The number of coronavirus patients in intensive care units in France has edged up while Turkey and Pakistan reported their highest single-day death toll from COVID-19 as Israel ended the obligatory use of face masks outdoors.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
French health ministry data on Sunday showed that 5893 people were in intensive care units with the virus, 16 more than on Saturday.
The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital rose by 460 to 30,789, ending a streak of five consecutive daily falls.
A government spokesman has said there are signs that the pressure on the medical system is easing slightly but that the situation in hospitals remains serious.
France is hoping an acceleration of its vaccination campaign, combined with the month-long lockdown in place since last weekend, will help it regain control over the outbreak.
Meanwhile, Turkey recorded 318 deaths from COVID-19 in the space of a day, its highest daily total so far, data from the health ministry showed.
Turkey's official cumulative death toll stood at 35,926 on Sunday as 55,802 new cases were registered.
Turkey currently ranks fourth in the world in the number of daily cases based on a seven-day average, according to a Reuters tally.
Pakistan also reported its highest single-day death toll from COVID-19 on Sunday, with 149 new fatalities registered in 24 hours.
They also confirmed more than 6000 new coronavirus cases since the day before, bringing Pakistan's overall confirmed cases to more than 756,285.
Authorities in Pakistan decided on Saturday to start vaccinating people aged 50 to 59 next week.
Israel lifted a public mask mandate and fully re-opened its education system in the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions following its mass vaccination drive.
All primary and secondary school grades returned to classrooms on Sunday, and health officials ended a year-long requirement to wear a mask in public spaces.
Masks are still required indoors and in large gatherings.
Israel has speedily inoculated a majority of its population against the coronavirus in a world-leading vaccination campaign.
It has lifted most of its coronavirus restrictions and announced last week that it would be re-opening the country to vaccinated foreign tourists starting in May.
Israel's coronavirus czar, Nachman Ash, told Israeli public radio on Sunday that removing the mask requirement outdoors and reinitiating in-class studies was a "calculated risk".
Since the start of the pandemic last year, Israel has recorded more than 836,000 cases of the coronavirus and at least 6331 deaths.
More than 53 per cent of its 9.3 million citizens has received two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Australian Associated Press
