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- India’s health ministry announced on Sunday at least 78,761 new infections in 24 hours, setting a new daily record worlwide.
- More than 24.9 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 16.4 million have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 842,400 people have died.
- Brazil’s Ministry of Health has reported at least 758 additional coronavirus fatalities during the last 24 hours, with 41,350 new cases, bringing the death toll to 120,262, and the confirmed cases to 3,846,153.
- Every Italian region reported new coronavirus cases after a record 99,000 tests turned up another 1,444 cases.
Here are the latest updates:
Sunday, August 30
6:00 GMT – South Korea marks 17th day of triple-digit cases with dining curbs
South Korea reported its 17th day of triple-digit rises in coronavirus infections, as restrictions on onsite dining at restaurants, pubs and bakeries in the densely populated Seoul area take effect.
There were 299 new infections as of Saturday midnight, the slowest daily rise in five days, bringing the national tally to 19,699 cases of the new coronavirus and 323 COVID-19 deaths, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
On Friday, the country extended Phase 2 social distancing rules – the second strictest level – for at least another week and announced tougher rules on places with high risks of virus spread.
05:30 GMT – Germany’s confirmed cases rise by 785 to 241,771: RKI
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 785 to 241,771, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed.
The reported death toll rose by six to 9,295, the tally showed.
Hello, this is Umut Uras in Doha taking over from my colleague Ted Regencia.
04:50 GMT – India sets world’s highest single-day rise
India’s health ministry announced on Sunday at least 78,761 new infections in 24 hours, setting a new daily record worlwide.
With a population of more than 1.3 billion people, India ranks third with the most number of infections, behind the US and Brazil.
The United States previously recorded 77,638 daily cases in one day, according to the AFP news agency.
03:45 GMT – Germany’s reports new 785 cases
Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases reported on Sunday an additional 785 new coronavirus cases pushing the total number of infections to 241,771.
The data also showed six additional deaths with the total number hitting 9,295.
03:25 GMT – Australia treads cautiously as coronavirus lingers
New coronavirus cases in Australia’s state of Victoria returned to the triple digits on Sunday, according to the government.
Southeastern Victoria reported 114 new cases, a day after the daily tally fell to 94, its lowest in nearly two months. Its capital, Melbourne, is four weeks into a six-week hard lockdown that authorities have said may ease only gradually.
“At 100, 94, at 114, whatever the number, we simply could not open up,” state premier Daniel Andrews told a televised briefing on Sunday.
The nation of 25 million has suffered about 25,600 infections and just over 600 deaths since the start of the year.
The nation of 25 million has suffered about 25,600 infections and just over 600 deaths since the start of the year [James Ross/EPA]
02:45 GMT – Hong Kong’s Joshua Wong calls for boycott of COVID-19 testing
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has joined the call for residents of the city to boycott the COVID-19 testing plan being rolled out by the government starting on Tuesday.
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority employees alliance have also joined Wong’s call during a press conference on Sunday.
Hong Kong has over 4,700 cases and 86 deaths reported so far.
02:20 GMT – New Zealand reports two new COVID-19 cases
New Zealand’s director of public health, Caroline McElnay reported on Sunday theat there were two new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand.
The latest development comes as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expressed anger over the botched communications regarding coronavirus testing in the country.
But she also thanked residents of Auckland for abiding by the new restrictions in the country.
New Zealand has over 1,700 cases and at least 22 deaths.
01:48 GMT – Tour de France imposes rules to limit spread of COVID-19
French authorities have made it harder for Tour de France teams to reach the finish line in Paris if a member tests positive.
Oficials decided teams will be expelled from the race if two or more of their staff members test positive for the coronavirus within a week, according to AP news agency.
The move was announced just a few hours before the start of the three-week race’s opening stage in Nice.
It overruled a decision from cycling’s governing body that had eased the Tour’s exclusion rules on Friday. There are 30 members per team, which includes staff.
01:08 GMT – South Korea’s new COVID-19 cases fall below 300
The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea has fallen below 300 on Sunday – the first time in five days, as the government extends social distancing restrictions in greater Seoul, accoring to Yonhap news agency.
South Korea reported 299 new COVID-19 cases, including 283 local infections, raising the total caseload to 19,699, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Two more patients died, raising the death toll to 323.
South Korean health officials have tightened social distancing restrictions in the greater capital area of Seoul to help contain infections [Lee Jin-man/AP]
00:30 GMT – Thai scientists develop COVID-19 vaccine using tobacco leaves
A leading infectious disease doctor from Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University has announced that tests of new locally produced Covid-19 vaccines on monkeys had proved successful.
Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, head of the Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Centre, , said that the latest vaccine, is produced by integrating the virus’ DNA into tobacco leaves. The plant responds to the DNA and produces proteins about a week later, according to the Bangkok Post report.
The proteins are then extracted to make the vaccine. So far, it has been tested on mice and monkeys. The next step is testing it on humans.
“This vaccine, made with proteins from a special type of tobacco leaf, is easy and cheap to produce, even at an industrial scale. Also, there will be no patent-related problems with this approach,” he was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.
00:10 GMT – Brazil coronavirus deaths surpass 120,000
Brazil’s Ministry of Health has reported at least 758 additional coronavirus fatalities during the last 24 hours, with 41,350 new cases, bringing the death toll to 120,262, and the confirmed cases to 3,846,153.
Brazil is the second-hardest-hit country by COVID-19 after the United States, both in the fatalities and infections. The country, however, reported a slowdown in the number of new cases and deaths.
00:01 GMT – Italy carries out record number of COVID-19 tests
Every Italian region reported new coronavirus cases after a record 99,000 tests turned up another 1,444 cases, The Associated Press news agency reported.
The health ministry says one more victim of COVID-19 brought Italy’s official death toll to 35,473 on Saturday.
Italy has nearly doubled its daily tests this month amid a surge in new infections, mostly among young people returning from vacation.
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Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
For all the key developments from yesterday, August 29, go here.
