WHO: COVID deaths dropped by 21% last week but cases rising

GENEVA (AP) — The number of coronavirus deaths globally dropped by about 21% in the past week while cases rose in most parts of the world, according to the World Health Organization. In its weekly report on the pandemic released Thursday, the U.N. health agency said the number of new COVID-19 cases appears to have stabilized after weeks of decline since late March, with about 3.5 million new cases last week, or a 1% rise. Some 9,000 deaths were recorded. WHO said cases increased in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and the Western Pacific, while falling in Europe and Southeast Asia.