Mumbai: The Christmas Eve figures show that despite the ongoing global concern about the new Covid-19 virus, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan are among the countries in the South Asian region that have been least affected, with Japan leading the world in terms of new infections.
According to Worldometer, India recorded 188 new cases up till Friday, with Pakistan having 15 cases, Afghanistan having 11, and Sri Lanka having 5 cases.
Other neighbours, like Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, as well as Thailand, a popular travel destination for Indians, had no infections, nevertheless, IANS reported.
However, Japan is at the top now with 173,336 new cases recorded on Friday, followed by Brazil (70,415), and South Korea (68,168), with a total of around 75 countries coming in the grip of the fresh outbreak, with a total of 532,142 new cases logged worldwide.
From the start of the pandemic in late 2019, the US has recorded the highest number of infections -- 10,22,03,321 -- as well as deaths -- 11,15,913.
India stands second in terms of total infections to date -- 4,46,78,008, but with much fewer fatalities, at 530,691, compared with some other countries.
Globally, from the start of the pandemic, the world has registered a total of 66,10,36,294 Covid-19 cases and 66,84,312.