The overall death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 2 million

(Reuters) – The global number of coronavirus deaths exceeded 2 million on Friday, according to a Reuters report, as nations around the world try to procure more vaccines and detect new COVID-19 variants.

It took nine months for the world to record the first 1 million deaths from the new coronavirus, but only three months to go from 1 million to 2 million deaths, illustrating an accelerated death rate. (Chart: tmsnrt.rs/34pvUyi)

So far, in 2021, deaths have averaged more than 11,900 a day or one life lost every eight seconds, according to a Reuters report.

“Our world has reached a painful stage,” said Antonio Guterres, head of the United Nations, in a video statement.

“Behind this staggering number are names and faces: the smile is now just a memory, the chair empty forever at the dinner table, the room that echoes the silence of a loved one,” he said, calling for more global coordination and funding. vaccination.

By April 1, the total death toll could approach 2.9 million, according to a forecast by the Institute for Health Metrics and Assessment. (bit.ly/3bHmcf0)

Given the rapid spread of the virus due to more infectious variants, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the worst could be in the face.

“We will enter a second year of this. It could be even tougher, given the dynamics of the transmission and some of the problems we see, “said Mike Ryan, WHO’s highest official for emergencies, at an event on Wednesday.

The United States has the highest total death toll at over 386,000 and accounts for one in four deaths reported daily worldwide. The next most affected countries are Brazil, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Combined, the five countries contribute to almost 50% of all COVID-19 deaths worldwide, but represent only 27% of the global population. (Chart: tmsnrt.rs/3qmr8d9)

Europe, the most affected region in the world, has so far reported more than 615,000 deaths and accounts for almost 31% of all COVID-related deaths globally.

In India, which has recently surpassed 151,000 deaths, vaccinations are set to begin on Saturday in an effort that authorities hope will inoculate 300 million high-risk people in the next six to eight months.