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Japan Declares Virus Emergency Through Tokyo Olympics as Global COVID-19 Deaths Pass 4 Million

HeadlineJul 08, 2021

The World Health Organization says the global death toll from COVID-19 has topped 4 million people — though the true figure is likely far higher.

Indonesia recorded its highest-ever one-day death toll Wednesday, with the Delta coronavirus variant fueling a surge in cases that’s broken the healthcare system. Only about 5% of Indonesia’s 270 million people are fully vaccinated.

Japan has declared a COVID-19 state of emergency for Tokyo throughout the upcoming Summer Olympics. Officials had already banned foreign spectators at the games and are discussing whether to abandon plans to allow domestic fans.

In the United Kingdom, where just over half of all people are fully vaccinated, daily coronavirus cases have passed 30,000 for the first time since January. Prime Minister Boris Johnson still plans to lift most restrictions for England on July 19.

In the United States, coronavirus infections have increased by 35% over the last two weeks, according to a New York Times count. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the highly transmissible Delta coronavirus variant now represents over half of all new infections in the U.S.

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