EU tries to avoid lockdowns as global death toll reaches 1m

The global death toll from the novel coronavirus, which first emerged in China late last year and has swept across the world, reached the one million mark on Monday (28 September) . The United States has the highest death toll with over 200,000 fatalities, followed by Brazil, India, Mexico and the UK - while Spain, France and Italy are also among the deadliest countries for Covid-19. However, the chief of emergencies at the World Health Organization, Michael Ryan, said last Friday that the global coronavirus death toll could hit two million - even with an effective vaccine in place. 'Are we prepared collectively to do what it takes to avoid that number?' he said, calling on governments to do everything to halt the surge of Covid-19 infections worldwide. 'Unless we do it all, the number [two million deaths] is not only imaginable but unfortunately and sadly, very likely,' he added.