Headline: Global Coronavirus Cases Surge Past 20 Million, Vaccine Development Continues As of August 11th, Scotland News Today the number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has surpassed 20 million, with over 734,000 deaths. The United States remains the hardest-hit country, with over 5 million cases and 165,000 deaths. Brazil and India follow behind with 3 million and 2.2 million cases respectively. Governments around the world are introducing new measures to combat the spread of the virus. In Australia, a state of disaster has been declared in the state of Victoria, where a strict lockdown has been imposed in response to a surge in cases.
Hong Kong has introduced strict new measures including mandatory masks in public, limitations on gatherings, and the closure of amusement parks and other entertainment venues. Despite the ongoing rise in cases, several vaccines are in development with some even in Phase III trials. Russia announced the approval of its coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, amid skepticism from the global scientific community about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Meanwhile, the United States, UK, and several other countries continue their vaccine development with hopes of approval by the end of the year.
In Lebanon, the capital city of Beirut experienced a devastating explosion on August 4th, killing over 170 individuals and injuring thousands of others. The explosion was caused by 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse. The Lebanese government has faced increased criticism over its handling of the disaster, and protestors have taken to the streets demanding political reform. In Belarus, protests have erupted over the disputed presidential election results, with President Alexander Lukashenko declaring victory with 80% of the votes.