World updates: COVID-19 cases surpass 21 million; France South Korea see resurgence

The new coronavirus has so far infected 21,468,279 people and claimed the lives of at least 771,181 others across the world since it first emerged late last year, according to figures released by the Johns Hopkins University.

The United Kingdom has imposed a 14-day quarantine for people arriving from France as the latter grapples with a resurgence of the coronavirus cases.

South Korea, which had managed to bring the outbreak under control, has also seen a jump in cases of the disease, known as COVID-19.

South Africa, however, says the country’s infection rate has fallen.

The following is the latest on the coronavirus pandemic over the past 24 hours:

France daily cases surpass 3,000

France has reported an increase in the coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, as more than 3,000 people were diagnosed with the disease.

The Health Ministry reported 3,310 new infections, marking a post-lockdown high for the fourth day in a row.

It said the number of clusters being investigated increased by 17 to 252.

The new cases pushed the tally to 252,965, nationwide. The country also reported a death toll of 30,410.

The resurgence in the cases prompted the government to call on people to wear masks in shared workspaces.

It also expanded zones in Paris where wearing a mask is mandatory outdoors.

This also has led Britain to impose a 14-day quarantine for people arriving from the country.

Ireland says fresh COVID-19 spike ‘deeply concerning’

Ireland registered 200 additional cases of coronavirus arising from multiple clusters across the country on Saturday, the highest daily amount since the beginning of May.

Ireland’s chief medical officer Ronan Glynn described the situation as “deeply concerning.”

“We now have multiple clusters with secondary spread of disease and rising numbers of cases in many parts of the country,” he said. “This is deeply concerning. NPHET (Ireland’s public health team) will monitor this extremely closely over the coming days.”

Glynn also advised everyone, especially those over the age of 70 or medically vulnerable, to limit their contacts.

South Korea blames religious sect leader for rise in COVID-19 cases

South Korea has accused the leader of a religious sect of violating self-isolation rules with President Moon Jae-in warning of “stern and strong measures” against “some churches.”

The country on Sunday reported 279 new cases, more than double the 103 reported on Friday, with most of the new infections found in and around the capital Seoul.

The city posted a record 146 new cases, out of which 107 were linked to Sarang Jeil Church led by Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon, a controversial pastor and an outspoken government critic.

The Health Ministry said it will file a complaint against Jun later on Sunday.

He accused Jun of participating in a rally on Saturday and “obstructing” epidemiological investigation by failing to submit a full list of church members for testing and tracing.

The surge in the infection cases prompted authorities on Sunday to reimpose tighter social distancing curbs.

India set to mass produce coronavirus vaccine: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech on Saturday that his government is ready to mass produce vaccines as soon as the scientists give the go-ahead.

“Not one, not two, as many as three coronavirus vaccines are being tested in India,” he said in the annual celebrations on Sunday.

“Along with mass-production, the roadmap for distribution of vaccine to every single Indian in the least possible time is also ready,” he added.

Modi said his government will also launch a National Digital Health Mission project to roll out health identities for the country’s 1.3 billion population.

He said every health test, disease, medication and other details will be kept under a health ID. citizen.

The country has recorded 2,589,682 cases of COVID-19.

South Africa lifts lockdown restrictions

Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a sweeping removal of lockdown restrictions on the economy.

“All indications are that South Africa has reached the peak and moved beyond the inflection point of the curve,” Ramaphosa said in a televised speech on Saturday.

The president said rates of new infections had fallen to an average of 5,000 a day, from a peak of 12,000 a day.

He said that the cabinet had decided to move to lower, “level two” restrictions from midnight on Monday.

“The move to level two means that we can remove nearly all of the restrictions on the resumption of economic activity across most industries,” he added.

South Africa, with the fifth highest number of cases in the world, has recorded around 579,000 cases, of whom around 11,500 have died.

Brazil registers 41,576 new cases

Brazil recorded 41,576 new cases and 709 deaths on Saturday due to the coronavirus, according to the Health Ministry.

The country has a total number of 107,232 fatalities and 3,317,096 confirmed cases.

Bolsonaro has dismissed the severity of the pandemic, describing it a “little flu” even as his country has had the world’s second highest death toll after the United States.

The president has also sidelined medical experts in Brazil’s handling of the pandemic, pushed back against state and city lockdowns and circulated often in public without a mask, drawing criticism from public health specialists.

Mexico needs 200 million vaccine doses; shots could start in April

Mexico has registered at least 6,345 new cases of coronavirus infection, bringing the total to 517,714, according to the country's health ministry.

The ministry also reported an additional 635 deaths for a total of 56,543 fatalities.

A senior government official in Mexico says the country will need up to 200 million coronavirus vaccine doses and inoculation of its 120 million inhabitants could start as early as April.

In partnership with Mexico and Argentina, pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca Plc initially plans to produce 150 million doses in early 2021 and eventually make at least 400 million doses for distribution throughout Latin America.

A Mexican deputy foreign minister Martha Delgado said AstraZeneca will be able to produce between 30 and 35 million vaccines per month.

The vaccine could require two doses to be effective, Delgado said.

Mexico’s government also has said it is considering other options for bringing a vaccine quickly to its population, the second-largest in Latin America.

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