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 In the United States, which has the highest number of cases in the
world with 3.91 million infections, President Donald Trump warned:
"It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better."
The top five countries with the most cases is rounded out by Brazil,
India, Russia and South Africa. But, the Reuters tally shows the
disease is accelerating the fastest in the Americas, which account
for more than half the world's infections and half its deaths.
Globally, the rate of new infections shows no sign of slowing,
according to the Reuters tally, based on official reports.
After the first COVID-19 case was reported in Wuhan, China, in early
January, it took about 15 weeks to reach 2 million cases. By
contrast, it took just eight days to climb above 15 million from the
13 million reached on July 13.
Health experts stress that official data almost certainly
underreports both infections and deaths, particularly in countries
with limited testing capacity.
The official number of coronavirus cases at 15,009,213 is at least
triple the number of severe influenza illnesses recorded annually,
according to World Health Organization data, while the death toll of
more than 616,000 in seven months is close to the upper range of
yearly influenza deaths.
RELAX OR TIGHTEN
With the first wave of the virus still to peak in several countries
and a resurgence of case numbers in others, some countries are
reintroducing strict social distancing measures while others relax
restrictions.
Stung by low approval ratings for his handling of the epidemic and
downplaying the risks during the early stages, Trump made a
significant shift in rhetoric on Tuesday, encouraging Americans to
wear a face mask.
While the epidemic worsened in the United States, Trump's focus
ahead of a presidential election in November has been on reopening
the economy, and governors in the hard-hit states of Texas, Florida
and Georgia continue to push back hard against calls for stricter
restrictions.
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In Brazil, more than 2.15 million people have tested positive including
President Jair Bolsonaro, and more than 81,000 people have died. While Bolsonaro
has played down the outbreak, its scale has made Brazil a prime testing ground
for potential vaccines.
India, the only other country with more than 1 million cases, reported almost
40,000 new cases on Wednesday. Having been keen to reopen its economy, India is
now facing the twin challenge of combating the pandemic and massive flooding in
the country's northeast.
Two ministers in South Africa's cabinet were admitted to hospital with COVID-19,
as Africa's most-industrialised country counted a total 372,628 confirmed cases
and 5,173 deaths.
Other countries are reintroducing restrictions in response to fresh outbreaks.
In Spain, the number of people allowed on Barcelona's beaches was limited after
crowds flocked to the seaside over the weekend despite advice to stay home.
In Australia, residents of Melbourne, the country's second biggest city, were
ordered to wear masks in public from Wednesday after the country reported a
record 501 new cases.
Officials in Canada were closely watching a spike in cases as the economy
reopens, attributing the rise in part to large numbers of young people gathering
in bars.
China, meanwhile, announced that passengers on inbound flights must provide
negative COVID-19 test results before boarding, as authorities seek to reduce
the risk of imported cases amid increased international travel.
(Reporting By Jane Wardell and Gayle Issa; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
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