Global coronavirus caseload passes 78 million

Geneva, December 23 (RHC)-- The global number of confirmed coronavirus cases has topped 78 million, and a new, more infectious variant of the deadly virus is now threatening the world.  Just as vaccines were expected to become widely available in months, the new mutation of the virus — which first emerged in England — has sparked panic across Europe.

The continent has become the first region on the earth to cross a threshold of 500,000 coronavirus-related deaths.  Across the globe, the number of coronavirus deaths has now crossed 1,717,124, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The discovery of the new variant of the coronavirus, known as VUI-202012/01, has prompted a pre-Christmas lockdown and forced dozens of countries to close their borders to British travelers this week.  

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called a meeting of members for Wednesday to discuss strategies to counter the new variant of the virus.  “Limiting travel to contain spread is prudent until we have better info,” said Hans Kluge, the WHO’s regional director for Europe.

Still, the WHO called for facilitating cargo transport for essential supplies such as food, medicines, and fuel.  “Supply chains for essential goods & essential travel should remain possible,” Kluge tweeted.