COVID-19 death toll passes 600,000; Rome may face new lockdown; Hong Kong tightens safety measures
The global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 600,000, Johns Hopkins University reports.
The university's tally as of Saturday night (local time) says the United States tops the list with 140,103 deaths. It is followed by 78,772 fatalities in Brazil and 45,358 in the United Kingdom.
Indian paramilitary soldiers carry the body of a colleague who died of COVID-19 for cremation at a crematorium in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. Associated Press
The number of confirmed infections worldwide has passed 14.2 million, out of which 3.7 million are in the United States. There are over two million in Brazil and more than one million in India.
The World Health Organisation again reported a single-day record of new infections with 259,848.
Italy
The Italian region that includes Rome is warning citizens that local lockdowns might have to be ordered if there are more clusters of coronavirus infections.
Lazio Region Health Commissioner Alessio D'Amato said 17 new COVID-19 cases were registered on Sunday, 10 of them "imported" from other countries when foreign residents returned to Italy.
Many of the Rome area's recent cases have been among returning workers from Bangladesh.
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) contractors take part in a cleaning and disinfection of Ngau Chi Wan Market in Choi Hung district, Hong Kong. Associated Press
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is tightening anti-coronavirus measures following a recent surge in cases. The wearing of masks will be mandatory in all public places and nonessential civil servants will again work from home.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam introduced the measures on Sunday (local time), saying the situation in the Asian financial hub is "really critical" and that she sees "no sign" that it's under control.
Travellers flying to Hong Kong from areas where the risk of infection is considered particularly severe will have to show a negative coronavirus test before boarding their flight, undergo another test upon arrival and undergo a 14-day quarantine in a hotel.
USA
South Carolina has set another record for newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases in a single day.
Sunday saw 2335 people newly diagnosed with COVID-19, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported.
The state has reported 2000 new cases three times since the virus was first detected in the state in March. All have been in the past eight days.
Rafael Ruiz, left, is tested for COVID-19 at a walk-up testing site during the coronavirus pandemic in Miami Beach, Florida. Associated Press
Numerous beach visitors are at summery temperatures on the North Sea beach of Schillig, Germany. Associated Press
Meanwhile, a small conservative college in southern Michigan has defied warnings from state public health officials during the coronavirus pandemic by hosting an in-person graduation ceremony.
Hillsdale College held graduation Saturday evening (local time), capping days of celebrations, according to The Detroit News.
The college of about 1500 students had expected more than 2000 people at the event, though school officials declined to discuss actual attendance numbers.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had called the gathering illegal at a time when with public gatherings are capped at 100 people.
India
A record 24-hour surge of 38,902 new cases has taken India's coronavirus total to 1,077,618.
The Health Ministry on Sunday (local time) also reported 543 additional deaths for a total of 26,816.
People carry a hot meal received from a food distribution sponsored by the Miami Dolphins NFL football team at the Overtown Youth Center during the coronavirus pandemic in Miami. Associated Press
The number of people who have recovered continues to grow. The Health Ministry data shows 677,422 patients have been cured so far across the country, putting the recovery rate at 62.82 per cent.
Pakistan
Pakistani authorities reported 1579 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest number in more than a month, as health officials plan to resume a much-awaited nationwide anti-polio campaign next week.
Authorities conducted 22,559 tests in the past 24 hours. The additional cases bring to 263,500 the total number of confirmed infections, out of which 53,652 are active. Pakistan has reported 5568 deaths.
South Korea
South Korea has reported less than 40 additional cases of the coronavirus for a second straight day, as authorities struggle to suppress an uptick in local infections.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday (local time) it has reported 34 additional cases, raising the country's total to 13,745 with 295 deaths.
A health worker screens an elderly woman for COVID-19 symptoms at a temple in Mumbai, India. Associated Press
The agency says 21 of the newly confirmed cases were domestically infected patients, all of them found in the densely populated Seoul area or two central cities. It says the rest 13 cases were from overseas.
China
China on Sunday (local time) said another 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in the northwestern city of Urumqi, raising the total in the country's most recent local outbreak to at least 30.
An additional three cases were brought into the country from overseas, increasing China's total number of confirmed cases to 83,660 with 4,634 reported deaths.
Despite the Urumqi outbreak, China has just 251 people remaining in treatment for COVID-19, according to the National Health Commission.
Turkey
Turkey has suspended flights to Iran and Afghanistan because of the coronavirus outbreak, Turkey's Transport Ministry said Sunday.
In a brief statement, the ministry said the flights were halted "as part of the COVID-19 process".
Turkey previously shut down air travel with its neighbour Iran in February while Afghanistan suspended all flights in March.
People wearing face masks to protect against the new coronavirus watch a bride and groom pose for their pre-wedding photo shoot at a shopping district in Beijing. Associated Press
Netherlands
Authorities in Amsterdam are urging people not to visit the city's famous red light district and have closed off some of the historic district's narrow streets because they are too busy.
After months of coronavirus lockdown measures, sex workers in the Netherlands were allowed to resume work on July 1 and as other restrictions also have eased, the red light district has gotten busier again.
Late Saturday night (local time), amid fears that visitors could not maintain social distancing, Amsterdam Municipality took action, closing roads in the area and tweeting in Dutch and English: "Don't come to the red light district. It is too busy".
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