Worldwide coronavirus cases have passed the 40 million mark, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University. Experts believe the true numbers of both cases and deaths are likely much higher, given deficiencies in testing and potential under-reporting by some countries.
The United States, India, and Brazil remain the worst affected countries in the world. COVID-19 cases in North, Central, and South America represent about 47.27% or nearly half of global cases.
New cases are growing at over 150,000 a day in Europe, as many countries including Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Cyprus, and the Czech Republic have reported record daily increases in the number of coronavirus infections.
France imposed curfews while other European nations are closing schools, canceling surgeries, and enlisting student medics.
Parts of the UK were put into lockdown as Prime Minister Boris Johnson bid to contain a second wave of infections through local measures.
Europe currently accounts for over 17% of the global cases and nearly 22% of the deaths related to the virus worldwide.
Since the pandemic started, over 1.1 million people have died, with the global fatality rate hovering around 2.8% of the total cases.
An official at the World Health Organization has said the global death toll from COVID-19 could double to 2 million before a successful vaccine is widely used and could be even higher without concerted action to curb the pandemic.
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