ABC新闻:美国成为全球新冠疫情震中 牛津大学将展开疫苗人体实验

In a growing sign of easing restrictions, Australia's most famous beach is set to re-open next week. From Tuesday, swimmers and surfers will be able to go into the water at Bondi from 7am until 5pm on weekdays. People will still be banned from sunbathing or gathering on the sand. But while there is some light at the end of the tunnel, the economy is still struggling. The reserve bank has warned there won't be a quick return to the usual. And staff at Virgin Australia are coming to terms with the airline going into voluntary administration amid the global pandemic.
The global number of coronavirus infections has passed two-and-a-half-million this morning. The US has emerged as the epicentre of the pandemic, with about a quarter of the 174-thousand deaths globally recorded there. Protesters continue to call for parts of the country to re-open, and the president is suspending all immigration. Elsewhere, another eight hundred and twenty three people died in the UK overnight. And Singapore, which was once hailed for its handling of the virus, has now extended its partial lockdown for another month amid a surge of new cases.

Oxford researchers could begin human trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine as early as tomorrow. The British government announced the plan overnight, saying it would give almost 80-million dollars to help fund the research.