Global coronavirus deaths pass 800,000
The global death toll from COVID-19 has passed 800,000, according to a Reuters tally, with the increase being driven by the United States, Brazil and India.
In the U.S., fatalities passed 170,000 on Sunday (Aug 23) - the highest in the world - and while the number of new cases is down from a peak in July, the country is still seeing over 360,000 new cases per week.
India, which is only the third country after the U.S. and Brazil to report over two million cases, saw deaths top 50,000 last week.
It has a relatively low case fatality rate at 1.9%, compared to a global average of 3.5% - though that may be due to under-reporting.
Brazil and the United States have rates of around 3% and health experts have raised the alarm that neither have a coordinated plan to fight the pandemic as many officials focus on reopening schools and businesses - something that will likely worsen the outbreak.
Several countries are also witnessing new surges in cases of the coronavirus.
On Sunday South Korea reported its highest daily rise in cases with the spread attributed to a Seoul church run by a right-wing preacher, and from political demonstrations that its members had attended.
Australia recorded a further 17 coronavirus deaths on Sunday as it battles a second wave of infections
which is centered on the state of Victoria.
Globally, according to Reuters calculations, the pandemic is killing nearly 5,900 people every 24 hours
equating to 246 people per hour, or one person every 15 seconds.
