Just under half of the new cases reported were in Brazil and the United States.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported the highest single-day increase in cases of Covid-19 on Sunday (21 June) since the onset of the pandemic.
A daily report by the WHO revealed that there were just over 183,000 (183,020) cases of Covid-19 reported in a 24-hour period.
Brazil accounted for the most from a single country with 54,771 cases, followed by the United States with 36,617 and India with 15,400.
Overall, 8,708,008 cases of Covid-19 have been reported by the WHO worldwide, with 461,715 deaths.
The report comes after the WHO warned on Friday that the pandemic is accelerating on a global scale, with almost half of the new cases coming North and South America and large numbers also being reported in South Asia and the Middle East.
Speaking on Friday, Director General of the WHO Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, said: “The world is in a new and dangerous phase.
“Many people are understandably fed up with being at home. Countries are understandably eager to open up their societies and economies. But the virus is still spreading fast, it’s still deadly and most people are still susceptible.”
In Ireland, with the easing of the majority of restrictions now brought forward to Phase 3, which will take effect from next Monday (29 June), the public have been warned the virus is highly infectious and the return of widespread community transmission remains a very real risk.
Speaking on Saturday, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan said: “Of the 22 confirmed cases we are reporting to you today, nine of these were diagnosed in people under the age of 35.”
“It is important for us all to remember that Covid-19 is a disease that can affect everyone, of any age or background. No one should feel that this is a disease that does not affect them.”
Six new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland on Sunday, but there were no new Covid-19 deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
To date, there have been 1,715 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
