Global virus cases top 19 million, deaths top 7 lakh Russia’s race for virus cure raises concerns

Berlin, Aug. 7: Coronavirus cases worldwide passed 19 million on Thursday, as European nations imposed new travel restrictions and containment measures with fears growing over a second wave of infections.

Global deaths from the pandemic have topped 7,00,000, and Europe remains the hardest-hit region worldwide with more than 2,00,000 fatalities since the virus first emerged in China late last year. More than half of Africa’s cases are in South Africa, which has the fifth highest number of infections in the world, after the US, Brazil, India and Russia.

Nevertheless the African continent remains one of the least affected, according to the official figures, with only Oceania registering fewer Covid-19 cases.

As governments across the globe struggle to salvage economies ravaged by months of lockdown, many have been forced to look at new measures to curb outbreaks of Covid19 since they lifted initial containment orders.

In Australia, the secondlargest city Melbourne entered the country’s toughest lockdown yet on Thursday, closing nonessential businesses and requiring hundreds of thousands more people to stay home.

The pandemic has killed at least 7,12,315 people worldwide with the United States recording the most deaths with almost 1.60,000, followed by Brazil with nearly 1,00,000. Globally, 40 percent of all cases have been recorded in the two countries. Germany is the latest to introduce mandatory tests for travellers returning from designated risk zones.