The number of coronavirus cases has exceeded 18 million around the world, with deaths topping 650,000 according to Worldometer.

COVID-19 cases were recorded in more than 210 countries since December 2019.

The U.S. has topped the list of countries worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, recording 154,922 deaths and 4,637,544 total cases.

Brazil is in second place with 93,563 deaths and 2,707,877 total cases, while India has ranked third with 36,511 deaths and 1,695,988 cases.

Russia ranks fourth with 14,058 deaths and 845,443 infections.

The WHO suggested the COVID-19 pandemic would be "long-term” during a meeting it held to assess the status of the crisis on Friday, six months since it declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern.

In its statement, the organisation warned of "the risks of lax response, in the context of social and economic pressures”.