Coronavirus pandemic: Tracking the global outbreak specially in US

Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world, with more than 23 million confirmed cases in 188 countries. About 800,000 people have lost their lives.

Cases of the disease are continuing to surge in many countries, while others which had apparent success in suppressing initial outbreaks are now seeing infections rise again. Latin America and Asia are the continents that currently have the highest number of daily confirmed cases.In terms of individual countries, Brazil has the second highest number of cases in the world, after the US. It has recorded more than 114,000 deaths.

Mexico has the second-highest death toll in Latin America with about 60,000 deaths, and cases have also risen rapidly in Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Venezuela. India has recorded more than three million cases and has been averaging more than 60,000 new infections each day.

So far more than 50,000 people have died, which amounts to the world’s fourth highest death toll.In the Middle East, Iran has been badly affected by the virus. Documents leaked to the BBC Persian service suggest the actual death toll is more than double the official total of 20,000. Neighboring Iraq is now also seeing a spike in cases. Cases continue to rise in Indonesia, and the country has also recorded more than 6,500 deaths – the highest number in South East Asia.

Africa has recorded more than a million confirmed cases, although the true extent of the pandemic in the continent is not known. Testing rates are reported to be low, which could distort official estimates. South Africa and Egypt have seen the largest recorded outbreaks so far, with South Africa one of only eight countries in the world to record more than 500,000 confirmed cases. cases rising again in Europe

France, Spain, Italy and Germany have recorded their highest numbers of daily cases since the spring in recent days, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a resurgence of the disease in Europe.

Hans Kluge, the director general of the WHO’s Europe office, has said the rise in cases is “due in part to the relaxation of public health and social measures … people have been dropping their guard”.A number of countries have re-imposed localized lock downs in their worst-affected regions, and there have been renewed appeals for people to wear face coverings and follow social distancing rules.The pattern of rising infections following the end of lock-down restrictions is not limited to Europe.

Other countries that have also seen a recent resurgence of the virus include Israel, Peru, Australia and Japan.

South Korea has also imposed tough restrictions nationwide after a new outbreak which began in the capital Seoul. The US saw an increase in the number of daily cases to record levels in July but the numbers have stabilized and fallen since then.

With more than 170,000 deaths, the US has the highest recorded death toll of any country.The University of Washington predicts the death toll could hit more than 295,000 by the beginning of December – though it says this could be reduced to about 230,000 if 95% of Americans wore masks in public.

The outbreak has had a devastating impact on the US economy, with GDP falling by a record rate of 33% in the three months from April to June.