Here's what you need to know about the
coronavirus right now:
Airborne transmission
Hundreds of scientists say there is evidence that the novel
coronavirus in smaller particles in the air can infect people
and they are calling for the World Health Organization (WHO) to
revise its recommendations, the New York Times reported on
Saturday.
However, the health agency said the evidence for the virus
being airborne was not convincing, according to the NYT.
"Especially in the last couple of months, we have been
stating several times that we consider airborne transmission as
possible but certainly not supported by solid or even clear
evidence," Dr Benedetta Allegranzi, the WHO's technical lead of
infection prevention and control, was quoted as saying.
World's third-highest
India now has the world's third-highest number of novel
coronavirus cases behind Brazil and the United States, at nearly
700 000, according to the latest data, as the outbreak shows no
sign of slowing.
India has seen eight times the number of cases as China,
which has a similar-sized population and is where the virus
originated late last year.
Late on Sunday, India cancelled the planned reopening of the
Taj Mahal, citing the risk of coronavirus infections spreading
in the city of Agra from visitors flocking to see India's most
famous monument.
Agra, site of one of India's first big clusters of the
virus, remains the worst-affected city in Uttar Pradesh, the
country's most populous state.
Not since the Spanish flu
Officials are closing the border between Australia's two
most populous states from Tuesday for an indefinite period as
they scramble to contain an outbreak of the coronavirus in the
city of Melbourne.
The decision marks the first time the border between
Victoria and New South Wales has been shut in 100 years.
Officials last blocked movement between the two states in 1919
during the Spanish flu pandemic. Victoria's only other internal
border, with South Australia state, is already closed.
The number of Covid-19 cases in Melbourne, Victoria's
capital, has surged in recent days, prompting authorities to
enforce strict social-distancing orders in 30 suburbs and put
nine public housing towers into complete lockdown.
Hydroxychloroquine and HIV drugs off the table
The WHO said on Saturday that it was discontinuing its
trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination
HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir in hospitalised patients with
COVID-19 after they failed to reduce mortality.
The setback came as the WHO also reported more than 200,000
new cases globally of the disease for the first time in a single
day.
The U.N. agency said the decision, taken on the
recommendation of the trial's international steering committee,
does not affect other studies where those drugs are used for
non-hospitalised patients or as a prophylaxis.
Kicking in place
Soccer-mad Argentines in the farmbelt city of Pergamino have
devised a clever way to keep playing while avoiding risk of
spreading COVID-19: a human foosball pitch with zones for each
player to avoid physical contact.
The game, known as "metegol humano" divides the pitch into
rectangular zones with white lines limiting where a player can
move - helping to enforce social distancing, though limiting
slide tackles or pitch-length dribbles with the ball.
Two teams of five players - a goalkeeper, a defender, a
midfielder and two forwards - can take part, said Gustavo
Cuiffo, a creator of the project.
Seen from above, the demarcated court resembles a large
foosball table - though with real people and no swivel handles.
"It is the first time I have kicked in several months," said
Gustavo Santapaola, who took part in a match at the Play Fútbol
ground. "I honestly tell you, I am excited."