Summary

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed 139 million, with the death toll approaching 3 million and more than 78 million recoveries, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University. 

Here is the latest:

The Chinese mainland recorded 15 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, one from southwest China's Yunnan Province and 14 from overseas. Chinese health authority said on Friday that over 183 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across the country as of Thursday. 

The U.S. said Friday that it will allocate $1.7 billion to fight coronavirus variants as the nation races to vaccinate people before the pathogen can mutate in new and concerning ways.

Tokyo Olympic president Seiko Hashimoto on Friday assured the world that the postponed games will open in just over three months and will not be canceled despite surging COVID-19 cases in Japan.

The Head of the World Health Organization said on Friday that the number of new COVID-19 cases per week has nearly doubled globally over the past two months, approaching the highest rate seen so far during the pandemic. 

Europe's medicines regulator said Wednesday it will make a recommendation on the safety of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine next week after U.S. health authorities recommended pausing vaccinations with the vaccine over blood clot fears.

Greece has suspended the use of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine out of safety concerns, an official for the country's health ministry told media on Friday.