World

Global coronavirus caseload crosses 59m as virus surges

November 24, 2020
A Russian health worker seen in a hospital ward. — courtesy Tass
A Russian health worker seen in a hospital ward. — courtesy Tass

LONDON — Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world with more than 59 million (59,605,778) confirmed cases in 190 countries and about 1,403,683 deaths. The virus is surging in many regions and countries that had apparent success in suppressing initial outbreaks are also seeing infections rise again. North America is currently seeing the steepest rise in new cases.

The United States reported 169,190 new coronavirus cases and 889 virus-related deaths on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. At least 12,420,868 COVID-19 cases and 257,701 deaths have now been reported in the US, according to the university's tally.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.

In Moscow, Russia reported a record 491 deaths linked to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the official death toll to 37,031. Authorities also reported 24,326 new coronavirus infections in the space of 24 hours, including 5,838 in the capital Moscow, bringing the national cumulative tally to 2,138,828.

In Berlin, the German health authorities reported on Tuesday 249 deaths and 13,544 new positive coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said in a press statement that the country’s death total death toll rose to 14,361, and the total confirmed cases increased to 942,687.

It was revealed that there are 3,742 COVID-19 patients being treated in intensive care units (ICU) in German hospitals as of Monday, the highest since the start of the pandemic, according to the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive and Emergency Medicine (DIVI).

Around 57% of the ICU patients need ventilation, data from DIVI showed. When taking into account patients admitted to ICU for other diseases, around 21,333 of the ICU beds in the country are currently occupied, leaving 6,616 beds vacant.

In Brussels, total coronavirus cases in Belgium on Tuesday increased to 559,902 with 1,123 new infections reported the health authorities. It also reported 137 more COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll to 15,755.

India said on Tuesday that 480 people died of COVID-19 while 37,975 new cases of the novel coronavirus were registered from across the country in the past 24 hours. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the total deaths due to coronavirus rose to 134,218 while tit total number of cases mounted to 9.17 million (9,177,840).

The ministry said that 8,604, 955 people have recovered from the pandemic as it spread across 35 Indian states. India has the second-highest number of infections in the world, after the United States, but the rate of increase in India has dipped since it hit a peak in September.

In Tokyo, Japan reported 1,506 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, raising the nation’s total number to 135,216, the Health Ministry and local authorities said. The country’s cumulative death toll rose by 13 to, 2,001. Tokyo added 186 new cases, dipping below 200 for the first time in eight days, which brought the total cases in the Japanese capital to 38,197. In addition, the northernmost main island of Hokkaido reported 216 new infections.

South Korea added 349 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday bringing the country’s total caseload to 31,353 said Yonhap News Agency. The country reported one additional death from COVID-19, raising the total to 510, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Among the new local infections, Seoul confirmed 132 cases and Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital report 69. Health authorities warned a third wave of the pandemic is under way due to cluster infections from private gatherings, public facilities, hospitals and the military, calling for stronger action before a nationwide college exam in early December. — Agencies


November 24, 2020
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