(Paris) The novel coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 5,012,784 people worldwide since the WHO office in China reported the onset of the disease at the end of December 2019, according to a report established by the AFP from official sources Wednesday at 7 a.m.
More than 247,542,000 cases of infection have been officially diagnosed since the start of the epidemic. The vast majority of patients recover, but a still poorly evaluated part retains symptoms for weeks or even months.
The figures are based on reports communicated daily by the health authorities in each country. They exclude the revisions carried out a posteriori by certain statistical organizations, which conclude with a much higher number of deaths.
The WHO even estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to COVID-19, that the toll of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that officially recorded. A large proportion of the less severe or asymptomatic cases also remain undetected despite the intensification of screening in many countries.
On Tuesday, 8,367 new deaths and 433,415 new cases were recorded worldwide.
The countries that have recorded the most new deaths in their latest reports are the United States with 1,201 new deaths, Russia (1,189) and Ukraine (720).
The United States is the most affected country in terms of both deaths and cases, with 748,621 deaths for 46,171,230 cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University count.
After the United States, the most affected countries are Brazil with 608,071 deaths and 21,821,124 cases, India with 459,191 deaths (34,308,140 cases), Mexico with 288,733 deaths (3,811,793 cases) , and Russia with 242,060 deaths (8,633,643 cases).
Among the hardest hit countries, Peru is the one with the highest number of deaths relative to its population, with 607 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Bosnia (355), Bulgaria (350), Macedonia North (344), Montenegro (336) and Hungary (320).
Latin America and the Caribbean totaled Wednesday at 7 a.m. EDT 1,522,161 deaths for 45,965,120 cases, Europe 1,408,593 deaths (74,982,667 cases), Asia 873,696 deaths (55,955,125 cases), the United States and Canada 777,633 deaths (47,889,315 cases), Africa 218,577 deaths (8,510,056 cases), the Middle East 209,281 deaths (13,977,936 cases), and Oceania 2,843 deaths (261,785 cases).
This assessment was carried out using data collected by AFP offices from the competent national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Due to corrections made by the authorities or late publication of the data, the 24 hour increase figures may not correspond exactly to those published the day before.
Update on the pandemic
New measures, new reports and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic around the world.
“Massive” pandemic of the unvaccinated in Germany
Germany is hit by a “massive” pandemic of the unvaccinated, Health Minister Jens Spahn warned on Wednesday, calling for tougher measures to stem the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the country.
According to the minister, intensive care beds are again starting to run out.
Germany has seen COVID-19 cases skyrocket since the end of the fall break. Wednesday were recorded more than 20,000 new cases in 24 hours, and 194 deaths.
Resignation of a minister in Peru
Peruvian Interior Minister Luis Barranzuela resigned Tuesday, less than a month after taking office, after a controversy over a party organized at his home in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic.
The 58-year-old retired policeman had a party at his home in Lima on Sunday to celebrate Creole Song Day and Halloween night, which had been expressly banned by decree a few days earlier.
Return of tourists to Spain
Foreign tourist arrivals in Spain continued to increase in September, while remaining far from their pre-pandemic level, confirming that the targets set by the government for 2021 will not be met, according to figures released by the National Institute of statistics (INE).
In the first nine months of the year, Spain received 19.7 million tourists, an increase of 17.2% compared to the same period of 2020, according to INE.
Vaccination of 5-11 year olds in the United States
COVID-19 vaccine injections to children aged 5 to 11 began Tuesday evening in the United States, a new stage in the immunization campaign hailed as a “turning point” by Joe Biden, with 28 million toddlers newly eligible in the country.
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) officially recommended injections of Pfizer’s vaccine for this age group on Tuesday, following approval given at the end of last week by the US Medicines Agency (FDA) .
Over five million dead
The pandemic has killed at least 5,012,784 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources, Wednesday at 7 a.m.
The United States is the most bereaved country with 748,621 dead, followed by Brazil (608,071), India (459,191), Mexico (288,733) and Russia (242,060).
These figures are based on the daily official balance sheets for each country, excluding upward revisions made a posteriori by some statistical agencies. Taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to COVID-19, the WHO estimates that the overall toll of the pandemic could be two to three times higher.