Officials in Australia lift COVID-19 restrictions; Japan fast-tracks drug approval

April 28 (UPI) -- State officials in Australia approved relaxed restrictions on home visits on Tuesday and Japan fast-tracked approval for the antiviral drug remdesivir for possible treatment against COVID-19.

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide is near 3.1 million and the death toll has exceeded 211,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 900,000 people have recovered from the disease, experts at the school said.

In Australia, the populous state of New South Wales will begin relaxing some restrictions starting this week, Premier Glady Berejiklian announced Tuesday.

Berejiklian said beginning Friday, up to two adults will be able to visit friends in other households for any purpose. The visiting adults and can be accompanied by children.

The change is being made to "reduce social isolation and improve mental health," Berejiklian said.

New South Wales also eased of restrictions on local beaches, including Sydney's famous Bondi Beach, which was closed last month after thousands of people flocked there in violation of social-distancing restrictions.

Australian Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said there is "cause for hope" that there will be more relaxations thanks to very low rates of community transmission. Of 12 new cases Monday, he said, only one was locally transmitted.

"That is perhaps the most important figure I have had the privilege of raising since coming into this role and dealing with the coronavirus issue," Hunt said. "It means that as a country we are not just flattening the curve but we are consolidating it, extending it and securing it."

In Japan, health officials said the antiviral drug remdesivir has been put on a fast track for possible approval for treating COVID-19 patients.

Japanese health minister Kato Katsunobu said the drug, which is undergoing clinical trials in several countries, is up for emergency approval and will be allowed in Japan if its use is approved overseas. Remdesivir could be approved as early as next month to treat COVID-19 patients, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Japanese Parliament.

The drug was developed by U.S. pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences for use as a possible treatment for Ebola. However, its effectiveness in treating coronavirus patients is in doubt.

In China, health authorities reported just six new cases, three of which were imported. Three locally transmitted cases were reported in Heilongjiang Province, the National Health Commission said in its daily report.

In Russia, the number of cases increased by nearly 6,500 Tuesday, health officials said. Russia has so far seen nearly 94,000 cases, surpassing Iran for eighth on the global list.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to make an address later Tuesday about "coronavirus developments" and preventative measures.