KINGSTON, Jamaica — More than 112.5 million coronavirus infections have been confirmed worldwide, with over 2.4 million people across 196 countries and territories having died and over 69 million having recovered from the virus.

Many countries have re-imposed restrictions on movement and social gatherings. Meanwhile, some countries are moving to inoculate citizens with recently developed vaccines.

— Jamaica has recorded 248 new cases of COVID-19 and four confirmed virus related deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 22,267 and the confirmed death toll to 410.

— Pan American Health Organization Director Dr Carissa Etienne yesterday described the Americas, which includes the Caribbean, as the “epicentre” of the COVID-19 pandemic, and called on the international community to make regional access to vaccines “a global priority”.

— A senior World Health Organization official today urged national authorities to make a priority of understanding the long-term consequences of coronavirus infections as some people show worrying symptoms months later.

— The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has proven 94 per cent effective in a study involving 1.2 million people in Israel, the first peer-reviewed real world research confirming the power of mass immunisation campaigns to bring the pandemic to a close.

— Pfizer and BioNTech also reported today that they are studying adding a third dose to their vaccine regime and testing a new version targeting the South African variant of the coronavirus.

— US biotech firm Moderna yesterday said that doses of its new COVID-19 vaccine candidate aimed at the South African coronavirus variant had been shipped to the US National Institutes of Health for testing.

— The United States has so far recorded 505,899 deaths, making it the hardest-hit country. Meanwhile, Brazil has recorded 249,957 deaths, Mexico 182,815, India 156,705, and the United Kingdom 121,747.

Read the full stories here:

248 new virus cases, four confirmed COVID deaths

PAHO director says the Americas should be a ‘global priority’ for COVID-19 vaccines

Long-term COVID should be ‘clear priority’ for authorities — WHO

Large real world study confirms Pfizer COVID vaccine 94% effective

Pfizer to test third dose, tweaked vaccine to target South African strain

Moderna South Africa variant-specific vaccine ready for testing — company

ARE WE FLATTENING THE CURVE?here for interactive chart* with details on Jamaica’s numbers.here for a look at the numbers globally.

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*Data mined from various sources around the world.