The global tally for the coronavirus-borne illness rose above 153.5 million on Tuesday, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University, while the death toll rose to 3.2 million. The U.S. continues to lead the world in cases and deaths by wide margins, with 32.5 million cases and 577,523 deaths, or about a fifth of the worldwide tallies. There was positive vaccine news from the Associated Press, which said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 12 to 15 by next week, citing a federal official and a person familiar with the process, setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year. The U.S. vaccine program has slowed as more older people have been fully vaccinated and experts say inoculating young people will go a long way toward expanding it.
India is second to the U.S. by cases at 20.3 million and third by fatalities at 222,408. Indian hospitals are still overwhelmed by cases and lacking in supplies including oxygen.
Brazil is third with 14.8 million cases and second by fatalities at 408,622. Mexico has the fourth-highest death toll at 217,345 and 2.3 million cases, or 15th highest tally. The U.K. has 4.4 million cases and 127,799 deaths, the fifth-highest in the world and highest in Europe.
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