While the figure of 2 million is horrible, experts say the actual death toll is likely to be much higher. Only confirmed deaths from Covid-19 are included in the count, which means that people who die without a firm diagnosis may not be included.
With evidence still inadequate in many countries around the world, there may be hundreds of thousands of additional deaths.
Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Metrics and Health Assessment at the University of Washington in Seattle, said an analysis of excess mortality suggests that up to one-fifth of coronavirus deaths may not be recorded. .
“We found that, on average, total deaths are 20% higher than reported deaths,” he told CNN in an email, adding that the proportion varies substantially across countries.
“There are extreme cases like Ecuador, Peru or Russia where the total deaths are between 300-500% higher than the reported deaths … but in which we have data, the average ratio is 20% higher.”
As vaccination programs begin to roll out around the world, there is some hope, though years are likely to pass before everyone can get started.
Meanwhile, the pandemic is getting worse. The death toll is rising faster than ever. Although it took the world eight months to register 1 million deaths from Covid-19, 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 last week. The number of cases worldwide is rapidly approaching 100 million.
The United States has recorded by far the highest total death toll in the world, followed by Brazil, India and Mexico. But the pandemic has hit every corner of the world and only a few small, isolated nations have reported no deaths.
The virus has affected older people the most, but that doesn’t mean young people don’t die. The poorest people and members of ethnic minorities, immigrants and front-line workers die at much higher rates. But death hasn’t spared celebrities and royalty either.
There are now 2 million dead. 2 million stories. 2 million chairs left empty at the dinner table. These are the names of a small fraction of those who have lost their lives:
Kimora “Kimmie” Lynum he was a 9 year old boy who loved unicorns. Thomas Harvey care for the recovery of stroke patients. Adam and Mariah Gonzalez they were Raiden’s parents, 4 years old. José Ángel Medina Soto he was a famous Mexican singer. Rita Haro, Jose “Chico” Haro and Manuela “Nellie” Johnson they were brothers who loved tamales and homemade soap operas. Demetria Bannister he was an elementary school teacher who loved music. Fabrizio Soccorsi he was the personal physician of Pope Francis. Evelyn Ochoa-Celano she left retirement as a nurse to fight back on the front line of pandemic. Patrick Ellis was a longtime DC radio host. AshLee DeMarinis he was a high school teacher. Jean-Jacques Razafindranazy he was an emergency physician respected by his team. Daniel Moran he died a few days after losing his father Miguel Moran. Erika Becerra She died three weeks after giving birth to a healthy baby. Conrad Buchanan she loved to dance with her daughter. Soumitra Chatterjee he was a legend of the Indian actor Dr. Rebecca Shadowen it was the “tail of his family.” Sergio Humberto and Dolores Padilla Hernandez they were brothers. Thomas Slade, a Mississippi teacher, sometimes used a hammer in class. Keith and Gwendolyn Robinson they were best friends, married for 35 years. Xavier Harris he was a 4-year-old boy who died the day after Christmas. Carla Sacchi she died after her husband gave her a serenade from the street. Rev. Vickey Gibbs he had a passion for social justice and an ability to prepare beautiful, colorful breakfasts. Fatemeh Rahbar he was a newly elected member of the Iranian Parliament. Guy Tetro he played bass in a rock band. Tracy Larsen and her father Burt Porter he died a few minutes apart. Kiyotaka Suetake, known as Shobushi, was a sumo wrestler. Lieutenant Aldemar “Al” Rengifo Jr. he was a 20-year veteran of a sheriff’s department in South Florida. Dr. Mohammed Al-Youssef he was a doctor in Syria. Ken Shimura it was a famous Japanese comic. Samantha Diaz he left behind three children. Flavio RamosThe family discovered that his body was missing in a hospital surrounded by the virus. Eve Branson she was the mother of Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of the Virgin Group. Noe Martinez Domingues he once made his children a go-kart with an old lawn mower. Makamba Holidays he was a prominent Zimbabwean journalist. Patricia Dowd i loved traveling. Herman Cain he was a sole Republican presidential candidate and former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza. Skylar Herbert she was the 5-year-old daughter of two first interventions. Belly mujinga she was a railroad box office worker who was spit on while working. Cynthia Alcantara Barker he was the mayor of Hertsmere in England. Kenzo Takada was a famous designer to create the fashion house Kenzo. SP Balasubrahmanyam he was one of the most recognized film singers in India. Ruben Burks He spent more than 60 years advocating for the work of women and people of color in the labor movement. Donna Mitchell she organized meals in her neighborhood and even became a surrogate grandmother of the children next door. Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Parma was a Spanish princess and a distant cousin of King Philip VI. Iris Meda left retirement to teach nursing students. May Bunjes I spent decades volunteering. Margaret Ann Spangler she was a strong, intelligent, funny, funny and affectionate woman who loved her family fiercely. Adeline Fagan was a second-year resident at OBGYN. Maria Mercader was a producer for CBS News. Dra. Susan Moore he loved to practice medicine. Paul Blackwell and Rose Mary Blackwell they were teachers and married for 30 years. Jay-Natalie La Santa she was the infant daughter of a New York firefighter. Roy Horn it was half a popular act of magic and animals in Las Vegas. Dr. Carlos Araujo-Preza he was a doctor who cared for some of Houston’s sickest Covid-19 patients. Luke Letlow he was an elected deputy. Blancar Verd, a first-grade teacher, taught her students to be kind. Chad Dorrill was a college student and former high school basketball player. Li Wenliang he was a doctor widely regarded as a hero in China for whistling at the initial outbreak of the coronavirus.
Additional graphics by CNN’s Sarah-Grace Mankarious.
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