Some 16,501,453 have been infected with the coronavirus globally since the start of the pandemic, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
According to its tally, at least 653,095 people have succumbed to the disease.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of the new coronavirus that originated in China's Wuhan a pandemic on 11 March.
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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump during a press briefing said the United States may provide a vaccine for the novel coronavirus to other countries when it is ready.
"When we have that vaccine it will be discharged and taken care of," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "It will be a very rapid process all over the country and perhaps we'll be supplying a lot of the vaccine to other parts of the world like we do with ventilators and other things that we all of a sudden have become very good at making."
The Trump administration aims to have a vaccine available by the end of the year or early 2021.
On Monday, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said that US scientists have begun the phase three trial of the potential vaccine developed by the biotechnology company Moderna.
The NIH plans to conduct the trial at multiple US clinical research sites with participation of approximately 30,000 adult volunteers who are not infected with the novel coronavirus.
The United States has reported more than 4.3 million cases and more than 149,000 virus-related deaths as of Tuesday afternoon, according to data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University.
CAIRO (Sputnik) - The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Libya has topped 3,000, the national COVID-19 response center said on Tuesday.
"The total toll of cases is 3,017, 579 people have recovered, 67 patients have died," the center wrote on Facebook.
Over the past 24 hours, the country has reported 190 new cases of the infection — a record high daily increment since the beginning of the outbreak in Libya.
Most cases have been registered in Tripoli (50), as well as in Benghazi (16), where the country's two rival administrations are sitting.
BEIRUT (Sputnik) - The Lebanese government has waived customs duties for all medical supplies needed for the diagnostics and treatment of the coronavirus infection until the end of December, President Michel Aoun's press service said on Tuesday.
The statement came following the weekly cabinet meeting, attended by Aoun, which was focused on the discussion of the recent Israeli airstrikes against Lebanon's southern territories and the economic crisis associated with COVID-19.
"[The cabinet] has agreed on extending Resolution 6278 of April 16 on exemption from customs duties of the medical supplies and drugs intended for the treatment and diagnosis of COVID-19 until December 31, 2020," the press release read.
Among other decisions made at the cabinet meeting was to close the state borders for a five-day period beginning next Thursday in a bid to curb the import of new cases.
The cabinet has also decided to re-extend the deadline of the coronavirus-compelled public mobilization from 3 August until 30 August, according to the press release.
Lebanon declared public mobilization on 16 March in response to an acute surge in new COVID-19 cases.
The number of newly detected cases over the past day has totaled 175, up from 168 the day before, as the total case count is approaching 4,000.
The Lebanese authorities believe the rapid spread of the infection was caused by the public's disregard of common safety practices and social distancing as well as the influx of imported cases after the country opened borders earlier in July.
The global death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed 650,000, while the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases has exceeded 16.3 million so far, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in its daily situation report on Tuesday.
Over the past 24 hours, 226,783 infections and 4,153 coronavirus-related fatalities have been recorded worldwide, the WHO said.
According to the reports, the global number of confirmed cases since the outbreak has now reached 16,341,920, while the death toll has risen to 650,805.
The majority of cases and deaths — 8.7 million and almost 340,000, respectively — remain concentrated in the Americas. The United States continues to be the country with the highest single count of cases and fatalities — 4.2 million and over 146,000, respectively.
"The first danger is that the vaccine will transform COVID-19 into yet another disease of the poor like so many other diseases today that have vaccine that you can be immunised against", the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross regional delegation for Mexico and Central America said at a Valdai Club online discussion.
Jordi Raich said during the event, titled "Global Response to the Pandemic: the Strategy of the World Community and Social Challenges", that hundreds of thousands have been dying every day from diseases because they did not have access to even the easy and cheap treatments.
"One of the characteristics of this pandemic is that it has turned the whole humanity, everyone of us vulnerable. But If we have become vulnerable those who were vulnerable before have become super vulnerable even more so", he noted.
"ColdZyme is sold in about ten countries, mainly in Europe but also for instance in South Africa and Hong Kong. In the coming years it will be sold in additional markets, for instance 19 countries in Europe, China and Japan through agreements we have made with large distributors/life science companies", Enzymatica press officer Carl-Johan Wachtmeister said.
He added that there has already been an increase in demand and sales due to the pandemic.
According to Enzymatica's financial report, net sales of the company for the second quarter of 2020 have shown a 119 percent year-on-year increase.
Favorable results in a protection against COVID-19 have been proven in a laboratory, but tests involving people to confirm this effect have not been conducted yet.
"We are analyzing the in-vitro results since they are a proof-of-principle in regard to take the product further into clinical studies. We are discussing internally and together with partners, how to best move forward", Wachtmeister said.
The barrier in ColdZyme consists of a transparent liquid solution, including glycerol and enzymes from deep-sea cod, the representative of the company explained.
