Coronavirus updates: A record increase in global coronavirus cases

• A record increase in global coronavirus cases over the weekend.
• US, Brazil, India and South Africa have biggest rises in COVID-19 cases.

US, Brazil, India and South Africa have registered their biggest rises in COVID-19 cases, according to the UN health agency.

The rises come as the World Health Organization confirmed a record increase in global coronavirus cases over the weekend, with the total rising by 230,370 in 24 hours.

The previous WHO record for new cases was 228,102 on July 10. Deaths have remained steady at about 5,000 a day. 

Global coronavirus cases were approaching 13 million on Monday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The disease has killed more than 566,000 people in these seven months for which has sent the global economy into a tailspin and financial markets in turmoil.

We have seen plenty of optimism, however, that a recovery will be resolved over time, a recovery funded by fiscal and central bank stimulus, for which has driven investment into global equities and risk assets. 

• What will the next Covid stimulus bill look like?

However, the virus is relentless and showing no signs of retreating. Consequently, markets are on edge and equity prices are fragile. 

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Latest updates

Meanwhile, in the latest updates, the United States has reported another record increase of COVID-19 infections, with more than 66,500 new cases confirmed in the past 24 hours. 

India's coronavirus caseload is nearing 850,000 with a record surge of 28,637 cases in the past 24 hours. Bangalore has been forced into a week-long lockdown.

In other parts of Asia, S.Korea confirms 62 more COVID-19 cases, total 13,479.

Mainland China reported eight new COVID-19 cases as of the end of July 12, up from seven reported a day earlier, the Chinese national health authority reported today. 

Meanwhile, Hong Kong is reported by the Global Times to be facing "the most serious situation" since #covid19 pandemic started, with 38 more cases confirmed on Sunday. 

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases for mainland China now stands at 83,602, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is speaking live with a COVID-19 update, after another big weekend of positive coronavirus cases in the state. Victoria has recorded 177 new coronavirus cases overnight - with 151 new cases still under investigation.

South Africa' Health Minister Zweli Mkhize warns of a COVID-19 "storm" as the country reports 13,497 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 264,184, including 3,971 deaths.

In Europe, hundreds of thousands of Catalonia residents have been sent back into a lockdown pertaining to the rapid spike in new coronavirus cases in the Spanish region

Mexico has now overtaken Italy and is now the fourth in global COVID-19 deaths with deaths rising by 276 to 35,006

Then, the US COVID-19 cases have risen 1.7% which is less than the 1-week avg of 1.9%.

Texas cases rose 3.3%, less than the seven-day average of 3.9% while Florida set a one-day record with over 15,000 new COVID-19 cases.

In some good news, an Australian coronavirus vaccine human trial will begin today at the University of Queensland which has developed a COVID-19 vaccine on 120 human subjects. Preliminary results are expected after about three months.