Latest on worldwide spread of coronavirus

EUROPE

* Greece will make a COVID-19 booster vaccine available to doctors and other medical staff in the coming weeks, Health Ministry experts said.

* The European Union welcomed the United States' announcement it will re-open its doors to vaccinated European travellers vaccinated in November, rolling back restrictions in place since early last year.

ASIA-PACIFIC

* India will resume exports of vaccines in the October quarter, prioritising the global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX and neighbouring countries first as supplies rise, the health minister said.

AMERICAS

* COVID-19 has killed about 675,000 Americans, surpassing the death toll from the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic.

* The US will reopen in November to air travellers from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated, the White House said on Monday, easing tough pandemic-related restrictions that started early last year.

* US regulators are expected to authorise a third booster shot of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for older and some high-risk Americans early this week in time for the government to roll them out by Friday as hoped.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* The first world fair to be held in the Middle East, Expo 2020 Dubai, opens its doors to exhibitors from almost 200 countries on October 1 after being delayed for a year by the pandemic.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS

* Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE said on Monday its vaccine induced a robust immune response in 5- to 11-year-olds, and they plan to ask for regulatory authorisation as soon as possible to use the shot in children in that age range in the US, Europe and elsewhere.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

* World stocks sold off sharply on Monday while safe-haven assets gained as troubles at property group China Evergrande fed concerns about spillover risks to the economy, sparking fresh investor worries ahead of a busy week of central bank meetings.

GLOBAL

DEATHS 4,711,348

CASES 229,721,362

RECOVERED 206,386,757