COVID-19 Death Toll Reaches 5 Million
Deaths worldwide from the COVID-19 pandemic have surpassed 5 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. As of 1 November, there have been more than 246 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide in the two-year history of the disease, and nearly 7 billion vaccine doses have been administered. The United States has had the most deaths from COVID-19—745,837.
The tally is almost certainly an underestimation, experts said, since many cases—especially early in the pandemic—were not tested and confirmed. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres called the death toll “a devastating milestone” and a clear warning to the world not to let down its guard.
Despite rising vaccination numbers, some health officials are seeing signs of another coronavirus surge, particularly as some nations are loosening international travel restrictions, NPR reported.
Global deaths from COVID-19 have now surpassed 5 million, according to data released Monday from Johns Hopkins University's coronavirus tracker. Health experts fear the actual death toll is much higher. https://t.co/GOtl4AALab
— NPR (@NPR) November 1, 2021
In October, Europe experienced an 18 percent surge in new COVID-19 cases, and Southeast Asia reported a 13 percent increase in new COVID-19 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Nearly 34,000 people were locked into Shanghai’s Disneyland on Sunday to be tested for COVID-19 after a single confirmed case was linked to the park. Visitors all tested negative, but will be required to test again over the next two weeks. The park also announced it would be closed for two days after the incident, according to the BBC.
In the face of rapidly climbing infection rates, Russian officials launched a 10-day lockdown that suspended work and travel. Officials ordered all unvaccinated residents more than 60 years in age—as well as unvaccinated people who may have chronic diseases or preexisting conditions—to remain at home for four months, CNN reported.
More than five million people have died of Covid-19 worldwide since start of pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University https://t.co/7kRkBxMMNy
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) November 1, 2021
Meanwhile, in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines for children 5 through 11 years of age. Children in this age group make up 39 percent of COVID-19 cases in individuals younger than 18 years of age; approximately 8,300 cases in this group resulted in hospitalization and 146 deaths.
