’s the perfect storm,” said Fincanci, whose group has come under attack fr...

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  Malaysia reports 1,315 new COVID-19 cases, 4 new deaths

  KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia reported 1,315 new COVID-19 infections, the Health Ministry said on Saturday, bringing the national total to 63,176.A boy wearing a face mask sits on the roadside in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 24, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that five of the new cases are imported and 1,310 are local transmissions.Four more deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll to 354.Another 1,110 patients have been released after recovery, bringing the total cured and discharged to 51,314, or 81.2 percent of all cases.Of the remaining 11,508 active cases, 118 are being held in intensive care and 43 of those are in need of assisted breathing.

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  London Zoo to reopen after COVID-19 lockdown ends in England

  LONDON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- London Zoo, one of the British capitals top visitor attractions, is set to re-open when England ends its second national COVID-19 lockdown on Dec. 2, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which runs the zoo, has announced.A boy looks at penguins through an underwater viewer at ZSL (the Zoological Society of London) London Zoo on the first day of its reopening since lockdown restrictions eased in London, Britain, on June 15, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)With 36 acres (0.15 square km) of nature and wildlife to explore, plus stringent COVID-safety measures in place, the zoo will become a festive wonderland from Dec. 2 to Jan. 3 next year, no matter which COVID-19 tier London is placed in, said the ZSL."We know that Christmas is an important time for many of our visitors, and when we reopen our gates it will be to an outdoor wonderland of nature and wildlife," said Kathryn England, chief operating officer at London Zoo.England is currently under a month-long national lockdown. According to British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, most of England will face harsh coronavirus restrictions in a new three-tier system when the lockdown ends next week, with London being listed in Tier Two.Another 16,022 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,589,301, according to official figures released Friday.The coronavirus-related deaths in Britain rose by 521 to 57,551, the data showed.To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines.

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  Europe virus toll crosses 400,000, shops reopen in France

  Coronavirus deaths topped 400,000 Saturday in Europe, the worlds second worst-hit region, as parts of the continent began to reopen shops for the holiday season.A fishmonger poses outside his shop, in Paris, on November 26, 2020, during Frances second lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of COVID0-19. (Photo: AFP)But across the Atlantic fearful US shoppers turned to online outlets for a massive Black Friday sale, while densely populated Los Angeles county announced a ban on gatherings of people from different households under a new "safer-at-home order" to battle the surging pandemic.Persistent high case numbers in many western countries loom over governments hopes to ease their virus rules for Christmas and New Year.The holidays would be a longed-for respite before bracing for what the world hopes is one last wave of restrictions until a clutch of promising new vaccines kick in.Europe on Saturday crossed a grim barrier, registering 400,649 deaths according to an AFP tally at 0800 GMT.Britain accounted for almost two-thirds of the fatalities at 57,551, followed by Italy with 53,677, France at 51,914 and Spain with 44,668.Stores began lifting their shutters in France on Saturday, while Polands shopping centres will also reopen."Id rather avoid the internet, Im going to buy things in the shops. They need it," said Anne Dubois, one of the first customers applauded through the doors by staff at Paris vast Galeries Lafayette department store as it opened at 10:00 am."Whether or not theres people here, at least weve got our daily life getting back to normal," said 36-year-old Aurelie, a manager in the LOreal section at Galeries Lafayette.Belgium will allow shops to reopen from December 1, but keep the current semi-lockdown in place possibly until mid-January. The move mirrors similar easing in Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.Ireland has also announced a staggered easing of restrictions...

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  Indonesia reports 5,418 new COVID-19 cases, 125 new deaths

  JAKARTA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia recorded 5,418 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, raising its total tally to 527,999, with the death toll increasing by 125 to 16,646, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.A health worker takes a swab test sample from a woman for COVID-19 test in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Nov. 25, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)According to the ministry, 4,527 more patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries to 441,983.The coronavirus has spread to all the countrys 34 provinces.Specifically, in the past 24 hours, Jakarta recorded 1,370 new cases, Central Java 1,118, East Java 453, West Java 367 and Banten 234.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated November 28)

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Saturday, there have been 61,036,793 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,433,316 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Vehicles line up as a healthcare workers help to check in as citizens is being tested at the COVID-19 drive-thru testing center at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday, November 22, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7:30 pm BJT, November 28):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 269,715 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 13,314,238 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7:30 pm BJT on Saturday.India has confirmed a total of 9,351,109 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 136,200.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,238,350 with 171,974 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.France has recorded 2,248,209 confirmed cases and 51,999 deaths.Russia has confirmed 2,223,500 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 38,676.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 44,668 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,628,208.The UK has reported 1,593,250 COVID-19 cases and 57,648 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Italy with 53,677 deaths from 1,538,217 infections.A total of 1,407,277 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 38,216.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,290,510, with the number of deaths at 36,214, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  Virus has put 'enormous strain' on UK economy: minister

  Britains finance minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday warned that the British economy was under "enormous strain" because of the coronavirus, ahead of a government spending review next weekIn this Tuesday Sept. 22, 2020 file photo, members of the public are seen by a public information message in Manchester, England. (Photo: AP)But he ruled out a return to austerity measures.Economic forecasts to be released alongside his Wednesday spending review would show "the enormous strain and stress that our economy is experiencing", Sunak told Sky News.The findings of independent forecasters the Office for Budget Responsibility -- as well as the 750,000 job losses from coronavirus -- would have to be taken "in the round as we consider the best way to fight the virus", he said.Despite the profound impact of the coronavirus on Sunaks spending review, he rejected a possible return to austerity measures on the economy.Government spending would continue to increase on last years day-to-day public spending, he said. "Theres absolutely no way in which anyone can say thats austerity."However, he refused to rule out a widely expected public-sector pay freeze.It was fair to "think about what is happening with wages, with jobs, with hours, across the economy when we think about what the right thing to do in the public sector is", he said.Britain has suffered more than any other country in Europe from the coronavirus, recording more than 54,000 deaths from 1.4 million cases.In November Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government imposed a four-week lockdown to stop the spread of the disease. That is due to be partially lifted on December 2, giving some relief to businesses.Sunak said the government was "looking at ways to see how families could spend time with each other over Christmas" but refused to pre-empt an announcement on the UKs winter virus strategy by Prime Minister Boris Johnson due Mo...

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  German FM slams corona protesters for Nazi victim comparisons

  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Sunday lashed out at anti-mask protesters comparing themselves to Nazi victims, accusing them of trivialising the Holocaust and "making a mockery" of the courage shown by resistance fighters.Protests against anti-virus measures continued Sunday in Berlin. (Photo: AFP)The harsh words came after a young woman took to the stage at a protest against coronavirus restrictions in Hanover Saturday saying she felt "just like Sophie Scholl", the German student executed by the Nazis in 1943 for her role in the resistance.A video of the speech has already been viewed more than a million times on social media, with many sharply condemning the speaker."Anyone today comparing themselves to Sophie Scholl or Anne Frank is making a mockery of the courage it took to stand up to the Nazis," Maas tweeted."It trivialises the Holocaust and shows an unbearable forgetting of history. Nothing connects the corona protests with the resistance fighters. Nothing!"In the clip, a steward is seen interrupting the woman on stage to hand over his orange high-visibility vest, saying her words amounted to "minimising the Holocaust"."Im not working security for such nonsense," he is heard saying before being escorted away.The young woman, who identified herself as 22-year-old Jana, then bursts into tears before dropping her microphone and leaving the stage.- Inappropriate and tasteless -In another incident last week, an 11-year-old girl addressed an anti-mask demo in the western city of Karlsruhe, likening herself to Jewish teenager Anne Frank because she had had to celebrate her birthday quietly to avoid the neighbours hearing that they had invited friends over.Frank, whose diary written while in hiding in the Netherlands has been read by millions, was eventually betrayed and perished in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945.The comparison drew outrage, with Karlsruhe police c...

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  G20 to back 'equitable' access to coronavirus vaccine

  G20 leaders will pledge to "spare no effort" in ensuring the equitable distribution of coronavirus vaccines worldwide and reaffirm support for debt-laden poor countries, according to a draft communique seen by AFP Sunday.Saudi Arabia hosts a G20 summit in a first for an Arab nation, with the virtual forum dominated by efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and the worst global recession in decades. (Photo: AFP)The leaders also struck a unified tone on supporting "multilateral" trade as well as the global fight against climate change, but the closing document lacks firm details on many of the issues dominating the virtual summit hosted by Riyadh.The two-day gathering that began Saturday comes as international efforts intensify for a large-scale rollout of coronavirus vaccines after a breakthrough in trials, and as EU and other leaders call for G20 nations to plug a $4.5-billion funding shortfall."We have mobilised resources to address the immediate financing needs in global health to support the research, development, manufacturing and distribution of safe and effective Covid-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines," the draft document said."We will spare no effort to ensure their affordable and equitable access for all people, consistent with members commitments to incentivise innovation."The communique offered no details on how the effort will be funded.There could be changes in the final version of the document, which will be released later Sunday by the Saudi hosts.In a comment echoed by other world leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday the coronavirus crisis was "a test for the G20", stressing there "will be no effective response to the pandemic unless it is a global response".G20 nations have contributed more than $21 billion to combat the pandemic, which has infected 56 million people globally and left 1.3 million dead, and injected $11 trillion to "safeguard&qu...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated November 22)

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Sunday, there have been 57,639,631 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,373,294 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this Nov. 19, 2020, file photo, a hostess takes a customers temperature at Ye Olde Kings Head in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, November 22):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 260,658 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 12,271,402 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7 pm BJT on Sunday.India has confirmed a total of 9,095,806 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 133,227.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,052,786 with 168,989 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.France has recorded 2,178,023 confirmed cases and 48,593 deaths.Russia has confirmed 2,071,858 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 35,838.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 42,619 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,556,730.The UK has reported 1,497,135 COVID-19 cases and 54,721 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Italy with 49,261 deaths from 1,380,531 infections.A total of 1,366,182 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 36,902.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,240,493, with the number of deaths at 35,104, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  FDA allows emergency use of antibody drug Trump received

  U.S. health officials Saturday agreed to allow emergency use of a second antibody drug to help the immune system fight COVID-19, an experimental medicine that President Donald Trump was given when he was sickened last month.In this undated image from video provided by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, scientists work with a bioreactor at a company facility in New York state, for efforts on an experimental coronavirus antibody drug. (Photo: AP)The Food and Drug Administration authorized use of the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. drug to try to prevent hospitalization and worsening disease from developing in patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms.The drug is given as a one-time treatment through an IV. The FDA allowed its use in adults and children 12 and over who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kilograms) and who are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 because of age or certain other medical conditions.Emergency authorization allows use of the drug to start while studies are continuing to establish safety and effectiveness. Early results suggest the drug may reduce COVID-19-related hospitalization or emergency room visits in patients at high risk for disease progression, the FDA said.Regeneron said that initial doses will be made available to roughly 300,000 patients through a federal government allocation program. Those patients will not be charged for the drug but may have to pay part of the cost of giving the IV.Initial supplies will likely be vastly outstripped by demand as the U.S. has surged past 12 million reported cases, with the country facing what health experts say will be a dark winter due to uncontrolled spread of the virus.Antibodies are proteins the body makes to target and help eliminate viruses, but it can take weeks for the best ones to form after an infection occurs. The drugs are concentrated versions of ones that proved best able to do this in lab and animal tests, and in theory help the body start to fight the virus right ...

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  Inner Mongolia district to test all residents for coronavirus

  After two new confirmed coronavirus cases were reported in Manzhouli, North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Saturday, Jalainur district of Hulunbuir will start nucleic acid testing from Sunday on all residents over three days, ensuring no individual is missed.(File photo: Xinhua)All residents should carry valid identification documents and go to the sampling site in order according to the specific time notified by local officials. Ten residents will be placed in one group and enter the sampling site after body temperature measurements are found to be normal.During the nucleic acid testing process, all residents are not allowed to leave Jalainur district without special permission.(Compiled by Peng Temin)

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  UK leader to end England's coronavirus lockdown on Dec. 2

  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to end an England-wide lockdown as scheduled on Dec. 2 and will announce a return to regional restrictions as statistics show that coronavirus infections have stabilized.A testing staff member completes a lateral flow test swab, mandatory before opening to the public, at Rhydycar leisure centre in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. (Photo: AP)Johnsons office also confirmed plans to begin a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program next month, assuming regulators approve a vaccine against the virus. The government also will increase mass testing in an effort to suppress the virus until vaccines can be rolled out.Johnsons office said late Saturday that the government plans to return to using a three-tiered system of localized restrictions in England, with areas facing different lockdown measures based on the severity of their outbreaks. More communities are expected to be placed in the two highest virus alert categories, it said.The government put England under a four-week lockdown that started Nov. 5. The Cabinet is to discuss the plans Sunday, and the prime minister aims to give Parliament the details on Monday, according to the statement.The U.K. as a whole has the worst virus death toll in Europe, at over 54,700 deaths.Johnson announced the lockdown in England on Oct. 31 after public health officials warned that an exponential rise in new daily coronavirus infections was threatening to overwhelm the National Health Service as the winter flu season approached. The lockdown closed non-essential business like many shops, gyms, bars, restaurants — although takeout was permitted. It also banned most social gatherings but schools remain open.New known cases of COVID-19 have started to drop across the U.K., with the number of positive tests during the past seven days falling 13.8% from the week before. Some 2,861 COVID-related deaths were reported over the last 7-day period, 17 fewer than a week earlier. Sti...

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  Russia's health system under strain as the virus surges back

  When Yekaterina Kobzeva, a nurse at a preschool in Russias Ural Mountains, began having trouble breathing, she called an ambulance. It was four days before she managed to find a free hospital bed.A medical worker wearing protective gear enters the treatment hall of a temporary hospital for coronavirus patients in the Krylatskoye Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020.The ambulance first took her to get a scan — which showed damage from pneumonia to 50% of her lungs, an indication she had coronavirus. The paramedics then drove her around the city of Perm and its surroundings for hours as seven hospitals, one by one, turned her down, saying they didnt have any beds available. At dawn, she went home.The journey took her through "circles of hell," Kobzeva, 60, recalled in an interview with The Associated Press by phone from a hospital, where doctors confirmed she had the virus. She was only admitted there days after her first attempt — and after her story made local headlines.Russias health care system, vast yet underfunded, has been under significant strains in recent weeks, as the pandemic surges again and daily infections and virus death regularly break records.Across the country, 81% of hospital beds that have been set aside for coronavirus patients were full as of Wednesday. Three times last week, the Russian government reported a record number of daily deaths, and the number of daily new infections per 100,000 people has more than doubled since Oct. 1, from 6 to over 15. Overall, Russia has recorded over 2 million cases and over 35,000 deaths, but experts say all numbers worldwide understate the true toll of the pandemic.Reports in Russian media have painted a bleak picture in recent weeks. Hospital corridors are filled with patients on gurneys and even the floor. Bodies in black plastic bags were seen piling up on the floors of a morgue. Long lines of ambulances wait at hospitals while pharmacies put up s...

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  Africa's confirmed COVID-19 cases pass 2.04 mln as death toll nears 49,100: Africa CDC

  ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the African continent has reached 2,043,462, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Saturday.Students wash hands at a school in Phalombe, Malawi, Oct. 13, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)The continental disease control and prevention agency said in a statement that the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 49,099 as of Saturday afternoon.A total of 1,728,682 people infected with COVID-19 have recovered across the continent so far, according to the continental disease control and prevention agency.The most COVID-19 affected African countries in terms of the number of positive cases include South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Ethiopia, figures from the Africa CDC show.The southern Africa region is the most COVID-19 affected region both in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases as well as the number of deaths, it was noted. The northern Africa region is the second most COVID-19-affected African region, according to the Africa CDC.Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) Commission on Friday stressed that Africas fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is "far from being over."According to the pan African bloc, although Africa has not recorded very high number of COVID-19 cases and deaths as in other continents, the impact of the pandemic has been "very high on the continent, exerting intense pressure on the already fragile health system and adversely affecting the socioeconomic situation on the continent."In February 2020, the Africa CDC developed a continental strategy to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed to enhance cooperation, collaboration, coordination and communication while preventing severe illness and death and minimizing social disruption and economic consequences due to the pandemic. The strategy was validated by the African ministers of health in February and endorsed by the Bureau of Heads of State and Government in March 202...

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  G-20 summit opens with Saudi urging united response to virus

  Saudi Arabias King Salman opened on Saturday the Group of 20 summit as the coronavirus pandemic overshadows this years gathering of heads of state, transforming it from an in-person two-day meeting of the worlds most powerful leaders to a virtual gathering of speeches and declarations.In this March 26, 2020, file photo released by Saudi Press Agency, SPA, Saudi King Salman, chairs a video call of world leaders from the Group of 20 and other international bodies and organizations, from his office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: AP)The pandemic, which has claimed more than 1.37 million lives worldwide, has offered the G-20 an opportunity to prove how such bodies can facilitate international cooperation in crises — but has also underscored their shortcomings. The G-20s member-countries represent around 85% of the worlds economic output and three-quarters of international trade."We have a duty to rise to the challenge together during this summit and give a strong message of hope and reassurance," King Salman said in his opening remarks.The kingdom, which assumed the G-20 presidency this year, is the host of the virtual summit that is bringing together leaders from the worlds richest and most developed economies, such as the U.S., China, India, Turkey, France, the U.K. and Brazil, among others. President Donald Trump is among those expected to participate in the closed-door virtual sessions that are taking place Saturday and Sunday."The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented shock that affected the entire world within a short period of time, causing global economic and social losses," said the Saudi monarch, who convened G-20 heads of state for an emergency meeting in March as the coronavirus was fast-spreading around the world.At the time, the recorded global death toll from the virus had just climbed past 22,000. G-20 leaders vowed to share information and the material needed for research, ...

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  Hundreds of Danish mink breeders stage tractor demos

  Hundreds of Danish farmers and mink breeders demonstrated with tractors Saturday against a government decision to cull their minks to halt the spread of a coronavirus variant.(File photo: AFP)More than 500 tractors, many decked out with the Danish flag, drove past the governments offices and parliament in Copenhagen to the port. Another 400 staged a similar protest in the countrys second city, Aarhus.Prime Minister Frederiksens government has acknowledged that its decision to cull more than 15 million minks had no legal basis for those not contaminated by the Covid-19 variant, infuriating breeders.Denmark, a country of around 5.8 million people, has been the worlds leading exporter of mink fur for several decades.It sells pelts for around 670 million euros ($792 million) annually, and is the second-biggest producer worldwide, behind China.The mutated version of the new coronavirus detected in Danish minks that raised concerns about the effectiveness of a future vaccine has likely been eradicated, the health ministry said Thursday."It is not fair what has happened to the breeders," said Daniel, 19, a mink farm worker."The entire sector will now have to shut down," he added.Frederiksen has already issued an apology and the agriculture minister resigned on Wednesday, but the plan is still to complete the cull of the nations entire mink stock.Despite her apology, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has insisted the cull remains "non-negotiable".Her government is now preparing legislation to make it possible -- by banning mink farming until January 1, 2022.

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  California pub tries to keep calm, carry on with virus rules

  By most measures of what keeps a pub afloat, the coronavirus pandemic should already have Ye Olde King’s Head on its last kegs.A server carries food for a customer at Ye Olde Kings Head on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo: AP)The British restaurant and bar in seaside Southern California has been battered the past nine months. It was in the process of adapting to new restrictions that took effect Friday that would further crimp its recovery even as the prospect of a stay-home order loomed that could cripple the business.“It’s not worth thinking about,” said operations manager Lisa Powers, who has guided the 46-year-old institution through an ever-changing set of public health orders. “Nobody’s going to survive without help from the federal government if there’s another lockdown.”The surge of cases in Los Angeles County is exploding at a rate even local public health officials didn’t seem to contemplate on Tuesday, when they gave businesses three days to adopt new restrictions that force restaurants to halve the outdoor capacity many established to stay afloat because indoor service was banned. Restaurants and nonessential retail must close at 10 p.m.On Wednesday, LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said that by early December the county of 10 million people could reach a daily average of 4,000 cases that would require restaurants to only offer takeout meals. She said she didn’t think that outcome was inevitable.The next day, as daily cases topped 5,000, county health officer Dr. Muntu Davis said by Sunday the county could surpass a daily average of 4,500 cases that would trigger a shutdown.The latest surge comes as public health officials across the U.S. raise the alarm about out-of-control transmission of the virus, strengthen restrictions and urge people against holding large Thanksgiving gatherings.Gov. Gavin Newsom placed most California businesses under the most severe restrictions on Monday and on Thursday added a 10 p.m....

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  Iran closes businesses, curtails travel amid virus surge

  Iran on Saturday shuttered businesses and curtailed travel between its major cities, including the capital of Tehran, as it grapples with the worst outbreak of the coronavirus in the Mideast region.In this Oct. 11, 2020, file photo, people wear protective face masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in downtown Tehran, Iran. (Photo: AP)Top Iranian officials initially downplayed the risks posed by the virus outbreak, before recently urging the public to follow measures like wearing masks and avoiding unessential travel.Iran has recorded daily death tolls of above 430 over the past five days. The Iranian Health Ministry said on Saturday that the total number of confirmed cases has risen to above 840,000.The new lockdown measures, which include shuttering most businesses, shops, malls, and restaurants, include Irans largest cities of Mashhad, Isfahan, and Shiraz. Iranian authorities have designated the nearly 160 towns and cities affected as hot spots because these urban centers have the highest daily per capita positive coronavirus test results.On Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a televised speech urged people to follow the measures to help "lessen the death toll." He added that the government plans to supply cash subsidies to Irans 30 million poorest people for four months to help them to manage the economic fallout from the new outbreak.The latest round of restrictions to stem the outbreak came as a spat among top Iranian health officials led to the resignation of at least two officials.Iranian newspapers said Saturday that the deputy health minister in charge of research, Reza Malekzadeh, resigned from his post in reaction to recent remarks by the Minister of Health Saeed Namaki, who said government-led research projects were not successfully addressing the current needs of the ministry.In reply, Malekzadeh in his resignation letter criticized public mismanagement of the virus outbreak by the minister."The pandemic...

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  Polish PM urges no travel over Christmas

  Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Saturday warned Poles against any travel over the Christmas period, as he announced that most coronavirus restrictions would be extended but shops would re-open.In this file photo, people wearing face masks walk on the bank of the Vistula River in Warsaw, Poland, on May 10, 2020. (Photo: AFP)"Please do not plan any trips," Morawiecki said at a press conference, adding that the government was looking at ways of imposing movement restrictions.He said Poles should spend Christmas only with their immediate families and not move between cities.Morawiecki also said that theatres, bars and restaurants would remain closed until after Christmas, and schools would continue to be on distance learning."The situation is still very serious," he said, voicing concern about Polands high death rate but pointing out that the number of new cases had stabilised.The health ministry on Saturday reported 574 deaths over 24 hours, bringing the total toll to 13,288.The number of new daily infections in Poland was 24,213.The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Poland over the past week has been the third highest in the EU after Italy and France, according to an AFP tally."Poles have weapons, they are discipline, solidarity. We have 100 days of solidarity ahead of us. At the end of this period, it is likely that a vaccine will appear."Whether Poland will be able to find itself able to adopt less stringent restrictions will depend on whether or not Poles obey the rules," Morawiecki said.Under the new measures announced on Saturday, eateries, gyms and entertainment venues will stay closed until at least December 27, while shopping malls will be allowed to re-open fully from November 28.

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  Russia reports record daily COVID-19 cases

  MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia registered 24,822 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, a new all-time high, as the pandemic worsens in the cold season, the countrys COVID-19 response center said Saturday.A woman wearing a face mask walks on a street in Moscow, Russia, on Nov. 6, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)The national tally of cases has grown to 2,064,748, including 35,778 deaths and 1,577,435 recoveries, the center said in a statement.Moscow, the countrys worst-hit region, reported 7,168 new cases over the past day, bringing the citys total to 547,138.So far, more than 71.8 million tests have been conducted in the country.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated November 21)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Saturday, there have been 56,982,476 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,361,847 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.People wearing face masks are seen at a market in Manila, the Philippines on Nov. 11, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, November 21):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 259,231 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 12,106,007 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Saturday.India has confirmed a total of 9,050,597 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 132,726.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 6,020,164 with 168,613 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.France has recorded 2,160,345 confirmed cases and 48,341 deaths.Russia has confirmed 2,047,563 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 35,442.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 42,619 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,556,730.The UK has reported 1,477,230 COVID-19 cases and 54,381 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 1,359,042 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 36,790.It is followed by Italy with 48,569 deaths from 1,345,767 infections.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,233,444, with the number of deaths at 34,929, according to the JHU virus tracker.

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  Germany's COVID-19 caseload tops 900,000: Robert Koch Institute

  MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Germany reported 22,964 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the national count to 902,528, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said Saturday.A woman wearing a face mask is seen in front of a building in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Oct. 22, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Meanwhile, 254 more deaths from the coronavirus were registered across the country, taking the nationwide death toll to 13,884. More than 593,000 patients have recovered from the disease within the same period of time, according to the RKI.The country entered a partial lockdown in November in reaction to the second COVID-19 wave and rising infection numbers.German Chancellor Angela Merkel said earlier that a COVID-19 vaccine would be available soon. She said at a press conference that she expected a vaccine to be approved in Europe in December or "very soon after the turn of the year."

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  Philippines logs 1,791 new COVID-19 cases, Duterte calls for universal vaccine access

  MANILA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines on Saturday reported 1,791 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, bringing the total number in the country to 416,852.A vegetable vendor wearing a face mask is seen at a market in Manila, the Philippines on Nov. 11, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)The DOH said 328 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 375,548. The death toll climbed to 8,080 after 55 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH added.Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called for stronger cooperation on universal vaccine access at the virtual 27th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting late on Friday night.Duterte called on APEC economies to strengthen partnerships and ensure the unimpeded flow of medical supplies and technologies and universal access to COVID-19 vaccines."We have to ensure the unimpeded flow of medical supplies and technologies, especially COVID-19 vaccines," he said, adding, "it is folly to assume that there can be pockets of safe havens in the face of a global pandemic."Duterte stressed the need to "defeat the virus everywhere, or no one is safe." "To do this, we need to strengthen partnerships to make vaccines a global public good," he added.Noting APECs crucial role in promoting economic growth and prosperity in the Pacific Rim region over past decades, Duterte said that APEC will play a vital role in the regions post-pandemic recovery efforts and in achieving sustained and inclusive growth."We aim for a comprehensive recovery with no one left behind. This can only be done through deeper engagement with the international community, especially with close partners in the Pacific Rim region," Duterte said.The Philippines has now allowed nurses and medical workers to work abroad after Duterte lifted the deployment ban.Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said that up to 5,000 health workers are allowed for deployment each year...

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  Chinese vaccine to arrive in Sao Paulo

  The first batch of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, developed by Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech (SINOVAC), has finally left for Sao Paulo, Brazil. This is believed to be a positive sign of the two sides agreement on SINOVAC providing the South American state with 46 million doses of the vaccine, following Brazilian presidents opposition to the purchase and the suspension of clinical trials on the vaccine in Brazil caused by the suicide of a volunteer.Sinovacs Covid-19 vaccine. (Photo: VCG)The 120,000 doses of the SINOVAC-developed inactivated vaccine, CoronaVac, is expected to arrive in Sao Paulo on Friday, the Global Times learned from the company on Wednesday.The company said that the batch of vaccines will not be used on the population until it is registered with Anvisa, Brazils National Health Surveillance Agency.The registration could probably be completed after a midterm report on Phase-III clinical trials, which would hopefully come out by the end of the year, the Global Times learned from SINOVAC.SINOVAC on Tuesday released a report in The Lancet on its Phase-I/II clinical trials on CronaVac in Suining, East Chinas Jiangsu Province. The report said that data of the trials showed that the candidate CoronaVac was well tolerated and induced humoral responses against the novel coronavirus, which supported the approval of emergency use of CoronaVac in China, and three phase-III clinical trials that are ongoing in Brazil, Indonesia, and Turkey.Later this month, Brazilian medical institute Butantan, which is SINOVACs partner in clinical trials in Brazil, would also receive an initial quantity of 600 liters of raw material to start production in the institute, media reported citing the institute director Dimas Covas.The government of Sao Paulo signed a contract on September 30 to receive 46 million doses of CronaVac from SINOVAC as early as January 2021.However, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on ...

