Global COVID-19 Cases Surpass 90 Million...Pope's Personal Physician Also Dies (Comprehensive)

10 Million Increase in 15 Days... Expected to Surpass 100 Million This Month
Pope's Personal Doctor Also Dies from COVID Complications... New Variant Found in Japan

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The global number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has surpassed 90 million. In just half a month, the number of confirmed cases increased by more than 10 million, raising concerns that it will exceed 100 million within this month. Amid the fierce spread, the Pope's personal physician is also reported to have died from COVID-19 complications, highlighting the growing human toll worldwide.

According to COVID-19 statistics from Johns Hopkins University in the United States as of the 10th (local time), the cumulative global confirmed cases reached 90,180,310, and cumulative deaths totaled 1,932,948. Since surpassing 80 million on the 26th of last month, more than 10 million confirmed cases have been added in just half a month. At the current rate of spread, it is feared that the number will exceed 100 million within this month.

The country most affected is the United States, with about one-quarter of the global confirmed cases, totaling 22,374,351 infections. The cumulative death toll is 374,008, with 27,163 COVID-19 deaths occurring in just ten days since the beginning of this month. Following the United States, India (10,450,284), Brazil (8,075,998), Russia (3,366,715), and the United Kingdom (3,081,305) have reported high numbers of confirmed cases.

As COVID-19 continues to rage worldwide, the Vatican in Rome announced on this day that the Pope's personal physician died from COVID-19 complications. According to the British Daily Mail, Fabrizio Socorsi, the Pope's personal physician, passed away due to COVID-19 complications. Socorsi had served as the Pope's personal physician since 2015 and was hospitalized on the 26th of last month for a pre-existing tumor condition but was reportedly infected with COVID-19 during his hospitalization.

It is unknown when he last met face-to-face with the Pope, and there are concerns that the Vatican's vaccination plan, which was scheduled to begin this week for the Pope, will be delayed. Previously, in an interview with Italy's Channel 5 TV, Pope Francis stated, "The Vatican will start COVID-19 vaccinations from next week, and I have already made a reservation for vaccination."

Meanwhile, in Japan on this day, a third variant of the virus, different from the previously discovered variants in the United Kingdom and South Africa, was reported, raising concerns about further spread. According to NHK and other local Japanese media, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that four Brazilian nationals, two men and two women, who arrived at Tokyo Haneda Airport on the 2nd of last month, were infected with a new variant of the virus.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.