Global coronavirus cases rose by more than 400,000 for the first time late on Friday, a record one-day increase as much of Europe enacts new restrictions to curb the outbreak. Europe, which successfully tamped down the first surge of infections, has emerged as the new coronavirus epicenter in recent weeks and is reporting on average 140,000 cases a day over the past week. As a region, Europe is reporting more daily cases than India, Brazil and the United States combined. Of every 100 infections reported around the world, 34 were from European countries, according to a Reuters analysis. The region is currently reporting a million new infections about every nine days and has reported more than 6.3 million cases since the pandemic began. Major European countries — United Kingdom, France, Russia, Netherlands and Spain — accounted for about half of Europe's new cases in the week to Oct. 18, according to Reuters tally. France is reporting the highest seven-day average of new cases in Europe with 19,425 infections per day followed by the United Kingdom, Russia, Spain and Netherlands in worst affected European countries. Several European countries are closing schools, canceling elective surgeries and enlisting student medics as the authorities face a COVID-19 resurgence. On the other hand, worldwide coronavirus cases have crossed 39.4 million, while the death toll stood at 1,104,620. — SPA
