The overall number of global Covid-19 cases has now surged past 138 million, an alarming figure that paints a bleak picture of the pandemic.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 138,278,420 while the death tally from the virus reached 2,973,058 on Thursday afternoon.
The US has recorded 31,421,361 cases to date and more than 564,402 people have died so far from the virus in the country, as per the university data.
Brazil, which has been experiencing new wave of cases since January, registered 73,513 fresh cases, bringing the national tally to 13,673,507.
Brazil's Covid-19 death toll has risen to 361,884, with 3,459 new deaths in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday.
Besides, India’s total cases is approaching 14 million, forcing the authorities concerned to enforce restrictions in many states from Wednesday.
India reported 200,739 Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours, according to health ministry data released on Thursday. Deaths stood at 1,038, taking the total to 173,123. The total case load reached 14 million, only second to the US.
More Pfizer for EU
BioNTech/Pfizer is bringing forward delivery to the European Union of 50 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to the second quarter, starting this month, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says.
The deliveries will help make up for the shortfall of Johnson & Johnson jabs that were meant to start rolling out, while the bloc will also turn to Pfizer jabs for longer-term needs to fight the mutating coronavirus.
Denmark dumps AstraZeneca
Denmark becomes the first European country to stop using the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine altogether, over suspected rare but serious side effects.
Europe J&J verdict
Europe's medicines regulator says it will make a recommendation on the safety of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus jab next week after US health authorities recommended pausing vaccinations over blood clot fears.
Meanwhile France says it is sticking to its plan to give over-55s the vaccine, whose European rollout has been suspended by the firm itself.
No Sputnik V clots
The developer of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine says its jab does not cause blood clots.
Ramadan worries
The World Health Organization expresses concern that the pandemic could worsen in the Middle East and North Africa during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
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