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  New York closes bars to head off virus resurgence as WHO warns of vaccine distrust

  New York raced to cut off a second wave of coronavirus infections and a top WHO expert warned growing public distrust risked rendering even the most effective treatments useless against the pandemic.New York is racing to cut off a second wave of coronavirus infections. (Photo: AFP)Bars and clubs in the Big Apple, the epicenter of the USs spring outbreak, were ordered to close at 10pm on Friday and the state governor warned schools could move to online only teaching as early as Monday.Infections are surging throughout America and Europe, with governments forced to take more drastic action despite fears about the devastation inflicted on their economies.The disease has claimed almost 1.3 million lives worldwide and infected close to 53 million since it first emerged in China in December.Even with a vaccine expected to receive approval soon, the head of the WHOs immunisation department warned that misinformation and mistrust colouring peoples acceptance of scientific advances could hamper its effectiveness."We are not going to be successful as a world in controlling the pandemic with the use of vaccines as one of the tools unless people are willing to get vaccinated," Kate OBrien told AFP.Lebanon entered a new two-week lockdown on Saturday after reported infections crossed the 100,000 mark, with hospitals in the crises-wracked country almost at capacity.Virus restrictions forced Hong Kongs traditionally boisterous and colourful annual gay pride parade online Saturday.Across India meanwhile, millions ignored social distancing advice and gathered to pray at temples or go shopping for the Diwali, the festival of light.- No lockdown: Trump -In his first public address since being declared the loser of the November 3 election, Donald Trump on Friday touted medical breakthroughs that happened under his watch but said he remained firmly against new lockdowns.He predicted a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, wh...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated November 14)

  Globally, as of 5:30 pm BJT on Saturday, there have been 52,487,476 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,290,653 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Advertisements for Covid-19 testing ares posted outside Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 5:30 pm BJT, November 14):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 248,766 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 10,902,224 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 5:30 pm BJT on Saturday.India has confirmed a total of 8,773,479 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 129,188.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,810,652 with 164,737 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.France has recorded 1,915,677 confirmed cases and 42,600 deaths.Russia has confirmed 1,887,836 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 32,536.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 40,769 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,458,591.The UK has reported 1,321,031 COVID-19 cases and 51,396 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 1,296,378 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 35,045.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,182,697, with the number of deaths at 33,669, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Italy with 44,139 deaths from 1,107,303 infections.

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  Amid virus surge, Paris hospitals begin to see signs of hope

  Dry-coughing as he pedals — a hack, hack, hack after-effect of his own personal battle with COVID-19 — the doctor cycles through the dark of pre-dawn Paris, speeding to a crisis meeting at his hospital where, way back in February, the disease carried away the first of what has now become more than a quarter-million dead in Europe.Dr. Philippe Montravers speaks with The Associated Press at the main entrance of the Bichat Hospital, in Paris on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (Photo: AP)In the nine months since then, critical care chief Philippe Montravers and the 150 doctors and nurses he leads at the towering Bichat Hospital in Paris have become experts about their enemy. That knowledge is proving invaluable against the second deadly surge of the virus that is again threatening to overwhelm European health systems.Puffing and spluttering as he pedals, because his lungs are still congested, Montravers details the progress that he and his team have made in their care since they fought off the gruesome initial wave of cases last spring, therapeutic advances that are helping Bichat and other hospitals better resist the renewed tide of infections. Bichat in February was the first hospital outside Asia to record the death of a person infected with the virus: an 80-year-old tourist from China.“In the first wave, people didn’t dare come to the hospital. They were scared, scared of being infected,” Montravers recalls. “When they arrived, they were on their last legs, exhausted, unable to move, and so — hop! — we intubated and ventilated them.”Now, there are steroid treatments that weren’t available to Bichat’s doctors in the first surge. They have also learned not to put patients on ventilators if at all possible and to instead keep them awake and bathed in oxygen, dispensed through face masks instead of invasive tubes. The sick are also savvier, and are seeking help earlier for their symptoms, making them easier to treat.Added together, these and other advances mean that patients mo...

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  Sidelined Czech performers serve take-out culture

  A new circus company in the Czech capital that was eager to perform is doing five-minute shows on a stage behind a window.Spectators enjoy a performance through a window at a theater in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (Photo: AP)With all of Prague’s theaters shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the La Putyka Circus adapted a practice that restaurants are using to stay in business.The circus invited spectators to watch its acts through a street-side “window of culture,” mimicking the take-out windows some eateries opened while they are prohibited from serving customers at tables.The troupe did 10 performances on Tuesday and another 10 on Wednesday, each an original that differed from the others. Jugglers, acrobats and other company members remained inside a theater, with a wall separating them from their audience.“This performance is for people addicted to live culture,” La Putyka director Rosta Novak said. “So they can get their dose of live culture, and then they can go back to their big cities, homes or jobs.”The shows were free but audience members had to book a place in advance due to a very limited number of seats, which all got reserved.“I kind of liked it,” Martina Novotna, one of the spectators, said. “It felt very private and as if the performance was just for you. So that was a pleasant change.”Novotna said she still would prefer a regular performance over one circumscribed by the pandemic.“We wish that the theater could go on normally and not only for five minutes,” she said. “We could enjoy it without the face masks, as we did before.”That might take a while.Confirmed coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic rose for over two months to record levels, but the numbers have started declining again. The health minister is expected to seek an extension of the state of emergency that enables the government to keep its public health measures in place.Public gatherings of more than two people are banned in the Czech Republic, if they ar...

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  Malaysia reports 852 new COVID-19 cases, total cases pass 40,000 mark

  KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia reported 852 new COVID-19 infections, the Health Ministry said on Sunday, bringing the national total to 40,209.People wearing face masks walk in Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 24, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that 13 of the new cases are imported and with the remainder being local transmissions. The majority of the new cases are from eastern state of Sabah, with 524 of the new cases reported in the state.Four more deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll to 286.Another 825 patients have been released after recovery, bringing the total number of cured and discharged to 28,234, or 70.2 percent of all cases.Of the remaining 11,689 active cases, 94 are being held in intensive care and 32 of those are in need of assisted breathing.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated November 8)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Sunday, there have been 49,106,931 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,239,157 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A health worker wearing personal protective equipment is seen as she talks to market workers on their way to a hospital for COVID-19 swab test in San Juan City, the Philippines, on June 24, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, November 8):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 241,651 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 10,043,158 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Sunday.India has confirmed a total of 8,507,754 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 126,121.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,653,561 with 162,269 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,760,420 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 30,292.France has recorded 1,709,773 confirmed cases and 40,220 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 38,833 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,328,832.A total of 1,236,851 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 33,348.The UK has reported 1,174,770 COVID-19 cases and 48,978 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,136,447, with the number of deaths at 32,595, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 94,808 deaths from 961,938 infections.

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  India's COVID-19 tally surpasses 8.5 million

  NEW DELHI, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Indias COVID-19 tally reached 8,507,754 on Sunday as 45,674 new cases were registered across the country in the past 24 hours, according to the latest data released by the health ministry.Indians wearing face masks as prevention against the coronavirus walk past a roadside bookshop in Bengaluru, India, Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (Photo: AP)With 559 deaths since Saturday morning, the death toll in the country due to the pandemic reached 126,121, showed the ministrys data.Still there are 512,665 active COVID-19 cases in the country, while 7,868,968 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals so far.The Indian government has been focusing on ramping up COVID-19 testing facilities across the length and breadth of the country.Till Friday a total of 116,542,304 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the country, out of which 1,113,209 tests were conducted on Friday alone, revealed the data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Saturday.New Delhi has been witnessing a spurt in COVID-19 cases over the past few days as the total count in the Indian capital crossed the 400,000-mark on Tuesday. This is being termed as the third COVID-19 wave for Delhi.On Thursday Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal banned bursting of all kinds of firecrackers in the run-up to the forthcoming festival of lights Diwali, which falls on Nov. 14, in a bid to control both the air pollution levels and the COVID-19 cases in the national capital.

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  Australia's worst-hit state continues to ease pandemic restrictions, with no new cases recorded

  SYDNEY, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Australian state of Victoria, the worst-hit state by COVID-19 in the country, announced further easing of restrictions after it recorded the ninth straight day without any new cases or deaths on Sunday.A notice of COVID-19 prevention measures is seen at a shopping mall in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 6, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)From 11:59 p.m. on Sunday local time, the 25-km travel limit in the capital city of Melbourne and the hard borders separating the city from lower virus transmission communities in regional Victoria will be abolished, while the statewide compulsory mask-wearing rule remains in place until further notice.From Monday, the whole state will follow the unified COVID-19 restriction rules which will further ease limits on gatherings for hospitality venues, indoor sporting facilities, religious ceremonies, and home visiting.Community spaces such as libraries and neighborhood houses can have up to 20 people indoors, with groups of up to ten.Indoor entertainment venues, such as movie theatres, galleries, museums and music halls will be able to open with 20 people per space.Victoria recorded zero new COVID-19 cases and no further related deaths for the ninth day running, which brought the states rolling 14-day average number of cases down to just 0.4 in metropolitan Melbourne and zero in regional Victoria.Nevertheless, Premier Daniel Andrews still warned Victorians against complacency as the battle against the pandemic is not over yet."Reflecting the progress weve made, the State of Disaster will not be renewed. But because the virus is still very much with us, the State of Emergency will be extended until 6 December to allow the Chief Health Officers directions to remain in force," he said in a statement.According to the latest figure released by the Australian Health Department on Saturday, there were totally 27,652 cases and 907 deaths nationwide in the country.

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  ​Iran daily virus infections exceed 9,000

  Iran on Saturday announced a new record of more than 9,000 new cases of Covid-19 infections in the Middle Easts worst hit country, as the government imposed new restrictions.Iranians walk next to a sign advising people to wear masks as they shop in Tajrish square in the capital Tehran on November 1, 2020 as the country continues to face rising cases of infections and deaths from coronavirus. (Photo: AFP)The latest official figure of 9,450 positive novel coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period comes after a consistent daily count of more than 8,000 in the past six days.Irans virus caseload now stands at 673,250, the health ministry announced.The virus has also claimed another 423 lives in the Islamic republic, raising the total number of victims to 37,832.The number of infections and deaths have kept rising and hit several new highs since September, prompting officials to announce new restrictions.On Saturday, President Hassan Rouhani outlined a new list of measures during a meeting with the Covid-19 taskforce meeting.Speaking in a televised speech Rouhani said under the new measures non-essential businesses such as malls, small retailers, cinemas and gyms would close from 6 pm for a month starting Tuesday.This would apply to the capital Tehran, province capitals and "cities with high populations", he added.The rising toll has brought a number of health experts and officials to call for a lockdown in the capital as a minimum measure.Iran has not imposed a full lockdown since it was hit by Covid-19 in February, with Rouhani arguing the countrys sanctions-hit economy cannot afford to be shut down for an extended period.

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  Russian COVID-19 cases up 20,396 to 1,753,836

  MOSCOW, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Russia tallied 20,396 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, slightly down from the all-time high of 20,582 recorded the previous day, the countrys COVID-19 response center said Saturday.A staff member wearing a face mask stands behind a counter at a market in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 28, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Russias cumulative number of coronavirus cases has grown to 1,753,836, including 30,251 deaths and 1,312,927 recoveries, the center said in a statement.A total of 410,658 people are currently undergoing treatment across the country.Moscow, the countrys worst-hit region, registered 5,829 new cases over the past day, bringing the citys total cases to 462,518.

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  Malaysia expands movement restrictions after spike in new COVID-19 cases

  KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian government decided on Saturday to expand its movement control order to a majority part in the country till December in a response to a spike in new COVID-19 cases.A customer watches a televised speech by Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin via mobile phone in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 7, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who coordinates the implementation restrictions, told a press conference that measures to be enforced in the states of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Terengganu till Dec. 6 at the recommendations of the health authorities.The measures will allow the health authorities to conduct targeted screening and reduce movement of people to contain the spread of COVID-19, he said.Meanwhile, movement restrictions already in force in Kuala Lumpur, the administration center of Putrajaya as well as the adjacent Selangor state and the easter state of Sabah state will be extended till Dec. 6 as well.The restrictions include a ban on inter-state and inter-district travel except with permission from the police, only two members of households being allowed to leave homes for necessities and the closure of schools and higher educational institutes.Economic activities will not be affected with the economic, industrial and trade sectors being be allowed to operate as usual, he said.Meanwhile Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said Saturday in a separate press briefing that another 1,168 new cases have been detected during the past 24 hours, bringing the national total to 39,357.Three new deaths have been reported, pushing the total deaths to 282.Some 1,029 patients have been released after recovery, bringing the total cured and discharged to 27,409, or 69.6 percent of all cases.Of the remaining 11,666 active cases, 87 are being held in intensive care and 32 of those are in need of assisted breathing.

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  Afghanistan reports 58 new COVID-19 cases, 42,033 in total

  KABUL, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan on Saturday reported 58 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases after health authorities conducted 218 tests within a day, bringing the number of total cases to 42,033, the countrys Ministry of Public Health confirmed.An Afghan doctor checks a COVID-19 patient at a hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Aug. 19, 2020. (File photo: Xinhua)The ministry has recorded 1,556 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic in February, an increase of two within the past 24 hours.Out of the total infected people, 34,446 patients have recovered, including six who showed improvement and were discharged from hospitals since early Friday.Laboratories across Afghanistan have completed 125,112 tests since February.

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  Books? Hairdressers? Europeans split on lockdown essentials

  In times when a pandemic unleashes death and poverty, the concept of what is essential to keep society functioning in a lockdown is gripping Europe.People visit the Chiesa del Gesu church in Rome, Friday, Nov. 6, 2020. (Photo: AP)Beyond the obvious — food stores and pharmacies — some answers in the patchwork of nations and cultures that make up Europe can approach the surreal. What is allowed on one side of a border can be banned just a brief stroll down the road, on the other.German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that while it might seem fairest to just shut everything down, "its perhaps not the most practical" solution."If people are only satisfied when everything possible is shut down, then thats a view which naturally doesnt make economic sense," Merkel said.Thats why Germany is keeping car dealerships open this time, after their closure in the first, spring lockdown hurt the countrys huge automobile industry.In Belgium, of course, chocolate shops are staying open."Chocolate is very much an essential food around here," said chocolatier Marleen Van Volsem at the Praleen chocolaterie south of Brussels. "It has to be. Because chocolate makes you happy."Happiness would seem no subject to split hairs about. Yet consider how differently Italy and Britain treat a service that gladdens many a heart.In the country that coined the term "bella figura" — the art of cutting a fine figure — hairdressers are deemed essential."Italians really care about their image and about wellness,"" said Charity Cheah, the Milan-based co-founder of TONI&GUY Italy. "Perhaps psychologically, the government may feel that going to a salon is a moment of release from stress and tension, a moment of self-care, that citizens need."But across England people have had to scramble to get their hair done in the last days and hours while they still could, before new pandemic restrictions ca...

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  France, Germany head towards lockdown as virus surges in Europe

  France and Germany moved Thursday toward shutting down sectors of their economies as part of accelerating efforts worldwide to check a resurgent coronavirus and still limit the financial fallout.France is back in lockdown as the country tries to get a grip on the surging pandemic. (Photo: AFP)Hundreds of thousands of new infections took the known global caseload past 44.5 million with nearly 1.2 million deaths, as the disease continues its deadly spread worldwide.India, one of the worlds worst-hit nations, surpassed eight million cases with fears of worse days ahead as the religious festival of Diwali draws near.Following significantly relaxed summer seasons, France and Germany are now taking bold steps to shut down social life in the face of spiking infections across the continent.Starting Friday, France, whose death toll Thursday surpassed 36,000 after 250 more fatalities since Wednesday, will bar people from leaving their homes without authorisation, recalling the drastic stay-at-home measures seen around the world in early spring.Bars and restaurants will also be closed until at least December and travel between regions will be limited, President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address Wednesday."As elsewhere in Europe, we are overwhelmed by a second wave that will probably be more difficult and deadly than the first," Macron said, though he assured that this lockdown would be less severe.Factories and building sites will remain open, as will creches and schools -- although children as young as six will be required to wear masks.In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel has ordered a lighter round of shutdowns from Monday, November 2, until the end of the month.Germans will not be confined to their homes but bars, cafés and restaurants must close, as well as theatres, operas and cinemas.In Spain, the parliament on Thursday approved the extension for six months of a state of emergency that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs leftist gover...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 30)

  Globally, as of 8 pm BJT on Friday, there have been 44,592,789 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,175,553 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Students sit behind plexiglass at their desks during the coronavirus outbreak as Brian Scarano teaches a fourth grade English class at the Osborn School, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Rye, N.Y. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 8 pm BJT, October 30):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 233,197 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 9,124,575 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 8 pm BJT on Friday.India has confirmed a total of 8,088,851 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 121,090.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,494,376 with 158,969 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,588,433 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 27,462.France has recorded 1,327,853 confirmed cases and 36,058 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 35,639 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,160,083.A total of 1,143,800 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 30,442.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,048,055, with the number of deaths at 30,926, according to the JHU virus tracker.The UK has reported 968,456 COVID-19 cases and 46,045 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 90,773 deaths from 912,811 infections.

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  British Airways parent IAG logs vast loss on virus

  IAG, the owner of British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia, dived into a net loss of 1.76 billion euros ($2.1 billion) in the third quarter on coronavirus fallout, it said Friday.British Airways parent company IAG dived into the red in the third quarter. (Photo: AFP)The loss after taxation in the three months to September contrasted with net profit of 1.0 billion euros a year earlier, IAG announced in a statement.IAG added that its losses so far this year totalled 5.6 billion euros as a result of the worsening Covid-19 crisis that has decimated demand for global air travel.The company resumed flights over the summer, following the national lockdown, but still only operates a greatly reduced volume of services.Revenue plunged 83 percent to 1.2 billion euros in the reporting period, according to IAG which had already outlined its dire quarterly performance last week.The group repeated on Friday that it suffered an operating loss before exceptional items of 1.3 billion euros, after profit of 1.4 billion euros a year earlier."These results demonstrate the negative impact of Covid-19 on our business but theyre exacerbated by constantly changing government restrictions," said IAG Chief Executive Luis Gallego."This creates uncertainty for customers and makes it harder to plan our business effectively."IAG urged governments worldwide to embrace pre-departure testing to enable safer air travel."We are calling on governments to adopt pre-departure testing using reliable and affordable tests with the option of post flight testing to release people from quarantine where they are arriving from countries with high infection rates," said Gallego.- Pent-up demand -"This would open routes, stimulate economies and get people travelling with confidence. When we open routes, there is pent-up demand for travel. However, we continue to expect that it will take until at least 2023 for passenger demand to recover to 2019 levels...

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  On virus, Trump and health advisers go their separate ways

  A multi-state coronavirus surge in the countdown to Election Day has exposed a clear split between President Donald Trumps bullish embrace of a return to normalcy and urgent public warnings from the governments top health officials.In this Sept. 28, 2020, file photo, Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, holds a swab manufactured by Puritan Medical Products as he talks about a new COVID-19 test during a event with President Donald Trump about coronavirus testing in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. (Photo: AP)Its the opposite of what usually happens in a public health crisis, because political leaders tend to repeat and amplify the recommendations of their health experts, not short-circuit them. "Its extremely unusual for there to be simultaneous contrary messaging," said John Auerbach, who heads the nonpartisan Trust for Americas Health.The president and the health officials appear to be moving farther apart since White House chief of staff Mark Meadows declared last Sunday "were not going to control the pandemic."Since then, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Adm. Brett Giroir has done a round of interviews warning that the countrys situation is "tenuous" but that Americans can indeed control the virus by practicing what he calls the "3Ws" — watching your distance from others, wearing a mask, and frequently washing your hands.White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Deborah Birx, touring the states to raise prevention awareness, lamented in Bismarck, North Dakota, that she hadnt seen such disdain for mask wearing elsewhere. "We find that deeply unfortunate because you dont know whos infected and you dont know if youre infected yourself," she told reporters. The states positive test rate is 11%, above the level indicating widespread transmission.HHS Secretary Alex Azar, for his part, has a profi...

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  Toilet paper and pasta: France girds for second virus lockdown

  Stores and businesses across France were filled Thursday by people racing to get supplies -- and maybe a last-minute haircut -- ahead of a new coronavirus lockdown coming into effect at midnight.Almost 33 million people watched French President Emmanuel Macron announce a second nationwide lockdown to battle the coronavirus. (Photo: AFP)Essentials like pasta and toilet paper were in high demand, as were printer ink and electronics for working from home, while yoga mats were no longer to be found at many sporting goods stores."Im stocking up, since we dont know when this will end," said Catherine Debeaupuis while shopping at an electronics retailer in central Paris.Just under 33 million people watched President Emmanuel Macron announce the grim news in a prime-time address Wednesday -- just five days after saying "its still too early" to consider new lockdowns.He said hospitals would soon be overwhelmed by a virus that is spreading "at a speed that even the most pessimistic did not predict."Yet several lawmakers booed in parliament on Thursday when Prime Minister Jean Castex assured that "we knew this second wave was coming," though a solid majority -- 339 to 27 -- voted to approve the new lockdown.Castex said that schools, which this time around will be allowed to stay open, would require face masks for children as young as six, down from 11 and older until now.He warned the second wave of Covid-19 cases would be worse than the first that erupted in March, which claimed around 30,000 lives before easing in the summer.Further lockdown details are to be unveiled by Castex and other ministers later Thursday, but already it seems there will be little to cheer as Christmas approaches.Health Minister Olivier Veran estimated Thursday that only about a million of Frances 67 million inhabitants are presently infected with the virus -- far below the exposure levels needed to bring the outbreak under control.- &#...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 29)

  Globally, as of 6:30pm BJT on Thursday, there have been44,002,003 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,167,988deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A man wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is reflected in a puddle as he walks in central Athens, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30pm BJT, October 29):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 232,144lives in theUS, the most of any country, with a total of 9,032,413infections, according to a tally byJohns Hopkins University as of 6:30pm BJT on Thursday.Indiahas confirmed a total of 8,040,203COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 120,527.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 inBrazilhave increased to 5,468,270 with 158,456 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russiahas confirmed 1,570,446cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 27,111.Francehas recorded 1,280,215 confirmed cases and 35,823deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 35,466lives inSpain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,136,503.A total of 1,130,533people inArgentinahave tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 30,071.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,041,936, with the number of deaths at 30,753, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed bythe UK with 45,765deaths from945,378infections.Mexicohas reported 906,863COVID-19 cases and 90,309deaths from the virus so far.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 28)

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Wednesday, there have been 43,540,739 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,160,650 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Health service member calling for a general strike and demanding more labor protection on her job, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, while Spain suffer a second strong pandemic crisis by COVID-19. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, October 28):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 231,093 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 8,948,396 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 7 pm BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 7,990,322 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 120,010.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,439,641 with 157,946 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,553,028 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 26,752.France has recorded 1,244,242 confirmed cases and 35,582 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 35,298 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,116,738.A total of 1,116,609 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,730.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,033,218, with the number of deaths at 30,565, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by the UK with 45,455 deaths from 920,664 infections.Mexico has reported 901,268 COVID-19 cases and 89,814 deaths from the virus so far.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 27)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday, there have been 43,147,494 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,155,553 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A man wearing a face mask, walks by a Charlie Chaplin street art, in the Montmartre district of Paris, Sunday Oct.25, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, October 27):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 229,808 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 8,872,077 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday.India has confirmed a total of 7,946,429 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 119,502.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,409,854 with 157,397 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,537,142 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 26,409.France has recorded 1,209,651 confirmed cases and 35,052 deaths.A total of 1,102,301 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,301.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 35,031 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,098,320.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 1,025,052, with the number of deaths at 30,348, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by the UK with 45,088 deaths from 897,740 infections.Mexico has reported 895,326 COVID-19 cases and 89,171 deaths from the virus so far.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 23)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Friday, there have been 41,104,946 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,128,325 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Medical workers tend a patient suffering of COVID-19 in the Nouvel Hopital Civil of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Oct.22, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, October 23):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 227,230 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 8,566,167 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Friday.India has confirmed a total of 7,706,946 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 116,616.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,298,772 with 155,403 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,453,923 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 25,072.A total of 1,053,650 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 27,957.France has recorded 1,041,991 confirmed cases and 34,237 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,521 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,026,281.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 990,373, with the number of deaths at 29,636, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 876,885 COVID-19 cases and 33,937 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 87,415 deaths from 874,171 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 22)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Thursday, there have been 40,665,438 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,121,843 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Medical Assistant Savannah Dela Vega places a nasal swab in a container for coronavirus testing at the drive-thru clinic in Casper, Wyo., Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, October 22):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 226,234 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 8,495,171 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Thursday.India has confirmed a total of 7,651,107 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 115,914.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,273,954 with 154,837 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,438,219 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 24,786.A total of 1,037,325 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 27,519.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,366 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 1,005,295.France has recorded 1,000,369 confirmed cases and 34,075 deaths.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 981,700, with the number of deaths at 29,464, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 874,118 COVID-19 cases and 33,875 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 87,415 deaths from 867,559 infections.

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  Translation tools, air purifiers: face masks go high-tech

  From monitoring vital signs to filtering filthy air and even translating speech into other languages, the coronavirus-fuelled boom in mask-wearing has spawned an unusual range of high-tech face coverings.Tech companies are looking to cash in on the growing trend of mask-wearing while also helping guard against coronavirus. (Photo: AFP)As masks become the norm worldwide, tech companies and researchers are rolling out weird and wonderful models to both guard against infection and cash in on a growing trend.One of the wackiest comes from Japan, where start-up Donut Robotics has created a face covering that helps users adhere to social distancing and also acts as a translator.The "C-Face" mask works by transmitting a wearers speech to a smartphone via an app, and allows people to have a conversation while keeping up to 10 metres (32 feet) apart."Despite the coronavirus, we sometimes need to meet directly with each other," Donut Robotics chief executive Taisuke Ono told AFP.The lightweight silicone device could have immediate benefits for people such as doctors who want to communicate with patients from a distance, the company says.It can translate speech from Japanese into English, Korean and other languages -- a function that will become more useful once travel restrictions are eventually eased.But it does not offer protection from Covid-19 on its own, and is designed to be worn over a regular face covering when it goes on sale in February for about 4,000 yen ($40).Donut Robotics raised nearly 100 million yen ($950,000) via crowdfunding to develop it, a success Ono believes was driven by a desire for innovations to make life easier during the pandemic."We may be able to fight the virus with technology, with human wisdom," he said.Another face mask developed in Singapore is aimed at protecting medics treating Covid-19 patients.It has sensors that monitor body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen le...

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  India to roll out quick and cheap coronavirus paper test

  A fast and cheap paper-based coronavirus test will soon be available across India, with scientists hopeful it will help turn the tide on the pandemic in one of the worlds worst-hit nations.A fast and cheap paper-based coronavirus test will soon be available across India, with scientists hopeful it will help turn the tide on the pandemic. (Photo; AFP)India has recorded more than 7.5 million infections, second only to the United States, and the outbreak has spread from densely packed megacities like Mumbai to rural communities with limited medical services.The locally developed Feluda, named for a detective in a famous Indian novel series, resembles a home pregnancy paper-strip test and delivers results within an hour.Researchers are optimistic that its low cost and ease of use can help stem the pathogens spread in poor and remote areas."This test doesnt require any sophisticated equipment or highly trained manpower," said co-creator Souvik Maiti, a scientist at New Delhis CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB)."There are lots of remote parts of India where you do not have any sophisticated laboratories... (The test) will be much easier to deploy; it will have much more penetration."India currently diagnoses Covid-19 with either RT-PCR tests, which are highly accurate but require advanced lab machinery, or antigen tests, which can give results in just a few minutes at a limited cost but with significantly lower accuracy.Feluda, like other inexpensive paper-based tests being developed in other countries, claims to combine the accuracy of the PCR test with the accessibility of the antigen kits.It uses the gene-editing technique CRISPR-Cas9, which recently earned its inventors Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.Feluda has been granted government regulatory approval and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said last week it could be rolled out in the next few weeks by Indian con...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 21)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday, there have been 40,251,950 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,116,131 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this Oct. 14, 2020, file photo, a woman wears a face mask in central Belfast as Northern Ireland introduced the tightest COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom, closing schools for two weeks and pubs and restaurants for a month. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, October 21):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 225,233 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 8,430,487 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 7,597,063 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 115,197.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,273,954 with 154,837 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,422,775 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 24,473.A total of 1,018,999 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 27,100.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,210 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 988,322.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 974,139, with the number of deaths at 29,272, according to the JHU virus tracker.France has recorded 973,275 confirmed cases and 33,928 deaths.Peru has reported 870,876 COVID-19 cases and 33,820 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 86,893 deaths from 860,714 infections.

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  Pixie post: Fairy letters offer advice, respite in Virginia

  With the coronavirus lockdown and school out for the summer, 9-year-old Maya Geblers social world had shrunk to her immediate family and a few friends.Maya Gebler, center, Cate and Sophie Carroll , right, write letters to fairies in Norfolk, Virginia on Monday Oct. 12, 2020. (Photo: AP)When her human pen pals stopped writing, she turned to the fairies who had taken up residence at a tree in her Virginia neighborhood. And the fairies wrote back."They care about you," she said. "And they want to write to you."Beneath a crape myrtle at the edge of a lawn in Norfolk lies a fairy village. A sign on a small wooden door shaped like a slice of bread lets visitors know fairies are sleeping behind the smooth bark. Tiny buildings with mushroom spires and flowers line the sidewalk below.Perhaps just as important are the cedar tables and chairs, the paper and the pens. One mailbox, often brimming with envelopes, welcomes correspondence. Another offers responses from the likes of the Fairy Godmother, Fairy Queen Lysandra and Tinker Bell.The fairy tree village appeared in July outside the home of journalist and childrens book author Lisa Suhay, 55, a mother of five. Word spread online and now youngsters arrive wearing pixie wings or princess gowns and a website connects children who live farther away.In the past few months, more than 700 letters have arrived — from neighborhood children but also from nearby cities such as Virginia Beach. Not a small number appear to be from students at Old Dominion University, a state school down the street.For some, the letters offer a reprieve from days stuck at home and in virtual school. They also provide something much deeper — a therapeutic opportunity for wishing, confessing and venting.One child writes: "Can U please make the corona disappear very soon?"Another says, "We are moving to Guam but will you still be my friend?"And yet another tells of a ...

