COVID-19 cases hit 1.5m globally — but 22% have recovered

The number of coronavirus cases across the world is now over 1.5 million.

According to Worldometers, a website which provides official figures on the virus, 1,521,253 cases of the disease have been recorded as of Thursday morning.

The infection has spread to at least 204 countries and territories since the first case was recorded in Wuhan, China, in December, 2019.

At least 332,083 patients have recovered from the disease globally, about 22% of the total figure, while 88,592 persons have died from it — 6%.

The worst-hit countries in terms of recorded deaths are Italy with 17,669,  the US with 14,797, and Spain with 17,792 deaths.

But in terms of confirmed cases, the US with 435,160 patients has more cases than Spain, Italy, Germany and Canada combined.

While Spain has 148,220 cases, Italy has 139,422, Germany 113,296, and Canada 19,438.

There is currently no cure or vaccine for COVID-19, though the World Health Organisation (WHO) said more than 50 trials for a vaccine is in progress.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 276 cases of the disease in the country.

While 44 patients have been discharged, six persons have died from the disease in the country.