The global coronavirus death toll topped 2 million Friday, according to statistics from Johns Hopkins University.
The United States alone accounts for 389,000 of the deaths, by far the highest official death toll from any country in the world, though China’s total is unknown. The pandemic reached the sobering landmark as countries across the globe begin distribution of the first coronavirus vaccines manufactured in the U.S.
BREAKING: The global death toll from the coronavirus has topped 2 million, according to Johns Hopkins University data. https://t.co/qfFQEaJr9U
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 15, 2021
The novel coronavirus became a full pandemic in early 2020, taking eight months to rise to a death toll of 1 million in late September 2020. It has taken just four months to take another million lives.
Rollout of vaccines has varied widely across the globe, however, with Israel outperforming most others. The U.S. has vaccinated just 2.1 million citizens so far. The U.S. daily death toll continues to hit new records, with more than 4,400 Americans succumbing to the virus on Wednesday. (RELATED: Trump Says He Was ‘Outraged’ By Supporters Storming Capitol, Is Now Focused On ‘Smooth’ Transition Of Power | The Daily Caller)
President-elect Joe Biden introduced a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan Thursday that allots $400 million to increasing vaccine use and testing. The bill also puts $1 trillion toward directly supporting Americans and another $440 million toward businesses and state and local governments.
NEW on Biden $1.9T plan:
— $2K checks (adds $1,400 to $600). Adult dependents IN
— $400/week UI thru Sept, will push 4 “triggers.” Not retroactive
— CTC to $3,000/yr per kid, fully refundable
— $15/hr min. wage
— Eviction moratorium thru 9/21https://t.co/mww4nQ470F
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) January 14, 2021
President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed program was largely responsible for the record-pace development of a COVID-19 vaccine, first achieved with Pfizer and then again shortly afterward by Moderna.