Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Russia Registers Record Daily Deaths
Russia on Saturday recorded its highest daily coronavirus death toll for a third day running, as the country continues to struggle with the Delta variant amid sluggish vaccination rates. Russia recorded its highest daily death toll, with 819 fatalities reported over the past 24 hours. The new figures bring Russia's total fatalities from COVID-19 to 169,683 – the highest toll in Europe.
Australia Tightens Sydney Lockdown
Australia's biggest city announced tighter COVID restrictions including heavier fines and tighter policing on Saturday as authorities battled to contain a Delta outbreak and said they were seeing the "most concerning day of the pandemic" so far. After months of pursuing a "COVID zero" strategy, Australia has been struggling to bring a resurgence of coronavirus cases under control, with more than 10 million people under lockdown in its two largest cities and the capital Canberra.
Iran Tightens Restrictions
Iran on Saturday announced new curbs to combat the spread of COVID-19 as deaths and infections surge and as the country tries to speed up its vaccination campaign. The Islamic republic is struggling to the contain what officials have called a "fifth wave" of the virus driven by the highly infectious Delta variant.
Guatemala Declares Health Emergency
Guatemala has declared a new state of emergency and will impose an overnight curfew from Sunday to contain a surge in COVID infections due to the Delta variant, President Alejandro Giammattei said. The 30-day state of emergency is being implemented due to a rebound in cases attributed to the "more aggressive" Delta variant, Giammattei said in a televised address on Friday.
DRCongo Finally Gets More Vaccines
The Democratic Republic of Congo receives a batch of more than 50,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the United Kingdom, after 35 days of having no supplies, the health ministry announces.
New Protests Against France's COVID Pass
More than 200,000 protesters marched across France on Saturday against a health pass championed by President Emmanuel Macron to defeat COVID-19, even though the measure has already been applied. Protesters opposing a health pass championed by President Emmanuel Macron to defeat COVID-19 mass across France for the fifth successive weekend, but official figures suggest the numbers are down on last week.
More Than 4.3 Million Dead
The coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 4,347,979 people worldwide since the virus first emerged in late 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data. The US is the worst-affected country with 621,060 deaths, followed by Brazil with 567,862, India with 430,732, Mexico 247,414 and Peru 197,279. – AFP