Coronavirus-related deaths worldwide crossed 3 million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, as the latest global resurgence of Covid-19 infections is challenging vaccination efforts across the globe.
Worldwide Covid-19 deaths are rising once again, especially in Brazil and India. Health officials blame more infectious variants that were first detected in the United Kingdom and South Africa, along with public fatigue with lockdowns and other restrictions.
According to a Reuters tally, it took more than a year for the global coronavirus death toll to reach 2 million. The next 1 million deaths were added in about three months.
Brazil is leading the world in the daily average number of new deaths reported and accounts for one in every four deaths worldwide each day, according to a Reuters analysis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged the nation's dire condition due to coronavirus, saying the country is in a very critical condition with an overwhelmed healthcare system.
"Indeed, there is a very serious situation going on in Brazil right now, where we have a number of states in critical condition," WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove told a briefing on last Thursday, adding that many hospital intensive care units are more than 90% full.
On Tuesday, the Indian capital of New Delhi imposed a night-time curfew until April 30 with much of the country struggling to contain a second surge in coronavirus infections that has eclipsed the first wave.
The curfew echoes tough restrictions in Maharashtra, the country's hardest-hit state where the financial capital Mumbai is also located.
India’s coronavirus cases jumped by nearly 97,000 on Tuesday, data from the health ministry showed. There were 446 new deaths, taking the total to 165,547. With 12.7 million cases, India is the worst affected country after the United States and Brazil.
The European region, which includes 51 countries, has the highest total number of deaths at nearly 1.1 million.
Five European countries including the UK, Russia, France, Italy and Germany constitute about 60% of Europe's total coronavirus-related deaths.
The United States has the highest number of deaths of any country at the world at 569,287 and accounts for about 19% of all deaths due to Covid-19 in the world.
AstraZeneca thrombosis link
A top official in the European Medicines Agency says that there is a link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots.
Travel bubble
New Zealand has approved quarantine-free travel with Australia, PM Jacinda Ardern says, completing a two-way corridor for travel between the largely Covid-free neighbours.