The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed 244 million, with more than 4.9 million deaths, the latest data from Johns Hopkins University shows.

Here is the latest:

The Chinese mainland recorded 59 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with 50 cases of local transmissions and nine from overseas, data from the National Health Commission showed on Wednesday.

Advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday voted in favor of authorizing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on Tuesday announced health certificates will be mandatory for events of 200 people indoors and 400 outdoors.