Coronavirus News Update – April 17: Global Death Toll Hits 3 Million, Over 120 Million Have Recovered

Adirondack chairs in the Andironacks

The world woke up to a staggering figure: over three million people have now died as a result of the coronavirus since the first case was reported some 14 months ago. The three million mark was crossed early Saturday, according to data reported by Worldometer, a service that tracks such information.

Meanwhile, as of Saturday morning, the world has recorded over 141 million Covid-19 case.  In addition, almost 120 million people worldwide have recovered from the virus.

Since the start of vaccinations at the end of last year, the world has administered more than 878 million doses, the equivalent of over 11 doses for every 100 people as of Saturday morning.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that as of Friday, almost 128 million people in the United States have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.  Approximately 49.1% of the population over the age of 18 – some 126.6 million people – has received at least a first inoculation, including over 80 million people, or 31.1% of the same population, more than a quarter of all adults in the country, who have received both doses. Overall, 24.3% of the population has been fully vaccinated against the virus.

In the United States, almost half the states in the union reported an increase in coronavirus cases over the past week. At least 21 states recorded at least a 10% rise in daily average positive cases of Covid-19, according to Johns Hopkins University data Thursday.  Hospitals in Michigan are overwhelmed and ICU beds there are almost full.

Meanwhile, New York reported its lowest number of hospitalizations since December 1. In addition, the governor’s office said that more than half of the adult population of the state had received at least one dose of a vaccine.

In a move to increase the number of people getting vaccinated for the coronavirus, officials in Rhode Island said that public transit trips to and from vaccination appointments will be available at no charge starting Monday.

New Hampshire will not renew its mask mandate.  Citing a 95% drop in the average daily death toll in the state, Governor. Chris Sununu said that the mask mandate currently set to expire Friday would not be renewed, even though the number of new daily cases there remains high.  “The lifting of the mandate does not diminish the importance of wearing a face mask,” the governor said. “We ask that people continue to take steps to protect their own health, the health of their family and friends, and the health of their community.”

(Photo: Accura Media Group)