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The United States is the country most affected in the world by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of deaths, as it crossed the grim mark of 150,000 deaths from the virus on Wednesday.
Brazil is the second of the United States in terms of cases and deaths, and also reported a sobering figure, since it exceeded 90,000 deaths.
Nations around the world, even those that believed to have greatly curbed the disease, are seeing an increase in cases that are damaging economies and forcing protective measures that have altered all aspects of life.
The holy Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has started with some 10,000 Muslim worshipers allowed, instead of the roughly 2.5 million who attended last year.
Pilgrims were brought in small batches to the Makkah Grand Mosque, walking along marked trails on the ground, in stark contrast to the normal sea of humanity that swirls within its walls.
Even with efforts to contain the virus, COVID-19 has killed more than 661,000 people worldwide, and total infections are close to 17 million.
The EU will update the "safe list" to travel
The EU is due to update its list of countries approved to travel to the European bloc on Thursday, which it reviews every two weeks. The United States was not on the list and is not expected to be included.On Wednesday alone, the country recorded 1,267 new deaths in the past 24 hours and recorded more than 68,000 new cases daily, with the southern and western states particularly affected, especially Florida, where more than 6,300 people have died.
However, the EU safe list includes Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay.
The bloc is expected to announce that Algeria will be removed from the list after a resurgence of the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, several European countries have imposed restrictions on travel to and from Spain, while officials in Europe are increasing the dispute over the severity of the current outbreak.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced from quarantine for travelers returning from Spain, suggested that the rest of Europe may be facing a second wave, despite the lousy numbers in his own country.
France's health minister responded Wednesday, saying her country was not categorically in a second wave.
"Groups are emerging, we have warning signs from certain hospitals that have seen a trend to increase admission," said Olivier Veran, adding: "We are doing many more tests."
Spain, one of the countries most affected by the pandemic, insists that it is a safe destination and criticized Britain's general quarantine, which includes islands without significant outbreaks.
Brazil also wants visitors to return, and on Wednesday it reopened the trip to foreigners arriving by plane, hoping to revive its tourist industry devastated by the closure.
Brazil closed its air borders to non-residents on March 30, at a time when the virus was consolidating in South America.
Overall, Latin America's largest economy is facing a record 9.1% contraction this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Office-Hospital of India
The alarming data storm also continued in East Asia, with China seeing a three-month high of 101 new cases of the virus on Wednesday due to an outbreak located in the northern port city of Dalian.The authorities attributed the contaminated containers to imported shellfish; Similar reasons have been offered to explain previous Chinese outbreaks.
Further south, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam warned that the financial center was facing a "large-scale community outbreak" that could lead to a "collapse of our hospital system."
All residents of the densely populated city of 7.5 million are ordered to wear outdoor masks, and restaurants can only serve take-out meals, in a coup for diners during the city's hot and humid summer.
"It is very hot outside now, 10 minutes after starting work, my shirt is all sweaty," a construction worker told AFP as she stuffed herself with a pork chop, admitting that she missed air-conditioned restaurants.
While some work in the heat for a living, others have been inspired to take action for their communities.
An Indian businessman has converted his office into an 85-bed facility to provide free treatment to the poor.
Kadar Shaikh spent 20 days in a private clinic being treated for the virus last month and was horrified by the bill.
"How could the poor afford such treatment?" the property developer told AFP.
"So I decided to do something and contribute to the fight against the deadly virus. "
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