Online Desk

The overall number of Covid cases is fast approaching 260 million amid the global race to vaccinate masses against the infectious disease.

According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 259,944,766 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,181,033, Friday morning.

The US has recorded 48,126,373 cases to date and more than 775,785 people have died so far from the virus in the country, as per the university data.
Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January, registered 22,055,608 cases as of Thursday, while its Covid death toll rose to 613,697.

India's Covid-19 tally rose to 34,546,926 on Thursday, as 9,119 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry data.

Besides, 396 deaths due to the pandemic since Tuesday morning took the total death toll to 466,980.

The World Health Organization’s Europe office says projections show its 53-country region could face another 700,000 deaths in the pandemic by next spring, topping two million in total, reports AP.

WHO Europe, which is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, also cited growing evidence of a decline in protection against infection and mild disease through vaccines, and said a “booster dose” should be given as a priority to the most vulnerable populations -- including people with weakened immune systems -- as well as people over age 60 and healthcare workers.

The UN health agency’s international headquarters in Geneva, however, has repeatedly called for a moratorium on the use of boosters through year-end so that doses can be made available for many developing countries that have faced a severe lack of the Covid vaccines compared to the rich world.