Global virus cases top 11.7 mn
Africa now has more than a half-million confirmed COVID-19 cases
WASHINGTON DC: The overall number of global COVID-19 cases has increased to more than 11.7 million, while the deaths have soared to over 543,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
On Wednesday morning, the total number of cases stood at 11,798,678 while the fatalities rose to 543,535, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.
The US accounted for the world's highest number of infections and fatalities with 2,993,759 and 131,455, respectively, according to the CSSE. Brazil came in the second place with 1,668,589 infections and 66,741 deaths.
In terms of cases, India ranks third (719,665), and is followed by Russia (693,215), Peru (309,278), Chile (301,019), the UK (287,874), Mexico (268,008), Spain (252,130), Iran (245,688), Italy (241,956), Pakistan (234,509), Saudi Arabia (217,108), South Africa (215,855), Turkey (207,897), France (206,072), Germany
(198,343), Bangladesh (168,645), Colombia (120,281), Canada (108,023) and Qatar (100,945), the CSSE figures showed.
The other countries with over 10,000 deaths are the UK (44,476), Italy (34,899), Mexico (32,014), France (29,936), Spain (28,392), India (20,160),
Iran (11,931), Peru (10,952) and Russia (10,478).
Africa now has more than a half-million confirmed Coronavirus cases.
The continent-wide total is now at least over 504,000 after South Africa recorded another day of more than 10,000 confirmed cases as a new global hot spot.
The true number of cases among Africa's 1.3 billion people is unknown as its 54 countries continue to face a serious shortage of testing materials for the virus. A tremendous problem, a real crisis of access, the World Health Organisation's Africa chief, Matshidiso Moeti, said last week.
So far most testing has been concentrated in capital cities, but infections in many cases have spread beyond them. Singapore reported 158 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, including nine community infections and the rest being foreign workers living in dormitories, the Ministry of Health said. Out of the nine community cases, four are Singaporeans (citizens) or permanent residents (foreigners) and five are foreigners holding work passes and living outside the dorms. The number COVID-19 cases among foreign workers living in dormitories was 149, the ministry said.
Pakistan on Wednesday reported 2,980 new Coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 237,489, the health ministry said. According to the Ministry of National Health Services, the death toll from the virus reached 4,922 after 83 more deaths were reported from the country. Another 2,236 patients were in critical condition.