Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday praised the efforts of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for fast-tracking financial assistance of about USD 10 billion to its member countries including India to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

Attending the fifth annual meeting of the Board of Governors of AIIB through video conference in the national capital, Sitharaman mentioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of creating a COVID-19 emergency fund for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations and India's efforts in supplying critical medical health kits to tackle COVID-19, and now supporting global efforts of coronavirus vaccine trials.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-launches-state-of-the-art-coronavirus-facility-316270" hreflang="en">PM Narendra Modi launches 'state of the art' coronavirus facility</a>

Besides, the Finance Minister highlighted India's participation in the "G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative". She also outlined various measures taken by the Centre to respond to the COVID-19, including the USD 23 Billion Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKP) and USD 295 Billion Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package (ANBP), which aim at protecting all sectors and sections of the economy.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/spike-of-47704-cases-654-fatalities-push-indias-tally-to-1483156-316438" hreflang="en">Spike of 47,704 cases, 654 fatalities push India's tally to 14,83,156</a>

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) eased the monetary policy especially reduced reserve requirements and introduced liquidity in the economy to the extent of almost 3.9 per cent of GDP, she added.

Mentioning the steps taken to give a boost to the infrastructure development, she said: "India has launched the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) 2020-2025 with an estimated expenditure of USD 1.4 trillion that has created a plethora of fresh investment opportunities for AIIB`s partnerships."

Furthermore, she stressed on some of the expectations from the bank, including the introduction of new financing instruments, mobilising private sector finance, providing financing for social infrastructure to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, and integrating the development of climate-resilient and sustainable energy access infrastructure into the recovery response to the COVID-19 crisis.&nbsp;

Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday praised the efforts of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for fast-tracking financial assistance of about USD 10 billion to its member countries including India to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday praised the efforts of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for fast-tracking financial assistance of about USD 10 billion to its member countries including India to combat COVID-19 pandemic. Attending the fifth annual meeting of the Board of Governors of AIIB through video conference in the national capital, Sitharaman mentioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of creating a COVID-19 emergency fund for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations and India's efforts in supplying critical medical health kits to tackle COVID-19, and now supporting global efforts of coronavirus vaccine trials. Also read: PM Narendra Modi launches 'state of the art' coronavirus facility Besides, the Finance Minister highlighted India's participation in the "G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative". She also outlined various measures taken by the Centre to respond to the COVID-19, including the USD 23 Billion Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKP) and USD 295 Billion Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package (ANBP), which aim at protecting all sectors and sections of the economy. Also read: Spike of 47,704 cases, 654 fatalities push India's tally to 14,83,156 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) eased the monetary policy especially reduced reserve requirements and introduced liquidity in the economy to the extent of almost 3.9 per cent of GDP, she added. Mentioning the steps taken to give a boost to the infrastructure development, she said: "India has launched the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) 2020-2025 with an estimated expenditure of USD 1.4 trillion that has created a plethora of fresh investment opportunities for AIIB`s partnerships." Furthermore, she stressed on some of the expectations from the bank, including the introduction of new financing instruments, mobilising private sector finance, providing financing for social infrastructure to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, and integrating the development of climate-resilient and sustainable energy access infrastructure into the recovery response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Sitharaman praises AIIB for fast-tracking financial aid to combat COVID-19

The spread of the novel coronavirus does not appear to be impacted by seasonality, the&nbsp;World&nbsp;Health&nbsp;Organization&nbsp;said Tuesday, warning against false beliefs that summer is safer.&nbsp;

"Season does not seem to be affecting the transmission of this virus," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters in a virtual briefing.

She pointed out that some of the hardest-hit countries are currently in the midst of different season.&nbsp;Pointing to high case numbers at the height of the US&nbsp;summer, she urged vigilance in applying measures and warned against mass gatherings.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/human-lives-above-profits-pandemic-being-exploited-to-earn-hefty-profit-316543" hreflang="en">Human lives above profits? Pandemic being exploited to earn hefty profit</a>

While it is summer in the United States, which with nearly 148,000 deaths and close to 4.3 million cases is the hardest-hit country, the second most affected country Brazil, which counts more than 87,000 deaths, is in winter.

Instead of expecting the virus to behave like other viruses that are more familiar, she said people should look at what is actually known about how to stop transmission of COVID-19.

What works, she said, is physical distancing, hand washing, wearing a mask where appropriate, always covering up sneezes and coughs, staying home when experiencing symptoms, the isolation of cases and quarantining of contacts.

"But at the moment, we aren't doing that, because people seem to have it fixed in their heads that there is this seasonal thing and there seems to... be this persistent belief that summer is not a problem," Harris said.

"Summer is a problem. This virus likes all weathers, but what it particularly likes is jumping from one person to another when we come in close contact," Harris said.&nbsp;

The spread of the novel coronavirus does not appear to be impacted by seasonality, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, warning against false beliefs that summer is safer.

The spread of the novel coronavirus does not appear to be impacted by seasonality, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, warning against false beliefs that summer is safer. "Season does not seem to be affecting the transmission of this virus," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters in a virtual briefing. She pointed out that some of the hardest-hit countries are currently in the midst of different season. Pointing to high case numbers at the height of the US summer, she urged vigilance in applying measures and warned against mass gatherings. Also read: Human lives above profits? Pandemic being exploited to earn hefty profit While it is summer in the United States, which with nearly 148,000 deaths and close to 4.3 million cases is the hardest-hit country, the second most affected country Brazil, which counts more than 87,000 deaths, is in winter. Instead of expecting the virus to behave like other viruses that are more familiar, she said people should look at what is actually known about how to stop transmission of COVID-19. What works, she said, is physical distancing, hand washing, wearing a mask where appropriate, always covering up sneezes and coughs, staying home when experiencing symptoms, the isolation of cases and quarantining of contacts. "But at the moment, we aren't doing that, because people seem to have it fixed in their heads that there is this seasonal thing and there seems to... be this persistent belief that summer is not a problem," Harris said. "Summer is a problem. This virus likes all weathers, but what it particularly likes is jumping from one person to another when we come in close contact," Harris said.

COVID-19 pandemic is one big wave, not seasonal: World Health Organization

'Contagion' to 'Simpsons', movies-shows that predicted coronavirus years ago

US President Donald Trump vowed to defeat the coronavirus by "unleashing American scientific genius" as he toured a COVID-19 vaccine facility in the swing state of North Carolina on Monday. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-nsa-robert-obrien-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-316315">ALSO READ | Trump's NSA Robert O'Brien tests positive for coronavirus</a>

Trump appears to have pinned his hopes on the swift emergence of a successful vaccine to both contain the country's still raging epidemic and revive his faltering re-election hopes.

"We will achieve a victory over the virus by unleashing American scientific genius," he told reporters at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies in Morrisville, hours after it was revealed national security advisor Robert O'Brien had tested positive.

The facility has been awarded a contract to mass produce an experimental vaccine developed by Novavax, as part of a multi-billion dollar government initiative dubbed Operation Warp Speed.

The plan involves investing heavily in leading pharmaceuticals to aid their development and manufacturing efforts, with the goal of delivering 300 million doses of vaccine by January 2021.

It's "never been done before, but we suspect it's going to work, and work very well," added Trump, who later donned a black mask and toured the lab.

The United States is by far the worst-hit country in the world, with more than 4.2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and nearly 150,000 deaths.

Though the number of new cases has leveled off over the past few days, the US has failed to push its curve down as other nations have done through lockdowns and physical distancing.

Trump's latest comments confirmed that the administration believes that, in America's case, only a vaccine can help.

"It's not masks. It's not shutting down the economy. Hopefully, it is American ingenuity that will allow for therapies and vaccines to ultimately conquer this," White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told ABC News on Sunday.

The virus has also repeatedly penetrated Trump's inner circle, with O'Brien the latest and most senior White House aide to test positive.

He "has been self-isolating and working from a secure location off site," the White House said in a statement Monday, adding that there was "no risk of exposure to the president or the vice president."

Others who have been previously infected include Vice President Mike Pence's spokeswoman Katie Miller, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, a top fundraiser for the Trump campaign and his elder son's girlfriend. 
Results by November?&nbsp;

The US has spent more than $6.3 billion since March to fund vaccine development efforts under Operation Warp Speed.

The program is unabashed in its aims to procure vaccines for the American people first -- unlike European leaders who have called for COVID-19 drugs to be a "global public good."

Pharmaceutical newcomer Moderna, which, alongside AstraZeneca and two Chinese firms is among those furthest in its development timeline, began the final stage of its clinical trial Monday.

The trial is being co-conducted by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) across the United States and is expected to enroll approximately 30,000 adult volunteers.

Participants will get two doses of the vaccine given 28 days apart.

The first volunteer, a Black woman identified as Robyn, participated in a video chat hosted by the NIH on Monday, telling viewers her friends and relatives had initially told her "it was a bad idea."

"And the reason for that was because in the African American community, we are all familiar with the Tuskegee experiments," she added, referring to a 40-year-study the US conducted on Black men to see the effects of untreated syphilis.

The men involved were kept in the dark about cures on purpose.

But, added Robyn, she was encouraged by laws that are now in place to prevent a repetition, and motivated by the desire to help others against a disease that disproportionately impacts communities of color.

An irony of the process is that, given the rampant nature of the US epidemic, results could come far sooner than the two years the trial is set to run.

Daily new cases have plateaued around the 66,000 mark for the past few days, making it more likely that trial participants will be exposed to the virus sooner rather than later.

"It's a really optimistic scenario. It could be November," Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told CNBC on Monday.

US President Donald Trump vowed to defeat the coronavirus by "unleashing American scientific genius" as he toured a COVID-19 vaccine facility in the swing state of North Carolina on Monday.

