Global coronavirus cases near 7.9 million-mark; Brazil emerging as new COVID-19 epicentre

The total number of coronavirus cases in the world has crossed 79 lakh-mark while the virus-related death toll has now risen to nearly 4.4 lakh, confirmed Johns Hopkins University on Monday. 

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The University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) said in its latest bulletin that the total number of cases stood at 7,936,874 while the fatalities have risen to 433,959.

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Meanwhile, Brazil is fast emerging as the new epicentre of coronavirus outbreak having recorded over 8.6 lakh confirmed cases so far.

With 2,094,069 cases and 115,732 deaths, the US continues with the world’s highest number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities, according to the CSSE.

In terms of cases, Brazil comes in second place with 8,67,624 infections.

This was followed by Russia (528,267), India (320,922), the UK (297,342), Spain (243,928), Italy (236,989), Peru (229,736), France (194,153), Germany (187,518), Iran (187,427), Turkey (178,239), Chile (174,293), Mexico (146,837), Pakistan (139,230), Saudi Arabia (127,541) and Canada (100,043), the CSSE figures showed.

Meanwhile, China today locked down ten more neighbourhoods in Beijing to try and contain the spread of a new coronavirus outbreak linked to a food market, authorities announced Monday.

City official Li Junjie said at a press conference that fresh cases had been found in a second wholesale market in northwestern Haidian district, and as a result, the market and nearby schools would be closed, and people living in ten communities around it placed under lockdown.

China is facing the second wave of coronavirus cases after the country lifted most of its lockdown and opened its economy in the recent past.

(With inputs from agencies)