COVID-19 deaths surpassed 1 million-mark
The global death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic has surpassed 1 million-mark, less than nine months since the first confirmed casualty in the city of Wuhan.
Latest data from Johns Hopkins University reflects 1,008,842 deaths. US, Brazil India, and Mexico make up roughly half the total fatalities.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called it a “mind-numbing” figure and “an agonising milestone”.
COVID-19 has disrupted the lives of billions of people across the world and has thrown many economies into recession.
Despite the pain and sadness, Guterres urged everyone to never lose sight of each and every life and work together to defeat this virus.
“As we remember so many lives lost, let us never forget that our future rests on solidarity – as people united and as united nations.”
COVAX facility update
156 economies, comprising about 64 per cent of the global population, have committed to the COVAX initiative after 64 high income economies have signed last week.
With the developments, COVAX will now start signing formal agreements with vaccine makers and developers to secure the two billion doses needed.
“Governments from every continent have chosen to work together, not only to secure vaccines for their own populations but also to help ensure that vaccines are available to the most vulnerable everywhere,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Once the vaccines are secured, experts say it will end the acute phase of the pandemic by the end of 2021.
New rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19
Meanwhile, a new COVID-19 diagnostic test will be made available to low- and middle-income countries.
According to WHO, the antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag RDTs) – priced at $5 per unit, are easy to use and highly portable, and can provide reliable results in approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
The Ag RDT is substantially faster as well as cheaper than polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) tests currently utilised.
“This will enable the expansion of testing, particularly in hard-to-reach areas that do not have lab facilities or enough trained health workers to carry out PCR tests,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
He added that it would be a vital addition to countries’ testing capacity and is especially important in areas of high transmission.
“The quicker COVID-19 can be diagnosed, the quicker action can be taken to treat and isolate those with the virus and trace their contacts.”