The global tally for the coronavirus-borne illness rose above 134 million on Friday, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University, while the death toll rose above 2.9 million. The U.S. continues to lead the world by cases, at 31 million, or about a quarter of the global tally, and fatalities, at 560,115. The U.S. added at least 81,303 new cases on Thursday, according to a New York Times tracker, and at least 955 people died. The U.S. has averaged 66,118 cases a day for the last week, up 13% from the average two weeks ago, as cases continue to rise despite the vaccination program, a trend experts say is due to states reopening and dropping restrictions on movement and overall pandemic fatigue. The CDC’s vaccine tracker is showing that as of Thursday, almost 20% of the population was fully vaccinated. The vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson
JNJ,
will be in shorter supply in the U.S. next week after a batch had to be destroyed at a Baltimore plant run by Emergent Biosolutions Inc.
EBS,
a contract manufacturer, after a snafu involving ingredients,the New York Times reported.
Outside of the U.S., Brazil is second globally in cases at 13.3 million and also second with a death toll of 345,025. India is third worldwide in cases with 13 million and fourth in deaths at 167,642. Mexico is third by deaths at 206,146 and 14th highest by cases at 2.3 million. The U.K. has 4.4 million cases and 127,224 deaths, the highest in Europe and fifth highest in the world.
