Iran (IMNA) - The new virus has now infected 11,451,030 people and claimed the lives of 534,320 others worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Some 6,180,116 have so far recovered from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus that first emerged in China late last year and moved quickly to plague other world countries as well.
In the US, officials in the state of Texas are warning that hospitals could soon be overwhelmed as more people amid a rise in infections in the country with 2,888,279 known cases of COVID-19 and 129,947 related deaths.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia considers setting new health protocols for this year's Hajj, which will be open only to domestic pilgrims.
An “an emergency situation” has also been declared in the Israeli-occupied territories over a rapid resurgence of the viral disease.
The following is the latest on the pandemic over the last 24 hours:
Australia blocks state border for first time in 100 years
Australia announced on Monday that it would close border between its two most populous states — Victoria and New South Wales — from Tuesday for an indefinite period.
“It is the smart call, the right call at this time, given the significant challenges we face in containing this virus,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in the Victorian capital of Melbourne.
Officials last blocked movement between the two states in 1919 during the Spanish flu pandemic.
The number of coronavirus cases in Victoria reached 127 overnight — the biggest one-day spike since the pandemic began.
It also reported two deaths, the first recorded nationally in more than two weeks, taking the total tally to 106.
The number of infection cases countrywide also reached 8,586.
India now 3rd worst hit after US, Brazil
India has now overtaken Russia with the number of its coronavirus cases standing at 697,413, according to the Health ministry.
More than 23,000 new cases were reported in the previous 24 hours, the data showed Monday.
There have been 19,693 deaths in the country since the first case was detected there in January.
The country with a population of 1.3 billion is now the world’s third worst-affected country, behind only the United States and Brazil.
Pakistan reports over 3,000 new cases
Neighboring Pakistan also recorded 3,344 new cases on Sunday, taking the overall number to 231,818, nationwide.
The country posted 50 additional deaths, taking the overall number to 4,844.
The mortality rate in Pakistan remains relatively low, at 2.08 percent, and authorities claim they have controlled the rapid spread of the virus through the use of “smart lockdowns.”
Saudi Arabia declares new Hajj measures
Saudi Arabia has announced new restrictive measures for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, which will be open only to domestic pilgrims.
Under the measures, touching the Kaaba — in the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca — will be banned.
People will also need to maintain a distance of at least one and a half meters from one another.
The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the move, but described the decision as “a major disappointment for many Muslims who are looking forward to making their pilgrimage this year.”
WHO director general Tedros Ghebreyesus said that the decision is “another example of the hard choices that all countries must make to put health first.”
“We understand that it was not an easy decision to make,” he added.
The Kingdom has so far registered 209,509 cases of COVID-19 and 1,976 related fatalities.
Israel in ‘emergency situation’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the occupied territories are now “in an emergency situation,” and that the outbreak was “a challenge for Israel and our health system.”
“This outbreak will see an increase and a doubling of the number of severe cases," he said.
Netanyahu said that his administration would decide over further restrictive measures in the coming days.
At least 755 new cases were reported for Sunday there, taking the total number of infections to 29,958, according to the Health Ministry’s figures.
It has far reported 331 deaths related to COVID-19.
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