Coronavirus tally: Global cases of COVID-19 top 196 million and Biden expected to detail vaccination plan for federal workers

The global tally for the coronavirus-borne illness climbed above 196 million on Thursday, while the death toll climbed above 4.18 million, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. leads the world with a total of 34.7 million cases and in deaths with 611,801 as the highly infectious delta variant continues to spread fast, especially in states with low vaccination rates. President Joe Biden will outline his plan to have federal workers either get vaccinated or face regular testing, social distancing, mask requirements and restrictions on travel later Thursday, the New York Times reported. The move comes as the federal government struggles to persuade vaccine hold-outs to get their shots. More than 97% of current cases, hospitalizations and deaths are in unvaccinated people, yet the CDC’s vaccine tracker is barely budging from day to day.
India is second by cases at 31.5 million and third by deaths at 422,662, according to its official numbers, which are expected to be undercounted.
Brazil is second in deaths at 553,179, but is third in cases at 19.8 million. Mexico has fourth-highest death toll at 239,616 but has recorded just 2.8 million cases, according to its official numbers. In Europe, Russia continues to pull ahead of the U.K. by deaths at 154,403, while the U.K. has 129,718, making Russia the country with the fifth-highest death toll in the world and highest in Europe.