Global COVID numbers cross 100 million, more than 35% reported in US, India alone

Global Covid-19 cases surpassed 100 million on Wednesday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The global case count reached 10,00,32,461, with a total of 21,49,818 deaths worldwide, the CSSE data showed.

The US reported the most cases and deaths around the world, which stood at 2,53,62,794 and 4,23,010, respectively. India recorded 1,06,76,838 cases, ranking second in the world. Brazil followed with 88,71,393 cases and the world’s second largest death toll of 217,664, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Newly-inaugurated US President Joe Biden pledged to ramp up the country’s struggling vaccine program.

The number of cases, compiled from data provided by national health agencies, represents just a fraction of the real infections as the coronavirus has spread around the globe.

The United States, which passed 25 million confirmed cases last weekend, remains the country with the largest outbreak — and the largest death toll of over 420,000.

Biden is seeking to turn around the fight against the virus, which took a ferocious grip on the country during Donald Trump’s presidency when the risks were downplayed and officials gave mixed messages on mask-wearing and socializing.

Biden said vaccinating the entire US population was a daunting challenge, and the program inherited from the Trump administration “was in worse shape than we anticipated or expected.”

“This is a war-time undertaking. It’s not hyperbole,” he said, announcing the US was buying an additional 200 million doses and will have enough to vaccinate 300 million Americans — virtually the entire population — by early fall.

Meanwhile, India reported 12,689 new COVID19 cases, 13,320 discharges and 137 deaths in last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry

The total number of cases reported till date in the country stands at 1,06,89,527
Active cases: 1,76,498, Total discharges: 1,03,59,305, Death toll: 1,53,724 , total vaccinated: 20,29,480.