The COVID-19 pandemic is still expanding, but the rise in cases and deaths has slowed globally, except of Southeast Asia and the eastern Mediterranean, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

In a fresh epidemiological report, WHO said the Americas remain the hardest-hit regions, accounting for half of the newly reported cases and 62% of the 39,240 global deaths in the past week, Reuters reported.

WHO was informed of more than 1.7 million new cases of COVID-19 and 39,000 new deaths in the week ended August 23 - a 4% decrease and (12% decrease) deaths from the previous week.

Southeast Asia, the second most affected region, reported a worsening situation, accounting for 28% of new cases and 15% of deaths, the WHO said in a report.

In the eastern Mediterranean region, according to WHO, the number of reported cases has increased by 4%, but the number of deaths has been steadily declining over the past six weeks. Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan reported the highest increases in cases from the previous week.

In the European region, the number of reported cases has grown steadily over the past three weeks, the report says.