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  Leaders in US, Europe divided on response to surging virus

  Virus cases are surging across Europe and many U.S. states, but responses by leaders are miles apart, with officials in Ireland, France and elsewhere imposing curfews and restricting gatherings even as some U.S. governors resist mask mandates or more aggressive measures.In this Sept. 5, 2020, file photo, people gather during a "Trash Your Mask Protest" rally hosted by the Utah Business Revival at the Utah State Capitol in Salt lake City. (Photo: AP)The stark contrasts in efforts to contain infections come as outbreaks on both sides of the Atlantic raise similar alarms, including shrinking availability of hospital beds and rising deaths.Governors of states including Tennessee, Oklahoma, Nebraska and North Dakota are all facing calls from doctors and public health officials to require masks.In Utah, a spike in cases since school reopened has created a dynamic that Republican Gov. Gary Herbert has called "unsustainable."But Herbert, who has been pressured by an outspoken contingent of residents opposed to masks, has resisted a statewide mandate. Instead, he announced last week that they would be required only in six counties with the highest infection rates, while leaving it to others to make their own rules. Meanwhile, many hospitals are being pushed to the breaking point."We are not just managing COVID. We are also managing heart attacks and strokes and respiratory failure and all those other things that need ICU-level care," said Dr. Kencee Graves, chief medical officer for inpatient care at the University of Utah Health hospital in Salt Lake City. The hospitals intensive care unit was filled by the end of last week, forcing the reopening of a backup intensive care unit."The sooner we take care of each other, wear masks, physically distance, the sooner we can have some gatherings in a safe way," Graves said.In Oklahoma, where the number of people hospitalized for the virus has reached record levels, doctors have cal...

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  Virus, what virus? India gets back to work

  India is on course to top the world in coronavirus cases, but from Maharashtras whirring factories to Kolkatas thronging markets, people are back at work -- and eager to forget the pandemic for festival season.As India enters the October-November festival season, there are fears the number of coronavirus infections will spike. (Photo: AFP)After a strict lockdown in March that left millions on the brink of starvation, the government and people of the worlds second-most populous country decided life must go on.Sonali Dange, for instance, has two young daughters and an elderly mother-in-law to look after. She was hospitalised this year in excruciating pain after catching the coronavirus.But after the lockdown exhausted the familys savings, the 29-year-old had to return to work at a factory where she earns 25,000 rupees ($340) a month."Now that I have recovered, I am no longer so scared of the disease," she told AFP amid the din of machinery at the Nobel Hygiene plant east of Mumbai.- Worst since 1947 -The pandemics confirmed fatality rate has been heaviest in richer nations with older populations -- the US death toll is double that of India despite having only a quarter of the population.Poor countries have suffered far worse economic pain, with the World Bank predicting 150 million people could fall into extreme poverty worldwide.Many children in the developing world are now working to help their parents make ends meet, activists say, while thousands of young girls have been forced into marriage.In Varanasi in northern India, 12-year-old Sanchit no longer attends school and instead collects cloth discarded from bodies before cremation on the citys ghats."On a good day, I earn around 50 rupees (70 US cents)," the boy told AFP.The IMF projects Indias GDP will contract by 10.3 percent this year, the biggest slump of any major emerging nation and its worst since independence in 1947.- Lockdown catastrophe -When India ...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 20)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT onTuesday, there have been39,944,882confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,111,998 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this June 6, 2020 file photo, a Red Cross volunteer measures the temperature of man inside the Fraga slum, during a government-ordered lockdown to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, October 20):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed224,341lives in theUS, the most of any country, with a total of8,363,250infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT onTuesday.Indiahas confirmed a total of7,550,273COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to114,610.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 inBrazilhave increased to5,250,727with154,176deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russiahas confirmed1,406,667cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at24,205.A total of1,002,662people inArgentinahave tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at26,716.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed33,992lives inSpain, bringing the total number of infections to974,449.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to965,883, with the number of deaths at29,102, according to the JHU virus tracker.Francehas recorded952,600confirmed cases and33,647deaths.Peruhas reported868,675COVID-19 cases and33,759deaths from the virus so far.It is followed byMexicowith86,338deaths from854,926infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 19)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Monday, there have been 39,596,858 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,107,374 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Nanah Sheenaz, left, Batamuliza Stella, center, and Nakandi Hanipher, right, drivers for Ugandas new all-female ride-hailing service Diva Taxi, examine a pepper spray as they learn self-defense skills in Kampala, Uganda Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, October 19):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 223,920 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 8,311,536 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Monday.India has confirmed a total of 7,494,551 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 114,031.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,224,362 with 153,675 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,390,824 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 24,039.A total of 989,680 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 26,267.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 959,572, with the number of deaths at 28,970, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 33,775 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 936,560.France has recorded 876,342 confirmed cases and 33,325 deaths.Peru has reported 865,549 COVID-19 cases and 33,702 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 86,167 deaths from 851,227 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 16)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday, there have been 38,394,169 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,089,047 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Visitors line a corridor in the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport as they enter the state, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, in Honolulu. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, October 16):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 221,715 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 8,137,274 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday.India has confirmed a total of 7,370,468 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 112,161.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,169,386 with 152,460 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,361,317 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 23,580.A total of 949,063 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 25,342.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 936,982, with the number of deaths at 28,457, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 33,553 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 921,374.Peru has reported 859,740 COVID-19 cases and 33,146 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by France with 33,146 deaths from 850,997 infections.Mexico has recorded 834,910 confirmed cases and 85,285 deaths.

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  Indian cinemas reopen after going dark for months amid virus

  Seven months after screens went dark, cinemas reopened Thursday in much of India with mostly old titles on the marquee — a sign of the countrys efforts to return to normal as the pace of coronavirus infections slows but also of the roadblocks that remain.A man wearing a face mask walks past the ticket counter of a movie hall in New Delhi, India, Thursday, oct. 15, 2020. (Photo: AP)The return to movie theaters comes as India is registering the highest number of daily cases globally and is expected to soon top the list worldwide in terms of total number of reported infections, passing the United States. But trends also suggest the spread is beginning to slow.Nearly 10,000 theaters closed in mid-March when the government imposed restrictions to fight the virus, which has torn through India, killing more than 110,000 people. Cinemas are among the last public places to reopen — a hugely symbolic move in a country known the world over for the lavish productions pumped out by its Bollywood film industry.Every year, the $2.8 billion juggernaut produces more than 2,000 films that feature complex dance routines, singing and spectacularly large casts, serving to unite a diverse nation of 1.4 billion people. The industrys success over the years has embedded moviegoing into Indias contemporary culture and been a boon for the economy, which, since the pandemic began, has nosedived to its slowest growth on record.But even if theaters are reopening, filmmaking still hasnt rebounded. Reeling from zero box-office returns in this pandemic year, Indian filmmakers have so far not lined up any new big-ticket releases and have pushed any films they have made directly to online streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.Such struggles can be seen the world over as the pandemic has devastated the entertainment industry. Earlier this month, a major American movie theater chain said it would temporarily shutter hundreds of locations in the U.S. and the U.K.Mov...

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  German, Czech, Italian virus records deepen Europe worries

  Record daily infection figures in Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and elsewhere added to fears on Thursday that Europe is running out of chances to control its latest coronavirus outbreak. France has set a 9 p.m. curfew for many of its biggest cities as governments across the continent take increasingly tough action.A woman, wearing a face mask, walks past a sign saying Mask duty - Cover your mouth and nose! in a pedestrian zone in the city center of Munich, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. (Photo: AP)New infections have surged across Europe over recent weeks as the fall kicks in, prompting authorities in many places to start reimposing restrictions relaxed over the summer. The Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, France and Britain are among countries causing particular concern.The head of the World Health Organizations Europe office urged countries to be "uncompromising" in controlling the virus.Europes financial markets fell sharply on concerns that the new restrictions on swathes of the regions economy are already ending the nascent recovery from its sharpest recession in modern history. Major stock indexes were well over 2% lower in Europe on Thursday.While Germany, the European Unions most populous nation, is still in comparatively good shape, alarm bells are ringing there too. On Thursday, the national disease control center reported 6,638 cases over 24 hours — exceeding the previous record of nearly 6,300 set in late March, although testing in the country of 83 million has expanded greatly since then.Chancellor Angela Merkel and Germanys 16 state governors agreed Wednesday night to tighten mask-wearing rules, make bars close early and limit the number of people who can gather in areas where coronavirus infection rates are high. Merkel, who stressed the importance of keeping contact-tracing efforts on track, said "we must stop this exponential rise, the quicker the better."&n...

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  London shifts into 2nd-highest virus risk tier as cases rise

  Britains health secretary has shifted London into the second-highest COVID-19 alert level amid a rise in cases.People walk down the steps of the main entrance of Waterloo train station, at which point they are allowed to remove their face coverings, in London, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. (Photo: AP)Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons that the government acted because infection rates are rising rapidly in the capital and swift action was necessary to control the virus.The move comes as millions of people in northern England are waiting to find out whether they will be placed under the governments tightest COVID-19 restrictions, which the city of Liverpool already faces.London Mayor Sadiq Khan expected the move. Khan told the London Assembly that talks were continuing but he expected authorities to move London into the second of three risk categories based on "expert public health and scientific advice" about what is needed to save lives.Khan has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeking details about what assistance would be provided to businesses and individuals affected by such a move."Nobody wants to see more restrictions, Khan said. "But this is deemed to be necessary in order to protect Londoners lives by myself, London council leaders and by ministers."Meanwhile, the mayor of the greater Manchester area, with 2.8 million people, says he expects to meet with Johnsons team on Thursday for talks on whether the region will be classified as a "high risk" area. TThat is the highest risk category in the governments new three-tier regional COVID-19 strategy and would require restrictions such as closing bars and banning social gatherings outside ones own home.The government has said it is also talking with leaders of other parts of northern England where COVID-19 infection rates are high.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 15)

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Thursday, there have been 38,202,956 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,087,069 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A couple wearing face masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus walk past a kiosk advertising ice for sale alongside drinks and snacks in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, October 15):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 220,970 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 8,073,379 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7 pm BJT on Thursday.India has confirmed a total of 7,307,097 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 111,266.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,140,863 with 151,747 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,346,380 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 23,350.A total of 931,967 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 24,921.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 930,159, with the number of deaths at 28,306, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 33,413 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 908,056.Peru has reported 853,974 COVID-19 cases and 33,419 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 84,898 deaths from 829,396 infections.France has recorded 820,376 confirmed cases and 33,058 deaths.

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  Indonesia FM calls for 'equal access' to Covid-19 vaccines

  Developing countries must have equal access to future Covid-19 vaccines, Indonesias foreign minister warned, as wealthy nations scoop up billions of doses.(File photo: AP)Retno Marsudi said it was crucial for rich and poor nations to work together so "we can guarantee equal access to a safe and affordable vaccine"."Can you imagine...if most vaccines go to developed countries?" Marsudi told AFP in a video interview from London."What will be the fate of the developing countries?"Marsudis comments follow an Oxfam report last month that found a group of wealthy nations representing just 13 percent of the global population have already bought up more than half of the promised doses of future Covid-19 vaccines.Marsudi was to meet with UK-based pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca on Wednesday to cement a vaccine-dose deal for Indonesia, the worlds fourth most populous nation with nearly 270 million people, which has struggled to contain soaring infection rates.This week, Indonesias Covid-19 response team chief, Airlangga Hartarto, said the country may secure 100 million doses of AstraZenecas potential vaccine.Marsudi declined to discuss details, but said: "Im very optimistic we can secure a significant number of vaccines from AstraZeneca"."The negotiation is still going on."Marsudi is also slated to go to Switzerland as part of her countrys bid to secure agreements for vaccine doses.In August, Indonesia kicked off human trials of a vaccine candidate produced by Chinas Sinovac Biotech with some 1,600 volunteers taking part in the six-month study.Indonesia, one of the hardest hit countries in Asia, has reported more than 340,000 cases of coronavirus and over 12,000 deaths. But, with some of the worlds lowest testing rates, the true scale of its public health crisis is believed to be much greater.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 14)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday, there have been 37,888,384 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,081,868 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this Sept. 15, 2020, file photo, a Russian medical worker administers a shot of Russias experimental Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in Moscow, Russia. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, October 14):Sources: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 220,075 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 8,013,228 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 7,239,389 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 110,586.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,113,628 with 150,998 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,332,824 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 23,069.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 924,098, with the number of deaths at 28,141, according to the JHU virus tracker.A total of 917,035 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 24,572.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 33,204 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 896,086.Peru has reported 853,974 COVID-19 cases and 33,419 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 84,420 deaths from 825,340 infections.France has recorded 798,257 confirmed cases and 32,982 deaths.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 13)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday, there have been 37,601,848confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,077,799deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Texas Rangers fans arrive to watch the Atlanta Braves play the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of a baseball National League Championship Series, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, October 13):Sources:Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 219,303lives in theUS, the most of any country, with a total of 7,962,678infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday.Indiahas confirmed a total of 7,175,880COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 109,856.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 inBrazilhave increased to 5,103,408 with 150,689deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russiahas confirmed 1,318,783cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 22,834.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 919,084, with the number of deaths at 27,985, according to the JHU virus tracker.A total of 903,730people inArgentinahave tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 24,186.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 33,124lives inSpain, bringing the total number of infections to 888,968.Peruhas reported 851,171COVID-19 cases and 33,357deaths from the virus so far.It is followed byMexicowith 83,945deaths from 821,045infections.Francehas recorded 776,097confirmed cases and 32,703deaths.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 9)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Friday, there have been 36,002,827 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,049,810 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Nursing assistant Monica Brodsky, right, hands McKensie Burreson, of Madison, a funnel and vial for a saliva test that tests for COVID-19 at a drive-thru testing site in the parking lot at the UW Health Administrative Office Building in Middleton, Wis., Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, October 9):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 216,814 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 7,758,106 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Friday.India has confirmed a total of 6,835,655 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 105,526.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,028,444 with 148,957 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,253,603 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 21,939.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 886,179, with the number of deaths at 27,180, according to the JHU virus tracker.A total of 856,369 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 22,710.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 32,688 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 848,324.Peru has reported 835,662 COVID-19 cases and 33,009 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 83,096 deaths from 804,488 infections.France has recorded 711,704 confirmed cases and 32,539 deaths.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 8)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Thursday, there have been 35,659,007 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,044,269 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A staff worker checks a customers body temperature before he enters at the Torres Bermejas "tablao," or live flamenco venue, in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, October 8):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 215,822 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 7,703,045 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Thursday.India has confirmed a total of 6,757,131 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 104,555.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 5,000,694 with 148,228 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,242,258 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 21,755.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 877,683, with the number of deaths at 27,180, according to the JHU virus tracker.A total of 840,915 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 22,226.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 32,562 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 835,901.Peru has reported 832,929 COVID-19 cases and 32,914 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 82,726 deaths from 799,188 infections.France has recorded 693,603 confirmed cases and 32,463 deaths.

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  Peru bet on cheap COVID antibody tests; it didn't go well

  In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the harried health officials of Peru faced a quandary. They knew molecular tests for COVID-19 were the best option to detect the virus – yet they didnt have the labs, the supplies, or the technicians to make them work.In this April 15, 2020 file photo, a healthcare worker testing for the new coronavirus monitors the results of antibody tests, inside a home in Lima, Peru. (Photo: AP)But there was a cheaper alternative -- antibody tests, mostly from China, that were flooding the market at a fraction of the price and could deliver a positive or negative result within minutes of a simple fingerstick.In March, President Martin Vizcarra took the airwaves to announce hed signed off on a massive purchase of 1.6 million tests – almost all of them for antibodies.Now, interviews with experts, public purchase orders, import records, government resolutions, patients, and COVID-19 health reports show that the countrys bet on rapid antibody tests went dangerously off course.Unlike almost every other nation, Peru is relying heavily on rapid antibody blood tests to diagnose active cases – a purpose for which they are not designed. The tests cannot detect early COVID-19 infections, making it hard to quickly identify and isolate the sick. Epidemiologists interviewed by The Associated Press say their misuse is producing a sizable number of false positives and negatives, helping fuel one of the worlds worst COVID-19 outbreaks.Whats more, a number of the antibody tests purchased for use in Peru have since been rejected by the United States after independent analysis found they did not meet standards for accurately detecting COVID-19.Today the South American nation has the highest per capita COVID-19 mortality rate of any country across the globe, according to John Hopkins University – and physicians there believe the countrys faulty testing approach is one reason why."This was a mult...

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  High demand for flu shots? Experts hope to avoid 'twindemic'

  October is prime time for flu vaccinations, and the U.S. and Europe are gearing up for what experts hope is high demand as countries seek to avoid a "twindemic" with COVID-19.A flu vaccine is administered to National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) staff members in Bethesda, Md., on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. (Photo: AP)"Theres considerable concern as we enter the fall and winter months and into the flu season that well have that dreaded overlap" of flu and the coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the U.S. National Institutes of Health said Thursday. He got his own flu shot earlier this week.A record number of flu vaccine doses are on the way, between 194 million and 198 million for the U.S. alone -- seemingly plenty considering last year just under half of adults got vaccinated and there usually are leftovers.Still, theres no way to know how many will seek shots this year and some people occasionally are finding drugstores or clinics temporarily out of stock.Be patient: Flu vaccine ships gradually. Less than half has been distributed so far, and the CDC and manufacturers say more is in transit."This year I think everyone is wanting to get their vaccine and maybe wanting it earlier than usual," Dr. Daniel Jernigan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Associated Press. "If youre not able to get your vaccination now, dont get frustrated" but keep trying.Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, which is supplying nearly 250 million doses worldwide including 80 million for the U.S., says it has shipments staggered into November.Vaccine maker Seqirus is exploring if it could squeeze out "a limited number of additional doses" to meet high demand, said spokeswoman Polina Miklush.Brewing flu vaccine is time-consuming. Once production ends for the year, countries cant simply order more -- making for a stressful balancing act as they guess how many ...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated October 1)

  Globally, as of 6 pm BJT on Thursday, there have been 33,722,075 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,009,270 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Students arrive for in-person classes outside Public School 188 The Island School, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6 pm BJT, October 1):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 211,062 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 7,386,327 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6 pm BJT on Thursday.India has confirmed a total of 6,312,584 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 98,678.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,810,935 with 143,952 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,179,634 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 20,796.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 829,679, with the number of deaths at 25,998, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 811,768 COVID-19 cases and 32,396 deaths from the virus so far.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 31,791 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 769,188.A total of 751,001 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 16,937.It is followed by Mexico with 77,646 deaths from 743,216 infections.South Africa has recorded 674,339 confirmed cases and 16,734 deaths.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 30)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday, there have been 33,249,563 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 1,000,040 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Emad Abdeljawwad prepares hot dogs for customers out of a converted van in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 30):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 209,992 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 7,339,607 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 6,145,291 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 96,318.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,745,464 with 142,058 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,162,428 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 20,456.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 818,203, with the number of deaths at 25,641, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 808,714 COVID-19 cases and 32,324 deaths from the virus so far.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 31,411 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 748,266.It is followed by Mexico with 77,163 deaths from 738,163 infections.A total of 736,609 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 16,519.South Africa has recorded 672,572 confirmed cases and 16,667 deaths.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 29)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday, there have been 33,034,598 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 996,342 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this July 7, 2020, file photo, Spencer Cushing, 29, tends to David Feinour, a 71-year-old COVID-19 patient, at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, Calif. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 29):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 209,094 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 7,292,000 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday.India has confirmed a total of 6,074,702 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 95,542.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,745,464 with 142,058 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,154,299 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 20,299.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 818,203, with the number of deaths at 25,641, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 805,302 COVID-19 cases and 32,262 deaths from the virus so far.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 31,411 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 748,266.It is followed by Mexico with 76,430 deaths from 730,317 infections.A total of 723,132 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 16,113.South Africa has recorded 671,669 confirmed cases and 16,586 deaths.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 28)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Monday, there have been 32,730,945 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 991,224 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Auburn students are scanned to check for a health screening questionnaire before entering the stadium for the start of an NCAA college football game between Auburn and Kentucky on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 28):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 208,827 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 7,255,815 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Monday.India has confirmed a total of 5,992,532 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 94,503.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,717,991 with 141,406 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,146,273 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 20,239.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 813,056, with the number of deaths at 25,488, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 800,142 COVID-19 cases and 32,142deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 76,430 deaths from 730,317 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 31,232 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 716,481.A total of 711,325 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 15,749.South Africa has recorded 670,766 confirmed cases and 16,398 deaths.

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  US parents delaying preschool and kindergarten amid pandemic

  Claire Reagan was feeling overwhelmed as her oldest childs first day of kindergarten approached and with a baby on the way. The 5-year-old boy has autism, and she worried he would struggle with juggling in-person and virtual learning, and that she wouldnt have enough time to give him the help he needs.So she decided to wait a year before sending him to school.Claire Reagan plays with her son Evan, 5, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, outside her home in Olathe, Kan. Reagan is keeping her son from starting kindergarten and her daughter Abbie, 3, from preschool due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo: AP)"I was stressed about everything and then thought Why does he need to start kindergarten? And it was like a weight was lifted," said Reagan, a 36-year-old high school teacher in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe, Kansas.Thousands of parents around the U.S. have made similar decisions, having their children delay or skip kindergarten because of the coronavirus pandemic. The opt outs, combined with huge declines in preschool enrollment, are raising worries about the long-term effects of so much lost early education."If there is a group for which you would be particularly concerned, it is these very young students who are not having these foundational experiences," said Nate Schwartz, a professor at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University.Kindergarten isnt required in most states, and in normal times parents sometimes "red-shirt" children who would be young for their kindergarten class to give them an extra year of developmental readiness. But enrollment numbers have plunged in many places this fall as parents weigh health concerns and the prospect of helping young children to navigate distance learning while also holding onto their jobs.In Los Angeles public schools, kindergarten enrollment is down about 6,000 students, or 14%. In Nashville, Tennessee, public ki...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 25)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Friday, there have been 31,798,308 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 973,653 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.South Africans celebrate Heritage Day with song and dance at the Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 25):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 206,768 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 7,115,304 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Friday.India has confirmed a total of 5,732,518 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 91,149.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,657,702 with 139,808 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,123,976 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 19,867.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 790,823, with the number of deaths at 24,746, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 782,695 COVID-19 cases and 31,870 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 75,439 deaths from 715,457 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 31,118 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 704,209.A total of 678,266 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 14,766.South Africa has recorded 667,049 confirmed cases and 16,283 deaths.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 24)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Thursday, there have been 31,425,029 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 967,164 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A waitress wears a protective mask as she serves customers outside a restaurant in Soho, in London, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 24):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 205,805 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 7,075,091 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Thursday.India has confirmed a total of 5,646,010 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 90,020.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,591,364 with 138,105 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,117,487 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 19,720.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 784,268, with the number of deaths at 24,746, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 776,546 COVID-19 cases and 31,568 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 74,949 deaths from 710,049 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 31,034 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 693,556.South Africa has recorded 665,188 confirmed cases and 16,206 deaths.A total of 664,799 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 14,376.

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  Finland deploys coronavirus-sniffing dogs at main airport

  Finland has deployed coronavirus-sniffing dogs at the Nordic country’s main international airport in a four-month trial of an alternative testing method that could become a cost-friendly and quick way to identify infected travelers.Sniffer dogs named Kssi, left and Miina react with trainer Susanna Paavilainen at the Helsinki airport in Vantaa, Finland, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo: AP)Four dogs of different breeds trained by Finland’s Smell Detection Association started working Wednesday at the Helsinki Airport as part of the government-financed trial.“It’s a very promising method. Dogs are very good at sniffing,” Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, a University of Helsinki professor of equine and small animal medicine, said.“If it works, it will be a good (coronavirus) screening method at any other places,” she said, listing hospitals, ports, elderly people’s homes, sports venues and cultural events among the possible locations where trained dogs could put their snouts to work.While researchers in several countries, including Australia, France, Germany the United States, are also studying canines as coronavirus detectors, the Finnish trial is among the largest so far.Hielm-Bjorkman told The Associated Press that Finland is the second country after the United Arab Emirates - and the first in Europe - to assign dogs to sniff out the coronavirus. A similar program started at Dubai International Airport over the summer.Passengers who agree to take a free test under the voluntary program in Helsinki do not have direct physical contact with a dog.They are asked to swipe their skin with a wipe which is then put into a jar and given to a dog waiting in a separate booth. The participating animals - ET, Kossi, Miina and Valo - previously underwent training to detect cancer, diabetes or other diseases.It takes the dog a mere 10 seconds to sniff the virus samples before it gives the test result by scratching a paw, laying down, barking or otherwise making its conclusion known. The pr...

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  Chinese mainland reports 7 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, all imported

  The Chinese mainland reported 7 new imported COVID-19 cases Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,765, the National Health Commission said Thursday.(Photo: Xinhua)Of the new imported cases, two were reported in Liaoning, two in Shanghai, one each in Jiangsu, Guangxi and Shaanxi, the commission said in its daily report.Among all the imported cases, 2,598 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 167 remained active cases, with three in severe condition, the commission said.No deaths had been reported from the imported cases.

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  Americans load up on candy, trick or treat - or not

  Americans may not know if trick or treating will happen this year because of the pandemic, but theyre buying a lot of Halloween candy while they wait to find out.Halloween candy and decorations are displayed at a store, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Freeport, Maine. (Photo: AP)U.S. sales of Halloween candy were up 13% over last year in the month ending Sept. 6, according to data from market research firm IRI and the National Confectioners Association. Thats a bigger jump than the usual single-digit increases. Sales of Halloween chocolate alone are up 25%.Earlier Halloween displays at some chains, like dollar stores, Meijer and ShopRite, likely helped boost sales. But Americans may also be in a mood to celebrate after months of pandemic anxiety.Cassandra Ambrosius, who lives in central Wisconsin, was surprised to see bags of Halloween candy at the grocery in early September; her husband snapped one up. She expects to buy more bags as Halloween gets closer, because she thinks people in her neighborhood will figure out how to trick or treat safely."Im sure people are just excited for a little sense of normalcy," Ambrosius said.That enthusiasm is good news for candy companies, which rely on the 10-week Halloween period for nearly 14% of their annual $36 billion in U.S. sales. Halloween is the biggest holiday of the year for candy makers, followed closely by Christmas and Easter. Valentines Day is a distant fourth.Ferrara Candy Co., which makes Brachs Candy Corn, says it saw online demand three months earlier than usual. Some stores also asked Ferrara for earlier shipments.But while early demand are strong, sales in late October could suffer if the coronavirus clamps down on trick or treat. Fifty-five percent of Mars Wrigleys Halloween candy sales usually happen in the last two weeks of October, says Tim LeBel, the companys chief Halloween officer and head of U.S. sales.New Yorks governor recently announced that he ...

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  Missouri governor, opponent of mandatory masks, has COVID-19

  Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican who has steadfastly refused to require residents to wear masks, tested positive for the coronavirus, his office said Wednesday.In this Aug. 6, 2020 file photo, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson speaks during a news conference in St. Louis. (Photo: AP)Parson was tested after his wife, Teresa, tested positive earlier in the day. Teresa Parson had experienced mild symptoms, including a cough and nasal congestion, spokeswoman Kelli Jones said. She took a rapid test that came back positive and a nasal swab test later confirmed the finding. The governors rapid test showed he tested positive and he is still awaiting results from the swab test."I want everybody to know that myself and the first lady are both fine," Parson said in a video posted on his Facebook page."Right now I feel fine. No symptoms of any kind," Parson said in the video. "But right now we just have to take the quarantine procedures in place."Gov. Parson postponed several events through the remainder of the week. He and his wife had been traveling around the state this week for events that included a ceremonial bill signing in Cape Girardeau, where a photo posted Tuesday on the governors Facebook page showed both of them wearing masks.On Friday, he and several other Missouri Republican candidates appeared together at an event called the "TARGET BBQ" in Springfield. A photo posted on Parsons Twitter pages shows Parson on a stage with four other statewide officeholders seeking reelection: Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Attorney General Eric Schmitt. They appear to be a few feet apart from each other, but none are wearing masks.Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams said contact tracing efforts have begun, seeking out people who have had close contact with the governor or his wife, but despite Parsons many recent public ap...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 23)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday, there have been 31,174,627 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 962,613 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Healthcare workers line up for free personal protective equipment in front of a mural by artist Romero Britto at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, in Miami. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 23):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 204,676 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 7,036,038 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 5,562,663 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 88,935.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,558,040 with 137,272 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,111,157 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 19,575.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 777,537, with the number of deaths at 24,397, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 768,895 COVID-19 cases and 31,369 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 74,348 deaths from 705,263 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 30,904 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 682,267.South Africa has recorded 663,282 confirmed cases and 16,118 deaths.A total of 652,174 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 13,952.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 21)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Monday, there have been 30,675,675 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 954,417 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Sam Bennett of Ireland, wearing the best sprinters green jersey, wears a face mask reading "No To Racism" as he arrives for the start of the twenty-first and last stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 122 kilometers (75.8 miles), from Mantes-La-Jolie to Paris, France, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 21):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 203,376 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,946,006 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Monday.India has confirmed a total of 5,400,619 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 86,752.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,544,629 with 136,895 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,098,958 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 19,349.Peru has reported 762,865 COVID-19 cases and 31,369 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 758,398, with the number of deaths at 24,039, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 73,493 deaths from 697,663 infections.South Africa has recorded 661,211 confirmed cases and 15,953 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 30,495 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 640,040.A total of 631,365 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 13,053.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 18)

  Globally, as of 7:30 pm BJT on Friday, there have been 29,737,453 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 937,391 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A woman wearing a face mask walks past the Sorbonne university in Paris, France, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7:30 pm BJT, September 18):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 201,282 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,809,634 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7:30 pm BJT on Friday.India has confirmed a total of 5,214,677 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 84,372.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,455,386 with 134,935 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,086,955 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 19,128.Peru has reported 744,400 COVID-19 cases and 31,051 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 743,945, with the number of deaths at 23,665, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 72,179 deaths from 684,113 infections.South Africa has recorded 655,572 confirmed cases and 15,772 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 30,405 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 625,651.A total of 601,713 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 12,460.

