Globally, more than 16.6 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 659,045 have died, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University’s tracker. However, 9.7 million have recovered from the virus.
Here are the top 10 developments in India this morning:
1. New Zealand has recorded two new cases of COVID-19, both diagnosed in returning travellers to the country who are quarantined in managed isolation facilities. There have been 1,209 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand and 22 deaths.
2. China reported 101 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for 28 July, the highest in over three and a half months, the health commission said on Wednesday.
3. US daily virus death toll reached nearly 1,600, the highest rate in 2.5 months, reported AFP news agency quoting Johns Hopkins. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump blamed surging infections on the Black Lives Matter and George Floyd Protests.
4. The WHO says Covid-19 pandemic is “one big wave”, not seasonal. It warned against complacency in the northern hemisphere summer since the infection does not share influenza’s tendency to follow seasons.
ALSO READ: COVID-19 | Top 10 developments in India this Wednesday morning
5. Italy extended its state of emergency until October. This means the prime minister will continue to have the power to impose a lockdown and other safety measures without needing the approval of parliament.
6. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has warned the city is on the brink of a large-scale outbreak of the coronavirus and urged people to stay indoors as much as possible as strict new measures to curb the disease’s spread take effect on Wednesday.
7. Australia’s second-most populous state of Victoria said on Wednesday the total daily coronavirus cases fell below 300 for the first time in more than a week. Victoria reported 295 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, compared with 384 a day earlier.
8. Pilgrims were quarantined Tuesday in the Muslim holy city of Mecca ahead of the dramatically downsized hajj as Saudi authorities strive to prevent a coronavirus outbreak during the five-day pilgrimage, AFP reported.
9. Moderna Inc is planning to price its coronavirus vaccine at US$50 to $60 per course higher than other vaccine makers have agreed to charge governments, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. The price would apply to the United States and other high-income countries, according to the report.
10. Spain’s Prime Minister said Britain had made “an error” by imposing a quarantine on everyone arriving from his country, a decision that blindsided British holidaymakers and has dealt another serious blow to Spain’s crippled tourism industry.
