Global COVID-19 Cases Near 30 Million, Deaths Near 1 Million

By Nsunjo Erica

According to the Johns Hopkins University, the overall number of global COVID-19 cases has surpassed the 29.6 million mark, while the deaths have increased to over 935,000 as recoveries stand at 16 Million.

The University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update that as of Wednesday 16 September 2020, the total number of cases stood at 29,607,590 and the fatalities rose to 935,871.

According to the scientists, both the death toll and global infections total are believed to be higher, due to differing testing rates and definitions, delays in reporting, and suspected underreporting by some countries. Especially in African countries.

The United States are still leading with the world’s highest number of COVID-19 cases at 6,606,674 and deaths 195,961 respectively, according to the CSSE.

India is currently in second place in terms of cases at 5,020,359, while the country’s death toll stood at 82,066.

The CSSE figures showed that Brazil ranks third (4,382,263), and is followed by Russia (1,075,485), Peru (738,020), Colombia (728,590), Mexico (676,487), South Africa (651,521), Spain (603,167), Argentina (577,338).

Following is Chile (437,983), France (433,905), Iran (410,334), the UK (376,670), Bangladesh (342,671), Saudi Arabia (326,930), Pakistan (303,089), Iraq (298,702), Turkey (294,620), Italy (289,990), and Philippines (272,934).

Next in line is Germany (265,956), Indonesia (228,993), Israel (166,794), Ukraine (166,694), Canada (140,900), Bolivia (128,286), Qatar (122,214), Ecuador (119,553), Romania (107,011), Kazakhstan (106,984), Dominican Republic (104,803), Panama (102,832) and Egypt (101,340).

The other countries with over 10,000 deaths are the Brazil (133,119), Mexico (71,678), the UK (41,753), Italy (35,633), France (31,007), Peru (30,927), Spain (30,004), Iran (23,632), Colombia (23,288), Russia (18,853), South Africa (15,641), Chile (12,040), Argentina (11,852) and Ecuador (10,963).

Current News On Vaccines

China’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that COVID-19 vaccines being developed in the country may be ready for usage by the general public as early as November this year.

In an interview with the state TV on Monday, China’s CDC chief biosafety expert Guizhen Wu said Phase 3 clinical trials were proceeding smoothly and the vaccines could be ready for the general public in November or December.

According to the CDC, China has four COVID-19 vaccines in the final stage of clinical trials. At least three of those have already been offered to essential workers under an emergency use program launched in July.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also said that over 8,000 Boeing 747s will be needed to ship a COVID-19 vaccine around the World in case it’s fully ready for distribution and that this will be the “largest transport challenge ever.