COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 26 May

1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have passed 167.8 million globally, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 3.48 million. More than 1.7 billion vaccination doses have been administered globally, according to Our World in Data.

India's total confirmed COVID-19 cases have passed 27 million, with 208,921 new cases reported.

From July, masks will no longer be required outdoors in South Korea for people who've received at least one COVID-19 shot.

New COVID-19 cases, patients and deaths have continued to decline in France, as a slow opening following the country's third national lockdown continues.

The UAE has said vaccinations against COVID-19 will be mandatory for people attending all 'live events' from 6 June.

Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine has been found to be effective in children aged 12-17. It paves the way for it to become the second vaccine for school-aged children authorized for use in the United States.

There have now been more than 450,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Brazil, according to the latest data from the Health Ministry.

Viet Nam has increased lockdown measures as it tackles a rise in cases. Authorities have reported a daily record rise in cases that was more than double the previous high.

Sweden is set to donate 3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to COVAX in 2021, up from its previous pledge of 1 million.

The EU expects to have received more than a billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of September, according to a document seen by Reuters.

2. Cluster of cases grows in Victoria, Australia

The state of Victoria, Australia has reported its biggest one-day rise of cases in seven months, with six new cases recorded on Wednesday.

Authorities warned the next 24 hours were critical, as some of the those infected had visited crowded venues.

"These cases are linked and that's a good thing, but we are very concerned by the number and by the kind of exposure sites," said the state's acting premier, James Merlino, as he refused to rule out additional restrictions.

Masks have been made mandatory in restaurants, hotels and other indoor venues, with limits placed on large gatherings.

3. More than half of American adults have been fully vaccinated

More than half of American adults have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the White House said yesterday.

Authorities continue to press ahead with administering COVID-19 shots to those who have not yet received them but are coming up against vaccine hesitancy, fears and misinformation.

The news comes as cases have continued to decline. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said yesterday the seven-day average case count is now below 23,000 per day.

"I remain cautious but hopeful they will continue to trend downward," Walensky said.