US President Donald Trump vowed to defeat the coronavirus by "unleashing American scientific genius" as he toured a COVID-19 vaccine facility in the swing state of North Carolina on Monday. ALSO READ | Trump's NSA Robert O'Brien tests positive for coronavirus Trump appears to have pinned his hopes on the swift emergence of a successful vaccine to both contain the country's still raging epidemic and revive his faltering re-election hopes. "We will achieve a victory over the virus by unleashing American scientific genius," he told reporters at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies in Morrisville, hours after it was revealed national security advisor Robert O'Brien had tested positive. The facility has been awarded a contract to mass produce an experimental vaccine developed by Novavax, as part of a multi-billion dollar government initiative dubbed Operation Warp Speed. The plan involves investing heavily in leading pharmaceuticals to aid their development and manufacturing efforts, with the goal of delivering 300 million doses of vaccine by January 2021. It's "never been done before, but we suspect it's going to work, and work very well," added Trump, who later donned a black mask and toured the lab. The United States is by far the worst-hit country in the world, with more than 4.2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and nearly 150,000 deaths. Though the number of new cases has leveled off over the past few days, the US has failed to push its curve down as other nations have done through lockdowns and physical distancing. Trump's latest comments confirmed that the administration believes that, in America's case, only a vaccine can help. "It's not masks. It's not shutting down the economy. Hopefully, it is American ingenuity that will allow for therapies and vaccines to ultimately conquer this," White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told ABC News on Sunday. The virus has also repeatedly penetrated Trump's inner circle, with O'Brien the latest and most senior White House aide to test positive. He "has been self-isolating and working from a secure location off site," the White House said in a statement Monday, adding that there was "no risk of exposure to the president or the vice president." Others who have been previously infected include Vice President Mike Pence's spokeswoman Katie Miller, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, a top fundraiser for the Trump campaign and his elder son's girlfriend. Results by November? The US has spent more than $6.3 billion since March to fund vaccine development efforts under Operation Warp Speed. The program is unabashed in its aims to procure vaccines for the American people first -- unlike European leaders who have called for COVID-19 drugs to be a "global public good." Pharmaceutical newcomer Moderna, which, alongside AstraZeneca and two Chinese firms is among those furthest in its development timeline, began the final stage of its clinical trial Monday. The trial is being co-conducted by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) across the United States and is expected to enroll approximately 30,000 adult volunteers. Participants will get two doses of the vaccine given 28 days apart. The first volunteer, a Black woman identified as Robyn, participated in a video chat hosted by the NIH on Monday, telling viewers her friends and relatives had initially told her "it was a bad idea." "And the reason for that was because in the African American community, we are all familiar with the Tuskegee experiments," she added, referring to a 40-year-study the US conducted on Black men to see the effects of untreated syphilis. The men involved were kept in the dark about cures on purpose. But, added Robyn, she was encouraged by laws that are now in place to prevent a repetition, and motivated by the desire to help others against a disease that disproportionately impacts communities of color. An irony of the process is that, given the rampant nature of the US epidemic, results could come far sooner than the two years the trial is set to run. Daily new cases have plateaued around the 66,000 mark for the past few days, making it more likely that trial participants will be exposed to the virus sooner rather than later. "It's a really optimistic scenario. It could be November," Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told CNBC on Monday.

We will achieve a victory over the virus by unleashing America's scientific genius: Trump

The world of sports and cinema are also adapting to the new rules of the post-pandemic world. One F1 race track has now been turned into a drive-in cinema in Mexico. Watch report.

WION Dispatch: Films move out of cinema halls to F1 track in Mexico

The coronavirus severely disrupted the academic calendar across the globe. Schools were shut and children were confined to their homes for months. Some countries were the COVID-19 pandemic is slowly coming under control, schools are reopening. Watch report on schools re-opening in Indonesia.

Fineprint: Is it too early to reopen schools? Indonesia re-open schools in COVID-19 pandemic

An Indian consular officer on Friday briefed Queen Elizabeth II about the close collaboration between the UK and India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sanjibita Tariang, who works at the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, narrated her experience of helping stranded British travellers get home during India's lockdown, according to a statment by British High commission.&nbsp;

She described how the "UK in India" team rose to the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID 19, through collaborative working between India and London, and with exceptional cooperation from the Indian authorities.

The UK repatriated nearly 18,000 travellers from India on 66 charter flights, from 11 Indian cities, between April and June.

The engagement took place during a virtual unveiling of a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth. The artwork, painted by artist Miriam Escofet, will be on display in the refurbished reception of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The Queen praised FCO staff members for their work in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the engagement, the Queen spoke to staff who worked on the repatriation effort and also heard about the work the UK Government is doing internationally to develop a vaccine.

Narrating her experience, Tariang said: "Organising the repatriation flights was a huge and complex operation involving thorough planning and coordination. We also had to obtain movement permissions during a nationwide lockdown - the main challenge was to organise transport from remote places like Meghalaya and Manipur for a journey spanning 32 hours," she said.

"I used my local networks and Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Nepali language skills to organise a safe journey for some of the most vulnerable and elderly British nationals. For example: arranging a bus all the way from Shillong to Kolkata; requesting assistance from police officers to help passengers cross borders; and getting hotels to open their restaurants for dinner and packing breakfast for long journeys - all so passengers could catch their flight in the nick of time," she added.

An Indian consular officer on Friday briefed Queen Elizabeth II about the close collaboration between the UK and India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sanjibita Tariang, who works at the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, narrated her experience of helping stranded British travellers get home during India's lockdown, according to a statment by British High commission.

An Indian consular officer on Friday briefed Queen Elizabeth II about the close collaboration between the UK and India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sanjibita Tariang, who works at the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, narrated her experience of helping stranded British travellers get home during India's lockdown, according to a statment by British High commission. She described how the "UK in India" team rose to the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID 19, through collaborative working between India and London, and with exceptional cooperation from the Indian authorities. The UK repatriated nearly 18,000 travellers from India on 66 charter flights, from 11 Indian cities, between April and June. The engagement took place during a virtual unveiling of a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth. The artwork, painted by artist Miriam Escofet, will be on display in the refurbished reception of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Queen praised FCO staff members for their work in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the engagement, the Queen spoke to staff who worked on the repatriation effort and also heard about the work the UK Government is doing internationally to develop a vaccine. Narrating her experience, Tariang said: "Organising the repatriation flights was a huge and complex operation involving thorough planning and coordination. We also had to obtain movement permissions during a nationwide lockdown - the main challenge was to organise transport from remote places like Meghalaya and Manipur for a journey spanning 32 hours," she said. "I used my local networks and Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Nepali language skills to organise a safe journey for some of the most vulnerable and elderly British nationals. For example: arranging a bus all the way from Shillong to Kolkata; requesting assistance from police officers to help passengers cross borders; and getting hotels to open their restaurants for dinner and packing breakfast for long journeys - all so passengers could catch their flight in the nick of time," she added.

Indian consular officer briefs queen Elizabeth about India-UK collaboration during Covid-19 

On July 24, the Israeli embassy in India said that Tel Aviv has decided to send India this week a team of scientists working to develop a rapid testing kit for coronavirus.

Israel team arrives in India to develop rapid COVID-19 testing

China reported 61 new cases of coronavirus on Monday. The country has recorded the highest surge in daily cases since April.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worldwide-coronavirus-cases-cross-16-million-death-toll-at-647846-316155" hreflang="en">Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 16 million, death toll at 647,846</a>

According to the National Health Commission, 57 cases were reported from in the far northwestern Xinjiang region after a sudden outbreak in the regional capital of Urumqi.&nbsp;

14 cases were recorded in the northeastern province of Liaoning where fresh cluster broke out in the city of Dalian last week.

Two more local cases were found in the neighbouring province of Jilin near the North Korean border -- the first since late May.

The last four infections confirmed on Monday were imported from overseas.

This is the highest daily figures of new cases of coronavirus since April 14. On April 14, 89 cases were recorded, with most of them being imported.&nbsp;

Chinese authorities have begun mass testing for the residents of the port city of Dalian.

On Sunday, a second wave mass testing for residents in Xinjiang was also launched to detect people who had previously tested false negative, reported the state-run Global Times.&nbsp;

In the city of 3.5 million, more than 2.5 million people have been tested so far, according to a local press conference Friday.

While European countries are reopening their borders, the virus is on the rise in the US, India, and Latin America.&nbsp;

According to Johns Hopkins University, there are at least 16.1 million infected worldwide, while the global death toll has surpassed 600,000.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un declared an emergency and a lockdown in a border town after a person suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus returned from South Korea after illegally crossing the border, state media said on Sunday.

China reported 61 new cases of coronavirus on Monday. The country has recorded the highest surge in daily cases since April. Also read: Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 16 million, death toll at 647,846 According to the National Health Commission, 57 cases were reported from in the far northwestern Xinjiang region after a sudden outbreak in the regional capital of Urumqi.

China reported 61 new cases of coronavirus on Monday. The country has recorded the highest surge in daily cases since April. Also read: Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 16 million, death toll at 647,846 According to the National Health Commission, 57 cases were reported from in the far northwestern Xinjiang region after a sudden outbreak in the regional capital of Urumqi. 14 cases were recorded in the northeastern province of Liaoning where fresh cluster broke out in the city of Dalian last week. Two more local cases were found in the neighbouring province of Jilin near the North Korean border -- the first since late May. The last four infections confirmed on Monday were imported from overseas. This is the highest daily figures of new cases of coronavirus since April 14. On April 14, 89 cases were recorded, with most of them being imported. Chinese authorities have begun mass testing for the residents of the port city of Dalian. On Sunday, a second wave mass testing for residents in Xinjiang was also launched to detect people who had previously tested false negative, reported the state-run Global Times. In the city of 3.5 million, more than 2.5 million people have been tested so far, according to a local press conference Friday. While European countries are reopening their borders, the virus is on the rise in the US, India, and Latin America. According to Johns Hopkins University, there are at least 16.1 million infected worldwide, while the global death toll has surpassed 600,000. Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un declared an emergency and a lockdown in a border town after a person suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus returned from South Korea after illegally crossing the border, state media said on Sunday.

China records highest surge in coronavirus cases since April

India's coronavirus tally climbed to 1,385,522 on Sunday, with 48,661 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day.

The recoveries have mounted to 8,85,576, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The COVID-19 death toll in the country rose to 32,063 with 705 fatalities being recorded in a day. There are 4,67,882 active cases of coronavirus infection presently in the country. Thus, around 63.92 per cent people have recovered so far.

This is the fourth consecutive day when COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 45,000.

According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 1,62,91,331 samples have been tested up to July 25 with 4,42,263 samples being tested on Saturday, the highest in a day.

Of the 705 deaths reported, 257 are from Maharashtra, 89 from Tamil Nadu, 72 from Karnataka, 52 from Andhra Pradesh, 42 from West Bengal, 39 from Uttar Pradesh, 29 from Delhi, 22 from Gujarat, 14 from Bihar, 12 from Jharkhand, 11 from Rajasthan and 10 from Odisha.

Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir have reported nine fatalities each followed by Madhya Pradesh with eight deaths, Haryana seven, Kerela five, Goa four, Chhattisgarh, Puducherry, Uttarakhand and Nagaland &nbsp;three each, while Assam and Ladakh have registered a fatality each.

(with inputs from agencies)

India's coronavirus tally climbed to 1,385,522 on Sunday, with 48,661 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day. The recoveries have mounted to 8,85,576, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

India's coronavirus tally climbed to 1,385,522 on Sunday, with 48,661 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day. The recoveries have mounted to 8,85,576, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The COVID-19 death toll in the country rose to 32,063 with 705 fatalities being recorded in a day. There are 4,67,882 active cases of coronavirus infection presently in the country. Thus, around 63.92 per cent people have recovered so far. This is the fourth consecutive day when COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 45,000. According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 1,62,91,331 samples have been tested up to July 25 with 4,42,263 samples being tested on Saturday, the highest in a day. Of the 705 deaths reported, 257 are from Maharashtra, 89 from Tamil Nadu, 72 from Karnataka, 52 from Andhra Pradesh, 42 from West Bengal, 39 from Uttar Pradesh, 29 from Delhi, 22 from Gujarat, 14 from Bihar, 12 from Jharkhand, 11 from Rajasthan and 10 from Odisha. Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir have reported nine fatalities each followed by Madhya Pradesh with eight deaths, Haryana seven, Kerela five, Goa four, Chhattisgarh, Puducherry, Uttarakhand and Nagaland three each, while Assam and Ladakh have registered a fatality each. (with inputs from agencies)

India's COVID-19 tally climbs to 1,385,522; over 48,000 in last 24 hours

Nigerian fashion label Tiffany Amber has changed with the times.

Folake Akindele Coker founded Tiffany Amber in 1998, and it's now considered one of Nigeria's most influential fashion and lifestyle brands.

Less than a month after the pandemic reached Africa, Tiffany Amber's entire factory refocussed to produce personal protective equipment (PPE). Instead of couture runway garments, the company's sewing machines have begun stitching hospital scrubs, gowns, stretcher sheets and non-medical face masks.&nbsp;

To make the shift, the company first had to secure more than approximately 90,000 yards of fabric, 300,000 yards of elastic, and almost a million yards of thread. All of this happened, Coker says, right before borders closed in Nigeria and prices spiked due to the unforeseen demand for materials.

The catalyst has been a trend in the private sector worldwide, as companies around the globe have switched gears to supply the growing demand for PPE.

By early June, the fashion label had made approximately 500,000 cloth masks, 20,000 sets of sheets and pillowcases, 10,000 scrubs, 15,000 patient gowns and close to 5,000 surgical gowns.

And the company has actually managed to grow from 100 employees to a staff of 300.

Nigeria has more than 30,000 total confirmed cases of coronavirus, the second-most on the continent behind South Africa.

Nigerian fashion label Tiffany Amber has changed with the times. Folake Akindele Coker founded Tiffany Amber in 1998, and it's now considered one of Nigeria's most influential fashion and lifestyle brands.

Nigerian fashion label Tiffany Amber has changed with the times. Folake Akindele Coker founded Tiffany Amber in 1998, and it's now considered one of Nigeria's most influential fashion and lifestyle brands. Less than a month after the pandemic reached Africa, Tiffany Amber's entire factory refocussed to produce personal protective equipment (PPE). Instead of couture runway garments, the company's sewing machines have begun stitching hospital scrubs, gowns, stretcher sheets and non-medical face masks. To make the shift, the company first had to secure more than approximately 90,000 yards of fabric, 300,000 yards of elastic, and almost a million yards of thread. All of this happened, Coker says, right before borders closed in Nigeria and prices spiked due to the unforeseen demand for materials. The catalyst has been a trend in the private sector worldwide, as companies around the globe have switched gears to supply the growing demand for PPE. By early June, the fashion label had made approximately 500,000 cloth masks, 20,000 sets of sheets and pillowcases, 10,000 scrubs, 15,000 patient gowns and close to 5,000 surgical gowns. And the company has actually managed to grow from 100 employees to a staff of 300. Nigeria has more than 30,000 total confirmed cases of coronavirus, the second-most on the continent behind South Africa.

Nigerian fashion label swaps couture for coronavirus PPE kits

According to a study, 21 existing drugs found to be effective against COVID-19. Watch this video to know more.

Study: 21 existing drugs found to be effective against COVID-19

Australia has suffered its deadliest day from the coronavirus since the pandemic began, with authorities reporting ten fatalities Sunday and a rise in new infections despite an intensive lockdown effort.

The country's COVID-19 death toll rose to 155 and the southeastern state of Victoria reported more than 450 new infections in the last 24 hours.

A clearly concerned Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said ten people aged between their 40s and 80s had died, of which seven deaths were linked to outbreaks in aged care facilities.

It is the worst loss of life from the virus in Australia since the disease first emerged, according to a tally compiled by AFP.

Australia has dodged the worst ravages of the pandemic so far, logging just 14,000 cases in total -- fewer than many harder-hit countries see in one day.

But a second wave of infections is testing the nation's much-lauded response to the contagion.

The number of new cases has remained stubbornly high in recent days despite five million people in greater Melbourne spending the last two weeks in lockdown.

Masks are mandatory in the city and Victoria is virtually sealed off from the rest of the country.

Police and the military are guarding state borders and visiting homes to enforce quarantine orders.

Still, 459 fresh cases were reported in Victoria on Sunday -- up from 357 on Saturday. Around a dozen more were recorded in other parts of Australia.

"These things change rapidly, but we have to say these numbers are far too high," Andrews said.

Australia has suffered its deadliest day from the coronavirus since the pandemic began, with authorities reporting ten fatalities Sunday and a rise in new infections despite an intensive lockdown effort.

Australia has suffered its deadliest day from the coronavirus since the pandemic began, with authorities reporting ten fatalities Sunday and a rise in new infections despite an intensive lockdown effort. The country's COVID-19 death toll rose to 155 and the southeastern state of Victoria reported more than 450 new infections in the last 24 hours. A clearly concerned Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said ten people aged between their 40s and 80s had died, of which seven deaths were linked to outbreaks in aged care facilities. It is the worst loss of life from the virus in Australia since the disease first emerged, according to a tally compiled by AFP. Australia has dodged the worst ravages of the pandemic so far, logging just 14,000 cases in total -- fewer than many harder-hit countries see in one day. But a second wave of infections is testing the nation's much-lauded response to the contagion. The number of new cases has remained stubbornly high in recent days despite five million people in greater Melbourne spending the last two weeks in lockdown. Masks are mandatory in the city and Victoria is virtually sealed off from the rest of the country. Police and the military are guarding state borders and visiting homes to enforce quarantine orders. Still, 459 fresh cases were reported in Victoria on Sunday -- up from 357 on Saturday. Around a dozen more were recorded in other parts of Australia. "These things change rapidly, but we have to say these numbers are far too high," Andrews said.

Australia suffers deadliest day of coronavirus pandemic

EasyJet and British Airways have told customers they did not plan to cancel flights over the coming days, after Britain's government advised against all non-essential travel to mainland Spain due to COVID-19.

Earlier on Saturday, TUI, Europe's largest tour operator, said it was cancelling all holiday departures scheduled for Sunday.

"Our flights are currently expected to operate normally," British Airways told one customer on Twitter.

An EasyJet customer service representative told another customer: "We plan to operate our full schedule in the coming days."

Under new coronavirus travel rules, travellers arriving in the UK from Spain must now quarantine for 14 days. They were announced on Saturday following a spike in coronavirus cases in Spain, with more than 900 new cases of the virus reported on Friday.

Airlines including British Airways criticised the new measures as "yet another blow" to British holidaymakers.

Spain has so far seen more than 28,000 coronavirus deaths. On Thursday, it saw the biggest daily increase in infections since its lockdown ended.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-to-quarantine-travellers-from-spain-sunday-times-315992">Also read |&nbsp;UK to quarantine travellers from Spain</a>

EasyJet and British Airways have told customers they did not plan to cancel flights over the coming days, after Britain's government advised against all non-essential travel to mainland Spain due to COVID-19.

EasyJet and British Airways have told customers they did not plan to cancel flights over the coming days, after Britain's government advised against all non-essential travel to mainland Spain due to COVID-19. Earlier on Saturday, TUI, Europe's largest tour operator, said it was cancelling all holiday departures scheduled for Sunday. "Our flights are currently expected to operate normally," British Airways told one customer on Twitter. An EasyJet customer service representative told another customer: "We plan to operate our full schedule in the coming days." Under new coronavirus travel rules, travellers arriving in the UK from Spain must now quarantine for 14 days. They were announced on Saturday following a spike in coronavirus cases in Spain, with more than 900 new cases of the virus reported on Friday. Airlines including British Airways criticised the new measures as "yet another blow" to British holidaymakers. Spain has so far seen more than 28,000 coronavirus deaths. On Thursday, it saw the biggest daily increase in infections since its lockdown ended. Also read | UK to quarantine travellers from Spain

EasyJet, British Airways plan to continue flights to Spain despite quarantine orders

The global number of coronavirus cases crossed 16 million on Sunday, more than half of them in the Americas and the Caribbean, according to an AFP tally from official sources at 0510 GMT.

The 16,050,223 cases include 645,184 fatalities with the United States the worst hit country, registering 4,178,021 infections and 146,460 dead.

Latin America and the Caribbean have recorded 4,328,915 cases and 182,501 dead followed by Europe on 3,052,108 cases and 207,734 dead.

The spread of the pandemic continues to accelerate and more than five million cases have been declared since July, which represents a third of the total number of cases since the pandemic began.

The World Health Organization says more than a million cases had been recorded in each of the last five weeks, with over 280,000 being reported on July 24 alone.

The country with the highest number of deaths compared to its population is Belgium with 85 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Britain with 67, Spain 61, Italy 58, and Sweden 56.

The spiralling numbers are particularly worrying because the tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the WHO, probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.

Many countries are testing only symptomatic or the most serious cases while others still have limited testing capacity.

The global number of coronavirus cases crossed 16 million on Sunday, more than half of them in the Americas and the Caribbean, according to an AFP tally from official sources at 0510 GMT.

