The worldwide COVID-19 death toll reached a staggering 5 million people Monday less than two years after the start of the pandemic, as the virus continues to claim thousands of lives a day despite the availability of highly effective vaccines.
The United States has accounted for more than 745,000 of those deaths, or about 15% of the world’s COVID fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tracker. It’s the highest death toll for any single country.
Brazil and India are next with about 607,000 and 458,000 deaths, respectively.
“These are not numbers on a page. They are mothers and fathers. Brothers and sisters. Daughters and sons. Family, friends and colleagues. Lives cut short by a merciless virus that respects no borders,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement Monday.
“Five million deaths should also stand as a clear warning: we cannot let our guard down.”
In the Western world, the COVID-19 vaccine has drastically helped stem the spread of the deadly disease. The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11 last week.
About 58% of Americans are fully vaccinated — not including a booster shot — and two-thirds have had at least one shot, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.