The global number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus has surpassed one million.
Just three months after it first surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan, COVID-19 has infected more than 1,014,000 people and claimed the lives of nearly 53,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 11 a.m. Friday, Korea time.
The United States has the highest number of infections at some 242,000 cases and more than 5,000 related deaths.
South Korea, which reported its first case on the same day as the U.S., has confirmed over 10,000 cases and 174 fatalities.
In terms of deaths, Italy is the hardest-hit country with its count exceeding 14,000 while cases have reached about 115,000.
Spain, another European hot spot, has more than 112,000 cases and at least 10,000 deaths.
As the pandemic continues, analysts say the actual global death and infection figures are likely to be higher due to differences in counting practices among countries.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