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  Virus clusters at French universities give Europe a lesson

  Can mandatory masks offer enough protection in lecture halls so packed that late arrivals have to sit on the floor?Students sit at a distance as a precaution against COVID-19, as they undergo an aptitude test to access the University of Medicine, in Rome Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. (Photo: AP)Thats what worries many students at the centuries-old Sorbonne University in Paris as the coronavirus is on the rebound across France.At least a dozen COVID-19 clusters have emerged since French campuses and classrooms opened this month. The clutches of cases are a warning sign for countries elsewhere in Europe, where most universities are readying to resume teaching and research in coming weeks."We go back to university in conditions that are a bit extreme, and we fear we might get COVID-19," Elise Gilbert, 20, who is studying literature at the Sorbonne, said of the overcrowding students encountered.Frances experience so far stands in contrast to whats happening in Britain, where virus-driven changes on campuses mean university life will look a lot different this term. Germany and Italy are also adapting their delivery of higher education in response to the pandemic.The French government was determined to get people back to classrooms to bridge education inequities that the pandemic has exacerbated. The government also urged workers to return to offices and job sites to resuscitate the economy and to "learn to live with the virus."At universities, the main change this year is mandatory mask-wearing at all times. But keeping physical distances appears impossible in many places.Some students are raising their grievances on Twitter, using the hashtag #Balancetafac ("Squeal on your uni") to share pictures of packed classrooms and corridors.They describe situations where theres no soap to wash their hands and where rooms, sometimes with no windows to provide fresh air, are not being disinfected between lectures."We are doing...

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  Classical Gardens of Suzhou’s one-yuan tickets scheme boosts revival of tourism market

  The Classical Gardens of Suzhou, widely acknowledged masterpieces of natural landscapes in miniature, have attracted more than 630,000 visitors since the launch of a one-yuan ($0.15) ticket scheme in early August, boosting the recovery of the citys tourism industry.The Humble Administrators Garden in Suzhou. (Photo: VCG)The scheme provides 500,000 one-yuan tickets to individual visitors, and 10-percent discounted tickets to tourist groups, of which 300,000 members can enjoy the one-yuan price. It also provides 200,000 tickets to local residents. The scheme has sparked a revival in the broader tourism market.Some of the finest gardens — the Humble Administrators Garden, the Lingering Garden, the Lion Grove Garden, the Botanical Gardens and the Couples Garden Retreat — have seen the percentage of the numbers of visitors increased by 63 percent, 72 percent, 54 percent, 375 percent and 197 percent compared with July.Zhang Jie, director of the Lion Grove Garden Management Office, said 400 one-yuan tickets offered on a daily basis were always snapped up by individual tourists, 70 percent of which were non-local visitors.Suzhou has attracted tourist groups from across China, mainly from Henan, Hebei, Hubei, Guangdong and Shandong, gaining far-reaching leverage over other parts of the countries."We should not only strive to become a cultural brand of Suzhou, but also endure the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting financial pressure from the cut-price sale," said Xue Zhijian, director of the Humble Administrators Garden Management Office. "This prompts us to think outside the box, expand secondary tourist resources and seek economic growth beyond ticket sales."The Joyous Garden, a rather low profile candidate compared to its peers, has successfully diverted traffic and attracted 400 more visitors per day since pairing with the renowned member of Classic Gardens of Suzhou, the Lion Grove Garden.Classic...

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  COVID-19 danger continues to drive joblessness in US

  The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to 860,000, a historically high figure that reflects economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak.In this Sept. 2, 2020, file photo, a help wanted sign hangs on the door of a Target store in Uniontown, Pa. (Photo: AP)Before the pandemic hit the economy, the number signing up for jobless aid had never exceeded 700,000 in a week, even during the depths of the 2007-2009 Great Recession.The Labor Department said Thursday that U.S. jobless claims fell by 33,000 form the previous week and that 12.6 million are collecting traditional unemployment benefits, compared with just 1.7 million a year ago.The outbreak slammed the U.S. economy in the spring, causing the economy to collapse at a 31.7% annual rate from April through June, by far the worst three months on record. Companies and government agencies slashed 22 million jobs.The outbreak slammed the U.S. economy in the spring, causing the economy to collapse at a 31.7% annual from April through June, by far the worst three months on record. Companies and government agencies slashed 22 million jobs.Since then, the economy and job market have been rebounding. Employers added 10.6 million jobs from May through August -- but the United States still has recovered less than half the jobs lost in March and April.The recovery remains fragile, imperiled by continuing COVID-19 cases and a failure to deliver another economic rescue package in Washington.An extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits ran out July 31, squeezing households that had depended on the beefed-up payments. President Donald Trump issued an executive order Aug. 8 providing a scaled-back version of the expanded jobless aid. Most states signed up for federal grants that let them increase weekly benefits by $300 or $400.That program is expiring.Charissa Ward, 37, was furloughed in April from her job as a server at a restaurant in Disneys Hollywood Studios resort ...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 17)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Thursday, there have been 29,679,284confirmed cases of coronavirus, including936,521deaths, reported the World Health Organization.An employee of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security WIN Job Center in Pearl, Miss., left, assists a client fill out paperwork, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30pm BJT, September 17):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 200,365lives in theUS, the most of any country, with a total of6,765,739infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30pm BJT onThursday.Indiahas confirmed a total of 5,118,253COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 83,198.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 inBrazilhave increased to 4,419,083with 134,106 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russiahas confirmed 1,081,152cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 18,996.Peruhas reported 738,020COVID-19 cases and 30,927deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 736,377, with the number of deaths at 23,478, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed byMexicowith 71,978deaths from 680,931infections.South Africahas recorded653,444confirmed cases and 15,705deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 30,243lives inSpain, bringing the total number of infections to 614,360.A total of 589,012people inArgentinahave tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 12,116.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 16)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday, there have been 29,155,581 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 926,544 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Daily wage laborers wait to get hired for the day in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, September 16):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 199,312 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,728,418 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 5,020,359 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 82,066.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,382,263 with 133,119deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,075,485 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 18,853.Peru has reported 738,020 COVID-19 cases and 30,927 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 728,590, with the number of deaths at 23,288, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 71,678 deaths from 676,487 infections.South Africa has recorded 651,521 confirmed cases and 15,641 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 30,004 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 603,167.A total of 577,338 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 11,852.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 15)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday, there have been 28,918,900 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 922,252 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Mary Thomson, left, from Phoenix receives a hot meal from the Salvation Army Disaster relief truck at the evacuation center set up at the Jackson County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 in Central Point, Ore. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, September 15):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 198,141 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,689,792 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday.India has confirmed a total of 4,930,236 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 80,776.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,345,610 with 132,006 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,069,873 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 18,723.Peru has reported 729,619 COVID-19 cases and 30,710 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 721,892, with the number of deaths at 23,123, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 71,049 deaths from 671,716 infections.South Africa has recorded 650,749 confirmed cases and 15,499 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,848 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 593,730.A total of 565,446 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 11,667.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 14)

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Monday, there have been 28,871,176 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 921,801 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Masked elementary students wait in spaces designated by red barricade tape to be called to class, at the San Biagio primary school in Codogno, Italy, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, September 14):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 197,660 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,652,512 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7 pm BJT on Monday.India has confirmed a total of 4,846,427 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 79,722.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,330,455 with 131,625 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,064,438 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 18,573.Peru has reported 729,619 COVID-19 cases and 30,710 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 716,319, with the number of deaths at 22,924, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 70,821 deaths from 668,381 infections.South Africa has recorded 649,793 confirmed cases and 15,447 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,747 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 566,326.A total of 555,537 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 11,352.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 11)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Friday, there have been 27,738,179 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 899,916 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this undated photo provided by Outdoor Research in September 2020, a worker adjusts material on a machine that makes surgical masks in Seattle. As the city became a major coronavirus hotspot, the clothing and sportswear company also switched gears. (Photo:AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 11):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 195,433 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,530,265 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Friday.India has confirmed a total of 4,465,863 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 75,062Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,238,446 with 129,522 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,042,836 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 18,207.Peru has reported 702,776 COVID-19 cases and 30,236 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 686,851, with the number of deaths at 22,053, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 69,649 deaths from 652,364 infections.South Africa has recorded 644,438 confirmed cases and 15,265 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,699 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 554,143.A total of 524,198 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 10,907.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 10)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Thursday, there have been 27,486,960 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 894,983 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.People wearing masks pass the Charging Bull statue in New Yorks financial district, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. More sharp declines for big tech stocks are dragging Wall Street toward a third straight loss on Tuesday. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 10):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 194,338 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,492,309 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Thursday.India has confirmed a total of 4,370,128 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 72,775.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,162,073 with 127,464 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,037,526 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 18,080.Peru has reported 696,190 COVID-19 cases and 30,123 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 679,513, with the number of deaths at 21,817, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 69,049 deaths from 647,321 infections.South Africa has recorded 642,431 confirmed cases and 15,168 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,628 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 543,379.A total of 512,293 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 10,658.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 9)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday, there have been 27,236,916 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 891,031 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A student cleans his hands with hand sanitizer as educators welcome students on the first day of class at Lake Harbor Middle School with coronavirus restrictions Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Mandeville, La. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 9):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 193,060 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,455,061 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday.India has confirmed a total of 4,280,422 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 72,775.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,162,073 with 127,464 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,032,354 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 17,939.Peru has reported 691,575 COVID-19 cases and 29,976 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 671,533, with the number of deaths at 21,611, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 68,484 deaths from 642,860 infections.South Africa has recorded 640,441 confirmed cases and 15,086 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,594 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 534,513.A total of 500,034 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 10,405.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 8)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday, there have been 27,032,617 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 881,464 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.People eat ice cream outside a shop Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Sausalito, Calif. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 8):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 192,640 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,431,277 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday.India has confirmed a total of 4,204,613 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 71,642.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,147,794 with 126,960 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 1,027,334 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 17,818.Peru has reported 689,977 COVID-19 cases and 29,838 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 666,521, with the number of deaths at 21,412, according to the JHU virus tracker.South Africa has recorded 639,362 confirmed cases and 15,004 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 67,781 deaths from 637,509 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,516 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 525,549.A total of 488,007 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 10,129.

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  Southern Africa's hunger upsurge blamed on climate, COVID-19

  An estimated 45 million people in southern Africa are food insecure, with the number of people without access to adequate affordable and nutritious food up 10% from last year, the World Food Program said Monday.In this Thursday, Feb, 20, 2020 file photo, women carry bags of maize during a food aid distribution excercise in Mudzi about 230 kilometres northeast of the capital Harare, Zimbabwe. (Photo: AP)The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with climate change and the struggling economies of several countries, are the main causes of the food insecurity, said international aid organizations in a webinar organized by the Foreign Correspondents Assocition of Southern Africa.Zimbabwe is the worst affected country, with its number of food insecure people expected to reach 8.6 million by the end of this year, World Food Program director in southern Africa, Lola Castro, said."We are going to see levels of food insecurity that we have never seen for many years," in 13 of the regions 16 countries, Castro said."We have chronic underlying causes that we know very well, and they are basically mostly related to climatic shocks ... drought, floods or big cyclones," said Castro.She said COVID-19 was an additional emergency that has enormously hurt the livelihoods of many poor people in the region. Lockdowns have made large numbers of people unemployed, increasing food insecurity, she said.Many farmers, especially women, had been severely affected by COVID-19 and its impact on food production, said ActionAid Africa humanitarian advisor, Chikondi Chabvuta."Southern Africa has faced impacts of climate change for the past four years nonstop. ... I have witnessed the short-lived hope in peoples eyes these past four years when seeds are distributed or exchanged in the hope for a better yield next season, only to be disappointed by more climate disasters," she said."COVID-19 is exposing the existing systematic weaknesses of the regional policies meant...

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  The Summer of COVID-19 ends with health officials worried

  The Lost Summer of 2020 drew to a close Monday with many big Labor Day gatherings canceled across the U.S. and health authorities pleading with people to keep their distance from others so as not to cause another coronavirus surge like the one that followed Memorial Day.A jet skier passes a patriotic shanty-boat owned by AJ Crea on Pontoosuc Lake on Labor Day in Pittsfield, Mass., Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. (Photo: AP)Downtown Atlanta was quiet as the 85,000 or so people who come dressed as their favorite superheroes or sci-fi characters for the annual Dragon Con convention met online instead. Huge football stadiums at places like Ohio State and the University of Texas sat empty. Many Labor Day parades marking the unofficial end of summer were called off, and masks were usually required at the few that went on."Please, please do not make the same mistakes we all made on Memorial Day weekend. Wear your masks, watch your distance and wash your hands," said Dr. Raul Pino, state health director in Orange County, Florida, which includes the Orlando area.The U.S. had about 1.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases around Memorial Day, before backyard parties and other gatherings contributed to a summertime surge. It now has more than 6.2 million cases, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Deaths from the virus more than doubled over the summer to nearly 190,000.In New Orleans, which had one of the largest outbreaks outside of New York City this spring, city officials reminded residents that COVID-19 doesnt take a holiday after they received 36 calls about large gatherings and 46 calls about businesses not following safety rules on Friday and Saturday."This is not who we are, and this is not how we — as a community — get back to where we want to be," the city said.In South Carolina, which was a hot spot of contagion over the summer before cases started to decline in early August, 8,000 fans, including Gov. Henry McMaster, were allo...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 7)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Monday, there have been 26,763,217 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 876,616 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A tour operator in a protective face mask sits in an empty tour bus as he speaks with a couple on the market square of Bruges, Belgium, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, September 7):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 192,271 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,412,391 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Monday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,137,521 with 126,650 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 4,113,811 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 70,626.Russia has confirmed 1,022,228 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 17,768.Peru has reported 683,702 COVID-19 cases and 29,687 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 658,456, with the number of deaths at 21,156, according to the JHU virus tracker.South Africa has recorded 638,517 confirmed cases and 14,889 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 67,558 deaths from 634,023 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,418 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 498,989.A total of 478,792 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 9,859.

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  Death of longtime mayor from COVID-19 stuns Alabama town

  It seemed like Billy Joe Driver, 84, was always around in this Alabama city after 36 years as mayor.A person entering a memorial service for Mayor Billy Joe Driver in Clanton, Ala., walks past a photo of the longtime public official on Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. (Photo: AP)Most weekdays youd find Driver working at a first-floor conference table at Clanton City Hall, and many nights hed eat at Greens Small Town Diner with friends. On Fridays it was lunch at the local senior center, and Wednesday night and Sunday meant worship at his church, Temple Assembly of God.All that visibility meant people noticed when Driver disappeared from public in June, and friends bowed in prayer when word got out he was sick with what many had assumed was a big-city disease, COVID-19. Driver died of the illness in July, forcing a reckoning thats still rippling through the community.The new coronavirus is just as dangerous in central Alabama as in New York City, people now know, and older folks who were close to Driver look askance these days at others who flout Alabamas mandatory mask rule in stores or at high school football games. Many are staying home more than they did early in the pandemic.Losing the best-known person in town to a disease that had seemed so distant was a wake-up call for Clanton, friend Sammy Wyatt said."People had gotten lax on trying to protect everyone else. They werent wearing their masks like they ought to," she said. "I think with Mayor Drivers death, it opened peoples eyes and they realized, I could be next with this."Vanessa McKinney said Drivers death "devastated our community.""We were taking it serious before, but after that, it really shook us to the core," said McKinney, who runs Chilton Senior Connections, the senior center that Driver helped create in an old store and visited regularly.Located halfway between Birmingham and Montgomery, Clanton is a city of about...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 4)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday, there have been 26,121,999 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 864,618 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this Aug. 30, 2020, file photo, store closing signs are shown on a Stein Mart store in Salt Lake City. The government issues the jobs report Friday, Sept. 4, for August at a time of continuing layoffs and high unemployment. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, September 4):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 190,097 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,288,050 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 4,041,638 with 124,614 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 3,936,747 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 68,472.Russia has confirmed 1,011,987 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 17,598.Peru has reported 657,129 COVID-19 cases and 29,068 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 641,574, with the number of deaths at 20,618, according to the JHU virus tracker.South Africa has recorded 633,015 confirmed cases and 14,563 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 66,329 deaths from 616,894 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,234 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 488,513.A total of 451,198 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 9,361.

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  France says 22 schools closed over virus cases

  Frances education minister on Friday said 22 schools have had to shut on French territory due to the coronavirus since pupils returned to school this week, emphasising that over half of these were in the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion.Children wait to enter their classrooms in Strasbourg on June 22, 2020, as schools reopen in France. (Photo: AP)Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer told Europe 1 radio that he was however pleased with how the return to school had progressed since children went back nationwide on Tuesday.Ten schools have closed in mainland France and 12 on La Reunion, where there has been a recent surge in coronavirus cases, he said. France has some 60,000 schools nationwide.Up to 130 classes have also been halted within schools and the minister said the authorities were checking around 250 incidents related to Covid-19 in schools every day.These incidents are mainly linked to "factors outside school concerning people who could have been contaminated" over the summer, he said. More than three Covid cases means that the school is temporarily shut, he said.But he added the first week had gone "relatively well" and "despite the fears everyone went back and that makes me very happy", he said.France is currently seeing a surge in coronavirus cases -- with 7,157 new cases reported on Thursday -- although authorities have said everything will be done to avoid any new nationwide lockdown.The surge has worried Frances far-flung overseas territories in the Indian Ocean, Pacific and South America, where health systems are often not as sturdy as those on the mainland.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 3)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Thursday, there have been 25,602,665 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 852,758 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Teachers and students arrive to participate in an outdoor learning demonstration to display methods schools can use to continue on-site education during the coronavirus pandemic, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, at P.S. 15 in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, September 3):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 189,063 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,242,895 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Thursday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 3,997,865 with 123,780 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 3,853,406 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 67,376.Russia has confirmed 1,006,923 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 17,479.Peru has reported 657,129 COVID-19 cases and 29,068 deaths from the virus so far.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 633,321, with the number of deaths at 20,345, according to the JHU virus tracker.South Africa has recorded 630,595 confirmed cases and 14,389 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 65,816 deaths from 610,957 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,194 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 479,554.A total of 439,172 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 9,118.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 2)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday, there have been 25,541,380 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 852,000 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A police officer tells migrants and asylum-seekers to stop playing soccer due to coronavirus restrictions on contact sports in Gran Canaria island, Spain, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, September 2):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 187,901 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,202,765 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 3,950,931 with 122,596 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 3,769,523 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 66,333.Russia has confirmed 1,001,965 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 17,365.Peru has reported 657,129 COVID-19 cases and 29,068 deaths from the virus so far.South Africa has recorded 628,259 confirmed cases and 14,263 deaths.Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 624,026, with the number of deaths at 20,050, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 65,241 deaths from 606,036 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,152 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 470,973.A total of 428,239 people in Argentina have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 8,919.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated September 1)

  Globally, as of 7:30 pm BJT on Tuesday, there have been 25,298,875 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 847,602 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.An auto rickshaw drives past a mural depicting frontline workers fighting against COVID-19 in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020.(Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7:30 pm BJT, September 1):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 186,898 lives in theUS, the most of any country, with a total of 6,161,105 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7:30 pm BJT on Tuesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 inBrazilhave increased to 3,908,272 with 121,381 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Indiahas confirmed a total of 3,691,166 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 65,288.Russiahas confirmed 997,072 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 17,250.Peruhas reported 647,166 COVID-19 cases and 28,788 deaths from the virus so far.South Africahas recorded 627,041 confirmed cases and 14,149 deaths.Colombias confirmed caseshave increased to 614,669, with the number of deaths at 19,640, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed byMexicowith 64,414 deaths from 599,560 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,094 lives inSpain, bringing the total number of infections to 462,858.A total of 417,735 people inArgentinahave tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 8,660.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated Aug 31)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Monday, there have been 25,085,685 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 843,927 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.People wearing face masks stroll at Trocadero plaza near the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, August 31):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 186,379 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,122,328 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Monday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 3,862,311 with 120,828 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 3,621,245 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 64,469.Russia has confirmed 992,402 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 17,128.Peru has reported 639,435 COVID-19 cases and 28,607 deaths from the virus so far.South Africa has recorded 625,056 confirmed cases and 14,028 deaths.Colombias confirmed caseshave increased to 607,904, with the number of deaths at 19,363, according to the JHU virus tracker.It is followed by Mexico with 64,158 deaths from 595,841 infections.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,011 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 439,286.A total of 409,974 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 11,244.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated August 30)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Sunday, there have been 24,587,513 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 833,556 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Slovenias Primoz Roglic, center left, wears a face mask prior to the start of the first stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 156 kilometers (97 miles) with start and finish in Nice, southern France, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, August 30):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 186,092 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,087,716 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Sunday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 3,846,153 with 120,262 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 3,463,972 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 62,550.Russia has confirmed 982,573 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 16,977.Peru has reported 629,961 COVID-19 cases and 28,471 deaths from the virus so far.South Africa has recorded 622,551 confirmed cases and 13,981 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 63,819 deaths from 591,712 infections.The Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 590,492, with the number of deaths at 18,766, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,011 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 439,286.A total of 408,009 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 11,181.

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  Katrina to COVID: New Orleans' Black community pounded again

  Levee breaches from Hurricane Katrina dumped six feet of water into the New Orleans home of Mary Duplessis and her husband in 2005. The house was uninhabitable. Rebuilding meant piles of paperwork in a mountain of bureaucracy. She didnt return to the city for a year.Mary and Barrett Duplessis pose for a portrait in their home in New Orleans, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. (Photo: AP)But as the 15th anniversary of the storm approaches, and as another monster storm narrowly missed the city, its not memories of Katrina that weigh on Duplessis mind. Its the coronavirus.The Black community of New Orleans, already economically lagging behind white residents before Katrina, was pummeled by the Category 3 storm that made landfall Aug. 29, 2005 and by the lengthy rebuilding process. Images of residents, mostly Black, on top of roofs, cars and at the Superdome stadium became the most iconic of a storm that revealed to the world a city starkly divided into haves and have-nots.Today, the city is still majority African American but has nearly 100,000 fewer Black residents than it did before Katrina. Many couldnt imagine the community taking a bigger hit than it did from Katrina, but in some ways, thats happening with the coronavirus pandemic. Data show New Orleans Black residents dying at greater rates — a trend mirrored nationally — and finding themselves less able to bounce back economically .After Katrina, Duplessis husband, Barrett, was back at work as a Sheraton Hotel maintenance mechanic within weeks. Now, hes been out of work for nearly six months. They visit food banks and use disability checks and retirement saving to get by.She fell ill with the virus in March, she said, was hospitalized for seven days. The list of people she knows whove died of COVID-19 is growing — a sister-in-law, two close friends."Every night I go to sleep, I say, Is it going to ever be the same?" Duples...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated August 29)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Saturday, there have been 24,299,923 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 827,730 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.People have a rest in Central Park of New York, the United States, Aug. 26, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, August 29):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 184,722 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 6,040,136 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Saturday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 3,804,803 with 119,504 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 3,387,500 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 61,529.Russia has confirmed 977,730 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 16,866.Peru has reported 621,997 COVID-19 cases and 28,277 deaths from the virus so far.South Africa has recorded 620,132 confirmed cases and 13,743 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 63,146 deaths from 585,738 infections.The Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 581,995, with the number of deaths at 18,467, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 29,011 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 439,286.A total of 405,972 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 11,132.

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  India's COVID-19 tally surpasses 3 million

  NEW DELHI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indias COVID-19 tally surpassed 3 million on Sunday, reaching 3,044,940, according to the latest data released by the federal health ministry.People shop at a bakery ahead of the Eid Al-Adha festival in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, July 28, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)The death toll due to the pandemic in the country also surged to 56,706.As many as 69,239 new cases and 912 deaths were reported during the past 24 hours.According to the data, there are still 707,668 active cases across India, and 2,280,566 people have been successfully cured and discharged from hospitals.Over the past few weeks, the Indian government has been focusing on ramping up the testing of COVID-19 samples.Till Friday, a total of 34,491,073 samples had been tested, out of which 1,023,836 were tested on Friday alone, according to the latest data released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).This is the first time when more than one million samples were tested in a single day.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated August 23)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Sunday, there have been 22,812,491 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 795,132 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this July 27, 2020, file photo, fans wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus take a selfie before the KBO league game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, August 23):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 179,222 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 5,792,649 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Sunday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 3,582,362 with 114,250 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 2,975,701 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 55,794.Russia has confirmed 949,531 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 16,268.South Africa has recorded 607,045 confirmed cases and 12,987 deaths.Peru has reported 576,067 COVID-19 cases and 27,245 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 60,254 deaths from 556,216 infections.The Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 522,138, with the number of deaths at 16,568, according to the JHU virus tracker.A total of 395,708 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 10,792.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 28,838 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 386,054.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated August 22)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Saturday, there have been 22,536,278 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 789,197 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Mario Andretti, left, talks with Fernando Alonso, of Spain, before the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, August 22):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 178,221 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 5,744,032 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Saturday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 3,532,330 with 113,358 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 2,905,825 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 54,849.Russia has confirmed 944,671 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 16,148.South Africa has recorded 603,338 confirmed cases and 12,843 deaths.Peru has reported 567,059 COVID-19 cases and 27,034 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 59,610 deaths from 549,734 infections.The Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 513,719, with the number of deaths at 16,183, according to the JHU virus tracker.A total of 393,769 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 10,723.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 28,838 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 386,054.

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  Rhode Island reopened day cares without major virus outbreaks: study

  Rhode Island, the smallest US state, was able to reopen day care programs in the summer without high rates of coronavirus spread, a study said Friday.A closed day care center is seen on July 13, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo: AFP)Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which wrote the study, held it up as an example that could be replicated across the country."I think this is an inspiring article to tell individuals that there is a path where one can use or partner with their public health authorities and safely get these childcare programs reopened," he said in a call to reporters.A total of 666 out of 891 childcare programs, both center- and home-based, reopened in Rhode Island on June 1 following a significant decline in cases and hospitalizations in the state.Officials imposed measures like universal masking for adults, daily symptom screening for everyone, routine disinfection, reduced class sizes (first up to 12, and later 20), and maintaining stable bubbles of staff and children.The programs also had to conform to strict quarantining and contact tracing measures if an outbreak occurred.An important caveat is that while the report said these programs had a capacity for 18,945 children, it is not known how many children actually attended over the period studied.The CDC told AFP in a statement that the number of children who attended had not been tracked, making the overall significance of the findings harder to gauge.Between June 1 and July 31, 52 cases -- either confirmed or probable -- were reported from a total of 29 programs.Among them, 20 programs had one case, and five programs had between two to five cases -- all thought to have come from outside the programs.In total, four of the 666 programs saw "secondary" transmission -- that is to say an infection or infections that occurred within the center itself.These happened either when adults moved between classes, contrary ...

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  S.Africa lifts booze and tobacco sales ban as restrictions ease

  South Africa will lift its coronavirus-linked ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco products next week, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Saturday, announcing the removal of "nearly all restrictions" on economic activities.The virus-related ban on the purchase of booze and cigarettes has been controversial, and no other country has introduced both measures together.It came into effect when South Africa went into a strict nationwide lockdown on March 27 to stem the spread of coronavirus.Alcohol sales were prohibited to ease pressure on hospitals, allowing doctors in emergency wards to focus on COVID-19 rather than road accidents and other booze-related injuries.Tobacco products were restricted because of the health impacts of smoking as well as the risk of contamination between people sharing cigarettes.While tobacco sales have been forbidden since the start of lockdown, alcohol purchases were tentatively re-authorised in June and banned again when cases spiked the following month. "Restrictions on the sale of tobacco will be lifted, the suspension of the sale of alcohol will be lifted subject to certain restrictions," Ramaphosa said as he addressed the nation, adding that significant progress had been made against the disease.The new measures will come into effect on Monday.- Signs of hope -South Africa still has the fifth-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, with 583,653 infections registered to date.At least 11,677 are known to have died from the disease.But Ramaphosa noted that the number of new daily confirmed cases had dropped from a peak of over 12,000 to an average of 5,000 over the past week.The number of active cases has declined to around 105,000 and the recovery rate risen to 80 percent.Hospitalised COVID-19 patients have decreased from 10,000 to 4,000 since the start of August."As we look back at the past five months, all indications are that South Africa has reached the peak an...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated August 16)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Sunday, there have been 21,026,758 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 755,786 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Thrall High School football players, wearing face masks at all times and using social distancing when possible, go through a practice, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Thrall, Texas. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, August 16):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 171,866 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 5,469,593 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Sunday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 3,317,096 with 107,232 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 2,526,192 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 49,036.Russia has confirmed 915,808 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 15,585.South Africa has recorded 583,653 confirmed cases and 11,677 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 56,543 deaths from 517,714 infections.Peru has reported 516,296 COVID-19 cases and 25,856 deaths from the virus so far.The Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 445,111, with the number of deaths at 14,492, according to the JHU virus tracker.A total of 383,902 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 10,395.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 28,617 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 342,813.