"The main mechanism of action of the barrier is based on its ability to generate an osmotically active viscous solution (barrier or film) on the mucous membrane in the mouth/throat that adsorbs fluid. This fluid contains viruses. When applied to the mouth/throat, as in the case of ColdZyme, the viral presence declines, thereby facilitating a faster natural recovery from the common cold", he said.
Enzymatica’s patent for the cod enzyme expires in 2035. Therefore, ColdZyme does not have any generic versions yet.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The UK luxury department store Selfridges has announced that it will cut 450 jobs, or 14 percent of its workforce, with management citing poor sales amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by the Sky News broadcaster on Tuesday.
The broadcaster gained access to an email sent to employees by Selfridges’ managing director Anne Pitcher, who said that the company's predicted sales in 2020 are expected to be significantly lower than the previous year.
"As a family business, the hardest decisions are the ones that affect our people, which is why it pains me to share news today of the toughest decision we have ever had to take that we will, very regrettably, need to make a 14% net reduction in our overall headcount, approximately 450 roles", Pitcher’s email read, as quoted by the broadcaster.
Selfridges currently operates two stores in Manchester, one store in Birmingham, as well as its London flagship.
Stores in the United Kingdom have faced major challenges given the rise of online retail. In July 2019, the number of empty stores in town centers rose to 10.3 percent, its highest value in four years, as reported by the British Retail Consortium.
On Monday, domestic media reported that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is planning to create a 2 percent tax on all goods bought online in order to help traditional retail stores compete.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - At least two people have tested positive for COVID-19 on the Greek island of Lesbos, the domestic newspaper Kathimerini reported on Tuesday.
According to the newspaper, the two individuals had recently returned to the town of Plomari after traveling abroad. Medical experts are working to conduct extensive contact tracing to establish if other people may have also contracted the disease.
Since the start of the outbreak, 4,227 cases of COVID-19 have been registered across the whole of Greece, resulting in the deaths of 202 people. The country's Health Ministry on Tuesday announced that 35 new positive tests had been reported over the past 24 hours.
Migrant camps on the island remain under lockdown until 2 August. Doctors Without Borders has urged the Greek government not use to the pandemic to detain migrants and refugees in overcrowded camps.
The island of Lesbos has become the most popular landing site for migrants attempting to travel across the Aegean Sea from Turkey. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 4,000 migrants have arrived on the island since the start of the year.
Parte médico de Mariano.#RealMadrid
— Real Madrid C.F. (34🏆) (@realmadrid) July 28, 2020
BANGKOK (Sputnik) - Vietnam has put over 15,000 people in quarantine over the past days, after infections have been detected in the popular resort city of Da Nang and among those airlifted from abroad, the official VNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
Of them, 322 have been isolated in hospitals, over 12,400 in quarantine centres and another 2,253 at their homes.
The outbreak in Da Nang, which is the first instance of local transmission to be detected in more than 100 days in Vietnam, was reported over the weekend. A total of 15 cases tied to this cluster have been recorded. On Tuesday, no new infections have so far been registered. Health Ministry experts say that genome analysis has shown that the outbreak identified in Da Nang is a new type of COVID-19, which is more infectious.
The country immediately began evacuating tourists from the city, banned all domestic passenger flights to and from Da Nang as well as gatherings of more than two outside offices, schools, hospitals, and public places.
As of now, the country’s coronavirus tally remains at 431. Public health authorities have so far confirmed no deaths from the disease.
TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran’s COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 16,000 after a record 235 fatalities have been registered in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday, as broadcast by the IRINN news network.
Cumulative cases have risen by 2,667 to 296,273, the ministry’s spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari specified.
Over 257,000 people have recovered, and 16,147 have died since the onset of the pandemic.
A day earlier, the country reported 212 fatalities and 2,434 new cases. The single-day record of the number of deaths in Iran — 229 fatalities — was recorded on July 21.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia has registered 5,395 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours (5,635 yesterday), bringing the cumulative total to 823,515, the country's coronavirus response centre said on Tuesday.
"Over the past 24 hours, Russia has confirmed 5,395 COVID-19 cases in 84 regions, of which 1,620 (30 percent) have been detected with people showing no clinical symptoms", the response centre said in a statement.
The total case count has now reached 823,515, with the daily increase standing at 0.7 percent.
Moscow registered 674 coronavirus cases during that time period, which is more than any other region in Russia, followed by the Sverdlovsk Region with 209 cases, and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region with 187 new cases (compared to 694, 252, and 188 yesterday).
No new cases have been recorded in the Chukotka Autonomous Region.
A total of 150 COVID-19 patients died in Russia in the past 24 hours (85 the previous day), taking the death toll to 13,504.
As many as 8,888 coronavirus patients have been discharged (compared to 3,079 on the previous day), bringing the total number of recoveries to 612,217.
