Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

– Africa Covid deaths top 200,000 –

More than 200,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Africa since the start of the pandemic, according to an AFP tally compiled from official records.

A total of 200,254 fatalities have been registered in Africa, home to more than 1.3 billion people, since the virus emerged in China in December 2019.

– US Delta fightback plan –

US President Joe Biden will make a speech on Thursday outlining plans to combat the highly transmissible Delta variant as schools reopen amid a spike in infections.

The “six-pronged strategy” will involve both the public and private sectors and aim to boost vaccinations, a White House official said.

– Sweden to lift Covid curbs –

Sweden will remove virtually all coronavirus restrictions on September 29, the government says. But social distancing will still be encouraged in public places.

– Lockdown reimposed in Manila-

The Philippines reimposes a virus lockdown in the capital Manila, a day after announcing the lifting of stay-at-home orders for more than 13 million people.

– US judge bins unproven treatment –

A judge in the US state of Ohio rules a hospital cannot be forced to administer an unproven treatment involving the antiparasitic drug ivermectin to a patient with Covid-19, reversing the ruling of another court.

– UK boost for health sector –

The UK government announces £5.4 billion (6.3 billion euros, $7.5 billion) in extra funding for the state-funded healthcare system to treat virus cases and clear a massive backlog in routine operations.

– New Caledonia lockdown –

New Caledonia imposes a fresh lockdown after three new cases are confirmed in the South Pacific French territory that had been declared “Covid free”.

– Rally of Japan called off –

The organisers of the World Rally championship event in Japan, which was due to take place in mid-November, cancel the race because of the pandemic.

– Spreader jailed –

A Vietnamese man is sentenced to five years in jail for spreading the virus after he breached a 21-day home quarantine rule, travelling from Covid hotspot Ho Chi Minh City to his home province.

– More than 4.5 million dead –

The coronavirus has killed at least 4,574,225 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data. 

The United States is the worst-affected country with 649,426 deaths, followed by Brazil with 583,810, India with 441,042, Mexico 263,470 and Peru 198,523.

Based on latest reports, the countries with the most new deaths were the US with 959, followed by Russia with 795 and Iran with 635.