A man wearing a face mask as a preventive measure against the novel coronavirus COVID-19, walks by a graffiti in Bogota on August 25, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

The total number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide has increased to 817,373 with the global confirmed cases reaching 23,813,181 as of 10:30 am BJT on Wednesday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. 

Current status (data as of 10:30 am BJT, August 26):

China has approved human trials for a new COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which was produced by the use of insect cells. The vaccine is designed to trigger antibodies against specific areas on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Hong Kong reported 19 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday as Chief Executive Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor urged the city's prominent medical professionals to express their views regarding universal community testing "responsibly" as it is an important public health matter.

The coronavirus pandemic is still raging worldwide, but fresh World Health Organization data indicates its pace is easing in most regions, with the biggest slowdown seen in the hard-hit Americas.

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of President Jair Bolsonaro, said on Tuesday he had been tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Egypt has received 126,000 tourists since it reopened its seaside resorts to international flights and foreign tourists on July 1, after a three-month halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khaled al-Anany, said on Aug. 24.