Medical staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) treat a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit of Lviv emergency hospital, in Lviv, Ukraine, on June 30, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

The number of people infected with the new coronavirus has now surpassed 15 million around the world, while the number of related fatalities is over 600,000, according to a Reuters tally.

The viral disease COVID-19, which first emerged in China in December last year, has so far afflicted 15,009,213 people and killed more than 616,000 others.

The United States has the highest number of cases, at 3.91 million. The other countries that are also hit hard by the deadly virus are Brazil, India, Russia, and South Africa.

The viral outbreak is accelerating the fastest in the Americas, which account for more than half of the world’s infections and deaths, according to the tally.

This is while some countries are easing their COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, while others are reintroducing strict measures in response to new outbreaks.

The following is the latest on the pandemic from around the globe:

Japan launches tourism campaign amid virus surge

Japan has begun a national travel campaign aimed at boosting its ailing tourism industry, drawing sharp criticism amid a jump in new coronavirus cases.

The controversial Go To Travel campaign offers up to 50% discounts on trips to and from prefectures excluding Tokyo. Infections surged to new highs in the Japanese capital last week.

Many of Japan’s governors have expressed concern about the spread of the virus to rural areas with currently low infection numbers, asking the government to delay the campaign. But the plan has started according to schedule.

There is no change to our stance to cautiously restart economic activity, while asking the public to cooperate in preventing the spread of the coronavirus, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a news briefing on Wednesday when asked about the campaign.

This is while Tokyo’s Governor Yuriko Koike has urged residents to stay home during a four-day weekend beginning Thursday.

Australia entering critical phase

Australia has reported a record 501 new coronavirus infections, with authorities warning the country is entering a critical new phase.

The number of new cases reported in the past 24 hours was the highest since the epidemic took hold in March.

Australia’s death toll also rose by 2 to 128.

Residents of Australia’s second-most populous state, Victoria, where most of the new cases were reported, are required to wear masks when leaving home from Wednesday.

Meanwhile, New South Wales (NSW), Australia’s most populous state, is on high alert.

Thailand to extend emergency until end of August

Thailand has decided to extend a state of emergency until the end of August in order to contain its coronavirus outbreak.

The decision comes after nearly two months without local transmission and with many people in Thailand questioning the need for an emergency decree.

It is still necessary to have the decree because we are opening up the country for more business meetings and tourism to stimulate the economy, National Security Council Secretary-General Gen Somsak Roongsita said on Wednesday, adding that doctors had requested the security measure be maintained.

Hong Kong mandates masks in all indoor public areas

Hong Kong has mandated face masks in all indoor public areas including malls due to a spike in recent coronavirus cases.

The strict new social distancing measure, which will come into effect from midnight on Wednesday, comes as authorities have warned about a third wave of infections. The new measures would be in place for two weeks.

This is the most critical time for Hong Kong. We ask citizens to be patient and stay at home as much as possible, said Hong Kong’s Health Secretary Sophia Chan.

Since late January, over 2,000 people have been infected in Hong Kong, 14 of whom have died.

SOURCE: PRESS TV