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| - Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: The Covid-19 pandemic is in a critical phase, the World Health Organization warns, saying cases are surging "exponentially" as it urges people to respect measures proven to rein in the virus. Global case numbers swelled by nine percent last week, while deaths were up five percent, it reports. Officials across Europe have recorded more than a million deaths from the novel coronavirus, according to a tally Monday compiled by AFP from official sources, as of 1830 GMT. In the region's 52 countries and territories, stretching as far east as Azerbaijan and Russia, the death toll stands at 1,000,2228 dead, the highest of any region. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says the multilateral system has failed to address the Covid pandemic, citing the fact that 10 countries around the world have in their hands three quarters of the available vaccines. Ireland's vaccine taskforce recommends the AstraZeneca coronavirus jab be limited to those aged over 60, following European reviews of evidence linking the shot to rare blood clotting events. Britons toast a significant easing of restrictions, with early-morning pints and much-needed haircuts as the country takes what Prime Minister Boris Johnson hails as a "major step" towards the resumption of normal life. India overtakes Brazil as the country with the second-highest number of infections as it faces a surge threatening to overwhelm its healthcare system. Authorities in Bangladesh take drastic measures that will virtually seal off the country, ordering an eight-day closure of all offices and international and domestic transport as cases hit a new high. Greece's high schools reopen after a five-month closure to curb infections with precautions including virus tests for students and teachers twice per week. US biotech firm Regeneron and its Swiss partner Roche unveil promising Phase 3 trial results indicating that an antibody treatment used to treat Covid-19 patients also helps prevent infections. At least 2,939,562 people have died of Covid-19 around the world since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP on Monday at 1830 GMT. The United States is the worst-affected country with 562,096 deaths, followed by Brazil with 353,137, Mexico with 209,338, India with 170,179 and Britain with 127,100. burs-eab-jmy/jj
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