RUSSIA SEES SHARP SPIKE OF 10,000 COVID-19 CASES IN ONE DAY

MOSCOW: Russia on Sunday recorded its highest daily rise in confirmed coronavirus cases with 10,633 new cases, bringing the overall number of cases to 134,686, according to the authorities’ official website. The mortality rate has slowed in recent days however, and remains much lower, in relative terms, than many other countries.

The nationwide death toll rose to 1,280 after 58 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia’s coronavirus crisis response centre said.

AFGHANISTAN: SHARP SPIKE IN INFECTIONS

KABUL: Afghanistan’s public health ministry announced on Sunday that 500 random coronavirus tests in the capital revealed more than 150 positive results, raising fears that the virus may be spreading faster than originally thought.

Ministry spokesman Wahid Mayar called the results from Kabul “concerning” and said people must remain in their homes to slow the spread. He said the country’s actual infection rate would likely increase as testing becomes more available.

U.N. PUSHES FOR POLIO, MEASLES CAMPAIGNS

AMMAN: THE UN children’s agency on Sunday urged six West Asian countries to green-light special polio and measles vaccination campaigns put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Unicef says the polio campaigns are on hold in Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Iraq, while measles vaccinations are suspended in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Djibouti.

The UN body says nearly 10.5 million children under the age of five risk missing their polio vaccinations.