BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.

  The following are the updates on the contagious disease.

   New York -- "It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world's efforts to win the war against COVID-19," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement issued by his spokesman on Tuesday, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of halting the nation's funding to the organization.

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   HANOI -- Vietnam's Ministry of Health on Wednesday morning confirmed one more COVID-19 case, bringing the total in the country to 267.

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   SEOUL -- South Korea reported 27 more cases of the COVID-19 from 24 hours ago at midnight Wednesday local time, raising the total number of infections to 10,591.

   The daily caseload hovered below 50 for the seventh straight day. Of the new cases, 11 were imported from overseas, raising the combined number to 955.

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   RIO DE JANEIRO -- The governor of Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state, Wilson Witzel, on Tuesday announced he tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

   Rio de Janeiro currently ranks second in number of infections among Brazilian states, after Sao Paulo.

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   WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his administration is halting the nation's funding to the World Health Organization, a move experts have warned against, as COVID-19 continues to take a toll globally.

   Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump also said a review is being conducted to assess the WHO's role in addressing the spread of the coronavirus.