While the 2 million figure is staggering, experts say the actual death toll appears to be much higher. Only confirmed Covid-19 deaths are included in the tally, which means that people who die without a firm diagnosis may not be included.
With tests still inadequate in many countries around the world, there could be hundreds of thousands more deaths.
Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Assessment at the University of Washington in Seattle, said an additional mortality study shows that as many as one-fifth of coronavirus deaths may not have been recorded.
“We have found that on average total deaths are 20% higher than reported deaths,” he told CNN in an email, adding that the ratio varies greatly over different countries.
“There are very big cases like Ecuador, Peru or Russia where total deaths are 300-500% higher than reported deaths … but where we have data, the average relationship is 20% higher.”
As vaccination programs begin around the world, there is hope – even though it is likely to take years before everyone is shot.
In the meantime, the pandemic is getting worse. The death toll is rising faster than ever. While it took the world eight months to record 1 million Covid-19 deaths, the second million came in less than four months.
Several countries, including the United States, Germany, Sweden, Indonesia, Israel and Japan recorded the deadliest days of the pandemic in the past week. The number of cases worldwide is approaching 100 million.
The U.S. has recorded the highest total death toll in the world, followed by Brazil, India and Mexico. But the pandemic has reached all parts of the world, and only a few remote small countries have not died.
The virus has become more prevalent in the elderly, but that does not mean that young people do not die. Poor people and members of ethnic minorities, immigrants and frontline workers are dying at much higher rates. But death did not frighten celebrities and royalty either.
2 million have now died. 2 million stories. 2 million chairs left empty at the dinner table. Here are the names of a small fraction of those who lost their lives:
Kimora “Kimmie” Lynum was a 9-year-old who loved a unicorn. Thomas harvey caring about overcoming patients with stroke. Adan and mariah gonzalez Raiden’s parents were 4-year-olds. José Ángel Medina Soto there was a famous singer from Mexico. Rita Haro, Jose “Chico” Haro and Manuela “Nellie” Johnson they were sisters who loved tamales and home telenovelas. Flag of Demetria he was a primary school teacher who loved music. Fabrizio soccorsi Pope Francis was the personal physician of Pope Francis. Evelyn ochoa-celano he left retirement as a nurse to come back and fight the face of the epidemics. Patrick ellis is a longtime DC radio host. AshLee Demarinis he was a middle school teacher. Jean-Jacques Razafindranazy an emergency doctor who was admired by his team. Daniel moran he died just days after losing his father Miguel moran. Erika Becerra he died three weeks after giving birth to a healthy baby. Conrad bukhanan he loved to dance with his daughter. Soumitra Chatterjee there was an Indian acting legend. Dr. Rebecca’s shadow there was “the cry of her family.” Sergio Humberto and Dolores Padilla Hernandez they were sisters. Thomas slade, a Mississippi teacher, sometimes using gavel in class. Cè and Gwendolyn Robinson best friends, married for 35 years. Xavier harris is a 4-year-old child who died the day after Christmas. Carla sacchi she died after her husband went off the street. The Rev. Gibbs Vickey he had a passion for social justice and the ability to enjoy a colorful, beautiful breakfast. Fatemeh rahbar he was a newly elected member of the Iranian Parliament. Guy tetro played bass in a rock band. Tracy Larsen and her father Burt Porter he died just minutes apart. Kiyotaka Suetake, known as Shobushi, a sumo keeper. Lt. Aldemar “Al” Rengifo Jr. wa a 20-year veteran of a sheriff’s division in South Florida. Dr. Mohammed al-youssef is a doctor in Syria. Ken shimura he was a Japanese comedian. Samantha diaz leaving three children. Flavio ramosthe family found his body missing in a hospital with too much of the virus. Eve branson was the mother of Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group billions. Noe Martinez Domingues he once made his children like a go-kart out of an old hay melter. Zororo makamba he was a well-known Zimbabwean journalist. Patricia dowd love to travel. May Harman he was a Republican primary school candidate and former Head of Pizza Godfather. Herbert Skylar two first-responders had a 5-year-old daughter. Mujinga bolg a railroad ticket office worker who was slaughtered while on duty. Cynthia Alcantara Barker the mayor of Hertsmere was in England. Kenzo takada a designer was famous for creating the Kenzo fashion house. SP Balasubrahmanyam he was one of the most famous film singers in India. Ruben burks they spent more than 60 years supporting the work of women and men of color in the labor movement. Donna mitchell Organizing potlucks in her neighborhood and even becoming a surrogate grandmother for the kids next door. Maria teresa Bourbon-Parma was a Spanish princess and distant cousin of King Felipe VI. Iris meda retire to teach nursing students. May bunjes I spent decades volunteering. Mairead Ann Spangler she was a strong, cunning, opinionated, humorous, affectionate woman who loved her family wildly. Adeline fagan he was a second-year OBGYN resident. Maria mercader a CBS News representative. Dr. Moore Susan fond of using medicine. Paul Blackwell and Rose Mary Blackwell both were teachers, and married for 30 years. Jay-natalie la santa the daughter of a New York firefighter. Roy’s horn there was half the magic and magic of Las Vegas. Dr. Carlos Araujo-Preza the physician who cared for some of Houston ‘s sickest Covid-19 patients. Luke letlow it was an Electoral Congress. Zelene blancar, a first-rate teacher, teaches her students to be kind. Chad Dorrill was a college student and high school basketball player. Li wenliang a doctor was widely regarded as a hero in China for blowing the whistle when the coronavirus broke out.
Additional graphics by Sarah-Grace Mankarious at CNN.
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