Prisoners wait for their turn to receive a dose of the AstraZeneca jab against the coronavirus, during a vaccination campaign at the El-Arjate prison near the capital Rabat, on May 26, 2021. (Photo: AF)

The total number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide has increased to 3,493,525 with the global confirmed cases reaching 168,166,921 as of 9:30 am BJT on Thursday, according to a tally by the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Current status (data as of 9:30 am BJT, May 27):

The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday gave an emergency use authorization (EUA) to the COVID-19 antibody treatment developed by Vir Biotechnology Inc and GlaxoSmithKline.

Travelers arriving from the United Kingdom will be subject to compulsory self-quarantine due to the spread of the virus variant first detected in India, French government spokesman Gabriel Attal announced on Wednesday.

The situation of "public calamity" announced by the Mozambican government due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be extended for another 30 days, with several restrictive measures eased for a gradual and balanced reopening, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced on Wednesday.

Turkey will start COVID-19 vaccination of its citizens above the age of 50 from June 1, since the country receives new batches of jabs, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said Wednesday.

Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga announced on Wednesday that the government is set to sign a contract with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca next week to produce the active ingredient to make the vaccine against COVID-19.