Global Covid-19 cases surge past 4.2 million mark, death toll at  291,981

Cases of infections of the deadly coronavirus surpassed 4.2 million worldwide on Wednesday as COVID-19 spreads across Europe, North America and South Asia.

COVID-19 has now infected  4,262,799 people worldwide and 291,981 people have been killed due to this pandemic. Around  1,493,661 people of that tally have recovered.

A few days ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) had claimed how lifting lockdowns too early could lead to a second wave and would be a catastrophe.

The epicentre of the pandemic has shifted twice, first from China to Europe, and then from Europe to North America.

Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University have reported in its map that the United States has taken the grim title of the country with the most coronavirus infections and reported a record surge in unemployment.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States reached 1,367,927 as of 23:32 GMT Tuesday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. Of note, the death toll reached 82,246, making it the worst-hit country in terms of total infections and deaths.

Of these, hardest-hit New York State reported 27,284 fatalities. New Jersey reported 9,531 deaths, Massachusetts reported 5,141 deaths and Michigan reported 4,674 deaths, data from the CSSE showed.

In Europe, another 627 coronavirus patients died in Britain as of Monday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 32,692, the Department of Health and Social Care said Tuesday. The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

(With inputs from agencies)