The Health Ministry reported the highest single-day death toll from covid-19 since mid-July 2020, saying in a statement that 71 people lost their lives yesterday as a result of the virus.

Cases have been elevated for more than a month, with the ministry consistently reporting more than 900 new infections each day since late October. Yesterday’s figures showed that 960 fresh cases were reported, the highest daily figure since the end of May, and taking the country’s overall tally to 346,808. The total death toll now stands at 19,707.

Pfizer has applied to the FDA for emergency approval of its antiviral covid pill, according to a company press release, in a move that could see the drug rolled out in the US by the end of the year. Pfizer on Tuesday said it would allow drugmakers in low and middle-income countries to produce generic versions of Paxlovid under a UN patent-sharing scheme. A late-stage trial on the drug was wrapped up ahead of schedule last week, after interim results found it cut the risk of hospitalization or death in high-risk patients by 89%.