The global number of coronavirus cases crossed 16 million on Sunday, more than half of them in the Americas and the Caribbean, according to an AFP tally from official sources at 0510 GMT. The 16,050,223 cases include 645,184 fatalities with the United States the worst hit country, registering 4,178,021 infections and 146,460 dead. Latin America and the Caribbean have recorded 4,328,915 cases and 182,501 dead followed by Europe on 3,052,108 cases and 207,734 dead. The spread of the pandemic continues to accelerate and more than five million cases have been declared since July, which represents a third of the total number of cases since the pandemic began. The World Health Organization says more than a million cases had been recorded in each of the last five weeks, with over 280,000 being reported on July 24 alone. The country with the highest number of deaths compared to its population is Belgium with 85 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Britain with 67, Spain 61, Italy 58, and Sweden 56. The spiralling numbers are particularly worrying because the tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the WHO, probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections. Many countries are testing only symptomatic or the most serious cases while others still have limited testing capacity.

Number of global coronavirus cases tops 16 million

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said that he has tested coronavirus positive. 
Chouhan shared the news on Twitter in the morning.

"I had symptoms of COVID-19. In the test report I was found positive. I appeal to all my colleagues that whoever has come in my contact to get tested for coronavirus. My close contacts should move to quarantine," Chouhan said in a tweet.

In another tweet, the chief minister said that if detected and treated on time, COVID-19 infection can be cured.

"I have been reviewing the status of coronavirus infection in the state every evening since March 25. Now I will try to review the situation through video conferencing as much as possible," he said.

Chouhan also said that in his absence, the meeting to review the coronavirus situation will be held by Home Minister Narottam Mishra, Urban Development and Administration Minister Bhupendra Singh, Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang and Health Minister Prabhuram Choudhary.&nbsp;

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said that he has tested coronavirus positive. Chouhan shared the news on Twitter in the morning. "I had symptoms of COVID-19.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said that he has tested coronavirus positive. Chouhan shared the news on Twitter in the morning. "I had symptoms of COVID-19. In the test report I was found positive. I appeal to all my colleagues that whoever has come in my contact to get tested for coronavirus. My close contacts should move to quarantine," Chouhan said in a tweet. In another tweet, the chief minister said that if detected and treated on time, COVID-19 infection can be cured. "I have been reviewing the status of coronavirus infection in the state every evening since March 25. Now I will try to review the situation through video conferencing as much as possible," he said. Chouhan also said that in his absence, the meeting to review the coronavirus situation will be held by Home Minister Narottam Mishra, Urban Development and Administration Minister Bhupendra Singh, Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang and Health Minister Prabhuram Choudhary.

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan tests positive for coronavirus

Pakistan reported 1,487 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 271,886 on Saturday, the health ministry said.

A total of 236,596 people have recovered from the disease, the Ministry of National Health Services said.

Out of the total infections, 116,800 were in detected in Sindh, 91,691 in Punjab, 33,071 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 14,821 in Islamabad, 11,550 in Balochistan, 2,012 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 1,942 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 271,886 after 1,487 new patients were identified in the last 24 hours, while 5,787 people died due to the virus, including 24 patients during the period.

A total of 1,294 patients are in critical condition, it said.

As many as 29,503 patients are still undergoing treatment at home or at various hospitals.

The authorities have performed a total 1,844,926 tests so far, including 23,630 in the last 24 hours, it said.

Pakistan reported 1,487 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 271,886 on Saturday, the health ministry said. A total of 236,596 people have recovered from the disease, the Ministry of National Health Services said.

Pakistan reported 1,487 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 271,886 on Saturday, the health ministry said. A total of 236,596 people have recovered from the disease, the Ministry of National Health Services said. Out of the total infections, 116,800 were in detected in Sindh, 91,691 in Punjab, 33,071 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 14,821 in Islamabad, 11,550 in Balochistan, 2,012 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 1,942 in Gilgit-Baltistan. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 271,886 after 1,487 new patients were identified in the last 24 hours, while 5,787 people died due to the virus, including 24 patients during the period. A total of 1,294 patients are in critical condition, it said. As many as 29,503 patients are still undergoing treatment at home or at various hospitals. The authorities have performed a total 1,844,926 tests so far, including 23,630 in the last 24 hours, it said.

Pakistan reports 1,487 new COVID-19 cases

'The Walking Dead'&nbsp;the American television horror series premiering for AMC is the latest to join the growing list of shows and movies whose release dates have been affected due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 
 
The network studio has officially delayed the already scheduled October debut of season 11 of Robert Kirkman`s horror drama, which now will be airing in 2021.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/amc-delays-theatre-openings-to-july-end-following-rise-in-covid-19-cases-309572" hreflang="en">AMC delays theatre openings to July-end following rise in COVID-19 cases</a> 
 
The new seasons of the show have always been released in October since it debuted in 2010, and this marks the first time in the show`s history that the creators have delayed the release dates. 
 
According to news agency, the series showrunner Angela Kang made the announcement on Friday during the show's Comic-Con@Home panel. However, during the panel, it was also announced that the Season 10 finale would be open for viewing on October 4 on AMC.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/skys-hit-series-gangs-of-london-heads-to-amc-from-cinemax-308426" hreflang="en">Sky's hit series 'Gangs of London' heads to AMC from Cinemax</a> 
 
Kang also said that six additional episodes will be added to season 10, making it the longest season of the show. The new parts for the coming season will be shot and aired in early 2021, bringing the season to 22 episodes total.

'The Walking Dead' the American television horror series premiering for AMC is the latest to join the growing list of shows and movies whose release dates have been affected due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

'The Walking Dead' the American television horror series premiering for AMC is the latest to join the growing list of shows and movies whose release dates have been affected due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The network studio has officially delayed the already scheduled October debut of season 11 of Robert Kirkman`s horror drama, which now will be airing in 2021. Also read: AMC delays theatre openings to July-end following rise in COVID-19 cases The new seasons of the show have always been released in October since it debuted in 2010, and this marks the first time in the show`s history that the creators have delayed the release dates. According to news agency, the series showrunner Angela Kang made the announcement on Friday during the show's Comic-Con@Home panel. However, during the panel, it was also announced that the Season 10 finale would be open for viewing on October 4 on AMC. Also read: Sky's hit series 'Gangs of London' heads to AMC from Cinemax Kang also said that six additional episodes will be added to season 10, making it the longest season of the show. The new parts for the coming season will be shot and aired in early 2021, bringing the season to 22 episodes total.

AMC delays 'The Walking Dead' season 11 to 2021 due to COVID-19

Children still should go back to school even if it turns out that they are transmitting the deadly novel coronavirus that has claimed more than 140,000 U.S. lives, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Friday.

President Donald Trump is pushing to re-open U.S. schools, which abruptly shuttered this past spring when the coronavirus first began spreading across the country - despite teachers’ and families’ concerns that children could contract or transmit the disease should they return to classrooms.

“Even if there is transmission and later studies come out, let’s say, we believe that students should be going back to school because the effect on a child we know - scientifically, they are not affected in the same way as an adult,” McEnany said in answer to a press briefing question about comments made by Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, about how the disease behaves in small children.

Birx told the television program “Today” on Friday that it is “still an open question” how rapidly children under the age of 10 spread the illness. She cited a South Korean study that children younger than 10 transmit the virus less, while those older than 10 have the same rates of passing it as adults. Birx also said that children with underlying conditions can “suffer terrible consequences” if they contract the disease.

Children still should go back to school even if it turns out that they are transmitting the deadly novel coronavirus that has claimed more than 140,000 U.S. lives, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Friday.

Children still should go back to school even if it turns out that they are transmitting the deadly novel coronavirus that has claimed more than 140,000 U.S. lives, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Friday. President Donald Trump is pushing to re-open U.S. schools, which abruptly shuttered this past spring when the coronavirus first began spreading across the country - despite teachers’ and families’ concerns that children could contract or transmit the disease should they return to classrooms. “Even if there is transmission and later studies come out, let’s say, we believe that students should be going back to school because the effect on a child we know - scientifically, they are not affected in the same way as an adult,” McEnany said in answer to a press briefing question about comments made by Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, about how the disease behaves in small children. Birx told the television program “Today” on Friday that it is “still an open question” how rapidly children under the age of 10 spread the illness. She cited a South Korean study that children younger than 10 transmit the virus less, while those older than 10 have the same rates of passing it as adults. Birx also said that children with underlying conditions can “suffer terrible consequences” if they contract the disease.

Children should go back to school even if studies show they spread coronavirus: White House

Scientists are still struggling to understand how the virus affects children and whether kids can spread it to caregivers. Watch this video to know more.

Scientists struggle to study virus impact on kids

The United States on Friday recorded more than 70,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 1,000 deaths in a 24-hour period for the second day running.

The world's hardest-hit country registered 73,795 new cases of COVID-19 with 1,157 additional deaths. That brings the country to a total of 4.1 million infections, which have resulted in 145,324 fatalities.

A total of 1.26 million people have recovered from the disease.

For the past 11 days, the number of new cases being reported each day has topped 60,000.

The numbers have been driven in large part by a surge in infections in Arizona, California, Florida, Texas and California.

U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for schools to reopen, saying that it was critical to the mental and emotional well-being of children and the ability of their parents to work.

Business closures and "stay-at-home" orders imposed by governors and local officials have badly damaged the nation`s economy and thrown millions of Americans out of work.

The CDC issued a call to reopen schools in a statement posted on its website that listed the benefits of being in school and downplayed health risks, although it said exceptions should be made for so-called virus "hot spots."

The guidance does not carry the force of law, and it is unclear how much weight it will carry with school districts. Most teachers unions, which in some states and cities have an outsized political influence especially among Democrats, have fought hard against reopenings.

The guidelines were "all put out with the intent to help facilitate, as was mentioned earlier, the full reopening of schools for face-to-face learning," said Dr Robert Redfield, the CDC`s director.

The CDC, the nation's health protection agency posted the documents after Trump called earlier recommendations too tough, impractical and expensive. The Republican president has been increasingly critical of health experts as the surge in cases interferes with his efforts to reopen the economy.

While the risk of severe COVID-19 is seen as relatively low for children, there is fear they could infect teachers and other employees.

Schools across the country are opening on different dates, with different modes of teaching - virtual instruction, in-person in classrooms, or a hybrid of both - and different or unclear expectations of how long each stage will last.

(with inputs from agencies)

The United States on Friday recorded more than 70,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 1,000 deaths in a 24-hour period for the second day running. The world's hardest-hit country registered 73,795 new cases of COVID-19 with 1,157 additional deaths.

