A rapidly spreading variant of the coronavirus increases infection rates. File photo

Gulf Today Report

More than 80.86 million people have been infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1,768,392 have died, according to a Reuters tally published on Tuesday.

With 333,028 deaths and over 19 million confirmed cases, the United States tops the list of twenty countries with the highest recorded infections and deaths in the world.

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Britain reported 41,385 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, a daily record, as a rapidly spreading variant of the coronavirus increases infection rates and the holiday weekend impacted the reporting of some new cases.

UK reported a daily record 41,385 new coronavirus cases on Monday.

There were 357 new deaths within 28 days of a positive test, the government’s coronavirus statistics portal said.

 “This very high level of infection is of growing concern at a time when our hospitals are at their most vulnerable,” said Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England.

Russia reported 27,002 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, including 5,641 in Moscow, taking the total to 3,105,037 since the pandemic began.

Authorities also reported 562 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll to 55,827.

South Korea reported 40 more coronavirus patients have died in the past 24 hours. File photo

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 12,892 to 1,664,726, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday. The reported death toll rose by 852 to 30,978, the tally showed.

South Korea says 40 more coronavirus patients have died in the past 24 hours, the highest daily number since the pandemic began.

Officials also reported 1,046 new confirmed coronavirus infections Tuesday, taking the total caseload to 58,725, with 859 deaths.

South Korea's previous daily high for COVID-19 deaths was 24, reported on both Dec. 21 and Dec. 22.

Russia reported 27,002 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, including 5,641 in Moscow. File photo

Some observers say surging fatalities reflect an increase in cluster infections at nursing homes and long-term care centers where elderly people with underlying health problems stay.