New COVID-19 infections fall worldwide for third week

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday announced that global COVID-19 cases dropped by 21 percent last week.

Globally, WHO’s data showed that more than 12 million new cases and 67,000 new deaths were reported in the past seven days.

In terms of COVID-19–related deaths, the data showed that number dropped by 8 percent, marking the first week since early January that the death rate has decreased. 

Germany and Russia, both of which saw more than 1 million weekly cases, led the world this past week in the number of cases reported. They were followed by Brazil, which had more than 728,000 cases.

The agency’s data also indicated that cases in the U.S. specifically were down by about 40 percent. 

The only region that reported an overall spike in cases was the Western Pacific, with an increase of 29 percent. 

But despite falling case numbers globally, some places are enduring upticks in infections and imposing strict COVID-19 policies as a result.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced on Tuesday that all residents in the city of 7 million people would need to be tested three times in March.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that England would end all of its pandemic-related restrictions, including the requirement to quarantine after testing positive for the virus.

“Restrictions pose a heavy toll on our economy, our society, our mental well-being,” Johnson said at the time. “We do not need to pay that cost any longer.”