The United States on Friday recorded more than 70,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 1,000 deaths in a 24-hour period for the second day running. The world's hardest-hit country registered 73,795 new cases of COVID-19 with 1,157 additional deaths. That brings the country to a total of 4.1 million infections, which have resulted in 145,324 fatalities. A total of 1.26 million people have recovered from the disease. For the past 11 days, the number of new cases being reported each day has topped 60,000. The numbers have been driven in large part by a surge in infections in Arizona, California, Florida, Texas and California. U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for schools to reopen, saying that it was critical to the mental and emotional well-being of children and the ability of their parents to work. Business closures and "stay-at-home" orders imposed by governors and local officials have badly damaged the nation`s economy and thrown millions of Americans out of work. The CDC issued a call to reopen schools in a statement posted on its website that listed the benefits of being in school and downplayed health risks, although it said exceptions should be made for so-called virus "hot spots." The guidance does not carry the force of law, and it is unclear how much weight it will carry with school districts. Most teachers unions, which in some states and cities have an outsized political influence especially among Democrats, have fought hard against reopenings. The guidelines were "all put out with the intent to help facilitate, as was mentioned earlier, the full reopening of schools for face-to-face learning," said Dr Robert Redfield, the CDC`s director. The CDC, the nation's health protection agency posted the documents after Trump called earlier recommendations too tough, impractical and expensive. The Republican president has been increasingly critical of health experts as the surge in cases interferes with his efforts to reopen the economy. While the risk of severe COVID-19 is seen as relatively low for children, there is fear they could infect teachers and other employees. Schools across the country are opening on different dates, with different modes of teaching - virtual instruction, in-person in classrooms, or a hybrid of both - and different or unclear expectations of how long each stage will last. (with inputs from agencies)

US marks second day with over 70,000 new coronavirus cases, 1,000 deaths

The World Health Organization expressed concern Friday over a coronavirus resurgence in Europe as Britain joined France, Germany and Austria in announcing tighter mask rules and greater testing.

Europe accounts for a fifth of the world's more than 15 million infections and remains the hardest-hit region in terms of deaths, with 207,118 out of more than 630,000 globally since the virus emerged in China late last year.

The WHO's European chapter pointed to rising cases on the continent over the past two weeks, saying tighter measures may be needed to curb the spread.

Europe like other regions is struggling to balance restrictions to halt COVID-19 against the need to revive economies as people there emerge from some of the world's toughest lockdowns.

A three-year-old girl died in Belgium, becoming the country's youngest known coronavirus victim, in a further wake-up call for a continent that has recently lifted shutdowns.

"The recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases in some countries following the easing of physical distancing measures is certainly cause for concern," a WHO-Europe spokeswoman told AFP.

"If the situation demands, reintroduction of stricter, targeted measures with the full engagement of communities may be needed."

In Spain, health authorities are facing worrying outbreaks in Aragon and Catalonia, where officials have reintroduced local restrictions and urged residents in Barcelona and its suburbs to leave home only for essential trips for two weeks.

"We have to monitor what's going on, see where we need to take action and act early," said health ministry official Maria Jose Sierra.

"If the important outbreaks are controlled quickly and if we manage to ensure that there are no (other) outbreaks of such magnitude, we will have a much more contained situation."

ON THE SPOT TESTS

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday met his top ministers to discuss contagion measures, and his prime minister Jean Castex later announced on-the-spot tests would be required for travellers visiting from 16 high-risk countries including the United States.

France has yet to resume general travel to and from these countries so the tests will be for returning French citizens and residents.

Masks are now mandatory on public transport, in shops and enclosed spaces across France and there are fears that the summer holidays could see a spike in cases with people flocking to beaches and tourist spots.&nbsp;

Britain on Friday made it compulsory to wear a face covering in shopping centres, banks, takeaway outlets, sandwich shops and supermarkets, following the lead of Scotland.

Exceptions have been made, including for children under 11 or people with respiratory problems, but others who refuse to cover their nose and mouth risk a fine of up to £100.

Germany will offer free coronavirus tests to all returning travellers in new measures agreed Friday.

And Austria made face masks mandatory again in supermarkets, food stores, post offices, bank branches and health care facilities along with public transport and pharmacies.

"It was a mistake to lift mandatory mask use so soon," said one shopper, Andreas Poschenreither.

TRUMP CONVENTION SCRAPPED

The United States, the country hardest-hit by the virus, has now recorded 145,324 deaths and 4.1 million infections. For the second day running on Friday it reported more than 70,000 new cases and more than 1,000 fatalities in a 24-hour period, according to a tally maintained by Johns Hopkins University.

The nation is in the grip of a surge particularly in southern and western states.

US President Donald Trump has scrapped next month's Republican convention in Florida at which he was due to be confirmed as the Republican candidate for November's election, saying "the timing for this event is not right".

Bolivia meanwhile postponed its general election for a second time because of the pandemic, putting it off until October 18, while South Africa said it was closing public schools for a month from July 27.

There was also bad news in China and India -- the world's two most populous nations -- as new clusters emerged.

Chinese authorities said Friday they would introduce a wave of testing in the port city of Dalian, home to about six million people.

The Dalian health commission said the city had to "quickly enter wartime mode" to stop any spread. It announced strict new measures, including on-the-spot nucleic acid tests.

Kindergartens and nurseries have been closed, and some communities have been placed under lockdown, according to state-run newspaper Global Times.

India's death toll overtook France's on Friday at 30,601. Officials said there were nearly 50,000 new cases of the virus overnight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government imposed one of the world's strictest lockdowns in late March but it has been steadily eased to lessen the devastating economic impact.

State governments have now brought in fresh restrictions as cases soar, including in the IT hub Bangalore.

UN projections have warned the virus could kill 1.67 million people in 30 low-income countries.

Virus restrictions have been bolstered in several other countries this week, including Australia and Belgium, as well as in Hong Kong and the Japanese capital Tokyo.

The World Health Organization expressed concern Friday over a coronavirus resurgence in Europe as Britain joined France, Germany and Austria in announcing tighter mask rules and greater testing.

The World Health Organization expressed concern Friday over a coronavirus resurgence in Europe as Britain joined France, Germany and Austria in announcing tighter mask rules and greater testing. Europe accounts for a fifth of the world's more than 15 million infections and remains the hardest-hit region in terms of deaths, with 207,118 out of more than 630,000 globally since the virus emerged in China late last year. The WHO's European chapter pointed to rising cases on the continent over the past two weeks, saying tighter measures may be needed to curb the spread. Europe like other regions is struggling to balance restrictions to halt COVID-19 against the need to revive economies as people there emerge from some of the world's toughest lockdowns. A three-year-old girl died in Belgium, becoming the country's youngest known coronavirus victim, in a further wake-up call for a continent that has recently lifted shutdowns. "The recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases in some countries following the easing of physical distancing measures is certainly cause for concern," a WHO-Europe spokeswoman told AFP. "If the situation demands, reintroduction of stricter, targeted measures with the full engagement of communities may be needed." In Spain, health authorities are facing worrying outbreaks in Aragon and Catalonia, where officials have reintroduced local restrictions and urged residents in Barcelona and its suburbs to leave home only for essential trips for two weeks. "We have to monitor what's going on, see where we need to take action and act early," said health ministry official Maria Jose Sierra. "If the important outbreaks are controlled quickly and if we manage to ensure that there are no (other) outbreaks of such magnitude, we will have a much more contained situation." ON THE SPOT TESTS French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday met his top ministers to discuss contagion measures, and his prime minister Jean Castex later announced on-the-spot tests would be required for travellers visiting from 16 high-risk countries including the United States. France has yet to resume general travel to and from these countries so the tests will be for returning French citizens and residents. Masks are now mandatory on public transport, in shops and enclosed spaces across France and there are fears that the summer holidays could see a spike in cases with people flocking to beaches and tourist spots. Britain on Friday made it compulsory to wear a face covering in shopping centres, banks, takeaway outlets, sandwich shops and supermarkets, following the lead of Scotland. Exceptions have been made, including for children under 11 or people with respiratory problems, but others who refuse to cover their nose and mouth risk a fine of up to £100. Germany will offer free coronavirus tests to all returning travellers in new measures agreed Friday. And Austria made face masks mandatory again in supermarkets, food stores, post offices, bank branches and health care facilities along with public transport and pharmacies. "It was a mistake to lift mandatory mask use so soon," said one shopper, Andreas Poschenreither. TRUMP CONVENTION SCRAPPED The United States, the country hardest-hit by the virus, has now recorded 145,324 deaths and 4.1 million infections. For the second day running on Friday it reported more than 70,000 new cases and more than 1,000 fatalities in a 24-hour period, according to a tally maintained by Johns Hopkins University. The nation is in the grip of a surge particularly in southern and western states. US President Donald Trump has scrapped next month's Republican convention in Florida at which he was due to be confirmed as the Republican candidate for November's election, saying "the timing for this event is not right". Bolivia meanwhile postponed its general election for a second time because of the pandemic, putting it off until October 18, while South Africa said it was closing public schools for a month from July 27. There was also bad news in China and India -- the world's two most populous nations -- as new clusters emerged. Chinese authorities said Friday they would introduce a wave of testing in the port city of Dalian, home to about six million people. The Dalian health commission said the city had to "quickly enter wartime mode" to stop any spread. It announced strict new measures, including on-the-spot nucleic acid tests. Kindergartens and nurseries have been closed, and some communities have been placed under lockdown, according to state-run newspaper Global Times. India's death toll overtook France's on Friday at 30,601. Officials said there were nearly 50,000 new cases of the virus overnight. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government imposed one of the world's strictest lockdowns in late March but it has been steadily eased to lessen the devastating economic impact. State governments have now brought in fresh restrictions as cases soar, including in the IT hub Bangalore. UN projections have warned the virus could kill 1.67 million people in 30 low-income countries. Virus restrictions have been bolstered in several other countries this week, including Australia and Belgium, as well as in Hong Kong and the Japanese capital Tokyo.

Tighter mask rules, more tests as WHO warns of Europe coronavirus spike

The United States has announced it will not take in any new foreign students seeking online-only study, after revoking a controversial order that expelled those already studying in the country and preparing for that in the wake of the pandemic.

The policy change was announced in a statement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday.

President Donald Trump has suspended several kinds of visas for foreigners during the coronavirus crisis.&nbsp;

The original policy change of revoking the visas of foreign students whose classes will move online in the autumn was taken to court by top universities including Harvard and MIT, teachers unions and at least 18 states.&nbsp;To this end, the administration on July 14 the administration reversed course and rescinded the decision.

