(Karachi) The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that coronavirus pandemic continues to expand in Southeast Asia despite decrease in number of cases and deaths globally.

In its latest epidemiological update, it said that the United States remains the hardest-hit region by COVID-19, with 62 percent of the 39,240 deaths worldwide.The public health agency said Southeast Asia is the second most affected region that reported an increase of 28% new cases and 15 percent deaths.

It said India continues to report the majority of cases, but warned the virus is also spreading rapidly in Nepal.

In WHO’s eastern Mediterranean region, the number of reported cases rose by four percent, but the number of reported deaths has consistently dropped over the last six weeks, the WHO said. Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan reported the highest increase in cases compared to the previous week.

“Over 1.7 million new Covid-19 cases and 39,000 new deaths were reported to WHO for the week ending August 23, a four percent decrease in the number of cases and (a 12% decrease) in the number of deaths compared to the previous week,” the WHO said.