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Coronavirus: Global death toll nears 1 million

September 21, 2020

The United States remains the worst-hit country with a death toll fast approaching 200,000. A second lockdown is looming in the UK. DW rounds up the latest developments.

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A health worker arranges swab samples to test for COVID-19
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/C. Anand

The global death toll from COVID-19 looked set to hit 1 million Monday, with a total of 959,528 fatalities due to the virus. Meanwhile, more than 30 million infections have been reported worldwide.

Infections have been reported in more than 201 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

Here's an overview of the most important developments around the world.

Europe

Munich's coronavirus committee is meeting on Monday to discuss new measures to combat the rising number of cases in the city, after the infection rate exceeded 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over the past week.

Read more: Munich bans alcohol on Oktoberfest grounds due to coronavirus

Several European countries could be facing second lockdowns, as the number of new cases rises across the continent. New lockdowns are coming into effect in Madrid and Vienna.

On Friday, Madrid's regional government ordered a lockdown from Monday in some of the poorer areas of the city and its outskirts, that are home to about 850,000 people. 

British health minister Matt Hancock warned that the country could impose another lockdown if people don't heed measures put in place to stop the spread of the virus. New cases have risen sharply in recent weeks, with 3,899 reported on Sunday alone.

Read more: UK sees depression rates nearly double amid lockdown 

Large parts of Wales will go into lockdown from 6 p.m. local time (5 p.m. UTC) on Tuesday, following a sharp rise in cases. People will not be allowed to enter or leave four Welsh authorities without a reasonable reason to do so, such as travel for work or education. 

Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech resigned amid a surge in new cases and heavy criticism for his handling of the pandemic. Prime Minister Andrej Babis said that epidemiologist Roman Prymula will replace Vojtech. 

Pubs across Ireland reopened after a six-month shutdown, but many in Dublin still remained closed due to a surge of infections in the Irish capital. All of Ireland's 7,000 pubs were ordered shut on March 16. 

Read more: EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan resigns over COVID-19 dinner scandal

Americas

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday reported a death toll of nearly 199,000. The US also reported 42,561 new cases, bringing the total in the world's most infected country to 6,748,935.

Read more: Coronavirus pandemic has many down and out in Los Angeles 

Asia-Pacific

India's most popular tourist site, the Taj Mahal, reopened to visitors, even as the country of 1.3 billion people looks ready to overtake the US as the global leader in virus infections. India has eased several restrictions in recent months, including on many train routes, domestic flights, markets and restaurants.

Schools in the South Korean capital Seoul and nearby areas resumed in-person classes for the first time in almost a month, after the number of daily caes dropped to the lowest levels since mid-August.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern lifted all virus-related restrictions across the country, except in the second-wave hotspot Auckland.

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lc/rt (Reuters, AP, AFP)