In the latest global COVID-19 developments, illness levels increased in more countries that initially suppressed their outbreaks, and the Americas region is still in the tight grip of the virus, amid another warning that the pandemic is disrupting regular health services.The global total today rose to 18,373,514 cases, and 696,008 people have died from their infections, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard.Rises continue across most of AmericasAt a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) media briefing today, Director Carissa Etienne, MBBS, MSc, said that as of yesterday, more than 9.7 million cases have been reported from the Americas, roughly half of the global total.Illness levels are still increasing in the Andean region and