蜜芽传媒

Five million people are now reported to have died from the virus around the world according to Johns Hopkins University in the US, which collects data on infections and deaths. The United States still has the highest number of deaths from Covid (almost 750,000) followed by Brazil (over 600,000) and India (450,000).

Gypsyamber D'Souza, Professor of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School Of Health, says that while vaccines have slowed the death rate, the pandemic continues to affect many countries. She goes on to say that there are hopes for improved access to vaccines but currently, there is a 'glaring inequity' of vaccination rates between developed and underdeveloped countries. She believes that the actual number of deaths could be much higher than the official figures suggest, due to many people not being able to access health services and systems being 'overwhelmed' in many countries.

Photo: A family attend the grave of a relative who died of Covid, at the Parque Taruma cemetery in Manaus, Brazil Credit: Reuters