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Washington: The total number of global coronavirus cases has topped 69.4 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.58 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
In its latest update on Friday, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 69,496,859 and 1,580,727, respectively.
The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 15,599,122 and 292,001, respectively, according to the CSSE.
India comes in second place in terms of cases at 9,767,371, while the country's death toll soared to 141,772.
The other countries with more than a million confirmed cases are Brazil (6,781,799), Russia (2,546,113), France (2,391,643), the UK (1,792,611), Italy (1,787,147), Spain (1,720,056), Argentina (1,482,216), Colombia (1,399,911), Germany (1,270,757), Mexico (1,217,126), Poland (1,102,096) and Iran (1,083,023), the CSSE figures showed.
Brazil currently accounts for the second highest number of fatalities at 179,765.
The countries with a death toll above 20,000 are Mexico (112,326), the UK (63,179), Italy (62,626), France (57,044), Iran (51,496), Spain (47,344), Russia (44,769), Argentina (40,431), Colombia (38,484), Peru (36,401), South Africa (22,747), Poland (21,630) and Germany (20,737).
Ecuador's Covid-19 cases top 200,000 mark
Quito, Dec 11 (IANS) Ecuador has reported 1,151 fresh Covid-19 infections, pushing the tally to 200,379.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, the South American country also registered 25 more fatalities from the disease, raising the toll to 9,320, since the country's first case was reported on February 29, Xinhua reported.
Ecuador is still experiencing a first wave of infections with community transmission of the virus, said health officials.
The majority of cases have been in the capital Quito, where 66,028 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, including 516 in the last 24 hours.
In an interview on Thursday with public television "Ecuador TV," head of Quito Health Secretariat, Ximena Abarca, said there has been an increase in Covid-19 hospitalizations, and called on residents to take preventive measures.
"People protecting themselves is the best way to tackle the virus," said Abarca.
Argentina inks deal with Russia for Covid vaccine
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez has announced his administration signed an agreement with Russia to receive the Sputnik V vaccine against Covid-19.
" On Wednesday we signed the contract with the Sovereign Fund of the Russian Federation that guarantees the provision of Russian vaccines for Argentina," the President said.
The country will be able to count on "sufficient doses to be able to vaccinate 10 million Argentines between January and February," Fernandez added.
The President called on the public to continue taking preventive measures, saying "the vaccine has not solved the pandemic and we must pay special attention to what is happening in neighboring countries and in Europe. We have not solved the problem because the risk continues to grow."
Argentina registered its first case of Covid-19 on March 3 and reported 1,475,222 infections and 40,222 deaths as of Wednesday, Xinhua reported.
(With IANS Inputs)
