Summary for Thursday, 27th August
Good morning from London, where your live page team is reporting from today.
To help you catch up, here’s a summary of the main headlines.
Of these new cases 434 were locally transmitted, and 313 were from Seoul, the health ministry says.
More than 900 of the country’s current cases have been linked to a cluster around the Sarang-jeil church in Seoul.
Early in the pandemic, South Korea was praised for its effective controlling of the spread of the virus, including widespread testing and thorough contact-tracing.
India reported a new record of daily infections on Wednesday as more than 76,000 tested positive across the country. Simultaneously, fatalities also crossed 60,000 yesterday, which means the South Asian country has the fourth highest death toll in the world.
India has confirmed more than three million cases so far, with the latest million taking just 15 days to reach. In comparison, the country took 21 days to confirm two million cases and 167 days to reach the first million.
When India first went into a strict lockdown in March, it was clear that the urban and metropolitan cities were at the centre of the outbreak.
While that continues to be the case, experts have started to warn that the virus is slowly spreading into more far-flung and rural parts of the country. Most recently, a remote tribe in India's Andamans archipelago became the latest to record its first cases of the virus .
But India’s government has consistently pointed towards a high recovery rate as a sign of success in its battle against Covid-19. For every 100 infected, approximately 76 have recovered, contributing to a low case fatality ratio of around 1.8%.
A 48-hour curfew was imposed earlier this week after the first Covid-19 infections were found among the general population. Since then, two patients have died and about 20 other cases have been recorded, some of them at the main hospital.
Aid agencies say Gaza's two million residents of the strip were already under strain, as not only is there a long-running blockade by Egypt and Israel, but electricity supplies have been slashed to just a few hours a day.
- Rise in cases prompts French PM to speak of an 'undeniable surge'
- South Korea registers 441 new infections - biggest one-day rise in cases
- Low-paid workers in some parts of England to receive £13 a day for self-isolating
- Centers for Disease Control says non-symptomatic people may not need testing in US
- Remote tribe in India's Andamans archipelago records first cases of coronavirus
- Internal China flights could recover fully by next month, travel data firm says
- Australia's hard-hit Victoria sees lowest daily case rise since early July
- More than 24m cases registered worldwide so far, and over 825,700 deaths - Johns Hopkins University
Good morning from London, where your live page team is reporting from today.
To help you catch up, here’s a summary of the main headlines.
- South Korea has recorded its highest single-day rise in coronavirus cases since 7 March. South Korean public health body KCDC reported 441 new cases, 434 of which were locally-transmitted
- People on low incomes in parts of England with high rates of the virus will be paid £13 a day if they need to self-isolate, up to £182. The scheme, which will apply to people who claim Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit and can’t work from home, comes into force on Tuesday. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham says the payment goes “nowhere near far enough”
- US public health body the CDC has defended controversial changes to its guidelines, which now say people who come into contact with someone with the virus don't need to get tested themselves. The CDC’s director says the changes came after "appropriate" consultation with experts
- A remote tribe in India’s Andamans archipelago has recorded its first cases of coronavirus. Four members of the Greater Andamanese tribe have tested positive, two of whom have been admitted to hospital, a health official told the BBC
- Flights within China are expected to fully recover by the start of September, travel data firm ForwardKeys says. This month domestic arrivals at Chinese airports reached 86% of 2019 levels
- Victoria state in Australia, which is currently in a second lockdown, has reported 113 new cases - its lowest daily rise in nearly two months. Just a few weeks ago the state hit a one-day high of 700 new cases, but strict lockdown measures have helped ease its surge
- There have now been more than 24.1m confirmed cases of the virus worldwide, and more than 825,000 deaths, according to the tally kept by US-based Johns Hopkins University
Spike in infections in several European countries
From France, Italy and Spain to Switzerland and Croatia, new infections are rising in what some fear is a resurgence of the pandemic as governments try to manage the return to school.- France has recorded 5,429 new cases in 24 hours - the highest number since the mass rollout of Covid testing. Prime Minister Jean Castex says the state has its part to play but "everyone has to feel involved in fighting the epidemic". He's giving an update later this morning
- Italy has seen a surge in cases with 1,367 reported new infections on Wednesday and 13 deaths
- Spain's regional leaders will meet health and education officials to co-ordinate the return to school as infections continue to rise - 3,594 in 24 hours. Madrid is the worst affected region but Andalusia in the far south has recorded its highest figure of 846 cases since March
- Summer tourism is key to Croatia's economy but it's also brought a steep rise in infection - a record 358 new cases in this country of 4.2 million people.
- As Swiss infections reach their highest number since April, the city with the biggest problem is Zurich. Face-coverings in the city's clubs are being made compulsory for parties with more than 100 people under the slogan "no mask, no party".
South Korea sees highest rise in cases since 7 March
South Korea has recorded 441 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours - the highest single-day rise in new cases since 7 March.Of these new cases 434 were locally transmitted, and 313 were from Seoul, the health ministry says.
More than 900 of the country’s current cases have been linked to a cluster around the Sarang-jeil church in Seoul.
Early in the pandemic, South Korea was praised for its effective controlling of the spread of the virus, including widespread testing and thorough contact-tracing.
Latest from the UK
If you’re joining us from the UK here’s the latest stories you need to know about this morning.- People on low incomes in parts of England where there are high rates of coronavirus will be able to claim up to £182 if they have to self-isolate
- Pent-up demand has led to properties taking less time to sell since the height of lockdown, according to research
- Complacency over the flu jab risks overwhelming the NHS, experts warn, as data reveals the scale of the challenge in expanding the vaccination programme
- Charities say many schools and colleges are not aware they can order free period products through a government scheme, amid concerns Covid-19 has left more pupils struggling to access and afford tampons and pads.
India hits another record for new cases
Krutika Pathi - BBC News, DelhiIndia reported a new record of daily infections on Wednesday as more than 76,000 tested positive across the country. Simultaneously, fatalities also crossed 60,000 yesterday, which means the South Asian country has the fourth highest death toll in the world.
India has confirmed more than three million cases so far, with the latest million taking just 15 days to reach. In comparison, the country took 21 days to confirm two million cases and 167 days to reach the first million.
When India first went into a strict lockdown in March, it was clear that the urban and metropolitan cities were at the centre of the outbreak.
While that continues to be the case, experts have started to warn that the virus is slowly spreading into more far-flung and rural parts of the country. Most recently, a remote tribe in India's Andamans archipelago became the latest to record its first cases of the virus .
But India’s government has consistently pointed towards a high recovery rate as a sign of success in its battle against Covid-19. For every 100 infected, approximately 76 have recovered, contributing to a low case fatality ratio of around 1.8%.
Gaza lockdown extended for three days
Authorities in the Gaza Strip have extended the lockdown there for another three days - meaning mosques, schools and many businesses will remain closed, and people will continue to be urged to only leave home for essential reasons.A 48-hour curfew was imposed earlier this week after the first Covid-19 infections were found among the general population. Since then, two patients have died and about 20 other cases have been recorded, some of them at the main hospital.
Aid agencies say Gaza's two million residents of the strip were already under strain, as not only is there a long-running blockade by Egypt and Israel, but electricity supplies have been slashed to just a few hours a day.
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