The new coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 600,000 lives worldwide, an AFP tally showed Sunday.
A total of 600,523 deaths were recorded globally out of 14,233,355 cases, a count based on official data showed, including 205,065 deaths in Europe—the worst-affected continent.
The virus is spreading rapidly in Latin America—the region with the second-most recorded deaths—where 160,726 people have died.
The United States is the country with the most deaths with 140,103, followed by Brazil (78,772), Britain (45,273), Mexico (38,888) and Italy (35,042).
The number of deaths linked to COVID-19 has doubled in just over two months, and more than 100,000 new deaths have been registered in the three weeks since June 28.
'Really critical situation'
The deadly coronavirus is spreading out of control in Hong Kong with a record 100 new cases confirmed, the finance hub's leader said Sunday as she tightened social distancing measures to tackle the sudden surge in infections.
The finance hub was one of the first places to be struck by the virus when it emerged from central China.
But the city had impressive success in tackling the disease, all but ending local transmissions by late June.
However, in the last two weeks, infections have spiked once more and doctors fear the new outbreak is now spreading undetected in the densely packed territory of 7.5 million people.
On Sunday chief executive Carrie Lam said more than 500 infections had been confirmed in the last fortnight alone, nearly a third of the 1,788 cases since the outbreak began.
More than 100 were confirmed on Sunday, a record daily high for the finance hub.
"I think the situation is really critical and there is no sign the situation is being brought under control," Lam told reporters.
Melbourne makes mask-wearing compulsory
Australia's second-biggest city will make it compulsory to wear a mask in public, authorities announced Sunday, as Melbourne steps up efforts to bring a coronavirus outbreak under control.
Victoria state, which includes Melbourne, now has nearly 3,000 active cases of COVID-19 after a further 363 infections were reported Sunday despite a 10-day lockdown.
Premier Daniel Andrews said more than five million people in Melbourne and neighboring Mitchell Shire would be required to wear a mask or other face-covering in public spaces from midnight Wednesday into Thursday.
"Most of us wouldn't leave home without our keys, we wouldn't leave our home without our mobile phone," he told a press conference.
"You won't be able to leave home without your mask and then wear it where it is absolutely essential to stop the spread of this virus."
Failure to comply with the new rule will mean a $140 fine—though Andrews said "common sense" discretion would be applied to activities such as running or visiting a bank.
