Number of US coronavirus cases nears six million

[Rajih]

The estimated number of cases of coronavirus in the United States is close to six million, with daily reports recorded by states like Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 183,000 people have died from the disease in the US.

The number of cases worldwide has gone past 25 million, with more than 844,000 deaths. More than 16.5 million people recuperated

New Zealand has made face masks compulsory as it eases coronavirus restrictions in Auckland that were imposed after a sudden spike in cases.

Hong Kong to resume face-to-face school classes by late September

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung said the will city resume face-to-face school classes from September 23.

The city's government had said at the start of August that face-to-face classes would be suspended indefinitely as the Chinese special administrative region battled to control a third wave of the coronavirus.

Schools in the former British colony have been mostly shut since January with many having switched to online learning.

Gaza Strip registers 69 new virus infections

Palestinian health authorities reported 69 new infections from the coronavirus in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the health ministry said the territory's virus count rose to 356 confirmed cases, including four deaths and 17 recoveries.

The ministry warned of a shortage of necessary medical supplies to curb the virus outbreak due to the 14-year Israeli blockade on the strip.

Russia's coronavirus cases approach 1 million

Russia has reported 4,993 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing its nationwide tally to 995,319 - the fourth largest caseload in the world.

Russia's coronavirus taskforce said 83 people had died over the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll to 17,176.

Pakistan reports lowest daily COVID-19 cases

Pakistan’s daily number of COVID-19 infections continued to drop as authorities reported 213 additional cases, the lowest daily figure since May.

The total number of infections to date reached 295,849, with 603 patients in critical condition, according to the health ministry data.

The data also shows a gradual decline in the number of fatalities, with six more deaths from the disease across the country, raising the death toll to 6,294.

 Paris to make free COVID tests available in the capital

The Paris local municipality said it would look to make free COVID-19 testing available in all of the capital's 20 districts (arrondissements), as authorities battle against signs of a re-emergence of the virus in France.

The Paris mayor's office added in a statement that from Monday onwards, there would be three permanent laboratories set up to conduct free COVID-19 tests, as well as two other mobile laboratories that would go around the capital. Hello, this is Linah Alsaafin taking over the blog from my colleague Ted Regencia.

Malaysia marks independence day amid COVID-19 pandemic

Malaysia marked the country's 63rd independence day celebration on Monday amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the government keeping some movement restrictions including international tourism until the end of 2020.

On the eve of the celebration on Sunday night, thousands gathered in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, but celebrations were muted with the government cancelling the usual major fireworks display.

Malaysia has seen a significant decline in the number of virus cases, with 17 new cases reported on Sunday. On Friday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said "it will be a long time before our country is free from the dangers of COVID-19."

Thailand reports single imported coronavirus case, no new fatalities

Thailand's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported on Monday that a British woman has tested positive of COVID-19 raising the country's total infections to 3,412.

The agency said that the 29-year-old language teacher arrived in Bangkok on August 15, alongsider her husband and their child. All were placed under quarantine following their arrival.

No new deaths were reported on Monday, keeping the death toll at 58.

India coronavirus cases surge to 3.62 million

India reported 78,512 new novel coronavirus infections on Monday, just less than 200 compared to the record number of daily cases the country set the previous day.

India now has a total of 3.62 million cases just behind the United States and Brazil. It has the third highest fatalities at 64,400, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Germany reports 610 new COVID-19 cases

Germany's Robert Koch Institute, which monitors infectious diseases in the country, has reported 610 new cases, bringing the total to over 242,000 as of Monday.

The death toll has reached 9,298 up three fatalities from the previous day.