COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 4 November

1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now passed 47.4 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 1.21 million.

Bulgaria and Ukraine have both registered record one-day rises in COVID-19 cases, with 4,041 and 9,524 respectively.

French officials are considering reimposing a night curfew on Paris and surrounding regions, amid concerns too many people are ignoring lockdown rules.

Victoria, Australia, once the country's COVID-19 hotspot, has reported no new confirmed coronavirus cases for the fifth straight day.

The cruise industry will extend its suspension of US cruise operations through 31 December, an industry group that represents 95% of global ocean-going cruise capacity said yesterday.

Germany is examining trade fair halls and airport terminals for potential mass COVID-19 vaccination centres, state health officials told Reuters.

The UK reported 397 new deaths from COVID-19 yesterday, its highest figure since the end of May.

Hungary is closing bars and entertainment venues, and will impost a night-time curfew, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The Dutch government has announced new measures to tackle rising COVID-19 cases. They include a ban on public meetings of more than two people not in the same family, in addition to existing measures including a bar and restaurant closure that's been in place since 13 October.

2. Brazil deaths pass 160,000

Brazil's official death toll from COVID-19 has reached 160,496 according to health ministry data.

It has the world's second highest death toll after the United States, which has reported more than 230,000 deaths.

Brazil has reported more than 5.5 million confirmed cases of the virus - the world's third highest total, after the United States (9.3 million) and India (8.3 million).

3. US coronavirus hospitalizations hit three-month high

More than 50,000 coronavirus patients are now in hospitals around the US - the highest level in three months - according to a Reuters tally.

The number of hospitalized patients has risen 64% since 1 October to 50,176 yesterday. It remains short of the record total, set in July, of 58,370

Texas has the highest number of hospitalized patients, followed by Illinois and California.