Worldwide Confirmed COVID-19 Deaths Have Passed 600,000

By Nsunjo Erica

Confirmed global coronavirus deaths have risen to more than 603,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The United States tops the list with a quarter of those, over 140,000, followed by more than 78,000 in Brazil. According to reports, Europe as a continent has seen about 200,000 deaths.

The number of confirmed infections worldwide has passed 14.3 million, with 3.7 million in the United States and more than 2 million in Brazil.

The World Health Organization said that 259,848 new infections were reported Saturday, its highest one-day tally yet.

Experts believe the pandemic’s true toll around the world is much higher because of testing shortages and data collection issues in some countries especially African countries.

According to the World Health Organization, even in countries where the situation has been largely brought under control, new outbreaks are prompting the return of restrictions.

Following a recent surge in cases, several countries have made the wearing of masks mandatory in all public places and told non-essential civil servants to work from home.

COVID-19 Situation In Africa.

According to figures released by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the confirmed cases of COVID-19 from 55 African countries reached 507,930. In addition, Africa’s confirmed COVID-19 total reported deaths have reached 11,959 and recoveries 244,815.

So far, in less than five months, the virus has claimed 11 959 lives, overtaking the 11 308 lives lost in the world’s worst Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016 according to the WHO.

WHO is working to support countries respond to COVID-19 by providing technical guidance, crucial medical equipment, and has remotely trained more than 25 000 health workers.

WHO has also organized more than 420 shipments of key equipment, including more than 3000 oxygen concentrators, 23 000 GeneXpert diagnostic testing machines, and almost 4 million pieces of personal protective equipment for health care workers.

Current News On COVID-19 Vaccines.

According to the World Health Organization, there are at least 21 vaccines currently under trial worldwide whereby every country and every lab is taking a different approach to finding the right solution to stop COVID-19.

US researchers reported that the first COVID-19 vaccine tested boosted up people’s immune systems just the way scientists had hoped and that the shots are poised to begin key final testing.

Russia also recently just completed its first COVID-19 vaccine trials on humans and it proved that the vaccine is safe, however, there was no other information on when this vaccine would enter commercial production.