Global coronavirus cases near 49 million

KABUL (Pajhwok): The number of global coronavirus (Covid-19) cases is approaching 49 million on Friday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

In Afghanistan, 41,935 people have been affected by the respiratory disease so far in which 1,554 have died while 34,440 recovered.

According to the data, worldwide the death toll from the virus climbs to 1,223,456 while the total caseload counted 48,600,930 as of Thursday evening.

The US has the highest case tally in the world at 9.4 million and highest death toll at 233,651, reports UNB.

Infections are rising in all but three states and are climbing at the fastest pace in the Midwest and Southwest.

The nationwide seven-day average of new daily cases now stands at about 86,363 -- more than double what it was on September 4, data from Johns Hopkins University show. The rising numbers affirm experts' warnings another surge is well underway and will only get worse.

Besides, over 850,000 children in the United States have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, a new report of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association says.

Brazil registered 610 more deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the national death toll to 161,106, the Ministry of Health said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, 23,976 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, bringing the nationwide count to 5,590,025, it said.

India is second in cases with 8.3 million, and third in deaths at 123,611.

Coronavirus cases were first reported in China in December last year and the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic in March. There is currently no vaccine for the virus.