COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 24 June

1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of coronavirus around the globe have surpassed 9.2 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 477,000 people have died from the virus, while over 4.6 million are known to have recovered.

US infectious diseases expert Dr Antony Fauci has warned some states are seeing a "disturbing surge" in coronavirus cases.

The death toll in Latin America passed has passed 100,000, as the number of cases doubled in less than a month to reach 2.2 million.

The UK has announced a further easing of lockdown, with pubs and restaurants allowed to open from 4 July, and social distancing rules change to 'one metre plus'.

2. Olympic athletes team up with the WHO for #HEALTHYTogether campaign

The International Olympic Committee, the WHO and the UN joined forces on Olympic Day, 23 June, to encourage individuals and communities around the world to be #HEALTHYTogether.

Olympians around the world will showcase exercises to stay healthy physically and mentally - and inspire people to help slow the pandemic.

A WHO survey showed that many people who had severe COVID-19 disease were already living with or at risk for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The results highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle including being physically active, having a healthy diet, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Sport can save lives. We have seen over the last few months just how important sport and physical activity are for health and well-being. And working together with the WHO and the United Nations we can take another step together. We will ask our Olympic athletes to help share the information and best practice that the world needs now.”

3. Should we be talking about a 'second wave'?

Stock markets have dipped over fears of a second wave of coronavirus. It was identified as the “biggest tail risk” for the third month running in Bank of America’s fund manager survey for June.

And as lockdowns ease in many countries, there is growing concern about a potential second wave of infections.

But Jeremy Rossman, an expert in virology at the University of Kent, writes the concept of a second wave is "flawed and creates dangerous misconceptions about the pandemic".

Unlike influenza, there's no evidence of a seasonality effect with COVID-19 - so it may not go away and return in the same way flu does.

We're not yet between waves as the virus is still being transmitted - but our actions can help us keep it at bay.

Rossman says: "The concept of a second wave portrays the pandemic as a force of nature that is beyond our control...

"We are in an ebb and flow of COVID-19 transmission that is continually affected by our precautionary actions."