COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 1 September

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now reached more than 25.4 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed coronavirus deaths now stands at more than 850,000.

India has reported 69,921 new coronavirus cases, taking its overall total to nearly 3.7 million. It represents the lowest daily jump in six days.

New Jersey and California, USA, are to allow limited indoor dining again. New Jersey will lift restrictions from Friday, while the easing in California will only take effect in 19 counties where transmission rates are lower.

South Korea will boost policy support to help the economy, its finance minister has said.

Spain has registered more than 23,000 new COVID-19 cases since Friday, the country's health emergency chief told a press conference yesterday.

The European Commission has said it will contribute to a World Health Organization (WHO) vaccine initiative. The Commission will provide 400 million euros (US$479.5 million) in guarantees to COVAX.

Victoria, Australia has reported its lowest rise in virus-related deaths in two weeks. Positive tests were at a seven-week low. The state was the epicentre for an outbreak of cases in the country.

2. Disruption to health systems

In a survey conducted by WHO, 90% of countries have reported disruptions to essential health services as a result of COVID-19.

The survey covered 105 countries from March to June 2020, and found that low- and middle-income countries faced the greatest difficulties.

Most countries reported that elective and routine services were suspended. But, critical care, such as cancer screening or HIV therapy, has also seen interruptions in low-income countries.

"The survey shines a light on the cracks in our health systems, but it also serves to inform new strategies to improve healthcare provision during the pandemic and beyond,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "COVID-19 should be a lesson to all countries that health is not an ‘either-or’ equation. We must better prepare for emergencies but also keep investing in health systems that fully respond to people’s needs throughout the life course."

3. Can't 'pretend the pandemic is over': WHO

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, has warned of the risks of opening up too quickly and ignoring or underestimating the risk still posed by the virus.

"If countries are serious about opening up, they must be serious about suppressing transmission and saving lives," he said. Opening up without control over the virus is a 'recipe for disaster', he added.

And, while the WHO supports efforts to re-open economies and societies, he stressed the need to do this safely.

"No country can just pretend the pandemic is over."

He outlined the four essential things that everyone can do to 'take control' of the virus.

1. Prevent amplifying events, where clusters of people gather.

2. Reduce deaths by protecting vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and essential workers.

3. Individuals should protect themselves and others by avoiding the 'three Cs' - closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings.

4. Governments must take action to find, isolate, test and care for cases, and trace and quarantine contacts.