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 The United States still leads the world with the highest number of
infections, about 2 million or 25% of all reported cases. However,
the outbreak is growing fastest in Latin America, which now accounts
for 21% of all cases, according to a Reuters tally.
Brazil's COVID-19 cases and deaths have surged to make it the No.2
hot spot in the world.
The first case was reported in China in early January and it took
until early May to reach 4 million cases. It has taken just five
weeks to double to 8 million cases, according to a Reuters tally.
Global deaths stand at over 434,000 and have doubled in seven weeks.
Although Brazil's official death toll from the pandemic has risen to
nearly 44,000, the true impact is likely far greater than the data
show, health experts said, citing a lack of widespread testing in
Latin America's largest country.
In the United States, which has over 116,000 deaths, testing is
still ramping up months after the start of the outbreak.
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After cases declined in much of the United States for weeks, many areas are now
reporting record new cases and hospitalizations. Fears of a second wave in
hard-hit states - or a failure to get a grip on the first wave in some others -
have led health experts to plead with the public to wear masks, avoid large
gatherings and maintain social distance.
China is also grappling with a resurgence of the virus just as its economy is
trying to recover from shutdowns earlier this year. After nearly two months with
no new infections, the capital Beijing has seen a spike in cases linked to the
biggest wholesale food market in Asia.
(Reporting by Christine Chan in New York; Writing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by
David Gregorio and Grant McCool)
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