According to the Russian public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, over 27.3 million tests to detect COVID-19 have been conducted in the country since the beginning of the outbreak, and 261,000 suspected virus carriers remain under medical observation.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - El Salvador’s COVID-19 case total has surpassed 15,000 after 405 new positive tests were registered over a 24-hour period, the country’s Health Ministry confirmed.
The country has now registered 15,035 cases of the coronavirus disease since the start of the outbreak, resulting in the deaths of 417 people. A total of 7,827 people have recovered after contracting the disease, the ministry reported.
On Sunday, 409 new positive tests for the disease were registered in El Salvador, a drop from the country's single-day record of 429 new cases, registered a day earlier.
A steady surge in new cases has been detected in the country since the start of July. The government suspended the second stage of the country's economic reopening, scheduled to begin at the start of the month, due to the rise in positive tests.
NUR-SULTAN (Sputnik) - The Kazakh government is planning to ease the country’s COVID-19 social distancing measures from 3 August given that the epidemiological situation in the country has stabilised, Health Minister Alexey Tsoy said on Tuesday.
A surge in cases was observed in the Central Asian country at the start of July, which prompted the authorities to reintroduce lockdown measures on 5 July. These restrictions were initially intended to last for two weeks but were later extended to 2 August.
“The situation with COVID-19 has stabilised at an average of around 1,600 people [new cases] per day. There is also a decrease in the occupancy of hospital beds by 43 percent, including a fall in intensive care bed occupancy by 27 percent. The proportion of people who have recovered has increased to 63 percent”, Tsoy said during a government meeting.
Should the reproductive rate, or R number, fall below 1 and bed occupancy remain below 70 percent, the government will consider allowing some non-essential retail and entertainment businesses to reopen, Tsoy said.
The Kazakh government is still advising that 80 percent of government workers and office staff should work remotely, and occupancy on public transport will still be limited to 50 percent. Many hospitality sectors, including food courts, bars, and museums will remain closed for the time being.
On Tuesday, the Kazakh Ministry of Health confirmed 1,526 new positive tests for COVID-19 over the preceding 24 hours, taking the country’s case total to 84,648. The country’s death toll has remained level at 585.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Germany confirmed 633 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, up from 340 a day ago, which takes the overall tally to 206,242, the Robert Koch Institute said on Tuesday.
At the same time, the number of fatalities increased by four to 9,122. On Monday, there were no coronavirus-related deaths.
On average, Germany is reporting some 400-700 new cases a day in the second part of July.
In total, over 190,000 people have already fully recovered from COVID-19 in Germany.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - All domestic passenger flights to and from the Vietnamese city of Da Nang have been cancelled for two weeks from Tuesday as the authorities tackle an outbreak of COVID-19 that has seen at least 15 positive tests registered over recent days, the government’s official online newspaper reports.
The Ministry of Transport issued the ban, which began at 00:00 on Tuesday (17:00 GMT on Monday) and will last for 15 days. The suspension of passenger air travel also affects repatriation flights to evacuate the roughly 80,000 tourists who were based in the coastal city at the time of the outbreak.
All road connections into Da Nang have also been restricted, although exceptions will be made for vehicles delivering food, and the transportation of workers, patients, and experts.
The outbreak in Da Nang, which is the first instance of local transmission to be detected in more than 100 days in Vietnam, has been linked to three hospitals subsequently placed on lockdown. Gatherings of more than two people have been banned outside offices, schools, hospitals, and public places, the government news portal said.
On Monday, Health Ministry experts said genome analysis had shown that the outbreak identified in Da Nang is a new type of COVID-19, which is more infectious. The government on Monday said that two patients in the city who tested positive over the past weekend required the use of a ventilator.
Vietnam has now confirmed 431 cases of the coronavirus disease since the start of the outbreak. The country has yet to confirm a single death from the disease during the global pandemic.
BEIJING (Sputnik) - China confirmed 68 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, up from 61 a day ago, and another 34 asymptomatic carriers, while the number of recoveries rose by 16, the National Health Commission said on Tuesday.
According to the commission, 57 cases have been detected in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, six in the Liaoning province, one in Beijing, while 4 are imported ones.
Overall, mainland China has so far reported 83,959 COVID-19 cases, 78,934 recoveries and 4,634 related deaths. In total, 391 carriers are currently being treated in hospitals.
Separately, Hong Kong reports 2,778 coronavirus cases, 1,486 recoveries and 22 related fatalities, while all 46 coronavirus-positive patients in Macao have already recovered. Taiwan has so far registered 462 coronavirus cases, 440 recoveries and seven deaths.
"As of 27 July 2020, a total of 395,489 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, 85,986 are suspected", the deputy secretary wrote on Twitter.
Al 27 de julio de 2020 hay 395,489 casos confirmados y 85,986 sospechosos de #COVID19. Se han registrado 442,884 negativos, 44,022 defunciones confirmadas y 256,777 personas recuperadas. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/E443In39oN
— Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez (@HLGatell) July 28, 2020
