In this April 15, 2020, file photo, helper of the German Red Cross DRK in protective suit, left, takes a smear from a patient in his car during the official opening of a drive-thru COVID-19 testing center at the fair ground in Dresden, eastern Germany. (Photo: AP)

NEW YORK, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide topped 2.6 million on Wednesday, reaching 2,611,182 as of 2:00 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, global deaths from COVID-19 rose to 181,235, according to the CSSE.

The United States reported 834,858 cases, four times the total of Spain, which stood at 208,389. Italy, France, Germany and the United Kingdom have all reported over 100,000 cases, the tally showed.

The United States also recorded the highest death toll at 45,894. Countries with more than 10,000 fatalities also included Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom, the CSSE said.