Global cases of Covid-19 crosses 72 million

CNI Desk: Countries and regions around the world have recorded more than 72 million Covid-19 cases with over 1.61 million fatalities since it was first reported in China about a year ago, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.   

The global caseload stood at 72,221,636 with 1,612,014 deaths on Monday morning. Covid-19 vaccines that have been approved and those showing high efficacy are giving hope in the otherwise grim situation which shows no sign of improvement.

It will take months for many countries to procure and distribute the vaccines. Many countries are already reporting a second wave of infection while the WHO last month warned of a third wave.

 

The United States has been hit the worst by the pandemic. The country has recorded 16,251,975 cases as of Monday morning with 299,163 deaths.

A total of 213,305 new cases and 2,283 deaths were reported across the US on Saturday, according to data updated Sunday by the CDC.

Meanwhile, the first of freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials were sent to distribution sites across the US on Sunday. The rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, ushers in the biggest vaccination effort in US history, reports AP.

Brazil has the world's second-highest COVID-19 death toll after the US, and the third-largest caseload next to the US and India.

According to a report from the country's Ministry of Health on Sunday, Brazil has registered over 6,901,952 cases and more than 181,402 deaths from COVID-19.

India's COVID-19 tally reached 9,857,029 on Monday as the death toll mounted to 143,019, according to the JHU data.