Nikkei Asia is tracking the spread of coronavirus which was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
Cumulative global cases have reached 240,644, 431, according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. For more information about COVID - 19 and the spread of vaccination around the world, please see our interactive charts and maps.
- Status of vaccinations around the world.
12: 30 p.m. New Zealand Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern says the country's biggest city, Auckland, will remain in lockdown for another two weeks while the government tries to accelerate inoculations and live with COVID 19. There will be no changes in the social restrictions, which have already been in place for more than two months in Auckland under alert level 3.
11: 00 a.m. China's economic growth continued to decelerate in the third quarter, government data shows. Softened by the country's zero-tolerance COVID measures and energy shortages, the year on year GDP growth rate was below the median 5% expansion forecast by 29 economists in a Nikkei poll released earlier this month. The figure dropped from 7.9% for the April-July quarter, weighed down by high commodity prices amid uncertainty engendered by the Evergrande Group's debt crisis.
10: 10 a.m. China reports 24 new cases over the Sunday, up from 20 a day earlier. Two local cases were imported in the city of Xian in northwestern China, while the rest of the infections were found from abroad. China also ranks nine new asymptomatic patients, classified separately from confirmed cases, down from 13 a day earlier.
Thousands of children return to Sydney school after nearly four months of home education as Australia’s largest city eases more restrictions just a week after lifting its COVID lock down amid a surge in vaccination levels.
Masks will be in offices and more people can gather at home and outdoors as Sydney prepares to live with COVID-19 after spending large parts of this year virus-free until a delta outbreak in mid-June. Retail stores, pubs and fitness centers can attract more vaccinated patrons, the Reuters report suggests that nightclubs can allow more seated drinking, and weddings can have unlimited guests.
Public-sector employees in Egypt will have to be vaccinated against COVID -20 or take a urine drug test weekly to be allowed into work after Nov. 15. The government also decided to donate 1 billion pounds $64 million for pandemic related spending.
On Sunday, Britain reported 45,140 new cases, the highest daily count since July of 2006, and 57 new deaths within 28 days of a positive test, according to official data.
The Melbourne Airport Authority (Mt.Sweden) has suspended its stay-at-home order more than any other city in the world, which has spent more time under COVID - 19 Lockdowns than any other city in the world. By Friday, when some curbs will be lifted, the Australian metropolis of 5 million will have ended six lockdowns totaling over eight months since March 2020. Australian and other media call this the longest in the world, surpassing that in Buenos Aires in about a month.
The imported cases break down into 2,688 in the community, 656 in the migrant workers dormitories and four migrant cases, according to the Ministry of Health.
11: 17 p.m. Pope Francis calls on pharmaceutical companies to make vaccines for COVID- 19 available to the poor, noting that only 3% - 4% of the population in some countries had been vaccinated, Reuters reports.
The 84-year-old pope says some people, including within the church, consider him to be a pest for defending the poor and most vulnerable but that won't stop him, as it is part of Christianity: Thinking about these situations of exclusion and inequality I make a pest of myself with my questions. And I invite everyone to pray and ask God by name. Thousands of Sydney residents flock to a prominent horse race as Australia's largest city emerges from a strict COVID - 19 lockdown and the nation begins to survive with coronavirus through extensive vaccination, Reuters reports. Up to 10,000 fully vaccinated spectators can now attend race such as The Everest in Melbourne Cup Day and the country's most famed, 3rd night circuit in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 2.
Also, Sydney, of which New South Wales is the capital, has reaches its target of 80% of people fully vaccinated, well ahead of most of Australia. Been a long wait but we've done it, New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet says on Twitter.
3: 00 p.m. - Immediately after the weekend of vaccinating at least 2.5% of its people, Reuters reports, as the government tries to accelerate inoculations. According to preliminary statistics from the Health Ministry, 124,669 shots were given in the country by late in the day by 4.9 million.