PRETORIA 5 Aug (ANA) - Some 24,000 health workers in South Africa have contracted the coronavirus, 181 of whom have died, according to the health ministry.

More than 18.55 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus as of Wednesday, up more than 400,000 in just one day. More than 11.1 million have recovered, while over 700,000 have died.

Amid fears of widespread coronavirus infections among voters, Sri Lankans will head to the polls on Wednesday to choose a new parliament in an election the party of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is widely expected to win.

Mexico's health ministry has reported 6,148 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 857 additional deaths, bringing the total in the country to 449,961 cases and 48,869 deaths.(ANA)

FA/ANA/5 August 2020----------