Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, recoveries, and deaths worldwide as of Mar. 4, 2021

As of March 4, 2021, there were almost 116 million global cases of COVID-19. Over 91.5 million people had recovered from the disease, while there had been almost 2.6 million deaths. The United States, India, and Brazil have been among the countries hardest hit by the pandemic.

The various types of human coronavirus

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the seventh known coronavirus to infect humans. Its emergence makes it the third in recent years to cause widespread infectious disease following the viruses responsible for SARS and MERS. A continual problem is that viruses naturally mutate as they attempt to survive. New variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been identified in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil. These variants are of particular interest because they are associated with increased transmission.

The first vaccines have arrived

Common human coronaviruses typically cause mild symptoms such as a cough or a cold, but the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has led to more severe respiratory illnesses and deaths worldwide. Several COVID-19 vaccines have now been approved and are being used around the world. Immunization programs have started in many countries with health workers, the elderly, and those most at risk receiving the first doses. However, there are fears that many poorer countries will not be able to obtain vital doses as wealthier countries have secured large quantities of the vaccines.