COVID Death Toll: US Tally Crosses 900,000; Where Does India Stand?

New York: In an wanted milestone, the US crossed 900,000 deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker.

It took just over a month and a half for casualties to rise from 8 lakh to 9 lakh in the US. No other countries has suffered so many casualties in the global pandemic which broke nearly two years ago.

The US stands on top in total number of COVID-positive cases also, with 7.6 crore cases having been reported so far.

India is third in terms of COVID deaths (5.01 lakh) and second as far as coronavirus-infected number is concerned (4.21 crore).

According to US government data, daily Omicron cases are falling, but the daily death count is still showing an upward trend. Nearly 4,000 deaths were reported on Friday, while the average is about 2,400 over the past few weeks.

“Hospitalizations remain high, stretching our healthcare capacity and workforce to its limits in some areas of the country,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Rochelle Walensky said.

The pandemic has killed 5.7 million people across the world. World Health Organization, however, says the actual toll could be two to three times higher.

WORST-AFFECTED NATIONS

United States — 9 lakh deaths, 7.62 cr cases

Brazil — 6.31 lakh deaths, 2.63 crore cases

India — 5.01 lakh deaths, 4.21 crore cases

Russia — 3.27 lakh deaths, 1.23 crore cases

Mexico — 3.09 lakh deaths, 51.1 lakh cases

UK — 1.58 lakh deaths, 1.77 crore cases

Italy — 1.48 lakh deaths, 1.14 crore cases

Iran — 1.33 lakh deaths, 65.2 lakh cases

France — 1.29 lakh deaths, 1.99 crore cases

Argentina — 1.22 lakh deaths, 85.6 lakh cases.