Global COVID-19 update for Monday, September 14

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 28.98 million, death toll at 922,346. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

Key Highlights

• US President says Covid-19 almost there, making 'last turn'

• Thailand may extend measures to boost domestic tourism to December

Mumbai: Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 28.98 million, death toll at 922,346. More than 28.98 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 922,346 have died. Global coronavirus cases marked a record one-day increase, with many countries facing the second wave of infections.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS

The European Commission said that Many European countries have started testing a technology platform which will allow national coronavirus tracing apps to 'talk' to one another to better tackle the pandemic. The Commission has kicked off test runs between the servers that support the apps created by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Latvia.

Eli Lilly and Co said on Monday that its rheumatoid arthritis drug Baricitinib shortened the time taken to recover from COVID-19 in hospitalised patients when taken in combination with Gilead Sciences Inc's Antiviral Remdesivir.

Lilly said the drug, which is branded as Olumiant, in combination with Remdesivir showed a roughly one-day reduction in median recovery time versus patients treated with Remdesivir alone.

Depending on the results from the trial, which tested more than 1,000 patients, Lilly plans to discuss the potential for an emergency use authorisation (EUA) with the US Food and Drug Administration. Regeneron's experimental antibody drug REGN-COV2 added to UK Recovery trial of COVID treatments.

Phase 3 trial to evaluate Regeneron's REGN-COV2 investigational antibody cocktail in the UK.

The UK recovery trial, which has been testing a range of potential COVID-19 treatments since it began in April, will compare the effects of adding REGN-COV2 - a lab-manufactured monoclonal antibody - to standard care. Fosun says COVID-19 vaccine co-developed with Pfizer, BioNTech could be available in winter.

French vaccine maker Valneva said it would supply the UK with up to 190 million doses of its vaccine candidate over a five-year period. 

Here’s the latest on COVID-19 from your country:

Some Asian countries are rolling out early, more aggressive influenza vaccination programs this year, seeking to reduce the potential risk of people contracting the flu and COVID-19.

Britain recorded its highest daily rate of new infections since mid-May last week and gatherings of more than six people were banned across most of the country from Monday.

Australia reported its lowest one-day rise in new infections in nearly three months as govt starts to ease restrictions. New Zealand to lift restrictions across the country on September 21, except in Auckland, which is the epicentre of the second wave of infections.

Italy reopened most of its schools on Monday after a six-month shutdown, the longest in Europe. The Spanish government is considering extending its nationwide furlough scheme that guarantees workers part of their income into 2021.

Sweden drops travel restrictions to Britain despite pick up in coronavirus cases. Swedes can now travel freely to most European destinations, though Finland, Ireland, the Baltic countries and Malta remain on the red-list.

Saudi Arabia will partially lift its suspension of international flights as of September 15 to allow “exceptional categories” of citizens and residents to travel.