COVID-19 death toll is rising globally, with 56 nations reporting increased fatalities and reports of overwhelmed hospitals, according to the World Health Organization, which stated Thursday that the death toll is far greater than the estimated total of over 5 million.
“This should not be happening,” WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said at a COVID webinar in Geneva at which he criticized vaccine manufacturers for keeping jabs in the hands of wealthier counties and not getting them to parts of the world where they are needed.
“More than 5 million deaths have now been reported, and we know the real number is higher. We are still losing more than 50,000 of our sisters and brothers every week,” said Tedros.
“Last week, 56 countries from all regions reported an increase in deaths from COVID-19 of more than 10%.”
The WHO had heard reports from many countries about the lack of ICU (intensive care unit) beds, lack of supplies, and “overwhelmed health workers and hospitals” deferring other needed procedures.
