Coronavirus News Update – July 5: World Death Toll from Virus Crosses 4 Million
A country road in northern Italy
The world’s death toll from the coronavirus is now 4 million, a staggering figure by any count.
As of Monday morning, the world has recorded 184.9 million Covid-19 cases and crossed the 4 million mark in deaths, according to Worldometer, a service that tracks such information. In addition, 169.3 million people worldwide have recovered from the virus.
In the United States, the death toll, which a little over two weeks ago crossed the 600,000 mark, is now 621,335, an increase of 80 in the past day. Since the start of the pandemic the country has recorded over 34.6 million cases, a higher figure than any other country and one that is followed by India, which now has 30.62 million officially recorded cases and 402,359 officially recorded deaths, although experts now believe that both number are in reality significantly higher.
Since the start of vaccinations at the end of last year, over 3.22 billion doses have been administered across the globe as of Monday morning, an increase of 0.06 billion and the equivalent of more than 41 doses for every 100 people.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that, as of Monday, 182.4 million people in the United States – or 54.9% –have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Of that population, 47.4%, or 157.3 million people, are now fully vaccinated, and the total number of doses that have been dispensed in the United States is now 330.6 million. Breaking this down further, 67.1% of the population over the age of 18 – or 173.2 million people – has received at least a first inoculation and 58.2% of the same group – or 150.3 million people – is fully vaccinated.
In Italy, hundreds of health care workers have sued local authorities to avoid being suspended after refusing to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The workers, who include doctors, dentists, and pharmacists across northern and central Italy, want to block their employers from locking them out from their jobs without pay because of their refusal. “They believe that the vaccines do not grant enough safety and efficacy,” their lawyer, Daniele Granara, said.
Meanwhile, Luxembourg’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel, who is suffering from Covid-19 symptoms, was reportedly in “serious, but stable” condition in a hospital there. The prime minister was admitted with low oxygen levels in his blood and has spent two days in hospital thus far. He is expected to be released in several days.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
