Record surge in daily cases

The World Health Organization reported a record rise in global coronavirus cases on Saturday with 212,326 being recorded in just 24 hours, amid a surge in the United States, Brazil and India.

The previous WHO record for new cases was 189,077 on June 28. Deaths remained steady at about 5,000 a day.

India added a record number of cases yesterday, approaching Russia as the world's third-most infected nation as it opens a mass treatment centre in the capital to fight the pandemic.

The health ministry reported just under 25,000 cases and 613 deaths in 24 hours -- the biggest daily spike since the first case was detected in late January.

India's surge took the total tally to more than 673,000 cases and 19,268 deaths, with the country on the cusp of surpassing badly-hit Russia.

A surge in cases sapped the fun out of July 4 celebrations in the United States as the pandemic also accelerated through neighbouring Mexico, the rest of Latin America and South Africa.

Even Europe, which has largely been celebrating reopening, saw some setbacks, with authorities placing 200,000 people back under lockdown in Spain after a spike in infections that underlined how easily hard-won progress can be reversed.

The United States remains by far the world's hardest-hit country, logging a further 43,000 cases Saturday that brought its total number of infections to more than 2.8 million, with nearly 130,000 deaths.

The spiralling caseload cast a pall over traditional Independence Day celebrations, with beaches closed and the National Mall in Washington, usually crowded with spectators ready for fireworks, near deserted.

Main Street parades were cancelled, boisterous backyard barbecues scaled down and family reunions put off.

Despite the sombre mood, President Donald Trump insisted the end was in sight in the fight against Covid-19.

Speaking from the White House lawn, Trump addressed a crowd that included frontline health workers battling the virus.

He accused China -- where the outbreak originated late last year -- of a cover-up that allowed the illness to race across the globe, but hailed American "scientific brilliance."

"We'll likely have a therapeutic and/or vaccine solution long before the end of the year," he said.

If so, it will be in high demand. As the virus continues its relentless march around the world, Latin America is also grappling with rising cases.

Mexico's toll crossed 30,000 on Saturday, propelling it past France to become the fifth-hardest-hit country in the world.

And Brazil, which has defiantly opened bars and restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, notched up nearly 40,000 new cases and more than a thousand deaths, keeping it in second place behind the US in the bleak global rankings.

Across the Atlantic, South Africa reported more than 10,000 new infections Saturday, its highest ever daily jump. Africa's most economically developed country now has the greatest number of cases on the continent.

'FEELS AMAZING'

American beaches that would normally be packed on July 4 are shut on both coasts as California and Florida suffer alarming surges in cases.

New York's public beaches reopened earlier in the week but locals in the city that was once the global epicentre of the crisis remain wary of a resurgence.

Mark Ruiz, who came to New York's Coney Island beach with his wife and two children for a picnic, said he was "definitely worried" about the virus and his family would scrupulously respect social distancing rules.

For his part, Trump headlined an event called "Salute to America" along with a military flyover and a fireworks display.

Guests including doctors, nurses and members of the military and their families were invited to the White House to watch proceedings.

America's former colonial master, Britain, was decidedly more cheerful on Saturday night as local pubs reopened for the first time since late March.

"It feels amazing," said Leo Richard Bill, a soldier, after getting through the door of one of London's buzziest restaurants on the River Thames's popular south bank.

"It's been what, like three months since... me and everyone else haven't been able to get outside and have a good time. So yeah, it feels good to get amongst it," he said.

Britain's Prince William got into the spirit by having his picture taken sipping a glass of cider and dutifully using hand sanitizer from a wall-mounted dispenser.

IRAN TOLL RECORD

The pandemic has killed at least 531,000 people worldwide since it surfaced in China late last year, according to an AFP tally yesterday based on official sources.  More than 11 million people have been infected in 196 countries and territories.

Iranian health authorities announce 163 new deaths, the country's highest official one-day toll since the outbreak began in the country in February.

China recorded eight new cases for July 4, up from with three a day earlier, the national health authority said yesterday, while city officials in Beijing said nearly all the cases in a recent outbreak in the capital were mild.

Of the new cases, six were imported and two were in Beijing, which has been scrambling to quash an outbreak traced to a massive wholesale market in the city early last month.

Morocco reported 698 additional infections, its highest one-day increase, with numerous cases discovered in a fish canning factory in the southern port city of Safi, which is quarantined overnight and its some 300,000 inhabitants are placed under total lockdown.