NEW YORK: The global tally of coronavirus cases stands at 44,234,182. While 32,441,959 have recovered, 1,171,260 have died so far. The US, the worst-hit country, has 9,037,951 cases. It is followed by India, which has 7,988,853 cases, Brazil (5,440,903) and Russia (1,547,774).

A day after recording the lowest number of fresh Covid-19 cases since July 18, India on Tuesday reported a daily jump of 42,965, even as the tally soared to 7,988,853. The country's death toll mounted to 120,054. Delhi recorded 4,853 fresh Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, its highest single-day spike yet; the infection tally in the city rose to over 364,000.

Pfizer executives expressed measured optimism Tuesday over the prospect of providing a coronavirus vaccine in 2020. Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla said the drug giant could supply some 40 million doses in the United States in 2020 if clinical testing proceeds as expected and regulators approve a vaccine.

The Netherlands' current partial lockdown, introduced two weeks ago amid sharply rising coronavirus infections, will likely remain in place until December, the Dutch prime minister and health minister said Tuesday, but they did not announce any new restrictions.

What we don't want to do is now overshoot while it's not necessary, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a nationally televised press conference. But if it is necessary, we will be prepared to impose further measures.

Meanwhile, in Britain, a study found on Tuesday that antibodies against the novel coronavirus declined rapidly in the British population during the summer, suggesting protection after infection may not be long-lasting and raising the prospect of waning immunity in the community.

Scientists at Imperial College London have tracked antibody levels in the British population following the first wave of Covid-19 infections in March and April.

Their study found that antibody prevalence fell by a quarter, from 6% of the population around the end of June to just 4.4% in September. That raises the prospect of decreasing population immunity ahead of a second wave of infections in recent weeks that has forced local lockdowns and restrictions.