Citizens and tourists wearing protective masks walk in downtown Rome, on Oct 25, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)

STOCKHOLM / LONDON / MEXICO CITY / BRASILIA / PARIS / ROME / QUITO / BUENOS AIRES / TRIPOLI / SAN JOSE / NEW YORK / SANTIAGO / RABAT / ADDIS ABABA / BERLIN / PRAGUE / JOHANNESBURG / MOSCOW - Italy will tighten COVID restrictions but is holding back from re-introducing a nationwide lockdown, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Monday as infections, hospital admissions and deaths surge.

Conte told parliament tougher measures, including curbing travel between the worst-hit regions and a nighttime curfew, were now needed given the resurgence of the virus.

Italy’s daily tally of infections has increased 10-fold over the last month and hovered around 30,000 in the last few days, while hospital admissions, intensive care occupancy and deaths have also risen steeply.

Italy, the first European country to be hit hard by the virus, has recorded more than 38,000 deaths since the outbreak first emerged in late February, the second highest toll in the continent after Britain.

The latest measures will be included in a government decree to be issued in the next few days, the fourth such decree adopted in less than a month as Conte has progressively ramped up his efforts to slow the epidemic with little success.

He did not spell out which measures will be imposed on the worst affected areas, but said stronger nationwide restrictions would include the closure of shopping centres at weekends and reducing the capacity limit on public transport to 50 percent from 80 percent.

Global toll

Global COVID-19 fatalities topped 1.2 million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, after the deadliest week for the pandemic since April. 

According to the data, the global coronavirus tally surpassed 46.5 million.

Daily cases are surging to record levels worldwide with the US seeing a bigger wave than in the spring as it approaches Tuesday’s election.

This photo taken and released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Oct 5, 2020 shows WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wearing a protective face mask while attending a special session held held by the WHO executive board on COVID-19, at the WHO's headquarters in Geneva. (PHOTO / AFP)

WHO chief in quarantine

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Sunday that he had been identified as a contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19, but added that he was feeling well and did not have any symptoms.

"I have been identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive for #COVID19. I am well and without symptoms but will self-quarantine over the coming days, in line with @WHO protocols, and work from home," Tedros said in a tweet.

Siemens Healthineers' rapid tests

Siemens Healthineers AG will ramp up production of its 15-minute coronavirus tests this month. 

The German company will ship some 30 million of its rapid virus tests -- seen by some as a game-changer in allowing economies to open up -- from mid-November and “rapidly ramp up” afterward, Chief Executive Officer Bernd Montag said.

Africa tally

The number of confirmed cases recorded across the African continent has reached 1,784,083 while the death toll has risen to 42,869, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Sunday.

Argentina

Argentina's Ministry of Health reported on Sunday 6,609 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nation's caseload to 1,173,533.

The ministry said another 138 patients have died from the disease, lifting the death toll to 31,140.

The province of Buenos Aires, with 550,939 cases or 46.95 percent of the national total, is the most worst-hit district.

Brazil

Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello, who is ill with COVID-19, will stay in a military hospital overnight on Sunday "a precautionary measure," after having been discharged from a civilian facility earlier in the day, the ministry said in a statement.

The minister tested positive for coronavirus on Oct 21. He checked into a hospital on Friday, suffering from dehydration, the ministry said earlier.

Brazil recorded 10,100 additional confirmed cases and 190 deaths in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Sunday. 

Brazil has registered 5,545,705 cases and 160,074 deaths since the pandemic began, according to ministry data.

ALSO READ: Brazil's COVID-19 death toll nears 160,000

More than 300 Brazilians gathered on Sao Paulo's main commercial thoroughfare to protest state Governor João Doria's support for mandatory COVID-19 immunization

In this file photo taken on Oct 14, 2020, Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello delivers a speech during a ceremony to launch the Genomas Project at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, capital of Brazil. (EVARISTO SA / AFP)

Chile

Chile carried out 41,152 tests in the last 24 hours to detect cases of novel coronavirus infection, of which 1,607 returned positive results, the Ministry of Health said Sunday.

The newly confirmed cases brought the country's infection tally to 511,864.

Another 40 deaths were registered, raising the death toll to 14,247, the ministry said.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica on Sunday reopened its borders to international flights in anticipation of some 300,000 foreign visitors flying in by year-end.

The high season for Costa Rica begins with the arrival of travelers during the Thanksgiving Day break in the United States, which falls on Nov 26.

According to the latest report from the ministry, Costa Rica has so far reported 109,971 COVID-19 cases and 1,385 deaths since March. 

