August 19 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton, Jack Guy, Ed Upright, Meg Wagner and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 12:00 a.m. ET, August 20, 2020
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10:54 p.m. ET, August 18, 2020

Australia signs deal with AstraZeneca for potential coronavirus vaccine

From CNN's Angus Watson in Sydney

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, takes a tour at the AstraZeneca laboratories in Sydney's Macquarie Park on Wednesday.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, takes a tour at the AstraZeneca laboratories in Sydney's Macquarie Park on Wednesday. Nick Moir/Pool/Getty Images

Australia has secured a deal with the UK-based drug company AstraZeneca for access to a potential Covid-19 vaccine should trials prove successful.

AstraZeneca is currently developing a vaccine in partnership with Oxford University, and has already reached agreements with several governments -- including the US and UK -- to produce at least 2 billion doses, with the first deliveries starting as early as September.

Under the deal, Australians would receive the vaccine for free, an Australian government statement said on Tuesday.

“If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians,” wrote Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the statement.

“However there is no guarantee that this, or any other, vaccine will be successful, which is why we are continuing our discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researchers at the same time to find a vaccine." 

Speaking Wednesday, Morrison acknowledged that there were "big hurdles" in producing a successful vaccine but said the AstraZeneca-Oxford University project is "one of the best prospects in the world today."

There is no stated cost of the Australian government’s deal with AstraZeneca; however the Australian government has indicated that it will spend billions of dollars on its vaccine strategy.

The strategy includes the purchase of 100 million needles, syringes and other consumables from US company Becton Dickinson, with an order already placed worth 24.7 million Australian dollars ( $17.9 million).

11:21 p.m. ET, August 18, 2020

Mexico reports more than 5,500 new cases, as authorities claim downward trend

From CNN's Karol Suarez in Mexico City

A health care worker puts on a protective suit before submitting members of the Tlaxcala State Congress to a Covid 19 test on August 10.  
A health care worker puts on a protective suit before submitting members of the Tlaxcala State Congress to a Covid 19 test on August 10.   Jesus Alvarado/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

Mexico recorded 5,506 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 751 new virus-related deaths on Tuesday, raising the country's total to 531,239 infections and 57,774 fatalities.

The new figures were released shortly after Mexico's Health Ministry announced what it called "good news" on Tuesday morning, claiming the country is "in a decreasing phase" of the coronavirus outbreak.

"The trend is clear and proves that consistently in most of the country, the new cases are decreasing, the number of deaths, there is a decrease over the past six weeks, hospital beds are being unoccupied," the Health Ministry said in a briefing.

On Monday, Mexico recorded its lowest number of new cases since June, with 3,571 new infections.

Mexico holds the third-highest number of deaths in the world from coronavirus, following only the United States and Brazil, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In Latin America, Mexico has the third highest number of coronavirus cases, behind only Brazil and Peru. 

10:53 p.m. ET, August 18, 2020

Coronavirus cases surpass 22 million worldwide

From CNN’s Samantha Beech in Atlanta

More than 22 million coronavirus cases have now been recorded globally, including nearly 800,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The total case count stands at 22,054,300, and the death toll at 779,443.  

The United States has the highest figures, with more than 5.48 million cases and 171,793 deaths. Brazil follows next with 3.4 million cases and 109,888 deaths. 

Earlier Tuesday, the Pan American Health Organization said the Americas account for 64% of the world's Covid-19 deaths.

CNN is tracking worldwide coronavirus cases here:

11:20 p.m. ET, August 18, 2020

Fauci does not foresee a Covid-19 vaccine mandate in the United States 

From CNN’s Amanda Watts

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies before a House Subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis on July 31, in Washington, DC. 
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies before a House Subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis on July 31, in Washington, DC.  Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, says he does not foresee a Covid-19 vaccine mandate in the United States. 

“I don't think you'll ever see a mandating of vaccine, particularly for the general public,” Fauci said on Tuesday during a Healthline.com town hall.
Fauci said everyone has the right to refuse a vaccine. “If someone refuses the vaccine in the general public, then there's nothing you can do about that. You cannot force someone to take a vaccine," he said.

America’s top infectious diseases doctor did say in some areas, like the medical sector, many health care workers are asked to vaccinate in order to have contact with patients.  

“When you're in the medical sector, depending on the policy of a hospital, the hospital may say -- if you refuse to take a given vaccine, whether that's a hepatitis vaccine, or a flu vaccine or perhaps even the Covid vaccine, that you might not be able to have person-to-person contact with patients,” he explained.

10:53 p.m. ET, August 18, 2020

France will require face masks in offices starting September

From Eva Tapiero in Paris

People walk on Sainte-Catherine, a main shopping street in Bordeaux, France, where wearing a mask was compulsory as of Saturday.
People walk on Sainte-Catherine, a main shopping street in Bordeaux, France, where wearing a mask was compulsory as of Saturday. Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images

France will make face coverings mandatory in enclosed shared office spaces starting September 1, Minister of Labor Elisabeth Borne announced Tuesday. 

A ministry statement released later added that masks will not be compulsory in individual offices “as long as there is only one person present.”

This announcement comes after “an upsurge in the number of COVID-19 cases has been observed, as well as an increase in the number of clusters across the country,” the statement said.
“The professional environment is affected by this increase: the number of clusters currently being investigated is 268, including 60 in company settings,” the statement added.

Face masks became mandatory in public indoor spaces in late July. Several cities have also imposed the wearing of masks outdoors, such as Marseille and Paris, where it is now mandatory in central districts, major tourist spots and other crowded areas.