Rolling updates on the latest developments and headlines from around the world on the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Gina Lee and Peter Nurse
(10:26 PM ET) Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) disappoints in potential COVID-19 vaccine
Several vaccine experts said that Moderna did not provide enough information to determine how effective the vaccine is and suggested that the recent announcement from Moderna should be taken “with a big grain of salt.” —Hannah Miller
This was after the U.S. drug maker announced on Monday that its potential COVID-19 vaccine appeared to be generating an immune response in all its 45 trial participants.
(10:22 PM ET) Muchin and Powell testify before Senate Banking Committee
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell both gave testimonies before the Senate Banking Committee on U.S. efforts to deal with the financial fallout of COVID-19.
Mnuchin specifically spoke about how the $2 trillion allotted to the CARES Act was distributed to individuals and businesses, stating that the Treasury and Fed are “fully prepared to take losses in certain scenarios” on the remaining capital.
(10:19 PM ET) Trump wants WHO to "clean up" its act, but WHO head brushes off threats
President Donald Trump added to his treat to withdraw funding and U.S. membership from the World Health Organization, saying that the body must “clean up” its act or the United States won’t “be involved with them anymore.”
Meanwhile, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus defended the agency’s role, saying on Tuesday that he would keep leading the global fight against COVID-19.
(10:15 PM ET) FDA softens stance on hydroxychloroquine, Pence is not taking it
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated that the choice of taking anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is “ultimately” between patients and their doctors after President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he has been taking the drug as a preventative treatment for COVID-19.
The FDA’s statement softened its earlier advisory against taking chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 outside a hospital or formal clinical trial due to the risk of “serious heart rhythm problems.”
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said he is not taking the drug.
(10:07 PM ET) Record rise in cases for New York, Mexico, and Brazil
New York recorded 105 virus deaths on Monday, down from the average of nearly 800 per day seen at the peak of the outbreak. But the number of cases has risen to levels not seen since March.
Down in South America, Columbia extended its mandatory quarantine until May 31 on Tuesday, the country’s fourth extension. Mexico’s health ministry reported 2,713 new cases on Tuesday, its biggest daily increase so far. Venezuela reported a new high of 131 cases and closed its boarders with Columbia and Brazil.
Brazil continues to be the new outbreak hotspot as it saw a record 1,179 cases on Tuesday, with U.S. President Donald Trump contemplating a travel ban from Brazil.
Meanwhile, infections in India climbed at the fastest pace in Asia, topping 100,000 cases. South Korea reported 32 cases on Tuesday, the highest number of cases in nine day but the country's schools have started reopening in stages.