The figure is roughly double the number of severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to the WHO.

More than 5 million of the patients have recovered.

The US reported at least 2.5 million cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of more than 44,000 cases from its previous count, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. The death toll has already reached more than 125,000.

Brazil recorded 38,693 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours and 1,109 additional deaths, the Health Ministry said.

(Excerpts : Aljazeera)