Romania has reported a surge in coronavirus infections as confirmed cases dipped in Pakistan and the United Nations said the pandemic had forced more than 100 million people into poverty.
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Romania reported on Tuesday its highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths since the start of the pandemic started.
Nearly 17,000 COVID-19 infections were confirmed on Tuesday and 442 deaths, the first time the country of 19 million has surpassed 400 virus deaths in a single day.
Romania's intensive care units for coronavirus patients are stretched to capacity in what is the European Union's second-least vaccinated population.
About 34 per cent of adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Romania has registered more than 1.3 million confirmed cases and 40,071 confirmed deaths.
Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities on Tuesday reported less than 700 coronavirus cases for the first time since June amid a steady decline in the infections from coronavirus.
There were 689 confirmed cases and 18 deaths reported in the past 24 hours, according to the country's National Command and Operation Centre.
The latest development comes weeks after Pakistani officials said unvaccinated people would not be allowed to work in offices, enter shopping malls or attend schools.
It forced many people to get vaccinated to avoid punitive measures.
The country is offering free shots to teens and adults.
Pakistan has reported 1.2 million confirmed cases and 28,152 confirmed deaths since the start of the pandemic.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told an International Monetary Fund panel that global solidarity "is missing in action" and people living in conflict-affected and poor countries are suffering the most.
About four billion people have been left with little or no social support, health care or income protection, he said.
"Vaccine inequality is a moral outrage that is condemning the world to millions more deaths and prolonging an economic slowdown that could cost trillions of dollars, hitting the poorest countries hardest of all," Guterres said.
Guterres said indications the world is in a substantial economic recovery mask the huge divergence between the situations in rich countries and in the least developed countries.
Australian Associated Press
