WHO reports record one-day rise in COVID-19 cases

Test tubes used for COVID-19. (Vatican News)

There seems to be no let-up in the spread of the invisible enemy that is COVID-19. Months on from the first cases of the virus, and with no vaccine currently available, cases continue to rise.

On Sept. 13, the World Health Organization reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases, with the total rising by 307,930 in 24 hours.

The biggest increases were to be found in India, the United States and Brazil.

The figures themselves tell their own story: India reported 94,372 new cases, followed by the United States with 45,523 new infections and Brazil with 43,718.

The death toll also continues to rise. In the past 24 hours, the United States and India each reported over 1,000 new deaths and Brazil reported 874.

In total, the global tally of cases reached a startling 307,930 in 24 hours, topping the previous WHO record for new cases, which reached 306,857 on September 6.

India has now overtaken the United States in daily COVID-19 cases. Just last week it reported 97,570 cases in a single day.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the United States stands at over 6.7 million. In India, with total cases exceeding 4.75 million, healthcare facilities are being put under strain, and in some parts of the country medical oxygen is in short supply.

Around the world coronavirus cases are still rising. There have been surges in Argentina, Indonesia, Morocco, Spain and Ukraine.

In England, Wales and Scotland, new rules came into force on Monday Sept. 14 banning people from meeting socially in groups larger than six following recent rises in COVID-19 cases.

As cases of the virus continue unabated, the WHO’s Europe director, Hans Kluge, said it is likely that Europe is going to see a rise in daily death rates in October and November.

By Vatican News