NEW YORK, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Global COVID-19 deaths surpassed 880,000 on Sunday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
The global deaths from the coronavirus reached 880,779, with a total of more than 26,951,838 cases worldwide as of 2:28 p.m. (1828 GMT), the CSSE data showed.
The United States remains the worst-hit nation by the pandemic, with 6,262,989 cases and 188,711 deaths, accounting for more than one fifth of the global death toll.
Brazil recorded 4,123,000 cases and 126,203 deaths, both second only to the United States. India reported the world’s third most cases and deaths, which stood at 4,113,811 and 70,626 respectively.
Other countries with over 30,000 fatalities include Mexico, Britain, Italy and France.
LONDON: The United Kingdom registered almost 3,000 new coronavirus cases over 24 hours, a level not seen since late May, health ministry figures showed Sunday.
The government said two more people had died after testing positive over the past 28 days, bringing the overall UK toll to 41,551, Europe’s highest. In addition, 2,988 new cases were recorded, significantly higher than the 1,813 registered Saturday.
“The rise in the number of cases that we have seen today is concerning,” said Health Secretary Matt Hancock as Britain digested the highest number of daily cases since 2,959 on May 23.
Hancock said the latest sufferers are predominantly young people but cautioned against behaviour which might allow a spread to the elderly.
Hancock said it was “important that people don’t allow this illness to infect their grandparents and to lead to the sort of problems that we saw earlier in the year” when the health system battled to contain the virus as the toll inexorably rose.
Opposition Labour health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth urged Hancock to update lawmakers on the government’s approach in parliament on Monday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government says it will tighten local restrictions in areas showing sharp rises in cases rather than impose a second national lockdown for fear of its effect on the economy.
Sunday saw 124 new admissions to hospital of virus sufferers, bringing the total to 756 with 69 on ventilators.
To date, a total of 347,152 coronavirus cases have now been confirmed in Britain. — NNN-AGENCIES