BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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CAPE TOWN -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa has reached 20,125, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Friday.

The country recorded 988 confirmed cases over the past 24 hours, Mkhize said in his daily update.

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NEW YORK -- The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States reached 1,600,481 and the national death toll of COVID-19 rose to 95,921 as of 7:32 p.m. (2332 GMT) Friday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

New York remains the hardest-hit state with 358,154 cases and 28,853 fatalities. Other states with over 50,000 cases include New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Texas, the CSSE data showed.

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WASHINGTON -- Basketball Hall of Famer and Georgetown University coach, Patrick Ewing announced on Friday that he is being treated at a hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.

"This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly," the 57-year-old said. "I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourself and your loved ones. Now more than ever, I want to thank the healthcare workers and everyone on the front lines. I'll be fine and we will all get through this."

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BEIJING -- Chinese health authority said Saturday that it saw no new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Friday.

No deaths related to the disease were reported Friday, according to the National Health Commission, adding that it received reports of two new suspected cases.

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WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported no new case of COVID-19 on Saturday, said a statement of the Ministry of Health.

This means New Zealand's combined total number of confirmed and probable cases stays at 1,504, of which 1,154 are confirmed, it said.