According to data from the World Health Organization, a record number of new coronavirus cases were reported worldwide on Saturday. The United States, Brazil and India showed the highest increases.
Worldwide, cases increased by 212,326 in 24 hours, the data showed, breaking the previous record of 190,566 set on June 28.
As the July 4 celebrations were in full swing, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 57,718 daily new cases and 661 deaths on Saturday, totaling 2,789,678 cases and 129,305 deaths.
With 11,458 new cases of the virus reported on Saturday, Florida broke its one-day record for new coronavirus cases. It approached New York’s highest daily count of 11,571 set in April, according to NBC Miami and the New York State Department of Health.
As the country is grappling with an increasing number of cases, some states had to stop its reopens and hospitals at critical points are becoming overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump will no longer be the “daily voice” of the coronavirus response, a senior administration official told NBC News. During a speech at Mount Rushmore to celebrate July 4 on Friday, he only briefly mentioned the virus, as the White House prepares a new message for the nation about the coronavirus: learn to live with it.
In Brazil, where the virus has been rampant, 37,923 new cases and 1,091 deaths were recorded Saturday, health officials said. The country has the second highest number of confirmed cases in the world with more than 1.5 million with a cumulative death toll of 64,265, according to the country’s health ministry.
Both Russia and Mexico reached grim milestones on Saturday, with Russia’s death toll exceeding 10,000 and Mexico’s death toll now more than 30,300, beating France to become the fifth highest in the world.
India reported an increase of 24,850 cases on Sunday, health officials in the country said. A total of 673,165 cases have been reported in India, the fourth highest in the world.
Globally, more than 11 million cases of coronavirus have been recorded and to date nearly 531,000 people have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The WHO also announced Saturday that it will suspend the use of hydroxychloroquine, a drug promoted by President Trump at the start of the pandemic, as treatment for hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Provisional results from the trials have shown that hydroxychloroquine produces “little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 compared to standard care,” the organization said.
Throughout the world, blocking restrictions continued to decrease, while some countries increased measures to prevent further outbreaks.
This weekend, England relaxed most of its restrictions, opening bars, cafes, restaurants and hairdressers. Despite authorities urging the public to maintain social distancing, in some places, including central London, many ignored the warnings.
Meanwhile, the Spanish region of northeastern Catalonia once again imposed coronavirus restrictions, limiting the movement of more than 200,000 people after an increase in infections.
On Saturday, Barcelona’s famous Sagrada Familia basilica reopened after almost four months of closure, giving frontline workers the opportunity to have the landmark usually filled with tourists for them in recognition of their efforts during the pandemic of coronavirus. Spain was one of the most affected countries in Europe, registering 28,385 coronavirus deaths.
In Australia, which has so far managed to contain the pandemic with just under 8,400 cases, authorities locked up some 3,000 people in nine apartment buildings in the south-eastern state of Victoria to try to stop a new outbreak after an increase in cases. .
In addition to full closure orders, more than 30 Melbourne suburbs are also under strict social distancing orders, but people there can leave their homes to go to work, school or buy groceries.
In Iran, President Hassan Rouhani warned on Saturday that Iranians who do not wear masks will be denied state services and workplaces that do not comply with health protocols will be closed for a week, Reuters reported.
Iran was one of the first epicenters of the pandemic, and is still battling the spread of the virus, with the total number of cases reaching 240,438 on Sunday.
Reuters contributed to this report.
