A woman wearing a face mask walks past a closed fitness center in Toronto, Canada, on Jan. 8, 2021. (File photo: Xinhua)

The total number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide has increased to 1,911,096 with the global confirmed cases reaching 88,782,137 as of 9 am BJT on Saturday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Current status (data as of 9 am BJT, January 9):

Total COVID-19 hospitalizations reached 8,561 on Thursday in New York State, up from 8,548 on Wednesday, tweeted Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday.

Britain recorded another 68,053 coronavirus cases, the highest ever daily increase since the pandemic began in the country, official figures showed Friday. The total number of coronavirus cases in the country stands at 2,957,472, the data showed.

France's health authorities on Friday registered another 19,814 COVID-19 cases, down from Thursday's 21,703 but well above the government's target of 5,000 daily cases to ease restrictions.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced on Friday in a televised speech a ban on the import of vaccines for COVID-19 from the United States or Britain.

The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported on Friday 669 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 601,424.

Lebanon reported on Friday a new record of 5,440 daily COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the country to 210,139.

Tunisian Health Ministry on Friday night reported 2,649 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 154,903.