COVID-19 Updates From Around The Globe Today

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world to a standstill. Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus crisis from around the globe on Tuesday.

Global COVID-19 cases top 7 mn: Johns Hopkins University

The global number of COVID-19 cases has increased to over 7 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 406,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

As of Tuesday morning, the overall number of cases stood at 7,097,717, while the death toll increased to 406,402, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.

The US continues with the world's highest number of confirmed cases and deaths at 1,960,642 and 110,990, respectively, according to the CSSE.

In terms of cases, Brazil comes in the second place with 707,412 infections.

This was followed by Russia (476,043), the UK (288,834), India (265,928), Spain (241,717), Italy (235,278), Peru (199,696), France (191,313), Germany (186,109), Iran (173,832), Turkey (171,121), Chile (138,843), Mexico (120,102), Saudi Arabia (105,283), and Pakistan (103,671), the CSSE figures showed.

Regarding fatalities, the UK continues in the second position after the US with 40,680 COVID-19 deaths, which also accounts for the highest number of fatalities in Europe.

The other countries with over 10,000 deaths are Brazil (37,134), Italy (33,964), France (29,212), Spain (27,136) and Mexico (14,053).

New Zealand declared COVID free nation

New Zealand has lifted almost all of its coronavirus restrictions after reporting no active cases in the country.

At midnight local time (12:00 GMT), all of New Zealand moved to level one, the lowest of a four-tier alert system, the BBC reported on Monday.

Under new rules, social distancing is not required and there are no limits on public gatherings, but borders remain closed to foreigners.

New Zealand has reported no new Covid-19 cases for more than two weeks.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters she did "a little dance" when she was told the country no longer had any active virus cases.

"While we're in a safer, stronger position, there's still no easy path back to pre-Covid life, but the determination and focus we have had on our health response will now be vested in our economic rebuild," Ardern said.

"While the job is not done, there is no denying this is a milestone. So can I finish with a very simple, 'Thank you, New Zealand'."

Pakistan COVID-19 peak by July end or August: Imran

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases will continue to rise in the country, and a peak will be witnessed by the end of July or beginning of August.

In a televised address on Monday, the premier said that there might be difficult times ahead for the country if the people keep on taking COVID-19 as common flu, and do not follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) formed by the government to control the spread of the disease, reports Xinhua news agency.

Khan urged the people to follow the SOPs to slow down the spread of the disease as the option of locking down the whole country is not practicable in Pakistan.

"A lockdown does not mean it will end COVID-19. It can only slow down the spread of the virus. Sadly, the lockdown also slowed down the economy, creating hard times for our poor people.

"We have reopened the economy with SOPs and precautions so our poor people can earn a livelihood," he said.

Khan said that right now the government is making efforts to slow down the spread of the disease, "so that when we hit the peak, our hospitals are not overburdened and intensive care units are available during the peak. SOPs will help us achieve this".

The prime minister's address came after the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases hit 100,000 in the country.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan has risen to 103,671 with 2,067 deaths, according to the data by the country's Health Ministry.

Iran re-emerges as hardest-hit Mideast country by COVID-19

Iran has re-emerged as the hardest-hit country by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East region, as the country is witnessing a respike of the pandemic with its confirmed cases going beyond 173,000.

Iran reported a total of 173,832 coronavirus cases on Monday after an overnight registration of 2,043 new ones, Xinhua news agency reported.

The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 8,351 Iranians, up by 70 in the past 24 hours. Besides, 136,360 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals while 2,619 remain in critical condition.

In Turkey, now the second hardest-hit country in the Middle East, the COVID-19 cases increased by 989 on Monday to 171,121, according to Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.

Meanwhile, 19 people died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,711, and the total recoveries grew to 141,380, Koca said.

With no significant signs of slowdown in the pandemic, Saudi Arabia registered 3,369 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the accumulated infections in the kingdom to 105,283.

The death toll from the virus increased to 746 with 34 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, while the number of recoveries reached 74,524 after 1,707 more have recovered.

Egypt on Monday registered 1,365 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 35,444, said the health ministry.

The death toll from the disease in the North African country rose to 1,271 after 34 fatalities were added, while a total of 9,375 recoveries have been registered.

The Israeli Ministry of Health reported 169 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number to 18,032. while the death toll remained at 298.

Israel has decided to stop all steps to ease restrictions that were planned for the coming days given an increase in COVID-19 morbidity, the prime minister's office said.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday announced 568 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 39,376.

Meanwhile, 469 more patients have fully recovered from the virus, taking the tally of the UAE's recoveries to 22,275.

Kuwait reported 662 new cases of COVID-19 and five more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 32,510 and the death toll to 269, the health ministry said

The Omani Ministry of Health announced 604 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 17,486.

In Morocco, a total of 78 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total number in the North African country to 8,302.

The number of people cured increased to 7,408 with 44 new recoveries, said Mouad Mrabet, coordinator of the Moroccan Center for Public Health, at a press briefing.

Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased by 19 cases to 1,350, while the death toll remained at 30.

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