Coronavirus

With cases soaring, Biden to announce Covid-19 task force

Biden spent much of his election campaign criticising President Donald Trump's handling of the pandemic, which has now caused the deaths of 237,000 people in America.

The United States saw a record number of new infections last week, with the total number of cases nearing 10 million.

After four days of uncertainty as votes were counted in key states, Biden's victory in Pennsylvania put him over the threshold of 270 Electoral College votes he needed to clinch the presidency. Trump has not conceded and has vowed to challenge the outcome in court.

Papua New Guinea nears 600 cases of Covid-19

It takes the country's total confirmed cases of the virus to the verge of 600.

A 30-year-old man from Tari Pori District is the first reported case of the coronavirus in

Hela Province.

West New Britain also reported four new cases - three males and one female, all from Talasea District.

The national pandemic controller's office says all the new cases were symptomatic at the time of testing.

Rapid response teams are conducting case investigations and contact tracing.

To date, PNG has confirmed 597 cases and seven covid-related deaths.

Three Fiji rugby players test positive for Covid-19

The Fiji Rugby Union confirmed that all players underwent a coronavirus test after arriving at their camp in Limoges, in southwest-central France.

Three members of the Flying Fijians entourage tested positive for early Covid symptoms and are now in isolation.

Three other players are in isolation at their homes in accordance with French government and club protocols.

In a statement, the FRU said none of the affected squad members are showing any Covid-19 symptoms as they await the second round of testing and are being monitored daily.

Rugby's Nations Cup under threat after reports Fiji players have Covid

Rugby Pass reported that between five and seven Fiji players tested positive at their training base in France where they will be for the next two weeks.

Coach Vern Cotter, assistant coach Glen Jackson and seven players of the squad were involved in the Barbarians match preparations to face England which saw the game cancelled after 13 players left the team "bubble"

Those players were awaiting a hearing with possible bans and fines likely, but the seven Fiji players were said to have followed protocols.

Australia records zero Covid-19 cases for first time in five months

Zero cases were reported in the 24 hours between 20:00 on Friday and 20:00 on Saturday - the first time this has happened since 9 June.

The state of Victoria - epicentre of Australia's second wave - recorded zero cases for the second day in a row after a 112-day lockdown.

Health officials say more restrictions may be eased in the coming days.

"Thank you to all of our amazing health & public health workers & above all else the Australian people," Health Minister Greg Hunt said on his Twitter account.

Global Covid-19 cases surpass 40 million

The Reuters tally is based on official reporting by individual countries. Experts believe the true numbers of both cases and deaths are likely much higher, given deficiencies in testing and potential under-reporting by some countries.

Coronavirus: France reports more than 30,000 new infections

 A further 30,621 infections were confirmed on Thursday, up from 22,591 the day before.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that tough restrictions are "absolutely necessary" to save lives.

Millions in Europe have been told they must live under strict new measures as governments battle a second wave.

From Saturday, socialising indoors will be banned in London, as the UK capital and other areas of England will be put under a higher Covid alert.

Donald Trump's son tests positive for Covid-19

Melania Trump says she also has now tested negative for Covid-19.

The White House initially said Barron Trump had tested negative after both his parents tested positive earlier this month.

However Melania Trump said on Wednesday subsequent test results showed Barron had also come down with Covid-19 but showed no symptoms.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is no longer capable of actively spreading Covid-19 and has been given the all clear to attend an upcoming town hall interview with NBC News without putting others at risk.

NSW confirms 14 new Covid-19 cases, most locally acquired

Health authorities in NSW confirmed 14 new coronavirus infections in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday.

Eleven of those are locally acquired, and all have been traced back to known clusters or cases.

Three cases of coronavirus were identified within hotel quarantine, health authorities said.

Berejiklian said the state was "on the verge of being where it was" in early July, when an infected Victorian man sparked a cluster of cases at the Crossroads Hotel in Sydney's south-west.

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo tests positive for coronavirus

The federation said Ronaldo was doing well and had no symptoms. It did not say when he tested positive.

Ronaldo played in the 0-0 draw at France in the Nations League on Sunday, and also in the 0-0 draw against Spain in a friendly last week.

Ronaldo is in isolation and has been dropped from the country's Nations League match against Sweden on Wednesday (local time) in Lisbon.