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  Homes with grandparents weigh virus risk as school starts

  Zita Robinson, whos 77 and diabetic, has been careful around her granddaughter since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.Zita Robinson, left, whos 77 and diabetic, blows a kiss to her granddaughter Traris "Trary" Robinson-Newman, 8, who blows a kiss back to her, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in Phoenix. Robinson has been careful around her granddaughter amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo: AP)A door connects Robinsons apartment in Phoenix to the main house where 8-year-old Traris "Trary" Robinson-Newman and her mother live, but it mostly stays shut. Their only physical contact is if Trary walks in with her back toward Grandma. Then Robinson will kiss her own hand and lightly touch Trarys back — "like Im sending her a kiss with my hand.""Its very hard," Robinson said. "We live together, but we live apart."Not hugging Grandma is hard for Trary, too: "Its like I cant see her anymore."The separation Trary and her grandmother experience in their home is becoming a bigger issue as children go back to school. Many public schools nationwide are starting remotely in the fall, but if classes resume in person later this year, the chasm could grow between generations who live together.Millions of seniors 65 and up, one of the populations most vulnerable to the virus, live with a school-age child. For those households, the new school year means reconsidering interactions from family dinner to bedtime hugs.While studies so far suggest children are less likely to become infected with COVID-19 or only experience mild symptoms, data isnt conclusive on whether infected kids easily spread the disease. In a Georgia school district that has reopened classrooms, possible exposure has forced more than 1,200 students and staff into quarantine and two high schools to close.If a grandchild does bring the virus home, grandparents of color are at higher risk than their whi...

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  Hard-hit countries step up virus measures as cases mount

  Countries among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic unveiled further measures on Friday to battle rising infections, as the number of cases worldwide passed 21 million.A nurse in Brazil, which has the second highest number of coronavirus infections after the United States.(Photo: AFP)The US Department of Homeland Security said it was extending a ban on non-essential travel through border crossings with Canada and Mexico throughout most of September "to slow the spread" of the disease.Meanwhile Britain added France to its list of countries hit with a mandatory two-week quarantine for returning holidaymakers from Saturday, as Paris confronts a resurgent second wave of infections.Confirmed cases in France reached levels not seen since May on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, at over 2,500 new cases per day.The rising threat prompted Paris police to announce Friday that compulsory mask-wearing outside would be extended to more areas of the French capital, including the famed Louvre museum and Champs-Elysee avenue."If the epidemiological situation deteriorates again, mask-wearing could become compulsory throughout the capital," Paris police warned, also banning gatherings and protests of more than 10 people which do not comply with distancing measures.Neighbouring Spain said it would close all nightclubs and ban smoking in the street where people are unable to stay at a safe distance, after the country reported almost 3,000 cases in 24 hours on Thursday."Personally I think its stupid, its over the top," Madrid-based translator Julien Garcia told AFP about the smoking ban.In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute for disease control added all of Spain except the Canary Islands to its list of regions where incoming travellers must show a negative test for COVID-19 or quarantine for 14 days.Austria urged its citizens to return from popular Mediterranean destination Croatia before similar rules come into effect on Monday,...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated August 15)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Saturday, there have been 20,730,456 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 751,154 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.An airport employee directs people for check-in for a British Airways flight to Heathrow airport, Friday Aug.14, 2020 at Nice airport, southern France. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, August 15):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 170,876 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 5,424,367 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Saturday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 3,226,443 with 105,490 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 2,461,190 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 48,040.Russia has confirmed 910,778 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 15,467.South Africa has recorded 579,140 confirmed cases and 11,556 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 55,908 deaths from 511,369 infections.Peru has reported 507,996 COVID-19 cases and 25,648 deaths from the virus so far.The Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 433,805, with the number of deaths at 14,145, according to the JHU virus tracker.A total of 382,111 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 10,340.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 28,617 lives in Spain, bringing the total number of infections to 342,813.

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  Israel's lab workers threaten to halt coronavirus tests

  JERUSALEM, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israels laboratory workers, including COVID-19 testing lab workers, said on Friday that they would launch a general strike in the coming days.Ultra-Orthodox Jews pray at a playground next to their homes as they wear protective face masks help curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Bnei Brak, Israel, Thursday, July 2, 2020. (File photo: AP)Esther Admon, chairwoman of the Israel Association of Biochemists, Microbiologists and Laboratory Workers, told Xinhua that for a long period, lab workers have to deal with low wages and high workloads.In Israel, 40 coronavirus labs are operated by public hospitals and state-mandated health service organizations, alongside a private laboratory operated by the Israeli genetic-testing company MyHeritage.According to Admon, instead of supporting the public lab workers, the Ministry of Health plans to open two more private labs, with higher salaries for their workers."The population has grown, but a lot of lab workers have reached retirement age and left, with young academic graduates not joining because of the unattractive salaries. This increases the workloads," she explained.In recent days, the daily number of COVID-19 tests in Israel has been about 25,000 on average.On Sunday, Israels Health Minister Yuli Edelstein announced that the number of daily tests would be increased to 60,000, by enhancing the existing labs capacity and setting up new private labs.However, this plan may be disrupted if the workers, who are meanwhile holding demonstrations, start the strike they are planning.

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  Trump pushes for more COVID-19 relief after Congress leaves Washington with no deal in sight

  WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday pushed for more COVID-19 relief to households and small businesses after congressional lawmakers left Washington D.C. with no deal in sight.President Donald Trump speaks during a news briefing at the White House, Thursday, July 2, 2020, in Washington, as White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow, left, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, look on. (File photo: AP)"I have directed the Secretary of the Treasury to get ready and send direct payments of $3400 for a family of four to all Americans, Democrats are holding this up," Trump said at a press conference, adding he is also ready to send more money to help small businesses hurt by the pandemic, and state and local governments.Asked by reporters whether he would take unilateral action on these issues or wait for the legislative package, Trump responded: "Im waiting for the Democrats to approve it, okay?"Both chambers of Congress have left for their August recesses and are not expected to return until September unless they strike a COVID-19 relief deal.Negotiations between Democratic leaders and White House officials collapsed last week, with both sides blaming each other for making little progress on the much-needed relief package.In an attempt to circumvent Congress, Trump last Saturday signed a series of executive orders to extend certain COVID-19 economic relief, but they are unlikely to provide a meaningful boost to the overall economy."A closer look at these orders suggests they will have at best marginal economic benefits even if fully implemented, which is questionable given the legality of the orders and the likely court challenges," Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moodys Analytics, wrote in an analysis earlier this week.Zandi estimated that these orders could provide just over 400 billion U.S. dollars in total relief, but the U.S. economy needs a fiscal aid package costing at least 1.5 trill...

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  CDC forecast projects 200,000 COVID-19 deaths in US by Sept. 5

  WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A new ensemble forecast published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has projected up to 200,000 total COVID-19 deaths in the United States by Sept. 5.In this May 27, 2020, file photo, a medical worker wearing personal protective equipment cleans gurneys in the emergency department intake area in New York. (Photo: AP)The projection published Thursday forecast that 4,200 to 10,600 new COVID-19 deaths will be reported during the week ending Sept. 5 and that 180,000 to 200,000 total COVID-19 deaths will be reported by that date."State- and territory-level ensemble forecasts predict that the number of reported new deaths per week may increase over the next four weeks in Colorado and may decrease in Arizona, the Northern Mariana Islands, Vermont, and Wyoming," the CDC said on its forecasting website.If the United States allowed the coronavirus to spread unchecked in an attempt to try to achieve so-called herd immunity, the "death toll would be enormous," Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned on Thursday."If everyone contracted it, even with the relatively high percentage of people without symptoms ... a lot of people are going to die," Fauci said during a live Instagram session."Testing continues to fall, especially in the South, one of the areas where the country needs it the most. Cases, too, are falling, which remains hard to interpret, given the testing decline -- but fewer people are now in the hospital with COVID-19 than last week," said a new report of The COVID Tracking Project.This is the second week in a row that hospitalizations seem to have dropped, which suggests that infections may be declining independently of testing reductions, according to the report.The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 5.29 million as of Friday afternoon with more than 168,100 deaths, according to a tally by Jo...

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  Xinjiang reports 7 new confirmed COVID-19 cases

  URUMQI, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reported seven new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, all in the regional capital Urumqi, the regional health commission said Saturday in its daily report.Medical workers collect swab samples for residents at Tianshan District in Urumqi, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 20, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)The region also registered two new asymptomatic cases in Urumqi Friday.By Friday, Xinjiang had 438 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 126 asymptomatic cases, and 11,466 people were still under medical observation.From July 15 to Friday, a total of 384 people were discharged from the hospital after recovery, and 105 asymptomatic cases were dismissed from medical observation in Xinjiang.

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  US developing coronavirus strain for human 'challenge' trials

  US scientists are developing a strain of the coronavirus that could be used to deliberately infect volunteers in so-called "challenge studies," a government agency said Friday.US government scientists are considering deliberately infecting volunteers with a strain of the new coronavirus in order to test vaccines more quicklyHandout National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (Photo: AFP)The work is preliminary and the government is continuing to prioritize randomized clinical trials of vaccine candidates, the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said.Several of these have entered their final stages, including the vaccines developed by Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.But NIAID has nonetheless "begun efforts to manufacture a strain that could be used to develop a human challenge model, if needed," it said in a statement.In normal clinical trials, volunteers receive either a medicine or a placebo and their health is then followed over the course of months of years.Scientists look for how well the vaccine or treatment worked when the person was naturally exposed to the pathogen.A quicker way to test whether a drug works is by deliberately infecting volunteers, as has been done in the past for influenza, malaria, typhoid, dengue fever, and cholera.In the US, advocacy groups like 1DaySooner support challenge studies for COVID-19, but the subject is controversial because of how serious the disease can be and because its effects arent fully understood.NIAID said it would probably reach a decision toward the end of 2020, when the late-stage clinical trials that are underway start reporting their results.This would help it determine whether challenge studies are needed, safe and ethical, it added.David Diemert, the director of George Washington Universitys vaccine trial research unit who is overseeing a trial of Modernas vaccine in the US capital, told AFP he did not think challenge trials were ap...

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  UK govt faces backlash over virus-hit exam grades system

  The British government faced criticism on Thursday after education officials downgraded more than a third of pupils final grades in a system devised after the coronavirus pandemic led to cancelled exams.Students in Britain with their crucial exam results but many fell short after grades were downgraded by a system introduced after the coronavirus pandemic scuppered normal examinations. (Photo: AFP)Although the newly released results for 18-year-olds showed record-high grades and more students accepted to university courses, exam boards downgraded nearly 40 percent of pupils grades in England.Pupils across Britain were unable to sit summer exams as planned due to the COVID-19 lockdown and instead have received a moderated grade based on an assessment by their school or teacher.But the system, brought in to ensure the marks were not significantly higher than in previous years, could now see thousands fail to get predicted grades and miss out on university offers."While there has been an overall increase in top grades, we are very concerned that this disguises a great deal of volatility among the results at school and student level," Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said."We have received heartbreaking feedback from school leaders about grades being pulled down in a way that they feel to be utterly unfair and unfathomable."We are now calling on the government and the exam regulator Ofqual to review the situation as a matter of urgency -- and we would warn them against simply digging in their heels and insisting all is well."In Scotland, which published its results last week, the devolved government on Tuesday said it would scrap the moderation process after complaints that it had hit poorest pupils marks hardest.- Urgently rethink -Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who is responsible for schooling in England only, has ruled out further changes to the grading sy...

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  Study hints, can't prove, survivor plasma fights COVID-19

  Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other patients recover, but its not proof and some experts worry if, amid clamor for the treatment, theyll ever get a clear answer.In this Friday, June 12, 2020 file photo, a doctor holds a bag of blood plasma donated by a COVID-19 survivor at at blood bank in La Paz, Bolivia. (Photo: AP)More than 64,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. Its a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections.Theres no solid evidence yet that it fights the coronavirus and, if so, how best to use it. But preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma offers what Mayo lead researcher Dr. Michael Joyner on Friday called "signals of efficacy."There were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis, and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies, Joyner and colleagues reported.The problem: This wasnt a formal study. The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of a Food and Drug Administration program designed to speed access to the experimental therapy. That so-called "expanded access" program tracks what happens to the recipients, but it cannot prove the plasma — and not other care they received — was the real reason for improvement.Rigorous studies underway around the country are designed to get that proof, by comparing similar patients randomly assigned to get plasma or a dummy infusion in addition to regular care. But those studies have been difficult to finish as the virus waxes and wanes in different cities. Also, some patients have requested plasma rather than agreeing to a study that might give them a placebo instead."For 102 years weve be...

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  Virus flareups in Europe lead to club closings, mask orders

  New flareups of COVID-19 are disrupting the peak summer vacation season across much of Europe, where authorities in some countries are reimposing restrictions on travelers, closing nightclubs again, banning fireworks displays and expanding mask orders even in chic resort areas.People queue in line to check-in for a British Airways flight to Heathrow airport, Friday Aug.14, 2020 at Nice airport, southern France. (Photo: AP)"Unfortunately, this virus doesnt play ball," British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News.The surges have spread alarm across Europe, which suffered mightily during the spring but appeared in recent months to have largely tamed the coronavirus in ways that the U.S., with its vaunted scientific prowess and the extra time to prepare, cannot seem to manage. The continents hardest-hit countries, Britain, Italy, France and Spain, have recorded about 140,000 deaths in all.In addition to clubs and alcohol-fueled street parties, large family gatherings – usually abounding with hugs and kisses -- have been cited as a source of new outbreaks in several European countries.A new public awareness campaign by Spains Canary Islands depicts a family gathering for a grandfathers birthday, with people taking off masks and embracing. The grandfather ends up in a hospital bed with COVID-19.In France, thousands of vacationing Britons scrambled to return home Friday to avoid having to self-quarantine for 14 days following Britains decision to reimpose restrictions on France because of a resurgence of infections there. Ferries added extra trips back to England, and trains were running out of space.Some of the toughest new measures were announced in Spain, which has recorded almost 50,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days.Health Minister Salvador Illa, after an emergency meeting with regional leaders, said nightclubs nationwide were ordered to close. Visits to nursing homes will be limited to one person ...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated August 9)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Sunday, there have been 19,187,943 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 716,075 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this Aug. 6, 2020, file photo, Guntown Middle School eighth graders walk the halls to their next class as others wait in their assigned spots against the wall before moving into their next class during the first day back to school for the Lee County District in Guntown, Miss. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, August 9):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 164,488 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 5,105,849 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Sunday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 2,962,442 with 99,572 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 2,088,611 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 42,518.Russia has confirmed 880,563 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 14,827.South Africa has recorded 553,188 confirmed cases and 10,210 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 52,006 deaths from 475,902 infections.Peru has reported 463,875 COVID-19 cases and 20,649 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 371,023 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 10,011.The Colombias confirmed cases have increased to 367,196, with the number of deaths at 12,250, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 18,264 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 324,692.

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  Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine again tests negative for coronavirus

  The fourth COVID-19 test result for Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine came back negative Saturday after he received conflicting positive and negative results two days before, ahead of a scheduled meeting with President Trump.Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, left, and his wife Fran, walk into their residence after he tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Bexley, Ohio. (Photo: AP)The governor and first lady, Fran DeWine, were tested at Ohio State University "out of an abundance of caution" following a rollercoaster day Thursday that began with DeWine receiving a positive test result followed by two negatives. The governor announced the negative results on Twitter on Saturday afternoon, thanking "everyone who sent along good wishes."The Republican governor had to take a COVID-19 test Thursday morning in Cleveland as part of White House protocol for anyone scheduled to come in contact with the president. DeWine was administered a rapid point-of-care antigen test at a mobile testing site facilitated by the Republican National Committee, according to DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney.DeWine then headed to meet Trump at the airport to greet him."I was fully expecting to see the president that morning," DeWine said in a press conference Friday. "But as we were driving to the airport to meet him, I was called and told about my positive result."DeWine was immediately driven back to Columbus, where the governor, his wife and four members of his staff took another test, a polymerase chain reaction test, at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.That test is the most commonly used test in the country and is considered the gold standard by medical professionals. More than 1.3 million Ohioans have been tested with it.The result were checked twice, both negative.The conflicting results underscore the problems with both kinds of tests and are bound to spur more questions about them. Many people in ...

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  Schools face big virus test as students return to classroom

  Reopening schools is easy. Keeping them open will be the hard part.In this Aug. 5, 2020, file photo, wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID19, elementary school students use hand sanitizer before entering school for classes in Godley, Texas. (Photo: AP)As educators prepare to welcome students back to class for the first time in months, schools ability to quickly identify and contain coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand will be put to the test in thousands of districts around the country.Newly reopened schools in Mississippi, Indiana and Georgia have already reported infections just days into the academic year, triggering virus protocols that include swiftly isolating infected students, tracing their contacts and quarantining people they exposed."It doesnt matter if you open schools in July, like we did, or if you open in August, September or October. All schools are going to have to deal with the issue of positive COVID-19 test results," said Lee Childress, superintendent of Corinth School District in Mississippi, where more than 100 students are quarantined at home after being exposed to a handful of infected classmates.Schools are trying to mitigate the risk of transmission by spreading desks apart, serving meals in the classroom and keeping groups of students together throughout the day. Many schools — but not all — will require students and staff to wear masks, which health experts say is critical to cutting down on spread.Administrators say it might be difficult to control the mixing and mingling that happens at every school. Asymptomatic carriers could silently spread the virus to many others. A student might not remember every contact, or be reluctant to tell the truth because that would mean forcing friends into quarantine.Contact tracing might prove difficult "when you have that many students and they have multiple contacts inside of a building," said Dallas schools chief Michael Hinojosa.Schools are reopenin...

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  US reports show racial disparities in kids with COVID-19

  Racial disparities in the U.S. coronavirus epidemic extend to children, according to two sobering government reports released Friday.In this July 23, 2020 file photo, health care workers prepare a COVID-19 test sample before a person self-administered a test at the COVID-19 drive-thru testing center at Miami-Dade County Auditorium in Miami. (Photo: AP)One of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports looked at children with COVID-19 who needed hospitalization. Hispanic children were hospitalized at a rate eight times higher than white kids, and Black children were hospitalized at a rate five times higher, it found.The second report examined cases of a rare virus-associated syndrome in kids. It found that nearly three-quarters of the children with the syndrome were either Hispanic or Black, well above their representation in the general population.The coronavirus has exposed racial fractures in the U.S. health care system, as Black, Hispanic and Native Americans have been hospitalized and killed by COVID-19 at far higher rates than other groups.Meanwhile, the impact of the virus on children has become a political issue. President Donald Trump and some other administration officials have been pushing schools to re-open, a step that would allow more parents to return to work and the economy to pick up.On Wednesday, Facebook deleted a post by Trump for violating its policy against spreading misinformation about the coronavirus. The post featured a link to a Fox News video in which Trump says children are "virtually immune" to the virus.The vast majority of coronavirus cases and deaths have been in adults, and kids are considered less likely to have serious symptoms when theyre infected. Of the nearly 5 million cases reported in the U.S. as of Wednesday, about 265,000 were in children 17 and under — about 5%. Of the more than 156,000 deaths reported at that time, 77 were children — about 0.05%.But Fridays CDC reports are a &quo...

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  Last-ditch virus aid talks collapse; no help for jobless now

  A last-ditch effort by Democrats to revive Capitol Hill talks on vital COVID-19 rescue money collapsed in disappointment Friday, making it increasingly likely that Washington gridlock will mean more hardship for millions of people who are losing enhanced jobless benefits and further damage for an economy pummeled by the still-raging coronavirus.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, center, and President Donald Trumps Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, second from right, leave following a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y. as they continue to negotiate a coronavirus relief package on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (Photo: AP)"It was a disappointing meeting," declared top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, saying the White House had rejected an offer by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to curb Democratic demands by about $1 trillion. He urged the White House to "negotiate with Democrats and meet us in the middle. Dont say its your way or no way."Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, "Unfortunately we did not make any progress today." Republicans said Pelosi was relying on budget maneuvers to curb costs and contended she has overplayed her hand.Often an impasse in Washington is of little consequence for the public — not so this time. It means longer and perhaps permanent expiration of a $600 per-week bonus pandemic jobless benefit thats kept millions of people from falling into poverty. It denies more than $100 billion to help schools reopen this fall. It blocks additional funding for virus testing as cases are surging this summer. And it denies billions of dollars to state and local governments considering furloughs as their revenue craters.Ahead is uncertainty. Both the House and Senate have left Washington, with members sent home on instructions to be ready to return for a vote on an agreement. With no deal in sight, their absence raises the...

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  Postal Service loses $2.2B in 3 months as virus woes persist

  The U.S. Postal Service says it lost $2.2 billion in the three months that ended in June as the beleaguered agency — hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic — piles up financial losses that officials warn could top $20 billion over two years.In this March 1, 2017, file photo, then Elon Trustee Louis DeJoy is honored with Elons Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership in Elon. N.C. U.S. (Photo: AP)But the new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, disputed reports that his agency is slowing down election mail or any other mail and said it has "ample capacity to deliver all election mail securely and on time" for the November presidential contest, when a significant increase in mail-in ballots is expected.Still, DeJoy offered a gloomy picture of the 630,000-employee agency Friday in his first public remarks since taking the top job in June."Our financial position is dire, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume, a broken business model and a management strategy that has not adequately addressed these issues, DeJoy told the postal board of governors at a meeting Friday."Without dramatic change, there is no end in sight, DeJoy said.While package deliveries to homebound Americans were up more than 50%, that was offset by continued declines in first-class and business mail, even as costs increased significantly to pay for personal protective equipment and replace workers who got sick or chose to stay home in fear of the virus, DeJoy said.Without an intervention from Congress, the agency faces an impending cash flow crisis, he said. The Postal Service is seeking an infusion of at least $10 billion to cover operating losses as well as regulatory changes that would undo a congressional requirement that the agency pre-fund billions of dollars in retiree health benefits.The agency is doing its part, said DeJoy, a Republican fundraiser and former supply chain executive who took command of the agency June 15. DeJoy, 63, of North Ca...

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  Lebanon reports 355 new COVID-19 cases, 5,417 in total

  A helicopter sprays water to extinguish a fire after the explosions at the Port of Beirut in Lebanon, Aug. The explosions in Lebanese capital Beirut have caused at least 100 deaths and left over 4,000 injured, with many more missing, Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced on Wednesday. (Xin

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 31)

  Globally, as of 6 pm BJT on Friday, there have been 17,064,064 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 668,073 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this July 23, 2020, file photo, health care workers prepare a COVID-19 test sample before a person self-administered a test at the COVID-19 drive-thru testing center at Miami-Dade County Auditorium in Miami as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6 pm BJT, July 31):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 154,478 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 4,595,204 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6 pm BJT on Friday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 2,610,102 with 91,263 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 1,638,321 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 35,743.Russia has confirmed 838,461 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 13,939.South Africa has recorded 482,169 confirmed cases and 7,812 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 46,000 deaths from 416,179 infections.Peru has reported 400,683 COVID-19 cases and 18,816 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 353,536 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 9,377.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 303,913, with the number of deaths at 46,084, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 16,569 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 301,530.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 30)

  Globally, as of 6 pm BJT on Thursday, there have been 16,523,815 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 655,112 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Health personnel in a mobile swab collection vehicle collect samples from Nepalese people who have travelled outside the Kathmandu valley for COVID-19 test in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 30, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6 pm BJT, July 30):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 153,253 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 4,527,615 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6 pm BJT on Thursday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 2,552,265 with 90,134 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 1,581,963 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 34,955.Russia has confirmed 832,993 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 34,955.South Africa has recorded 471,123 confirmed cases and 7,257 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 45,361 deaths from 408,449 infections.Peru has reported 400,683 COVID-19 cases and 18,816 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 351,575 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 9,240.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 303,063, with the number of deaths at 46,046, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 16,343 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 298,909.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 29)

  Globally, as of 6 pm BJT on Wednesday, there have been 16,523,815 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 655,112 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A medical specialist, wearing a protective suit, checks a young womans, lung X-ray inside a restaurant that was converted into a clinic in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Wednesday, July 22, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6 pm BJT, July 29):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 151,685 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 4,446,219 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6 pm BJT on Wednesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 2,483,191 with 88,539 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 1,531,669 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 34,193.Russia has confirmed 827,455 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 13,642.South Africa has recorded 459,761 confirmed cases and 7,257 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 44,876 deaths from 402,697 infections.Peru has reported 395,005 COVID-19 cases and 18,612 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 349,800 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 9,240.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 302,295, with the number of deaths at 45,963, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 16,147 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 296,273.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 28)

  Globally, as of 6 pm BJT on Tuesday, there have been 16,301,736 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 650,069 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Walther Sinche directs pedestrians toward food donations during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in the Corona neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6 pm BJT, July 28):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 150,478 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 4,392,216 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6 pm BJT on Tuesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 2,442,375 with 87,618 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 1,480,073 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 33,408.Russia has confirmed 822,060 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 13,483.South Africa has recorded 452,529 confirmed cases and 7,067 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 44,022 deaths from 395,489 infections.Peru has reported 389,717 COVID-19 cases and 18,418 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 347,923 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 9,187.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 301,708, with the number of deaths at 45,844, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 15,912 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 293,606.

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  Can you get the coronavirus twice?

  Can you get the coronavirus twice?(Photo: AP)Scientists dont know for sure yet, but they believe its unlikely.Health experts think people who had COVID-19 will have some immunity against a repeat infection. But they dont know how much protection or how long it would last.There have been reports of people testing positive for the virus weeks after they were believed to have recovered, leading some to think they may have been reinfected. More likely, experts say people were suffering from the same illness or the tests detected remnants of the original infection. Theres also the chance tests could have been false positives.Scientists say there has been no documented instance of a patient spreading the virus to others after retesting positive.With similar viruses, studies have shown that people could fall sick again three months to a year after their first infections. Its still too early to know whether thats also possible with the coronavirus."Its very much emerging science," said Dr. Philip Landrigan, director of the global public health program at Boston College.A small U.S. study published last week also found the antibodies that fight the coronavirus may only last a few months in people with mild illness, suggesting people could become susceptible again. But antibodies arent the only defense against a virus, and the other parts of the immune system could also help provide protection.Settling the question of whether reinfection is possible is important. If it can occur, that could undermine the idea of "immunity passports" for returning back to workplaces. And it would not bode well for hopes of getting a long-lasting vaccine.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 27)

  Globally, as of 6 pm BJT on Monday, there have been 15,785,641 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 640,016 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A woman wearing a face mask walks at the beach in Zahara de los Atunes, Cadiz province, south of Spain, on Saturday, July 25, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6 pm BJT, July 27):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 149,360 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 4,328,704 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6 pm BJT on Monday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 2,419,091 with 87,004 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 1,435,616 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 32,771.Russia has confirmed 811,073 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 13,249.South Africa has recorded 445,433 confirmed cases and 6,769 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 43,680 deaths from 390,516 infections.Peru has reported 375,961 COVID-19 cases and 17,843 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 345,790 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 9,112.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 301,020, with the number of deaths at 45,837, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 15,700 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 291,172.

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  Over 10,000 health workers in Africa have COVID-19

  More than 10,000 health workers have contracted the coronavirus in the 40 African countries that have reported cases, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa.The WHO said the information on health worker infections in Africa is still lim

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  More than 10,000 health workers in Africa infected with COVID-19: WHO

  A medical worker wearing a protective suit treats COVID-19 patients at an isolation ward in a hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo: Xinhua)More than 10,000 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in 40 countries which have reported such cases, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday.According to the W.H.O., health workers accounted for more than 5 percent of cases in 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa alone, and in four of those countries, health workers accounted for more than 10 percent of all infections.W.H.O. Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said that a surge in COVID-19 cases in Africa was placing an increasing strain on health services across the continent and subsequently impacting those on the frontline of fighting the pandemic."This has very real consequences for the individuals who work in them, and there is no more sobering example of this than the rising number of health worker infections," Moeti said.The W.H.O. attributes this phenomenon to various factors including inadequate access to personal protective equipment, exposure to patients who do not show signs of the disease and repurposing of health workers for COVID-19 response without adequate briefing.Moeti called for health workers to be given the necessary equipment, skills and information to protect themselves noting that "one infection among health workers is one too many.""Doctors, nurses and other health professionals are our mothers, brothers and sisters. They are helping to save lives endangered by COVID-19."The W.H.O. said that measures were being taken to address the situation such as plans to train an additional 200,000+ health workers and providing guidance documents and guidelines on best care practices.The W.H.O. has also tried to cover shortages of personal protective equipment adding that 41 million items of personal protective equipment were ready to be shipped from China to cover the needs of 47 African countries.T...

