The data showed the total caseload reached 83,399,225 with 1,817,531 fatalities as of Friday morning,

Also Read: Global COVID-19 cases exceed 82 million

In the US, the worst-hit country of the world, the infection tally topped near 20 million (19,967,278) while the death toll climbed to 345,736.

A doctor checks body temperature of a woman at a hospital in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. Xinhua File Photo

California surpassed 25,000 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic and officials disclosed Thursday that three more cases involving a mutant variant of the virus have been confirmed in San Diego County, reports AP.

Also Read: UK approves Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

The grim developments came as the ongoing surge swamps hospitals and pushes nurses and doctors to the breaking point as they brace for another likely increase after the holidays.

A waiter cleans a table at a restaurant in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Xinhua File Photo

Public health officials continued to plead with residents just hours before the start of 2021 not to gather for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Also Read: COVID-19 global caseload crosses 81 million

Brazil’s Covid-19 cases surpassed 7,675,973 while the death toll from the virus reached 194,949.

Meanwhile, India’s Covid-19 tally reached 10,266,674 while the death toll mounted to 148,738 as of Friday morning.

Situation in Bangladesh

Covid-19 fatalities in Bangladesh surged to 7,559 with 28 more deaths recorded in 24 hours until Sunday morning.

The mortality rate stood at 1.47 percent, the Directorate General of Health Services said.

Also Read: Covid-19 claims 28 more lives in Bangladesh

Besides, 1,014 new cases pushed the caseload to 513,510.

So far, 457,459 patients – 89.08 percent, with 1,389 new ones, have recovered.

Also Read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 22 deaths, 1,235 new cases recorded in 24 hrs

Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8. The infection number reached the 5,00000-mark on December 20.

The first death was reported on March 18 and the death toll exceeded 7,000 on December 12.