Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.
- The world’s two worst-affected countries have reported new highs for coronavirus deaths and cases.
- Deaths from coronavirus across the United States have surpassed 150,000, with Florida, California and Texas among a number of states reporting record daily fatalities.
- Authorities in Brazil have also reported the country’s highest-ever number of deaths in a single day (1,595), as well as confirming the highest number of daily cases.
- More than 16.8 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus. Some 9.9 million patients have recovered, and nearly 663,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
- Here are the latest updates:
Thursday, July 30
00:45 GMT – Vietnam outbreak that started in Danang continues to grow
Vietnam’s health ministry has reported an additional nine cases of coronavirus, as an outbreak that started in the popular tourist town of Danang continues to expand.
Reuters says some 81,000 people are now in quarantine as a result of the outbreak, which has spread to six cities and provinces in six days.
Al Jazeera’s Scott Heidler has also filed this report on the unfolding situation in Vietnam.
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COVID-19 spreads in Vietnam after outbreak at tourist spot
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00:15 GMT – Australia’s Victoria state to report more than 700 cases, 13 deaths
The local media in Australia is reporting that the state of Victoria, the epicentre of a new wave of coronavirus in the country, will report more than 700 cases and 13 deaths on Thursday morning.
00:00 GMT – Brazil reports record numbers of coronavirus deaths, cases
Brazil’s Health Ministry has just confirmed a record of 1,595 daily deaths from coronavirus. Taken on a weekly basis (7,677 this week), deaths are also at their highest since the pandemic began.
The authorities also reported a record number of cases for a single day (69,074), partly as a result of working through a backlog of previously unregistered cases.
Despite the accelerating pandemic, the government of President Jair Bolsonaro has moved to ease restrictions to boost the economy, and on Wednesday said a ban on foreign travellers to the country would be lifted.
Read all the updates from yesterday (July 29) here.
