1 million people have died from the coronavirus.
What We Know:
- Nine months into this global health crisis, the coronavirus has killed over 1 million people, crippled the economy, and turned science into a political tool. The milestone was recorded on Monday by Johns Hopkins University and it is likely understated due to testing unavailability and inconsistent reporting around the world.
- The death toll continues to rise as more outbreaks are popping up in Europe and around the world. States in the U.S. have been lifting pandemic protocols as nearly 5,000 people are dying each day. The U.S. accounts for over 200,000 deaths, more than any other country in the world, and experts fear that the pandemic could still get worse.
- The first COVID-19 death was reported on January 11 in Wuhan, China. China’s government has been criticized for playing down the severity of the pandemic and the threat to other countries. Countries like the U.S. and Brazil have also been criticized for dismissing the guidance of scientists and medical professionals in their shutdown and reopening procedures.
- COVID-19 is starting to surge again around the world as safety guidelines are being eased. The World Health Organization warns that the death toll could double and reach 2 million before a vaccine is widely available worldwide.
- As schools are reopening in the U.S. for the new school year, more outbreaks have been occurring, especially with colleges. Thousands of new cases are being reported. The University of Wisconsin-Madison confirmed over 2,800 cases as of Friday and Kansas State University has quarantined over 2,200 students.
With over a million deaths in nine months, the COVID-19 pandemic rivals some of the worst public health threats in recent memory. Coronavirus deaths have already exceeded the yearly death toll of the AIDS virus, which killed 690,000 people in 2019.
