US sets daily record for coronavirus cases with more than 200,000 new infections

The US remains the hardest-hit nation with more than 10 million cases and nearly 240,000 deaths

Meanwhile, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro – who has downplayed the virus – lashed out with a homophobic rant

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Medical staff members treat a patient suffering from coronavirus in an intensive care unit in Houston, Texas. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:22pm, 11 Nov 2020Updated: 11:34pm, 11 Nov 2020

The United States has registered a record 200,000 new Covid-19 cases in one day, highlighting the desperate need for a vaccine after results from one medical trial fuelled optimism around the world.

The vaccine news brought some relief from an otherwise grim picture, with tighter restrictions imposed in Europe and the Middle East, and a surge in the US claiming 1,535 lives in 24 hours.

Stocks in some industries hit hardest by travel curbs, social distancing and lockdowns rebounded on hopes that the world may return to normal, after pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech announced on Monday that their vaccine candidate was 90 per cent effective.

A vaccine is seen as the best chance to break the cycle of deadly virus surges and severe restrictions across much of the world since Covid-19 first emerged in China late last year and ballooned into a pandemic.

Pfizer and BioNTech said they could supply up to 50 million doses of the vaccine globally this year and up to 1.3 billion next year if it receives approval.

The scientific community reacted positively overall – although the trial is still ongoing and the vaccine candidate would need to be stored in specialist deep freezers, creating huge supply chain complications.

The vaccine candidate is one of more than 40, but no other developer has yet made similar claims about effectiveness.