An Iranian woman stands next to a street bin, painted with a drawing of a mask in a campaign to spread awareness over the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, in a southern neighbourhood in the capital Tehran on July 18, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

The total number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide has increased to 788,326 with the global confirmed cases reaching 22,438,938 as of 8:30 pm BJT on Thursday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Current status (data as of 8:30 pm BJT, August 20):

Zhong Nanshan, China’s renowned respiratory disease and epidemiology specialist, discussed China’s experience in defeating the COVID-19 outbreak and measures to further contain the virus at a video conference on Wednesday. Zhong discussed the status of patients treated with a combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and key measures such as early detection, quarantine, diagnosis and treatment with representatives of foreign envoys in China.

China has handed over a third batch of medical supplies to Kyrgyzstan to help fight COVID-19, the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan said on Wednesday. Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Du Dewen said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Kyrgyzstan have been steadfast in supporting each other and helping each other.

Germany on Thursday added popular tourist destinations along Croatia's coast to its list of high-risk coronavirus areas as infection numbers rise again during the holiday season.

Iran's confirmed novel coronavirus cases rose to 352,558 on Thursday after an overnight registration of 2,279 new infections, official IRNA news agency reported.

Average daily cases of coronavirus in Africa fell last week, a "hopeful sign" for the continent's fight against the disease, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.