This aerial picture shows a funeral taking place at a cemetery for Covid-19 coronavirus victims in Jakarta on June 21, 2021. (Photo: AFP)

The total number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide has increased to 3,870,373 with the global confirmed cases reaching 178,683,075 as of 9:30 am BJT on Tuesday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Current status (data as of 9:30 am BJT, June 22):

Source: Johns Hopkins University

Facemasks will no longer be compulsory outdoors in Italy, one of the countries in Europe worst hit by the coronavirus, from June 28, the health ministry said Monday.

As the COVID pandemic recedes dramatically in the West, Europe is opening its doors to Americans -- but the reverse is not holding true, with the United States not budging on restrictions imposed 15 months ago.

Israeli researchers have found that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine increases the chance of developing the rare blood disease thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), the country's Shamir Medical Center said Monday.

The Canadian government announced on Monday that "fully vaccinated" Canadians and permanent residents can enter Canada without undergoing quarantine starting from July 5.

Turkey will soon relax restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday. Lockdowns that had been imposed on Sundays and curfews from 1900 GMT on weekdays would be lifted from July 1.