Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 28.98 million, death toll over 922,000

At least 28,984,560 people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 922,346 people have died, a Reuters tally showed.

The coronavirus tally passed the 8 million mark in Latin America, the region with the most infections in the world, while India reported another record daily jump of 96,551 cases.

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

The World Health Organization referred to the outbreak as a pandemic on March 11.

Global coronavirus cases marked a record one-day increase, with many countries facing a second wave of infections, while a pandemic preparedness panel slammed the collective failure of political leaders to heed warnings and prepare for a crisis.

DEATHS AND INFECTIONS

At least 6,534,484 cases of the highly contagious novel coronavirus have been reported in the United States and its territories while at least 194,147 people have died, according to a Reuters tally of state and local government sources as of September 14, 2020, 9:57 am. The US diagnosed its first COVID-19 case in Washington state on January 20.  

Likewise, India follows the US with a total of 4,754,356 coronavirus cases with 78,586 death, according to Reuters’ interactive graphic tracking the global spread 

Likewise, Brazil has the third-highest 4,330,455 coronavirus cases while 131,625 people have died. 

ASIA-PACIFIC

— India said it was considering granting an emergency authorisation for a COVID-19 vaccine, particularly for the elderly and people in high-risk workplaces, as the country's number of reported infections passed 4.75 million.

— Indonesia on Sunday reported its sixth consecutive day of over 3,000 new cases, just as its capital city prepares to re-impose social distancing restrictions.

— Singapore is battling new clusters of infections in migrant dormitories that had won the all-clear from authorities.

— New Zealand will lift restrictions across the country on Sept. 21, except in its biggest city, Auckland, which is the epicentre of a second wave of infections.

— Australia's second-most populous state, the epicentre of the country's coronavirus second wave, on Monday reported its lowest single-day rise in new infections in nearly three months.

EUROPE

— The Czech Republic reported its biggest one-day increase in new infections for a third straight day on Sunday, recording 1,541 cases.

— Ireland plans to replace its current system of travel quarantines with the European Union's proposed coordinated system as soon as it is ready, Prime Minister Micheal Martin told RTE television on Saturday.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

— Israel will enter a three-week nationwide lockdown starting on Friday after a second- wave surge of new cases, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

— Saudi Arabia will partially lift its suspension of international flights as of Sept. 15 to allow "exceptional categories" of citizens and residents to travel, the state news agency SPA said.

AMERICAS

— The World Health Organization reported a record one-day increase in global coronavirus cases on Sunday, with the total rising by 307,930 in 24 hours.

— President Donald Trump held a Nevada campaign rally at an indoor venue on Sunday despite public health professionals' warnings against large indoor gatherings during the pandemic.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS

— AstraZeneca has resumed British clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine, one of the most advanced in development, after receiving the green light from safety watchdogs, the company said on Saturday.

— Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE proposed to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand their Phase 3 pivotal COVID-19 vaccine trial to about 44,000 participants while increasing the diversity of the trial population.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

— Japan's manufacturers remained pessimistic for the 14th straight month in September.

— South Africa's economy will likely contract this year by more than the 7% previously forecast by the Treasury, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said in an opinion piece published on Sunday.