Flags of Coronavirus-hit Countries Projected onto Baku's Heydar Aliyev Center

Azerbaijan is showing its support for the international community's ongoing fight against the Covid-19 pandemic by projecting the flags of the worst coronavirus-hit countries onto the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku.

The demonstration of solidarity to those suffering from novel coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, began on April 3 when the Chinese flag was projected onto the iconic building, which is considered to be one of the world's most beautiful concert halls.

The fast-spreading coronavirus is said to have originated in Wuhan city, located in the Hubei province of China. Nearly 84,000 have been infected with Covid-19 in Asia's second largest country, while 4,600 have died from complications resulting from the virus, which is affecting 210 countries and territories around the world.

Earlier this month, the flags of France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Russia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Georgia, the European Union, and the World Health Organization were projected daily onto the world-renowned structure designed by the late Iraqi-born designer Zaha Hadid. The hours-long flag display was accompanied by the music from each country.

“Our warm thanks to the Heydar Aliyev Center for projecting the American flag onto its iconic structure,” the US Embassy in Azerbaijan said in a statement published by Azertag. “This gesture - a vivid display of solidarity with the United States during this challenging time - demonstrates the warm friendship that exists between the Azerbaijani and American people. Together, we will defeat the Covid-19 global pandemic."

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 2.53 million people and caused over 174,000 deaths worldwide, according to data released by John Hopkins University.

The US has reported the highest number of coronavirus cases globally as nearly 804,000 people in the country have tested positive for Covid-19, according to the university's interactive COVID-19 map. Earlier this month, the US overtook Italy in coronavirus-related deaths as the number of fatalities caused by the virus in the North American country topped 43,200.

Europe has seen the most dramatic rise in the number of infections since the first case of coronavirus was reported in February. Covid-19 has infected nearly 1.14 million people and claimed about 107,800 lives across the continent. Among European countries, Italy accounted for the most deaths with 24,600 fatalities recorded, followed by Spain and France as the nations reported over 21,200 and 20,200 virus-related deaths, respectively.

In Azerbaijan, 1,480 people have contracted the novel coronavirus. The Caspian country recorded a total of 20 deaths resulting from infection. Meanwhile, the number of Covid-19 cases in Russia has topped 52,700, while the death toll in the country has hit 456. Iran, the worst coronavirus-hit country in the Middle East, has accounted for over 84,800 infections and nearly 5,300 deaths.