Global COVID-19 tracker

Three potential COVID-19 vaccines are making fast progress in early-stage testing in volunteers in China and the US. China’s CanSino Biologics has begun the second phase of testing its vaccine candidate. In the US, a shot made by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. isn’t far behind.

Hyderabad: The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 20,83,304 and killed over 1,34,616 people across the world. More than 5,10,350 people have recovered so far.

China, where the coronavirus pandemic started in December, is cautiously trying to get back to business, but it’s not easy when many millions of workers are wary of spending much or even going out.

President Donald Trump put a halt to American payments to the World Health Organization, pending a review of its warnings about the coronavirus and China. Health experts warned the move could jeopardize global efforts to stop the coronavirus pandemic.

Global COVID-19 tracker

In explaining the decision, Trump blamed the WHO for not doing enough to stop the virus and for being too lenient on China.

The virus spreads by microscopic droplets from coughs or sneezes. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.