Coronavirus deaths exceed 193 thousand in the world and The World Health Organization launches a global initiative to accelerate the production of vaccines against the emerging virus

The Coronavirus has killed at least 193930 people in the world since its appearance in December in China, according to a census prepared by Agence France-Presse according to official sources.

More than two million and 770,750 cases have been officially diagnosed in 193 countries and regions since the beginning of the epidemic.

This number reflects only a portion of the number of the physically infected, as tests to detect cases in a number of countries remain limited to cases requiring hospital treatment.

Among the injured, at least 736,000 people have recovered.

Since Thursday, there have been 4,801 deaths and 74,168 new infections worldwide.

Countries with the largest number of new deaths are the United Kingdom (684), the United States (601), and Italy (420).

The United States, which officially registered the first death at the end of February, is the country most affected by the epidemic by any measure, with a death toll of 50,360 out of 88,4004 case, while the authorities announced the recovery of at least 81,338 people.

The most affected countries after the United States are Italy with 25,969 deaths out of 192,994 case, then Spain with 22524 deaths out of 219764 case, France with 22,245 deaths out of 159828 injuries, and the United Kingdom with 19506 deaths out of 143,464 case.

Mainland China (excluding Macao and Hong Kong), where the virus first appeared in late December, recorded a total of 82,804 infections (6 new cases between Thursday and Friday), including 4,632 deaths, while 77,257 people were cured.

Since Thursday, Sierra Leone has reported the first deaths linked to Covid-19 on its soil.

The deaths in Europe on Friday, 19:00 GMT, reached 119,211 out of a million 329,695 case, in the United States and Canada 52,689 deaths (927543 case), in Asia 7664 deaths (188,320 case), in Latin America and the Caribbean 6815 deaths (123,489 case) and in the Middle East 6,122 deaths (146,298 case), in Africa 1,326 deaths (2,852 case) and in Oceania 103 deaths (7,964 cases).

This toll was prepared on the basis of data collected by the offices of Agence France-Presse from the relevant national authorities and WHO information.

On the other hand, the World Health Organization launched Friday, along with several countries and private economic parties, an initiative to accelerate the production of vaccines, treatments and tests for the emerging Coronavirus, while ensuring fair access to them.

This initiative, which was presented during a virtual press conference, included many countries, including France and Germany, international organizations and companies in the private sector, as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest contributors to the World Health Organization.

This represents “historic cooperation to accelerate the development, production and distribution of vaccines, diagnostic tests and treatments against Covid-19,” said WHO Director Tidros Adanum Gebresos.

“Our common commitment is to ensure that all people have all the tools to inflict defeat on Covid-19,” he added.

No concrete explanation was provided on the mechanism of cooperation that is supposed to be established within the framework of this initiative.

In the financial aspect, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will oversee on May 4 a donor conference aimed at raising 7.5 billion euros.

President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Commission, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Prime Ministers of Italy, Giuseppe Conte, and Spain Pedro Sanchez participated in this initiative.

Neither China nor the United States was the epicenter of the epidemic at the end of December, nor the United States, which is now the epicenter of the disease, with over 900,000 cases and 50,000 deaths.

In this regard, a spokesman for the United States Mission in Geneva said in an email to Agence France Presse that his country salutes “the serious efforts to advance the challenge, and hopes to know more about the WHO proposal”.

But he added, “We remain very concerned (about the issues surrounding) the effectiveness of the World Health Organization, given that its grave breaches contributed to the current pandemic”.

Macron called for making the vaccine “available everywhere, including for the most vulnerable countries”.

This will allow us to return as soon as possible to a normal life”.

“A vaccine for everyone”.

For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that “we are facing an unparalleled global enemy.”

To be free from Covid-19 requires historically the greatest public health effort.”

He stressed that “the world needs to develop and produce safe and effective vaccines, treatments and diagnostic methods against Covid-19, and distribute them fairly.

It is not a vaccine or a treatment for a country, a region, or half the world… but for everyone everywhere.”

“None of us will be safe until we are all safe.

Covid-19 does not respect any limits.

The presence of Covid-19 anywhere poses a threat to people everywhere”.

Anxiety is caused in particular by the poorest countries that do not have the financial means to compete with the rich countries in the race to buy stocks of vaccines and medicines or tests to detect the virus.

The Director of the World Health Organization warned that this disparity in access to vaccines and supplies occurred during the face of previous epidemics “and we cannot accept its recurrence” in the current crisis.

For his part, the current president of the African Union, South African President Cyril Ramafuza, said that “Africa is fragile in front of what the virus leaves, and we need all the support and possible assistance”.

“Without a vaccine, Caffeine Alliance President (Gavi) Seth Berkeley stressed that Covid-19 will never be defeated.”

During a press conference held earlier Friday, he expressed optimism about the prospects for a vaccine, but expressed reservations about the date of that.

“If we are actually fortunate, the vaccine could be in the market within 12 to 18 months, while such a matter usually takes several years of research, clinical trials and production,” Berkeley said.