With millions around the world infected with the novel coronavirus a lack of proper response measures is concerning experts.

Governments Unprepared For COVID-19?

Many countries have seen thousands of daily new coronavirus infections and experts say many governments appear to have been taken by surprise as COVID-19 spreads rapidly.

Many governments came up with measures to curb the spread in hard-hit areas while others resorted to national lockdowns that lasted for months.

Medical experts said because the world was underprepared for the new virus - as was the case with Africa's Ebola outbreak in 2014 - governments should start to concentrate on international health security.

Among the recommendations to emerge since COVID-19 arrived was the establishment of a world health security institution that concentrates on advanced research about diseases and viruses.

Finally, experts have suggested health institutions should establish departments concentrated on vaccine research to help prevent further infections.

Stricter Measures In Big Economies

As part of efforts to curb new COVID-19 infections some of the biggest economies in the world have opted to reintroduce strict anticoronavirus measures.

On Tuesday, the British government announced stricter restrictions for up to six months to prevent further cases - including early closing time for pubs across England.

The new order came as the UK battled a second wave of coronavirus cases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraged telecommuting when possible.

Months before the new restrictions were announced the British government appeared to discourage working from home as the battered economy struggled to recover.

The UK had 403,551 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 41,825 deaths as of Tuesday. The country is the hardest-hit in all of Europe in terms of fatalities.

In Canada, government officials have started pushing for further limits on large events as a way of preventing new coronavirus cases.

City officials in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto will enforce stricter limitations on indoor private gatherings to 10 people only. Fines are expected should the new measures be implemented.

Montreal's mayor said earlier this week that the local government was looking to "limit the damage" as it believed the city was already facing a second wave of COVID-19 cases.

As of Tuesday, Canada had 146,663 confirmed coronavirus cases and 9,234 deaths.

Latest World COVID-19 Update

The international coronavirus infection toll has reached 31.5 million while the number of people who have died is more than 967,000.

The U.S. remains the hardest-hit country with at least 7,097,937 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 205,471 deaths as of Tuesday.

Following is India with 5,640,496 confirmed coronavirus infections and 90,021 fatalities. Brazil, the third hardest-hit country, has 4,595,335 confirmed cases and 138,159 deaths.