Global coronavirus-related deaths topped 3 million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, as the latest global resurgence of COVID-19 infections challenges vaccination efforts across the globe.
Deaths from COVID-19 around the world are on the rise again, especially in Brazil and India. Health officials blame more infectious variants that were first detected in the UK and South Africa, as well as public fatigue with lockdowns and other restrictions.
According to a Reuters tally, it took more than a year for the number of coronavirus deaths worldwide to reach 2 million. The next million deaths were added in about three months.
Brazil leads the world in the average daily number of new deaths reported and accounts for one in four deaths globally every day, according to a Reuters analysis.
The World Health Organization has acknowledged the dire situation in the country due to the coronavirus, saying the country is in very critical condition with an overwhelmed health system.
“Indeed, there is a very serious situation in Brazil right now, where we have a number of states in critical condition,” WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said in a briefing on Thursday. last, adding that many hospital intensive care units are at over 90%. full.
India reported a record rise in COVID-19 infections on Monday, becoming the second country after the United States to post more than 100,000 new cases per day.
India’s worst-hit state Maharashtra on Monday began closing shopping malls, cinemas, bars, restaurants and places of worship as hospitals are overrun with patients.
The European region, which includes 51 countries, has the highest total number of deaths with almost 1.1 million.
Five European countries, including the UK, Russia, France, Italy and Germany, account for around 60% of total coronavirus-related deaths in Europe.
The United States has the highest death toll of any country in the world with 555,000 and accounts for about 19% of all COVID-19 deaths globally. Cases have increased in the past three weeks, but health officials believe the country’s rapid vaccination campaign could prevent an increase in the number of deaths. One third of the population has received at least one dose of a vaccine.
At least 370.3 million people, or nearly 4.75% of the world’s population, received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday, according to the latest figures from research firm and data provider Our World in Data .
However, the World Health Organization is urging countries to donate more doses of approved COVID-19 vaccines to help meet immunization targets for the most vulnerable in the poorest countries.