COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 7 July

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have passed 184.6 million globally, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 3.99 million. More than 3.25 billion vaccination doses have been administered globally, according to Our World in Data.

A mass rapid-testing scheme in Liverpool, England, reduced COVID-19 cases by more than a fifth, researchers announced.

South Korea has reported its second-highest number of daily new COVID-19 cases ever, prompting officials to consider reintroducing restrictions.

European Union countries have ordered nearly 40 million additional doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

From 16 August, fully vaccinated adults and all children in England will not need to self-isolate after close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

New Zealand's health regulator has given provisional approval for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Mexico has reported its highest jump in new COVID-19 cases since late February.

Indonesia has prepared backup medical facilities should the current surge in cases worsen further, an official said. It comes as the country reported a record number of fatalities.

Greece has reported a jump in new COVID-19 infections after several weeks of declines.

New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian has extended a lockdown in Sydney for at least another week. Strict stay-at-home measures had been due to end on Friday, but will now stay in place until at least 16 July.

Berejiklian warned that Australia's biggest city was bound to see a rise in new cases as a result of the highly infectious Delta variant.

"This Delta strain is a game-changer, it is extremely transmissible and more contagious than any other form of the virus that we've seen," she told reporters.

The World Health Organization has recommended using arthritis drugs from Roche and Sanofi with corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients.

The move comes after data from 11,000 patients suggested they cut the risk of death and the need for mechanical ventilation.

"We have updated our clinical care treatment guidance to reflect this latest development," WHO Health Emergencies official Janet Diaz said.

The WHO analysis showed the risk of dying within 28 days for patients getting one of the arthritis drugs with corticosteroids such as dexamethasone is 21%, compared with an assumed 25% risk among those who got standard care. For every 100 such patients, four more will survive, the WHO said.