Highest-ever global COVID cases recorded last week: WHO

Policemen walk off protesters during a demonstration against restrictions implemented by the government in order to limit the spread of the novel Coronavirus, in Berlin on Wednesday. Pic/AFP

A record-setting 5,236,922 new COVID-19 cases were registered over the past seven days globally, according to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) data published on Tuesday. This beats the previous record for new cases in a week of 5.04 million, set the week of January 4, 2021, as cited by CNN.

Cases increased in all WHO regions except for Europe, which saw a 3 per cent decline in cases. The largest increase in cases occurred in the South-East Asia region, where cases count increased 57 per cent over the previous week.

The global body said that an ongoing outbreak in India appeared to be driving the cases numbers in the South-East Asia region. New cases in India accounted for 94 per cent of new cases in the region and nearly 28 per cent of new cases worldwide.

Global deaths from Covid-19 crossed 3 million in the past week. According to the global body, CNN reported that it took nine months for the world to hit its first million Covid-19 deaths and only three months to log its most recent million.

Germany to add restrictions

German lawmakers voted Wednesday on a proposal by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to mandate uniform restrictions in areas where the novel Coronavirus is spreading too quickly, while thousands of protesters gathered a on a nearby street in Berlin.

Major Pakistani cities may be closed: Min

Due to the "extremely serious" COVID-19 situation in Pakistan, major cities may be closed down if the novel Coronavirus trajectory continues, the country's Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar informed on Wednesday. The minister urged the country to understand the gravity of the situation, Dawn reported.

Simple oral hygiene could help

Simple oral hygiene measures could help lower the risk of transmission of the novel coronavirus from the mouth to the lungs, and help prevent severe instances of COVID-19, according to a study in the UK. The research, published in the Journal of Oral Medicine and Dental Research, shows there is emerging evidence that specific ingredients of some inexpensive and widely available mouthwash products are highly effective at inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus, that causes COVID-19. The researchers noted that the coronavirus could pass into people's lungs from saliva and move directly from mouth to bloodstream - particularly if individuals are suffering from gum disease.

China says 200 mn citizens vaccinated

Around 200 million Chinese, or 14.29 per cent of the population, have been vaccinated for COVID-19 so far, with an emphasis on front-line workers, university students and people living in border areas, a health official said Wednesday.

4,82,229
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

14,22,38,073
Total no. of cases worldwide

3,032,12
Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins

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