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic reported 6,542 new coronavirus cases and 178 additional deaths on Sunday, Health Ministry Data showed on Monday.

The new figures brought the tally in the country of 10.7 million to 341,644 and the death toll to 3,429.

Ecuador

The mayor of Ecuador's capital Quito, Jorge Yunda, on Sunday urged residents to abide by measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus even as the city relaxes lockdown restrictions.

Yunda's appeal came in response to a report that more than 600 people were gathered Saturday along an avenue in the south of Quito, flouting basic safety measures, such as wearing a face mask and social distancing.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, Quito registered 438 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the capital's infection tally to 54,729.

Nationwide, 1,002 fresh infections were reported, bringing the nation's tally to 169,194.

A total of 12,684 people have died from the pandemic, including 8,371 confirmed deaths and 4,313 probable deaths. 

France

New coronavirus cases rose by 46,290 in France in the past 24 hours, official data showed on Sunday, while the number of people needing treatment in intensive care also crept up.

The total number of cases now stands at over 1.4 million cases across France.

The death toll rose by 231 to 37,019.

There were 17,450 new hospitalizations over the past seven days, the data from the health ministry showed, and 2,605 people in intensive care units. 

Germany

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer is self-quarantining after learning that she came into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, her ministry said on Monday.

A coronavirus test on Kramp-Karrenbauer herself was negative, it added in a statement.

Coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 12,097 to 545,027 while the death toll rose by 49 to 10,530, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Monday.

Libya

The National Center for Disease Control of Libya reported on Saturday 950 new COVID-19 cases, taking the nation's tally to 62,045.

The center said in a statement that 823 more recoveries and 14 more deaths were also reported, bringing the total recoveries to 35,853 and the death toll to 871.

Mexico

Mexico's health ministry reported on Sunday 4,430 newly confirmed coronavirus infection cases and 142 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 929,392 cases and 91,895 deaths.

Morocco

Morocco registered 3,460 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, taking the tally of infections to 222,544, the health ministry said in a statement.

It also reported 67 additional deaths, raising the death toll to 3,762.

The total number of recoveries increased by 3,038 to 184,313, according to the ministry, adding that 840 patients remained in the intensive care units.

Russia

Russia reported 18,257 new coronavirus cases on Monday, including 4,796 in Moscow, pushing the national tally to 1,655,038 since the pandemic began.

Authorities said 238 people had died in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 28,473.

Russian drugmaker Pharmasyntez has asked the Kremlin for permission to produce a generic version of Gilead Sciences' COVID-19 treatment remdesivir without а patent, the Vedomosti newspaper reported on Monday.

Siberia-based Pharmasyntez previously approached Gilead requesting a voluntary license to produce and distribute the drug in Russia, the company's director, Vikram Punia, had told Reuters this year. But it was not able to produce the drug as it is protected by a patent and Gilead did not respond to a request for a voluntary license, Vedomosti reported, citing a letter sent by Punia to several Russian ministries.

The Russian firm has completed a clinical trial of the generic drug, labelled Remdeform, on 300 patients across 23 Russian hospitals, a register entry showed.

In his letter, Punia asked Russia's government to activate a compulsory licensing process, Vedomosti reported, in which the government to grants licences to produce patented products in Russia without the permission of the patent holder, in the interests of national security and defence.

Sweden

Stockholm has paused home COVID-19 testing for four days after surging demand left 16,000 people waiting for tests for active infections in Sweden’s biggest city, overwhelming the system, regional authorities said on Sunday.

The system whereby residents have been able to apply online for delivery and pickup of tests which they themselves administer, has been popular and in place since the Nordic country ramped up testing during the summer.

Testing of patients and staff in the health care system and at nursing homes would not be affected by the pause on home testing, the Stockholm region said.

While the renewed spread has begun translating into more hospitalizations, these still remain well off the peaks hit during a deadly spring when the country recorded the brunt of its nearly 6,000 COVID-19 deaths.

Switzerland

Geneva, a hub of Swiss finance and seat of several United Nations agencies, is closing bars, restaurants, cultural venues and nonessential stores from Monday until Nov 29, the cantonal government said in a statement. Schools up to the secondary level won’t close.

The measures, which are similar to partial lockdowns in many parts of Europe, follow an “alarming” rise in local virus cases, according to the statement. 

Geneva hospitals had 474 COVID-19 patients on Sunday, compared with 78 in mid-October. Authorities appealed to people to stay home and avoid social contacts.

