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 Plasma treatment authorised
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the Food & Drug Administration's
authorisation of a coronavirus treatment that uses blood plasma from
recovered patients, a day after accusing the agency of impeding the
roll-out of vaccines and therapeutics for political reasons.
The FDA, explaining its decision, cited early evidence suggesting
blood plasma can decrease mortality and improve the health of
patients when administered in the first three days of their
hospitalization.
Equity markets gained for a second straight session on Monday as the
news about the treatment boosted risk assets and markets geared up
for the U.S. Federal Reserve's annual Jackson Hole meeting later in
the week.
Seoul orders masks on, indoors and out
South Korea's capital on Monday ordered people to wear masks in
indoor and outdoor public places for the first time, as it battles a
surge in coronavirus cases.
South Korea's coronavirus battle has been complicated by a fight
between President Moon Jae-in's administration and the Sarang Jeil
Church, the second religious group at the centre of a major cluster
of cases.
The government accuses the church of obstruction by not providing
complete lists of its members and spreading fake news. Church
members say they are victims of a politically motivated witch-hunt.
Get children back to school, says British PM
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on parents to send their
children back to school next month after the summer holidays.
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“The risk of contracting COVID-19 in school is very small and it is far more
damaging for a child’s development and their health and well-being to be away
from school any longer,” Johnson said.
Schools shut their doors in March, except for the children of key workers, and
reopened in June for only a small number of pupils.
Auckland lockdown extended
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern extended a coronavirus lockdown in the
country's largest city, Auckland, until the end of the week and introduced
mandatory mask wearing on public transport across the nation.
Neighbouring Australia reported its lowest one-day rise in new coronavirus
infections in almost two months on Monday, raising hopes that a deadly second
wave is subsiding.
Australia's Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland and Western Australia
states reported a combined 121 new cases over the past 24 hours, the lowest
single-day rise since July 5.
Bali tourism plan on hold
The Indonesian island of Bali has postponed a plan to reopen its biggest tourism
hub to international visitors on Sept. 11, due to the rising level of
coronavirus cases, its governor said.
Tourism is Bali's main source of income and travel restrictions have hammered
the economy.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes and Karishma Singh; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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