The discovery of the disease from wastewater samples collected in June means the virus was present in the community before a confirmed case was made public July 21.

Fewer than 200 confirmed and suspected cases have been recorded so far, WHO's emerging disease lead Maria Van Kerkhove says.

International negotiators will meet for the first time to prepare talks for a potential treaty, officials say.

But Oxford researchers say because of the effectiveness of modern treatments, it is 'no cause for alarm'.

The human toll of Covid-19, officially known as SARS-CoV-2, far outstrips that of other viral epidemics in the 21st century.

675,722 US Covid-19 deaths were recorded as of Friday, surpassing the 675,000 US deaths during the influenza outbreak that began in the last year of World War I.

With more than 80% of the 18,000 population fully vaccinated, President Surangel Whipps insists the remote island state 'has been Covid-free but is now Covid-safe'.

Fatality rates have ranged from 24% to 88% in previous outbreaks, depending on the virus strain and case management.

Nearly 2,000 Covid-19 cases in Scotland linked to crowds who gathered to watch Euro football tournament when they were infectious.

Australia faces stalled population growth and budget deficits until at least 2060 as a result of emergency Covid-19 measures, the government says.

This could trigger neurological and psychological complaints, researchers say.

Dave Smith, 72, tested positive 43 times, was hospitalised seven times and had made plans for his funeral.