COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 29 September

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have passed 232.8 million globally, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 4.76 million. More than 6.18 billion vaccination doses have been administered globally, according to Our World in Data.

New COVID-19 cases in New Zealand have jumped to their highest level in weeks, with 45 new confirmed cases reported - all in Auckland.

Pfizer has asked Brazil's health regulator to approve a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Costa Rica announced yesterday that all state workers will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Algeria is set to begin production of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, in partnership with China. It aims to meet domestic demand and export the surplus.

From next week, Croatia will require that all employees in the health and social care sectors be vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19.

Egypt is now providing immediate COVID-19 vaccinations without prior online registration. The move is aimed at encouraging vaccinations amid a fourth wave of infections.

Singapore's health ministry has reported the country's highest one-day rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic - 2,236.

The country has paused further reopening after a recent rise in cases following the relaxation of some COVID-19 measures. From this week, Singapore has tightened some restrictions, including limiting social gatherings to two people and making work from home a default.

Meanwhile, Romania reported a record 11,049 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. Yesterday, the country had only 26 intensive care beds available, and was struggling to add more because of staff shortages.

Japan will lift a state of emergency in all regions on Thursday for the first time in nearly six months. It comes as the number of cases and deaths falls, easing the pressure on the health system.

Daily cases have fallen nationwide from more than 25,000 last month to 1,128 on Monday, but the opening will be gradual with some curbs on restaurants and large-scale events staying in place for about a month.

"Thanks to progress in vaccination and administration of neutralizing antibody drugs, we are entering a phase where medical services can be offered in a stable manner even if a certain degree of infections take place," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told a coronavirus task force meeting.