And as the pandemic gets worse, with cases rising notably in the Americas, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday there will be no return to normal for the foreseeable future.
“There will be no return to the old normal for the foreseeable future,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, adding that “too many countries” were heading “in the wrong direction”.
If the public does not follow social distancing rules, wearing masks and staying home when sick, the pandemic will get “worse and worse and worse,” Dr Tedros added.
The warning came after the total number of coronavirus cases across the world rose by more than 230,000 on Sunday— a new daily record.
Most of the 230,370 cases and 5,285 deaths recorded on 12 July were from countries in North and South America, with the United States alone recording 66,281.
The US, the world’s worst-affected country, now has a total of more than 3.3 million cases and 135,000 deaths.
Prior to now, the daily record for new cases globally in a 24-hour period was 228,000 cases recorded on 10 July.
The last three days accounted for the three highest total daily figures.
figures.