Commuters wait at a bus stop with a billboard displaying coronavirus prevention message, in London, Britain, on Nov 1, 2020. (TIM IRELAND / XINHUA)

UK

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak told BBC Radio Monday that England’s nationwide lockdown will legally expire on Dec 2, but that the government will look at a range of COVID-19 indicators before easing restrictions.

On Sunday, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the monthlong lockdown announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson this weekend could be extended if it fails to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Johson announced Saturday that new restrictions across England would kick in from midnight on Thursday morning. He will say on Monday that there was no alternative but to lock down England as lawmakers prepare to vote on measures to contain a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several cabinet ministers hinted England's lockdown could extend to next year, with the government considering a brief relaxation over the Christmas period, according to The Times.

The United Kingdom, which has the biggest official death toll in Europe from COVID-19, is grappling with more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases a day and scientists have warned a worst-case scenario of 80,000 dead could be exceeded this winter.

Another 23,254 new cases and 162 deaths were reported Sunday, according to government data. It was the seventh straight day that infections topped 20,000.

READ MORE: UK may impose new lockdown in England next week

British media reported late on Sunday that Prince William contracted COVID-19 in April at a similar time to his father Prince Charles, citing Kensington Palace sources.

AstraZeneca's UK trial

AstraZeneca Plc said on Sunday Britain's health regulator had started an accelerated review of its potential coronavirus vaccine.

In rolling reviews, regulators are able to see clinical data in real time and have dialogue with drug makers on manufacturing processes and trials to accelerate the approval process. The approach is designed to speed up evaluations of promising drugs or vaccines during a public health emergency.

US

The United States added 78,157 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, after two straight days of national records that pushed the daily case count near 100,000. The 0.9 percent rise matched the average daily increase of the previous seven days, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg.

Average daily cases in the last week of October were about 35,000 higher than in the last week of September, an indication of the virus’ spike at the close of the presidential race. 

An additional 826 people died, down from the previous day’s 1,029, but in line with average daily increases of the previous week.

North Carolina, a battleground state in Tuesday’s US election, reported its sixth day of more than 2,000 cases, while North Dakota, ranked with the US’ biggest outbreak per capita, recorded a fourth day with cases more than 1,000

On vaccination, four state and community leaders on Sunday called attention to the shortcomings in the federal government's current plan for failing to adequately serve communities of color. The federal government has not learned the lessons of the pandemic, during which communities of color experienced higher mortality rates and a lack of access to adequate health care, they said in a press release.

Georgia 

Georgia reported 1,852 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing its total to 42,579.

A total of 650 of the 1,852 new cases were confirmed in the capital city of Tbilisi, the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) said.

As of Monday, 26,800 patients have recovered, while 342 others have died, the center said.

Greece 

Greece will impose a two-week lockdown in regions of Thessaloniki and Serres in the north to contain a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Monday.

The country has reported fewer cases of the novel coronavirus than most in Europe, but it has seen a significant increase in infections since early October.

The latest measures include the suspension of flights to and from Thessaloniki over the two-week period, which will come into effect on Tuesday along with the expansion of a night-time curfew on movement and the closure of restaurants and bars in the most populous areas of the country for one month.

Greece registered 1,678 new infections on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the country so far to 40,929 since February. The country has recorded 635 related deaths.

Egypt

Egypt’s government may be forced to take “difficult decisions” if people continue to ignore safety measures aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said.

The premier, speaking during a cabinet meeting, said there appears to be a “lack of commitment” by some in terms of following safety measures. Madbouly asked authorities to follow through with fining individuals who fail to comply with requirements to wear masks while riding in public transportation or visiting malls and government buildings.

COVID-19 vaccine

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd agreed to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccine candidate being developed by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) at a factory in South Africa, where the continent’s biggest drugmaker has the capacity to produce 300 million doses a year.

The deal is subject to technology transfer and commercial terms, the Durban-based company said in a statement on Monday. 

Aspen said it had agreed to provide capacity required for the manufacture of J&J’s vaccine candidate, which is still undergoing clinical trials, at its Port Elizabeth facility.

Aspen will perform formulation, filling and secondary packaging of the vaccine for supply to J&J, the company said.

Hungary 

Hungary on Monday registered 3,581 new COVID-19 cases in a 24-hour span, raising the national total to 82,780, according to the government's coronavirus information website.

In the past 24 hours, a further 70 COVID-19 patients -- a daily record -- have succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 1,889 in Hungary, while 20,476 have recovered. Currently, 4,417 patients are being treated in hospital, and 313 of them are on ventilators.

Despite the sharp rise in numbers in Hungary and Europe, the goal of the Hungarian government is still to keep the country running and functioning, and not to let the virus paralyze everyday life, according to the government website.