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The rise in infections comes as the country’s leaders gather in Beijing for the National People’s Congress. Masks are now optional in New York City public schools.

Efforts to evacuate civilians from the besieged port city of Mariupol were called off for the second straight day amid continued shelling by Russian forces, Ukrainian military officials said. President Volodymyr Zelensky repeated his calls for NATO to enforce a no-fly zone over his country.

Although the convoy had originally planned to enter the capital organizers said they did not intend to drive into the capital on Sunday out of fears that “outside agitators” may turn it into a chaotic event.

The Russian leader amped up his threats as outgunned Ukrainians continued to fight off his military. The mayor of the first major city to fall to Russia said people were protesting the occupation. And in one besieged city, a cease-fire collapsed within hours.

The move drops masks requirements in public settings like grocery stores, restaurants and bars, but masks will still be needed for large indoor events, on transit and in hospitals per state rules.

Russia accelerated its push to cut Ukrainians off from the sea, and blocked access to Facebook as it clamped down on domestic dissent. Anxiety over a captured nuclear plant eased when a fire was extinguished.

Stocks have been zigzagging for the last several weeks as tension in Ukraine escalated and as sanctions on Russia, imposed in the days since its invasion of Ukraine, have mounted.

Russian troops were gaining ground in critical parts of the south and threatening to cut off Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea.

Though trouble spots remain, new cases were down 16 percent worldwide last week, the W.H.O. said. The toll on mental health has persisted.

The sudden effort to sell Chelsea F.C. by its billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich, is a sign that the threat of sanctions is having an effect on wealthy Russians.