Coronavirus LIVE Updates: WHO Says Can’t Pretend Pandemic is Over, Urges Dialogue With Protesters

Total Samples Tested in A Day- 1,016,920

English Schools Reopen with Pressure on PM Johnson After Covid-19 Closure | Schools in England and Wales will finally reopen to all students for a new term after the COVID-19 pandemic forced their closure, leading to cancelled exams and throwing student grades into chaos. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had promised to get schools back up and running before the summer break, but was forced to shelve those plans, contributing to criticism over how his government has handled education during the crisis.

Global Economy: Asia's Factories Shaking Off COVID Gloom, China Shines | Asian factories continued to shake off the coronavirus-induced gloom in August as more bright signs in China raised hopes of a firmer recovery in global demand, reducing pressure on policymakers to take more radical steps to avert a deeper recession. Manufacturing activity in China expanded at the fastest clip in nearly a decade in August, as factories ramped up output to meet rebounding demand, a private survey showed. New export orders rose for the first time this year.

Thai Refuge Warns of Growing Risks to Animals as Pandemic Bites | As the pandemic batters Thailand's tourist-reliant economy, animal attractions from petting zoos to elephant camps and tiger farms are feeling the pain and may even have to give animals away, warned the founder of an animal refuge. The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand aims to rescue animals that are dumped or exploited in Thailand, but the organisation is suffering amid coronavirus restrictions.

India’s GDP For April-June Quarter Shrinks 23.9%, Records Worst Contraction Ever

China Reports 10 New Cases | China has reported 10 new Covid-19 cases, down from 17 reported a day earlier, the country’s health authority said. The National Health Commission said in a statement that all new cases were imported infections involving travellers from overseas, marking the 16th consecutive day of no local infections.

Candidates writing JEE Main examination arrive at TCS Gitobitan in Kolkata, that has been designated as an exam centre. The temperature of candidates being checked and area being sanitised in the wake of COVID-19.

New Zealand Reports 14 New Cases, Nine Managed Isolation | There are 14 new cases of COVID-19 to report in New Zealand- nine in MIQ (managed quarantine) and five in the community, all related to the Auckland cluster. Yesterday Auckland dropped down from Level 3 to Level 2, despite more cases emerging. There are 10 people with COVID-19 in hospital today, two of whom are in ICU care.

The last sero-prevalence survey was held from August 1 to 7, according to which antibodies against COVID-19 infection were found in 29.1 per cent of people surveyed in the national capital.

Coronavirus Vaccine Development | The European Commission says it will participate in the World Health Organization mechanism to facilitate poor countries' access to coronavirus vaccines, offering 400 million euros ($477 million) in guarantees. 

And Canada announced deals with US companies Novavax and Johnson & Johnson for 76 million doses of their experimental Covid-19 vaccines.

Hong Kong Starts Voluntary Mass Coronavirus Testing | Hong Kong has started conducting mass coronavirus tests on Tuesday, a health scheme that has been swept up in the political debate dividing the city, where many remain deeply distrustful of both local leaders and China, AFP reports. The voluntary tests are part of an attempt to stamp out a third wave of infections that began in late June and saw the densely populated city reimpose economically painful social distancing measures.

Odisha Reports 2,602 New Covid-19 Cases, 10 More Deaths | At least 2,602 people, including a minister and an MLA, tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha on Monday, taking the tally in the coastal state to 1,03,536, a health department official said. The death toll rose to 492, with 10 more people succumbing to the infection, he said.

Brazil Reports 45,961 Cases, 553 Deaths | Brazil reported 45,961 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 553 deaths from the disease caused by the virus in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said. Brazil has registered 3,908,272 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 121,381, according to ministry data, in the world’s worst coronavirus outbreak outside the United States.

The GDP contraction in the April-June period of FY21 was the largest slump on record since India started reporting quarterly data in 1996.

Recorded Cases of New Coronavirus Pass Six Million in United States | The US remains by far the hardest-hit country in the world by the pandemic in absolute terms, with 183,203 deaths from Covid-19, the tracker of reference shows. The total cases recorded so far are 6,028,617. 

Mexico Reports Over 3,000 Cases | Mexico’s health ministry on Monday reported 3,719 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 256 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 599,560 cases and 64,414 deaths.

Spain Records More Than 23,000 Cases Since Friday | Spain has registered more than 23,000 new COVID-19 cases since Friday, health emergency chief Fernando Simon said, suggesting the infection rate had declined slightly from an 21 August peak, Reuters reports. Health ministry data showed 2,489 new cases were diagnosed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total since the onset of the pandemic to 462,858.

US Reports 182,622 Deaths from Coronavirus | The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sai the number of deaths due to the coronavirus had risen by 473 to 182,622 and reported 5,972,356 cases, an increase of 37,532 from its previous count. The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by a new coronavirus, as of 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 30 versus its previous report released on Sunday.

Australia's State of Victoria Reports 70 Cases, Five Deaths | Australia’s southern state of Victoria has recorded 70 new cases and five new deaths. The state has been in a strict stage four lockdown, which has seen new infections fall and 70 is the lowest case number in nearly two months. 

#COVID19VicData for 1 September, 2020:
There were 70 new cases and sadly 5 deaths reported in Victoria yesterday. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected.
We'll have more information for you later today in our media release. pic.twitter.com/by6mfDDWxx

— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) August 31, 2020

We Support Re-opening of Economies But Can't Pretend Pandemic is Over, Says WHO | "We are 8 months into the COVID-19 pandemic & we understand that people are tired & yearn to get on with their lives, but no country can just pretend the pandemic is over. This virus spreads easily, & we all must remain serious about suppressing its transmission & saving lives," said the World Health organisation.