Global Covid-19 cases inching closer to 30 million mark

The number of people infected by the coronavirus pandemic is inching closer to the 30 million mark across the world with over 29.52 million infections recorded as of Tuesday night, according to the worldometer tally.
The United States, the worst-affected country, continues to lead the world with over 6.5 million cases and over 194,000 deaths. India, the second after the United States, is inching closer to 5.0 million cases, report agencies.
Coronavirus vaccines being developed in China may be ready for use by the general public as early as November, an official with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday.
"Phase 3 clinical trials were proceeding smoothly and the vaccines could be ready for the general public in November or December" CDC chief Guizhen Wu said.
Currently, China has 4 Covid-19 vaccines in the final stage of clinical trials. Out of these, at least 3 of the vaccines have already been offered to frontline workers under an emergency use programme launched in July.
A shortage of Covid-19 testing in the UK is jeopardising efforts to restore medical services and prepare for a potential surge in coronavirus cases this winter, the group that represents hospitals in England said on Tuesday.
Inadequate testing is leading to increased absences in the National Health Service as staff members are forced to self-isolate while they and their family members wait for test results after possible exposure to the virus, according to NHS Providers.
Meanwhile, a small coronavirus clinical study has been launched in the UK this week to explore the effects of delivering vaccines directly to the body's airways using an inhaler.
Victoria, Australia's hotspot for the country's second wave, on Tuesday reported no deaths related to the coronavirus for the first time in two months, fuelling optimism of a further easing of restrictions in the state.