That measure had been seen as a move by Trump to put pressure on educational institutions that are adopting a cautious approach to reopening amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

Trump is also eager for schools at all levels to reopen with in-person classes as a sign of a return to normality as he fights an uphill battle for re-election in November. He has been pushing for this even though the virus is out of control in some states, with the US death toll a world-high of more than 144,000.

Most US colleges and universities have not yet announced their plans for the fall semester but Harvard has said all its classes for the 2020-21 academic year will be conducted online, "with rare exceptions."

(with inputs from agencies)

The United States has announced it will not take in any new foreign students seeking online-only study, after revoking a controversial order that expelled those already studying in the country and preparing for that in the wake of the pandemic.

The United States has announced it will not take in any new foreign students seeking online-only study, after revoking a controversial order that expelled those already studying in the country and preparing for that in the wake of the pandemic. The policy change was announced in a statement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday. President Donald Trump has suspended several kinds of visas for foreigners during the coronavirus crisis. The original policy change of revoking the visas of foreign students whose classes will move online in the autumn was taken to court by top universities including Harvard and MIT, teachers unions and at least 18 states. To this end, the administration on July 14 the administration reversed course and rescinded the decision. That measure had been seen as a move by Trump to put pressure on educational institutions that are adopting a cautious approach to reopening amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Trump is also eager for schools at all levels to reopen with in-person classes as a sign of a return to normality as he fights an uphill battle for re-election in November. He has been pushing for this even though the virus is out of control in some states, with the US death toll a world-high of more than 144,000. Most US colleges and universities have not yet announced their plans for the fall semester but Harvard has said all its classes for the 2020-21 academic year will be conducted online, "with rare exceptions." (with inputs from agencies)

US announces it won't take new foreign students for all-online classes

India saw a record single-day spike of 49,310 coronavirus cases taking the country's tally to 12,87,945 on Friday, while the recoveries surged to 8,17,208.

The death toll mounted to 30,601 with 740 new fatalities reported in a span of 24 hours. The death toll is the sixth-biggest behind the US, Brazil, Britain, Mexico and Italy.

There are 4,40,135 active cases of coronavirus infection presently in the country. Thus, around 63.45 per cent people have recovered so far.

Of the 740 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, 298 are from Maharashtra, 97 from Karnataka, 88 are from Tamil Nadu, 61 from Andhra Pradesh, 34 from West Bengal, 28 from Gujarat, 26 each from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, 11 from Rajasthan,10 from Madhya Pradesh and nine each from Jammu and Kashmir and Telangana.

Punjab has reported eight fatalities followed by Assam, Odisha and Haryana with six deaths each, Kerala five, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Puducherry three each, while Chhattisgarh, Tripura and Goa have registered a fatality each.

According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 1,54,28,170 samples have been tested up to July 23 with 3,52,801 samples being tested on Thursday.

Of the total 30,601 deaths reported so far, Maharashtra tops the tally with 12,854 fatalities followed by Delhi with 3,745 deaths, Tamil Nadu 3,232, Gujarat 2,252, Karnataka 1,616, Uttar Pradesh 1,289, West Bengal 1,255, Andhra Pradesh 884 and Madhya Pradesh 780.

So far, 594 people have died of COVID-19 in Rajasthan, 447 in Telangana, 378 in Haryana, 282 in Jammu and Kashmir, 277 in Punjab, 217 in Bihar, 114 in Odisha, 70 in Assam, 67 in Jharkhand, 60 in Uttarakhand and 50 in Kerala.

Puducherry has registered 34 deaths, Chhattisgarh 30, Goa 29, Chandigarh 13, Himachal Pradesh 11, Tripura 10, Meghalaya 4, Arunachal Pradesh 3, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Ladakh has reported two fatality each.

The Health Ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 3,47,502 followed by Tamil Nadu at 1,92,964, Delhi at 1,27,364, Karnataka at 80,863, Andhra Pradesh at 72,711, Uttar Pradesh at 58,104, Gujarat at 52,477 and West Bengal at 51,757.

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 50,826 in Telangana, 33,220 in Rajasthan, 31,980 in Bihar, 28,975 in Haryana, 28,791 in Assam and 25,474 in Madhya Pradesh.

Odisha has reported 21,099 infections, Jammu and Kashmir 16,429, Kerala 16,110, while Punjab has 11,739 cases.

A total of 6,975 have been infected by the virus in Jharkhand, 6,254 in Chhattisgarh, 5,445 in Uttarakhand, 4,350 in Goa, 3,656 in Tripura, 2,420 in Puducherry, 2,115 in Manipur, 1,834 in Himachal Pradesh and 1,210 in Ladakh.

Nagaland has recorded 1,174 COVID-19 cases, Arunachal Pradesh 991, Chandigarh 800 and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu together have reported 770 cases.

Meghalaya has reported 534 cases, Sikkim 460, Mizoram has registered 332 infections so far, while Andaman and Nicobar Islands has recorded 240 cases.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government imposed one of the world's strictest lockdowns in late March, but it has been steadily eased to lessen the devastating economic impact of the pandemic.

State governments have brought in fresh restrictions as cases soar in Bangalore and away from the big cities in Bihar, West Bengal, Kashmir and parts of Tamil Nadu.

Southern Kerala state, earlier hailed as a success story and which has already imposed partial restrictions, may decide on Monday to impose a full statewide lockdown.

(with inputs from agencies)

India saw a record single-day spike of 49,310 coronavirus cases taking the country's tally to 12,87,945 on Friday, while the recoveries surged to 8,17,208. The death toll mounted to 30,601 with 740 new fatalities reported in a span of 24 hours.

India saw a record single-day spike of 49,310 coronavirus cases taking the country's tally to 12,87,945 on Friday, while the recoveries surged to 8,17,208. The death toll mounted to 30,601 with 740 new fatalities reported in a span of 24 hours. The death toll is the sixth-biggest behind the US, Brazil, Britain, Mexico and Italy. There are 4,40,135 active cases of coronavirus infection presently in the country. Thus, around 63.45 per cent people have recovered so far. Of the 740 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, 298 are from Maharashtra, 97 from Karnataka, 88 are from Tamil Nadu, 61 from Andhra Pradesh, 34 from West Bengal, 28 from Gujarat, 26 each from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, 11 from Rajasthan,10 from Madhya Pradesh and nine each from Jammu and Kashmir and Telangana. Punjab has reported eight fatalities followed by Assam, Odisha and Haryana with six deaths each, Kerala five, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Puducherry three each, while Chhattisgarh, Tripura and Goa have registered a fatality each. According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 1,54,28,170 samples have been tested up to July 23 with 3,52,801 samples being tested on Thursday. Of the total 30,601 deaths reported so far, Maharashtra tops the tally with 12,854 fatalities followed by Delhi with 3,745 deaths, Tamil Nadu 3,232, Gujarat 2,252, Karnataka 1,616, Uttar Pradesh 1,289, West Bengal 1,255, Andhra Pradesh 884 and Madhya Pradesh 780. So far, 594 people have died of COVID-19 in Rajasthan, 447 in Telangana, 378 in Haryana, 282 in Jammu and Kashmir, 277 in Punjab, 217 in Bihar, 114 in Odisha, 70 in Assam, 67 in Jharkhand, 60 in Uttarakhand and 50 in Kerala. Puducherry has registered 34 deaths, Chhattisgarh 30, Goa 29, Chandigarh 13, Himachal Pradesh 11, Tripura 10, Meghalaya 4, Arunachal Pradesh 3, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Ladakh has reported two fatality each. The Health Ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 3,47,502 followed by Tamil Nadu at 1,92,964, Delhi at 1,27,364, Karnataka at 80,863, Andhra Pradesh at 72,711, Uttar Pradesh at 58,104, Gujarat at 52,477 and West Bengal at 51,757. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 50,826 in Telangana, 33,220 in Rajasthan, 31,980 in Bihar, 28,975 in Haryana, 28,791 in Assam and 25,474 in Madhya Pradesh. Odisha has reported 21,099 infections, Jammu and Kashmir 16,429, Kerala 16,110, while Punjab has 11,739 cases. A total of 6,975 have been infected by the virus in Jharkhand, 6,254 in Chhattisgarh, 5,445 in Uttarakhand, 4,350 in Goa, 3,656 in Tripura, 2,420 in Puducherry, 2,115 in Manipur, 1,834 in Himachal Pradesh and 1,210 in Ladakh. Nagaland has recorded 1,174 COVID-19 cases, Arunachal Pradesh 991, Chandigarh 800 and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu together have reported 770 cases. Meghalaya has reported 534 cases, Sikkim 460, Mizoram has registered 332 infections so far, while Andaman and Nicobar Islands has recorded 240 cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government imposed one of the world's strictest lockdowns in late March, but it has been steadily eased to lessen the devastating economic impact of the pandemic. State governments have brought in fresh restrictions as cases soar in Bangalore and away from the big cities in Bihar, West Bengal, Kashmir and parts of Tamil Nadu. Southern Kerala state, earlier hailed as a success story and which has already imposed partial restrictions, may decide on Monday to impose a full statewide lockdown. (with inputs from agencies)

India adds record 49,310 coronavirus cases in single day, total deaths pass 30,000

US President Donald Trump announced he has cancelled the Jacksonville portion of the Republican National Convention scheduled to be held in Florida next month in view of a spiralling COVID-19 crisis.

The move is a striking turnaround for Trump, who moved the convention to Jacksonville after North Carolina's governor raised public health concerns about having massive gatherings in Charlotte, as the Republicans had long planned.

Trump, at a White House news conference on Thursday, told reporters that he took the decision owing to a spike in coronavirus cases in Florida.

"The timing for this event is not right, it just not right with what has happened recently the flare up in Florida to have a big convention it's not the right time," he said.

Trump said he took the decision to protect the people of his country.

"I have to protect the American people; that is what I have always done. That is what I always will do, that is what I am about," he said after a meeting with his political team at the White House.

The US president said the team told him they can "make this (convention) work very easily" and there was "great enthusiasm" for it, but he made the decision considering the safety of the people.

The once in four-year convention of the Republican Party is held during the election year to nominate its presidential candidate. The convention was originally scheduled to be held in Charlottesville in North Carolina.

Trump is seeking his re-election for his second consecutive four-year term.

