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Global deaths from COVID-19 have now surpassed 5 million, according to the data released Monday from 

Johns Hopkins University's coronavirus tracker

The U.S. continues to lead the world with the number of confirmed deaths from the virus — where more than 745,800 people have died from COVID-19. Brazil (with more than 607,000 deaths) and India (with more than 450,000 deaths) follow the U.S. in the number of lives lost since the start of the pandemic.

Yet another tragic milestone of the pandemic comes just as the U.S. 

prepares to start vaccinating children between the ages of 5-11.

But in other parts of the world, health officials are seeing worrying signs of a coronavirus surge — just as some nations are relaxing measures to international travelers.

This official global tally only accounts for confirmed cases around the world, according to Amber D'Souza, professor of epidemiology at the university's Bloomberg School of Public Health, who 

Prior to Johns Hopkins releasing the latest global data on Monday D'Souza told the outlet: "It's quite possible that the number of deaths is double what we see. But 5 million is such a staggering number on its own. No country has been able to escape it."

Europe and Southeast Asia report a surge in cases

The World Health Organization recently reported

 a rise in cases in Europe during October.

As of Oct. 26, the European region experienced an 18 percent surge in new COVID-19 cases. Southeast Asia, a region experiencing a similar rise in new COVID cases, also reported a 13 percent increase in new COVID-19 deaths.

Globally, as of Oct. 26, the health organization reported over 2.9 million cases and over 49, 000 new deaths, a 4 percent and 5 percent increase respectively.

Last month, Russian officials registered the highest death toll in Europe: more than 235,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Due to skyrocketing infections from the delta strain, 

a temporary lockdown in an attempt to defeat the virus.

But there is skepticism over whether the numbers being shared in Russia are actually the official count. Some believe the numbers may be higher.

reported that Poland's total number of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic passed 3 million. Daily cases are quickly gaining pace as the country is in the middle of the fourth wave of the virus.

In Singapore, where officials have decided to coexist with the coronavirus and cease lockdown measures, a jump in cases have been reported there, too.

More than 80 percent of Singapore's population have been immunized from COVID-19. Yet as of Oct. 30 

 to well over 3,000 cases a day in about two months.  

Health

COVID-19

Jaclyn Diaz

Author

The U.S. continues to lead the world in the number of confirmed deaths from the virus, 745,800 people, according to Johns Hopkins University's coronavirus tracker — followed by Brazil and India.

The COVID-19 pandemic has now killed 5 million people around the world

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