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  India COVID-19 cases approaches 1.2 million as death toll rises to 28,732

  A medical worker collects a swab sample from a woman at a COVID-19 screening centre in Patna, India's Bihar state, on July 21, 2020. India's federal health ministry Wednesday morning said 648 new deaths due to COVID-19, besides fresh 37,724 positive cases, were reported during the past 24 hours acro

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  Urumqi's coronavirus testing capacity reaches 500,000 a day

  Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regions capacity to test for coronavirus has reached nearly 500,000 people a day, according to local health authorities.Medical worker Liu Hui collects a swab sample from a resident at Tianshan District in Urumqi, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 20, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)"A total of 6,600 medical workers from local health facilties have participated in the testing job," A local health official told the Xinjiang Daily. "The citys testing capacity has reached nearly 500,000. With our staff getting more used to the testing procedure, and more testing equipment in place, that number is expected to rise by leaps and bounds in the short term."As of July 19, the city has conducted tests on those who were under medical observation and key groups, including residents from local communities with confirmed coronavirus cases, suspected cases, asymptomatic cases, close contacts, and those with fever.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 21)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday, there have been 14,348,858 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 603,691 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Wearing a protective face mask amid the spread of the new coronavirus, a chef rides his electric bicycle past a hotel under construction in Havana, Cuba, Monday, July 20, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, July 21):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 143,334 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 3,923,800 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 2,118,646 with 80,120 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 1,118,206 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 27,497.Russia has confirmed 776,212 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 12,408.South Africa has recorded 373,628 confirmed cases and 5,173 deaths.Peru has reported 353,590 COVID-19 cases and 13,187 deaths from the virus so far.It is followed by Mexico with 39,485 deaths from 349,396 infections.A total of 330,930 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 8,503.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 296,944, with the number of deaths at 45,397, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 14,405 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 276,202.

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  Wrangling over virus relief persists despite high stakes

  The desperate race to corral the coronavirus pandemic took on even greater urgency Monday as a burgeoning economic crisis collided with political turmoil. Even as the latest experimental vaccine appeared to show promise, politicians in Washington seemed far apart in finding a way to bring financial relief to Americans.In this handout photo released by the University of Oxford a volunteer participates in the vaccine trial in Oxford, England on July 7, 2020. (Photo: AP)As the first federal relief package was poised to end, Congress was trying to come to agreement on another package to ease the financial burden Americans have dealt with as businesses have endured repeated shutterings or pauses since the virus first appeared on the continent.The political turmoil was playing out as there appeared to be good news on the medical front, with scientists involved in the development of at least one vaccine reporting promising results in an early trial.Even as Republicans were at odds with Democrats over how much money was enough, top Republican members of Congress also faced pushback from the White House. GOP leaders met Monday with President Donald Trump as the White House panned some $25 billion in the GOPs plan that would be devoted to testing and tracing, said one Republican familiar with the discussions.There remains a wide gulf between the GOP and Democratic packages, with Democrats passing in the House a $3 trillion package, while the Republican package came in at about $1 trillion."We have to end this virus," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Monday on MSNBC. Any attempt by the White House to block testing money "goes beyond ignorance."The political stakes are high for all sides before the November election, especially with the nation registering more coronavirus infections and deaths than any other country. With 17 straight weeks of unemployment claims topping 1 million, many households were facing a cash crunch and losing empl...

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  Trump, Congress square off over virus aid as crisis worsens

  President Donald Trump acknowledged Monday a "big flare up" of COVID-19 cases, but divisions between the White House and Senate Republicans and differences with Democrats posed fresh challenges for a new federal aid package with the U.S. crisis worsening and emergency relief about to expire.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, July 20, 2020, in Washington.(Photo: AP)Trump convened GOP leaders at the White House as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell prepared to roll out his $1 trillion package in a matter of days. But the administration criticized the legislations money for more virus testing and insisted on a payroll tax cut that could complicate quick passage. The timeline appeared to quickly shift."Weve made a lot of progress," Trump said as the meeting got underway.But the president added, "Unfortunately, this is something thats very tough."Lawmakers returned to a Capitol still off-limits to tourists, another sign of the nations difficulty containing the coronavirus. Rather than easing, the pandemics devastating cycle is churning again, leaving Congress little choice but to engineer another costly rescue. Businesses are shutting down again, many schools will not fully reopen and jobs are disappearing, all while federal aid will expire in days.Without a successful federal strategy, lawmakers are trying to draft one."We have to end this virus," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Monday on MSNBC.She said any attempt by the White House to block money for testing "goes beyond ignorance."The political stakes are high for both parties before the November election, and even more so for the nation, which now has registered more coronavirus infections and a higher death count of 140,800 than any other country.McConnell and House GOP leader Kevin...

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  How the coronavirus spread through one immigration facility

  Gregory Arnold walked into the wardens office April 1 as the novel coronavirus ripped through one of the largest immigration detention centers in the United States. Waiting with about 40 guards to begin his shift, he heard a captain say face masks were prohibited.Gregory Arnold, a former guard at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, poses for a picture Tuesday, May 12, 2020, in San Diego.(Photo: AP)Incredulous, he and a guard who recently gave birth wanted to hear it from the boss. Arnold told Warden Christopher LaRose that he was 60 years old and lived with an asthmatic son."Well, you cant wear the mask because we dont want to scare the employees and we dont want to scare the inmates and detainees," Arnold recalls the warden saying."With all due respect, sir, thats ridiculous." Arnold retorted.He said he wanted to wear a mask and gloves, and "everyone else should be doing the same." But the warden was unmoved. And in the weeks that followed, Otay Mesa Detention Center would see the first big outbreak at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements 221 detention centers.The origins of the outbreak are uncertain, but accounts of workers and detainees reveal shortcomings in how the private company that manages the center handled the disease: There was an early absence of facial coverings, and a lack of cleaning supplies. Symptomatic detainees were mixed with others.Other centers would follow with their own outbreaks, and a Homeland Security Department internal watchdog survey of 188 detention centers taken in mid-April echoed some of what The Associated Press found at Otay Mesa: 19% of facility directors said there werent enough standard surgical masks, 32% said there werent enough N95 respirator masks, and 37% felt there wasnt enough hand sanitizer for detainees.Like prisons, living conditions are cramped -- except people held in immigration detention centers arent accused of an...

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  EU summit leader appeals for unity on virus fund

  Seeking to tug at the hearts of all European Union leaders, EU Council president Charles Michel implored them late Sunday to overcome their fundamental divisions and agree on an unprecedented 1.85 trillion-euro ($2.1 trillion) EU budget and coronavirus recovery fund to tackle the crisis.from left, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Austrias Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Finlands Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Swedens Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen meet on the sidelines of an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Sunday, July 19, 2020. (Photo: AP)After three days of fruitless talks, Michel conjured up during an official dinner the vision of the 600,000 dead that COVID-19 has claimed around the world and the unprecedented recession it has wrought on the bloc."Are the 27 EU leaders capable of building European unity and trust or, because of a deep rift, will we present ourselves as a weak Europe, undermined by distrust," he asked the leaders at the end of another day of divisive negotiations. The text of the behind-closed-doors speech was obtained by The Associated Press."I wish that we succeed in getting a deal and that the European media can headline tomorrow that the EU succeeded in a Mission Impossible," Michel said.Heading into a fourth day of talks when the summit was meant to last only two, any compromise was still out of reach. An official close to Michel, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks, said leaders would work deep into the night if necessary.Even with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron negotiating as the closest of partners, the traditionally powerful Franco-German alliance could not get the blocs 27 quarreling nations in line.Often negotiating outdoors on a sundeck in the Europa summit center in Brussels, the blue skies and fresh breeze had no impact on the mood. Undiplo...

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  Governments around world eye tougher steps to fight virus

  Signs of governments reassessing their coronavirus response were scattered around the world Sunday, with the mayor of Los Angeles saying the city was reopened too quickly, Ohios governor warning his state is "going the wrong way," Hong Kong issuing tougher new rules on wearing face masks and Spain closing overcrowded beaches.A street artist spray paints a protective face mask over an old mural featuring a Venezuelan Indigenous man, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, July 18, 2020, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. (Photo: AP)Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Los Angeles was "on the brink" of new widespread stay-at-home orders as Los Angeles County continued to see the states largest increase in confirmed coronavirus cases. California reported on Saturday its fourth-highest daily total of newly confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 9,000.Appearing on CNN Sunday, Garcetti was asked about a Los Angeles Times editorial that criticized the rapid reopening of California, which was followed by a spike in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations."I do agree those things happened too quickly," Garcetti said, adding that the decisions were made at the state and county levels, not by city officials. But he also said people in general had become less vigilant about taking precautions to avoid transmission."Its not just whats open and closed," he said. "Its also about what we do individually."Infections have been soaring in U.S. states including California, Florida, Texas and Arizona, with many blaming a haphazard, partisan approach to lifting lockdowns as well as the resistance of some Americans to wearing masks.In Florida, where health officials reported nearly 12,500 new infections and nearly 90 additional deaths on Sunday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio called for consistent, nonpartisan messaging."Weve seen a lot of these things turned into sort of a partisan fight or a political ...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 17)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday, there have been 13,575,158 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 584,940 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.An oversized mask adorns the face of a replica Statue of Liberty at the New York-New York hotel and casino Thursday, July 16, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, July 17):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 140,637 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 3,658,486 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 2,012,151 with 76,688 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 1,003,832 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 25,602.Russia has confirmed 758,001 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 12,106.Peru has reported 341,586 COVID-19 cases and 12,615 deaths from the virus so far.South Africa has recorded 324,221 confirmed cases and 4,669 deaths.It is followed by Mexico with 37,574 deaths from 324,041 infections.A total of 323,698 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 7,290.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 294,116, with the number of deaths at 45,204, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 13,608 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 267,061.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 16)

  Globally, as of 6:30 BJT on Thursday, there have been 13,338,364 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 579,319 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Guests arrive to attend the official re-opening day of Epcot at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Wednesday, July 15, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, July 16):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 139,650 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 3,580,584 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Thursday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,966,748 with 75,366 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 968,857 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 24,914.Russia has confirmed 751,612 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 11,920.Peru has reported 337,751 COVID-19 cases and 12,417 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 321,205 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 7,186.It is followed by Mexico with 36,906 deaths from 317,635 infections.South Africa has recorded 311,049 confirmed cases and 4,453 deaths.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 293,469, with the number of deaths at 45,138, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 13,410 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 264,561.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 15)

  Globally, as of 6:30 BJT on Wednesday, there have been 13,119,239 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 573,752 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A veteran wears a face mask prior to a Bastille Day ceremony at Parc Borely, Tuesday, July 14, 2020 in Marseille, southern France. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, July 15):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 138,740 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 3,510,561 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,926,824 with 74,133 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 936,181 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 24,309.Russia has confirmed 738,787 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 11,597.Peru has reported 333,867 COVID-19 cases and 12,229 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 319,493 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 7,069.It is followed by Mexico with 36,327 deaths from 311,486 infections.South Africa has recorded 298,292 confirmed cases and 4,346 deaths.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 292,931, with the number of deaths at 45,053, according to the JHU virus tracker.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 13,211 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 262,173.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 13)

  Globally, as of 6:30 BJT on Monday, there have been 12,685,374 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 565,000 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.A woman and two children wear masks at a playground, Saturday, July 11, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, July 13):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 137,397 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 3,379,082 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Monday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,864,681 with 72,100 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.India has confirmed a total of 878,254 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 23,174.Russia has confirmed 726,036 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 11,318.Peru has reported 326,326 COVID-19 cases and 11,870 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 315,041 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 6,979.It is followed by Mexico with 35,006 deaths from 299,750 infections.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 291,154, with the number of deaths at 44,904, according to the JHU virus tracker.South Africa has recorded 276,242 confirmed cases and 4,079 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 12,829 lives in Iran, bringing the total number of infections to 257,303.

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  Games are restarting, but few reporters will be there

  Many familiar pregame sights wont be back when baseball and the NBA return later this month. Managers wont exchange lineup cards at home plate and basketball lineup introductions wont feature special high fives.In this Feb. 2, 2020, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is surrounded by media after his team won the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, in Miami Gardens, Fla.(Photo: AP)There also wont be the ritual of a gaggle of reporters crowding around a manager before the game or waiting for LeBron James or Brad Stevens to emerge for interviews after an NBA game.As U.S. team sports prepare to resume, journalists are facing the same reckoning that their colleagues who cover politics and entertainment have encountered — coming up with new approaches despite reduced access."I consider this the most challenging year ever in terms of sports writer coverage," said Bob Glauber, the NFL writer for Newsday and president of the Pro Football Writers Association.Professional leagues closed media access to locker rooms and clubhouses in early March. Even when the games restart, that access is not going to return immediately.The NBA is the only league that will allow reporters to ask players questions in the same room, and that will be a very limited group.The league will allow no more than 12 media members to live full-time in the Walt Disney World bubble where all the NBA players will also live and play. The reporters must quarantine for seven days after arriving. Besides covering games, the reporters will be allowed access to the postgame media room and practices. They wont be able to see leave the resort or have visitors for as long as they stay, and the rest of the season should last about 72 days.Reporters covering games near Orlando but not residing in the bubble can watch from the stands and will only be allowed to interview players on Zoom. The NBAs credential advi...

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  'A hot mess': Americans face testing delays as virus surges

  With a cough and shortness of breath, it took Austin, Texas, resident Sam Lee three tries to get a COVID-19 test last month.A National Guardsman directs traffic at a COVID-19 testing site outside Hard Rock Stadium, Wednesday, July 8, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Florida is one of the nations hot spots for coronavirus. (Photo: AP)The first time, he showed up an hour before the public testing site was set to close and was told they had reached capacity. He was turned away from a second center when rain shut it down, and voluntarily left a third after someone ahead of him said they had been waiting in line for more than three hours."If you have symptoms and you are just driving around the city trying to figure out how you can get a test, for people who are positive, it is not ideal," said Lee, who finally got a test a couple of weeks later after he showed up before dawn and waited for more than two hours. Another seven days passed before he got the results.Four months, 3 million confirmed infections and over 130,000 deaths into the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., Americans confronted with a resurgence of the scourge are facing long lines at testing sites in the summer heat or are getting turned away. Others are going a week or more without receiving a diagnosis.Some sites are running out of kits, while labs are reporting shortages of materials and workers to process the swabs.Some frustrated Americans are left to wonder why the U.S. cant seem to get its act together, especially after it was given fair warning as the virus wreaked havoc in China and then Italy, Spain and New York."Its a hot mess," said 47-year-old Jennifer Hudson of Tucson, Arizona. "The fact that were relying on companies and we dont have a national response to this, its ridiculous. … Its keeping people who need tests from getting tests."It took Hudson five days to make an appointment through a CVS pharmacy near ...

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  Coronavirus cases in Israel nudge 30,000

  A medical worker takes a swab sample from a woman for COVID-19 test in the central Israeli city of Ramla on July 5, 2020. The Israeli health ministry reported 788 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, raising the total number in the country to 29,958. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua).

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 3)

  The total number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide has increased to520,634with the global confirmed cases reaching10,836,500as of 10:30 am BJT on Friday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).A man ride sa bike past a coronavirus-related mural by urban artists Mick Martinez and "Were Torres" in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, on June 27, 2020. (Photo: AFP)Current status (data as of 10:30 am BJT, July 3):The UScount of confirmed cases has surpassed 2.7 million to reach 2,735,554, with 128,742 deaths, according to the universitys latest tally.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 inBrazilhave increased to 1,496,858 with 61,884 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russiahas confirmed 660,231 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 9,668.Indiahas confirmed a total of 604,641 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 17,834.Peruhas reported 292,004 COVID-19 cases and 10,045 deaths from the virus so far.TheUKs confirmed cases have increased to 285,268, with the number of deaths at 44,080, according to the JHU virus tracker.A total of 284,541 people inChilehave tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 5,920.Spainhas recorded 250,103 confirmed cases and 28,368 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,818 lives inItaly, bringing the total number of infections to 240,961.It is followed byMexicowith 29,189 deaths from 238,511 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 2)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Thursday, there have been 10,357,662 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 508,055 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.People wait in line at a walk-up testing site for COVID-19 during the new coronavirus pandemic, Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Miami Beach, Fla. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, July 2):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 130,284 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,748,048 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Thursday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,448,753 with 60,632 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 653,479 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 9,521.India has confirmed a total of 585,493 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 17,400.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 314,992, with the number of deaths at 43,991, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 288,477 COVID-19 cases and 9,860 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 282,043 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 5,753.Spain has recorded 249,271 confirmed cases and 28,355 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,788 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 240,760.It is followed by Mexico with 28,510 deaths from 231,770 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated July 1)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday, there have been 10,185,374 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 503,862 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Berto Cortez, a CVS pharmacy technician, shows how COVID-19 tests are processed in a testing area set up by CVS at St. Vincent de Paul medical clinic, Monday, June 15, 2020, in Phoenix. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, July 1):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 128,928 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,693,727 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,402,041 with 59,594 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 646,929 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 9,306.India has confirmed a total of 566,840 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 16,893.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 314,160, with the number of deaths at 43,815, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 285,213 COVID-19 cases and 9,677 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 279,393 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 5,688.Spain has recorded 249,271 confirmed cases and 28,355 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,767 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 240,578.It is followed by Iran with 10,817 deaths from 227,662 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 30)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday, there have been 10,021,401 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 499,913 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Anita Anderson, left, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and her niece Tawnya Heggins of Houston, chat as they dine outside a restaurant on Miami Beach, Floridas famed South Beach, Friday, June 26, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, June 30):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 128,281 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,647,210 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,368,195 with 58,314 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 640,246 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 9,152.India has confirmed a total of 548,318 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 16,475.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 313,470, with the number of deaths at 43,659, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 282,365 COVID-19 cases and 9,504 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 275,999 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 5,575.Spain has recorded 248,970 confirmed cases and 28,346 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,744 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 240,436.It is followed by Iran with 10,670 deaths from 225,205 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 29)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Monday, there have been 9,843,073 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 495,760 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.People line up to get their temperatures checked and wipe their hands with anti-bacterial gel before entering a store in a downtown shopping district of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 10, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, June 29):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 127,911 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,605,589 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Monday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,344,143 with 57,622 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 633,563 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 9,060.India has confirmed a total of 528,859 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 16,095.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 312,640, with the number of deaths at 43,634, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 279,419 COVID-19 cases and 9,317 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 271,982 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 5,509.Spain has recorded 248,770 confirmed cases and 28,343 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,738 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 240,310.It is followed by Iran with 10,508 deaths from 222,669 infections.

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  Global virus infections top 10 million

  Global infections from the novel coronavirus passed 10 million Sunday, an AFP tally showed, as California ordered bars in LA and some other parts of the state to quell a surge in cases there.(Photo: AFP)One million new infections were recorded in just six days, according to the count based on official sources, even as countries were loosening punishing lockdowns that have devastated their economies and thrown millions out of work.The worldwide death toll from the disease that first emerged in China six months ago is also nearing 500,000 as fears grow of a full-blown second wave. The rate of contagion has doubled since May 21.The United States, the hardest-hit country, has more than 2.5 million cases alone, and efforts to reopen the worlds economic powerhouse were set back by a jump in new infections in big states such as Florida and California.President Donald Trump was under growing pressure to set an example by wearing a facemask as his health secretary warned the "window is closing" for the country to gain control of the pandemic.The disease is also rampaging through Latin America, where Brazil has over 1.3 million cases alone.Infections are up too in other parts of the world that have reopened, with Europe still registering the biggest caseload at over 2.6 million, although daily rates have stabilised.- Severe and complicated -The US state of California was the latest authority to reimpose restrictions, ordering bars in Los Angeles and six other Californian counties closed because the rising number of cases.The governor had already ordered some areas to reinstate stay-at-home orders, while San Francisco announced a "pause" in its reopening.In Florida, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis conceded there had been an "explosion" in new cases as the "Sunshine State" notched a record 9,585 cases in 24 hours.Young people frustrated by months of confinement have poured back to the states beaches, boardwalks and ba...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 26)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday, there have been 9,413,289 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 482,730 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.In this Friday, June 12, 2020 photo, stacks of signs for welcoming back patrons sit on the bar at Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, June 26):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 126,441 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,476,396 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,228,114 with 54,971 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 619,936 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 8,770.India has confirmed a total of 490,401 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 15,301.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 309,455, with the number of deaths at 43,314, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 268,602 COVID-19 cases and 8,761 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 259,064 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 4,903.Spain has recorded 247,486 confirmed cases and 28,330 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,678 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 239,706.It is followed by Iran with 10,239 deaths from 217,724 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 25)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Thursday, there have been 9,277,214 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 478,691 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Olinda Silvano from the Shipibo Conibo ethnic group, talks to a member of an NGO dressed in protective gear against the new coronavirus, during the celebration of the feast of Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of the Peruvian Amazon, in the Cantagallo neighborhood of Lima, Peru, Wednesday, June 24, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, June 25):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 123,902 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,434,250 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Thursday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,188,631 with 53,830 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 613,148 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 8,594.India has confirmed a total of 473,105 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 14,894.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 308,337, with the number of deaths at 43,165, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 264,689 COVID-19 cases and 8,586 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 254,416 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 4,731.Spain has recorded 247,086 confirmed cases and 28,327 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,644 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 239,410.It is followed by Iran with 9,996 deaths from 212,501 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 24)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday, there have been 9,071,475 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 472,075 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Peter Shamuelov, center, wears a protective mask as he gives a haircut to a customer at Ace of Cuts barbershop, Monday, June 22, 2020, in New York. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, June 24):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 123,155 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,399,685 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,145,906 with 52,645 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 606,043 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 8,503.India has confirmed a total of 456,183 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 14,476.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 307,682, with the number of deaths at 43,011, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 260,810 COVID-19 cases and 8,404 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 250,767 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 4,505.Spain has recorded 246,752 confirmed cases and 28,325 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,675 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 238,883.It is followed by Iran with 9,863 deaths from 209,970 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 23)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday, there have been 8,974,795 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 469,159 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Bartender Lindsay Pacepours a beer for a customer at Shade Bar NYC, Monday, June 22, 2020, in New York. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, June 23):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 122,301 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,364,223 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,106,470 with 51,271 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 598,878 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 8,349.India has confirmed a total of 440,215 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 14,011.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 306,761, with the number of deaths at 42,731, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 257,447 COVID-19 cases and 8,223 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 246,963 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 4,502.Spain has recorded 246,504 confirmed cases and 28,323 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,657 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 238,720.It is followed by Iran with 9,623 deaths from 207,525 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 22)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Monday, there have been 8,807,398 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 464,483 deaths, reported the World Health Organization.Workers test social distancing at the Macys Herald Square location Friday, June 19, 2020, in New York. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, June 22):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 121,928 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,331,809 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 1,083,341 with 50,591 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 591,465 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 8,196.India has confirmed a total of 425,282 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 13,699.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 305,803, with the number of deaths at 42,717, according to the JHU virus tracker.Peru has reported 251,338 COVID-19 cases and 7,861 deaths from the virus so far.Spain has recorded 246,272 confirmed cases and 28,323 deaths.A total of 242,355 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 4,479.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,634 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 238,499.It is followed by Iran with 9,623 deaths from 204,952 infections.

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  US COVID-19 cases top 2.2 mln: Johns Hopkins University

  People wearing face masks ride on Brooklyn Bridge in New York, the United States, June 19, 2020. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 2. , according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

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  Medics fighting against COVID-19 in Sao Paulo receive flowers

  A medical worker receives flowers during an activity calling for citizens showing their respect and gratitude to medical workers on the frontline fighting against the COVID-19 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Rahel Patrasso) .

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  Rate of spread of COVID-19 increases in Pakistan after relaxation of lockdown

  Police officers stop motorcyclists and vehicles near a sealed street at a residential sector after some people tested positive for COVID-19 in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on June 19, 2020. The Pakistani government started to ease the lockdown from May 9, aiming at mitigating the influence on the

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 18)

  Globally, as of 11 am BJT on Thursday, there have been 8,331,135 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 448,504 deaths, reported the Johns Hopkins University.In this May 10, 2020, file photo, a merchant prepares a floral arrangement on Mothers Day at the Los Angeles Flower Market in Los Angeles. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 11 am BJT, June 18):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 119,633 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,212,415 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 11 am BJT onThursday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 955,377 with 46,510 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 552,549 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 7,468.India has reported 354,065 COVID-19 cases and 11,903 deaths from the virus so far.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 300,717, with the number of deaths at 42,238, according to the JHU virus tracker.Spain has recorded 244,683 confirmed cases and 27,136 deaths.Peru has confirmed a total of 240,908 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 7,257.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,448 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 237,828.A total of 220,628 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 3,615.It is followed by Iran with 9,185 deaths from 195,051 infections.

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  Senior students to take coronavirus tests before high school, college entrance exams

  All senior students preparing for high school and college entrance exams will be screened for coronavirus, local authorities of Beijing’s Dongcheng District said on Wednesday.Fourth-graders attend a class at Yangfangdian central primary school in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, June 8, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)After Beijing raised its COVID-19 emergency response to level II, local educational authorities in Dongcheng District have made a series of policies to help minimize the impact brought by COVID-19 on the studies and health of students: All schools under the college level are required to suspend in-person classes in the district. Tasks including disinfection work, online tutoring and better communication between schools and parents must be completed properly. In particular, senior students will take coronavirus tests before attending either their high school or college entrance exam.According to Beijing Youth Daily, more than 16,800 residents in the district have tested for the coronavirus so far, with all cases being negative.(Compiled by Li Bowen)

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  Coronavirus puts poor Argentines' soccer dreams on hold

  The apartment blocks of Fort Apache are emblazoned with murals of Carlos Tevez, the superstar forward for Argentinas most popular pro soccer team and its national squad.Nicolas Suarez, 16, poses for a photo as he hangs from a soccer goalpost in a soccer field thats closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown in the Fraga neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, June 6, 2020. (Photo: AP)"I come from a place where they said it was impossible to succeed, one mural reads, and Tiago Ruíz Díaz thought of those words all the time as he moved from his youth club in one of Buenos Aires poorest neighborhoods to the second-division club Almagro. Success like Tevezs seemed obtainable for the 16-year-old midfielder. Until coronavirus came to Argentina.Soccer has been cancelled for more than 80 days now, with no restart in sight, cutting off thousands of young players in Argentinas poorest neighborhoods from what many felt was their only shot at a better life."This pandemic has ruined everything," Díaz said. "Its terrible being like this, shut up at home."Argentina is far from the worst-hit country in Latin America — the toll here pales in comparison to the disasters unfolding in Brazil, Chile and Peru, among others. But the impact on the youngest players in the soccer-crazy country shows the subtle long-term damage being wrought by the pandemic outside the most affected areas.Worried the lost time is costing them shots at professional careers, some young players are giving up and succumbing to the temptations of drugs and alcohol. Others desperate to stay in shape are playing for money in dangerous illegal games that have caused outbreaks of COVID-19 among players, spectators and people who live near soccer fields."There are a lot of dangers and temptations in the street. The kids sought refuge here and now they cant anymore," said Daniel López, president of the Santa Clara ...

