The global tally for the coronavirus-borne illness climbed above 239 million on Thursday, while the death toll edged above 4.87 million, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. continues to lead the world with a total of 44.7 million cases and 719,530 deaths. The U.S. is averaging close to 1,900 deaths a day, according to a New York Times tracker, , although new cases and hospitalizations are declining. a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee will meet later Thursday to discuss and take a vote on whether to authorize a booster dose for people vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine. The committee will reconvene on Friday to discuss boosters for the Johnson & Johnson shot.
India is second by cases after the U.S. at 34 million and has suffered 451,435 deaths. Brazil has second highest death toll at 601,574 and 21.6 million cases. In Europe, Russia has most fatalities at 215,438, followed by the U.K. at 138,487.
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