Global record for daily virus cases

The World Health Organization reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases on Sunday, with the total rising by 230,370 in 24 hours as South Africa re-imposed a nationwide curfew and Sri Lanka ordered schools to shut again following a surge in new cases.

The biggest increases were from the United States, Brazil, India and South Africa, according to a daily report. The previous WHO record for new cases was 228,102 on July 10. Deaths remained steady at about 5,000 a day.

Latin America surged past the US and Canada to become the world's second worst-hit region for virus deaths yesterday as a Spanish court blocked a move to lock down some 200,000 people.

Since the start of July, nearly 2.5 million new infections have been detected across the globe, with the number of cases doubling over the past six weeks, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Hong Kong re-imposed social distancing measures yesterday to combat a sudden spike in infections, banning more than four people from gathering in public, shuttering some businesses and restricting restaurants from catering to evening diners.

Although life in parts of Europe has been returning to some semblance of normality, authorities across the continent are worriedly watching dozens of areas where cases have resurged.

Concerned by a spike in the town of Lerida in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region, officials on Sunday ordered nearly 200,000 residents to stay home in the first such order since the country's lockdown ended on June 21.

But early yesterday, a local court suspended the measure as "contrary to law" despite concerns over the scale of the outbreak -- one of scores being monitored across badly-hit Spain, where the virus has killed more than 28,400 people.

Fears of a second wave forced South Africa to re-impose a nationwide curfew on Sunday, with President Cyril Ramaphosa warning the country faced a "coronavirus storm" that was "far fiercer and more destructive" than any before.

The Philippines also moved to re-impose a two-week lockdown on some 250,000 people in Manila as new infections soared just six weeks after the capital emerged from one of the world's longest lockdowns.

SPIKE ON US BASES IN JAPAN

Meanwhile in Japan, two US Marine bases on Okinawa island have been locked down after a spike in cases with dozens infected and local officials expressing "serious doubts" about the US military's containment efforts.

Other restrictions were imposed on seven other Marine bases on the southern Japanese island where tens of thousands of US servicemen are stationed and where nearly 100 new cases have been detected in recent days.

The move came after a weekend in which US President Donald Trump wore a face mask in public for the first time, as he visited veterans at a hospital near Washington.

The worst-hit country in the world, the US has suffered 135,171 deaths and 3,301,820 cases, with surveys showing Americans are unhappy with how Trump has handled the crisis.

Across the planet, the pandemic has infected nearly 13 million people, killed over 569,000 and triggered massive economic damage in the seven months since it was detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

In Latin America, Brazil accounts for almost half of the continent's recorded fatalities.

Mexico has become the country with the fourth-highest number of Covid-19 fatalities in the world, climbing to a total of 35,006 deaths and surpassing Italy.

India registered more than 28,000 new cases for the second consecutive day yesterday, taking its tally to over 8.78 lakh infections.

'TAX US MORE'

With the global economy battered by the pandemic, more than 80 millionaires yesterday urged governments around the world to hike taxes on the super-wealthy to help fund the recovery.

In an open letter, "Millionaires for Humanity" said they should be taxed higher, "immediately, substantially, permanently".

"As Covid-19 strikes the world, millionaires like us have a critical role to play in healing our world," wrote the signatories, among them Ben and Jerry's ice cream co-founder Jerry Greenfield and screenwriter Richard Curtis.

Sydney residents were warned yesterday to put the brakes on partying as a new coronavirus cluster emerged at a city pub on the heels of a major outbreak in Melbourne.

Three pubs in Sydney and its surrounds were closed after being linked to outbreaks or failing to comply with social distancing requirements, while other events were under investigation with Australia on edge over a resurgence of the virus.

Meanwhile reclusive Turkmenistan, one of a handful of countries yet to declare a single coronavirus case, yesterday suggested residents wear masks as a precaution against "dust".

The health ministry said the call was due to "high concentrations of dust" in the air and also asked residents to maintain social distancing of at least one metre (three feet), but gave no explanation as to why.