On Wednesday, the total number of COVID-19 infections in the world crossed the 5-million mark even as the pandemic continues to devastate across the globe. Coronavirus has so far killed more than 325,000 people and left millions unemployed, on the brink of poverty. The total number of infections is now equivalent to the population of New Zealand.
Also Read: COVID-19: Cases In India Climb To 1.12 Lakh; Death Toll To Surpass 3,500
The progression of the last two million have been similar-- while it took 11 days for 3 million cases to surge to 4 million, the latest million took 12 days. Many countries are fearing a second wave of the coronavirus infection that may have equal or more devastating effects on both human life and economy. Countries like Spain and Italy that were severely impacted by the novel virus are reopening slowly amid the second wave fears.
The World Health Organization on Wednesday expressed concerns about the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in poor countries. The global health body said 106,000 new cases of infections of the coronavirus had been recorded in the past 24 hours, the most in a single day since the outbreak began.
“We still have a long way to go in this pandemic,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference. “We are very concerned about rising cases in low and middle income countries.”
While the United States, where lockdown restrictions have been less strict than most nations, continues to the worst-hit with the highest number of coronavirus cases, Brazil, Russia and India are emerging as the new hot spots of the disease.
Also Read: China's Incompetence Led To Mass Worldwide Killing: Donald Trump
India has been on a nationwide lockdown since March 25 and has entered into its fourth phase of lockdown which comes with relative relaxations.