More than 1.9 million people have been reported to be infected by Covid-19 globally and more than 119,000 have died, according to the John Hopkins University coronavirus tracking map.
Staff members receive the novel coronavirus strain transported from Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, at a laboratory of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Preventio on Feb. 25, 2020. Photo: Liu Peicheng / Xinhua / AFP
China approves experimental coronavirus vaccine trials
China has approved early-stage human tests for two experimental vaccines to combat the new coronavirus, state media Xinhua reported.
The vaccines are being developed by a Beijing-based unit of Nasdaq-listed Sinovac Biotech, and by the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, an affiliate of state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group.
In March, China have the green-light for another clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by military-backed China's Academy of Military Medical Sciences and HK-listed biotech firm CanSino Bio, shortly after US drug developer Moderna said it had begun human tests for their vaccine with the US National Institutes of Health.
People work at the construction site of a temporary hospital in Suifenhe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2020. Photo: Xinhua / Dong Baosen / AFP
Meanwhile, Russia has become China's largest source of imported cases, with a total of 409 infections originating in the country.
China's northeastern border province of Heilongjiang saw 79 new cases of imported coronavirus cases on Monday. All the new cases were Chinese citizens travelling back into the country from Russia, state media said on Tuesday. They formed the bulk of new cases on the Chinese mainland, which stood at 89.
As of Tuesday, China had reported 82,249 coronavirus cases and 3341 deaths. There were no deaths in the past 24 hours.
New York, California and other states plan for reopening
The US death toll from Covid-19 topped 23,500, out of more than 584,000 known US infections, according to a Reuters tally. The United States has recorded greater loss of life from Covid-19 than any other nation.
Wyoming reported its first death from the coronavirus, the final US state to report a fatality.
Ten US governors on the east and west coasts banded together in two regional pacts to coordinate gradual economic reopenings.
Announcements from the New York-led group of Northeastern governors, and a similar compact formed by California, Oregon and Washington state, came as President Donald Trump declared any decision on restarting the US economy was up to him.
Nurses and healthcare workers formed the word "Hope" with candles as they mourn and remember their colleagues who died during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus during a demonstration outside Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan on April 10, 2020 in New York City. Photo: Johannes Eisele / AFP
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he was teaming up with five counterparts in adjacent New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island to devise the best strategies for easing stay-at-home orders imposed last month to curb coronavirus transmissions.
"Nobody has been here before, nobody has all the answers," said Cuomo, whose state has become the US epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic, during an open conference call with five other governors.
The announcements came as signs emerged that the crisis had peaked. At least 1500 new US fatalities were reported, below last week's running tally of roughly 2000 deaths every 24 hours. Likewise, the number of additional confirmed cases counted on Monday (local time), about 23,000, was well below last week's trend of 30,000 to 50,000 new cases a day.
Americas
Brazil likely has 12 times more cases of the new coronavirus than are being officially reported by the government, with too little testing and long waits to confirm the results, according to a study released.
Panama registered 72 new cases, bringing the country's total to 3472 cases with 94 deaths.
Mexico registered 353 new cases, bringing its total to 5014 cases and 332 deaths.
Europe
The death toll from Covid-19 in British hospitals rose to 11,329 and the government, which is having to operate without its convalescing leader Boris Johnson, signalled that there would be no easing of lockdown measures this week.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced he was extending a virtual lockdown to curb the coronavirus outbreak until 11 May, adding that progress had been made but the battle not yet won.
President Vladimir Putin said Russia might need to call in the army to help tackle the virus crisis and warned the contagion was getting worse after the number of confirmed cases rose by a record daily amount.
Germany's number of confirmed cases has risen by 2082 to 125,098, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed, marking the fourth decline in the number of new cases after four days of increases.
The country's reported death toll has risen by 170 to 2969.
Turkey will impose a fresh lockdown next weekend as part of measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus, President Tayyip Erdogan said, after a 48-hour curfew in 31 provinces that ended at midnight.
Asia and the pacific
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended a nationwide lockdown until 3 May as the number of coronavirus cases crossed 10,000 despite a three-week shutdown.
A traffic policeman wearing a face shield checks motorists at a checkpoint during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown in New Delhi on April 13, 2020. Photo: Money Sharma / AFP
Modi, in an address on national television on the world's biggest shutdown, said the challenge was to stop the virus from spreading to new parts of the country.
"Till May 3, every Indian will have to stay in lockdown. I request all Indians that we stop the coronavirus from spreading to other areas," he said.
The country's death toll reached 339.
Singapore's health ministry confirmed 386 more cases in the city-state's biggest daily jump, taking its total to 2918.
Australian officials are investigating whether an illegal social gathering of health workers is behind a spike in coronavirus cases in the island state of Tasmania.
Middle East
Iran's death toll from the outbreak has risen to 4585, with 111 more overnight, a health ministry official said, adding the total number of infected cases had reached 73,303 in the most-affected Middle Eastern country.
Sudan will impose a lockdown on the capital Khartoum for three weeks after 10 more cases of the new coronavirus were discovered, its information minister said.
Nigeria will extend lockdowns in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun states for an additional 14 days to combat the new coronavirus, President Muhammadu Buhari said in an address to the nation that acknowledged the sacrifices of the country's poor.
-Reuters
