Almost 24,000 Indian deaths have now been recorded, according to health ministry figures that many experts say underplay the severity of the situation. Bangalore, home to more than 13 million people, has emerged as a new global hotspot. In the United States, the announcement of possible progress towards a vaccine came as results were published from the first stage of Moderna’s vaccine trial, which showed the first 45 participants all developed antibodies to the virus. In the United States on Tuesday, the hard-hit state of Florida posted a record number of deaths for a 24-hour period at 132. Latin America on Monday recorded the world’s second-highest regional death toll, declaring a total of 144,758 fatalities to pass the 144,023 recorded in the United States and Canada.

Source: Manila Times July 15, 2020 01:18 UTC