The Democratic Convention in Wisconsin has already gone into an almost virtual mode.&nbsp;

Former Vice President Joe Biden is the nominee of the opposition Democratic party.

US President Donald Trump announced he has cancelled the Jacksonville portion of the Republican National Convention scheduled to be held in Florida next month in view of a spiralling COVID-19 crisis.

US President Donald Trump announced he has cancelled the Jacksonville portion of the Republican National Convention scheduled to be held in Florida next month in view of a spiralling COVID-19 crisis. The move is a striking turnaround for Trump, who moved the convention to Jacksonville after North Carolina's governor raised public health concerns about having massive gatherings in Charlotte, as the Republicans had long planned. Trump, at a White House news conference on Thursday, told reporters that he took the decision owing to a spike in coronavirus cases in Florida. "The timing for this event is not right, it just not right with what has happened recently the flare up in Florida to have a big convention it's not the right time," he said. Trump said he took the decision to protect the people of his country. "I have to protect the American people; that is what I have always done. That is what I always will do, that is what I am about," he said after a meeting with his political team at the White House. The US president said the team told him they can "make this (convention) work very easily" and there was "great enthusiasm" for it, but he made the decision considering the safety of the people. The once in four-year convention of the Republican Party is held during the election year to nominate its presidential candidate. The convention was originally scheduled to be held in Charlottesville in North Carolina. Trump is seeking his re-election for his second consecutive four-year term. The Democratic Convention in Wisconsin has already gone into an almost virtual mode. Former Vice President Joe Biden is the nominee of the opposition Democratic party.

Trump calls off Florida portion of GOP convention over coronavirus outbreak

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Thursday pushed back against some of the conspiracy theories spreading online accusing him of creating the coronavirus outbreak.

"It's a bad combination of pandemic and social media and people looking for a very simple explanation," the Microsoft founder said during a CNN Town Hall interview.

Doctored photos and fabricated news articles crafted by conspiracy theorists -- shared thousands of times on social media platforms and messaging apps, in various languages -- targeting Gates have gained traction online since the start of the pandemic.

A video accusing Gates of wanting "to eliminate 15 percent of the population" through vaccination and electronic microchips has racked up millions of views on YouTube.

"Our foundation has given more money to buy vaccines to save lives than any group," Gates said, referring to his eponymous foundation.

He has pledged $250 million in efforts to fight the pandemic, and his foundation has spent billions of dollars improving health care in developing countries over the past 20 years.

"So you just turn that around. You say, ok, we're making money and we're trying to kill people with vaccines or by inventing something," Gates continued.

"And at least it's true, we're associated with vaccines, but you actually have sort of flipped the connection," he said, adding he hopes the conspiracies don't generate "vaccine hesitancy."

Since the start of the crisis, AFP Fact Check has debunked dozens of anti-Gates rumors circulating on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram in languages including English, French, Spanish, Polish and Czech.

A number of accusations, including posts claiming that the FBI arrested Gates for biological terrorism or that he supports a Western plot to poison Africans, share a common thread.&nbsp;

They accuse the tycoon of exploiting the crisis, whether it is to "control people" or make money from selling vaccines.

"I'm a big believer in getting the truth out," Gates told CNN.

It is not the first time Gates has found himself targeted by conspiracy theorists. When Zika virus broke out in 2015 in Brazil, he was one of several powerful Western figures blamed for the disease.&nbsp;

Other rumors claim he is secretly a lizard, an old favorite among online trolls.

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Thursday pushed back against some of the conspiracy theories spreading online accusing him of creating the coronavirus outbreak.

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Thursday pushed back against some of the conspiracy theories spreading online accusing him of creating the coronavirus outbreak. "It's a bad combination of pandemic and social media and people looking for a very simple explanation," the Microsoft founder said during a CNN Town Hall interview. Doctored photos and fabricated news articles crafted by conspiracy theorists -- shared thousands of times on social media platforms and messaging apps, in various languages -- targeting Gates have gained traction online since the start of the pandemic. A video accusing Gates of wanting "to eliminate 15 percent of the population" through vaccination and electronic microchips has racked up millions of views on YouTube. "Our foundation has given more money to buy vaccines to save lives than any group," Gates said, referring to his eponymous foundation. He has pledged $250 million in efforts to fight the pandemic, and his foundation has spent billions of dollars improving health care in developing countries over the past 20 years. "So you just turn that around. You say, ok, we're making money and we're trying to kill people with vaccines or by inventing something," Gates continued. "And at least it's true, we're associated with vaccines, but you actually have sort of flipped the connection," he said, adding he hopes the conspiracies don't generate "vaccine hesitancy." Since the start of the crisis, AFP Fact Check has debunked dozens of anti-Gates rumors circulating on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram in languages including English, French, Spanish, Polish and Czech. A number of accusations, including posts claiming that the FBI arrested Gates for biological terrorism or that he supports a Western plot to poison Africans, share a common thread. They accuse the tycoon of exploiting the crisis, whether it is to "control people" or make money from selling vaccines. "I'm a big believer in getting the truth out," Gates told CNN. It is not the first time Gates has found himself targeted by conspiracy theorists. When Zika virus broke out in 2015 in Brazil, he was one of several powerful Western figures blamed for the disease. Other rumors claim he is secretly a lizard, an old favorite among online trolls.

Bill Gates denies conspiracy theories he created coronavirus outbreak

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that states that are currently coronavirus hot spots may need to delay reopening schools by a few weeks, but otherwise pushed for students to be able to return to classrooms en masse in the fall.

"They have to open," Trump said of schools nationwide.

The president said it would be up to governors in the badly affected states to decide about school reopenings, and said decisions needed to be based on data.

Schools were shut down across the country after the novel coronavirus emerged and began spreading, and Trump has been determined to find a way to get them open again.

With schools set to resume in a few weeks, local officials across the country have announced a variety of plans, including some that involve continuing remote instruction through the rest of 2020.

While the risk of severe COVID-19 is seen as relatively low for children, there is fear they could infect more vulnerable teachers and other adult school administrators.

Despite Trump's pressure, only one in four Americans thinks it is safe for public schools to reopen this autumn as U.S. coronavirus cases climb, and four in 10 parents said they would likely keep their children home if classes resume, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll last week.

More than 142,000 people have died in the United States during the past five months and deaths are still rising in 23 states, according to a Reuters tally.

Trump, a Republican who is seeking re-election in November, has accused Democrats of wanting to keep schools shut for political reasons and threatened to cut off federal funding to schools that do not reopen.

He said the administration was pushing Congress to provide $105 billion to schools as part of the next coronavirus relief bill currently under negotiation.

"If schools do not reopen, the funding should go to parents to send their child to public, private, charter, religious or home school of their choice," Trump said. "If the school is closed, the money should follow the student."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued additional guidelines on how schools can safely reopen that included a call for students to stay 6 feet (1.8 m) apart from each other when feasible and to bring meals from home and eat them in classrooms instead of lunchroom.

Earlier this month, Trump criticised the initial CDC guidelines on schools as too tough, impractical and expensive. The agency charged with protecting Americans` health then said it would issue additional guidelines.&nbsp;

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that states that are currently coronavirus hot spots may need to delay reopening schools by a few weeks, but otherwise pushed for students to be able to return to classrooms en masse in the fall.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that states that are currently coronavirus hot spots may need to delay reopening schools by a few weeks, but otherwise pushed for students to be able to return to classrooms en masse in the fall. "They have to open," Trump said of schools nationwide. The president said it would be up to governors in the badly affected states to decide about school reopenings, and said decisions needed to be based on data. Schools were shut down across the country after the novel coronavirus emerged and began spreading, and Trump has been determined to find a way to get them open again. With schools set to resume in a few weeks, local officials across the country have announced a variety of plans, including some that involve continuing remote instruction through the rest of 2020. While the risk of severe COVID-19 is seen as relatively low for children, there is fear they could infect more vulnerable teachers and other adult school administrators. Despite Trump's pressure, only one in four Americans thinks it is safe for public schools to reopen this autumn as U.S. coronavirus cases climb, and four in 10 parents said they would likely keep their children home if classes resume, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll last week. More than 142,000 people have died in the United States during the past five months and deaths are still rising in 23 states, according to a Reuters tally. Trump, a Republican who is seeking re-election in November, has accused Democrats of wanting to keep schools shut for political reasons and threatened to cut off federal funding to schools that do not reopen. He said the administration was pushing Congress to provide $105 billion to schools as part of the next coronavirus relief bill currently under negotiation. "If schools do not reopen, the funding should go to parents to send their child to public, private, charter, religious or home school of their choice," Trump said. "If the school is closed, the money should follow the student." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued additional guidelines on how schools can safely reopen that included a call for students to stay 6 feet (1.8 m) apart from each other when feasible and to bring meals from home and eat them in classrooms instead of lunchroom. Earlier this month, Trump criticised the initial CDC guidelines on schools as too tough, impractical and expensive. The agency charged with protecting Americans` health then said it would issue additional guidelines.

Trump again pushes for schools to reopen, says hot-spot states may need short delay

Top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said that life could return to normal by sometime next year with sufficient coronavirus vaccine production.

Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, told CNN on Thursday that the companies behind potential vaccines told him "they would have doses to the tunes of tens of millions early in the year, and up to hundreds of millions as we get well into 2021, and some companies say that even after awhile, you could get as many as a billion doses."

Fauci's comments come as the US surpassed 4 million in recorded coronavirus cases.

The United States on Thursday recorded 76,570 new coronavirus cases in the previous 24 hours. The country, which is the world's hardest-hit, also registered a total of 1,225 more deaths.

Early results of a closely watched Phase 1/2 trial published on Monday in The Lancet suggest a coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca is safe and induces an immune response.

Researchers are now trying to find out if the vaccine protects people against the virus.

The US Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense announced an agreement with Pfizer Inc. on Wednesday for "large-scale production and nationwide delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States" after it is successfully developed and approved.

Fauci also stressed that he has "a very good relationship" with President Donald Trump, despite their contradictory stances on numerous elements of the coronavirus response.

Top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said that life could return to normal by sometime next year with sufficient coronavirus vaccine production. Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, told CNN on Thursday that the companies behind potential vaccines told him "they would have doses to the tunes of tens of millions early in the year, and up to hundreds of millions as we get well into 2021, and some companies say that even after awhile, you could get as many as a billion doses.

