North Korea on Sunday reported a total of 42 deaths from "fever" after admitting its first-ever COVID-19 cases days before. Lockdown policies have been implemented across the country, according to state-run media.

Posts on social networks have propagated the theory, based on claims by French doctor Didier Raoult, that vaccination has increased Covid-19 infections. FRANCE 24’s Georgina Robertson and Sophie Samaille look at some of the statistics and investigate in this week's show.

Shanghai reported three COVID deaths — the first since a strict lockdown started last month. Meanwhile, Germany's health minister said the mask mandate may be brought back in autumn.

Indian authorities have ordered an investigation into a deadly train accident in eastern India where 12 rail cars derailed. The express train had more than 1,000 people on board.

Russia is the only European country with more recorded deaths. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has mourned the "terrible toll" of the pandemic, and urged citizens to get vaccinated or boosted.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 7,216 people have died crossing the U.S–Mexico border between 1998 and 2017. In 2005, more than 500 died across the entire U.S.–Mexico border. The number of yearly border crossing deaths doubled from 1995 to 2005, before declining.

Many experts agree that Germany's fourth COVID wave could have been avoided, as most of the recent deaths were among people not vaccinated. DW's Luisa von Richthofen met a woman who lost two close relatives early on in the pandemic.

Mercy Tchawalla gives sports classes and advises overweight women in Lome. She helps women build self-esteem.

The intensive care unit in Moscow's Hospital Number 52 feels the pressure as Russia records daily surges in both cases and deaths caused by the coronavirus infection. On Friday Moscow reported 8166 new cases and 79 deaths which brought the capital's COVID-19 deaths rate to 30573. Moscow will reintroduce COVID-19 lockdown measures from Oct. 28 with supermarkets and pharmacies the only shops allowed to stay open.

Russian President Vladimir Putin orders a nationwide week-long paid holiday starting on October 30 to curb Covid infections amid record coronavirus deaths.

Ashish Mishra is accused of running his car into demonstrators, killing four of them. India's Supreme Court had initially criticized the investigation and lack of arrest.

The US COVID death toll has continued to sharply rise, despite the widespread availability of vaccines. Meanwhile, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro has said unvaccinated travelers are not welcome. Follow DW for the latest.