Global COVID-19 tally tops 25 million, with almost 850,000 deaths 

Coronavirus cases globally have reached more than 25 million as deaths neared 850,000 globally on Saturday, according to the Worldometer tracking website.

The United States leads the world in number of cases with over six million, followed by Brazil at nearly four million. 

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

Meanwhile, German police have stopped a Berlin march by thousands of protestors opposed to restrictions and rules to wear masks to curb the spread of COVID-19.

About 18,000 people gathered in Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate, before the rally was forced to stop due to a police injunction because many were not respecting social distancing measures.

The mass protest against pandemic restrictions had been allowed to go ahead after a bitter legal battle.

“The minimum distancing is not being respected by most (of the demonstrators) despite repeated requests,” the police said. 

“There is no other option than to break up the gathering.”

Several thousands stayed on to protest after the announcement, chanting “resistance” and a small group clashed with police, tossing bottles and rocks.

Two people were arrested, police said.

Around 300 people in Paris also protested to denounce the government’s decision to make masks obligatory in all public places as cases rise in the French capital.

Protesters, some waving placards reading “Stop the lies”, “no to the health dictatorship”, and “let our children breathe” were quickly surrounded by police who handed out $160 fines to those not wearing masks. 

At least 73 demonstrators were fined for not wearing masks. 

France has made compulsory the wearing of masks in Paris and other cities, as the government seeks to avoid another lockdown.