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  New York's COVID-19 infection rate down to below 1 percent: governor

  NEW YORK, June 17 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. state of New York, once the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, currently has one of the countrys lowest infection rates, said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday.Photo taken on June 7, 2020 shows One World Trade Center displaying the "I love NY" slogan in New York, the United States. (Photo: Xinhua)The governor said at his daily briefing that 59,341 people across the state got tested on Tuesday, and only 0.96 percent of them were positive, which is a "record low.""This is one of the best days for New Yorkers since we started this long journey in a dark night," said Cuomo. "We once again have demonstrated that weve gone from the worst infection rate in the country to the best infection rate in the country."Another 567 cases were confirmed on Tuesday, bringing the state total to 385,142, according to the state data.Meanwhile, the states daily COVID-19 deaths hit a new low at 17 and total hospitalizations further dropped to 1,479, said Cuomo.The governor said that New York City is on track to enter phase two of reopening on Monday, two weeks after it entered phase one.However, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio didnt give a date of the transition at his briefing on Wednesday, saying it might take another week for that to happen.He said the city still has to monitor the potential impact of mass protests during the past three weeks as the coronavirus has a two-week incubation period."We are all mindful that we had a very unusual situation with the protests, and were going to see the fuller impact, if any, of the protests around this weekend, maybe into the first few days next week," said the mayor.At least 20,000 New Yorkers have participated in protests against racial injustice, during which the social distancing guideline was largely ignored.Earlier this month, de Blasio said he expected New York City could enter phase two as early as in July...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 17)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday, there have been 8,153,241 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 441,439 deaths, reported the Johns Hopkins University.Lucia and her dog Jujuba sit at Arpoador beach, amid the new coronavirus pandemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, June 17):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 118,862 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,185,917 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Wednesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 923,189 with 45,241 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 544,725 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 7,274.India has reported 343,091 COVID-19 cases and 9,900 deaths from the virus so far.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 299,600, with the number of deaths at 42,054, according to the JHU virus tracker.Spain has recorded 244,328 confirmed cases and 27,136 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,405 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 237,500.Peru has confirmed a total of 237,156 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 7,056.A total of 194,347 people in France have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,550.It is followed by Iran with 9,065 deaths from 192,439 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 16)

  Globally, as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday, there have been 8,015,053 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 436,322 deaths, reported the Johns Hopkins University.A commuters walks on a nearly empty subway platform in New York, Monday, June 8, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10 am BJT, June 16):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 117,966 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,161,525 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 10 am BJT on Tuesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 888,271 with 43,959 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 536,484 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 7,081.India has confirmed a total of 332,424 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 9,520.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 298,315, with the number of deaths at 41,821, according to the JHU virus tracker.Spain has recorded 244,109 confirmed cases and 27,136 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,371 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 237,290.Peru has reported 232,992 COVID-19 cases and 6,860 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 194,305 people in France have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,439.It is followed by Iran with 8,950 deaths from 189,876 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 15)

  Globally, as of 10:30 am BJT on Monday, there have been 7,690,708 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 427,630 deaths, reported the WHO.In this April 30, 2020 file photo, Justin and Crystal Craft enjoy their weekly dinner date on opposite sides of a fence surrounding the Park Springs senior community, where Justin runs the food and beverage department in Stone Mountain, Ga. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 10:30 am BJT, June 15):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 117,586 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,141,405 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Thursday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 867,624 with 43,332 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 528,267 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 6,938.India has reported 320,922 COVID-19 cases and 9,195 deaths from the virus so far.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 297,342, with the number of deaths at 41,783, according to the JHU virus tracker.Spain has recorded 243,928 confirmed cases and 27,136 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,345 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 236,989.Peru has confirmed a total of 229,736 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 6,688.A total of 194,153 people in France have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,410.It is followed by Germany with 8,801 deaths from 187,518 infections.

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  Life after lockdown altered by the coronavirus

  Tape marks off distance between worshippers, mannequins serve as placeholders at cafes and robots serve drinks at bars.Jayden Deltoro, left, watches "Trolls World Tour," while wearing a protective mask amid the coronavirus pandemic, at the Four Brothers Drive-In Theatre, Friday, May 15, 2020, in Amenia, N.Y. (Photo: AP)After months of lockdown, countries around the world are returning to a version of life altered by coronavirus precautions. Restaurants, movie theaters, shopping malls and museums are reopening but must follow certain rules as governments ease restriction put in place to help prevent the spread of the virus.To maintain social distancing at a restaurant in Amsterdam, customers dine in individual glasshouses lining a waterfront. At a shopping mall bathroom in Paraguay, black tape marks off urinals to encourage safe social distancing. Signs prevent close seating at a movie theater in Bangkok.Many governments started lifting lockdowns as they faced political backlash and historic economic recessions. In just a few months, the pandemic has killed at least 410,000 people worldwide and infected about 7.4 million, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.Some experts worry that a surge of the coronavirus in underdeveloped regions with shaky health systems could undermine efforts to halt the pandemic.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 12)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday, there have been 7,390,702 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 417,731 deaths, reported the WHO.A woman shops for womens shirts in a MiniMax store, Monday, June 8, 2020, in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, in New York, as retail stores were allowed to open, but with some restrictions, under Phase 1 of the states reopening plan. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, June 12):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 115,644 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,069,726 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 802,828 with 40,919 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 510,761 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 6,705.India has confirmed a total of 297,535 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 8,498.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 292,860, with the number of deaths at 41,364, according to the JHU virus tracker.Spain has recorded 242,707 confirmed cases and 27,136 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,167 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 236,142.Peru has reported 214,788 COVID-19 cases and 6,088 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 192,493 people in France have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,349.It is followed by Germany with 8,776 deaths from 186,883 infections.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 11)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Thursday, there have been 7,255,960 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 412,583 deaths, reported the WHO.Workers line up to enter the Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Logansport, Ind., Thursday, May 7, 2020. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, June 11):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 114,748 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,046,789 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Thursday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 772,416 with 39,680 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 501,800 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 6,522.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 291,588, with the number of deaths at 41,213, according to the JHU virus tracker.India has reported 286,576 COVID-19 cases and 8,102 deaths from the virus so far.Spain has recorded 242,280 confirmed cases and 27,136 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,114 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 235,763.Peru has confirmed a total of 208,823 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 5,903.A total of 192,068 people in France have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,322.It is followed by Germany with 8,768 deaths from 186,525 infections.

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  Virus pummels global economy, jobs - even without 2nd wave

  The virus crisis has triggered the worst global recession in nearly a century -- and the pain is not over yet even if there is no second wave of infections, an international economic report warned Wednesday.In this May 6, 2020 photo, a man begs at a roadside during a lockdown to help to contain a spread of coronavirus in Peshawar, Pakistan.(Photo: AP)Hundreds of millions of people have lost their jobs, and the crisis is hitting the poor and young people the hardest, worsening inequalities, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said in its latest analysis of global economic data."It is probably the most uncertain and dramatic outlook since the creation of the OECD," Secretary General Angel Gurria said. "We cannot make projections as as we normally do."In the best-case scenario, if there is no second wave of infections, the agency forecast a global drop in economic output of 6% this year, and a rise of 2.8% next year.If the coronavirus re-emerges later in the year, however, the global economy could shrink 7.6%, the OECD said."With or without a second outbreak, the consequences will be severe and long-lasting," the report says.Global stock markets dropped after the release of the report, which is more downbeat than other forecasts from the likes of the World Bank.Gurria argued that "presenting the problem as the choice between lives and livelihoods, meaning a choice between health and the economy, is a false dilemma. If the pandemic is not brought under control, there will be no robust economic recovery."In case of a second wave of contagions, the OECD forecast that the average unemployment rate across the 37 developed countries that it represents would double this year to 10% and see "little recovery" in 2021. In the more optimistic scenario, the figure would be 9.2%. In poorer countries, the numbers are often higher, and informal workers are especially vulnerable.The agency urged gove...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 10)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday, there have been 7,127,753 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 407,159 deaths, reported the WHO.Manager Angel Ramos arranges shoes on a display in Top shoes, Monday, June 8, 2020, in the Sunset Park neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, June 10):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 113,812 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,025,784 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Wednesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 739,503 with 38,406 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 493,023 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 6,350.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 290,581, with the number of deaths at 40,680, according to the JHU virus tracker.India has confirmed a total of 276,583 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 7,745.Spain has recorded 241,966 confirmed cases and 27,136 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 34,043 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 235,561.Peru has reported 199,696 COVID-19 cases and 5,571 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 191,523 people in France have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,299.It is followed by Germany with 8,748 deaths from 186,522 infections.

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  In poor regions, easing virus lockdowns brings new risks

  As many countries gingerly start lifting their lockdown measures, experts worry that a further surge of the coronavirus in under-developed regions with shaky health systems could undermine efforts to halt the pandemic, and they say more realistic options are needed.Disinfection team disinfect a classroom at Ivory Park Secondary School east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, May 28, 2020, ahead of the June 1, 2020, re-opening of Grade 7 and 12 learners to school. (Photo: AP)Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, India and Pakistan are among countries easing tight restrictions, not only before their outbreaks have peaked but also before any detailed surveillance and testing system is in place to keep the virus under control. That could ultimately have devastating consequences, health experts warn."Politicians may be desperate to get their economies going again, but that could be at the expense of having huge numbers of people die," said Dr. Bharat Pankhania, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Exeter in Britain.He said re-imposing recently lifted lockdown measures was equally dangerous."Doing that is extremely worrying because then you will build up a highly resentful and angry population, and its unknown how they will react," Pankhania said. And as nearly every developed country struggles with its own outbreak, there may be fewer resources to help those with long overstretched capacities.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said Monday the pandemic was "worsening" globally, noting that countries on Sunday reported the biggest-ever one-day total: more than 136,000 cases. Among those, nearly 75% of the cases were from 10 countries in the Americas and South Asia.Wealthy countries in Europe and North America hit first by the pandemic are training armies of contact tracers to hunt down cases, designing tracking apps and planning virus-free air travel corridors....

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 9)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday, there have been 7,023,117 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 403,845 deaths, reported the WHO.Bartender Greg Anderson, left, pours drinks for customers on the first day Tuners Bar and Grill has reopened after being closed in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus Monday, May 4, 2020, in St. Charles, Mo. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, June 9):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 112,752 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 2,006,657 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Tuesday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 707,412 with 37,134 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 484,630 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 6,133.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 288,834, with the number of deaths at 40,680, according to the JHU virus tracker.India has confirmed a total of 267,614 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 7,481.Spain has recorded 241,717 confirmed cases and 27,136 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 33,964 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 235,278.Peru has reported 199,696 COVID-19 cases and 5,571 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 191,313 people in France have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,212.It is followed by Germany with 8,727 deaths from 186,233 infections.

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  Poll: Pandemic does little to alter US views on health care

  The coronavirus pushed hospitals to the edge, and millions of workers lost job-based coverage in the economic shutdown to slow the spread, but a new poll suggests Americans have remarkably little interest in big changes to health care as a result of the pandemic.In this May 11, 2020, file photo light shines in a patient pod at a temporary alternate care site constructed in response to the coronavirus outbreak inside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. (Photo: AP)People are still more likely to prefer the private sector than the government on driving innovation in health care, improving quality and, by a narrower margin, providing coverage, according to the survey by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.Those views are basically unchanged since February, when an earlier edition of the AP-NORC poll asked the same questions at a time that the coronavirus was still largely seen as a problem in other countries, not the United States."It does strike me as odd," said Gaye Cocoman, a retired data processing administrator from small-town Macedonia, Ohio, who has Medicare. "Im covered, but I look at the millions of people who arent and wonder what in the world theyre going to do if they get sick. There seems to be no appetite for change."The poll found that people are more likely to trust private entities over government at driving innovation in health care (70% to 28%), improving quality (62% to 36%) and providing insurance coverage (53% to 44%). Americans had more confidence in governments ability to reduce costs, preferring it over the private sector 54% to 44%. All of those preferences are unchanged since before COVID-19 arrived.Not that long ago Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders "Medicare for All" plan was at the center of the Democratic presidential debate. But even with an estimated 27 million people losing employer...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 8)

  Globally, as of 6:30 pm BJT on Monday, there have been 6,881,352 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 399,895 deaths, reported the WHO.A man takes photos with friends outside a bar in the Hells Kitchen neighborhood of New York, Friday, May 29, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. People are beginning to gather in small groups as the city begins to reopen. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 6:30pm BJT, June 8):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 112,241 lives in the United States, the most of any country, with a total of 1,986,688 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 6:30 pm BJT on Monday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 691,758 with 36,455 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 476,043 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 5,963.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 287,621, with the number of deaths at 40,625, according to the JHU virus tracker.India has confirmed a total of 258,090 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 7,207.Spain has recorded 241,550 confirmed cases and 27,136 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 33,899 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 234,998.Peru has reported 196,515 COVID-19 cases and 5,465 deaths from the virus so far.A total of 191,102 people in France have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,158.It is followed by Germany with 8,689 deaths from 185,869 infections.

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  Malaysia reports 19 new coronavirus cases, bringing total to 8,322

  Bangkok (Peoples Daily) - Malaysia reported 19 new cases and no deaths related to the novel coronavirus on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections to 8,322, and deaths to 117, according to the countrys health ministry.A man walks near the barbed wire fence in an area under the semi-enhanced movement control order (SEMCO) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 15, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)So far, 6,674 patients have recovered from the disease, and five remain in critical condition.Malaysias movement control order (MCO) will enter a "recovery phase" beginning Wednesday until August 31, Prime Minister of Malaysia Muhyiddin Yassin announced.In a televised address on Sunday, Muhyiddin said the recovery phase is part of the countrys exit strategy from the MCO, following drop in the infection rate.Under the recovery MCO, "almost all" social, educational, religious and business activities, as well as economic sectors will reopen in phases, with standard operating procedures to be adhered to, he said.Interstate travel will be allowed, except for areas placed under an enhanced MCO, but the countrys borders will remain closed, the prime minister said.The MCO, first imposed on March 18 to control the spread of COVID-19, was previously extended four times.

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  Britain to reopen places of worship on June 15

  The UK government said Sunday it will reopen places of worship "for private individual prayer" on June 15 as it continues to progressively ease coronavirus restrictions.(File photo: AFP)Prime Minister Boris Johnsons office said services and worship groups will still be banned for the time being due to concern that the virus spreads more quickly in enclosed spaces."People of all faiths have shown enormous patience and forbearance, unable to mark Easter, Passover, Ramadan or Vaisakhi with friends and family in the traditional way," Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said in a statement."We are now able to move forwards with a limited but important return to houses of worship."Britains official COVID-19 death toll of 40,465 is second only to that of the United States.But cases across Europe have fallen off sharply and Britain is now cautiously proceeding with partial school reopenings and the resumption of basic business activity that ended when the country shut down on March 23.Johnsons government also intends to reopen all stores on June 15. Restaurants and pubs will be allowed to seat a limited number of customers in a week.But Johnson has had to weather intense criticism for his handling of the health crisis.Critics say Britain had ample time to take the appropriate precautions -- such as shutting down retail and closing schools -- after seeing the disease spread from China to Italy and other parts of Europe at the start of the year.The government is now coming under attack for starting to lift the restriction too quickly.The average reinfection rate in some northwestern and southwestern parts of Britain is still perilously close to the 1.0 figure above which the virus begins to spread.Health Secretary Matt Hancock argued that the government was proceeding with abundant caution because it was wary of the dire economic effects of a second lockdown."The worst thing for the economy would be a second spike," he t...

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated June 6)

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Saturday, there have been 6,612,301 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 391,161 deaths, reported the WHO.Sean Cummings, owner of Sean Cummings Irish Restaurant, prepares a Beef and Guinness entree, Thursday, April 30, 2020, in Oklahoma City. The entree will cook all night and be ready for Friday, May 1, 2020, when restaurants in Oklahoma City are allowed to re-open following closures due to coronavirus concerns. (Photo: AP)Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, June 6):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 110,862 lives in theUS, the most of any country, with a total of 1,941,863 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7 pm BJT on Saturday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 inBrazilhave increased to 614,941 with 34,021 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russiahas confirmed 458,102 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 5,717.TheUKs confirmed cases have increased to 284,734, with the number of deaths at 40,344, according to the JHU virus tracker.Spainhas recorded 240,978 confirmed cases and 27,134 deaths.Indiahas reported 237,395 COVID-19 cases and 6,650 deaths from the virus so far.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 33,774 lives inItaly, bringing the total number of infections to 234,531.A total of 190,180 people inFrancehave tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 29,114.Peruhas confirmed a total of 187,400 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 5,162.It is followed byGermanywith 8,666 deaths from 185,416 infections.

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  Sri Lanka to reopen for tourism in August, with multiple coronavirus tests

  Sri Lankas virus-battered tourism industry can reopen for foreign guests from August but under strict guidelines, including multiple coronavirus tests during their stay, officials said Saturday.(File photo: AFP)Tourism was only just recovering from the effects of last years Easter Sunday bombings that killed 279 people, including 45 foreigners, when the virus halted international travel to the island and forced hotels to shut, leaving tens of thousands of people jobless.Sri Lankas tourism ministry said travellers will be able to visit from August 1, but they must carry a COVID-19 free certificate issued not earlier than 72 hours before boarding.Even with this document, tourists will have to take a virus test at the airport upon arrival. A further check will be done four to five days later -- and a third if staying for more than 10 days."While this may be inconvenient it is essential to safeguard everybody and provide peace of mind," the ministry said.The regular visa fee of $40 has been increased to $100, visitors can only stay in hotels designated by the ministry, and are not allowed to use public transport on the island.In addition, only those who will spend a minimum of five days in Sri Lanka will be allowed in.The country has reported 11 deaths and 1,801 infections since its first coronavirus patient was identified on January 27.The number of visitors to Sri Lanka dropped to 1.91 million last year, down from 2.33 million in the previous year.

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  Cyprus sets stage for tourism recovery as airports reopen

  Cyprus opens back up for international tourism on Tuesday, with airports welcoming visitors after an almost three-month shutdown, and a bold plan to cover health care costs for visitors.Nobodys expecting to make any money in 2020, but Cyprus is getting ready to welcome back tourists.(Photo: AFP)But with arrivals expected to be down by 70 percent this year due to the chaos brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, its a leap of faith for the small Mediterranean holiday island."Nobody here is expecting to make any money this year", Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios told AFP."We are setting the stage for the beginning of our recovery in 2021."The divided islands tourism sector normally accounts for around 15 percent of GDP but has dried up in past months amid global measures to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.Cyprus saw a record 3.97 million arrivals in 2019, with more than half its market made up of British and Russian visitors.But even if the islands airports in Larnaca and Paphos will open up to arrivals on Tuesday with the first flight due to arrive from Athens around midday (0900GMT), neither Britain or Russia are among the 19 countries allowed to land there.The list of permitted countries, which also include Bulgaria, Germany and Malta, have been chosen based on epidemiological data and split into two categories.Initially all travellers will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test undertaken within 72 hours of travel, but from June 20, only those arriving from six countries in the second category, such as Poland and Romania, will need to do so.The government says the lists will be revised weekly and more countries can be added.Cyprus will also cover accommodation, dining and medical care for any tourists who fall ill with the COVID-19 illness during their stay, as well as accommodation and meals for their families and close contacts."What we offer and...

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  New York state reports lowest COVID-19 death toll since pandemic hit

  Photo taken on May 4, 2020 shows Times Square in New York, the United States.(Photo: Xinhua)NEW YORK, June 5 (Xinhua) -- A total of 42 people in the U.S. state of New York passed away on Thursday due to COVID-19, which is the lowest death toll since the pandemic began, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday."While our hearts ache for those families who lost loved ones yesterday, just eight weeks ago, we had 800 deaths per day," said the governor at his daily briefing.Meanwhile, the number of total hospitalizations was down on Thursday to 2,728 from a record-high of 18,825 during the peak of the pandemic.The governor said the progress is made through peoples change of behavior. "Todays achievement is proof we know we can change, and we know we can change dramatically when we work together," he said.The state is now encouraging people who attended recent protests for George Floyd to receive COVID-19 diagnostic tests to avoid a resurgence of infections."One person, one person can infect hundreds. If you were at a protest, go get a test, please. The protesters have a civic duty here also," said Cuomo on Thursdays briefing.The demonstrations have seen around 20,000 participants in New York City and some 30,000 across the state, according to Cuomo.The state now allows schools to hold drive-in and drive-through graduation ceremonies this year, and will reexamine socially-distanced outdoor commencements at a later time, the governor has said.Nine of the ten regions in the state have started the reopening process, with seven of them already in phase two. Mid-Hudson Valley is on track to enter phase two on June 9th and Long Island will follow on June 10, said Cuomo.The Empire State has reported over 376,000 COVID-19 cases with a death toll of more than 30,000. New York City, which is scheduled to enter phase one of reopening on Monday, has seen over 205,000 cases, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

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  Spain reports steep increase in coronavirus cases, one new death

  People walk during the hours allowed by the government to exercise, on May 17, 2020 in Madrid, amid the national lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. (Photo: AFP)MADRID, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Spanish health authorities on Wednesday reported a sharp increase in the number of new coronavirus cases and confirmed one new death in a 24-hour period.In the previous two 24-hour periods, no new deaths were registered for the first time since the pandemic began. To date, Spain has confirmed a total of 27,128 deaths from the virus.Spanish health authorities also said that 63 people had lost their lives to the virus in the past seven days, which appears to conflict with the count on Tuesday that 34 deaths had occurred in the previous week. The discrepancy may be due to delays in collecting data from Spains 17 autonomous communities.Wednesday also saw an increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases. Health authorities reported 219 new infections, compared with 71 cases in the previous 24-hour period, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 240,326.Madrid and Catalonia once again reported the majority of the new cases, with 150 of the days 219 infections coming from these two communities.

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  Croissants and hand gel as Paris cafes reawaken

  There are bottles of sanitizer gel in place of the salt and pepper pots, and glaring 1-meter (3-foot) gaps between tables.People sit on the terrace of a cafe in Paris, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Paris City Hall authorized the reopening of outside seating areas but indoor tables remain closed to customers until at least June 22. (Photo: AP)But in Parisian restaurants and cafes, the mood is sunny.Locals are savoring their cafe au lait and croissants at the Left Banks famed Cafe de Flore, or on the cobbled streets of the ancient Le Marais, for the first time in almost three months.Its a far cry from the depressing sight of shuttered eateries, chairs piled up blocking the windows and doors, and empty sidewalks. Menus collected dust in windows as Parisians stayed home, sucking the lifeblood from the cafes that epitomize the citys lifestyle.Gone was the morning ritual of stopping by the corner cafe for a shot of espresso, the midday three-course meal, the after-work aperitif with friends or lovers at an intimate bistro.As coronavirus confinement measures were relaxed Tuesday, cafes around France were allowed to reopen. In Paris, hard hit by COVID-19, only outdoor seating is allowed for now. Indoor tables remain closed to customers until at least June 22.But sidewalk dining, sipping and people-watching is such an inherent part of the Paris way of life that the partial reopening was enthusiastically embraced. Outside cafe areas filled up fast.Although masks are not obligatory for seated guests, the Parisians beloved pastime of smoking seems to have fallen away. Far fewer smokers have been observed so far on the newly reopened terraces.French President Emmanuel Macron struck a note of optimism about the small step."The reopening of cafes, hotels and restaurants marks the return of happy days!" he tweeted.

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  Australia set for first recession in 29 years

  CANBERRA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Australia is on the brink of entering its first recession in three decades after gross domestic product (GDP) fell in the first quarter of 2020.People stay away due to restrictions to stop the spread of the worldwide COVID-19 (Photo: AFP)Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday revealed that the Australian economy shrank by 0.3 percent in the March quarter as a result of the bushfire crisis and early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.It marks the first quarter of negative growth since 2011 and with COVID-19 set to have a bigger economic impact in the second quarter of 2020 it means that Australia is certain to enter a state of recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of GDP contraction, for the first time since 1991.Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said that in the context of the bushfires and the pandemic Australias economy has been remarkably resilient."Seen in this context, the fact that the Australian economy only contracted by 0.3 per cent shows the Australian economys remarkable resilience," he said.Prior to the full effects of coronavirus hitting Australia, GDP growth fell to 1.4 percent in the 12 months to March 2020 - the lowest annual growth figure in more than a decade."This was the slowest through-the-year growth since September 2009 when Australia was in the midst of the Global Financial Crisis and captures just the beginning of the expected economic effects of COVID-19," ABS chief economist, Bruce Hockman, said in a statement.

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  White House not to release economic projections this summer: Washington Post

  WASHINGTON, June 2 (Xinhua) -- White House officials have decided not to release updated economic projections this summer, as the economic toll from the COVID-19 outbreak continues to mount, the Washington Post has reported.In this April 7, 2020, photo, President Donald Trump calls on a reporter for a question as he speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. (Photo: AP)Citing three people with knowledge of the decision, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the report said White House will not provide updated projections on economic trends such as unemployment, inflation and economic growth in a mid-session review of the annual federal budget proposal.The officials said the COVID-19 outbreak is causing extreme volatility in the U.S. economy, making it difficult to forecast economic trends.The decision, however, has drawn backlash from both liberal and conservative critics, who argued that the White House should publish its economic projections regardless of the uncertainty, the report said.The report also noted that the Obama administration continued to release the economic trends projections following the global financial crisis, despite "unflattering" numbers.The COVID-19-induced economic loss has been growing. Economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted for the third straight month in May amid mounting COVID-19 fallout, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported Monday.The U.S. Commerce Department reported on Thursday that economic activity in the first quarter contracted at an annual rate of 5 percent in a second estimate, 0.2 percentage point lower than the advance estimate.That downwardly revised figure, however, still does not fully capture COVID-19s economic damage, and many analysts believe that the decline in the second quarter is expected to be much deeper.Fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic will shrink the size of the U.S. economy by 7.9 trillion U.S. dollar...

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  COVID-19 cases surpass 200,000 mark in India, death toll 5,815

  NEW DELHI, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases surpassed the 200,000 mark, reaching 207,615, even as the death toll reached 5,815 in India on Wednesday, said the latest data issued by the federal health ministry.A migrant laborer looks from the window of a train as he takes a special train to his home during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Jalandhar of Indias northern state of Punjab, May 5, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)As many as 217 new deaths and 8,909 fresh cases were reported in the past 24 hours, added the ministrys data. This is the highest single-day spike in terms of new COVID-19 cases in the country."As on 8:00 a.m. (local time) Wednesday, 5,815 deaths related to novel Coronavirus have been recorded in the country," reads information released by the ministry.On Tuesday morning the number of COVID-19 cases in the country was 198,706, and the death toll 5,598.According to ministry officials, so far 100,303 recoveries people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement."The number of active cases in the country right now is 101,497," reads the information.The 5th phase of nationwide lockdown came into force from Monday. This phase marks several relaxations and reopening in a phased manner.On March 25 India had announced a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 and break the chain of infection.

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  Finland announces record-high supplementary budget to counteract COVID-19 impact

  HELSINKI, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish government on Tuesday announced a record-high supplementary budget of 5.5 billion euros (6.16 billion U.S. dollars) to counteract the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Minister Katri Kulmuni said.This Nov. 19, 2013 file photo shows Laplandia Market near the Vaalimaa Finland-Russia border crossing point in Lappeenranta, Finland. (Photo: AP)With this budget, the debt taken by the government this year increased to 18.8 billion euros (21.04 billion dollars), Kulmuni said at a press conference.The government also decided to extend the target timing of stabilizing the ratio between public debt and gross domestic product from 2023 to 2030, Kulmuni said, adding that the longer time frame would ease the pressure.The senior official said Finnish universities will be authorized to add 4,800 students to this years enrollment.According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland confirmed a total of 6,887 COVID-19 infections by Tuesday afternoon, with 320 virus-related deaths and at least 5,500 recoveries.The country reopened restaurants and cafes on Monday, with opening hours shortened and capacity of service halved. The new restrictions are supposed to stay until the end of October.

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  New Zealand reveals details for relaxed COVID-19 rules as country returning to normal

  WELLINGTON, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Restrictions on businesses will be removed under COVID-19 Alert Level 1, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern explained the details on Wednesday as New Zealanders are seeing their lives returning to normal.In this Friday, April 17, 2020, photo, medical staff test a supermarket employee who volunteered at a pop-up community COVID-19 testing station at a carpark in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo: AP)New Zealand reported no new case of COVID-19 for 12 consecutive days on Wednesday.The decision to move down to Alert Level 1 will be made on June 8, Ardern said, adding it was possible that New Zealand could move down to Alert Level 1 by June 10.Strict border controls will still remain, Ardern said, adding restrictions on hospitality businesses, gatherings and community sport will be lifted.She said it is not necessary to consider physical distancing measures under Alert Level 1, but the government still encourages contact tracing efforts.Ardern stressed coughing etiquette because risks remain as New Zealand heads into winter with more asymptomatic transmission.New Zealands combined total of confirmed and probable cases stayed at 1,504, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a press conference on Wednesday.The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 remains at 1,154, which is the number reported to the World Health Organization, Bloomfield said.The number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 is unchanged at 1,481, he said, adding the situation was "hugely satisfying."The number of COVID-19 related deaths in New Zealand remained at 22, with no additional deaths, he said, adding there is no one in New Zealand receiving hospital-level care for COVID-19.The NZ COVID Tracer app has now recorded 487,000 registrations, according to the health ministry.

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  Polls close as voters navigate protests and coronavirus

  Polls began to close Tuesday night as voters navigated curfews and health concerns in a slate of primary contests that tested the nations ability to host elections amid dueling crises and moved Joe Biden closer to formally clinching the Democratic presidential nomination.In all, nine states and the District of Columbia held elections, including four that delayed their April contests because of the coronavirus outbreak. With no real competition, Biden and President Donald Trump easily won their respective primary elections in Indiana and Rhode Island. Biden also won the nights biggest prize: Pennsylvania.Voting continued across Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania, two places rocked by protests following the police killing of George Floyd. The dynamic was especially intense in Washington, where wait times exceeded 90 minutes at several voting locations even after the mayors 7 p.m. curfew.While D.C. officials said voters wouldnt be arrested for breaking curfew ahead of the scheduled 8 p.m. poll close, thousands more protesters clogged key areas around the district, setting up a potential clash with law enforcement agencies and National Guard troops during a fifth night of social unrest.A voter, right, checks in with an election worker before casting her ballot in the Pennsylvania primary in Philadelphia, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. (Photo: AP)Pennsylvania, which offered the days biggest trove of delegates, also represented a significant test case for Republicans and Democrats working to strengthen their operations in a premier general election battleground.There were also reports of long lines amid curfew concerns in Philadelphia, Pennsylvanias largest city, where National Guard troops and military vehicles patrolled the streets and election officials consolidated the vast majority of polling places to minimize health risks, according to Erin Kramer, executive director of One Pennsylvania. She noted that some polling places in African...

