Here are the latest updates in the coronavirus crisis:
200 Million Cases
More than 200 million cases of COVID-19 have been registered worldwide since the novel coronavirus emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.
Two Billion Doses
China will "strive to provide" two billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to the world this year and donate US$100 million to the international vaccine distribution system COVAX, President Xi Jinping says.
French Health Pass
France's top constitutional authority approves a COVID pass that limits access to cafes, restaurants and inter-city trains and planes to people who have been vaccinated or tested negative for the virus.
...And Quebec
Quebec also announces it will introduce a vaccine passport, the first in Canada, to counter a fourth wave of the coronavirus and the spread of the Delta variant.
Record Cases In Tokyo
Tokyo reports another large jump in virus cases, again shattering records, as the government expands restrictions to eight more regions just three days before the Olympics end.
Six Month Protection
Moderna says that protection from its COVID-19 vaccine remained strong for at least six months, and the variant-specific booster shot it is testing generated a "robust" antibody response to the Delta strain.
Melbourne Lockdown
Rueful authorities in Melbourne announce a sixth lockdown for the city and Sydney reports a record number of new cases as Australia falters in efforts to bring a virulent Delta outbreak to heel.
Israeli Booster Shots
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says Israel will go ahead with administering COVID vaccine booster shots, despite the World Health Organization's (WHO) plea for a moratorium, saying it is doing the world "a great service".
France Third Shot
France also says it will offer booster shots to the elderly and vulnerable from September, joining a growing list of countries offering third vaccine shots to fight new virus variants.
Africa Health Chief
The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control, John Nkengasong, reveals that he is battling COVID-19 but has survived the worst thanks to his jabs, urging the continent to fight vaccine hesitancy.
Curfews
In Spain, a curfew in Barcelona and most of Catalonia is extended for two weeks, while Greek authorities announce a curfew on the island of Zante and the Crete city of Chania.
Over 4.2 Million Dead
The coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 4,257,424 people worldwide since the virus first emerged in late 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data.
The United States (US) is the worst-affected country with 614,785 deaths, followed by Brazil with 559,607, India 426,290, Mexico 242,547 and Peru 196,673. – AFP