WHO reports record rise in global coronavirus cases

A record number of new coronavirus caseswas reported globally Saturday, with the United States, Brazil and India showing the biggest increases, according to data from the World Health Organization.

Worldwide, cases rose by 212,326 in 24 hours, the data showed, breaking the previous record of 190,566, set on June 28.

As July Fourth celebrations got into full swing, in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 57,718 daily new cases and 661 deaths Saturday, taking the total to 2,789,678 cases and 129,305 deaths.

With 11,458 new cases of the virus reported Saturday, Florida shattered its single-day record for new coronavirus cases. It neared New York's highest daily tally of 11,571, set in April, according to NBC Miami and the state Health Department.

As the country is grappling with a rising number of cases, some states had to halt their reopenings, and hospitals in hot spots are becoming overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump will step back from being the "daily voice" of the coronavirus response, a senior administration official said. During a speech at Mount Rushmore to celebrate July Fourth on Friday, he only briefly mentioned the virus as the White House readies a new message for the nation on the coronavirus: learn to live with it.

In Brazil, where the virus has been rampant, 37,923 new cases and 1,091 deaths were recorded Saturday, health officials said. The country has the second highest number of confirmed cases in the world, at more than 1.5 million, with a death toll of 64,265, according to the Health Ministry.

Both Russia and Mexico reached grim milestones Saturday, with the number of deaths in Russia topping 10,000 and the death toll in Mexico now at more than 30,300, overtaking France's to become the fifth highest in the world.

India reported a rise of 24,850 cases Sunday, health officials said. A total of 673,165 cases have now been reported in India, the fourth highest in the world.

Globally, more than 11 million coronavirus cases have been recorded and nearly 531,000 people have died so far, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The WHO also announced Saturday it will discontinue the use of hydroxychloroquine, a drug Trump touted early in the pandemic, as a treatment for people hospitalized with COVID-19.

Interim trial results have shown that hydroxychloroquine produces "little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalized COVID-19 patients when compared to standard of care," the organization said.

Lockdown restrictions around the world continued to ease, while some countries have ramped up measures to prevent new outbreaks.

This weekend, England relaxed most of its restrictions, opening up pubs, cafes, restaurants and hair salons. Even though authorities urged the public to maintain social distancing, many ignored the warnings in some places, including central London.

The northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia reimposed coronavirus restrictions, limiting movement of more than 200,000 people after an increase of infections.

On Saturday, Barcelona's famous Sagrada Familia basilica reopened after almost four months of lockdown, giving front-line workers the chance to have the usually tourist-packed landmark to themselves in recognition of their efforts. Spain was one of the worst-affected countries in Europe, recording 28,385 coronavirus deaths.

In Australia, which has managed to contain the pandemic, with just under 8,400 cases, authorities locked down around 3,000 people in nine apartment buildings in the southeast state of Victoria to try to stem a new outbreak after a rise in cases.

In addition to the complete lockdown orders, more than 30 Melbourne suburbs are also under strict social distancing orders, but people can leave their homes to go to work or school or to buy groceries.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned Saturday that Iranians who do not wear masks will be denied state services and that workplaces that fail to comply with health protocols will be shut for a week, Reuters reported.

Iran, one of the early centers of the pandemic, still faces the spread of the virus, with the total number of cases hitting 240,438 on Sunday.