Top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said that life could return to normal by sometime next year with sufficient coronavirus vaccine production. Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, told CNN on Thursday that the companies behind potential vaccines told him "they would have doses to the tunes of tens of millions early in the year, and up to hundreds of millions as we get well into 2021, and some companies say that even after awhile, you could get as many as a billion doses." Fauci's comments come as the US surpassed 4 million in recorded coronavirus cases. The United States on Thursday recorded 76,570 new coronavirus cases in the previous 24 hours. The country, which is the world's hardest-hit, also registered a total of 1,225 more deaths. Early results of a closely watched Phase 1/2 trial published on Monday in The Lancet suggest a coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca is safe and induces an immune response. Researchers are now trying to find out if the vaccine protects people against the virus. The US Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense announced an agreement with Pfizer Inc. on Wednesday for "large-scale production and nationwide delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States" after it is successfully developed and approved. Fauci also stressed that he has "a very good relationship" with President Donald Trump, despite their contradictory stances on numerous elements of the coronavirus response.

Real normality could take a year to return: US expert on coronavirus crisis

Face coverings have now been made compulsory in shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres and transport hubs in Britain as part of the next stage of the UK government's official guidance to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Under the new regulations, people will need to wear face coverings -- such as a fabric covering, scarf or bandana -- that cover the nose and mouth in additional enclosed public spaces, as announced by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month.

It will be compulsory to wear a face covering when buying food and drink to takeaway from cafes and shops.

Face coverings will not be mandatory for anyone under the age of 11, those with disabilities or certain health conditions, such as respiratory or cognitive impairments that make it difficult for them to wear a face covering.

Also, businesses are encouraged to take reasonable steps to encourage customers to follow the law, including through signs and providing other information in store.

Wearing a face covering will not be made mandatory in other venues that have measures in place to protect staff and the public from COVID-19, including eat-in restaurants and pubs, hairdressers and other treatment salons, gyms and leisure centres, cinemas, concert halls and theatres.

For transport hubs in England, the requirements mean face coverings must be worn in indoor train stations and terminals, airports, maritime ports, and indoor bus and coach stations or terminals.

Anyone who doesn't abide by the regulations, and is not exempt under one of the categories set out in the regulations, could face a fine by the police of up to GBP 100, as is currently the case on public transport in most parts of the UK.

People wearing face coverings are still strongly advised to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser before putting one on or taking it off, avoid taking it off and putting it back on again a lot in quick succession, store it in a plastic bag in between washes or wearing, and avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth while wearing one.

Face coverings have now been made compulsory in shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres and transport hubs in Britain as part of the next stage of the UK government's official guidance to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Face coverings have now been made compulsory in shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres and transport hubs in Britain as part of the next stage of the UK government's official guidance to curb the spread of coronavirus. Under the new regulations, people will need to wear face coverings -- such as a fabric covering, scarf or bandana -- that cover the nose and mouth in additional enclosed public spaces, as announced by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month. It will be compulsory to wear a face covering when buying food and drink to takeaway from cafes and shops. Face coverings will not be mandatory for anyone under the age of 11, those with disabilities or certain health conditions, such as respiratory or cognitive impairments that make it difficult for them to wear a face covering. Also, businesses are encouraged to take reasonable steps to encourage customers to follow the law, including through signs and providing other information in store. Wearing a face covering will not be made mandatory in other venues that have measures in place to protect staff and the public from COVID-19, including eat-in restaurants and pubs, hairdressers and other treatment salons, gyms and leisure centres, cinemas, concert halls and theatres. For transport hubs in England, the requirements mean face coverings must be worn in indoor train stations and terminals, airports, maritime ports, and indoor bus and coach stations or terminals. Anyone who doesn't abide by the regulations, and is not exempt under one of the categories set out in the regulations, could face a fine by the police of up to GBP 100, as is currently the case on public transport in most parts of the UK. People wearing face coverings are still strongly advised to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser before putting one on or taking it off, avoid taking it off and putting it back on again a lot in quick succession, store it in a plastic bag in between washes or wearing, and avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth while wearing one.

Face masks now compulsory in shops and supermarkets in UK

Melaniya Petrushanska spent almost a sixth of her life in accidental exile after Israel sealed its borders while she was abroad on what was meant to be a short holiday.

The three-year-old daughter of Ukrainian immigrants had a tearful reunion with her parents this week after an Israeli airline agreed to bring her back, with a special escort, from Kyiv, where she had flown with her grandmother in January.

Return flights had dried up as Israel imposed closures to stem the spread of the pandemic - with initial success, though the country is now struggling with a resurgence.

Petrushanska’s mother Alona recalled how, speaking to her stranded daughter by video conference, she had explained that “the planes are sick ... that there was no way to return her because everyone was sick”.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://w3.cdn.anvato.net/player/prod/v3/anvload.html?key=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%3D%3D" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Although Petrushanska was an Israeli citizen, her grandmother was not, which made it impossible for her to enter the country during lockdown on one of the few planes still available, Alona said.

The girl’s parents also felt marooned. Flying to Ukraine would have entailed two 14-day quarantines, there and upon returning. Alona said she and her husband could not afford that, given their shaky job prospects as Israel’s economy tanked.

Israir was the only airline that agreed to take such a young unaccompanied minor, Alona said. She added that Israir footed the bill for a representative assigned to escort the girl.

The fact Melaniya now has to self-isolate as a coronavirus precaution is shrugged off by the family, though she hankers for the outdoors.

“Now we are feeling great, because ... finally we are together after such a long and difficult period,” Alona said.

<a href="https://reut.rs/3fVpTgg">WATCH VIDEO</a>

Melaniya Petrushanska spent almost a sixth of her life in accidental exile after Israel sealed its borders while she was abroad on what was meant to be a short holiday.

Melaniya Petrushanska spent almost a sixth of her life in accidental exile after Israel sealed its borders while she was abroad on what was meant to be a short holiday. The three-year-old daughter of Ukrainian immigrants had a tearful reunion with her parents this week after an Israeli airline agreed to bring her back, with a special escort, from Kyiv, where she had flown with her grandmother in January. Return flights had dried up as Israel imposed closures to stem the spread of the pandemic - with initial success, though the country is now struggling with a resurgence. Petrushanska’s mother Alona recalled how, speaking to her stranded daughter by video conference, she had explained that “the planes are sick ... that there was no way to return her because everyone was sick”. × Although Petrushanska was an Israeli citizen, her grandmother was not, which made it impossible for her to enter the country during lockdown on one of the few planes still available, Alona said. The girl’s parents also felt marooned. Flying to Ukraine would have entailed two 14-day quarantines, there and upon returning. Alona said she and her husband could not afford that, given their shaky job prospects as Israel’s economy tanked. Israir was the only airline that agreed to take such a young unaccompanied minor, Alona said. She added that Israir footed the bill for a representative assigned to escort the girl. The fact Melaniya now has to self-isolate as a coronavirus precaution is shrugged off by the family, though she hankers for the outdoors. “Now we are feeling great, because ... finally we are together after such a long and difficult period,” Alona said. WATCH VIDEO

Toddler returns to Israel after six months of accidental COVID-19 exile

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro refused to let COVID-19 get the better of him as he went for a spin on a motorcycle and chatted maskless with a team of groundskeepers outside the presidential palace on Thursday.

Bolsonaro has been in quarantine at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia since testing positive for the novel coronavirus on July 7. He had to cancel upcoming travel plans after a new test came back positive again on Wednesday.

Photographs captured him taking a motorcycle for a spin on the palace grounds, stopping at one point to talk to a team of groundskeepers raking leaves -- despite his positive test result and the fact that neither he nor the workers appeared to be wearing face masks.

The 65-year old, who has been called a "Tropical Trump," has repeatedly defied social distancing guidelines by regularly hitting the streets for rallies by his supporters even as the pandemic exploded in Brazil.

The South American country has the second-biggest outbreak in the world, after the United States, with nearly 2.3 million infections and more than 84,000 deaths. Brazil registered its two highest daily numbers of new infections Wednesday and Thursday, with 67,860 and 59,961, respectively.

Bolsonaro, who has compared the virus to a "little flu" and condemned the economic impact of stay-at-home measures to contain it, said on Facebook he was feeling "great."

"We're concerned with protecting lives, but the collateral damage from these (stay-at-home) policies is going to kill a lot more people than the virus," he said.

The far-right leader also admitted in a live Facebook video Thursday that he was feeling "a bit wretched at being imprisoned here."

Bolsonaro has also been spotted in the gardens feeding -- and occasionally getting bitten by -- rheas, a South American bird related to the emu.

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro refused to let COVID-19 get the better of him as he went for a spin on a motorcycle and chatted maskless with a team of groundskeepers outside the presidential palace on Thursday.

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro refused to let COVID-19 get the better of him as he went for a spin on a motorcycle and chatted maskless with a team of groundskeepers outside the presidential palace on Thursday. Bolsonaro has been in quarantine at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia since testing positive for the novel coronavirus on July 7. He had to cancel upcoming travel plans after a new test came back positive again on Wednesday. Photographs captured him taking a motorcycle for a spin on the palace grounds, stopping at one point to talk to a team of groundskeepers raking leaves -- despite his positive test result and the fact that neither he nor the workers appeared to be wearing face masks. The 65-year old, who has been called a "Tropical Trump," has repeatedly defied social distancing guidelines by regularly hitting the streets for rallies by his supporters even as the pandemic exploded in Brazil. The South American country has the second-biggest outbreak in the world, after the United States, with nearly 2.3 million infections and more than 84,000 deaths. Brazil registered its two highest daily numbers of new infections Wednesday and Thursday, with 67,860 and 59,961, respectively. Bolsonaro, who has compared the virus to a "little flu" and condemned the economic impact of stay-at-home measures to contain it, said on Facebook he was feeling "great." "We're concerned with protecting lives, but the collateral damage from these (stay-at-home) policies is going to kill a lot more people than the virus," he said. The far-right leader also admitted in a live Facebook video Thursday that he was feeling "a bit wretched at being imprisoned here." Bolsonaro has also been spotted in the gardens feeding -- and occasionally getting bitten by -- rheas, a South American bird related to the emu.

Despite being COVID positive, Bolsonaro rides motorcycle, chats up workers

covid-19-0

Covid 19, News on Covid 19, stories on Covid 19, articles on Covid 19, Covid 19 stories at Wion, Covid 19 news, Covid 19 latest news

covid 19-0