The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed 249 million, with over 5 million deaths, the latest data from Johns Hopkins University shows.

Here is the latest:

The Chinese mainland recorded on Friday 50 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases along with 24 cases from overseas.

Austria said on Friday only those vaccinated or cured from COVID-19 would be allowed to frequent restaurants, hotels and cultural venues as the Alpine nation battles a surge in cases.

Europe is once again at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic after 1.8 million new cases and 24,000 new deaths were registered in the region last week, the World Health Organization said.

A U.S. federal appeals court issued a stay on Saturday that freezes the Biden administration's efforts to require that workers at U.S. companies with at least 100 employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested weekly.