WHO reports record daily increase in coronavirus cases globally

A worrying number of people around the world have been diagnosed with the virus in the last 24 hours, easily breaking the previous record.

The World Health Organization has reported a record daily increase in cases of COVID-19 across the globe.

The total rose by 212,326 in 24 hours, with just under 130,000 diagnosed within the Americas alone, according to the WHO.

The previous highest daily increase was 189,077, recorded last Saturday.

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There were 22,771 new cases recorded in India. Picture: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP

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In this most recent 24-hour period, the most new cases were in the United States (51,933 infections), followed by Brazil (42,223) and India (22,771).

There were more than 9000 new cases in South Africa and more than 6600 in Russia.

The US state of Florida registered a daily record of 11,458 cases during July 4 celebrations.

The WHO says there have been more than 11.04 million cases of COVID-19 recorded globally since the pandemic began, and more than 526,000 deaths have been reported to the United Nations agency.

There were 212,326 new cases recorded across the globe in 24 hours, the WHO says. Picture: Wang Zhao/AFP

NEW CASES RECORDED IN AUSTRALIA

Victoria recorded 74 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, after a day of 108 new infections.

“The overall total has increased by 67, with seven cases reclassified,” the Department of Health and Human Services said on Sunday.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday said 53 of the new cases are under investigation.

Of the remaining coronavirus cases reported, 16 are linked to outbreaks, four identified through routine testing and one new case detected in a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.

The state has locked down nine public housing towers in Melbourne for at least five days while stay at home orders apply in a number of postcodes.

All of the new cases reported in New South Wales (14) and Western Australia (six) on Sunday are in hotel quarantine.

There were no new cases in Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania or the Northern Territory.