Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world.
Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 63.06 million, death toll at 1 466 811
More than 63.06 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1 466 811 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
- REUTERS
China gave Covid-19 vaccine candidate to North Korea's Kim - US analyst
SEOUL – China has provided North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family with an experimental coronavirus vaccine, a US analyst said on Tuesday, citing two unidentified Japanese intelligence sources.
Harry Kazianis, a North Korea expert at the Center for the National Interest think tank in Washington, said the Kims and several senior North Korean officials had been vaccinated.
It was unclear which company had supplied its drug candidate to the Kims and whether it had proven to be safe, he added.
"Kim Jong Un and multiple other high-ranking officials within the Kim family and leadership network have been vaccinated for coronavirus within the last two to three weeks thanks to a vaccine candidate supplied by the Chinese government," Kazianis wrote in an article for online outlet 19FortyFive.
Citing US medical scientist Peter J. Hotez, he said at least three Chinese companies were developing a coronavirus vaccine, including Sinovac Biotech Ltd, CanSinoBio and Sinophram Group.
- REUTERS
Mystery still shrouds Covid-19 origin
Paris – While many scientists are racing to find vaccines to tame the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, other researchers are probing the past, trying to unravel one of the greatest mysteries of the virus: exactly where it came from.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has assembled an international team of 10 scientists to trace the origins of the virus.
They will have to investigate both the suspect animals and how the first patients may have been infected.
"We want to know the origin and we will do everything to know the origin," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Monday.
The first cases were reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan a year ago, before countries across the world began to record growing infections.
The WHO said the first cases in Wuhan are believed to date from the beginning of December.
- AFP
Scott Atlas resigns as special adviser to Trump on coronavirus
WASHINGTON – Dr Scott Atlas has resigned as special adviser to President Donald Trump, a White House official said on Monday, after a controversial four months during which he clashed repeatedly with other members of the coronavirus task force.
Voters' unhappiness with Trump's response to the global pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands helped propel his challenger, Democrat Joe Biden, to victory in the 3 November election.
"I am writing to resign from my position as special adviser to the president of the United States," Atlas said in a letter to Trump dated 1 December that he posted on Twitter.
Public health experts, including Anthony Fauci, the leading US infectious disease expert, have sharply criticised Atlas, a neuroradiologist, for providing Trump with misleading or incorrect information on the virus pandemic.
In his letter, Atlas listed what he considered accomplishments in reopening schools and expanding virus testing while also defending himself against his many critics.
- REUTERS
F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton positive for Covid-19
Sakhir, Bahrain – World champion Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss this weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain, Formula One's governing body FIA announced Tuesday.
"In accordance with Covid-19 protocols and public health authority guidelines in Bahrain he (Hamilton) is now isolating," said an FIA statement.
"The procedures set out by the FIA and Formula 1 will ensure no wider impact on this weekend's event."
Hamilton who on Sunday won the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first of back-to-back races in the Gulf state, has already secured a record-equalling seventh world championship this season.
"He woke up on Monday morning with mild symptoms and was informed at the same time that a contact prior to arrival in Bahrain had subsequently tested positive," a statement from Hamilton's Mercedes team said.
"Lewis therefore took a further test and returned a positive result. This has since been confirmed by a retest.
"Lewis is now isolating in accordance with COVID-19 protocols and public health authority guidelines in Bahrain.
- AFP
Jakarta governor contracts Covid-19 as Indonesia infections spike
JAKARTA – Anies Baswedan, the governor of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, said on Tuesday he had tested positive for Covid-19, as the world's fourth most populous country struggles to contain a spike in the number of infections.
The 51-year-old governor of Southeast Asia's biggest city is among a number of politicians and officials to contract the virus. Indonesia's transportation and religious affairs ministers have previously been treated for the virus.
In a video posted on his Instagram account, the governor said he was currently asymptomatic and would self-isolate.
"I would like to remind everyone that Covid is still around and can come to anyone," he said.
His deputy, Ahmad Riza Patria, also tested positive for the virus on Sunday, according to the city's website.
Indonesia, a country of 270 million people, has posted three days of record-high case numbers in the past week.
With more than 530 000 infections and nearly 17 000 deaths, the country has the highest tallies in Southeast Asia, though some health experts say limited testing and contact tracing is masking a far higher caseload.
- REUTERS
Pandemic pushes global aid needs to record $35bn for 2021 - UN
Geneva – The UN said on Tuesday that a record $35 billion would be needed for aid in 2021 as the global coronavirus pandemic leaves tens of millions more people in crisis, and with the risk of multiple famines looming.
The world body's Global Humanitarian Overview estimated that 235 million people worldwide will need some form of emergency assistance next year – a staggering 40% increase compared with 2020.
"The increase arises almost entirely because of Covid-19," United Nations emergency relief coordinator Mark Lowcock told reporters.
- AFP
WHO calls Mexico's rising coronavirus trend 'very worrisome'
GENEVA – The head of the World Health Organisation said on Monday that Mexico is in "bad shape" regarding the coronavirus as infections and deaths surge, while the Mexican government forecast the pandemic would likely continue worsening until January.
Mexico's coronavirus death tally, the fourth highest in the world, stands at almost 106 000. Confirmed cases are in excess of 1.1 million, though public health experts say the true figure is likely significantly higher.
"The number of increase in cases and deaths in Mexico is very worrisome," WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told a press briefing in Geneva.
Citing the increase in the number of weekly deaths from 2 000 the week of 12 October to around 4 000 by 23 November, "This shows Mexico is in bad shape," he said.
At least seven of Mexico City's 54 public hospitals treating Covid-19 patients are at full occupancy for coronavirus beds with respirators, according to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The OCHA said another 14 health centres risk being stretched, with Covid-19 bed occupancies exceeding 70%. It noted that Mexico's Health Ministry reported 63% of all general hospital beds for Covid-19 patients in the capital are occupied.
- REUTERS
Russia reports record 569 coronavirus deaths, 26 402 new infections
MOSCOW – Russia reported a record 569 deaths linked to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the official death toll to 40 464.
Authorities also reported 26 402 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, including 6 524 in the capital Moscow, bringing the national cumulative tally to 2 322 056.
- REUTERS
India reports over 31 000 new Covid-19 cases, lowest since 17 November
MUMBAI – India recorded 31 118 new coronavirus cases, the lowest daily tally since 17 November, data from the health ministry showed on Tuesday.
India now has 9.46 million Covid-19 infections, but the number of new daily cases has stayed below the 50 000 mark since 7 November, despite a busy festival season last month, according to a Reuters tally.
Deaths rose by 482, bringing the total to 137 621.
- REUTERS
Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 13 604 - RKI
BERLIN – The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 13 604 to 1 067 473, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday.
The reported death toll rose by 388 to 16 636.
- REUTERS
Mexico reports 6 472 new coronavirus cases, 285 more deaths
MEXICO CITY – Mexico's health ministry on Monday reported 6 472 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 285 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 1 113 543 cases and 105 940 deaths.
The government says the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.
- REUTERS
Mainland China reports 12 new Covid-19 cases vs 18 a day earlier
SHANGHAI – Mainland China reported 12 new Covid-19 cases on 30 November, down from 18 cases a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Tuesday.
The National Health Commission said in a statement that eight of the new cases were imported infections originating from overseas. The remaining four cases were local infections reported in the Inner Mongolia region.
The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, fell to five from 17 cases a day earlier.
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Mainland China now stands at 86 542, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4 634.
- REUTERS
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