Is global second wave ALREADY upon us? Nearly 40 nations report record single-day rises in Covid cases as public lose faith in governments' handling of crisis

Almost 40 countries have reported record single-day increases in coronavirus infections, as the World Health Organisation warns there is no return to the 'old normal'.

The rate of cases has been rapidly increasing in the United States, Brazil, India, Japan and Australia, among others. 

Hong Kong, Bolivia, Sudan and Ethiopia have also seen rises in cases, according to a Reuters tally. 

The data, compiled from official reports, shows a steady rise in the number of countries reporting record daily increases in coronavirus cases across the past month. 

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Almost 40 countries have reported record single-day increases in coronavirus infections this month. Pictured: Total confirmed coronavirus cases in countries with rapidly increasing infection rates

Bulgaria, Belgium, Uzbekistan and Israel have also seen record single-day rises across the past month, according to Reuters.

Three weeks ago, at least seven countries had reported record increases, which rose to at least 13 countries two weeks ago. 

After rising to at least 20 countries last week, the number of countries that have reported record daily increases has now reached 37. 

A new daily record figure has been recorded in Spain, which is said to be likely to deter tourists from visiting one of the continent's most popular destinations.

A separate survey has also shown that the world has set a new record for the highest daily increase in coronavirus infections.

More than 280,000 new cases were recorded globally on both Thursday and Friday, the highest daily rises since the virus emerged, according to an AFP count based on official sources. 

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India is among countries who have reported rapid increases in coronavirus cases this month, as more than 280,000 new cases were recorded globally on both Thursday and Friday

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The data, compiled from official reports, shows a steady rise in the number of countries reporting record daily increases in coronavirus cases across the past month, including Brazil

Friday's tally of 282,042 was marginally down on Thursday's single-day record 284,661 but still shows an alarming uptick in the spread of the virus. 

This comes after the WHO has warned everyone to treat their behaviour amid the coronavirus pandemic as 'life-and-death decisions'.

'We will not be going back to the 'old normal'. The pandemic has already changed the way we live our lives,' World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this week. 

'We're asking everyone to treat the decisions about where they go, what they do and who they meet with as life-and-death decisions – because they are.' 

A separate report has also showed that governments are quickly losing support for their handling of the pandemic.

A survey, released on Saturday, showed that faith in authorities in dwindling across six nations, as governments worldwide have struggled to contain the virus. 

People widely believe that death and infection figures are higher than recorded in France, Germany, Britain, Japan, Sweden and the US widely believed death and infection figures to be higher than recorded, according to a study which polled 1,000 people in each nation.

'In most countries this month, support for national governments is falling,' the report by the Kekst CNC communications consulting group said.

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A new daily record figure has been recorded in Spain, which is likely to deter tourists from visiting one of the continent's most popular destinations. Pictured, Barcelona on July 19 

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Spain was among 37 countries to record a new daily record figure in coronavirus cases this month, according to a Reuters tally

The United States has this week passed more than 4 million cases and recorded more than 1,000 deaths for four consecutive days. 

Brazil and India, which epidemiologists say is still likely months away from hitting its peak, have also exceeded one million cases. 

In Australia, officials enforced a six-week partial lockdown and made face masks mandatory for residents in the country's second-largest city, Melbourne, after a fresh outbreak. 

After Mexico posted a daily record this week, officials warned that a downward trend in case numbers that began in mid-June could reverse.   

Based on the rate of hospital admissions over the past week, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said hospitalisation levels by October could exceed those registered in June.

She said: 'It is important to recognise that if we do not change the trend, there could be exponential growth.' 

Kenya recorded a high daily case number less than two weeks after reopening domestic passenger flights.   

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who had announced international flights would resume on August 1, has called officials to an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the surge in cases.   

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Authorities in China announced that they would introduce a new wave of testing in the city of Dalian (pictured), after fresh infections were detected there

On Saturday, South Korea reported its highest infections figure in nearly four months, and in Vietnam the first locally-transmitted case in nearly 100 days was detected. 

This comes after authorities in China said, on Friday, that they would introduce a new wave of testing in the port city of Dalian, home to about six million people, after fresh infections were detected there. 

The local government's health commission said the city must 'enter wartime mode' to prevent further any spread. 

It also announced on-the-spot nucleic acid tests for people using the subway system and will impose new lockdowns for some communities. 

The WHO's European chapter has expressed concern about the rise in cases on the continent in the past two weeks and warned tighter restrictions may be needed. 

'The recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases in some countries following the easing of physical distancing measures is certainly cause for concern,' a WHO Europe spokeswoman told AFP.

'If the situation demands, reintroduction of stricter, targeted measures with the full engagement of communities may be needed.' 

Nearly a third of the world's 15.8 million infections have been registered since July 1, while the total death toll nears 640,000.