What you need to know about the coronavirus right now

Sept 17 (Reuters) - Here's what you need to know about the
coronavirus right now:

Global cases to reach grim milestone
Global coronavirus cases are expected to pass 30 million on
Thursday, according to a Reuters tally, with the pandemic
showing no signs of slowing.
India was firmly in focus as the latest epicentre, although
North and South America combined accounted for almost half of
the global cases.
Global new daily case numbers reached record levels in
recent days and deaths neared 1 million as the international
race to develop and market a vaccine heated up.
The official number of global coronavirus cases is now more
than five times the number of severe influenza illnesses
recorded annually, according to World Health Organization data.
Trump contradicts CDC director
President Donald Trump took exception on Wednesday to
comments from the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, who said a vaccine for the novel
coronavirus could be broadly rolled out in mid-2021 and that
masks might be even more effective.
Robert Redfield, in testimony to a congressional committee,
said that general availability of a vaccine could come by "late
second quarter, third quarter 2021."
Trump, at a news conference, said he believed a vaccine will
be rolled out much sooner. He said he called Redfield after his
testimony to question him about it, and that Redfield appeared
to have been confused by the question.
"I think he made a mistake when he said that," Trump said of
Redfield's testimony. "I don't think he means that. When he said
it, I believe he was confused." 'Fantastic outcome' in Australia's virus epicentre
Australia on Thursday reported its lowest one-day rise in
new COVID-19 cases in nearly three months, as states said
restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the virus will be
further relaxed.
Australia said 35 cases of COVID-19 have been detected in
the past 24 hours, the lowest one-day rise since June 24.
Victoria state - Australia's COVID-19 epicentre - accounted
for the bulk of the new cases, with 28 people diagnosed with the
virus in the past 24 hours.
"It is a fantastic outcome and a tribute to the hard work,
sacrifice and contribution every single Victorian is making and
I want to say thank you," Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews
told reporters in Melbourne. Philippines considers relaxing travel ban for nurses
The Philippines is considering allowing more nurses and
other medical professionals to leave for jobs abroad after
banning them from travel so they can fight coronavirus at home,
President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman said on Thursday.
Thousands of the nurses, who call themselves "priso-nurses"
have appealed to the government to be allowed to travel, Reuters
reported on Wednesday. The nurses say they feel underpaid,
underappreciated and unprotected at home. Health care workers from the Philippines are on the front
lines of the pandemic at hospitals in the United States, Europe
and the Middle East as well as back home. Tracking device for UAE visitors
International passengers arriving at Abu Dhabi airport will
now have to wear a tracking device while they complete a
mandatory 14-day home quarantine due to COVID-19, according to
state-owned Etihad Airways.
Daily infections in the United Arab Emirates rose this month
to their highest since the outbreak started, which officials
have largely blamed on people not practicing social distancing.
Those arriving at Abu Dhabi airport will be fitted with a
medically approved wristband, which is removed after the 14-days
of home quarantine. Those arriving from countries deemed to be a
high risk may have to quarantine in a government facility.