Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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The total number of coronavirus cases in the United States is nearing six million, with states including Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota reporting daily records. More than 183,000 people have died from the disease, according to Johns Hopkins University.
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The number of cases globally has hit almost 25.1 million, with deaths exceeding 844,000, according to the university’s data. More than 16.5 million have recovered
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New Zealand has made face masks compulsory as it eases coronavirus restrictions in Auckland that were imposed after a sudden spike in cases.
Here are the latest updates:
Monday, August 31
00:30 GMT – New Zealand eases restrictions for Auckland residents
New Zealand has eased coronavirus restrictions in the city of Auckland, and made the use of face masks compulsory.
The New Zealand Herald reported many of the city’s residents “swarming to the city’s airport” to take advantage of the travel opportunity.
New Zealand has reported more than 1,700 cases and 22 deaths from coronavirus.
00:15 GMT – Several US states report daily record of COVID-19 cases
The total number of coronavirus cases in the United States is nearing six million, with states including Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota reporting daily records.
More than 183,000 people have died from the disease, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Meanwhile, the US states of Montana and Idaho have reported record numbers of COVID-19 hospitalisations, according to reports.
In an interview with CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, Dr Scott Gottlieb, the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said the trend was worrisome.
00:01 GMT – Brazil reports 566 new deaths and over 16,000 new cases
Brazil’s health ministry has reported 566 additional coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours and 16,158 new cases, bringing the country’s death toll to 120,828 deaths, with 3,862,311 total infections.
The numbers of deaths and new cases as of the end of Sunday were significantly lower than those on the previous day, which could either be attributed to delays in reporting by state government, or an overall continuing downward trend.
The country has the second-highest number of deaths and infections. It leads in the highest number of recoveries at 3.2 million, according to Johns Hopkins University.
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Read all the key developments from yesterday (August 30) here.