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  NBA targeting October finish for virus-hit season

  The NBA is aiming to complete the 2020 season by mid-October, reports said Tuesday, as the league edges towards a return from the coronavirus shutdown.The NBA is aiming to complete its coronavirus-hit 2020 season by October 12. (Photo: AFP)ESPN reported that according to a timeframe due to be voted on by NBAs Board of Governors on Thursday, Game 7 of the NBA Finals would take place no later than October 12.The NBA and NBA Players Association are still finalising the details of the resumption of the season, which was halted on March 11 as the coronavirus pandemic erupted.ESPN reported that the league is planning a 22-team format for its return to play on July 31.All games are expected to be within the confines of Disneys ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando Florida, with all teams remaining on site to minimise risk of COVID-19 outbreaks.The NBAs proposal to be put before the board on Thursday requires support from three quarters of the leagues 30 teams in order to be approved.ESPN reported there was overwhelming support for the plan being recommended by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.One of the key issues to be settled is the format of the competition which will determine the final line-up for the 16-team playoffs.Six teams currently just outside the playoff places will be included in the 22-team field and given the opportunity to claim a playoff berth.If approved, the format will bring an abrupt end to the season for eight teams languishing outside the top 22.Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said Tuesday exclusion from the restarted season would hurt his young team."The biggest thing we can benefit from is playing basketball," Pierce said. "If the season is going to resume and we are not a part of it, it hurts our growth, it hurts our product, it hurts our ability to continue the momentum that we need going to next season."I play young guys, I have young guys - we need to play basketball."The...

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  Spain reports no new COVID-19 deaths for 2nd consecutive day

  People walk on a street in Barcelona on Monday, May 25, 2020. (Photo: AP)MADRID, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Spain registered no death from COVID-19 on Monday, the second consecutive day without new death reports, according to the data published by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Welfare on Tuesday.The ministry confirmed a total of 27,127 deaths from the virus, no change compared with the number reported on Monday and Sunday. Over the past seven days, altogether 34 people lost their lives to the virus-caused disease.There was an increase in the number of new cases of COVID-19 detected by PCR tests (which discover if the coronavirus is active in the body). The Health Ministry reported 137 new infections, more than the 71 cases registered in the previous 24 hours, bringing the countrys total confirmed cases to 239,932.Madrid and Catalonia remained the worst hit with 90 of the new cases from these two regions.

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  US COVID-19 cases top 1.8 mln: Johns Hopkins University

  Joe Torre, 75, left, and Kicky Clavell, 67, greet one another as their motorcade stops outside the VA Medical Center before a wreath laying ceremony, Monday, May 25, 2020, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Photo: AP)NEW YORK, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 1.8 million on Monday, reaching 1,804,206 as of 5:44 p.m. (2144 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

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  Nearly 26,000 nursing home deaths reported to feds as lockdowns ease

  Preston Griffin, who runs First Class Mortuary Transport, wear protective gear as he leaves area nursing home with a body in Philadelphia, Pa. on May 7, 2020. (Photo: AP)At least a quarter of the COVID-19 deaths in the United States were among nursing home residents, a new report said, a disclosure that came as coronavirus restrictions eased Monday even as U.S. protests against police brutality sparked fears of new outbreaks.The Florida Keys welcomed visitors for the first time in two months, the Colosseum opened its ancient doors in Rome, ferries restarted in Bangladesh and golfers played in Greece. But as tourist destinations worldwide reopened for business, new rules were in place to guard against the virus’ spread.“Bring facial coverings, gloves, hand sanitizer, reef-safe sunscreen and personal essential medicines. If you’re feeling unwell, please stay home,” the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, which includes the tourist-dependent Keys, said on its website.Meanwhile, the scope of the devastation in the nation’s nursing homes became clearer in a report prepared for U.S. governors that said nearly 26,000 nursing home residents have died from COVID-19 — a number that is partial and likely to go higher.The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 60,000 cases of coronavirus illness among nursing home residents, according to a copy of a letter addressed to the governors and an accompanying chart provided to The Associated Press.The data was based on reports received from about 80% of the nation’s 15,400 nursing homes as of May 24. But some states with high rates of nursing home deaths appeared to have some of the lowest levels of response to the federal data-gathering survey, intended as a first step toward developing policy changes.“This data, and anecdotal reports across the country, clearly show that nursing homes have been devastated by the virus,” wrote CDC Director Robert Redfield and CMS ...

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  Global COVID-19 cases top 6.2 mln: Johns Hopkins University

  A woman walks past a memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives to COVID-19 at Greenwood Cemetary on May 28, 2020 in New York City. (Photo: AFP)NEW YORK, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide topped 6.2 million on Monday, reaching 6,206,773 as of 11:32 a.m. (1532 GMT), according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.A total of 372,752 people worldwide have died of the disease, the data showed.The United States suffered the most from the pandemic, with 1,793,780 cases and a death toll of 104,450. Countries with over 200,000 cases also included Brazil, Russia, Britain, Spain and Italy, according to the CSSE data.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated May 31) ​

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Sunday, there have been 5,891,182 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 365,966 deaths, reported the WHO.A pedestrian wearing a face mask walks near the Empire State building during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, the United States, May 26, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, May 31):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 105,319 lives in theUS, the most of any country, with a total of 1,810,313 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7 pm BJT on Sunday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 inBrazilhave increased to 498,440 with 288,834 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russiahas confirmed 405,843 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 4,693.TheUKs confirmed cases have increased to 274,219, with the number of deaths at 38,458 according to the JHU virus tracker.Spainhas recorded 239,228 confirmed cases and 27,125 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 33,340 lives inItaly, bringing the total number of infections to 232,664.A total of 188,752 people inFrancehave tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 28,774.It is followed byGermanywith 8,539 deaths from 183,302 infections.Indiahas reported 182,681 COVID-19 cases and 5,188 deaths from the virus so far.Turkeyhas confirmed a total of 162,120 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 4,489.

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  Global COVID-19 cases top 6 mln -- Johns Hopkins University

  (Photo: AP)NEW YORK, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Global confirmed COVID-19 cases topped 6 million on Saturday, reaching 6,003,762 as of 4:32 p.m. (2032 GMT), according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.A total of 367,356 people worldwide have died of the disease, the data showed.The United States suffered the most from the pandemic, with 1,764,671 cases and a death toll of 103,605. Countries with over 200,000 cases also included Brazil, Russia, Britain, Spain, and Italy, according to the CSSE data.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated May 30)

  A couple watches TV while doing their laundry amid the coronavirus pandemic in the Vermont Square neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, May 21, 2020.Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Saturday, there have been 5,796,257 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 362,483 deaths, reported the WHO.Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, May 30):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 104,311 lives in theUS, the most of any country, with a total of 1,787,042 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7 pm BJT on Saturday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 inBrazilhave increased to 456,166 with 27,878 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russiahas confirmed 396,575 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 4,555.TheUKs confirmed cases have increased to 272,607, with the number of deaths at 38,243 according to the JHU virus tracker.Spainhas recorded 238,564 confirmed cases and 27,121 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 33,229 lives inItaly, bringing the total number of infections to 232,248.A total of 186,924 people inFrancehave tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 28,717.It is followed byGermanywith 8,519 deaths from 183,025 infections.Indiahas reported 174,301 COVID-19 cases and 4,981 deaths from the virus so far.Turkeyhas confirmed a total of 162,120 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 4,489.

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  Bangladesh sees biggest daily jump on COVID-19 deaths, tally crosses 600

  DHAKA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh recorded 28 new COVID-19 fatalities on Saturday, the highest increase in a single day since the pandemic started.A man wearing a face mask is seen at a makeshift market in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on April 30, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Professor Nasima Sultana, a senior health ministry official, told an online media briefing in Dhaka that 28 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed in a 24-hour period, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country since March to 610.According to the official, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased to 44,608 with the a rise of 1,764 cases in the last 24 hours as of 8:00 a.m. local time on Saturday.She said 9,987 samples were tested in the last 24 hours in scores of labs across Bangladesh.During the last 24 hours, 360 more patients were released from hospitals and clinics, bringing the number of recovered patients in the country to 9,375, said the official.

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  Russian COVID-19 cases exceed 390,000

  MOSCOW, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Russia confirmed 8,952 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, raising its total number of infections to 396,575, its coronavirus response center said in a statement Saturday.A medical worker wearing protective equipment sprays disinfectant at his ambulance after delivering a patient suspected of being infected with the coronavirus to the Pokrovskaya hospital in St.Petersburg, Russia, Monday, May 4, 2020. (Photo: AP)The death toll increased by 181 to 4,555, while 167,469 people have recovered, including 8,212 over the last 24 hours, according to the statement.Moscow, the countrys worst-hit region, confirmed 2,367 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking its total to 178,196.As of Friday, about 307,000 people were under medical observation, Russias consumer rights and human well-being watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said in a statement Saturday.More than 10.3 million lab tests for COVID-19 have been conducted across the country so far, it added.Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed a decree allocating 10.9 billion rubles (155 million U.S. dollars) to subsidize the countrys airports as the pandemic has greatly reduced passenger traffic, the government said Saturday.Russian gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 12 percent year-on-year in April due to coronavirus-related restrictions, official data showed earlier this week.

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  Singapore reports 506 COVID-19 cases, raising total to 34,366

  Bangkok (Peoples Daily) - Singapore reported 506 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections to 34,366, said its Ministry of Health.A woman walks along the shopping belt Orchard Road in Singapore on March 31, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Most of the new cases were foreign workers. Three of the new cases were Singaporeans or permanent residents.19,631 patients have recovered from the infection, seven patients are in critical condition and 23 deaths have been reported.

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  Egypt's COVID-19 cases surpass 20,000, with new record in daily rise

  A worker wearing a face mask is seen at a gas station in Cairo, Egypt, on April 28, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)CAIRO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Thursday set a new record of single-day rise in COVID-19 infections, with 1,127 new cases confirmed, bringing the total cases to 20,793.It was the first time for Egypts COVID-19 daily infections to surpass 1,000, after the country saw 910 infections on Wednesday, following eight consecutive days of registering over 700 daily infections.The Egyptian Health Ministry also reported 29 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, raising the death toll in the most populous Arab country to 845.On the same day, 154 coronavirus patients were completely cured and discharged from hospitals, increasing total recoveries to 5,359, said the ministrys spokesman Khaled Megahed in a statement.Egypt announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19 infection on Feb. 14, and the first death from the pandemic on March 8, both of whom were foreigners.The Health Ministry has recently prepared 320 public hospitals for receiving and treating coronavirus patients, besides those hospitals of chest diseases and fever that have been working with full capacity since the outbreak of the pandemic.Since the beginning of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday on May 24, Egypt extended a previously imposed nighttime curfew from nine hours to 13 hours for six days, to maintain social distancing and avoid gatherings amid increasing COVID-19 infections.From May 30, the curfew will be reduced to 10 hours for two weeks, and then the government will consider easing the restrictions and gradually resuming some suspended activities.The government has already started gradually reopening services and offices that have been suspended since mid-March amid a "coexistence plan" to maintain anti-coronavirus precautionary measures while resuming services, businesses and economic activities.The country has also allowed reopening of 78 hotels in seven provinces for local touri...

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  US deaths from coronavirus surpass 100,000 milestone

  Lonnie Youngblood, right, plays saxophone while waiting for friends and family to gather for the interment of Bishop Carl Williams, Jr. in Union, N.J., Thursday, May 21, 2020. (Photo: AP)The US surpassed a jarring milestone Wednesday in the coronavirus pandemic: 100,000 deaths.That number is the best estimate and most assuredly an undercount. But it represents the stark reality that more Americans have died from the virus than from the Vietnam and Korea wars combined.“It is a grim milestone,” said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy with the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington. “It’s a striking reminder of how dangerous this virus can be.”Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 5.6 million people and killed over 350,000, with the US having the most confirmed cases and deaths by far, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Europe has recorded about 170,000 deaths, while the US reached more than 100,000 in less than four months.At the end March, the United States eclipsed China with 3,500 deaths. Now, the U.S. has not only the highest death total, but the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the world, making up more than 30% of the global total.Early on, President Donald Trump downplayed the severity of the coronavirus and called it no worse than the common flu. He previously predicted the country wouldn’t reach this death toll. As early as March, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, was warning that COVID-19 could claim more than 100,000 lives in the U.S.“I think we’ll be substantially under that number,” Trump said on April 10. Ten days later, he said, “We’re going toward 50- or 60,000 people.” Ten days after that: “We’re probably heading to 60,000, 70,000.”Critics have said deaths spiked because Trump was slow to respond, but he has contended on Twitter that it could have been 20 times higher without his actions. He has urged states to reopen their economies after months of stay-at-hom...

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  India's COVID-19 fatality rate among lowest in the world: Health Ministry

  (Photo: Xinhua)NEW DELHI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- India has about 0.3 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 of population which is amongst the lowest in the world, against the statistics of 4.4 deaths per 100,000 population for the world, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Tuesday.It further said that the relatively low death figures, both in terms of mortality per 100,000 population and case fatality rate, represented timely case identification and clinical management of the cases in India.According to Tuesday mornings official data, total COVID-19 cases and the total number of deaths stood at 145,380 and 4,167, respectively.The federal government along with the states governments are taking several steps for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 through a graded, pre-emptive and pro-active approach. These are being regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, said the statement.The focus continues to be on prevention and containment measures so as to limit the spread of infection. Following of required hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and effective sanitation of frequently touched surfaces are critical to avoiding getting the infection.It also cautioned that there is a need to ensure appropriate behavior to tide over this crisis, including regular use of the masks/face-covers and working towards protecting the elderly and vulnerable.Maintenance of physical distancing in public is the social vaccine the world currently has against the COVID-19.India has rapidly grown its testing capacity and is on track to meet the emerging requirements. It is now testing an approximate 110,000 samples per day. Capacity has been increased by augmenting number of labs, shifts, RT-PCR machines and manpower.As of Tuesday, India has 612 total labs, 430 run by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and 182 in the private sector to test the population for COVID-19 infection.COVID-19 recovery rate in the country continues to improve a...

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  Indian state seeks more time to open airports as COVID-19 cases rise

  MUMBAI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Indias western state of Maharashtra has sought more time to open up the airports from the countrys federal government as the novel coronavirus cases continue to surge in the state.A migrant laborer walks to a railway station to take a special train for migrant laborers during the lockdown in New Delhi, India, May 7, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Addressing the citizens of the most industrialised state of the country with Mumbai as its political capital, Maharashtra, Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray said, "I understand the need for opening up air travel, but we need more time to prepare."Indias federal government has allowed domestic flights to resume from Monday but Maharashtra government is against allowing significant staff at airport as also plying of buses and cabs as the state accounts for one-third of the COVID-19 cases in the country."Its extremely ill-advised to reopen airports in red zone. Mere thermal scanning of passengers is inadequate without swabs. Impossible to have autos/cabs/buses ply in current circumstances. Adding positive passenger will add Covid stress to red zone," said Anil Deshmukh, Home Minister, Maharashtra state.So far Maharashtra has allowed special flight including international transfer passengers, medical emergencies, students among several others on compassionate grounds.While aviation is a federal subject, the support in terms of public transport to ferry passengers from and to their last mile destination lies with the state.

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  Calls grow for UK leader's aide to quit over lockdown trip

  Several lawmakers from Britains governing Conservative Party on Sunday joined opposition calls for Prime Minister Boris Johnsons top aide to be fired for allegedly violating the national coronavirus lockdown rules that he helped to create.Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnsons senior aid Dominic Cummings leaves his home, in London, Sunday, May 24, 2020. (Photo: AP)Adviser Dominic Cummings has defended his decision to drive 250 miles (400 kilometers) from London to his parents home in Durham, in northeast England, with his wife and son as he was coming down with COVID-19 at the end of March.Britains lockdown, which began March 23, stipulated that people should remain at their primary residence, leaving only for essential local errands and exercise. Anyone with coronavirus symptoms was told to completely isolate themselves."Dominic Cummings has a track record of believing that the rules dont apply to him and treating the scrutiny that should come to anyone in a position of authority with contempt," tweeted Conservative lawmaker Damian Collins. "The government would be better without him."Another Tory legislator, Steve Baker, said Cummings must resign for not "abiding by the spirit, at least, of the slogans which he has enforced on the rest of the country.""It is very clear that Dominic traveled when everybody else understood Dominics slogans to mean stay at home, protect the (health service) and save lives," Baker told Sky News.The government has defended Cummings, saying he traveled to be near extended family because his wife was showing COVID-19 symptoms, he correctly thought he was also infected and he wanted to ensure that his 4-year-old son was looked after.The coronavirus cut a swath through the top ranks of Britains government in March and April, infecting people including Cummings, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Johnson himself, who has said that...

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  White House goal on testing nursing homes unmet

  Nearly two weeks ago the White House urged governors to ensure that every nursing home resident and staff member be tested for the coronavirus within 14 days.Its not going to happen.Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, speaks with reporters about the coronavirus in the James Brady Briefing Room of the White House, Friday, May 22, 2020, in Washington. (Photo: AP)A review by The Associated Press found that at least half of the states are not going to meet White Houses deadline and some arent even bothering to try.Only a handful of states, including West Virginia and Rhode Island, have said theyve already tested every nursing home resident.Many states said the logistics, costs and manpower needs are too great to test all residents and staff in a two-week window. Some say they need another week or so, while others say they need much more time. California, the most populous state, said it is still working to release a plan that would ensure testing capacity for all residents and staff at skilled nursing facilities statewide.And still other states are questioning whether testing every nursing home resident and staff, regardless of any other factors, is a good use of time and money."At this time it would be fairly useless to do that," said Nebraska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Anthone, adding that the state would have to repeat the tests almost daily to get more than a snapshot in time, and the state doesnt have the capacity when there are others who need to be tested.Anthone said the state was going to stick with the CDCs guidelines, which call for testing individually when nursing home residents show symptoms or collectively if there is a new confirmed case of COVID-19 in a home.The varying responses by states to nursing home testing is another example of the countrys patchwork response to the pandemic that also underscores the Trump administrations limited influence. The pre...

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  States' reporting of virus testing data leads to confusion

  Elected officials, businesses and others are depending on coronavirus testing and infection-rate data as states reopen so that they will know if a second wave of contagion is coming — and whether another round of stay-at-home orders or closings might be needed.In this May 14, 2020, file photo, Jerry A Mann, center, is held by his grandmother, Sylvia Rubio, as he is tested for COVID-19 by the San Antonio Fire Department at a free walk-up test site in San Antonio.(Photo: AP)But states are reporting those figures in different ways, and that can lead to frustration and confusion about what the numbers mean. In some places, there have been data gaps that leave local leaders wondering whether they should loosen or tighten restrictions. In others, officials are accused of spinning the numbers to make their states look better and justify reopening.In a continuing theme for the outbreak in the United States, a lack of federal leadership persists. Even the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been lumping together tests that measure different things.Such errors render the CDC numbers about how many Americans are infected "uninterpretable," creating a misleading picture for people trying to make decisions based on the data, said Ashish Jha, director of Harvards Global Health Institute,"It is incumbent on health departments and the CDC to make sure theyre presenting information thats accurate. And if they cant get it, then dont show the data at all," Jha said. "Faulty data is much, much worse than no data."Officials at the CDC and in multiple states have acknowledged that they combined the results of viral tests, which detect active cases of the virus essentially from the onset of infection, with antibody tests, which check for proteins that develop a week or more after infection and show whether a person has been exposed at some point in the past.Viral test results should be reported separately, ...

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  Some of Israel's Lebanon veterans still searching for help

  Two decades after the end of the war in Lebanon, Israeli veterans still deal with dark memories of the conflict, arguing that many comrades were denied the help they needed.Israeli veterans march in Tel Aviv to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Israels withdrawal from southern Lebanon (Photo: AFP)"When we were in Lebanon, we counted on each other. Today as well we need to support each other," said Avi Maier, 50, at a veterans march in Tel Aviv, marking two decades since the Israeli withdrawal.Israel does not officially consider as a "war" its 1982-2000 occupation of southern Lebanon where thousands of it troops battled the Iran-backed Hezbollah Shiite militia and Palestinian forces.That means Israeli veterans were not systematically offered support for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other scars left by the bloody 18-year-long conflict."They were sent to psychiatric hospitals, which is not appropriate," said Maier, a man with long, greying hair who spent 11 year in the army and carried out multiple missions in south Lebanon.Maier is now seeking to set up a support centre for former soldiers suffering from PTSD, together with Oshrit Shtark, whose brother Erez died at age 21 along with 72 others when two Israeli military helicopters collided en route to Lebanon."These are people who saw death close up, their friends dying, or got wounded -- for them life is not simple," Shtark told AFP, wearing a t-shirt bearing a picture of her late brothers face."We want to help them have a better life," added Maier, clutching the Israeli flag. "We are alive thanks to them, the people owe them."- Need to share -The Israeli army first invaded Lebanon in March 1978, citing the need to stop attacks by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), which it pushed back several dozen kilometres (miles) to the north before withdrawing in June.Four years later the Israel Defense Force...

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  Europeans soak up the sun but virus travel rules a mishmash

  Europeans and Americans soaked up the sun where they could, taking advantage of the first holiday weekend since coronavirus restrictions were eased, while European governments grappled with how and when to safely let in foreign travelers to salvage the vital summer tourist season.Sunbathers catch the last rays of evening light, amid the coronavirus pandemic, Saturday, May 23, 2020, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Photo: AP)Yet even as social distancing rules spread families and friends out Sunday across beaches and parks, the virus remained a constant threat. The United States was on track to surpass 100,000 coronavirus deaths in the next few days, while Europe has seen over 169,000 dead, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.The New York Times marked the horror by devoting Sundays entire front page to a long list of names of those who have died in the pandemic in the U.S. under a headline that called it "An Incalculable Loss."President Donald Trump played golf at one of his courses during the Memorial Day weekend as he urged U.S. states to reopen their coronavirus lockdowns. However, many Americans were cautious as the number of confirmed cases passed 1.6 million nationwide.Across Europe, a mishmash of travel restrictions appears to be on the horizon, often depending on where travelers live and what passports they carry. Germany, France and other European countries aim to open their borders for European travel in mid-June but it isnt clear when intercontinental travel will resume.Spain, one of the worst-hit countries in the pandemic and also one of the worlds top destinations for international travelers, says it wont reopen for foreign tourists until July. To boost the economy, the countrys leader has encouraged Spaniards to "start planning their vacations" for late June inside Spain."Come July, we will allow the arrival of foreign tourists to Spain under safe conditions," Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez s...

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  Clap for Carers campaign should end next week in UK: creator

  LONDON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The creator of the "Clap for Carers" initiative in Britain has said the next nationwide round of applause for frontline workers should be the last one, the Evening Standard newspaper reported.Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause to salute local heroes during the nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Thursday, April 2, 2020, in Liverpool, England. (Photo: AP)Since March 26, the campaign has been taking place every Thursday night from the countrys doorsteps, windows, gardens and balconies in a show of appreciation to doctors, nurses and all other people involved in tackling the spread of COVID-19.But its founder, Annemarie Plas, has said that it would be "beautiful" to end Clap for Carers after its 10th week, and make it an annual event."I think its good to have the last of the series next Thursday, because to have the most impact I think it is good to stop it at its peak...Without getting too political, I share some of the opinions that some people have about it becoming politicised," Plas, a 36-year-old yoga teacher from south London, was quoted by the newspaper as saying."I think the narrative is starting to change and I dont want the clap to be negative," she was quoted.Another 282 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Friday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 36,675, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Saturday.The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.Meanwhile, 2,959 people have been confirmed positive for the virus, bringing the total confirmed cases in Britain to 257,154 as of Saturday morning.

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  Africa's COVID-19 death toll surpasses 3,200 as total cases exceed 107,000

  ADDIS ABABA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases across Africa rose from 103,933 on Saturday morning to 107,412 as of Sunday morning, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Sunday.Medical workers wait for visitors at a COVID-19 insepction point in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 12, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)The continental disease control and prevention agency, which noted that the virus has so far spread into 54 African countries, also disclosed that some 42,626 people who have been infected with the COVID-19 have recovered across the continent as of Sunday morning.The death toll due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the African continent also surged from 3,183 on Saturday morning to 3,246 as of Sunday morning, according to the Africa CDC.The Africa CDC added that the Northern African region is the most affected area across the continent both in terms of positive COVID-19 cases, as well as the number of deaths.

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  Japan to fully lift COVID-19 emergency state in Tokyo area, Hokkaido

  Japanese experts and officials have urged people to adopt new lifestyles(Photo: AP)TOKYO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government plans to fully lift the state of emergency in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Hokkaido on Monday, economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said Sunday.The decision came as the number of new COVID-19 cases is on a declining trend and the medical system also improved.Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama and Hokkaido were the last remaining areas under the state of emergency among the countrys 47 prefectures.Nishimura, who is in charge of the emergency response, said an advisory panel of health experts will meet on Monday morning to discuss the lifting of the emergency."For the most part, there is no change in the trend of decline (in new infection cases)," Nishimura said at a press conference.The confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country increased by 26 to reach 16,569, according to the latest figures from the health ministry and local authorities on Sunday.The number excludes the 712 cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama near Tokyo.In Tokyo, 14 new infections were reported on Sunday, raising the total number in the prefecture to 5,152 so far, while nine deaths were confirmed on the same day.

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  The latest: COVID-19 outbreak worldwide (Updated May 24)

  Globally, as of 7 pm BJT on Sunday, there have been 5,165,481 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 336,430 deaths, reported the WHO.A customer shops at a supermarket, as the Slovenian government lifted more restrictions imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Ljubljana, Slovenia, May 21, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)Current status (data as of 7 pm BJT, May 24):Sources: Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies.The outbreak has now claimed 97,566 lives in the US, the most of any country, with a total of 1,660,568 infections, according to a tally by the 1Point3Acres virus tracker as of 7 pm BJT on Sunday.Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have increased to 347,398 with 22,013 deaths, Johns Hopkins reported.Russia has confirmed 344,481 cases of COVID-19, with the number of deaths at 3,541.The UKs confirmed cases have increased to 258,509, with the number of deaths at 36,757, according to the JHU virus tracker.Spain has recorded 235,290 confirmed cases and 28,678 deaths.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 32,735 lives in Italy, bringing the total number of infections to 229,327.A total of 182,036 people in France have tested positive for COVID-19, with the death toll at 28,218.It is followed by Germany with 8,274 deaths from 179,986 infections.Turkey has confirmed a total of 155,686 COVID-19 cases, raising the number of deaths to 4,308.Iran has reported 135,701 COVID-19 cases and 7,417 deaths from the virus so far.

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  Moroccans trapped in Spain for 2 months head home at last

  Its a reverse migrant crisis: Moroccan workers trapped in Spain are begging their own government to let them come back home.In this Friday, May 22, 2020, photo, Moroccan citizens wait for repatriation after being stranded in Spain due to the coronavirus pandemic in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Spain. (Photo: AP)Construction worker Mohammed Benali is among hundreds of Moroccans who headed to their jobs in Spains North African enclave of Ceuta one day in March thinking theyd be home for dinner — but instead they found themselves trapped for more than two months by Moroccos abrupt and unusually strict border closures to keep out the virus.They have slept in a parking lot, gyms, mosques, churches or with generous employers. One stranded woman gave birth. A few were so desperate they jumped into the Mediterranean Sea to swim home.At last, Morocco is starting to allow them back.Benali, who reached Moroccan soil on Friday, was so shaken by the experience that he told The Associated Press: "Ill never return to Ceuta again." Others are still stuck, their return dates uncertain.While countries around the world closed their borders to foreigners to keep out the virus, Morocco went even farther, barring its own citizens from coming home in hopes of limiting the risk of coronavirus arriving on Moroccan soil and overwhelming its underprepared hospitals.That left more than 21,000 Moroccans stranded around the world. They include legal workers in the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla who live in Morocco and work in Spain in construction, commerce, or as domestic employees, as well as undocumented migrants whose jobs have dried up amid economic shutdowns and Moroccan tourists whose visas have now expired.When she was nine months pregnant, Houria Douas went to Ceuta to visit her brother and buy baby clothes but ended up getting stuck. She gave birth to her firstborn in a Ceuta hospital because Morocco wouldnt allow her to come home.H...

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  Trump plays golf for 1st time since the coronavirus pandemic

  President Donald Trump played golf Saturday for the first time since he declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency more than two months ago, leading to the shutdown of much of American society. His return to the course was the latest sign that he wants the country back to pre-outbreak times, even as the U.S. death toll from the virus nears 100,000, twice what he once predicted it would be.The motorcade for President Donald Trump arrives at Trump National Golf Club, Saturday, May 23, 2020, in Sterling, Va. (Photo: AP)Trump also planned Memorial Day visits to Arlington National Cemetery and the Fort McHenry national monument in Baltimore, followed by a trip to Floridas coast on Wednesday to watch to U.S. astronauts blast into orbit.The golf outing came a day after Trump said houses of worship are "essential" and he demanded that governors allow them to reopen during the holiday weekend. It also followed guidance from Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, that it was OK for people to be outdoors this weekend as long as they took appropriate safety precautions.Trump pulled away from the White House on a sunny morning wearing a white polo shirt, white cap and dark slacks. Photographs that appeared later on Twitter showed him swinging a golf club and driving alone in a cart on the course at his priv